Fort Bend Independent 010919

VOL 12 No. 2

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FORT BEND FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2019

P. O.BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487-0623

Official newspaper of Fort Bend County & Missouri City

County judge, other elected officials take oath of office

KP George, Fort Bend County Judge, takes the oath of office on Jan. 1, with his wife Sheeba holding the family Bible, which they brought from their home in India and District Judge Brenda Mullinix, left, administers the oath. Rev. Libin Abraham of the Sugar Creek Baptist Church rendered the invocation and Pct. 3 Constable Wayne Thompson, led with the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States and Texas Flags.

The Jury Assembly Room was overflowing with the public standing inside and outside the room as enthusiastic members wanted to participate in the County Judge KP George,right, with his Chief of Staff Taral Patel, left significant event in Fort Bend and Director of Communications Xavier Herrera, after the swearing County’s political landscape. ceremony at the Fort Bend County Justice Center on Jan. 1.

Elected officials from Fort Bend County on the steps of the Justice Center after the oath taking ceremony: From rear, Pct. 2 Constable Daryl L. Smith, Pct. 4 Commissioner Ken DeMerchant, Pct. 2 Commissioner Grady Prestage and Pct. 1 Commissioner Vincent Morales; Pct. 3 Commissioner Andy Meyers, District Judge Robert L. Rolnick, County Treasurer Bill Rickert, District Judge Frank J. Fraley and Pct. 2 Justice of the Peace Joel Clouser; State Rep. Rick Miller, Justice of the Peace Pct. 3 Kelly Nicole Crow, District Judge Walter Armatys, and District Judge R. O’Neil Williams; Pct. 4 Justice of the Peace Justin Joyce, left, County Court at Law Judge Toni Wallace, CCL Judge Julie Mathew, County Judge KP George, CCL Judge Teana Watson, and CCL Judge Jeff McMeans; front row, District Clerk Beverly M. Walker, left, County Clerk Laura Richard, District Judge Brenda Mullinix, District Judge Maggie Jaramillo, CCL Judge Chris Morales and District Attorney Brian Middleton.

Covia presents Moroccan Nights at Fort Bend Cares’ 14th Annual Road Trip

FBISD trustee Rosenberg Railroad Museum position vacant offers Home School Classes

Excited to sponsor Fort Bend Cares’ Moroccan Nights are Covia representatives (Left to Right) David Tan, Mary Jo Anderson, Brittney Hataway, Ken Hall, Mary Labinsky and Huaxiang Yang.

Make plans to spend an enchanted evening in Morocco at Fort Bend Cares’ 14th Annual Road Trip fundraiser. The fun begins at 6:30 p.m on Saturday, February 2, 2019 at Fluor in Sugar Land.

Join Presenting Sponsor Covia for a night filled with beautiful décor, delicious international cuisine, belly dancers and an interactive atmosphere. Other major supporters of the event are Platinum Sponsors Fluor and Silver Eagle Distributors and Gold Sponsors Art Attack, Billy & Tammy Brown, Rice & Gardner Consultants, Inc,

Gregg Engineering, and Don & Ellie Knauss.

The event space, graciously donated by Fluor, will transport you to the opulent and glittering markets of the kingdom of Morocco. Party-goers are welcome to dress with flair in Moroccan wear or come in jeans or casual clothing. Enjoy dancing to live music by Shark Bait - the Killer Band from Sugar Land. Everyone will enjoy favorite dishes from popular restaurants including BJ’s Brewhouse & Restaurant, Brookstreet BBQ, 2 Bros ITK, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Chuy’s

Tex-Mex Restaurant, Cookie Craze, Fadi’s Mediterranean Grill, Fish City Grill, Mama Fu’s, Outback Steakhouse, P.F. Chang’s, Pacific Coast Tacos, Sweets in the Sky, The Roof Restaurant + Lounge, The Rouxpour and ViBella Sweets.

Road Trip Emcee Khambrel Marshall of KPRC 2 will preside over the evening and The Honorable James Patterson will serve as auctioneer. A live and silent auction, wine & spirits pull, games, a Kendra Scott jewelry pull and a raffle with a top prize of $1500 cash will help boost the amount of

Left, Newly elected Fort Bend County Precinct 2 Constable Daryl Smith is all smiles after the oath taking ceremony.

Following the election of KP George as Fort Bend County Judge, his position on the Fort Bend ISD board as a trustee has become vacant.

The board is expected to make an appointment to fill the vacancy.

FBISD President Jason Burdine said, “The Board will be establishing a process for appointment that will include allowing community members to be considered for the position. The process is expected to take several months to complete. As the Board settles on a process, you can expect that information about the process will be posted on the District’s website.”

funds raised to support nonprofit organizations that improve the lives of disadvantaged children in Fort Bend County.

“It’s heartbreaking that there are so many children in our community with serious health, social and educational needs,” said event co-chair Gail McClendon.

“Road Trip is a great way to help more than 20 non-profits in our community that serve those kids, so buy your tickets and invite your friends!”

Individual tickets are $75 if purchased by January 19 or $85 after. Tickets for Young Professionals (age 35 & under) are $50, increasing to $60 after January 19. Sponsorships are still available.

For more information or to become a sponsor, visit www. fortbendcares.org or call 832819-2005.

The new year brings new home school classes to the Rosenberg Railroad Museum. The hour-long classes will be held on the museum grounds at 1921 Avenue F in the Education Station classroom. The classes give students, ages 7-12, an opportunity to interact with other homeschoolers, receive instruction in a relaxed environment and learn how science applications relate to the history and future of railroading.

“I am very excited about the classes we have planned so far this year,” says the Museum’s Executive Director, Tracy Hobdy. “Even though I stay busy with Museum operations, I will be making time to teach some of the classes, along with other Museum staff. My background is in education and the time I spent as a home school mom to my children was extremely rewarding. I look forward to any opportunity to get back into a classroom! It is estimated that about 2 1/2 percent of school-aged children are home schooled and we are offering fun and affordable science and history classes for those families in our area.”

Students must preregister for the classes and space is limited.

Parents should visit the Education tab on the museum’s website to learn more. The scheduled classes are as follows: January 24 Magnetic Levitating Trains — Come explore the amazing world of magnets and how they are being used to create the world’s fastest bullet train!

February 7 Pullman Porters in Railroading History—Celebrate Black History Month! In this class, students will learn about the important role that Pullman Porters played in railroading history.

February 21 Underground Railroad— Join us as we continue to celebrate Black History Month! This class will focus on the Underground Railroad, and the role that important men and women like Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglas played in the abolitionist movement.

March 7 Harnessing Wind Power—In this class, students will learn how wind power is converted to energy. A hand’s on activity will include building an Anemometer (wind speed reader).

March 21 Spinning Tops and Gyroscopic Effects —Register for this fun class and learn about the Gyroscopic effect and Anti-Gravity.

Lesson will include a segment where students can build their own spinning top.

April 4 All About the Morse Code— Come learn all about the telegraph and the Morse Code in this class. Students will also get to build their own telegraph out of ordinary items!

April 18 The Archimedes Screw and Water Recycling—This class will focus on the water recycling method developed by Archimedes of Syracuse in the times of the Ancient Greeks. Students will learn how water is recycled by this method, and will have the opportunity to build their own Archimedes Screw!

The Museum’s popular WigWag preschool program will begin in January as well. These 45-minute long classes will be held on select Wednesday mornings.

