VOL 11 No. 1
email: editor@ independent.com
Phone: 281-980-6745 50 cents
www.fbindependent.com ww .fbindependent.com
FORT BEND FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE. P. O.BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487-0623
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2018
Official newspaper of Fort Bend County & Missouri City
Mail ballots now available for Riverstone hosts “Bite Night Friday” March primary elections
Eligible voters may now submit their Ballot by Mail requests for the March 6, 2018 Primary Election Voters may begin submitting their applications to receive a ballot by mail on January 1, 2018. However, changes made by the Texas Legislature in their most recent Special Session will make it more challenging for voters to apply for that ballot. In past elections, applicants could submit their signed appli-
cations by mail, fax, or email. Those options are still available, but beginning with the March 6, 2018 Primary Election, voters who use fax or email, must also submit their application by mail. The mailed application must be received with four business days of the electronic submission. Voters who are 65 years of age or those who are disabled may submit an annual application which will entitle them to receive a ballot for all elections for which they are eligible dur-
ing this calendar year. Annual applications expire at the end of the year. Voters who expect to be absent from the county on Election Day may apply for a ballot to be mailed to their temporary address outside of their county of residence. Applications for Ballot by Mail are available for download on the website of the Office of the Fort Bend County Elections Administration www.fortbendvotes.org .
Public meeting on Telfair-Tract 5 development set for Jan. 10 A public meeting to discuss a draft plan for 95 acres near University Boulevard and U.S. Highway 59 is scheduled for Jan. 10, at 6:30 p.m., at the University Branch Library, 14010 University Blvd. The masterplan will show draft land-use concepts on property owned by the city of Sugar Land and Newland Communities, Collectively known as Telfair-Tract 5. The public is encouraged to attend the meeting and provide input. City staff and Newland Communities have been working since 2015 to develop a cohesive plan between the two parcels that encourages walkability, shared parking and the development of plazas for the community to enjoy and takes into consideration public input received on previous proposals. The draft plan, which will be made available publicly at the meeting, seeks to provide an office-and entertainment-centric development that protects the city’s investment in the Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land
by surrounding the property with a mixed-use destination activity center that is both compatible with the nearby singlefamily residential development and an economic generator. As such, the proposed masterplan contemplates significant development of Class A office, two hotels - including a hotel/ conference center - additional retail/entertainment uses and medical uses. The masterplan also includes a 250-unit senior independent living facility, which is not anticipated to have any impact on enrollments in local school districts. Consistent with the previous commitment by Newland Communities, no standard multifamily units are proposed on the site. The plan also allows the City to reserve property for the location of future economic development opportunities - including a community arts venue that was identified in the citizen-led 2007 Visioning Task Force. While the community arts venue will need more refine-
ment in future years, the masterplan includes three of the five destination venues identified by the Task Force - the performing arts center, a hotel-conference center and a community arts venue. A focus on tourism and commercial sources to reduce the property tax burden on homeowners has been a key to maintaining one of the state’s lowest property tax rates while funding the high level of services that residents expect. The goal of the meeting is to allow Newland Communities to receive feedback prior to moving forward with a formal Planned Development zoning application for the property in 2018. That application will also require multiple meetings from the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council that will include additional opportunities for public input. For more information about the upcoming public meeting, contact the Office of Economic Development at (281) 275-2229 or Sugar Land Planning Department at (281) 275-2218.
Keeping track of Telfair Tract 5 development By SESHADRI KUMAR The Jan. 10 public meeting on the development of Telfair Tract- 5 is very significant and public participation in this meeting is vital. The development does not impact merely the neighborhood. A controversy about apartment units first arose when the developer suggested a 900-unit apartment complex for this tract. The idea was nipped in the bud by the then mayor Jimmy Thompson. But the controversy continued. The backdrop for this development included a signature campaign launched by a group of citizens under the banner Sugar Land Votes. The citizens’ group sought an amendment to the city’s Development Code, involving a new category of “semi-urban development” and a cap on apartment units in any development.
The city declared the petition drive for a referendum on amending the development invalid on technical grounds. The city council prior to the last mayoral election sought to neutralize the controversy by adopting a unanimous resolution recommending that the Development Code be amended and a cap of 200 apartment units be imposed. This recommendation went before the planning and zoning commission, which eventually returned a negative recommendation resulting in no changes to the Development Code and no cap on apartment units. Meanwhile, the city sent the issue for consideration by the Land Use Committee which also sought to place some cap on apartment units. That again was not favored by the planning and zoning commission. In a subsequent development plan submitted by the developer for Tract 5, the planning and
zoning commission expressed its concern that the plan did not include any provision for highend apartments for the millennials. The city also postponed a scheduled public meeting on the proposed Land Use Plan. The city council is yet to consider the plan and take action on it. In the last mayoral election Mayoral candidates Myatt Hancock and Harish Jajoo campaigned on the idea of a cap on apartment units, but Mayor Joe Zimmerman said he would allow any apartment units only after ensuring that it would have no impact on schools and after a traffic study. The city’s zoning laws do not permit stand alone apartments anywhere. Any units proposed would be part of a planned, mixed use development like the Sugar Land Town Square, Imperial Development and Riverstone.
A feast of food trucks is heading to Riverstone Jan. 12 for Bite Night Friday, a culinary event that will be held the second Friday of each month throughout the spring. The mobile eateries will be at The Club at Riverstone, 18353 University Boulevard, 6-9:30 p.m. Music and children’s activities will add to the event, which is open to the public. Leashed dogs are allowed. While most food trucks accept credit cards, some may be cash only. For more information, visit www.riverstone.com.
Missouri City celebrates a year of growth and distinction By BARBARA FULENWIDER The year 2017 marked many milestones for the Show Me City — retaining the city’s AA bond rating, maintaining its public safety status as one of the safest communities in Texas, implementing technology upgrades in all facilities and improving infrastructure citywide. “Transparency and publicprivate collaborations are paramount to our high performing organization, and this year, I continued to set the bar high for my team in conceptualizing and completing projects that are a part of day-to-day operations and those that are unprecedented and will enhance the community,” said City Manager Anthony J. Snipes. “These accomplishments and others were based on business plans developed by each depart-
ment and would not have been possible without strategic direction” from city council members, Snipes said. Major distinctions included bringing a $25 million investment -- Houston Community College’s Center for Entrepreneurship, Technology and Health -- to Texas Parkway, locating a FedEx local division and landing a landmark industrial business deal with Best Buy. The worldwide company, VWR, which researches laboratory products, opened in Trammell Crow’s Park 8Ninety, in a 125,000 square foot distribution center and gained national attention when a picture of it was featured on a marquee no less than in New York’s Time Square. Other companies that opened
in Missouri City last year are Texas Leaguer Brewing Co., Rexel Electric Supply and LT Foods Americas, a global producer, procurer, distributor and marketer of Basmati Rice. Other distinctions in 2017 included being ranked 71 out of 250 best towns to buy a home in, according to LendEDU, and being one of the safest cities in the U.S. According to SafeHome, Missouri City ranked No. 13. And having more than 136,000 guests at Quail Valley Golf Course was also a major distinction along with the City Centre and a record 60,180 rounds of golf played last year. Missouri City also earned awards by the Government Finance Officers Association of U.S. and Canada’s DistinSee City, Page 3
Four Republicans, five Democrats in the primary election for Congressional Dist.22 By SESHADRI KUMAR The 2018 U.S. House of Representatives elections in Texas will take place on November 6. Voters will elect 36 candidates to serve in the U.S. House. Texas utilizes an open primary system. Voters do not have to register with a party. At the primary, a voter may choose which party primary ballot to vote on. The voter must sign a pledge declaring that he or she will not vote in another party’s primary or convention that year. Texas’ 22nd Congressional District is located in the eastern portion of the state and includes part of Ford Bend, Harris, and Brazoria counties. Heading into the election, Ballotpedia rated this race as safely Republican.
