VOL 3 No. 15
Phone: 281-980-6745 PRSRT STD
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U.S. POSTAGE PAID STAFFORD, TX PERMIT NO.10
FORT BEND FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 2010
P. O.BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487-0623
Councilwoman ups the ante against mayor in Missouri City
Quail Valley Yard of the Month goes to Kenn and Melody Glave of 3323 Plum Brook Lane. A lovely formal garden, the Glave’s added pink and white Impatiens and Polka Dot plants to brighten up the landscape. Receiving a beautiful plant from Flowers by Adela and a certificate, the Glaves home reflects pride that is seen throughout the neighborhood. Drive by this garden when you enjoy the April 24 Quail Valley Backyard Tour from 10 to 3. With 8 varied gardens and a garden sale All Potted Up, for $10 you’ll have a stimulating outing full of beauty and ideas. Tickets at each location, just follow the signs from Quail Valley Entrances on April 24 or download a printable map from http://traction.typepad.com/QVTour/
Lemonade Day
The sweet, lemony, taste of success! After operating a profitable lemonade stand on the steps of Sugar Land City Hall, Sunflower Mission Junior Volunteers celebrate Lemonade Day 2009 with the event’s mascot, Lemonhead. Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers in Sugar Land will host a registration event for Lemonade Day 2010 on Sunday, April 18 from 1 p.m- 4 p.m. Kids of all ages are invited to visit the restaurant to learn about this free, community-wide event and sign-up to participate. Lemonade Day volunteers will be on hand to answer questions about the event and facilitate registration. For each completed registration, kids will receive one free, freshly squeezed Raising Cane’s lemonade. Don’t forget to bring your camera because photo opportunities with the Lemonade Day mascot, Lemonhead, will also be available. Sponsored by Prepared 4 Life and its many community partners, Lemonade Day is a citywide program designed to teach children how to start, own and operate their own lemonade business. It provides an opportunity for families, businesses, faith-based community organizations and schools to come together for a common purpose – to train the next generation of entrepreneurs through a free, fun, engaging, experiential activity. This year’s event will be held on Sunday, May 2 and is open to any child wishing to open his/her own lemonade business. For more information on Lemonade Day, visit www.lemonadeday.org or call 713-626-5437.
By BARBARA FULENWIDER Missouri City Mayor Allen Owen is challenged by incumbent Councilwoman Cynthia Lenton-Gary in the May 8 election. Owen says he is running to continue his service to the city and community that he has served for some years prior to becoming mayor in 1994. During his tenure as mayor he points out that he has “led the city in attracting millions of dollars of private business investment, public works infrastructure improvements and park growth, hike and bike trails and provided for improved public safety with larger police and fire forces.” All of the above, he said, is why “Missouri City is one of the safest cities in the nation and was also voted one of the top 100 cites in the nation to live in.” “I have shown I can guide its growth while listening to the wisdom of those who have invested their lives, home and businesses here,“ said Owen, who has lived in Missouri City for 35 years with his wife of 42 years. Together they raised their three children in Missouri City. Owen has seen “the city grow from a little over 20,000 when I was first elected on council to over 70,000 today. We have gained national recognition and doesn’t come without having a great team of leaders and employees. “The other thing I am most proud of is how we are beginning to attract major companies that want to move their headquarters here. That brings new homebuyers, shoppers, businesses, employment, and quality of life. I am also very proud of the fact that we saved over 400 acres of green space, trees, water ways, and
Owen a tremendous amenity in the Quail Valley Park.” As for where Owen would like Missouri City to be 10 years from now, he said, he wants it to continue “being a very diverse and dynamic community. We need to continue to attract businesses and commercial development, which will allow us to replace or at least lower property taxes with sales taxes in the future. We need to continue replacing an aging infrastructure and keep our public safety forces increased to keep up with an ever growing population, which in just another 10 years could be over 100,000 people.” “I did not become mayor overnight. I served two years on a bond committee, five years on planning & zoning, eight years as a councilman, and now 16 as mayor. It is a learning process everyday and I am still learning. “My reputation and 43 years as a banker provided me the opportunity to know many of the developers who are building our city. I gained their respect and they responded by building a great place for
Gary people to live and raise their families. Government needs to earn people’s respect and I think that humor sometimes helps people realize that we are far more alike than different. “We are taxpaying citizens who have basically volunteered to throw ourselves into the political arena on their behalf. We are their neighbors. I hope that after having given 29 years of my life to my fellow citizens, that I have earned their confidence to continue serving them.” He and his wife are members of the First United Methodist Church in Missouri City. Cynthia Lenton-Gary has been on city council for four years and is now campaigning to be mayor because she says citizens “deserve transparency in government” and she wants a “revitalized city” and to “combat the issues that impede our economic growth.” Even though Gary is a native of Houston, she and her husband Everette (E.J.) Gary have lived in Missouri City for more than 25 years and raised See MAYOR, Page 3
The Clements Stars Dance Team Spring Show will be held at 7 p.m. Fri. April 23, & Sat. April 24th, in the school auditorium. This event marks the pinnacle performance of the year, highlighting the award winning team in their show stopping contest dances.Other features will include the dance classes performing grade level dances, the always entertaining CHS Senior boys, (“The Studs”), followed by the team Dads ready to show off their talent. Pre-sale tickets will be available this Friday April 16th from any Stars member, or in the commons during lunch Thurs. April 22nd, and Fri. April 23rd for only $6. Tickets will be $8 at the door. So get your tickets now! For further information on this event please email Jill Whelan at jkwhelan@hotmail.com, or call 281-265-3734.
FBISD: Balanced budget likely
Fort Bend ISD’s much reported “reduction in force” has affected 52 employees instead of the initial estimate of 450. The district has been able to reduce the number of people on the original list for nonrenewal of contracts to 52 from 275, district spokeswoman Mary Ann Simpson said on
Monday. The list of 275 included 195 certified teaching positions and 80 certified non-teaching professional positions. These employees have been placed in positions that have become available due to vacancies, resignations and retirements, Simpson said. To address the district’s se-
rious financial challenges, the Board of Trustees approved a resolution declaring financial exigency at the March 8 regular board meeting. This action allowed the administration to move forward in implementing financial processes to best address a projected budget deficit of approximately $20 million, and
develop a balanced budget for the 2010-2011 school year. At a budget workshop on Monday, the administration presented a budget proposal, projecting a budget deficit of about $23 million, but more than $19 million will be adjusted through reduction in payroll costs because of the reduction in force.
Anticipating your medical future. Just one of the many advantages of having a medical home with a Primary Care Physician. Call 713.222.CARE or visit memorialhermann.org.
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