Page 2 • INDEPENDENT • JANUARY 9, 2019

NEWS

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Clements Theatre Company visits 1920’s Berlin with Grand Hotel

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Siyu Cao (Freshman), left, Jack Goldwait (Junior), Karthik Chitta (seated - Freshman), Aria Shankar (above - Senior), Izzi Marino (Sophomore), Victoria Vargas (Junior), Caleb Fusco (Senior), and Ehi Esemuze (Senior). and vibrant musical theatre the stock market is booming, explained.

The Clements Theatre and Berlin is the center of “Aside from amazing char- experience.

Company invites audiences to high life and optimism rules acter work and acting, I think All performances are in the join them in the world’s most the day. But underneath it all, our audiences will be extreme- Clements High School Audiluxurious and mysterious ho- much is happening with Grand ly impressed with the singing, torium. Tickets are $10 each tel as the high school thespi- Hotel’s illustrious clients. dancing and incredible set de- at the door for all three shows. ans perform “Grand Hotel,” “I am so proud of how much sign of this production.” under the direction of Mr. Lu- work this troupe is investing to The Clements High School DATES: cas Howland. ensure we accurately portray production team has brought January 24th, 2019 at 7 PM This seamless musical, the front-end opulence and together the campus’s The- January 25th, 2019 at 7 PM that won multiple Tony and behind-the-scenes drama of atre, Choir, Band, and Dance January 26th, 2019 at 7 PM Drama Desk Awards, features 1920s Berlin,” Mr. Howland departments to provide a rich a powerful score that is sure to get toes tapping, while the story richly contrasts comedy, tragedy, glitz and realism sure to captivate audiences.

Grand Hotel, a production that features mature content that may not be suitable for all audiences, is set in Berlin in 1928.

The world is between wars,

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Ridge Point High School Fine Arts Department presents Disney’s Original High School Musical. January 24, 25, 26, 31 and February 1, 2 Showtime: 7 p.m.

Tickets Available at: www.rphstheatrebooster.com.

Tickets will also be available at the door $15 Adults and $10 students.

Pre-sale online $12 Adults and $8 students.

The show will take place at the Ridge Point Auditorium.

INDEPENDENT • JANUARY 9, 2019 • Page 3

NEWS

Stewart Jacobson plans to run for Sugar Land City Council

With filing for district Sugar Land City Council seats opening on January 16, Stewart Jacobson announces his intent to run for the District 3 position.

Jacobson also announced that longtime Sugar Creek resident and businessman, John Null, will serve as his campaign treasurer. Recent redistricting will expand the boundaries of District 3, most notably, to include the Sugar Creek neighborhood.

Filing makes the campaign official, but Stewart Jacobson has decades of business and civic involvement making him an outstanding candidate for City Council.

With 30 years in the financial sector, he understands the complexities of municipal finance and the importance of keeping taxes low while ensuring property values and bond ratings stay high.

Further, he has a depth of leadership experience serving on Boards in our community.

In these roles, he has proven his ability to build relationships, gain consensus on strategies,

Jacobson and guide actions to move vision forward.

A person of deliberate and independent thought, he will be a unifying voice on City Council, Jacobson said in a press release.

Living in Sugar Land for 12 years and Fort Bend County for 30, Jacobson has personally experienced the growth and success of Sugar Land.

He believes keeping crime and taxes low, having a fiscally sound City, improving mobility, enhancing parks, and providing excellent city

services are fundamental to continued success.

One of the things he appreciates the most is the diversity we enjoy.

“I love learning about other cultures, religions and food.

Where else can I become close friends with neighbors from all over the world? Our diversity makes Sugar Land a very special and welcoming place.”

As his experience clearly shows, Jacobson is passionate about our community.

“I am keenly aware of the delicate balance between quality of life and growth and will bring a steady hand to our City government. I am excited for the opportunity to serve my neighbors in District 3 and will work hard to represent you well.”

Jacobson has held many leadership positions in Sugar Land and Fort Bend County.

He is the current Chairman of the Fort Bend ISD Bond Oversight Committee and has served as Chairman (or President) of the following organizations: Fort Bend Chamber of

Commerce, Arc of Fort Bend, Sugar Land Exchange Club, Brazos District of the Boy Scouts of America, and First Colony MUD 10.

Additionally, he is a member (or officer) of the ESCAPE Family Resource Center Board, Sugar Land PARCS Board, Sugar Land Charter Review Commission, Fort Bend ISD Facilities Steering Committee, Fort Bend County Investment Advisory Board, Central Fort Bend Chamber Alliance, and the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce.

A graduate of the University of Illinois and the University of Texas School of Law, where he earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence, Jacobson has been a Certified Financial Planner since 1988. He is president of his own financial planning firm, Dearborn & Creggs, which has been located in Sugar Land for 23 years.

Jacobson lives in Oyster Point with his wife of 33 years. They have three grown children and two daughters in law.

Fort Bend County Fair Scholarship deadline set

Crime spree targets Nail Salons Sugar Land police are looking for a man believed to have participated in at least 14 burglaries targeting nail salons during December and January.

Five burglaries occurred in Sugar Land, and another nine were in Missouri City. Objects were used to smash glass doors each time.

Police recovered still images from surveillance video during a burglary at Herbal Essential Nail Spa, 3378 Highway 6, on Dec. 28.

A black, four-door passenger car with silver rims, possibly a Lexus, was seen in the parking lot just before midnight. A few minutes later, a black man who appeared to be talking on a mobile phone threw a battery pack through a glass door, entered the business and took about $300 from the cash register. He was last seen leaving the salon and walking toward the same vehicle seen earlier.

The man was black and in his late 20s to early 30s. He was wearing a heavy blue or green jacket, a black sweater with a hood, black pants with a white stripe at the knees and white tennis shoes.

A similar crime occurred at Simply Devine Nail Salon, 16562 Southwest Freeway, sometime between Dec. 21-22.

A large piece of concrete was thrown through a glass door,

Suspect’s picture released by the SLPD. and a little more than $300 was stolen from a register and a tip jar.

Newlooks Salon, 3312 Highway 6, Venetian Nail Spa, 13513 University Blvd., and Glam Nail Spa, 5726 New Territory Blvd., were all burglarized sometime between Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.

In each instance, a glass door was smashed, but nothing was taken.

Anyone with information should call the Sugar Land Police Department at (281) 275-2540 or Fort Bend County Crime Stoppers at (281) 342-TIPS (8477).

Sugar Land Garden Club presents “Beautiful, Easy Care, Texas-Tough Plants For Your Landscape”

Skip Richter, book author and current Extension AgentHorticulture for the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, will showcase tried-and-true plants for our area that are not prone to pests and diseases in addition to introducing some promising new ones. He serves as a contributing editor for Texas Gardener magazine and appeared weekly on the “Central Texas Gardener” television program for more than a decade.

The meeting will be held at St. Basil’s Hall at 702 Burney Road in Sugar Land. Refreshments and social time begin at 9:30 am and the program starts at 10 am. All meetings of the Sugar Land Garden Club are free and open to the public. For further information on this presentation, please refer to the SLGC website at www.sugarlandgardenclub.org<http://www. sugarlandgardenclub.org>.

2018 Scholarship Recipients The Fort Bend County Fair is giving back through their scholarship program and now is the time to apply.

