Fort Bend Independent 110817

VOL 10 No. 45

email: editor@ independent.com

Phone: 281-980-6745 50 cents

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FORT BEND FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE. P. O.BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487-0623

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2017

Official newspaper of Fort Bend County & Missouri City

First Colony’s 40th anniversary celebrations launched

The Sugar Land Heritage Foundation is bringing out a Christmas Tree orgnament commemorating First Colony’s 40th anniversary. Above, Mary Favre, left, presents a replica of the ornament printed on a note card to Hillary Goldstein.

By SESHADRI KUMAR Colony Community AssociaFirst Colony, a renowned tion and the Sugar Land heri10,000-acre master-planned tage Foundation. community in Sugar Land is Former Sugar Land Mayor celebrating the 40th birth an- Jimmy Thompson was the niversary of its origin and a master of ceremonies. launch party for the birth anA brief promotional vidniversary celebrations was eo depiciting the origin and held on Nov. 1 at the offices of growth of First Colony was Robert Markel Weinberg But- unvelied on the occasion. ler & Hailey at the Sugar Land Don Janssen presnted the Town Square. first sales manual prepared Fort Bend County Judge by Gerald G. Hines, the deBob Hebert and Sugar Land veloper who bought and built Mayor Joe Zimmerman pre- the master planned commusented proclamations, recog- nity, which was a marketing nizing First Colony’s 40th an- blue print for selling homes in niversary. The proclamations the community. That hisorical were presented to Planned document will be preserved Community Developers, who by the Sugar Land Heritage developed First Colony, First Foundation.

The name First Colony dates back to the days of Stephen F. Austin, who brought 300 families and settled them in a colony in land obtained from a Mexican government grant in 1821 on the Brazos River.

The land belonged to the Sugaland Industries from 1908 until 1974 with the Kempner family, founders of the sugar refinery. In 1973, Gerald Hines (famed developer of the Galleria in Houston) and the Cousins Properties Inc. of Atlanta, bought the property of 7,472 acres for $42 million, the highest single land sale at that time in Texas. Later from the Frost Ranch, another 1,800 acres were added.

In 1974, Hines unveiled the development of First Colony as a master planned community at a luncheon meeting at the Sugar Creek Country Club. He envisoned a mixed residential and commercial development with community amenities to live and work. His vision became a reality and succeeded more as a place to live, work, shop and play.

Today nearly 65,000 people live in First Colony which became a part of the City of Sugar Land in 1995.

Mary Favre, vice president of First Colony Community Association, has been the driving force behind the celebrations and through the C & M Favre Foundation, she has plans to release a series of video interviews memorializing the legacy of First Colony.

35th Class graduates from law enforcement academy

Allison Wen, left, vice-president of SLHF, Les Newton and Don Janssen of Planned Community Developers, (formerly Sugar Land Properties), Cary Kelley, CEO of FCCA and Fort Bend County Judge Bob Hebert.

Allison Wen, left, Don Janssen, Cary Kelley, Sugar Land Mayor Joe Zimmerman, Les Newton and former Sugar Land Mayor Jimmy Thompson.— Photos by LUCY CRUZ. County Judge Bob Hebert recalled that when he came to First Colony, there were just three homes on Highway 6 and there were four irrigations wells.

Today, one can’t say where those three buildings stood.

When homes were built in the

Sweetwater subdivisin, they were sold just in two days after they were listed for sale.

Jimmy Thompson in his remarks alluded to the rich heritage of First Colony and how it has stood the test of time as a master planned community and survived for 40 yeares.

Sugar Land would not have been what it is today without First Colony, he said.

Carey Kelley, CEO of FCCA said, a non-profit First Colony Community Foundation will be created shortly to serve the community at large.

The Nutcracker Pirouettes into Harvest Green Dec. 3. The Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier will pirouette into Harvest Green on Sunday, Dec. 3, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. for a free, sweet-filled performance of The Nutcracker at The Farmhouse, 3400 Harvest Corner Drive. Dancers from In Tempo Dance Ensemble will take the stage as whirling snowflakes, delicate flowers and — of course — Clara and her Nutcracker in the classic holiday ballet. Afterward, there will be photo opportuniGraduates and instructors for the 35th Class of the Gus George Law Enforcement Academy in- ties with the cast, a holiday market and other seasonal activities. For more information, visit www. clude: front row, from left, Kristen Savinon, Nicole Junior, David Smith, Miranda Parkin and harvestgreentexas.com.

Elisama J. Gonzalves; second row: Sheriff Troy Nehls, Sgt. Judy Cervenka, Candasha Howell, Grant Gremillion, Benjamin Masters, Johnathan Sanchez, Bernard Baiye, Raynaldo Torres, included, Precision Driving, Jr. Captain James Burger, Director; and Sgt. Carlos Castillo; and third row, Sgt. Eddie Vaught, Danny F. Khawaja; and AcaSgt. Casey Schmidt, Tyler Mican, Danny F. Khawaja, Michael Hogan, Warren Hearne, Joe demics, Miranda Parkin.

Class members included BerChristie, Royce Romero and Lt. Jim Pokluda, Assistant Director. nard Baiye, Joe Christie, Elisa- By SESHADRI KUMAR service levels provided to the The 35th Class of the Gus Code, Arrest Search and Sei- ficers included: Benjamin Mas- ma Gonzalves, Grant GremilMystery surrounds the impli- Greatwood and New Territory George Law Enforcement zure, Code of Criminal Proce- ters, vice-president; Miranda lion, Warren Charles Hearne, cations of the impending Dec. communities.”