Incumbent Pete Olson (R) defeated Mark Gibson (D) in the general election on November 8, 2016. Olson ran unopposed in the Republican primary on March 1, 2016, while Mark Gibson defeated A.R. Hassan for the Democratic nomination. Olson was first elected in 2008. Olson faces three opponents in the 2018 primary. They are James Green, Danny Nguyen and Eric Zmrhal. With a decade of oil and gas experience, Eric Zmrhal from Katy has held various engineering positions and acquired effective leadership and essential management skills. James Green of Sugar Land is a retired U.S. Navy Veteran
and a nuclear engineer. In the Democratic primary, five candidates have filed. They are Steve Brown, Mark Gibson, Margarita Ruiz Johnson, Sri Preston Kulkarni, Letitia Plummer. Steve Brown is a former Democratic Party Chair in Fort Bend County. Gibson is retired from the U.S. Army and a small business owner. Johnson from Pearland is a U.S. Army Veteran in finance and accounting Plummer is a health-care provider and small-business owner According to FEC filings, Stephanie Williams , from Orchard, is running for the seat as an independent candidate. (More on Page 3)
Page 2 • INDEPENDENT • JANUARY 3, 2018
LIVING THE
LIFE!
Your sweet life begins at Imperial, a one-of-a-kind, historic Sugar Land community. Enjoy hiking and biking paths winding around acres of lakes, browse the weekly farmers market, and take in a concert or ball game at Constellation Field. And coming soon: Imperial Market. Shop or dine in a unique town center that’s an easy walk or ride from your new home!
ImperialSugarLand.com
New Homes from the $450s-Millions
•
Gracepoint
•
Meritage Homes
•
Partners in Building
is the Time. to Live the 90
59
8
Visit Our Beautiful New Model Homes!
6
From US-59 in Sugar Land, take Hwy 6 south 3 miles . 281.499.8700
Resort-style Amenities . Waterside Living . $330s-Millions
EASY ACCESS to US-59 and FORT BEND PARKWAY Darling . Emerald . Highland . Lespreance Construction . Meritage . Newmark . Perry Peterson . Sims Luxury . Sitterle . Sterling Classic . Taylor Morrison . Westin . Westport
INDEPENDENT • JANUARY 3, 2018 • Page 3
NEWS Former Missouri City Councilman seeks Indian American from Pearland seeks Republican nomination for Congress Democratic Party nomination Danny Nguyen, a former city councilman from Missouri City is running for Congress in the 22nd district. Nguyen frames his campaign with the slogan “From Refugee to House of Representatives: A Journey to Freedom.” Nguyen’s says his understanding of the value of freedom comes from his first-hand experience of the dehumanizing effects lurking in a society void of such freedom and seeing what it does to the human spirit. He arrived in Fort Bend County in 1984 with his father only after escaping as political refugees from the Communist regime in Vietnam. For the first 14 formative years of his life, Danny witnessed continual warfare, fearing for his life each night, not knowing if he would see the next day. Danny and his family risked everything to come to America; paying a tremendous price after escaping in the dark of night on a meager fishing boat holding 71 others who, after being robbed by Thai pirates, were left with nothing but the clothes on their back and their commitment to ‘liberty or death’. Upon escaping Communist Vietnam, Danny and his father faced an arduous three year journey in which they were imprisoned and forced into Thailand and Philippine refugee camps; it would be over a decade before he would finally reunite with his family. “Having lived and worked in Texas for close to 35 years, I have been blessed to experience what I consider
City From Page 1 guished Budget Presentation Award for the 32nd consecutive year along with a certificate of achievement for excellence in financial reporting for the comprehensive annual financial report. Six silver Communicator Awards of distinction and two silver and 15 bronze Telly Awards were earned for video productions. Other distinctions during 2017 included receiving a competitive $50,000 grant from Lowe’s foundation for playground equipment at Quail Valley North Park. Also, the city directed a Houston area urban forestry tree planting competition which resulted in 2,078 trees being planted at Buffalo Run Park, Community Park and Oyster Creek Trail. Only 160 of the 2,078 trees were bought with city funds. All others were donated. Missouri City partnered with County Commissioner Grady
Nguyen files papers for the election with his wife, Marie and sons Jordan and Darrell (the youngest, Jacob is not shown in photo). sacred America’s traditions of freedom, liberty, and opportunity - all of which are essential in achieving the American Dream,” Nguyen says. “It was a long and arduous journey with tears and pain but the price of freedom and opportunity was worth it. Today, I look around at our country and our district the most diverse county in the nation, and I see apathy driven by distraction, I see deception and lack of trust, and I see divisiveness where
there should be unity. If we do not do something about it, we will soon self-destruct before any external enemy can harm us. It is time for us to take full responsibility and work to solve these problems. So, I ask you to join me in making a positive difference, because if we do not, then who will,” asks Nguyen. It is not just about making America ‘great again’, I will make you proud to be an American,” he says. For more information, visit: Dannyforcongress.com.
Prestage to solicit public participation in the Missouri City Middle School Gymnasium Renovation project. And then there was Harvey, a hurricane that dropped flooding rains on Houston and vicinity for four days and four nights. Missouri City’s response was outstanding with team members from all departments working tirelessly to rescue residents and pets trapped in flooded areas. They notified homeowners of evacuation orders, monitored road closures, watched rising water on roads, inspected levees and drainage systems and distributed news alerts and advisories, established shelters and staging spaces, set up donation areas, partnered with volunteers for seven long days and more. City Manager Snipes said, “Our public safety crews rescued more than 1,300 residents from city limits and the ETJ areas where we provide service. In addition, staff coordinated with area partners to share important relief information and
help impacted residents get back on their feet.” He also applauded the city’s commercial partners for their generosity during Harvey and pointed out the philanthropic division of Niagara Bottling, which pledged $1 million to local relief efforts. Other departments that got kudos during the year were the municipal court and police department. And so did long-time City Councilman Don Smith, who retired recently after more than 13 years of service. He was the founder and chairman of the Missouri City Juneteenth celebration, which is now in its 15th year, and he was instrumental in getting the future Veterans Memorial slated for construction in the city hall complex. Snipes wrapped up the city’s growth and distinctions in 2017 by saying, “We will continue to build on our reputation as a safe, scenic city that is ranked one of America’s best places to live work and play.”