The opportunity to earn a Fair scholarship is open to a wide range of qualifying students. The Fair will provide $4,000 scholarships to 50 Fort Bend County students. Since 1979, the Fort Bend County Fair has given 871 scholarships to our county’s youth.

The deadline to submit a scholarship application is Friday, February 15, 2019.

In addition, three Fair Queen Scholarships will be awarded.

2018 scholarship recipient, Justin Bronsell, is off to a great start for his first semester at Blinn College.

Bronsell is thankful for the Fair scholarship and said, “It is a real relief to help financially. College can be overwhelming, but I know I can concentrate on my classes and continue to work towards my dream of owning my own fabrication shop.”

Bronsell is working towards a Welding Technology degree and passed all his first semester classes.

The proceeds from the 2018 Fort Bend County Fair and the Fort Bend County Fair Life Membership Fund provide the necessary monies to allocate the scholarships.

The scholarships are divided into different divisions depending on the applicants’ Fair involvement and their field of study.

Eligible candidates are required to submit their

completed scholarship application by the February deadline.

Applicants, parents, and school counselors are urged to review the guidelines and rules carefully. Students wanting to apply for a Fair scholarship must meet certain requirements: They must be a U.S. Citizen and a resident of Fort Bend County or zoned to a school in Fort Bend County; be a high school senior and graduate by the spring semester of 2019.

“Get your applications in; this is an extraordinary opportunity for all High School Seniors. Last year we had the largest number of applicants and we are proud to be able to give back through our scholarship program,” said Cindy Schmidt, Fort Bend County Fair Manager.

Selection of the recipient will be based on several qualifications including: scholastic standing, leadership, citizenship, need, and Fair participation.

During the application process, candidates will declare what type of scholarship they will be applying for.

Restrictive, NonRestrictive, Open, Vocational, or Art Scholarships are some of the classifications options that candidates will have to choose.

For more information on the 2019 scholarship rules and application, visit fortbendcountyfair.com or call the fair office at 281342-6171.

Jigsaw Puzzle Competition

LearningRx Sugar Land staff, students and Event Co-Chair, Bianca Schnakenberg (seated right) encourage friends and family members to put your game face on and kick-off the New Year raising autism awareness and acceptance!

Presenting Sponsor, LearningRx Sugar Land and staff, students and Event CoChair, Bianca Schnakenberg (seated right) ready for the 2nd annual Jigsaw Puzzle Competition slated for Jan. 19. Puzzle fanatics or firsttime puzzlers, ages 10 and up, rally together to raise autism awareness until all the pieces fit at Constellation Field Insperity Club. Awards and bragging rights guaranteed!

Join sponsors OCuSOFT, Inc., Fort Bend Teen Service League and Robert “Poppy” Lampkin for this family fun competition! To learn more or register your team ($100), visit hopeforthree.org or call 281-245-0640.

Olson diverts pay in solidarity with shutdown employees Several lawmakers have declared they will decline their paycheck or will donate it to charity in solidarity with civilian workers furloughed or working without pay.

Sugar Land Congressman Pete Olson, ()R), is one among them, according to a report in Roll Call.

“Federal workers received their regular paychecks last week for work completed before the shutdown, but if a spending agreement is not reached soon, thousands could see a delay in paychecks scheduled for next Friday.

About 800,000 federal

employees at several agencies — Agriculture, Commerce, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Justice, State, Transportation, and Treasury — face tough financial decisions.

“It’s very difficult to figure out how long we can survive with the savings we have,” David Arvelo, a health communications specialist at the Food and Drug Administration, told CNBC. Utah Rep. John Curtis introduced the “No Work, No Pay Act of 2019” on Thursday to freeze congressional pay

when any federal agency undergoes a shutdown due to a lack of funds normally allocated by Congress.

“The American people expect Congress to do its most basic job: pass a budget and fund the government. If we can’t, then we shouldn’t get paid,” Curtis said in a statement.

Meanwhile, newly swornin Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota, said he would continue to collect his paycheck, describing the shows of solidarity by other lawmakers as “gimmicky,” the Grand Folks Herald reported.

“I have no intention of donating my salary while working,” Cramer said to the paper. “The government isn’t shut down, only about 25 percent of it.”

The office of the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives declined to provide a list of members who have requested that their paycheck be withheld.

The government has interpreted the 27th Amendment of the Constitution to prohibit lawmakers from refusing their pay.

Page 4 • INDEPENDENT • JANUARY 9, 2019

OPINION

Driving Infrastructure in Fort Bend County

By RAJ BASAVARAJU Happy New Year! As we usher in 2019, we also welcome new leadership for Fort Bend County at various levels of the County government all the way to the County Judge.

Just to refresh your memory, we had elections in November of last year that resulted in a change in leadership through the awesome democratic process we are all proud of. In the context of this change, it is important that the progressive residents of Fort Bend County continue to demand the best for them and their community and that is fair given their understanding of the critical issues faced by the County. The fact is that Fort Bend County has been had good fortune to have had leadership who have been excellent stewards of the taxpayer dollars and we want to make sure that continues.

Most of us familiar with the iconic children’s book “Who Moved My Cheese?” which talks about coping positively with change. As the book’s author Spencer Johnson rightly suggests, “Movement in new direction helps find new cheese.” Therefore, we should all give our new County leadership at various levels a huge Fort Bend welcome and trust that they will act for the benefit of the Fort Bend community. At the same time, it is

Basavaraju our responsibility as involved citizens to make sure that the focus remains on continued improvement in quality of life for Fort Bend residents. One of the key drivers for improved quality of life is improved mobility which in turn means enhanced infrastructure.

As most of us know: •Fort Bend County continues to be one of the top ten fastest growing Counties in America. Our County population has doubled just in the last 15 years (from about 350,000 in 2000 to 700,000 in 2015). If current migration trends continue, according to new projections by researchers at the

University of Houston’s Hobby School of Public Affairs, Fort Bend County’s population will increase by 368 percent, or more than 2.1 million people, by 2050. Increased population growth coupled with increase in employment has resulted in increased need for travel within the County and to employment centers in Harris County and City of Houston. For instance, if you live in Katy and travel to downtown or live in Rosenberg and travel to the Texas Medical Center on a weekday during rush hours, you know what I mean by “sitting in traffic” on a daily basis.

•The increased traffic demand has put tremendous stress on the existing County facilities including majority of the connecting roadways to all the major freeways in the County. Facilities maintained by the cities within Fort Bend are also experiencing frustrating levels of traffic congestion. The congestion during weekday peak hours is getting longer and our so called freeflow periods during the day are getting smaller. We not only experience congestion to and from work but now also experience while running errands, going to soccer practice on Saturdays or to church on Sundays.

The County leadership has demonstrated since at least

year 2000 that we need Mobility Bonds on a frequent basis focused primarily on capital improvement projects that improve mobility. Thanks to the vision of the County leadership for the past couple of decades and the willingness of Fort Bend citizens, the County generated about $744.5 million in mobility bond dollars that have been and still being spent on improving our infrastructure. For the past 18 years, the County has embarked on multiple rounds of “deep dive” to identify the “hot spots” or so-called bottlenecks on the County roadway network.

Even though the overall NEED was always much higher than what was being requested on the ballot, the County Judge and the Commissioners incharge lowered the ASK every single time in order to ensure

there is no increase in any tax or fee associated with the bond amount.

As our County continues to grow both economically as well as population wise, we must remember to keep investing in infrastructure improvements.

