VOL 10 No. 31
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FORT BEND FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE. P. O.BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487-0623
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2017
Official newspaper of Fort Bend County & Missouri City
District Attorney Healey won’t seek re-election Fort Bend County District Attorney John Healey announced to his staff last week that he will not be seeking re-election. Healey has been doing the job of District Attorney since November 18, 1992, and thereafter won election to six consecutive terms as District Attorney. Healey told the somber assembly that he still very much enjoyed the challenges of being District Attorney and the he knew that could continue to be a positive influence on the Fort Bend County criminal justice system. He said he felt comfortable in his decision to retire as of December 31, 2018, at the end of his current term. “In the book of Ecclesiastes, we are told that ‘to every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven;’ there was a season to work, and a season to turn from work. I have no other plans than to spend more time in retirement with Theo, my wife of 39 years,” Healey said. “Public service has come with the price of sacrificing too much family time. In addition to traveling together, we intend to visit with our brothers and sisters and their children and grandchildren. Having never had children of our own, it makes turning our attention to our extended family that much easier,” Healey commented. In addition to travelling, Healey plans to continue to be active in the Exchange Club of Fort Bend. Healey would also like to become a mentor to children and a baseball coach, “if a non-profit organization and a youth baseball program will have me,” Healey told his staff in a lighter
Healey vein. Healey’s tenure as District Attorney has been a reflection of the growth in Fort Bend County’s population, and the services expected by it. Healey inherited an office of 16 prosecutors in 1992. Through Healey’s stewardship, 64 prosecutors now work for the county, many of whom specialize in delivering more expert service in the prosecution of cases involving child abuse, domestic violence, narcotics and gangs, juvenile law, defendants with mental health issues, economic crimes, class A, B, and C misdemeanors, and appellate issues. “I’m proud of the difference that we have made to enhance the quality of life for our families, friends and neighbors”, Healey said. “The greatest adaptation to retirement will be missing the daily interaction with some of the most decent, hardworking and talented public servants in the great State of Texas. I am grateful to the public that has entrusted me with the privilege of serving them,” Healey said.
Fun and wine will be flowing at the 4th Annual Downtown Stomp. Wine lovers are invited to enjoy wine tasting and after-hours shopping in the Historic Downtown Rosenberg District. Twenty vendors will have extended hours on Saturday, August 5, 2017, from 5 p.m to 9 p.m. Enjoy antique shopping, fashion finds, good eats, beauty bargains, and spellbinding sweets, all while enjoying a list of lustrous featured wines. Vendors include, A Tropical Haven, Another Time Soda Fountain, Antiques Around the Corner, Brazos River Provisions Co., Barn Door Antiques, Calla Lilies Antiques, Copious Deli & Small Shop’s, D&S Antiques Mall, Dostal’s Designs in Fine Jewelry, Downtown Studio Salon, Front Porch, Hawkins Furniture, Jay and Barbs Antiques, Ol’ Railroad Café, Old Main Street Bakery, Once Again Antiques, Red Queen’s Attic, Roots & Relics Antiques, Southern Sister Designs, and Vogelsang Antique Emporium. The Fort Bend County Fair and their wine committee known as the Grapes on the Brazos Committee have partnered with
Fort Bend County Fair’s Downtown Stomp returns
2016 Downtown Stomp — Representing Fort Bend County Fair Association, Vickie Todd Autrey, left, board member, Jackie Snader, Livestock & Rodeo Admin, Cindy Schmidt, Fair Manager, Chase Raska and Cecil Willis, board members. the Rosenberg Arts Alliance ite wine as part of the People’s the wine selection will be pleasDistrict to host the Downtown Choice Award. Last year the ing. Keepsake wine glasses are Stomp in the Historic Down- People’s Choice Award went now on sale at the fair office. town Rosenberg shopping area. to the Braman Winery’s Sweet Tickets can also be purchased Participating vendors serve Red. online at fortbendcountyfair. Whether you are a wine stew- com. as official wine tasting stops. Downtown Stomp patrons will ard, a self-proclaimed wine For more information call the be able to vote on their favor- geek, or have a greenhorn palate fair office at 281-342-6171.
La Cocina donates $60,000 to Meals on Wheels J Andres Novoa, who started the Cinco de Mayo fundraiser and owner of La Cocina Mexican Restaurant, along with his wife Rachel Novoa, presented a $60,000 check to Fort Bend Seniors CEO Manuela Arroyos on July 18. This is the 12th consecutive year that La Cocina Mexican Restaurant has hosted the fundraiser, benefiting Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels, with cumulative contributions total-
ing to more than $300,000. “We are overwhelmed with gratitude by the support and dedication shown by Andres and Rachel Novoa and the La Cocina staff and volunteers. Their annual Cinco de Mayo fundraising event helps us meet the needs of the elderly in our community,” said Manuela Arroyos. “This partnership has been a See MEALS, Page 3
HAIRSPRAY. Sugar Land’s national award-winning community theatre, Inspiration Stage, presents Hairspray through Aug. 13 in the historic Sugar Land Auditorium, 226 Lakeview Dr. Winner of eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Hairspray is a family-friendly musical, piled bouffant-high with laughter, romance and deliri-
Andres Novoa, right, signs and presents a check to FBS Board Chairman Ray Aguilar, left, Manuela Arryos, center, FBS staff and Cinco de Mayo committee members.
ously tuneful songs. In 1962 Baltimore, Maryland, plus-size teenager Tracy Turnblad’s dream is to dance on The Corny Collins Show, a local TV dance program based on the real-life Buddy Deane Show. When Tracy wins a role on the show, she becomes a celebrity overnight, and meets a colorful array of characters. She then launches a campaign
to integrate the show. Hairspray is a social commentary on the injustices of parts of American society in the 1960s. Director Richard Gomez, Music Director Brian Kay and Choreographer Mandy Seymore-Sensat saw an unprecedented 115 adult and teen actors audition, with a final cast consisting of 33 top-notch actors. Always a popular show, it
recently saw a surge in popularity after NBC broadcast their version of the production live in December 2016. “I could not have been more impressed by the caliber of talent at auditions. It was a hard job cutting down 115 auditioners to a cast of 33, but we have the best of the best. Every audience member will be in for a big See PLAY, Page 3