Srinivas Kulkarni, 39, is running for Congress in Texas-22, which covers Pearland, Sugar Land, and parts of Katy. If elected, Sri will be the first South Asian ever elected to the U.S. Congress from Texas. The primary election will be on March 6, 2018. Sri’s father, Venkatesh Kulkarni, came from India, After immigrating to the United States, where he met Sri’s mother Margaret, the family moved to Houston in 1980, where Margaret worked for Exxon and Venkatesh taught at Rice University. Sri grew up in Houston, where he decided early on to become involved in public service. At age 15, he took on responsibility for coordinating volunteer service across schools in Fort Bend and Harris Counties. When Sri was 18, Venkatesh contracted leukemia and Sri dropped out of college to care for him. After Sri’s mother became a widow, he split his time between helping her raise his younger siblings and finishing his studies at the University of Texas, where he graduated from the Plan II Honors program. Following college, Sri was commissioned as a Foreign Service Officer by Secretary of State Colin Powell and served his country for 14 years, with overseas tours in Iraq, Israel, Russia, Taiwan, and Jamaica. Sri speaks Spanish, Hindi, Mandarin Chinese, Hebrew, and Russian.
He has spent his career using his skills and education to find common ground between groups in conflict, such as Arabs and Kurds or Israelis and Palestinians, and standing up for the truth, including combatting the Russian government’s online misinformation campaign. In 2015, Sri accepted a Pearson Fellowship to serve as a foreign policy and defense advisor on Capitol Hill, assisting Senator Kirsten Gillibrand with her work on the Senate Armed Services Committee. During this time, Sri used his knowledge of international treaties to get a rule changed by the DEA that now allows greater research on treatments for conditions such as intractable epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, PTSD, and chronic pain. In 2017, Sri completed a mid-career Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Harvard’s Kennedy School, where he was Vice President for Communications. Following the 2016
Missouri City gets three grants for parks and recreation Missouri City is capping off 2017 with three grant awards for Parks & Recreation programming: the National Recreation and Park Association’s Walk With Ease Instructor Training Grant, the United States Tennis Association’s Blended Lines Grant and a U.S. Lacrosse First Stick Program grant. “As we maintain a tight budget, our staff has become aware of how crucial public/private partnerships are to reaching business plan goals,” City Manager Anthony J. Snipes said. “These three grants will result in an enhanced qualityof-life for residents, and I am extremely proud of the creative ways City staff are growing and expanding our recreational programming.” Sponsored by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) in partnership with the Centers for Disease
C H A N G E YO U R LIFE hccs.edu/change
Kulkarni
Presidential election, Sri and a Republican colleague founded a bipartisan initiative called “Breaking Bread,” which aims to reduce the partisan hostility that has been repeated in several states. Following recent events in U.S. politics, Sri says he was disturbed by the rising hostility towards people of other religions and races, and the treatment of women in the United States. In particular, he was disturbed by the Republican Party’s support for Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore, who said that American families were stronger under slavery, that Christian law was higher than U.S. law, that Muslims could not serve in public office. Sri says he could not continue to serve a government that supported such “antiAmerican ideas.” His ideal of America is one in which people are treated equally, no matter what their skin color, ethnicity, or religion, and he could not represent an administration which was not upholding those values. So, he resigned his commission in the U.S. Foreign Service, in order to run for Congress. His campaign for Congress is based on bringing compassion, reason (including a respect for science) and decency back to our government, because he believes these are true Texas values. Visit www. KulkarniforCongress.com for more information.
Control and Prevention (CDC), the Walk With Ease Instructor Training Grant, awarded to 250 recipients nationwide, will be used to train two staff members on how to help residents improve their social interactions, as well as their health and fitness levels through guided walking programs. Brian Barker, Recreation Specialist for Fitness, Athletics and Facilities, will oversee the grant and participate in the training webinar in January, 2018. Depending on the grantor’s timeline for funds distribution and training, staff expects to have the program ready in the spring of 2018. The United States Tennis Association’s (USTA) Blended Lines Grant is a 100 percent reimbursement grant that allows tennis facilities to create blended lines on tennis courts, which are designed to create a smaller playing surface for
Junior Tennis Programs. The blended line is a light, shadow-like line painted by professionals on regular sized tennis courts. This allows adults to play on the court, while allowing youth to learn on the same court, using the smaller dimensions highlighted by the blended lines. The USTA grant funded blended lines on the front seven courts at the Recreation and Tennis Center, 2701 Cypress Point Dr. “Before USTA introduced the blended line movement, tennis was taught on a fullsized regulation court, regardless of a player’s age or size,” Missouri City Tennis Administrator Cristina Escamos said. “With the success other sports have demonstrated with lower goals, smaller fields and youth-sized equipment, USTA introduced blended lines for 10 See GRANT, Page 3
Page 4 • INDEPENDENT • JANUARY 3, 2018
WHEN MY DADDY WENT TO WAR... INSURANCE
The Last WW II V-mail Nov. 18, 1944 Written by Carolyn Bowden “You will notice the rank and branch on my censor space. Just a change in censorship regulations. “Today I received about six of your letters dating from October to January 1st. Also I had a letter from the wife of one of my men who were killed in Italy. She wanted me to write and tell her it was true that he was killed. I regret to concur with the War Department notice.” “Unfortunately, Mother discarded a lot of “stuff’ that I would have kept. At the beginning of the War she started a scrapbook with all my Daddy’s V-mails. Also there were greeting cards, newspaper clippings, love poems that he clipped out, letters that my brother Jerry and I had written to him. There were no copies of letters from my Mother because my Daddy had no way to save them. He would write on the back of letters and greeting cards and mail them back to us. Mother said she was destroying letters from the families of soldiers who had died while under my Daddy’s command because she thought they had no personal or historical value. She underestimated the significance they would hold decades later. I told her that I wanted the let-
Bowden ters and would save them in a binder, making copies for my brother. However, she never mailed them to me. I wrote to her and thanked her for the scrapbook filled with 207 V-mails. I am assuming that when Daddy was relocated to France. It may have been in October 1944. WWII
was over in September 1945. The V-mails in Mother’s scrapbook about Daddy’s service in WWII stopped with the LAST V-mail written November 18, 1944. I never knew what his job was in France, or how long he was there. I do know that he was discharged in March 1946. PROOF THAT DADDY WAS INDEED IN FRANCE: Mother did send me a picture of Daddy with a group of soldiers in front of Napoleon’s Triumphal Arch in Paris, France. Daddy is in the middle in a light colored jacket. LETTER TO THE EDITOR -1945 “Italian Train CowCatchers”. France, January 12,1945. Written by Joseph M. Valentour, Captain, Infantry. Next Column: The last letter home.
Increasing need for umbrella liability insurance By BASIL HOUSEWRIGHT, JR. How much can you be sued for? It’s limitless and just depends on how careless or bad the act was or lack of proper actions. Each day we hear of a new improper sexual action claim against persons. What if you were driving and texting and ran a red light and hit a school bus full of children and they were all injured. What if your child were charged with bullying at his or her school? What if your dog bit the neighbor’s infant child? What if a neighbor’s child broke his or her neck while playing in your back yard? What if your child (or you) texted an inappropriate photo of a friend to other friends? These types of things take place daily. In a flash everything you’ve worked hard for in your life – your home, your vehicles, and your family’s security could be at risk. Why take this risk? Instead, purchase a personal umbrella insurance policy. A Personal Umbrella Liability Insurance policy would be a method to protect everything for which you have worked so hard. It can give you additional liability insurance over the limits of your auto, homeowners, recreational vehicle, boat liability, and other personal liability insurance policy limits in $1,000,000 increments. Many insurance companies will sell up to $5,000,000 limits without specialized underwriting requirements. The cost of an umbrella policy is typically inexpensive in comparison to the amount of coverage offered and can often can be purchased for $200 to $300 a year per $1M in coverage. There is a catch though.