I encourage each one of you to take the time in discussing the new leadership’s goals as they relate to infrastructure improvements in our County.

As an avid supporter of economic development in the County, a driver for attracting new businesses to Fort Bend County and most importantly, a big supporter of existing businesses in the County; The Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce encourages your continued engagement in the infrastructure dialog.

For Fort Bend County to remain a vibrant and grow-

MIKE’S MONOLOGUE

Kaffeeklatsch, the beginning

By MICHAEL GRANTO Everything has to start somewhere, and our coffee group is no exception, but sometimes, it’s hard to come by the information.

Fortunately, Jerry, who hasn’t been a regular attendee, was present not long ago, and he shed some light on it.

One morning, he shared that our group was started about nine years ago, by a resident named Carl, who is no longer a resident. We found out further, that originally, the group was all men.

It might be interesting to find out just how and when women became part of the group. They certainly add a lot to it now. I can’t help wondering who the first woman was, and how she made her presence known, and how long it took for them to become the force to be reckoned with that they are today, when on a typical day, they represent about 50% of the participants.

Although the two forbidden topics are religion and politics, current events sometimes occupy the group’s attention. Not long ago, the topic of teaching cursive writing came up. The children of the attendees are long past the age where they’d be taught cursive, but many of those attendees have children, which means that those children are the grandchildren of the attendees, and as such are a prime source of care and concern.

Granto All of us have been taught cursive in our formative years, and most of us see no reason NOT to teach it. There are plenty of opinions as to WHY it’s no longer taught in many places with boneheaded bureaucratic bungling getting the most voice votes.

I think it was Matt who said he thought that it’s a good idea to not teach cursive, because that way, we older folks could use it as a secret language, so none of the youngsters would know what we were communicating about. Not that they stay off their phones long enough to pay attention, anyway.

One meeting recently, there were two green urns on the coffee table, one a bit larger than the other. They generated a fair amount of discussion; who put them there, what’s their purpose, and so on.

One of the fellas, I think it was Matt, pointed out that they could serve as containers for the ashes of someone cremated.

Someone else said that maybe the smaller one would be for the husband, and the larger one

AAUW Program : Sherri Kendall on ‘End Abuse, Begin Again’ January 10, 2019, 6:30 pm at Wharton County Junior College, Brazos Hall, 14004 University Blvd, Sugar Land, TX 77479. FREE Sherri Kendall, CEO of Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse (AVDA) will speak to us about AVDC which believes that all people have the right to lives without violence. Domestic violence is an insidious form of violence that often remains “behind closed doors” due to fear and lack of information. AVDA provides free legal representation and other services to all victims of domestic violence who live in Harris and Fort Bend counties—regardless of citizenship status. Conducted by American Association of University Women Fort Bend Branch, the event is free.

For more info. e-mail fortbend-tx@aauw.net, website http:// fortbend-tx.aauw.net/.

Download the free FBInd App from the Apple Store or Google Playstore for a pleasant reading of Fort Bend Independent on your mobile phone.

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ing community that offers top notch education and excellent quality of life, it is essential that our leadership continues to drive the good work that started 18 years ago and that may well be needed for the next 18 and beyond!

Raj Basavaraju is the Principal for Transcend Engineers and Planners. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce and advises for the Infrastructure Planning Division and the Diversity Action Team for the Fort Bend Chamber. As the only 5-star accredited and single-county chamber in the nine-county area surrounding the Houston Metroplex, the Fort Bend Chamber provides both immediate and long-term benefits for your business and helps build momentum for our community’s future.

for the wife. Dave said there were wives here that might not fit into the larger urn.

Then, some fella said that there might be an extra revenue stream here. How many senior living places offer on on-site columbarium, where the ashes of departed residents might repose in their containers, perhaps even containers like the two green urns on the table.

Matt quickly came up with a great tactical solution. He said, all we’d have to do is take all the books out of the bookshelves at the rear of the lunchroom behind us, then use a few pieces of plywood to make individual spaces for the urns, maybe even double-sized spaces in case both the husband and the wife wanted to be resting together.

All these idea were received with gales of laughter, and even suggestions for improvement.

Like I said, sometimes, all you need to to is sit back, and soak up the wisdom, and as you can see, there’s a lot of it just waiting to be soaked up.

(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.)

Fort Bend ISD to host Textbook Public Review, Jan. 21-Feb. 1

The Fort Bend Independent School District will conduct a public review on the upcoming textbooks and instructional materials that are under consideration for adoption for the 2019-2020 school year. The public review takes place from January 21, 2019 through February 1, 2019, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day at the FBISD Education Complex (located at 1555 Independence Blvd.

Missouri City, Texas 77489).

INDEPENDENT • JANUARY 9, 2019• Page 5

NEWS One-woman show explores hospitality The Favorite wins top Houston and grace at Bayou Theater Film Critics Society Award

The Favourite – director Yorgos Lanthimos’ irreverent look at the life of Britain’s Queen Anne in the 18th century – won top honors at the Houston Film Critics Society’s 12th Annual Movie Awards presented January 3rd at a ceremony at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH).

The Houston Film Critics Society (HFCS), also recognized Rachel Weisz as Best Supporting Actress for the film as well as Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara for its screenplay.

“We are thrilled to honor such a creative and entertaining film,” says Joshua Starnes, President of the organization.

“The Favourite uses a broad visual approach, and a deep appreciation for its characters, to rethink the costume drama.

Who would have thought a movie about royals could be so fun?”

A near capacity crowd in the MFAH’s Brown Auditorium Theatre braved unseasonably cold weather to enjoy an evening that included a live performance of the five nominated songs and a dramatic presentation of the HFCS’s Award for Best Foreign Film.

Consuls general, representing each of the five countries whose films were nominated in this category, were on hand to deliver greetings in the language of their respective nations to an audience that included movie fans, local filmmakers, studio representatives and HFCS members.

Other highlights of the evening included a passionate acceptance speech by Outstanding Local Cinematic Achievement honoree Damir Catic and expressions of gratitude to the prestigious body of film journalists received from award winners Toni Collette (HFCS Best Actress winner for Hereditary) and Paul Lambert (HFCS Best Visual Effects winner for First Man).

Roma also received three awards from the Society including Best Foreign Language Film and two honors for Alfonso Cuarón, Best Director and Best Cinematography, a rare double distinction for a movie maker.

The Society named Christian Bale Best Actor for his memorable interpretation of Vice President Dick Cheney in Vice, Toni Collette as Best Actress for her striking turn in the thriller Hereditary and Mahershala Ali as Best Supporting Actor for his rich portrayal of a pianist touring the South in Green Book. Wes

Anderson’s Isle of Dogs was named Best Animated Film and Won’t You Be My Neighbor won Best Documentary.

“For the Houston Film Critics Society, the annual awards presentation culminates our year-long commitment to interpret and review achievements we experience on the screen,” continues Starnes. “This year’s Oscar-style awards presentation celebrated the achievements of the year in the manner those honors deserve. The evening was Houston at its best.”

Included in the awards each year are honors for films shot in Texas, with The Standoff at Sparrow Creek receiving the Texas Independent Film Award (TIFA) as the best feature made in the state and filmmaker Andrew Bujalski receiving the TIFA Visionary Award for Support the Girls.

The critics also poked fun at the year’s lesser achievements by naming The Happytime Murders as the “best worst film” of 2018. Actress Dona Speir, a fixture in a series of 1990 action movies produced

by Andy and Arlene Sidaris, traveled to Houston at the invitation of the HFCS to participate in this playful “nonsalute”.