Academy was honored during dure, Police Driving, Firearms Parkin, secretary/treasurer; and Michael Hogan, Candasha 12 annexation of Greatwood The next agenda item posted graduation ceremonies held Training, Traffic Stops, Crimi- guidon bearer, Michael Hogan. Howell, Nicole Junior, Danny and New Territory communities on the request of CouncilmemDuring the graduation cer- Khawaja, Benjamin Masters, by the city of Sugar Land.

Thursday, Nov. 2, 2017 at the nal Investigations and much ber Mary Joyce reads “Review emony, cadets were honored Tyler Mican, Miranda Parkin, Rosenberg Civic and Conven- more.

Questions arose during the of discussion on service level The culmination of their for being tops in the categories Royce Romero, Johnathan San- consideration of the city bud- implications for residents of tion Center.

The 35th class included 17 training was two weeks of of Physical Training, Preci- chez, Kristin Savinon, David get on Oct. 17, when the city Greatwood, New Territory and graduates, all of whom passed scenario-based training using sion Driving, Academics and Smith and Raynaldo Torres. scrapped the proposed animal current Sugar Land residents the Texas Commission on Law simunitions (pistols with live Marksmanship.

Along with Captain Burger, shelter and emergency opera- due to annexation of Greatwood Cadet Benjamin Masters staff members at the Academy tion center, previously identi- and New Territory.”

Enforcement licensing exam paint rounds) where the cadets are put in situations and they won the “David Braunholz Top include instructors Lt. Jim fied as needed capital projects on their first attempt.

The administration has been The class began on Feb. 20 have to react and make deci- Gun Award” for marksman- Pokluda, Sgt. Carlos Castillo, due to annexation. saying that the overall impact and concluded on Thursday sions based on their knowledge ship. The award is named for Sgt. Judy Cervenka, and Sgt. There are two items on the of the annexation is net neuand training from the academy. the late Sheriff’s Office Deputy, Casey Schmidt. Academy sup- Sugar Land City Council agen- tral to the city’s finances and with graduation.

Captain James Burger, Di- David Braunholz, who died in port staff members include Dot- da for the Nov. 7 meeting.

Through eight months, the more specifically, the city has 17 cadets who successfully rector of the Academy, was the the line of duty. tie Allen and Cyndi Villemaire.

One item posted by Jim adequate reserve funds from Masters also was tops for the completed the program re- emcee for the ceremonies.

Nine of the cadets have been Calloway, Assistant City Man- annexation to provide services Candasha Howell served as Physical Training Proficiency. hired by the Fort Bend County ager, Special Projects, reads to the annexed areas. ceived 904 hours of training.

Additional award winners Sheriff’s Office.

Subjects included the Penal president of the class. Other of“Review of discussion on the See ANNEX, Page 2

Sugar Land’s annexation and budget blues

Page 2 • INDEPENDENT • NOVEMBER 8, 2017

NEWS

Texas Bar Foundation awards grant to Child Advocates of Fort Bend

interfaith thanksgiving service

Monday, November 20, 2017

7:00-8:00pm

St. Laurence Catholic Church, 3100 Sweetwater Blvd, Sugar Land, TX 77479

The Texas Bar Foundation recently awarded Child Advocates of Fort Bend (CAFB) an $8,000 grant to support year two of the Multidisciplinary Team Enhancement Program (MEP) between Child Protective Services, law enforcement and the Children’s Advocacy Center. Since its inception in 1965, the Texas Bar Foundation has awarded more than $18 million in grants to law-related programs. Supported by members of the State Bar of Texas, the Texas Bar Foundation is the nation’s largest charitably-funded bar foundation. Shown (L to R) are: Child Advocates of Fort Bend Multi-Disciplinary Team Coordinators Fran Clark and Joe Driver with Child Advocates of Fort Bend Children’s Advocacy Center Program Director Fiona Remko.

The Texas Bar Foundation recently awarded Child Advocates of Fort Bend (CAFB) an $8,000 grant.

These funds will be used to support year two of the Multidisciplinary Team Enhancement Program (MEP) between Child Protective Services, law enforcement and the Children’s Advocacy Center.

MEP began in late 2015 as a way of identifying children who are victims of abuse and would otherwise fall through the cracks of the child welfare system.

Since its inception in 1965, the Texas Bar Foundation has awarded more than $18 million

in grants to law-related programs. Supported by members of the State Bar of Texas, the Texas Bar Foundation is the nation’s largest charitably-funded bar foundation.

Child Advocates of Fort Bend is the only agency in Fort Bend County exclusively dedicated to providing critical services, all free of charge, to abused and neglected children and their non-offending family members.

A CAFB Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) staff member reviews all state intake reports of child abuse, assesses whether they meet criteria for sexual abuse or severe physical

MEP Engineering

abuse and, if so, refers the case to CPS and law enforcement.

The CAC acts as a coordinating entity amongst CAFB partner agencies ensuring that all parties are informed and abused children are receiving the help that they need to overcome the trauma they have endured.

For 25 years, Child Advocates of Fort Bend has been providing a voice, healing the hurt and breaking the cycle of abuse and neglect in Fort Bend County. Through its Court Appointed Special Advocates Program (CASATM), Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) and more than 200 trained community volunteer advocates,

Commissioning

Presented by the Fort Bend Interfaith Council Gather with neighbors from various faith communities in a spirit of fellowship, thanksgiving and hope. Following Hurricane Harvey, we united to bring recovery assistance to flooded neighbors. Now let us reunite in a communal prayer of thanksgiving for the gift of living and worshiping in such a diverse, respectful and loving community.

