VOL 10 No. 3
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FORT BEND FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE. P. O.BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487-0623
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2017
Official newspaper of Fort Bend County & Missouri City
Yoga for Health Yogathon The tenth annual “Yoga for Health, Health for Humanity Yogathon” will be held at Sugar Land Town Square (2711, Town Center Blvd, Sugar Land, TX 77479) on Sunday, January 29 from 10 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. This is a free event. Sugar Land Mayor ProTem Himesh Gandhi will be the chief guest at the event. The 16-day event, also known as “Surya Namaskar Yajna” or Salutation to Sun, involving a series of 12 yogic postures, aims to create awareness about Yoga and its advantages in achieving a healthy body, mind and spirit. The salutation integrates simple Yoga postures in 10-steps that, along with easy breathing technique, can provide immense health benefits to
both the body and the mind. Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA (HSS) initiated this health awareness project in 2006. Since its inception, participants from 40 states actively took part via various Yoga Centers. Community organizations, schools and colleges regardless of individual faiths and beliefs, have participated and collectively performed over 4 million Surya Namaskars. Community leaders and many elected officials across the nation have appreciated this initiative and encouraged their residents to participate and gain the benefits of an overall healthy life style. This year also, HSS Houston invites community groups, Yoga centers, students, and individuals to learn and par-
ticipate in Health for Humanity Yogathon. Free parking is available at SLTS and everyone is requested to bring their own yoga mat. The Health for Humanity Yogathon aims to bring a sense of self-discipline in all of our lives by enabling one to connect with and internalize that habit of self-discipline. This initiates the process of living a healthy life style. This program is open to people of all ages, gender, and races and does not involve the worship of any deity. Registration for the event can be done at https://goo.gl/ forms/HIoy4aAZSf0oZFid2 For more information, visit http://www.hssus.org/sny or email to anantsamdani@yahoo. com or call 424-335-9661
An open letter to Lt. Governor Dan Patrick: “I am not an ‘educrat’ By KRISTIN TASSIN With all due respect and contrary to what you may believe, not all of us who represent Texas public schools (the children who attend the schools, not the buildings), are liberals or “educrats,” as you referred to us in your speech to the Texas Public Policy Foundation on January 11. Most of us are parents, many with conservative views and values, who ran for the school board or got involved in our local school districts in order to improve education and make a difference for the children in our communities and across the state of Texas. As an elected official myself, one of the things I must do is take the time to listen to those who work in the trenches with our children every day and make an effort to understand what is really going on in education. We have to get beyond ideological rhetoric, get to the heart of the problem, and work
Tassin together to find real solutions. But, it seems that some leaders at the state level are not listening. You said in your speech that you are listening to your constituents. But, I am your constituent and your message to me was to stay home – to “save [my] money” and “don’t bother to come to Austin to lobby” for
what I believe is best for the students in my district and Texas. Well, I am not going to stay home. Not only because I care too much, but also because it is my duty under the law to advocate for public education and the more than 5.2 million Texas children who attend our public schools. The truth about district finance I am not going to stop speaking out about the importance of funding the unfunded mandates passed by the state that take money out of public school budgets. The budgets you claim have “8% to 9% increases per year,” is a figure that is wholly inaccurate (excluding debt service funds which cannot be used for general education purposes.) FBISD’s budget has experienced an average increase of only 2.56% over the past eight See LETTER, Page 3
Fort Bend Chamber inducts new leadership for 2017 The Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce (FBCC) has chosen a new slate of members to the Chamber Board of Directors, including a new Chairman of the Board, for terms beginning January 2017. Dr. Sterling Carter, President & CEO of Sterling Physical Therapy & Wellness is the next Chairman of the Board. From being a Chamber member, the Healthcare Division Chair and a Fort Bend Leadership Forum graduate, to now serving as the Board Chairman, Carter’s level of progression throughout the years is an accreditation to his commitment to the Fort Bend County business community. “I am honored to serve the Fort Bend County business community as the 2017 Chairman of the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce. We were designated in 2013 in the New York Times as the most diverse County in America. This is also reflected in our leadership. We are breaking barriers again by appointing our first African American to hold the position of Chairman”, Carter said, “Kudos to the Fort Bend Chamber for their commitment to this important issue.” With new leadership set to embark come January 2017, outgoing Chairman Mike Dobert of HR in Alignment instilled his full confidence in the direction being taken. “We have had an extremely successful year and believe that 2017 will be a continuation of that trend. I look forward to continuing my active involvement as Past-Chair in support of Sterling.” The Chamber Board of Directors welcomes six new board members, each serving their first two-year term while five current members will be retiring as of January 2017.
