VOL 3 No. 37
Phone: 281-980-6745
www.fbindependent.com
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2010
P. O.BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487-0623
Official newspaper of Fort Bend County & Sugar Land
Birds of Fort Bend
Above is a Ruby Throated Hummingbird in Quail valley photographed by Margaret Sloan of Missouri City. The male Ruby Throated Hummingbird is quite distinct with his red throat, green “vest” and white undersides. The female lacks the ruby throat but otherwise resembles the male. Hummingbirds are quite the aerobats of the bird world. They can fly very fast, stop on a dime and hover as well as hover up or down and fly backwards. Orange and red trumpet-shaped flowers as well as nectar feeders will draw them to your garden where they will also eat insects including killing spiders on their webs and then dine on any prey caught in the web. While some do nest in this area (and a few are reputed to live year round), the hummers are on their way to Mexico and Central America. They are known to fly all the way across the Gulf of Mexico to reach their destination. Other Hummingbirds that visit Fort Bend are the Rufous Hummingbird and Black-chinned Hummingbirds, but are less predictable and fewer than the Ruby Throated. For more pictures and how to enjoy them in your garden, visit http://traction.typepad.com/birds
Is all in the name of the game?
By SESHADRI KUMAR What’s in a name... wrote Shakespeare, suggesting that a rose by any other name will smell as sweet. But, will Sugar Land’s baseball by any name will be as big a hit? The fans are speaking out. Listed below are the Final three names under consideration. Sugar Land King Canes: King Canes honors the pride and winning attitude of our region. The King Canes pays tribute to our sugar history and prosperity. Sugar Land Lizard Kings: As the Texas state reptile, the horned lizard means business! This horned “King of the Lizards” is crafty and cunning. No other professional sports team in America is led by a lizard, although a cousin is a spokesreptile for a certain insurance company. Sugar Land Skeeters: The Sugar Land Skeeters celebrates our hometown love of warm Texas nights and the fun of minor league baseball. This playful identity shows America we have an itch for baseball, and
Brother killed by mistaken identity
By SESHADRI KUMAR On Aug. 12, at 8:10 a.m. in the 900 block of Derby Lane, Hunters Glen IV in Missouri City suspects walked up to Jarrett Harper and shot him multiple times, killing him. On Sept. 11, his brother, Harvey Harper, was shot several times in the 3800 block of Shirevalley Drive in Missouri City. Missouri City police now say that Jarrett Harper was a victim of mistaken identity and Harvey Harper was the real target. Missouri City police spokesman John Bailey said Jarrett was a college graduate, employed and had no criminal record. On the other
hand, his brother had a criminal history. While these two incidents are related, they have no connection to other driveby shootings, believed to be gang-related. The MCPD took steps to combat the spike in drive-by shooting in certain neighborhoods and issued an advisory to homeowners on Sept. 1. But the MCPD officials were puzzled by a formal letter to the KPRC -Local 2 TV sent a day earlier by Fort Bend County’s Pct. 2 Constable Ruben Davis. Davis said in the letter: “I am writing to request that you would visit our area to report a story. There has been a
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.
was a strong favorite of younger submitters. Minor league baseball in Sugar Land and Fort Bend County took a historic step last week with the announcement of the three finalists in the “Name Sugar Land’s Team” contest after nearly 8,000 entries were submitted. “The contest to name Sugar Land’s team has generated one of the largest turnouts ever seen,” says Matt O’Brien, President of the ball club. “A typical name-the-team contest can be expected to generate 3,000 to 4,000 initial entries. Receiving 8,000 entries is unprecedented.” “Narrowing the list to a ‘Final Three’ was extremely difficult, but we are pleased with the work that the committee, along with focus groups and input from the City, was able to do. The finalists take into consideration the tradition and history of our region, plus the desire expressed by many to see a ‘fun and unusual’ name. “Consideration was also given to selecting finalists from names submitted by older as well as younger fans. It is now
time for all fans in the region to make their selection,” O’Brien says. During the “Extra Inning” voting fans are invited to vote on the three names by ranking them first, second and third. Voters can do so by logging on to “NameSugarLandsTeam. com” or FBindependent.com until Friday, Sept. 24. Voters may also mail their favorites to Sugar Land Baseball, 16160 City Walk, Sugar Land Town Square, Sugar Land, TX 77479. After the votes are tabulated, the name of Sugar Land’s minor league baseball team will be unveiled. The person who submitted the winning team name during the contest’s first phase will be awarded a grand prize of lifetime season tickets. If more than one person submitted the winning name, a grand prize drawing will be held to determine the individual winner. Additionally, all fans who submitted a name will be entered into a second prize random drawing to win season tickets for the inaugural sea-
son. The names that did not make the final cut are: Sugar Land Canehuskers Sugar Land RailBenders Sugar Land Oaks Sugar Land Cane Barons Sugar Land Jesters Sugar Land Imperials Sugar Land Cubes Initial response to the three names in the final list has been somewhat lukewarm. Some think that the lackluster name may hurt the team. The ball club has taken a lot of input and had to drop many other palatable names for one legitimate reason or the other. O’Brien is not perturbed about negative comments on the proposed names. “We would be nervous if nobody cared. We are thrilled that people care,” he says. Right now, people just see a concept in the name, but they will connect with the fun and action in the future once the team starts playing, OBrien says. The buzz over the name may sound bizarre for a while, but in the long run, the name could sound as nice if not as sweet as a rose.