Following the awards ceremony, HFCS members and industry notables toasted the evening’s winners at reception in the Monarch Terrace at the Hotel ZaZa. All HFCS winners are selected by working film journalists on television, radio, online and in print who reach millions of people each week across the United States with their commentaries on film.

Here is a full list of award winners: 2018 Houston Film Critics Society Award Winners Best Picture: The Favourite Best Director: Alfonso Cuarón, Roma Best Actor: Christian Bale, Vice Best Actress: Toni Collette, Hereditary Best Supporting Actor: Mahershala Ali, Green Book Best Supporting Actress: Rachel Weisz, The Favourite Best Screenplay: Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara, The Favourite Best Cinematography: Alfonso Cuarón Roma Best Animated Film: Isle of Dogs Best Documentary: Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

Best Foreign Language Film: Roma Best Score: Nicholas Britell, If Beal Street Could Talk

Best Song: Shallow, A Star Is Born TIFA Feature: The Standoff at Sparrow Creek TIFA Visionary Award: Andrew Bujalski, Support the Girls Best Poster: BlacKkKlansman Best Visual Effects: First Man Best Worst Film: The Happytime Murders The consular corps members present for the announcement of the Best Foreign Film Award were: Takeshi Sugiura, Vice Consul, Consulate-General of Japan in Houston Ggochnim “Nim” Bak Consul of the Korean Consulate in Houston.

Imanol De la Flor, Consul General of Mexico in Houston Robert Rusiecki, Consul General, Consulate General of the Republic of Poland Astrid Marklund, Consul General of Sweden in Houston.

Members of the HFCS are working film journalists on television, radio, online and in traditional print. Together, they reach millions of people each week across the United States with their commentaries on film. The organization also actively promotes the advancement of film in the Houston community.

The 12th Annual Houston Film Critics Society’s Movie Awards were underwritten by The Courtright Family Companies with promotional assistance from Gow Media’s ESPN 97.5 FM and SportsMap 94.1 FM. The Texas Independent Film Award (TIFA), an HFCS exclusive, was funded in part

by Balcones Distilling, the award-winning whisky distiller based in Waco, Texas.

Rebecca Walker came to understand the concepts of grace and hospitality in Southern culture as a child growing up on her grandparents’ porches in Texas and Louisiana. In her solo show, “Peacocks and Porches,” Walker presents a show that is part memoir, part poetry, and part Southern fiction at University of HoustonClear Lake’s Bayou Theater on Jan. 31 at 7:30 p.m.

“This is a show I created based on the themes of hospitality and grace that I learned growing up,” said Walker, who is currently an associate professor of communications studies at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. “The peacocks are a symbol of grace that I drew upon from the works of Flannery O’Connor. And porches were a symbol of hospitality that existed in my youth and they’re dwindling away,” she said. “My show explores the culture of the South and the images I had growing up.”

The show, she said, is a

A

mixture of personal narrative about her grandparents, a collection about poetry, and a short story from Flannery O’Connor about raising peacocks. “I talk about the history of front porches and their rise and fall in American culture,” she said. “Porches have disappeared. People prefer gated communities now, and backyards that have privacy. The front porch engenders space that is intended to use spending time with neighbors and reach out to people we don’t know.”

Walker said that when she worked on her doctorate at Louisiana State University, she became interested in all the front porches on the many old homes in Baton Rouge.

“You did a lot of living out on the porches, and there were lots of parties and parades out there,” she said. “I talk about getting to live in that kind of neighborhood with porches, and what they offer communities. They have a very specific architectural impact in Amer-

Day

ica. They encourage connections between people.”

And in a very divisive political moment, Walker continued, it might be good to think about how we can extend grace. “How can we give people second chances, and not shut down things that are different or strange?” she said.

“I talk about John Wesley (the founder of the Methodist movement) and his platform of grace on theological concepts.”

Walker teacher performance studies and storytelling at SIU and has taught a class in performing southern fiction. “It helped me explore the idea of my show with my students,” she said. “I hope my audience will think about hospitality and grace and embrace it more in our lives and in our culture.”

For tickets to this event or for more information about UH-Clear Lake’s Bayou Theater, visit www.uhcl.edu/bayou-theater/events-tickets.

Remember TO

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For more information email: icarranza@rosenbergtx.gov or call (832) 595-3330

FREE to ATTEND! ROSENBERG CIVIC CENTER 3825 HIGHWAY 36 SOUTH ROSENBERG, TX 77471

INDEPENDENT • JANUARY 9, 2019 • Page 6

AUTOMOBILE: Mistsubishi Mirage G4

By BARBARA FULENWIDER The Mirage G4 continues to receive more and more upgrades. Those upgrades have given the subcompact fourdoor sedan “a fresh dose of clean style, environmental consciousness, agility, connectivity, affordability and value, ” according to one of Mitsubishi’s chief operating officer of Mirage.

In the Mirage G4’s 2019 model year, which was its second, Mitsubishi’s subcompact added new limited edition trim on the Mirage hatchback and cruise control, driver seat height adjuster and silver seat stitching on all trims. The Mirage LE got LEGAL NOTICE OF PUBLIC AUCTION Notice by Order of Fort Bend County Commissioners Court on Dec. 18, 2018 in accordance with TX LOCAL GOV’T CODE 263.001. The appointed Commissioner shall sell at public auction real property owned by the County on the 24th day of January 2019 at 09:00 a.m.

Said property to be sold at public auction is 0.0992 acres of land being a remainder portion of Lot 20, Block 2, Oak Lake Estates, Section 4, Fort Bend County, Texas, described in a deed dated September 6, 2016 from Oak Lake Estates to Fort Bend County, Special Instrument Number 2017012482.

The auction will be held at the property location, 11615 Glen Lake Drive, Sugar Land, TX 77498.

Submitted by,

Laura Richard Fort Bend County Clerk

15-inch black alloy wheels, heated front seats and interior red accents.

The subcompact sedan is powered by a 1.2-liter DOHC 3-cylinder engine that provides 78 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 74 lb.-ft. torque at 4000 rpm. The engine is paired to a 5-speed manual or continuously variable transmission. Fuel economy on the G4 with the CVT (continuously variable transmission) motor is 35 in the city and 41 on the highway for an average of 37 mpg.

The Mitsubishi Mirage G4 SE also has anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution and brake assist.

The wheels on the G4 are 15inch dark chrome alloy on the top of the line SE and the tires are P175/55R15s.

Amazingly, the subcompact sedan provides plenty of leg room and also has a large trunk. Interior features include new leather wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, driver’s seat arm rest, steering wheel audio and Bluetooth switches are standard. The G4 also comes with a 6.5 smart phone link display audio head that includes Apple Carplay and Android Auto, keyless entry with panic feature and push button start.

127,&( 72 &5(',7256 Notice is hereby given that original Letters testamentary for the Estate of Marjorie M. Lemmons, deceased, were issued on December 3, 2018, in Cause No. 18-CPR- 032270, pending in County Court at Law No. 4 of Fort Bend County, Texas, to Anjanette Lee. All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them to the undersigned within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.

C/O: Russell Jones Attorney at Law 407 Julie Rivers Drive Sugar Land, TX 77478

Dated December 26, 2018.

