Fort Bend Independent

Page 1

VOL 3 No. 29

Phone: 281-980-6745

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FORT BEND FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE. WEDNESDAY, JULY 21, 2010

Birds of Fort Bend

If you have been beset by Mosquitoes, birds that are aerial foragers are your friends. Insects, and particularly Mosquitoes, are their favorite meals. We have pictured the Barn Swallow which is known for its long, symmetrical and forked tail. In fact, females pick males with longer tails and are attracted to a deep Rufus breast that is a beautiful contrast to its steely blue upper side. All aerial foragers have pointed wings, glide beautifully and are acrobats in the air. Barn Swallows love rafters or under supports of bridges and need mud for their nests. They like open areas with water so Fort Bend is an especially attractive nesting area. They return to South America for winter. Other aerial foragers include Purple Martins, Chimney Swifts, Tree Swallows and Cliff Swallows. To learn more about aerial foragers and to see more photographs, visit http://traction.typepad.com/birds. Photo by Margaret Sloan

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

FCCA residents continue petition drive By BARBARA FULENWIDER Residents in the First Colony Edgewater neighborhoods are signing a petition that is aimed at stopping First Colony Community Association from permanently closing or materially altering any pool, park or playground without following some specific steps first. The petition says FCCA must first notify 75 percent of the residents of a subdivision by mail, describe the proposal and its budget, focus the mailing only on the proposal and its budget, include the text of Article VI, Section 1 in the mailing and wait 60 days after the last notice letter was mailed before going forward with the proposal. Then “if the association complies with the notice requirements and after 60 days has not received written ‘No’ votes from more than 50 percent of Class A members in the noticed subdivision(s), the association may then proceed with the described project and funding.” Further, the petition states that the votes must be in writing and delivered to the Association. Votes do not need to be notarized and may be collected via the Internet. These notice and voting rights will become effective

immediately and apply to all phases of the FCCA’s 2009 Master Amenities Plan, including specifically the proposed closure of the Alcorn Oaks, Austin Park, Creekshire, Crescent Lake and Woodstream swimming pools and installation of a splash park/dragon in Lakes of Edgewater. The petition further states “the association will interpret and apply these owner rights broadly. Routine maintenance, however, and alterations to any amenities costing less than $10,000 total in any one year are outside the scope of this amendment.” The signature rally meeting held on Monday, July 12, had more than 100 residents attending. Sugar Land Council Member Jacquie Baly Chaumette was invited to stop by

and hear what people there had to say. She said, “One thing residents told me was they are going to the FCCA meetings and they have been gathering signatures on the petition. They also said that they believe it’s not over as long as they can continue to get signatures and have support of a majority of the residents and they plan to prove it.” Chaumette also said the residents understand that the city of Sugar Land has no say or no dog in this fight. Jonathan Day, a lawyer who is representing the homeowners in their efforts to keep their swimming pools and Edgewater park without a splash pad, said, “We’re trying to get 1,000 signatures by the next board meeting.” He estimated

there are 250 so far. “What signers of the petition hope to accomplish,” Day said, “is a change in the bylaws to give homeowners legal rights. It would be a simple, reasonable and logical change for all homeowners. “If they (FCCA) are going to do something in your neighborhood then they have to send you a letter that tells you what it is and how much it will cost. Then everyone has 60 days to tell the board no,” the lawyer said. “I think this provision is a perfect bridge to make sure the board members can make decisions without a lot of cost, know that they’ve informed the affected population and the residents have had an opportunity to say yes or no,” Day said.

Fort Bend County Fair style and luncheon show

American Cancer Society’s Couture for a Cause Escape to Treasure Island

2010 Fort Bend County Fair Style Show Committee. Front Row – Tammy Osina, left, Joanne Crouch, Monica Myska, Margaret Kunz; Middle Row – Bambi Lynn, left, Annie Elliott, Shannon Ferguson, Louise Blair, Judy Deats, Vickie Autrey; Back Row – Erika Fernandez, left, Christy Keating, Pat Scholes, Ruthie Harper; Not present: Lucas Chavez, Elizabeth Duff Drozd, Noell Myska, Sandy Scott, Fauzia Zavary. See story on Page 3.