Housewright The insurance company will require you insure all the underlying liability exposures to a specified minimum liability limit in order to qualify for an umbrella policy. The umbrella policy may also have exclusions and limitations, such as business related activities and exposures related to jet skis, jet sleds or other recreational vehicles. It is suggested you check the specific limitations with the company you propose to do business with. If there is no coverage in your homeowners, auto or other policy for a particular loss, the personal umbrella insurance policy may still provide coverage by at least maybe protecting you with a defense so you potentially could avoid managing your own claim and/or paying attorney’s fees. The Personal Umbrella Liability Insurance policy should provide coverage for legal costs, including representation by insurance company appointed attorneys, court costs, interest on judgments and premiums for necessary bonds. The chances of being sued for more than your automobile, homeowners, recreational vehicle or boat liability insurance polices may be small but if this were to happen it could prove to be a financial ruin for the rest of your life.
Your current insurance coverage may not protect you against charges of defamation of character, invasion of privacy, libel or slander, but a personal umbrella insurance policy could by making sure your personal liability and umbrella insurance policy include Personal Injury Coverage to cover these exposures. With the rapidly expanding exposures from the use of the internet a lawsuit can happen to you just because of a thoughtless sharing of information or a misguided reply, comment, etc... Many parents think first of lowering their automobile liability limits when their children first start to drive due to the increased costs associated with this new exposure. The reason for the substantial premium increase for insuring youthful drivers is the tendency for new, inexperienced drivers to have accidents, many of which result in serious damages and injuries. It would be advisable for parents to consider higher limits of automobile liability coverage and a personal umbrella policy when they have youthful drivers in their household to protect against this period of higher exposure. The more you own, the more you have to lose. Consider a personal umbrella policy to give you and your family extra piece of mind. Basil Housewright is manager of Texans Insurance & Financial Group, Inc a local Independent Insurance Agency operating in Sugar Land since 1991. He can be reached at (281) 277-7800, Fax (281) 277-7801, E-Mail – basil@ texansinsure.com. Visit www. texansinsure.com.
Why Women Should Listen to Their Hearts
MIKE’S MONOLOGUE
I Heard Christmas By MICHAEL GRANTO Almost all of us have a soft spot in our hearts for Christmas music. I remember hearing Christmas music coming from the stores along Main Street in my hometown. That sound, mixed with the feel of snowflakes on my face, and the smell of Christmas trees in the lot at the corner, became, in my boy’s mind, what Christmas is. There were certain songs that brought a catch to my throat, and a tear to my eye. “Little Drummer Boy” was one of those, but there were others. When I was a sophomore in high school, I found another. There was a Christmas Assembly held in the school auditorium. We could still call it “Christmas Assembly” because political correctness hadn’t strangled thought and speech. There was a young man listed on the program selected to sing “O Holy Night.” He was a slender young man, a year or two ahead of me, Intelligent and popular, he also played football. His build and his dexterity made him a halfback, not a plug-in-the-mud lineman, like I was. He strode onto the stage, smiling and confident. He might have had a twinkle in his eye, but being a minister’s son may have accounted for that. He surveyed his audience, left to right, balcony to main floor. And then he started to sing. I had never heard that song
Granto before, and I had certainly never heard anyone sing like he sung. He didn’t yell, but his voice had a power that filled that auditorium. There was almost no room for oxygen so powerful was his voice, so completely did it fill the space. I understood every word of that song, but I was quite unprepared for the emotional steamroller I felt as his voice rolled over me, and it seemed, through me. His voice was so powerful, and so beautiful, it didn’t just fill the auditorium, it filled me. The effect that Christmas songs have on me remains to this day. A friend invited me to a performance of Handel’s “Messiah” a couple of weeks ago. The Performance was by the Houston Symphony, at the Sugar Land Baptist Church, not far from here. I would be accomplishing two objectives: I’d be hearing the Houston Symphony for the first time, and hearing Handel’s “Messiah” live for the first time. We arrived in plenty of time, took our seats, and as we waited, we watched the musicians fill the orchestra in twos
and threes. After they seated themselves, they started to tune their instruments, something I have always felt is like a glimpse into the secret world of talented, professional musicians. Most of us have heard the “Messiah” at one time or another, either on television, or radio, or recording, but nothing compares to hearing it live. Once more, I was totally unprepared for the emotional effect this would have on me. The first “Hallelujah” chorus had an almost physical effect on me; I almost felt pushed back into my seat. It was the sopranos. It was the women. It was beautiful. It felt like a wave, a wall of beautiful noise came surging out of the choir and flooded the whole church. Once more, I was left with tears streaming down my face at the sheer power and beauty of their voices. I left feeling uplifted and hopeful; I felt as though I had just HEARD Christmas. (Granto is a United States Marine Corps veteran of Vietnam, awarded the Purple Heart. For over 24 years, he worked for the University of Miami Medical Campus Security Department, and retired in 2014. He moved to Missouri City, with his wife to be closer to her daughter. He can be reached at mikegranto@ hotmail.com.)
Despite the perception that heart disease is a man’s disease, it’s the No. 1 killer of women, according to the American Heart Association. Millions of women die of heart disease every year, yet many are unaware of their risk for the condition. Women often put off taking care of their health — and this inaction can put an extra burden on their hearts. One form of heart disease, a heart attack, can strike suddenly and with no advance warning. Just like men, women often experience the crushing chest pain and discomfort typically associated with a heart attack. However, women are somewhat more likely than men to experience other common heart attack symptoms and often ignore them. “A misunderstanding of gender-related heart attack symptoms could cause women to delay getting care because they aren’t sure if they’re having a heart attack, panic attack or indigestion,” according to Kesavan Shan, MD, a boardcertified cardiologist with Houston Methodist Cardiology Associates. “It’s key to learn and watch for signs that something may be wrong — and if you’re ever in doubt, don’t hesitate to seek prompt medical care.” HOW A WOMAN’S HEART ATTACK MAY FEEL You may already be familiar with classic heart attack symptoms for men, such as crushing chest pain that radiates down the left arm associated with sweatiness, paleness and shortness of breath. “Women are more likely than men to describe chest pain that is burning and sharp as well as experience extreme fatigue, pain in the neck, jaw, throat, abdomen or back,” Shan said. “Breaking out in a cold
Dr. Kesavan sweat is also more common in women, as is lightheadedness,” Shan explained. RISK FACTORS OFFER CLUES
Managing your risk factors for cardiovascular disease is only possible if you know what they are, and routine screening tests can reveal the answers. At your next checkup, ask your doctor to assess your weight and BMI (body mass index), waist circumference, blood pressure, cholesterol and fasting blood glucose level. “These tests offer important clues to cardiovascular health as well as your overall health,” Shan said. HEART ATTACK NOT SOLE SETBACK With all the focus on heart attacks, some aren’t aware that cardiovascular disease can take many forms. Other heart problems include heart See HEART, Page 5
City of Missouri City LEGAL NOTICE THIS IS A MANDATED PUBLICATION OF THE LEGAL NOTICE ******* CLOSING DATE OF January 16, 2018 AT 2:00 pm. ******* Sealed Proposal for the provision of Owner-Occupied Single-Family Housing Rehabilitation Services to the City of Missouri City, RFP # 18-138 Owner-Occupied Single-Family Housing Rehabilitation Services Responses must be sealed, marked on the outside of the delivery envelope with the RFP name and number as listed above, and the date of opening. Responses must be delivered to the attention of the Sealed Bid Box, City of Missouri City Purchasing Office, 1522 Texas Parkway, Missouri City, Texas 77489, prior to the acceptance deadline. Responses marked improperly and therefore mis-directed may be disqualified. Responses are opened in public in the City Hall Council Chambers on January 16, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. Until final award of the Contract, the OWNER reserves the right to reject any or all Responses, to waive irregularities or technicalities, to re-advertise, or proceed to do the Work otherwise when in the best interests of the OWNER. No bid may be withdrawn during the 60 days following the bid opening date.
