VOL 2 No. 52
Phone: 281-980-6745
www.fbindependent.com .fbindependent.com ww
FORT BEND FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2009
P. O.BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487-0623
Sugar Land’s celebration includes 3D spectacular Sugar Land City Hall will be transformed on New Year’s Eve with 3D Video Mapping, the latest in video imaging technology and one of the first major performances ever held in the United States. Unlike 3D movies, no special glasses will be required to watch animated images come to life at City Hall. Flowing waterfalls, giant eyeballs suddenly appearing to break through solid columns, even the whole of City Hall appearing to implode and then miraculously restore itself in seconds are just some of the imagery planned during a spectacular show set to begin shortly before midnight. The 3D showcase will include a special New Year’s Eve midnight countdown that culminates with a giant 3D sugar cube that will appear to drop from the City Hall clock tower. The 3D sugar cube drop will be followed by a spectacular fireworks display from the roof of City Hall. To provide the state-of-
the-art entertainment, Sugar Land is utilizing the production company that brought 3D Video Mapping to America from the Netherlands. The special New Year’s Eve event is part of the City’s yearlong 50th Anniversary celebration. Officially incorporated on Dec. 29, 1959, New Year’s Eve was chosen as the perfect date to reflect on the City’s past and look forward to the many exciting years ahead. Sugar Land residents, neighbors and friends are all welcome to attend the New Year’s Eve celebration, which has been divided into three special parties to give everyone a chance to celebrate, including a Children’s Celebration from 5-7:30 p.m., a 50th Anniversary Ceremony from 7:30-8 p.m. and an Adults’ Celebration from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. The adults’ celebration will include alcohol service from 9 p.m. to midnight for responsible adults 21 years old and above.
The City is very excited to be presenting this landmark celebration, which will also include performances from acts never before seen in Sugar Land. A living Roman fountain, giant roaming stilt dinosaurs, a fascinating candy sculptor and cirque style acrobatics are just some of the acts sure to thrill and amaze. Building on the entertainment will be energetic music provided by DJ’s and a live band, combined with stateof-the-art lighting effects that will fill Sugar Land Town Square with energy and a vibrant party atmosphere. The free event is open to the public, and parking will be available at the Texas and Lone Star Garages. A free shuttle service will be available from 4:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. between Mercer Stadium and Sugar Land Town Square. For more information, visit www.sugarlandtx.gov/celebration.asp or call 281-2752885.
The Minute Maid 3-Family Fund recently donated gifts and other necessities to three local charities for the holidays, including the Fort Bend Rainbow Room, The United Way and The Wounded Warrior and Family Support Center at Brooke Army Medical Center. Executive Director of the Fort Bend Rainbow Room Tonya Lewis and local volunteers recently accepted the donation of gifts and toys. The Fort Bend Rainbow Room is a charitable organization dedicated to helping children and families in crisis by supporting the efforts of caseworkers. (L-R) Tonya Lewis, Maddy Reese, Trent Reese, Denver Reese, Michelle Font and Troy Richardson.
Videoscopic heart surgery leads to speedy recovery
Julia Strezelecki with Dr. Uttam Tripathy But in the operating room, For the YouTube generation, video cameras are a way the use of tiny video cameras of life, always there to cap- to assist surgeons in complex ture even the most mundane procedures is still relatively rare. One cardiothoracic surmoments.
geon at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, however, is specializing in videoscopic procedures that reduce patient pain and speed recovery time. Uttam Tripathy, M.D., has been performing video-assisted procedures at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital since 2006. But in recent months, he has expanded the role of videoscopy in chest surgery to bring its benefits to even more patients. Using a small three-inch “utility incision,” Dr. Tripathy inserts surgical instruments – including a small camera – into the patient’s body and manipulates them via two to three other, smaller one-inch incisions. The incisions provide easy access to the chest See HEART, Page 3
The Department of State Health Services, Vital Statistics Unit presented its 2009 Exemplary Five Star Award at the annual conference earlier this month in Austin. Fort Bend County Clerk Dianne Wilson and her staff received an Exemplary Five Star award for meeting all criteria for the timeliness and accuracy of recording and issuance of birth, death and marriage records. Dr. Yvonne Howze, left, Director of Health Information and Vital Statistic Sections in Austin, Linda Jordan, Branch Manager, Cindy Twardowski, Division Supervisor, Diane Shepard, First Assistant, Geraldine Harris, Director of Vital Statistics Unit in Austin and Dianne Wilson, County Clerk.
Missouri City levies hotel occupancy tax By BARBARA FULENWIDER Missouri City City Council at its Dec. 21 meeting approved levying a tax of seven percent on hotel/motel occupants since the city’s first motel/hotel will open for business in 2010. The tax goes into effect New Year’s Day so it can be collected the first night someone sleeps in the La Quinta Inn & Suites. In November, council members unanimously approved a request by TexLa Hotel, LLC of Sugar Land to build a three-story, 55-room property with a meeting space that can accommodate 41 people. The city’s first motel/hotel will be at the intersection
of Williamsburg and Township lanes just south of the Wal-Mart shopping center on Hwy. 6. Construction is to start in March and be finished by the end of the year. Projects funded by the occupancy tax must bring overnight tourists to Missouri City’s hotels/motels and may only be used for authorized uses that include convention and visitor centers, convention registration, advertising the city, promoting the arts, historical restoration and preservation, sporting events and sporting facilities, etc.
Fire Station In other business, council members approved buying
Seconds can save lives
land from Sienna/Johnson Development on which to build Missouri City’s fifth fire station. They authorized an interlocal agreement between the city and FBISD to provide a means to assist each other on projects that are mutually beneficial to residents of both. Scott Elmer, city public works director, told council such a project could be landscaping, a special event, etc. “There are no specific identified projects right now,” Elmer said, but the agreement will give the staff of each entity an umbrella to operate under when there is. City Manager Frank Simpson added that any major
expenditure on cooperative projects would come before council for their approval before a project is started.
Quail Valley Parks Meanwhile, Missouri City residents will have a community meeting on Tuesday, January 12, for the presentation of findings and park development options for the former Executive Nine property, part of the Quail Valley Parks Project. The community will have the opportunity to comment following the remarks. The meeting will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 12 at the Community Center in the City Hall Complex at 1522 Texas Parkway. For the past two years, citi-
zens have offered their opinion through committees and at public meetings on recreation uses of the Quail Valley Parks Project. Most recently, citizens focused their comments on the 38-acre former Executive Nine property at a public meeting held last September. Three potential priority elements for the property have been identified. They are: Water features; Open/passive area for trails, paths, green space and benches; and Limited activity areas not adjacent to homes potentially for playground, fitness equipment, pavilion and parking. Following the September meeting, an engineering
Fort Bend County’s only accredited Chest Pain Center. Visit memorialhermann.org or call 713.222.CARE to learn more about our heart and vascular screenings.
consultant conducted a water availability assessment, including drainage, to assure the water features are sustainable. Based on this water analysis and citizen feedback, preliminary information will be presented on trail layout, parks amenities and water drainage and capacity. The final park plan that is developed will be reviewed by the Missouri City Parks Board prior to its review and approval by City Council. The plan will be implemented in phases, with work on the first phase beginning as early as spring 2010. Funding will come from the November 2008 bond program.