Health center opens for uninsured residents committee officially set sail for the big event scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 25 at The Resort at Sienna Springs. “Couture for a Cause Escape to Treasure Island will be a meaningful and fun event,” said Marvin Marcell, Honorary Chair of Couture for a Cause. “We are thrilled to be hosting this benefit in our newest water park,” said Susie Goff, Event Chairman and Marketing Director for Sienna Plantation. “The Resort at Sienna Springs was custom-designed with community events in mind, and we are delighted to donate the facility for such an important cause.” The committee for Couture for a Cause Escape to Treasure Island is lead by Honorary Chairs Marvin and Debbie Marcell and Michael and Molly Cooper. Event Chairs are Doug and Susie Goff

and Dave and Christen Johnson. The pirate’s crew is led by Committee Chairs: Tanya Tolander, Booty Bags; Carolyn Silva, Decorating; Scott and KK West, Entertainment; Yvonne Champion, Food and Beverage; Carolyn Williams, Logistics; Pam Jaramillo and Melissa Marroquin, Memorial Fund; Joy Dowell and Raj Patel, Models; Cindy Crane Garbs, Public Relations; Jaime Virkus, Printing; and David and Jacqueline Chaumette, Tickets. For tickets or event information, contact Sheree Prather with the American Cancer Society at 713-706-5635 or sheree.prather@cancer.org. Sponsorship opportunities are available. Above, sponsors and committee volunteers accept the mission to raise their swords for the Couture For A Cause.

Patients wishing to receive discounted healthcare services should bring proof of identification, address and income. The Center is open Monday through Friday and offers extended hours, including select Saturdays. “This would not have happened without the support of county officials, and particularly

Commissioner Prestage, who shared our vision to expand services to the uninsured and underinsured population,” said Bible. Fort Bend Family Health Center is a private, not-for-profit community health center that serves Fort Bend County and the surrounding areas. It is a United Way agency.

10701 Corporate Drive, #282, Stafford, TX 77477 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 623, Sugar Land, TX 77487 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., 10701 Corporate Dr., #282, Stafford, Texas 77477. Periodicals Postage Paid at Stafford, Texas. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Fort Bend Independent, P.O. Box 623, Sugar Land, Tx 77487.

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The American Cancer Society kicked off its second annual Couture for a Cause event recently with a pirate-themed celebration at a Newmark model home in Sienna Plantation. This year’s theme is Escape to Treasure Island, and the event will take place in a lush, tropical setting at Sienna Plantation’s newest resort-style water park – The Resort at Sienna Springs. With guests dressed in swashbuckling chic pirate attire, the Sienna Plantation model home was transformed into a pirate’s paradise complete with a pirate ship and treasure chest to mark the spot. Costumed pirates welcomed guests with an array of pirate trickery and a friendly Macaw posed with guests for pictures. There was an array of booty, glamour, grub and ale for all, and the Couture for a Cause

Fort Bend Family Health Center, Inc. (FBFHC) celebrated the opening of its Missouri City Center on Tuesday, July 6. The Center is located at 307 Texas Parkway in Missouri City. “It has been a dream that we have had for 20 years to be able to offer services to adults in the east end of Fort Bend County,” said Lynda Bible, chief executive officer. The Center provides adult and pediatric primary care services. Insured and uninsured adults can come to Fort Bend Family Health Center for sick visits, annual exams, family planning services, preventative care, chronic disease management and nutrition counseling. The pediatric clinic provides sick visits and preventative care, including Texas Health Steps and immunizations. To register to become a patient at Fort Bend Family Health Center, call 281969-1800.

TEXAS


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