FORT BEND FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE.
12551 Emily Court, Sugar Land, TX 77478 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 623, Sugar Land, TX 77478 Seshadri Kumar Publisher & Editor
www.fbindependent.com 281-980-6745
Fort Bend Independent, (USPS 025-572) is published every Wednesday (for a subscription rate of $20 per year) by Fort Bend Independent, LLC., 12551, Emily Court, Texas 77478. Periodicals Postage Paid at Stafford, Texas. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Fort Bend Independent, P.O. Box 623, Sugar Land, Tx 77487.
INDEPENDENT • JANUARY 3, 2018 • Page 5
Olson and Stefanik introduce Bill to protect victims of harassment and taxpayers WASHINGTON, DC – Representatives Pete Olson (RTX) and Elise Stefanik (R-NY) have introduced legislation to ensure victims of harassment on Capitol Hill continue to receive just compensation for their suffering, but at the hands of their accusers, not at taxpayer expense. Olson and Stefanik introduced H.R. 4690, the Responsible Settlements for Victims and Taxpayers Act, which will require Members found guilty of harassment to reimburse the Treasury for settlements paid out to victims. Furthermore, if a Member leaves office and fails to reimburse the Treasury, their federal retirement account, also known as a Thrift Savings Account, can be taken to pay back the American people. Rep. Pete Olson said, “Recent reports of harassment coming out of Capitol Hill are disgusting and wrong on every level. “The notion that any claims of harassment have been settled at taxpayer expense is simply indefensible. As we look to right this wrong, I have concerns with any colleagues seeking the easy way out by resigning and thinking this action gets them off the hook. “That’s why not only does this bill require members to reimburse the Treasury for payments to victims, but also provides a mechanism for reimbursement should anyone leave office. “The wonderful staffers who come to Capitol Hill to serve the American people deserve a safe work environment. If that safety is breached, they deserve compensation from the person who harms them, not the American taxpayers. I thank my colleague Elise Stefanik for joining me in this
Olson effort and hope we can get this bill to the House floor for consideration as soon as possible.” “Taxpayers should not be forced to foot the bill for lawmakers’ inappropriate behavior,” said Congresswoman Stefanik. “This commonsense legislation addresses the recent and shocking reports of abuse by some on Capitol Hill, and it protects hard earned taxpayer dollars. I was pleased to join my colleagues recently to pass mandatory sexual harassment training for the House of Representatives, and this bill is one more important step to protecting our workspaces from abuse. I thank Congressman Olson for leading this effort.” Highlights of the Bill H.R. 4690 amends the Congressional Accountability Act to require Members of Congress to reimburse the U.S. Treasury for settlements paid in connection with violations of sexual harassment committed personally by Members of Congress. The bill also allows use of Thrift Savings Plan agency contributions to a Member as a source of reimbursement if a Member or Senator has not met the requirements of repayment within 180 days of the settlement agreement.
FBISD Graduation Ceremony to be held at Smart Financial Centre On Monday, Dec. 18, the Fort Bend ISD Board of Trustees approved an agreement with ACE SL, LCC, to conduct the 2017-18 commencement exercises at the Smart Financial Centre in Sugar Land on May 31, June 1 and June 2. In June 2017, FBISD hosted its first successful graduation ceremonies at the Smart Financial Centre. In two days, the District hosted more than 6,000 graduates and more than 46,000 guests in 11 ceremonies. In planning for the 2017-18 graduation ceremonies, FBISD collaborated with the Smart Financial Centre and City of Sugar Land to improve upon the first year and expanded the events to a three-day schedule that allows more time between ceremonies.
Grants From Page 3 and under tennis. These new lines will now allow us to launch new Junior Tennis Programs in January 2018, including new Saturday morning classes.” The US Lacrosse First Stick Program grant provides developing lacrosse programs 20 full sets of lacrosse equipment, including player sticks, shoulder pads, arm pads, gloves and lacrosse helmets with facemasks and chinstraps. The grant also provides a complimentary US Lacrosse membership for the 20 new players and a coach membership for 2 adults. With a retail value of $6,000, the grant will supply new equipment for participants in the City’s lacrosse program and alleviate the financial burden of those who want to begin playing lacrosse. “I had the opportunity to use this grant while working in Illinois and Michigan to help support their growing lacrosse programs in those areas and look forward to growing our own ‘Show Me City’ lacrosse programming,” said Jason Mangum, Director of Parks & Recreation.
“Our lacrosse program, Mayhem Lacrosse, will continue in January and focus on new and developing players by modeling the US Lacrosse Athlete Development Model.”
NEWS
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: Policy highlights The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act overhauls America’s tax code to deliver historic tax relief for workers, families and job creators, and revitalize our nation’s economy. By lowering taxes across the board, eliminating costly special-interest tax breaks, and modernizing our international tax system, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will help create more jobs, increase paychecks, and make the tax code simpler and fairer for Americans of all walks of life. With this bill, the typical family of four earning the median family income of $73,000 will receive a tax cut of $2,059. For individuals and families, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: • Lowers individual taxes and sets the rates at 0%, 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37% so people can keep more of their hard-earned money. • Significantly increases the standard deduction to protect roughly double the amount of what you earn each year from taxes – from $6,500 and $13,000 under current law to $12,000 and $24,000 for individuals and married couples, respectively. • Continues to allow people to write off the cost of state and local taxes – up to $10,000. Gives individuals and families the ability to deduct property taxes and income – or sales – taxes to best fit their unique circumstances. • Takes action to support more American families by: • Expanding the Child Tax Credit from $1,000 to $2,000 for single filers and married couples to help parents with the cost of raising children. The tax credit is fully refundable up to $1,400 and begins to phase-out for families making over $400,000. Parents must provide a child’s valid Social Security Number in order to receive this credit. • Preserving the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit to help families care for their children and older dependents such as a disabled grandparent who may need additional support. • Preserving the Adoption Tax Credit so parents can continue
Heart From Page 4
failure, in which the heart isn’t pumping as efficiently as it should; arrhythmia, a too-slow or too-fast heartbeat that can affect its ability to meet the body’s needs; and heart valve problems, which can impede proper blood flow through the heart.” Nearly all of these conditions are easily detectable with routine medical checkups,” Shan said. “It’s yet another reason why establishing an ongoing relationship
to receive additional tax relief as they open their hearts and homes to an adopted child. • Preserves the mortgage interest deduction – providing tax relief to current and aspiring homeowners. • For all homeowners with existing mortgages that were taken out to buy a home, there will be no change to the current mortgage interest deduction. • For homeowners with new mortgages on a first or second home, the home mortgage interest deduction will be available up to $750,000. • Provides relief for Americans with expensive medical bills by expanding the medical expense deduction for 2017 and 2018 for medical expenses exceeding 7.5 percent of adjusted gross income, and rising to 10 percent beginning in 2019. • Continues and expands the deduction for charitable contributions so people can continue to donate to their local church, charity, or community organization. • Eliminates Obamacare’s individual mandate penalty tax – providing families with muchneeded relief and flexibility to buy the health care that’s right for them if they choose. • Maintains the Earned Income Tax Credit to provide important tax relief for low-income Americans working to build better lives for themselves. • Improves savings vehicles for education by allowing families to use 529 accounts to save for elementary, secondary and higher education. • Provides support for graduate students by continuing to exempt the value of reduced tuition from taxes. • Retains popular retirement savings options such as 401(k) s and Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) so Americans can continue to save for their future. • Increases the exemption amount from the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) to reduce the complexity and tax burden for millions of Americans. • Provides immediate relief from the Death Tax by doubling the amount of the current exemption to reduce uncertainty and costs for many family-owned farms and businesses when they pass down
their life’s work to the next generation.