COOKIE & PUNCH RECEPTION TO FOLLOW IN THE PARISH HALL

Please bring a non-perishable food item to be donated to the East Fort Bend Human Needs Ministry and Second Mile Mission.

For more information, visit stlaurence.org/interfaith-thanksgiving

Child Advocates of Fort Bend improves the lives of more than 400 children each month and has served more than 14,500 children since opening its doors in 1991. Volunteers are needed to help in the Children’s Advocacy Center and Court Appointed Special Advocates Program. For more information on Child Advocates of Fort Bend or to become a volunteer, go to www.cafb.org or contact Lauren Jordin at ljordin@cafb. org or 281-344-5258.

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HOPE & THANKSGIVING – INTERFAITH THANKSGIVING PRAYER SERVICE ON NOVEMBER 20 Everyone in the community is welcome to attend an Interfaith Thanksgiving Prayer Service on Monday, Nov 20, 7:00-8:00 p.m., at St. Laurence Catholic Church. This annual event, presented by the Fort Bend Interfaith Council, encourages members from the various faith communities in our area to gather in a spirit of fellowship, thanksgiving and hope.

These same faith communities united to bring emergency aid and recovery assistance to flood victims following Hurricane Harvey. This event allows us to reunite in a communal prayer of thanksgiving for the great gift of living and worshiping in such a diverse, respectful and loving community. Free of charge and open to the public.

Please bring a non-perishable food item to be donated to the East Fort Bend Human Needs Ministry and Second Mile Mission.

A cookie and punch reception will follow in the parish hall. St. Laurence Catholic Church is located at 3100 Sweetwater Blvd, Sugar Land, TX. For more information, please visit stlaurence. org/interfaith-thanksgiving.

Annex From Page 1 A close look at the wording of the agenda items shows that the administration will review the service levels provided to the newly annexed areas, while the councilmembers agenda item suggests there will be an impact on service levels to the current city residents as well.

It is the city’s position that there is not enough property tax revenue to fund the projects because city council did not adopt the effective tax rate plus 3 percent as the property tax rate, but approved only 1.5 cent increase over the effective tax rate. Added to that woe is the drop in sales tax revenue.

But from a layman’s perspective, the city of Sugar Land increased the taxes and reduced the services.

During the discussion on the budget cuts, Joyce brought up the issue of annexation and the finances of the municipal utility districts in Greatwood and New Territory.

There is a significant drop in property tax projection from these two communities as presented first in October of 2016 and then in another subsequent presentation, according to Joyce.

Joyce asked what exactly was the property tax revenue from the MUDs for 2018 and the city finance director said the first presentation was based on the then tax rate adopted by the MUDs and she did not know at that time what was actual revenue for 2018.

Mayor Joe Zimmerman at that point intervened to say the discussion was veering off the topic under consideration and the administration would provide the annexation details to the councilwoman later. But,

Joyce said the annexation finances are relevant to the budget and sought further information.

It appears those numbers will be presented to city council at this Tuesday’s meeting.

Incidentally, Councilwoman Amy Mitchell raised the point during the budget discussion questioning the rationale for scrapping the animal center and the emergency operation center because they are “needed projects” and not “wanted projects.”

The city manager’s response was that he wanted to demonstrate that those projects cannot be done unless the people and the council increased the tax rate.

Mayor Zimmerman also justified the scrapping of capital projects on the ground that the city council violated its own financial management policy by not approving a tax rate of effective tax rate plus 3 percent.

So the golden rule or the law of Sugar Land seems to be that if there is no effective tax rate plus 3 percent tax rate, no capital projects will be done.

How can a city council years ago bind future councils on a policy as if it is written on stone, irrespective of the varying financial conditions in different times?

While the financial management policy can be a guiding principle, that alone cannot be the criterion for deciding the tax rate and the budget.

In times of revenue shortage, like the one being faced now, such a policy may be prudent.

Similarly, when city’s revenues are adequate for funding the projects, city council can reduce the tax rate instead of using the same tax rate formula of 3 percent plus effective tax rate.

Anyway, the discussion on the annexation finances will be very revealing.

INDEPENDENT • NOVEMBER 8, 2017 • Page 3

NEWS

First Lady Cecilia Abbott visits Child Advocates of Fort Bend

Cowboy Up beneďŹ ts Parks Youth Ranch

The Hogan family: Back Row Sarah & Je Hogan, Dick & Patt Hogan, Kevin & Carmie Hogan; Front Row Daniel & Kelley Wyatt, Christin Hogan & Derek Hurley First Lady Cecilia Abbott visited Child Advocates of Fort Bend recently and met with sta, board members and partner agencies in an eort to better understand the work that the agency and its partners are doing on behalf of abused and neglected children. Shown front row (L to R) are: Child Advocates of Fort Bend CEO Ruthanne Meord, First Lady Abbott and Child Advocates of Fort Bend Board President Jim Lockwood. Back row (L to R) are: Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas COO Sally Allen, Chief of the Family Law Division of the County Attorney’s OďŹƒce Marjorie Hancock, Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas Communications & Outreach Specialist Emily Hardt, CPS Regional Director Jarita Wharton, Child Advocates of Fort Bend Board Member Sonal Bhuchar, President of Child Advocates of Fort Bend’s CAC Advisory Council James Steenbergen, Child Advocates of Fort Bend’s CASA Program Director Metoyer Martin, Rosenberg Chief of Police Dallis Warren, Chief of the Child Abuse Division of the District Attorney’s OďŹƒce Suzy Morton, Child Advocates of Fort Bend Children’s Advocacy Center Program Director Fiona Remko and CPS Regional Director Leshia Fisher.