New exterior features on the 2019 G4 models are black side mirrors, HID automatic on-off headlights, fog lamps, LED rear tail lights, rear spoiler, chrome grill accents, rear window wiper and defroster with timer.

Safety features on the 2019 Mirage G4 include stability control with traction control, tire pressure monitoring system, engine immobilizer antitheft security alarm system, enhanced body construction.

Accessories available to Mirage G4 buyers include carpeted floor mats and portfolio, wheel locks, color-keyed body side molding, all weather floor mats, remote engine start, front and rear park assist sensors, armrest console, front and rear mudguards, exhaust finisher, rear lip; spoiler, Rockford Fosgate premium audio and body side moldings.

Other optional packages available on the G4 are protection, limited edition value, popular equipment value, chrome, cargo, LED illumination, all weather, and interior.

Mitsubishi’s top of the line Mirage G4 SE retails for $17,495 with all standard equipment. Additions added $135 and destination and handling charges were $895 for a MSRP (manufacturers suggested retail price) total of $18,525.

Memorial Hermann Family Medicine Doctor reacts to U.S. Surgeon General’s warning about teen vaping epidemic

By DR. MONICA KALRA After decades of work by advocates to curtail youth smoking rates, children are once again getting hooked on nicotine, posing serious risks to their developing brains.

Vaping has become an epidemic among America’s teens, with one in every five high school students reporting electronic cigarette use in 2018. This is a staggering 78 percent increase from the year prior, an alarming statistic when considering the risks of e-cigarettes.

Recently, U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams, MD, issued an advisory warning about the dangers of electronic cigarette use among youth. It’s only the fourth such advisory in more than a decade, underscoring how harmful teen vaping has become.

FDA Announced New Regulations for Electronic Cigarettes Work is underway at the policy level to change laws to protect our children from e-cigarettes, including newly announced regulations by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to limit their sale to kids. But parents also have a key role in helping children steer clear of these addictive substances.

What Kids Don’t Know About Vaping Can Hurt Them Many kids wrongly assume that e-cigarettes are benign because they are odorless and come in appealing flavors like cotton candy and chocolate. In fact, a striking 20 percent of children believe e-cigarettes are harmless.

What teens don’t understand is some of these electronic devices contain a significant dose of nicotine, a highly addictive substance that affects a child’s ability to learn, impacts his or her mem-

Parents’ Role in Stopping Teen Vaping Parents should educate themselves about recognizing the various forms of vaping.

E-cigarettes come in different shapes and sizes, with some as small as a USB drive that can easily be hidden in backpacks or concealed in pockets.

For parents discussing ecigarettes with their children, honesty is the best policy. It’s important to speak to children in a calm, non-judgmental manner to help them understand the short and long-term risks of vaping.

ory and shortens the attention span.

Moreover, e-cigarettes are considered a gateway drug, escalating the risk of developing future addiction to cigarettes, drugs or both.

As the Surgeon General stated in his advisory, “Any e-cigarette use among young people is unsafe.”

Workshops for Job Hunters at Sienna Branch Library Are you looking for a job or considering a career change?

You can pound the pavement with all the other job-hunters, or you can begin your search with a little preliminary legwork at the library. In January, Fort Bend County Libraries’ Sienna Branch Library will present two workshops that

will provide assistance for jobhunters.

On Tuesday, January 8, the library will present an “Applications & Resumés” workshop beginning at 10:30 am, in the Multi-purpose Room of the library.

Cynthia S. Price, a United Way Thrive Employment

Suburban Sugar Land Women First Quarter Service Programs

Russell C. Jones Attorneys for Anjanette Lee State Bar No. 10954300 407 Julie Rivers Drive Sugar Land, TX 77478 Phone: (281) 242-8100 Fax: (281) 242-7474 rjones@jonesattorneys.com

THE STATE OF TEXAS CITATION BY PUBLICATION To: MELVIN VIGO RIVERA You have been sued. You may employ an attorney. If you or your attorney do not file a written answer with the clerk who issued this citation by 10:00 a.m. on Monday next following the expiration of forty-two days from the date of issuance of this citation, same being February 04, 2019 a default judgment may be taken against you.

The case is presently pending before the 400TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT of Fort Bend County sitting in Richmond, Texas. It bears cause number 17DCV-247447 and is styled: Dwayne J. Briscoe vs. Melvin Vigo Rivera The name and address of the attorney for PLAINTIFF OR PETITIONER is: CALEB D VILLARREAL CORDOBA LAW FIRM PLLC 85 OAK DRIVE SUITE 102 LAKE JACKSON TX 77566 979-297-2854 The nature of the demands of said PLAINTIFF OR PETITIONER is as follows to-wit: WHEREFORE, MR. BRISCOE REQUESTS THAT DEFENDANT BE CITED TO APPEAR AND ANSWER AND THAT ON HEARING THE COURT ENTER JUDGMENT: 1. DETERMINING THE SHARE OF EACH JOINT OWNER OF THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED HEREIN. 2. MR. BRISCOE SEEKS A DETERMINATION THAT SUCH PROPERTY AND THE SALE PROCEEDS THEREFROM BE DISTRIBUTED TO THE PARTIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE INTERESTS IN THE PROPERTY AND RETAINING SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO PAY ANY TAXES OR FEES. 3. APPOINTING A RECEIVER TO SELL THE PROPERTY AT A PUBLIC OR PRIVATE SALE, FOR CASH, SUBJECT TO CONFIRMATION BY THIS COURT UPON SWORN REPORT OF SUCH SALE. 4. ORDERING DEFENDANT TO REIMBURSE MR. BRISCOE FOR ONE-HALF (1/2) OF THE EXPENSES RELATED TO THE PROPERTY FROM JULY 2014, UNTIL DATE OF JUDGMENT TO MR. BRISCOE. 5. AWARDING MR. BRISCOE RECOVERY OF COSTS, FEES, INTEREST AND SUCH OTHER RELIEF TO WHICH MR. BRISCOE MAY BE JUSTLY ENTITLED. If this Citation is not served, it shall be returned unserved.

Issued under my hand and seal of said Court, at Richmond, Texas on this the 21st day of December, 2018.

ANNIE REBECCA ELLIOTT, DISTRICT CLERK FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS Physical Address: 1422 Eugene Heimann Circle, Room 31004 Richmond, Texas 77469 Mailing Address: 301 Jackson Street Richmond, Texas 77469 BY: Deputy District Clerk Salena M. Jasso Phone: 281-341-3787

Parents should encourage questions from teens to facilitate an open discussion.

If parents need assistance, physicians can also help by adding fact-based information to delineate the dangers of ecigarettes.

For tips on how to discuss the topic with your teen, visit the Surgeon General’s special website on e-cigarettes.

It’s also critical for parents to set a good example for their kids by quitting smoking and pledging to create tobaccofree environments. Children look to their parents as role models, and by quitting smoking, parents can help set the tone and reduce their family’s risk for heart disease, cancer and strokes.

It’s never too late to quit.

Memorial Hermann offers a number of resources to help with smoking cessation, or you can visit smokefree.gov for assistance.

The teen vaping epidemic is reaching scary proportions, but by working together, we can help protect our young people and lay the foundation for them to lead healthy lives now and into the future.

Board certified in family medicine, Dr. Kalra practices at Memorial Hermann Medical Group Physicians at Sugar Creek, where she focuses on preventive care and evidencebased medicine. She treats patients ranging in age from newborns to seniors.