with a primary care physician is so critical to your heart health.” MENOPAUSE Women with heart disease risk factors, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and a family history, shouldn’t wait until menopause to start a dialogue with their primary care physician about a prevention regimen to keep them healthy. A recent survey published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that 74 percent of women in the United States had at least one heart disease risk fac-
tor, but only 16 percent told their doctor about it. “Women have such a low prevalence of heart disease until menopause that often times, the topic is ignored until women are well into their 50s and 60s,” Shan said. “But those with risk factors need to be 10 years ahead of the game when it comes to prevention. Unfortunately, too many women already have heart disease by the time they’re tested. To schedule an appointment with Kesavan Shan, MD, at Houston Methodist Cardiology Associ-
For job creators of all sizes, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: • Lowers the corporate tax rate to 21% (beginning Jan. 1, 2018) – down from 35%, which today is the highest in the industrialized world – the largest reduction in the U.S. corporate tax rate in our nation’s history. • Delivers significant tax relief to Main Street job creators by: • Offering a first-ever 20% tax deduction that applies to the first $315,000 of joint income earned by all businesses organized as S corporations, partnerships, LLCs, and sole proprietorships. For Main Street job creators with income above this level, the bill generally provides a deduction for up to 20% on business profits – reducing their effective marginal tax rate to no more than 29.6%. • Establishing strong safeguards so that wage income does not receive the lower marginal effective tax rates on business income – helping to ensure that Main Street tax relief goes to the local job creators it was designed to help most. • Allows businesses to immediately write off the full cost of new equipment to improve operations and enhance the skills of their workers – unleashing growth of jobs, productivity, and paychecks. • Protects the ability of small businesses to write off interest on loans, helping these Main Street entrepreneurs start or expand a business, hire workers, and increase paychecks. • Preserves important elements of the existing business tax system, including: • Retaining the low-income housing tax credit that encourages businesses to invest in affordable housing so families, individuals, and seniors can find a safe and comfortable place to call home. • Preserving the Research & Development Tax Credit that encourages our businesses and workers to develop cutting-edge “Made in America” products and services. • Retaining the tax-preferred status of private-activity bonds that are used to finance valuable infrastructure projects.
• Eliminates the Corporate Alternative Minimum Tax, thereby lowering taxes and eliminating confusion and uncertainty so American job creators can focus on growing their business and hiring more workers, rather than on burdensome paperwork. • Modernizes our international tax system so America’s global businesses will no longer be held back by an outdated “worldwide” tax system that results in double taxation for many of our nation’s job creators. • Makes it easier for American businesses to bring home foreign earnings to invest in growing jobs and paychecks in our local communities. • Prevents American jobs, headquarters, and research from moving overseas by eliminating incentives that now reward companies for shifting jobs, profits, and manufacturing plants abroad.
For greater American energy security and economic growth, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: • Establishes an environmentally responsible oil and gas program in the non-wilderness 1002 Area of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). Congress specifically set aside the 1.57-million acre 1002 Area for potential future development. Two lease sales will be held over the next decade and surface development will be limited to 2,000 federal acres – just one tenthousandth of all of ANWR. • Significantly boosts American energy production. Responsible development in the 1002 Area will raise tens of billions of dollars for deficit reduction in the decades to come, while creating thousands of new jobs, reducing our dependence on foreign oil, and helping to keep energy affordable for American families and businesses. • Provides a temporary increase in offshore revenue sharing for the Gulf Coast in 2020 and 2021, allowing those states to invest in priorities such as coastal restoration and hurricane protection.
(Source: House Ways and Means Committee and Senate Finance Committee) ates, call 713.776.9500. For the latest news, events and information visit our Facebook page at fb.com/methodistsugarland. HEART HEALTH SCREENINGS Schedule an appointment to learn your 10-year risk for heart disease and receive cholesterol and blood pressure screenings. Registration is required. Go to events.houstonmethodist.org/ heart-sl or call 281.274.7500 for more information and to register.
Page 6 • INDEPENDENT •JANUARY 3, 2018
COMMUNITY
Chamber welcomes MedExpress during Ribbon Cutting The Central Fort Bend Chamber along with members of the Rosenberg and Richmond community welcomed MedExpress at their ribbon cutting on December 12, 2017. The Richmond MedExpress is the first in the city and third in the state of Texas, and is located at 4050, FM762 in Richmond and expanding. Jim Russ, Chairman for the Central Fort Bend Chamber Board of Directors, presented Sharon Rios, MedExpress Center Manager, with their 2017 new member plaque. Attendees were treated to a tour of the center and hors d’oeuvres provided by Olive Garden. MedExpress is open to Shown, front row (L to R) are: Child Advocates of Fort Bend Development Officer Jessica Jubin, walk-ins from 8:00 a.m – 8:00 and CEO Ruthanne Mefford with Fluor Event Co-Chairs Tracey Mooney, April Nemec, Fluor p.m, 7 days a week. MedSenior Manager of Community & Public Affairs Barbara Jones and Jennifer Smith. Back row Express centers welcome a (L to R) are: Kurt Wendt, Rebecca Schoenherr, Victor Vann and Paul Miller. variety of medical services including urgent care, treatment of common illnesses, and employer health services. Most patients can expect to be in and out in under an hour. Fort Bend foster youth will for remembering the children. help each child succeed in life,” MedExpress accepts most inreceive thousands of hours of More than 1,200 foster youth stated Child Advocates of Fort surances and offers affordable self-pay plans. For more in- Jim Russ, Chairman of the Central Fort Bend Chamber, and specialized services provided across Texas were displaced by Bend CASA Program Director by Child Advocates of Fort Hurricane Harvey. While many Metoyer Martin. formation about MedExpress Sharon Rios, MedExpress Center Manager. “As the only CASA Program Bend thanks to the generosity of them are now back in stable and the services they offer, Below, MedExpress Rosenberg center staff. of Fluor Corporation and all of environments, we are here to in the state of Texas that is able visit www.medexpress.com. those who took part in the 10th make sure each child has his or to match every child in foster anniversary Golf for Greater her needs met for the long-term, care with a CASA Volunteer as they continue to move past to advocate for their needs, we Houston Golf Tournament. Event co-chairs April Nemec hurdles on their path toward have eyes and ears on every and Tracey Mooney led em- healing,” said Child Advocates child and are able to identify ployees of Fluor in the year- of Fort Bend CEO Ruthanne their individual needs. In addition to helping with advocacy long effort to raise more than Mefford. “Fluor has supported the throughout their time in school, $400,000, with $73,000 going toward CAFB’s NEST and WINGS and NEST Programs we model healthy choices, enWINGS programs for aging- for foster youth for a very long courage them in school, teach out foster youth. Nine other time. This year, we had the life skills, guide them toward Fort Bend charities received a opportunity to do something stable employment or careers special by providing for them and help them with whatever share of the proceeds. “It’s been such a challeng- in an extraordinary way,” said else they may need to keep ing year for everyone in Fort Barbara Jones, senior manager them from becoming a statistic. Bend County, which is why of community and public affairs Thanks to Fluor’s generosity, we are able to continue these this incredible gift means so at Fluor. “We hope the funds will efforts and ramp up these promuch. With so many needs and deserving charities, we leave a huge mark on these grams to ensure that they are are especially grateful to Fluor youth and change many lives.” able to move past their abuse “We do whatever it takes to and find success.” and the tournament participants
Golf for Greater Houston and Fluor impact foster youth
A gift of hope OakBend Medical Center welcomes first baby of 2018
L to R: Elizabeth Munoa, Hope For Three Family Assistance Coordinator, Barbara Jones, Fluor Senior Manager, Community and Public Affairs and Darla Farmer, Hope For Three, Executive Director and Founder, celebrate this holiday season with the greatest gift of all, a gift of hope. OakBend Medical Center welcomed its first baby of 2018 at 1:43PM on January 1st. Born to parents Edith and Anthony Obi, baby boy, Chimdi, weighed in at 5 lbs 8 oz and is 18.75 inches long. Mother, dad and baby and all doing well and looking forward to all that the new year and new baby bring.