First Lady Cecilia Abbott has partnered with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services on a new initiative – Network of Nurture – to raise awareness about the ways Texans can support the children and families in the state’s child welfare system.

As a part of this initiative, she has been touring Children’s Advocacy Centers across the state of Texas.

Last week, she visited Child Advocates of Fort Bend, toured the facility and met with sta, board members and partner agencies in an eort to better understand the work that the agency and its partners are doing on behalf of abused and neglected children. “We are so happy that the Abbotts have made child welfare a top priority in Texas and we were honored that First Lady Abbott wanted to see our facility and talk to us about the work that we are doing,â€? stated Child Advocates of Fort Bend CEO Ruthanne Meord.

Child victims are referred to Child Advocates of Fort Bend’s Children’s Advocacy Center by law enforcement or CPS where trained specialists, social workers and therapists conduct forensic interviews, coordinate the criminal investigation, facilitate resource services, oer criminal court

support and provide therapy to help children heal from their trauma. Agency partners are co-located in the building to facilitate this collaboration and the agency has implemented both formal and informal processes and communication to facilitate a “one-stop-shopâ€? approach. “As a result, we have demonstrated very positive outcomes in these children’s lives,â€? said Meord.

Child Advocates of Fort Bend is unique in that they have a Children’s Advocacy Center and a CASA Program under one roof. “We started our CASA Program 26 years ago and added the Children’s Advocacy Center a few years later when we realized that there was a whole population of children who were not being served because they had not been removed from their homes.�

The CASA Program trains volunteers throughout the community to provide a voice in the courtroom for children who are in the care of the child welfare system.

These CASA volunteers advocate for the child’s “best interests� and ensure that his/her needs are being met throughout the time the child is in foster care, provide stability and a positive role model.

Volunteers are trained to

serve children in each age group. Each of these services (Infant and Toddler, N.E.S.T. and WINGS) incorporates strategies to help the children develop healthy lifestyles, provide mentoring and guidance, equip the children and volunteers with specialized resources, implement educational enrichment workshops and help the children ďŹ nd the path to a bright future.

As an agency, Child Advocates of Fort Bend has been committed to making sure they never turn away a child in need of their services.

The agency’s Christmas Home Tour is critical to helping them continue to fund all of the agency’s programs and services for abused and neglected children. Slated for December 8 and 9, 2017 the $25 tour ticket enables guests to view ďŹ ve private homes that have been professionally decorated for the holidays. Tickets allow access to each home once during the tour hours. 94% of the proceeds from this event go directly toward programs and services.

To become a sponsor or for more information about the Christmas Home Tour or to purchase tickets for the tour, go to www.cafb.org or contact Lisa Moore at lmoore@cafb. org.

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Cowboy Up 2017, presented by Fred & Mabel Parks Foundation and beneďŹ ting Parks Youth Ranch, was held on Oct. 6, at the George Ranch Historical Park Arena in Richmond.

This charity event featured live music, a BBQ dinner, a dessert bar, and live and silent auctions. Along with Honorary Chairs Patt & Richard “Dick�

Hogan, approximately 500 local leaders, business owners and community supporters attended the shindig.

Parks Youth Ranch opened its doors in 2011 to provide emergency shelter, counseling and life changing services to abused, at-risk and homeless youth ages 7-17. In the 6 years since opening, the shelter has provided over 35,000 nights of shelter and has served over 750 children.

Each year at Cowboy Up, the Carl Favre “True Believer Award� is given to a valued volunteer or community supporter who helps make the youth ranch’s mission and vision a reality, in recognition of

Shannon Bloesch, left, and Pat Somers. their devotion to the cause.

This year, the organization honored Pat Somers for her faith, dedication and true belief in Parks Youth Ranch.

Pat never stops saying “YES� to the variety of needs and wishes from PYR and is a BEACON OF LIGHT for the children.

Parks Youth Ranch is truly blessed to have Pat Somers as one of its True Believers!

Previous recipients have included Anthony Hurst-2012, Dick Hogan-2013, Mary Favre-2014, St Laurence Social Concerns Ministry-2015, Fred & Mabel Parks Foundation-2016.

Riverstone jumpstarts gift buying with Holiday Market With the holiday countdown numbering weeks instead of months, shoppers can take a more relaxed approach to the shopping frenzy at the annual Riverstone Holiday Market on Friday, Nov. 17, from 5-9 p.m. at The Club at Riverstone, 18353 University Boulevard.

The annual Yuletide shopping extravaganza features dozens of merchants offering unique dĂŠcor items, custom jewelry, apparel for adults and children, handcrafted items and more. “The market is a special annual tradition in our community and is open to everyone,â€? said Nick Deacon, Director of Fun in Riverstone. “We invite people to take a more relaxed approach.

They can browse until they ďŹ nd the perfect gifts, then take a break and enjoy live music, light hors d’oeuvres and one of our signature cocktails.â€?

When it comes to choosing gifts, parents can pick up handmade bibs and onesies from Three Hearts Apparel, word search coloring books from Whimsy Word Search and holiday clothing from Jodi Simasingh.