Standing L to R Ben Swan, Treasurer; Mike Dobert, Past-Chair Rehan Alimohammad, Legal Counsel; & Keri Schmidt, President & CEO; Seated L to R Malisha Patel, Chair-Elect; Dr. Sterling Carter, Chairman Dobert will become Immedi- as Ranch; Jenny Smith, Smart ate Past Chairman for the ensu- Financial; Jeff Cook, Minute ing year before closing out his Maid; Kamal Ariss, Woodway tenure with the Chamber Board Enterprises. The Fort Bend Chamber of in 2017. Below is a complete list of Commerce’s new and retiring new and retiring members. volunteers will be celebrated New Board Members: at the annual CHAIRMAN’S Dustin Fessler, Roberts GALA presented by Audi Sugar Markel Weinberg Butler Hailey Land, which will be held on FriPC; Hanif Juma, Ace Business day, January 27, 2017 at Safari Finders; Tiffany Halfon, Smart Texas Ranch. Financial; Angelica Guerra, The Gala gives members a Minute Maid; Kristina Shakel- chance to meet in a festive setford, Community Impact News- ting, putting aside business ispaper; Priti Singh, Associate sues and simply enjoying one Testing Laboratories; another’s company. Retiring Board Members: For more information contact Brian Machart, Fort Bend Sheridan Labbè at 281.566.2152 Dental; Allison Wen, Safari Tex- or Sheridan@fortbendcc.org
Man deported twice convicted for intoxication manslaughter Carlos Alexander Avila was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Jan. 10, in an agreement with prosecutors after pleading guilty to intoxication manslaughter. The 37 year-old Houston man who had been deported twice, killed a woman in a head-on collision while intoxicated during his third illegal entry last year. United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) also placed a detainer on Avila, who is a citizen of El Salvador and not a legal resident of the United States. According to Assistant District Attorney Lesleigh Morton, Rosa Lopez-Gomez was driving to work on FM 521 in the Fresno area during the early morning of April 12, 2016 when her vehicle was struck almost head-on by a vehicle driven by Carlos Avila. The Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Department of Public Safety, Precinct 4 Constable’s Office, Fort Bend County EMS, the Fresno Fire Depart-
ment and the Missouri City Fire Department all responded to the scene. Lopez-Gomez was transported via AirMed to Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center where she was pronounced dead. She worked at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Houston and was still an active Reservist in the U.S. Navy and a student at Houston Community College. Avila was also taken to Memorial Hermann by ambulance where DPS Troopers executed a search warrant to draw blood from Avila to determine if he was intoxicated at the time of the accident. Laboratory records indicate that two hours after the fatal collision, Avila’s blood alcohol level was .195, which is more than twice the legal limit. Six hours after the fatal crash, another blood sample registered .083 – still above the legal limit. After being released from the hospital, Avila was arrested for Intoxication Manslaughter and
transported to the Fort Bend County Jail. “This is yet another case where lives are broken because somebody chose to drink and drive,” said Morton. “Lopez-Gomez dedicated her life not only to serving our country, but by continuing to help the men and women who also served through her work at the VA Hospital. She will forever be missed by friends and family.” Avila was prosecuted in the 400th District Court before Presiding Judge Maggie Jaramillo. Intoxication Manslaughter in this case is a second-degree felony punishable by 2-20 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000. Because the court ruled that Avila’s car was a deadly weapon, he must serve at least one-half of his sentence before he is eligible for parole. Attorney Silvia Pubchara represented the defendant.