Suburban Sugar Land Women (SSLW) members and partners are grateful for each and every opportunity to serve others as we celebrate decades of providing compassionate, caring, and generous services and resources to those in need Fort Bend countywide, country, and the world. Cheerful and willing service is our purpose, promise, passion, and privilege. We appreciate and value your support.

January • Competitive, Academic Scholarships Available www.sslw.org SSLW Community Service is required for first – time and continuing scholarships.

Correspondence requiring a signature and or postage will not be accepted.

• Veterans Appreciation at DeBakey Veterans Affairs Hospital Houston • Adopt – A – School: provide clothing, supplies, and support • Deputy Voter Registrar Training, Saturday, January 26, 11:15am, First Colony Library, Meeting Room, 2121 Austin Parkway, Sugar Land 77479.

Email registration required via sslw89@gmail.com to attend by Sunday, Jan. 20, 11:59 p.m. You will receive an email confirmation within 24 hours.

• Board of Directors Programs Planning and Advisory Board Meeting • H & R Block Non Profit Referral. Please provide SSLW #400100079372 before tax preparation.

February: • Competitive, Academic, Scholarships Available @ www.sslw.org SSLW Community Service is required for first – time and continuing scholarships.

Correspondence requiring a signature and or postage will not be accepted.

• African American History & Education Excellence Program • Adopt-A-Spot Quarterly Clean Up • H & R Block Non Profit Referral. Please provide SSLW#400100079372 before tax preparation.

March • March 1: Annual U.S. Mail Postmark Deadline for First – Time Scholarship Applicants • Women in History Month Celebration • H & R Block Non Profit Referral. Please provide SSLW#400100079372 before tax preparation.

Please visit: www.sslw.org.

Membership and Partnerships Are Available. Call / email / write today.

December – January: seniors’ enrichment-adopt-a-health care center; SSLW Cares - families outreach services & resources; school clothing/supplies; organically grown community gardens; fund development; board development; mentoring/tutoring; adopt – a – school; continuing scholarships; advocacy ; children / youth financial literacy; adopt – a – spot quarterly clean up; education & training; Africa Outreach; memberships; partnerships; collaborations; and special requests.

All donation are tax – deductible in accordance with IRS’ guidelines. Written receipts are provided within thirty days.

Post Office Box 2384 * Sugar Land, Texas 77487 *713.256.7953 * SSLW89@gmail.com * www.sslw.org

Coach with Family Houston, will provide tips on how to properly complete a job application and structure a resumé to maximize one’s chances of securing an interview with a prospective employer. This is the first of a three-part series for job-hunters. Registration is NOT required for this program.

On Tuesday, January 22, the library will have a demonstration of the “Job and Career Accelerator” online resource beginning at 2:00 pm, in the Computer Lab of the library.

Staff from the library’s Adult Services department will provide an overview and demonstration of this easy-to-use online resource for job-hunters who are searching for the right job or a new career.

Job & Career Accelerator helps job-hunters create professional resumés and cover letters, get detailed and current information on a variety of occupations, match personal interests and skills with a desired career, improve interviewing skills, and much more. The database includes detailed information on more than 1,000 different occupations, and matches interests and skills with possible careers. It also provides more than five million up-to-the-minute local and national job postings.

The Job & Career Accelerator resource can be accessed remotely at any time of the day or night from a home computer with an Internet connection. A library card barcode number is required to use this resource outside of the library.

Registration is required for this demonstration.

The programs are free and open to the public. For more information, or to register for the “Job & Career Accelerator” workshop, call the Sienna Branch Library at 281238-2900, or sign up on the library’s website (www.fortbend.lib.tx.us), by clicking on “Events,” selecting “Sienna Branch Library,” and finding the program.

Fort Bend County Libraries’ Sienna Branch Library is located at 8411 Sienna Springs Blvd in Missouri City.

INDEPENDENT • JANUARY 9, 2019 • Page 7

NEWS

Marionette show Rumpelstiltskin at Sienna Branch Library

Snow at Rosenberg Railroad Museum’s WinterFest

During the event, check out the Museum’s outdoor “G” scale garden railroad depiction of the Richmond Rosenberg area with trains being run by the Houston Area “G” Gaugers (HAGG) (Photo courtesy Brenda Cauthen)

In celebration of Children’s Book Week and the Family Reading Winter Challenge, which takes place from January 28 through March 2, the Youth Services department at the Sienna Branch Library invites families to attend a special marionette puppet show, “Rumpelstiltskin,” on Saturday, January 19, beginning at 10:30 am, in the Meeting Room of the library, located at 8411 Sienna Springs Blvd in Missouri City.

Master puppeteer Jean Kuecher, producer of Marionette Playhouse, will entertain children of all ages with her beautifully handcrafted marionettes on an elaborate stage, with music and lighting. In this puppet show, watch as the spinning wheel changes straw into gold, the Elf snares the Queen’s father, and the King’s horse comes to the rescue. After

the performance, stay to learn some of the backstage secrets.

The delicately handcrafted, 1/3-life-sized marionettes are built by Kuecher, who also designs their beautiful costumes and majestic scenery.

A member of the Puppeteers of America and the Greater Houston Puppetry Guild, Kuecher holds a master’s degree in Education, Counseling and Guidance from the University of Houston, and has used her puppetry skills to enrich classroom education.

The program is presented with the generous support of the Friends of the Sienna Branch Library. Proceeds from the Friends of the Library book sales and annual membership dues help to underwrite the costs of special programming and various cultural events at the library.

The Family Reading Winter

Firts baby of the year at OakBend

OakBend Medical Center welcomed its first baby of 2019 at 7:46 a.m. on Tuesday, January 1,2019. Born to Talib Olaoluwakitan and huband, Taoheed Olaide Mudasiru, baby boy, Talib Olaoluwakitan Mudasiru weighed in at 7 lbs. 3 oz and is 20-1/2 inches long. Mother, dad and baby and all doing well and looking forward to all that the new year and new baby brings.

Challenge is a five-week program designed to encourage families to read, learn, and have fun together. Families participate in the program by reading books, logging the number of minutes they read, and earning virtual badges. All Fort Bend County families are eligible to participate.

Families that complete the program, by reading for five hours collectively (300 minutes total per family) over the course of the challenge period, are eligible to receive a book bag for the family, and will have their name entered into a drawing for a $50 dining gift card, donated by the Friends of the Library.

The events are free and open to the public. For more information, call the Sienna Branch Library at 281-238-2900 or the library system’s Communications Office at 281-633-4734.

International Coffee Hour at George Memorial Library

Winter Fun in the SNOW! (Photo courtesy of Brenda Cauthen ) Grab your mittens and head out to the Rosenberg Railroad Museum on Saturday, January 12, 2019 for a day of winter fun! The museum added this family friendly event to its Festival line up two years ago and it is an ARCTIC BLAST! The fundraising event will be held on the Rosenberg Railroad Museum grounds, 1921 Ave. F in Rosenberg, on Saturday, January 12th from 10 am to 5 pm.

WinterFest will feature two snow play areas for the kids, a bounce house, a ride-on trackless train, winter-themed crafts and games, Smoked It Up BBQ and Carri’s Sno-balls food trucks, model train exhibits including the garden railroad, face painting, music, as well

as a Museum open house and much more! All proceeds from the event benefitting museum operations.