Download the free FBInd App from the Apple Store or Google Playstore for a pleasant reading of Fort Bend Independent on your mobile phone.
Fluor Cares! The Fluor Corporation has a tradition of community service and philanthropic support. Fluor Cares, the Foundation of the Corporation, engages and empowers employees to make a difference in their communities. Not only do employees give back, the Foundation magnifies and extends Fluor’s philanthropic impact by supporting nonprofit organizations. This holiday season, Hope For Three, a local nonprofit and
autism advocacy group, was given the greatest gift of all, a gift of hope. Barbara Jones, Fluor Senior Manager, Community and Public Affairs, presented Elizabeth Munoa and Darla Farmer a $5,000 check to provide direct support to families and children living with autism. “Gifts like this ensure children with autism have access to vital therapies and services they might otherwise go without,” said Elizabeth Munoa. “We’re honored to receive such a tremendous
gift this holiday season; it truly is a gift of hope.” Hope For Three provides resources and support, in the form of financial aid, exclusively to qualified residents in Fort Bend County living with autism. If you know a family in need this holiday season, call 281-245-0640 or visit hopeforthree.org. Hope For Three. Autism Advocates. Providing Help. Creating Hope. Since 2011.
INDEPENDENT • JANUARY 3, 2018 • Page 7
NEWS
SSLW presents 2018 community service projects Fort Bend County Suburban Sugar Land Women (SSLW) & Partners celebrate 29 years of lifetime commitment to design, implement, maintain, and evaluate service projects for our infants, children, youth, adults, and our communities and beyond via our six ongoing, caring, cutting – edge, and free programs: SENIORS ENRICHMENT: three care centers; one hospital; installed smoke detectors and replaced batteries; provided pet food; and special requests FAMILIES OUTREACH: food, clothing, supplies, emergency & disaster, education and training INFANTS – YOUNG ADULTS DEVELOPMENT: cradle – college - career support; adopt schools; & school – life incentives; and special requests SCHOLARSHIPS & SUPPORT: Fort Bend Countywide Colleges & Scholarships Fairs; award first – time & continuing scholarships; financial literacy; volunteerism; special requests. COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS: secured individuals, families, organizations, & corporate, tax - deductible donations of $200 - $25,000 according to IRS guidelines. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: continue our thirty collaborations in education, training, and health, financial, civic, cultural, and economic. Provide direct human services and financial
2017 First time Scholarship Recipients
Family of Four receive resources from SSLW Pajamas & Treats for Infants and Toddlers in Rosenberg on National Make A Difference Day resources to infants, children, youth, families, fathers, homeless, veterans, disabled, military, Hurricane Harvey survivors, and the economically disadvantaged. Continue our efforts, en-
ergy, and enthusiasm to transform lives – one person at a time. Become a partner. Visit us www.sslw.org and Facebook. sslw1989@aol.com. Call 713.256.7953
Grant-a-Starr family fun run’s 10th anniversary
Dr Moses & Susan Wilcox present $13,500 to Mose & Mable Austins for SSLW Programs and Scholarships
access is
providing your family with great health care Because every child deserves it, we make quality health care affordable to all parents. 2018 GASF Teen Board (top row)Daniel Amante, Conner Seamonds, Brandon Valdivieso, Lucas Cantu, Kristen Li (bottom row)Natalia Kardoush, Carmeli Nguyen, Rachel Vanderzyl, Allie Navarro (not pictured:Greg Freeman, Kody Chen, Tj La, Kyle Pittman) The Grant-A-Starr Foundation (GASF) brings awareness and vital research funding dedicated to pediatric diagnostic testing. Newer and faster diagnostic technologies can save children’s lives by reducing the critical time required to identify an illness, so treatment can begin. In 2005, Rod and Dolores Starr lost their seven-year-old son, Grant, to a deadly undiagnosed infectious disease. Had rapid and accurate diagnostic testing been available, Grant’s life might have been saved. Over the past 11 years, the foundation has supported key research projects at Texas Children’s Hospital and Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, which have produced advancements in the diagnosis of meningitis, H1N1 virus, and other infectious diseases. The annual Fun Run Family - with the help of our generous sponsors, City Council, FBISD, students and volunteers - has contributed to GASF raising over $1.2 million since its inception, with
100% of donations funding life-saving research. Our Teen Board The GASF Family Fun Run is truly unique as it is organized by a Teen Board, with the support of parent volunteers. The Teen Board is made up of local high school students with a passion for our cause and a desire to lead all aspects of our event; including planning, publicity, sponsorships and vendors, registration and race day. The 2018 Teen Board hopes to reach new milestones with 500 race participants and a fundraising goal of $50,000 to celebrate our 10-year anniversary. The Fun Run is a 5K and 1-mile Run/Walk on April 21, 2018 - 8:00 a.m Start. It is open to all novice and competitive runners, students, parents, and children. It will include both a 5K chip timed race on a USATF course and a 1-mile event. A community post-race party with food, freebies, and fun for everyone will follow. There will also be an awards ceremony for
multiple age groups and categories. Race Location: Sugar Land’s Brazos River Park 18427 Southwest Freeway 77479 (NEW location) Registration opens February 1, 2018. Go to www. grantastarr.org to register and see more race details, including our Team Challenge for corporate sponsors, local schools, and student groups to compete against each other! For additional registration information, contact Sharise Amante at (281) 889-0534 or shariseamante@yahoo.com. Sponsorship For sponsorship opportunities, contact Jolene Vanderzyl at (832) 725-8396 or jvanderzyl@windstream.net. Special thanks to last year’s Chairman, Platinum, and Gold Level Sponsors: Texas Children’s Hospital, Sugar Lakes Family Practice, Nectron International, TGS, CJG Engineers, CHI St. Luke’s Hospital, Children’s Memorial Hospital, Sequoia Brewing Company, Carrier Energy Partners, Schlumberger, Hexagroup, and VLS Recovery Services.
