VOL 3 No. 46
Phone: 281-980-6745
www.fbindependent.com ww .fbindependent.com
FORT BEND FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2010
P. O.BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487-0623
Official newspaper of Fort Bend County & Sugar Land
Arc Of Fort Bend’s Best In The West set for Saturday
Sarah Parkinson, left, Danielle Garrison and Beverly Cushenberry are among the dedicated volunteers who work each fall to plan and present The Arc of Fort Bend’s Best in the West Dinner, Dance and Auction.
One of Fort Bend’s “best” fall traditions, The Arc of Fort Bend’s Best in the West Dinner, Dance and Auction returns for its 33rd annual edition from 6 p.m. to midnight, Saturday, Nov. 20. The barbecue dinner that will be served beginning at 6 p.m. at the George Ranch Historical Park Arena in Richmond comes once again from The Swinging Door. Rosenberg’s own Triumphs return for a second year, bringing their nostalgic brand of rock ‘n’ roll, pop and a little bit of country music for two sets for your dancing and listening pleasure. The first set runs from 7 to 7:45 p.m., with the second scheduled to follow the live auction from 10:30 p.m. to midnight. Shoppers will have ample opportunity to bid on items in one of the dozen silent auction Corrals and on an enticing list of live and bid board auction items. In addition to some new sponsors, it’s a shiny, red, restored 1966 Mustang that will turn heads everywhere you drive it. Tickets to win the snazzy car, restored and donated by KRMustang and Kevin Casey, are being sold for $100 by Arc volunteers. The winning ticket will be drawn at the dance, although the winner does not have to be present. For sponsorship information or tickets, contact Jo Ann Stevens at 713-829-1827 or Ann Smith at 281-240-1313. Proceeds from the annual Best in the West benefit The Arc of Fort Bend, helping maintain group homes, funding activity and work centers and providing for training and transportation of our citizens with mental retardation and developmental disabilities.
FCCA election garners attention By BARBARA FULENWIDER The election for three out of seven of the directors of First Colony Community Association starts as soon as the ballots are mailed out later this week and ends Dec. 9. Thanks to protests by residents of the Lakes of Edgewater and other nearby neighborhoods regarding the proposed closing of some swimming pools and the building of a new splash park, this year’s election has a bit more drama than most. Jonathan Day, lawyer for
Chairs & Car: Ann Smith, from left, County Commissioner James Patterson and JoAnn Stevens, co-chairmen of The Arc of Fort Bend’s 33rd Annual Best in the West Dinner, Dance and Auction, are ready to roll in the event’s featured raffle prize: a restored 1966 red Mustang.
the ballot. How the process works, Knoepfel said, is the board appoints a nominating committee of seven who can be either residential or commercial members of FCCA. “A board member chairs the committee to facilitate the process but is not a voting member. Everyone who wants to run for a director’s seat is interviewed and the committee determines who gets on the ballot.
See FCCA, Page 3
Candidates line up for council seat By SESHADRI KUMAR Candidates are lining up for the Sugar Land City Council election in May 2011. Four district seats are up for election. Dist. 3 Councilman Russell Jones and Dist. 4 Councilman Michael Schiff will be term-limited. So far no one has publicly announced an intent to run for the Dist. 3 seat, but the Dist. 4 seat appears to be headed for a heated and crowded contest. So far, three candidates have made public announcement of their intention to run. They are Farah Ahmed, Harish Jajoo and Frank Yonish. Ahmed, while announicng her intention to seek the office, said in a statement that she was active in the community through service on the Sugar Land Planning and Zoning Commission, First Colony Community Association, Child Advocates Advisory Council, Fort Bend County Judge Advisory Council, Sugar Land Exchange Club and many other community associations and
Holiday Soiree Minute Maid will host the second-annual Holiday Soiree during the City of Sugar Land’s Tree Lighting in Sugar Land Town Square. The community is invited to purchase tickets to the event, which will take place on Dec. 2 from 6 – 9 p.m. on the fourth floor of the Minute Maid building, and enjoy an evening of Holiday festivities with a bird’s eye view of the tree lighting below, including Santa’s entrance and the lighting of the 40 ft. Christmas
residents who opposed the new water park, said, “Now it’s election time and they kept two of our candidates off the ballot.” One of three hopefuls who opposed the water park and wanted to run for a board seat is on the ballot. The other two will run as write-in candidates, according to Day. “They like to misconstrue what actually occurs,” said Sherrie Knoepfel, FCCA executive director, regarding Day’s comment that “two of our candidates” were kept off
Tree. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Minute Maid 3-Family Fund. Each year, Minute Maid adopts three families, giving them gifts and other necessities for the Holidays. This year’s recipients are the Fort Bend Rainbow Room, The United Way and The Wounded Warrior and Family Support Center at Brooke Army Medical Center. For pricing information and to purchase tickets visit MinuteMaidHolidaySoiree.com.
committees. Ahmed is also a member of the Texas Lyceum, a non-partisan leadership organization. “I am a consensus builder and I want to develop creative, innovative ideas for promoting an invigorated business environment, improved mobility and increased safety,” she said. Ahmed and her husband have lived in Sugar Land for 20 years, own a business here and have raised their two children here. Jajoo has successfully managed public works for the City of Houston for 29 years, and has been a community leader in Sugar Land. He currently serves as Chair of the Infrastructure Planning Division of the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce. He is on the Sugar Land Planning & Zoning Commission, in the Sugar Land Exchange Club and the chairman of the board of the Indo-American Forum of Fort Bend. Jajoo says he is a fiscal conservative and adds, “As a councilmember I will work to
ensure that Sugar Land continues to maintain a high quality of life. I will focus on public safety, a business-friendly environment and an efficient road and traffic system, which are key to our City’s future.” A 25-year year resident, Jajoo and his wife, Shashi, have two children, both graduates of Clements High School. Yonish, a former Missouri City council member and past chairman of the Fort Bend Chamber, in an email blast sent to chamber members said he wants to provide “high level of expertise and leadership on the issues that impact our city and economy.” He is currently chairman of the Bank of Texas in Fort Bend. “ My only agenda as councilman will be to preserve and protect the quality of life that we enjoy in Sugar Land. I am confident that my campaign will win because of my experience and conservative approach to government. I am a candidate with the necessary blend of experience and public service,” Yonish said.
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.