According to Museum executive director, Tracy Hobdy, “WinterFest 2019 is another great opportunity to see all of the progress taking place at the Museum. Bring the whole family out for a really fun day— there is something for all ages to see and do!” A very special thanks goes out to the WinterFest sponsors we have so far: SPCO (Southern Pacific Credit Union), The Loan Store, Quality Rentals, Rosenberg Main Street Program, Jeff McClellan – CPA, Katy Printers, D & S Antiques.

If you’d like to be a sponsor for this important major fundraising event, give us a call, email us at:

info@rosenbergrrmuseum.org or visit our website.

The fun starts on Saturday, January 12 at 10 am and goes on until 5pm. $8.00 General Admission for everyone 2 yrs and older; Children under 2 are Free. All Fest activities are included with admission.

Drinks, food and souvenirs are extra. More information and speed pass advance purchase tickets are available online at our website.

The Rosenberg Railroad Museum is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the preservation and education of railroading in Fort Bend County.

Groupons, memberships, or other discount admissions are NOT valid for this special fundraiser event.

Santa visits Memorial Hermann Sugar Land

Start your week off by sharing a cup of coffee, exchanging news or a corny joke, and chatting with friends at George Memorial Library’s “International Coffee Hour” – a social hour celebrating the multitude of diverse cultures found in Fort Bend County.

The library’s International Coffee Hour will take place on Monday, January 28, beginning at 9:00 am, in the Meeting Room of the library, located at 1001 Golfview in Richmond.

People of all nationalities are invited to come to this informal gathering to get to know one another, share cultural experiences, and learn something new and fascinating about each other in a casual and comfortable environment.

This event is free and open to the public. For more information, call George Memorial Library at 281-342-4455 Santa Claus (aka Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital Chief of Staff Brian Heaps, M.D.) or the library system’s Com- visited pediatric patients, parents and staff ahead of Christmas. The jolly old elf delivered munications Office at 281- presents to pediatric patients who were spending part of their holiday season in the hospital.

633-4734.

Page 8 • INDEPENDENT • JANUARY 9, 2019

Fort Bend Charities, Inc. donates $150,000 to local charities

Katy Christian Ministries .Back Row L-R : Jeff Cannon (Fort Bend Charities), Commissioner Meyers, Debbie Roesler (Accounting and Human Resources Manager), Kathrine Patterson, (Director of Community Relations), Patti Lacy. Front Row L-R: Lila Smith(Fort Bend Charities), Luz Soto, Carolyn Chandler, Walt Sass(Fort Bend Charities), Becce Slinkard, Jay Morris(Fort Bend Charities).

Women’s Pregnancy Center: Pictured from Left: Jeff Cannon(Fort Bend Charities), Commissioner Andy Meyers, Stefanie Derrick Executive Director of Women’s Pregnancy Center, Lila Smith(Fort Bend Charities), Jay Morris(Fort Bend Charities) , and Walt Sass(Fort Bend Charities).

Fort Bend County Precinct 3 Commissioner Andy Meyers recently presented three $50,000 checks to local organizations on behalf of his charity, Fort Bend Charities, Inc., a 501(c) (3) entity that provides financial support to non-profits in Fort Bend County benefitting those in our community who are struggling to provide for themselves and their families.

Through generous donations, and special events like the annual Fort Bend Ranchers’ Ball, Fort Bend Charities Inc. has raised over one million dollars since its inception in 2003. The 2018 Fort Bend Ranchers’ Ball held on Saturday October 20 at Safari Texas Ranch brought in over $350,000 allowing Fort Bend Charities to increase donations amounts to each of the following non-profits: •Katy Christian Ministries, a Social Service non-profit focused on assisting the most vulnerable residents in the Katy/West Houston, Fulshear & Simonton areas with a variety of social services, including a food pantry.

•Simonton Christian Academy, a Pre-Kindergarten – 5th Grade private school focused on providing an outstanding, faith-based educational experience to the youth of Simonton, Texas.

• Women’s Pregnancy Center, a Christ-centered, non-profit organization that has served women in the Southwest Houston and Fort Bend County Communities since 1986 by providing free, life-affirming, and confidential care to women in unplanned pregnancy situations.

“It is a thrill to see the hard work of so many people bring such success that Fort Bend Charities is able to increase significantly its donation to such worthwhile charities and ministries that Simonton Christian Academy: L-R: Jeff Cannon(Fort Bend Charities), Commissioner Andy are doing so much for our community”, said Commissioner Meyers.

Meyers, Simonton Christian Academy’s Amy Oglesby, Lila Smith(Fort Bend Charities), Jay For more information about Fort Bend Charities, Inc., visit https://fortbendcharitiesinc.org/.

Morris(Fort Bend Charities), and Walt Sass(Fort Bend Charities).

Sienna Plantation ranks as the top-selling community in Texas

17 AMAZING

Sienna Plantation is the best-selling community in Texas and No. 14 in the nation, according to recent report released by housing industry researchers Robert Charles Lesser & Co. (RCLCO) and John Burns Real Estate Consulting.

At Johnson Development, we make more than just places to live; we create amazing communities for what you enjoy most. Whether you’re seasoning dinner with herbs from our Harvest Green community garden, hitting the trails in Grand Central Park or splashing at our huge waterparks in Sienna Plantation, you’re sure to find that life is special in a Johnson Development community.

Houston • DFW • Atlanta

JohnsonDevelopment.com Willow Creek Farms

Sienna Plantation is the top-selling master-planned community in Texas, according to two recent annual reports released Jan. 3.

The 10,800-acre Missouri City community placed No. 14 on lists by housing researchers John Burns Real Estate Consulting and Robert Charles Lesser & Co (RCLCO) with 530 homes sold in 2018 — an increase of 42 percent compared with 372 homes sold in 2017.

“Two new Fort Bend schools opened since August 2017 and the new Sawmill Lake Club complex have been big draws for new home buyers,” said Alvin San Miguel, General Manager of Sienna Plantation. “Add in a diverse offering of homes and price points, five additional on-site schools and a busy social calendar of more than 75 resident events a year and you have an experience that can only be described as the ‘Sienna Life.’”

“Texas remains a strong real estate market, as does the Houston area,” San Miguel said. “To lead home sales for Houston and Texas reflects highly on what we offer in Sienna Plantation.”

David Jarvis, Senior Vice President with John Burns Real Estate Consulting, says it’s not unusual for a community that is 20+ years old to remain popular with homebuyers.

“Sienna Plantation is more desirable than a couple of decades ago because it’s matured well and has been developed well,” he said. “What really sets Sienna apart is its great location — you lack for nothing nearby — the excellent schools and all of the spectacular amenities.”

Seventy percent of the top 10 Texas developments are from the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land metropolitan area.

Last July, RCLCO ranked Sienna as No. 15 among the nation’s top-selling master-planned community on a mid-year report.

Sixteen builders offer homes priced from the $250,000s to more than $1 million in Sienna Plantation. Residents enjoy an active lifestyle with frequent events, multiple water parks, 35 miles of trails, more than 100 acres of parks and many other amenities.

Seven Fort Bend ISD campuses are located on-site.

Sienna Plantation is one of six Johnson Development Corp. communities included on the January RCLCO report. Others were: Cross Creek Ranch in Fulshear at No. 25; Riverstone in Fort Bend County, No. 34; Harmony and Woodforest in South Montgomery County, No. 36; and Viridian in Arlington, TX, tied for No. 37.

Learn more at www.siennaplantation.com.