rash of crime in the Missouri City, Texas area. Four people have been shot within the last three weeks. There were at least two murders occurring in this area. Fort Bend County Constable, Pct. 2’s officers are in the process of arresting three captured burglary suspects. Should you have any questions or desire further information, please feel free to contact our offices.” Davis said his officers provide security to the Briargate subdivision under a contract. His deputies arrested some burglars belonging to the ‘100 Click’ gang and the same gang members are believed to have been involved in other shootings in the area. Davis said he sent the letter to publicize the arrest of the burglars to the community and it was not a reflection on the MCPD.Davis said, “We have a good relationship with the MCPD. We are working together in the special task force.”
WOMEN & WINE ART. Artist Kathy Womack, above, will host an exclusive art gallery showing in Riverstone 4-6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 18, as part of The Grand Soiree, a collection of stylish events. The Austin resident, best known for her Women & Wine series, will showcase an array of artwork in Peterson Homebuilders’ multi-million dollar custom home at 25 Sunset Park Lane in Riverstone’s Hartford Landing neighborhood. After viewing Womack’s Riverstone showing, guests can experience the inspiration behind Women & Wine during the Women & Wine Art Dinner with Womack at Fort Bend’s Aura Restaurant, at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 18. Cost for dinner with the artist is $75, including dinner and wine. The Grand Soiree spotlights Houston and Fort Bend’s finest in 10 events hosted from Sept. 25 through Oct. 27. Activities include Couture for the Cause in Sienna Plantation, benefiting the American Cancer Society, creation of a 3-D chalk art Davis said, “We have a good masterpiece in Riverstone by acclaimed artist Tracy Lee Stum, a VIP Artful Living with Neiman relationship with the MCPD. Marcus event in Riverstone, mimosa bus tours to the Houston Design Center’s fall market, The We are working together in the International Risotto Festival at the Houston Design Center, a Fire & Ice jewelry dinner at Post special task force.” Oak Grill in Sugar Land, and Mix It Up at the M Lounge, a bartender’s challenge. Ticket prices to the individual Grand Soiree events, sponsored by Johnson Development’s Riverstone and See CRIME, Page 3 Sienna Plantation, vary. For more information, visit www.TheGrandSoiree.com.
New Homes Summer Special !! Hurry !! … Call Chinese Cowboy - Paul
Mentoring conference aims at dropout prevention
You can be the caring adult who makes the difference in the life of a student in as little as one hour a week. The keynote speaker for the countywide Mentoring Conference to be held Sept. 29 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Stafford Centre will emphasize how one adult made the difference in his life when he was in fifth grade. Tyrone Smith said that he was a major trouble maker headed downhill when one adult took the time to care about him and listen to him. Smith then went on to graduate from Willowridge High School and Baylor University where he captained the Baylor Bears football team. He also played professional football for the San Francisco
49ers for four years. He is now focused on equipping, enriching and empowering today’s youth with the essential life skills and support to follow their dreams. The Mentoring Conference is sponsored by ACHIEVE Fort Bend County, a countywide initiative committed to dropout prevention and recovery. The conference is made possible through the support of the City of Stafford and is planned to serve and support mentoring programs in all of the school districts in the county. It is also open to faith-based groups and community-based organizations as well. The registration form can be downloaded from the ACHIEVE
Fort Bend County website www. achievefortbendcounty.org. The focus this year is on encouraging the attendance of businesses, so they will encourage their employees to participate in whatever programs best suit their time and interest. Additional speakers will share information about the real lives of students and how a caring adult can make the difference. A panel discussion during lunch will include mentors, mentees, a school counselor, a school social worker, a person with gang awareness expertise and a person representing faithbased groups. For more information, call 281-565-5295.