Wives will score lots of holiday kisses when they gift husbands with handmade shaving gear and artisan soaps from Monica Charles Designs.

Doors and tables take on a festive air with wreaths, table runners and other decorations available from

Shoppers can browse gifts and enjoy signature cocktails and light bites during the annual Riverstone Holiday Market, set for 5-9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17, at The Club at Riverstone, 18353 University Boulevard.

Liz Silk Creations, Mo’s Decor and More and Tutti Bello.

The event is open to the public.

Admission is one canned

good, which will be donated to the Second Mile Mission Center.

For more information, visit www.riverstone.com

Page 4 • INDEPENDENT • NOVEMBER 8 , 2017

MIKE’s MONOLOGUE The cat named Tigger

By MICHAEL GRANTO My name is Tigger. I am a cat.

My cat mother was one of a pack of feral cats that lived behind an apartment complex where humans lived. There was a great big ficus hedge, and many of the cats would gather there because a nice lady human would bring down big pans of food for all of them to eat.

She was the same lady who used traps that don’t hurt to catch the cats, and she would take them to a vet to get them neutered. She was trying to keep the population down, but she didn’t want to hurt any of us.

But, before the lady human got to my mom, though, mom had one more litter, and I was in it.

We lived in a car for a while, because the lady human had a man human friend, who told my cat mom one day, that if she ever needed a safe place, she could find it with them, so she brought us all to his car.

When he started the car to go someplace, he heard noises when he started to back up.

Some of us had come tumbling out, and one of my toes had gotten caught under one of the wheels. It scared me some, but it didn’t do any permanent damage.

I was hardly born yet, but I was already having adventures.

We got taken to a friend’s house, my litter-mates and I. It was from this house that I met the lady human and man human who were going to be my human mom and dad.

The trap lady human brought those other humans to this house one day to pick out two cats. It seems that there had been another cat in their lives, but she had died. The trap lady told my lady human mother that it would be best to pick out two cats, since they would be friends with each other.

The lady human picked out my sister, who was rather light colored. The man human picked out one of my brothers, who was all gray and had a white tip on his tail. As they were leaving the room where we stayed, I looked right at the lady who was going to be my human mom. I wanted her to know I was there, and I hoped she’d pick me right then. They put my litter-mates in a box, and left to drive home.

On the way home, the trap lady asked my human mom if she was happy with her choices. My human mom said something like “Yes,” but it wasn’t very convincing. Her man human picked up on that, and so did the trap lady.

They stopped the car, turned around, and went back to the house where my litter-mates and I were.

My human mom looked around, and she saw me. She picked me out! Then the man human put my brother back in the room.

I went with my sister, the man human who was going to be my human dad, and the so-sweet lady human, the one that came all the way back just for me, just to pick me out; the one that was going to be my human mom. Some time later, my human mom told my human dad that she looked back into the room when they first left, and she saw me. She said my eyes were looking at her, and asking, “What about me?”

That’s why she had to come back for me.

We went back to their apartment, near the ficus hedge.

There was a lot of discussion by the humans about what our names ought to be. Humans have this thing about naming.

They thought of things like “Caesar and Cleopatra” and “Bonnie and Clyde,” but those wouldn’t do.

They finally settled on “Tig-

Granto ger” for me, and “Roo” for my sister. I was Tigger after the tiger character in “Winnie the Pooh”, because of my striped coat. Roo was Roo because she was a smallish companion of the other characters.

Later, our human mom changed Roo’s name to “Sally,” because mom felt her name had to have two syllables.

When we were very very small we lived in a bathroom, in a cardboard box that had a towel inside. We got taken to a doctor so we wouldn’t be making more litters of cats, and we went into our box to recover. I was the first one out of the box, but my sister was the first one out of the bathroom.

To us, it was a very big world, and we were just very little kittens.

The place where we lived was on the ground floor, and it had a patio. The patio was screened in, and our mom and dad used to let us go out there regularly. We had terrific fun.

We could see other cats, the ficus hedge, different birds, dogs, the grass outside, and even the clouds and the sky; and we could smell all of them, and it was wonderful.

We would just about jump out of our skins when the birds landed close to the patio door.

Mom used to call that “kitty tv.”

There was an inside ledge around the patio, and my sister and I could parade around on it, looking at the clouds, and the sky, smelling the grass, the other cats, and the ficus hedge. It was great fun, and we enjoyed it a lot. Sometimes people would walk by just to see us. That was fun, too.

When we were about four years old, Mom and Dad decided to move our residence to a tall building in the middle of downtown Miami. My sister and I each had to be put in our individual carriers. This was not an easy thing to do, especially with my sister, Sally.

What finally happened was that after all the things we climbed on, and slept on, and hid under were taken out of our house, and nothing was left, dad took a blanket and tried to catch Sally. Sally is pretty quick, so dad really couldn’t catch her. He figured out that he’d have to corner her.

Now, Sally was never as close with dad as I was, so she wouldn’t let him come near her. Dad herded her out onto the patio, holding the blanket in front of him, with his arms spread wide. Once he got her out there, he shut the sliding glass doors behind him, so it was just Sally and dad, out on the patio, alone. Well, alone with the blanket.

Sally was pretty terrified, because she just didn’t know what to make of this big guy with a blanket. She finally ended up running up the screen next to the patio entrance, and while she was hanging there, dad got the blanket around her, and covered her up, so he wouldn’t get scratched. It was a little tricky, but he finally got her into her carrier.

By the time we got to the new place, she was too terrified to even be in the same room with Dad, and that lasted for weeks; she wouldn’t come anywhere near him.

