VOL 2 No. 40
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FORT BEND FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2009
From frogs to fossils: Tales of the living and the dead
By SESHADRI KUMAR Sugar Land has a new landmark and point of destination. The former prison building built in 1939, which turned into a shell of a world class museum operated by the Houston Museum of Natural Science, opened to the public in on Oct. 3. The museum has four galleries reflecting the most popular exhibit areas of the main campus and covering the required science topics for Texas schools. With exhibitions ranging from state-of-the-art technology to the wonders of outer space, the museum presents compelling exhibitions and fascinating learning experiences. The giant animated globe explains complex environmental processes. Science on a Sphere uses high-speed computers, projectors and advanced imaging techniques to create the illusion of a planet, Sun, moon or any other celestial body rotat-
ing in space. Budding scientists will be delighted to dig for dinosaurs. Massive amethyst and citrine geodes taller than a person, jammed with gleaming purple and golden crystals, are displayed among an array of huge mineral specimens, intricately crystallized slices of petrified wood, and an incredible collection of fossils. Then, climb into the Planetarium for a virtual ride straight into outer space. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Exhibition open at the Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land until Jan. 18 provides education via entertainment and inspires youngsters to learn topics such as climate change, time travel, archaeology and literature, to name a few. Based on the blockbuster film series and C. S. Lewis’ beloved fictional books, the 10,000-square-foot, stateof-the-art entertainment and educational experience offers visitors the opportunity
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Hope & Inspiration
David Temple, assistant curator of paleontology at the Houston Museum of Natural Science in Sugar Land points to the skull of a 65-millionyear-old, Stan, the Tyrannosaurus (T-rex) and says the exhibit is one of the top five of its kind in the world and its skull is the best in the world with the complete details of the anatomy. The smaller, ostrich-like Struthiomimus, next to it is the food for TRex. The commanding exhibits welcome visitors to the new museum at 13016 University Blvd. (at the corner of University and New Territory Blvds.) in the Telfair subdivision of Sugar Land. Left, Temple holds a Marine Toad, considered one of the worst invasive species. Some frogs are poisonous and animals which eat them die. How do tadpoles turn into Bullfrogs? Visit of the Hall of Life Science at the museum.
Just in time for National Breast Cancer Awareness month, the Seventh Annual Hope and Inspiration Surviving Mothers of Breast Cancer calendar was launched last week. Nationally renowned photographer Alisa Murray is behind this project in honor of her close friend who was diagnosed with breast cancer several years ago. “Our girls were only three and when I got the news of her diagnosis I felt compelled to call her and give her my gift of an image – a photograph - of her and her daughter,” Murray says. “I needed to know that her daughter would have, in the event that her mother did not
to tour scenes from the famed literary world of Narnia. Through authentic costumes, props and set dressings from the magical Narnia films, visitors will enter a three dimensional world that combines the wonders of science with aspects of fantasy. “The prison system and this building were major parts of this community years ago, and they certainly have an important role in our area’s history,” said Mayor James A. Thompson during a ribbon cutting ceremony. “Now we have the opportunity to preserve this building and turn it into a world class museum, which will undoubtedly have a lasting impact not only on Sugar Land, but the entire Fort Bend County community.” The Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land hours will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday - Friday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Visit www.hmns.org for more information.
By SESHADRI KUMAR The Texas Highway Commission has authorized the Texas Department of Transportation to enter into an agreement with Fort Bend County for a pass-through financing of $36.7 million for widening FM 1093 from Highway 99 to Fulshear, along the Westpark Toll Road. Fort Bend County Precinct 3 Commissioner Andy Meyers who attended the Texas Highway Commission meeting on Sept. 24 said the financing agreement would help the county build about 8.5 miles of two feeder lanes on both sides of Westpark Toll Road Pass-through financing allows local municipalities or private entities to pay for costs to build a transportation project and get reimbursed from the state as the transportation project becomes operational. It lets local officials accelerate projects important to the region. Fort Bend County’s project was ranked no. 1 because the county would contribute
survive, a collection of memories - who her mother was, who they were…” Years later, with the success of having survived the journey of cancer, Murray asked her friend to help her round up enough mothers to fill up a calendar. In just a few weeks the first calendar was born and it has been the project closest to Murray’s heart since. The calendar features twelve women, all breast cancer survivors, each one with her children – her legacy. Murray asks each mother this question: “What has it meant for you to have survived as a Mother?” The response over the years has been a remarkable collection of inspiration, strength, faith,
bravery and always hope. This year, Memorial Hermann Hospital sponsored the printing and production of the calendar and the Memorial Hermann Breast Care centers are the beneficiaries. Alisa Murray is recognized for her prenatal and pregnancy portraits. Several of her public works of art can be found in Memorial Hermann’s Sugar Land hospital in the Labor & Delivery wing. The photos in the calendar are all shot in Murray’s home studio and are the treasured memories for the featured families. Murray’s Hope & Inspiration calendar sells for $25 and can be purchased on her website at www.AlisaMurray. com.
TxDOT approves $36.7 million for FM 1093 expansion on Westpark corridor nearly 74 percent of the total project cost. As a part of the deal, the county will have to acquire the right of way for the feeder lanes and pay for utility relocation. The Houston District of TxDOT has agreed to provide another $9 million for engineering design, Meyers said The county has to sign the agreement with TxDOT by Oct. 23 to accept the passthrough financing, he said. Meyers said the Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority will conduct a feasibility study and plan for the extension of the Westpark Toll Road, through a separate financing mechanism. The preliminary estimates show that the toll road and the feeder lanes would cost about $137 million. The county and the toll road authority would initially provide the funding and get the state’s share back over the years as the projects are completed. No time line has been yet
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set for conducting the feasibility study for the Westpark Toll Road. The toll road authority has also to decide on the funding mechanism. The toll road authority will pay for the acquisition of right of way for the toll road segment. The pass-through financing agreement with the state implies that the county will extend the toll road and build the feeder lanes, but at the county’s own time table, Meyers said. The Texas Transportation Commission approved a list of 10 projects, estimated at $273 million, under the passthrough financing program. TxDOT issued a program call earlier this year, which led to this final selection of projects. Pass-through financing is a tool created to stretch limited transportation funds that would allow local communities to fund up-front costs for constructing a state highway project. The state then reimburses a portion of the project costs to the community.