Medicaid, Chip and private a insurance is accepted. A sliding fee scale is also available for those who qualify. 281-342-4530 myaccesshealth.org
Page 8 • INDEPENDENT • JANUARY 3, 2018
AUTOMOBILE: Toyota Tundra
By BARBARA FULENWIDER Toyota’s Texas-assembled Tundra full-size pickup keeps on truckin’ for 2018 with a fresh new look up front and a new TRD Sport package. The advanced Toyota Safety Sense-P (TSS-P) system is now standard on all Tundra grades. Reflecting ongoing trends in the segment, the Regular Cab models have been discontinued, leaving an all-four-door lineup with the Double Cab and extra-roomy CrewMax models. Assembled exclusively in San Antonio the Toyota Tundra offers a plethora of possible configurations, plus, a towing capacity of up to 10,200 pounds. A significant change in 2018 is TSS-P, which includes the pre-collision system with pedestrian detection function, lane departure alert, dynamic radar cruise control, and automatic high beams. Once a pedestrian or vehicle are detected, the system applies the brakes to help mitigate or avoid collisions in certain conditions. Pickup drivers like to personalize their trucks, and owners get a head-start with some new frontal style for 2018. The SR and SR5 grades got an updated gray honeycomb-style grille and halogen headlights with LED daytime running lights. The Limited scored an updated billet-style grille featuring chrome surround, and all lights are LED. The new TRD Sport package gets its own look with body-color surround for the honeycomb-style grille, colorkeyed mirrors and bumpers and hood scoop. It rides on 20-inch silver-painted aluminum alloy wheels with black
accents. Toyota Racing Development or TRD got some tangible changes that include anti-sway bars and sport-tuned Bilstein shocks. For 2018 the V8 Tundra lineup offers the four-door Double Cab and the supersized four-door CrewMax. Within those two, five model grades are the SR; volumeleading SR5; Limited; and Platinum and 1794 Edition. Double Cab models, offered with either a 6.5-foot standardbed or 8.1-foot long-bed configuration, use forward-hinged rear doors, and offer 34.7 inches of rear seat legroom. CrewMax’s longer cab, larger rear doors, and shorter 5.5-foot bed make for a limo-like 42.3 inches of rear seat legroom. Limited trim Double Cab models come standard with a power sliding horizontal rear window, while all CrewMax models have a power vertical sliding rear window. The SR and SR5 are available with bench or bucket seats for the front row, while the Limited, Platinum and 1794 Edition offer the upgraded bucket seats. Rear seats in both cab styles can be folded up for additional cargo. All Tundra beds are 22.2 inches deep and when properly equipped can haul up to 1,730 pounds. The lockable easylower-and-lift tailgate lowers slowly and can easily be removed. There is an available deck rail system and a spray-in bed liner. The Tundra provides a choice of two V8 engines paired with six-speed automatic transmissisons. The standard 4.6-liter i-Force V8 produces 310 horsepower at 5,600 rpm
and 327 lb.-ft. of peak torque at 3,400 rpm. The 5.7-liter makes 381 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 401 lb.-ft. of peak torque at 3,600 rpm. On Tundra 2WD models, the vehicle stability control system enhances grip and incorporates automatic limited-slip differential. The 4x4 Tundras provide 4x2, 4x4 Hi, and 4x4 Lo ranges. The Tundra SR grade comes with Entune Audio featuring a 6.1-inch touchscreen display; AM/FM CD Player with MP3/ WMA playback capability; aux jack; USB 2.0 port with increased charging capability and iPod connectivity and control; hands-free phone capability; Siri Eyes Free; advanced voice recognition, plus phone book access and music streaming via Bluetooth. The standard Toyota safety system includes vehicle stability control, traction control, antilock braking system, electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist, and smart stop brake override technology. A blind spot monitor and rear cross traffic alert are available. The Tundra Limited CrewMax was the test drive vehicle and is one big classy V8. It retails for $40,385.
Briargate Elementary’s Juanita Staten receives Red Apple Award Juanita Staten, a kindergarten teacher at Briargate Elementary, is the recipient of the Red Apple Award for December 2017. KHOU-TV’s Great Day Houston, in conjunction with Star Furniture, presents the award to Houston-area teachers who go above and beyond their call of duty to support students. Campus administrators and a group of Staten’s peers joined Great Day Houston reporter Christina Kooker in surprising her with the award on December 8. “I am so honored to be awarded the Red Apple Award. It means a lot to be recognized for my hard work and dedication to students,” said Staten. “It’s also an honor to teach every day and make a positive difference in children’s lives.” Staten dedicates her Red Apple award to her mother who recently lost her battle with cancer. “My mother was very proud of me and my career in education,” said Staten. Peggy Jones nominated Staten for the award. She describes Staten as a “die hard” educator who is always willing
to volunteer and support her colleagues. She also said Staten takes pride in her appearance by dressing up for class each day and is always seen with a smile on her face. Briargate Principal Deanna Olson also speaks highly of Staten. “Ms. Staten gives so much to her students and our staff all the time, and I’m glad she’s being recognized with the
Red Apple Award,” said Olson. Assistant Principal Constance Hawkins agrees. “I marvel over her dedication and constant morale boosts she provides to staff, even when facing challenges of her own,” said Hawkins. Staten closes out the year as the last educator to receive a Red Apple award in 2017.
Ron Joseph to entertain Loving Friends Loving Friends will meet for dinner and entertainment on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018, 5 p.m. at Quail Valley City Cr., 2880 La Quinta Dr.,Missouri City. Ron Joseph who has been a guitar performer since early 1970’s will entertain the group. First, with show bands that played from Galveston to Las Vegas , Ron now teaches music lessons from his Sugar Land home. Loving Friends is a social group of men and women, who lost their spouses, meet monthly in a social environment as they move on with their lives. It is not a grief support group. Interested prospective members, or if just wanting to attend
MEP Engineering
as a guest, please call 281208-3124 for a reservation. The cost for dinner and entertainment is $22 inclusive, paid at the door.
Commissioning
Other monthly activities include pokeno, book club, monthly luncheons and bridge. New members are always greeted with a warm welcome.
Program Management
When you need experience, PLANTATION at Quail Valley Active Senior Living; Embracing the lives of Seniors 55 and Better
we have it covered. Rice & Gardner Consultants, Inc. is a multi-disciplinary professional engineering firm that focuses on MEP Engineering, Commissioning, and Program Management. We act as an extension to our clients, providing total engineering services from project inception to completion. With our deep bench of high skilled and experienced staff and innovative technology Rice & Gardner can plan, lead, and complete projects on time and within budget.
2815 Cypress Point Dr, Missouri City, TX 77459 www. plantationqv.com
Phone: (281) 208-4470
6161 Savoy Drive, Suite 1212 Houston, TX 77036 | 713-482-2300 | www.ricegardner.com