For years, she wouldn’t let dad get too near her, and if he came around, she’d move away. After a couple of years, though, she wouldn’t jump up and run if his back or side faced her.

Our new apartment was

very high off the ground. It had something like a patio, but Mom and Dad called it a balcony. It was not screened in, and Mom and Dad never let me go out there by myself.

Mom carried me out there in her arms a couple of times, for a short while. It was very cool to look down at all the cars and people.

Sometimes mom would leave the glass sliding door opened, and just leave the screen door keeping us safe inside. There were lots of things to see, but not much to smell except the water I could see in the distance.

We had a very pleasant existence at this place. Mom and Dad cared for us, and loved us.

Mom used to give us treats.

She would sit on the couch, and we’d come strolling out from our beds, and present ourselves in front of her. She would parcel out the treats so that I got mine and Sally got hers.

Mom used to worry that I would take Sally’s treats if she didn’t watch me, and sometimes I did. Mom also used to tell me to chew my treats, because if I didn’t, sometimes I’d vomit them up a few minutes later. Neither Mom nor Dad liked cleaning it up.

I knew my name was Tigger.

If Mom or Dad said my name, I got so I would go to where they were. Sometimes Mom would make up a little variation of my name, like “Tigger-tee,” or “Tigger-tee-Geronimo.” I knew she was talking to me.

In the mornings, I’d get up on Mom’s bed, and yowl so she know I was there, then I’d snuggle with her. I liked that, and Mom liked it too.

When Dad got up to go to work, he’d open one of the dresser drawers to pick out underwear, socks, and a hankie.

Well, I knew he needed my help, so I would jump to the top of the dresser, then hang my head over and see what I could do.

Once in a while Mom and Dad would go away for a few days. During those times, they’d make sure someone came around and changed our food and water, and our litter.

By the standards of our kind we had very protected lives, because all our needs were met, and we didn’t have to fight anyone to get them met. But we were fortunate in another way: our lives were filled with love, because our mom and dad loved us.

Toward the end of my life, I got very sick. I hurt a lot inside.

The only person I could think of to tell was my Daddy, and the only way I could think of to do it was to leave my marks in his bathtub. That was something I never did, so I knew that Daddy would make something happen. Daddy always makes something happen.

Dad gathered me up in a blanket, and we all rode to a doctor for animals.

Mommy and Daddy and the people at the place for sick animals talked things over for quite a while. Then the lady doctor brought me to Daddy, and I laid on my blanket, and I went to sleep. Daddy put one hand on my side, and the other hand on my head. Then he talked to me for a while.

I took a really deep breath, and I didn’t hurt any more.

(Granto is a United States Marine Corps veteran of Vietnam, awarded the Purple Heart. For over 24 years, he worked for the University of Miami Medical Campus Security Department, and retired in 2014. He moved to Missouri City, with his wife to be closer to her daughter.

He can be reached at mikegranto@hotmail.com.)

LETTER: Changes for good To the Editor: Most residents of Missouri City have noticed the recent changes in development that have taken place in our City and been very pleased, I think.

Commercial development in particular has emerged with hotels, larger restaurants, grocery stores and respectable retail outlets making their appearance.

Seventeen years ago when I moved into Missouri City, many of these stores did not even exist.

The recent ballot initiatives also signal a subtle but welcome change in approach toward City government for Missouri City. These initiatives give the City Manager more power, thus curtailing the City Council or political approach toward running the City which has been so evident in the past.

Missouri City has to be different in its approach toward City management because unlike its neighbors, Sugar

Land and Stafford, we have no commercial or large retail tax contribution to help our budget.

We are mainly a bedroom community, like it or not.

We very much need a strong, hands-on, informed, and objective oriented approach toward running the City to deal with its unique issues.

Past management decisions were heavily based in political initiatives.

For instance, we no longer have a population whose primary employer is the Med Center, so rail link contributions are totally unnecessary. In the past, the City incurred huge amounts of debt to placate and satisfy neighborhood based decisions to invest in golf, tennis,and City managed restaurant and an event center.

The City Council and City Manager don’t need those City based activities to occupy their time. Nor does the City need to support such activities.

Missouri City government

now needs to focus on meeting the needs of the entire City, not just one or two Districts, and definitely look at how they can invigorate, renew and renovate portions of the City which have been neglected for decades.

By focusing on a whole city approach and rejecting special interests, the City will have a bright future.

Clearly, private industry, due mainly to our current City management, is finding the City a great place to locate.

In summary, the City has many challenges but we are definitely moving in the right directlion.

We undoubtedly face a succession of tax increases to pay off debt incurred due to past decisions but I think the City will surprise many residents with its prosperity and appeal.

Howard E. Moline Missouri City

Much ado about meeting time

By BARBARA FULENWIDER At Stafford City Council’s Nov. 1 meeting the executive session agenda item got changed in order to help fast forward the meetings. It was the last item on the agenda.

Now it’s the second and follows the call to order and pledge of allegiance.

Council Member Virginia Rosas proposed the change and said council’s executive session should be the second item on every agenda rather than the last. The several reasons Rosas wanted the change was “mainly because it has an effect on some of the items below it.

“If we moved it to Item 2, we can get most of what we need and if any council member needs to leave early, he or she can. Sometimes we have things (on the agenda) that don’t require a whole lot (of time). That’s mainly the reason I wanted it to be moved.”

Mayor Leonard Scarcella asked Rosas, “What is your opinion on the impact of the public’s involvement in our meetings by having them sit and wait until we finish in executive session?”

She said she didn’t think it would have much impact. The former Stafford Municipal School District board member said they kept their executive sessions to 30 minutes. “It keeps the executive session tight and to the point. We don’t keep it tight. If there’s a reason we have to extend it, so be it.

I think people will know the actual meeting won’t start until 7:30 pm.

“We can even move the meeting forward and start at the usual 7 p.m. and always set the meeting to start at 6:30.

I think it’s better for all of us to have it at the beginning because we’re fresher than having to make an important decision at 1 or 2 in the morning when you don’t have clear thinking then,” Rosas said.

Scarcella then asked why not consider having the executive session at a time when the public will be there. “Why would you not want to at least have the public afforded the right to hear the full discussion at a time they are there. They have to work tomorrow and do

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everything we have to do. Why do we think we’re superior to the public?”

The mayor went on to say that the legislature passed the open meetings law in 1973 with the purpose of making sure the public was fully involved and fully informed. “I think you are doing everything to discourage the public by doing what you are suggesting.”

Rosas replied saying, “Most of the things we discuss in executive session have to do with staff or things we’re not ready to talk about before the public. It’s primarily regarding personnel.”

Then each councilman got his turn to comment. A.J. Honere said there are some benefits to moving the executive session to the beginning of each council meeting and suggested that council “take a look at this.”

Wen Guerra said, “There have been times when it’s hard to make those decisions” in executive session and pointed out that he gets up each morning at 5 a.m. Guerra then asked Stafford Attorney Art Pertile if the executive session could be in the middle of the agenda rather than at the beginning.

Pertile said it could be at any time in the agenda. “Some councils have it at the beginning, some at the end, some the day before. It just depends on what works best for you.”

Councilman Ken Mathew said he sees the mayor’s side and Rosas’s. “The other side is how long are we going to have the public sit there. Let us do this in such a way that benefits both sides.”

Later on in the meeting Mathew spoke about having to keep department heads sitting out in the audience waiting for council’s executive session to end. “If this is done prior they can go home and the other thing is when we see the public sitting out there let the agenda item be moved up. Let us try it.”

Scarcella said, “There’s nothing more discouraging to the public than to turn them completely off and do what we’re going to do. I’ve been to many meetings where that happens. I think it has a sig-

nificant deterrent effect. If we are trying to discourage the public there’s no better way to do it than this.” He noted that the city’s special meeting on garbage disposal drew 90 residents and after council ended their executive session, only three people were still in the audience.

“For us to act like this is all about us,” the mayor said, “it is nothing more than pandering to council to the detriment of the public, knowing full well you will be working against the public.” He ended by saying he is extremely resentful about changing the executive session from the end of the agenda to the beginning.

Honere said, “I think we are helping the public by moving it up. I think we should move it up to see how it works. If it isn’t working then we go back.”

Councilman Cecil Willis said he once suggested it and it went nowhere. “Through the years I’ve rethought this deal after personally attending meetings where I had to sit out there and wait. We’re going to have to start earlier and have an absolutely drop dead time we start the meeting.”

Guerra said he agrees with Willis and said, “We owe it to citizens to hear them and they need to hear us out.”

Don Jones said, “It’s always hard to change. It’s yet to be determined who will benefit most when we have our executive session.”

Rosas said, “Communication is what’s so important. If we move it up to 6:30 there is time to be here. If the executive session goes over 30 minutes – there’s something very important going on – we can always recess and come back. It’s not that we are not transparent. Some of it is confidential business.”

After all council members had their say she made the motion to move the executive session from the bottom of council’s agenda to the second item and begin city council meetings at 6:30 p.m. The motion was approved 5-2 with the mayor and Willis voting opposed.

FORT BEND FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE.

12551 Emily Court, Sugar Land, TX 77478 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 623, Sugar Land, TX 77478 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., 12551, Emily Court, Texas 77478.

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INDEPENDENT • NOVEMBER 8, 2017 • Page 5

NEWS Annual Radio-Control Airplane event in Rosenberg benefits St. Jude’s Research Hospital The Fort Bend Radio Control Club will host its 2nd Annual Open Fly-in and Model Air Show on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017 in Rosenberg. The public is invited to this event which highlights a wide variety of radio-controlled model aircraft.

The field opens at 8 a.m.

Flying starts at 8:30 a.m. and continues until 3 p.m. with a 2-hour break between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. for the Air Show, and a one-hour break from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. for raffle drawings. The Club has a 200-foot long covered pavilion to keep guests out of the sun for their viewing comfort.

Club Radio Control Instructors will hold “Buddy Box RC Flying Sessions” where student pilots can pilot a radio control trainer aircraft. The field is also open to all model aircraft and drones with AMA Licensed Pilots for Open Flying, both before and after the 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. mid-day events.

Mid-day events include amazing Scale War Bird FlyBy’s by Bayou Bend Radio Control Club, Aerobatic Scale Aircraft Demonstration Flights, Jet Turbine Flights and a demonstration of Aerobatic Helicopter flying. Great Schultz BBQ sandwiches will be available starting 11 a.m.

After lunch, raffle drawings will be conducted for a new Spektrum DX8 model aircraft radio and receiver, two Readyto-Fly RC airplanes and two Ready-to-Fly RC drones.

As a bonus attraction, Katy Cruizers Car Club will have on display over 20 collector cars at the north end of the field.

This event and car display will be held at the Fort Bend R/C Club’s flying field, which is lo-

Richmond Police seek information on fatal hit and run investigation

cated on the Fort Bend County Recycle Center grounds off of Spur 529, approximately 1 ¼ miles south of the Avenue I and Spur 529 intersections in Rosenberg. Watch for direction signs to the Air Show on Spur 529. For further directions and information, please visit the Fort Bend R/C Club website at www.fortbendrc.com.

Student Air Force R.O.T.C. cadets will be collecting donations for the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at the event entrance. Drawing (raffle) and lunch tickets will be available for purchase at 9 a.m.. “We have had great community support in years past and we are looking forward to another exciting air show this year,”

said R/C Club member Bob Nelson. “We sent St Jude a $1,000 check for the 2016 event and are determined to exceed that this year.

Fort Bend Radio Control Club is an AMA Gold Leader Club and has a long history of event contributions to Muscular Dystrophy and most recently, St Jude.”

Richmond Police are seeking information on a fatality accident which occurred around 9:40 p.m. on Saturday evening, November 4, 2017, in the 1600 block of Rocky Falls Road.

Officers of the Richmond Police Department responded to a call in regards to an individual being struck by a vehicle around 9:40 p.m. Saturday evening near the intersection of Rocky Falls Road and Mellon Street. During the investigation officers discovered a 30 year old male from Richmond was struck by a vehicle which left the scene of the accident. The victim died at the scene as a result of the crash. A citizen who drove by the location after the crash noticed the victim in the roadway and immediately called 911 to report the incident. Investigation shows the victim was walking in the 1600 block of Rocky Falls Road when he was struck by the suspect’s vehicle. The driver of the vehicle which struck the victim failed to stop and render aid.

Richmond Police Detectives are requesting anyone with information on the suspect(s) or the vehicle involved in this incident to please contact the Richmond Police Department at (281) 342-2849 or Fort Bend County Crime Stoppers at (281) 342-TIPS (8477) Fort Bend County Crime Stoppers, Inc. Call (281) 342-TIPS (8477) Send a Text Message: Text FBCCS plus your tip to CRIMES (274637) Submit Online: www.fortbend-tx-crimestoppers.org Information, which leads to the apprehension and filing of charges on the suspect(s) involved, could earn you up to $5,000 CASH REWARD All calls to Crime Stoppers are ANONYMOUS.

CAUSE NO. 17-DCV-246028 EX PARTE,

SIENNA PLANTATION LEVEE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT

IN THE DISTRICT COURT § § § OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS § § § § 240th JUDICIAL DISTRICT §

NOTICE OF PROCEEDING AND ORDER The Court issues the following Notice of Proceeding and Order pursuant to Chapter 1205 of the Texas Government Code.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN to all persons who (i) reside in Sienna Plantation Levee Improvement District’s (the “District”) territory; (ii) own property located within the District’s boundaries; (iii) are taxpayers of the District; or (iv) have or claim a right, title, or interest in any property or money to be affected by the public security authorization or the issuance of the public securities described below. For purposes of this Notice of Proceeding and Order, the persons named in sections (i), (ii), (iii), and (iv) above shall be referred to as the “Interested Parties.”

The District is a conservation and reclamation district and political subdivision of the State of Texas, created by Order of the Commissioners Court of Fort Bend County, Texas, adopted April 13, 1978, under the authority of Article 16, Section 59 of the Texas Constitution and Chapters 49 and 57 of the Texas Water Code.

The Unlimited Tax Park Bonds, Series 2017 (the “Bonds”) in the amount of $6,465,000 are authorized and issued pursuant to the election held on November 3, 2009; the Resolution of the District Board of Directors (the “Board”) adopted on October 20, 2016 making application to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (“TCEQ”) for approval of the Bonds; an Order of the TCEQ issued on July 5, 2017 approving the Bonds; the Board’s proposed resolution authorizing the issuance and sale of the Bonds; Chapters 49 and 57 of the Texas Water Code; and Article 16, Section 59 of the Texas Constitution.

The Bonds are for the purpose of providing funds for costs of (1) Ridge Point High School fields and other recreational improvements; (2) Sawmill Lake Recreational Center, Phase 2; (3) engineering and landscape architecture; and (4) legal fees, fiscal agent fees, and other bond anticipation note issuance costs.

The District has filed an in rem action for declaratory judgment (the “Petition”) seeking, among other things, the following declarations:

Missouri City Green Electronics Recycling Event . Celebrate America Recycles Day by recycling your unwanted, broken and unused electronics responsibly. Missouri City Green, in partnership with the City of Missouri City will host their 5th Annual Electronics Recycling Event on Saturday, December 9 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Missouri City Public Safety HQ located at 3849 Cartwright Road 77459. This is a free event but donations are welcome to fund future community-wide recycling events.

A wide range of household electronics will be accepted. View the full list of items accepted by our vendor, CompuCycle, at www.missouricitygreen.org. CompuCycle cannot accept items from flooded homes. Above, Unwanted electronics were unloaded from vehicles at a previous recycling event.

FBISD hosts wellness event focusing on social media safety and gaming addiction

Fort Bend ISD’s Counseling and Postsecondary Readiness Department will be hosting a wellness event focusing on social media safety and gaming addiction. The event will take place on Tuesday, November 14 in the Commons of First Colony Middle School (3225 Austin Parkway, Sugar Land 77479 ) at 6 p.m.

Nathan Driskell will be the evening’s guest speaker. His presentation will focus on social media safety and gaming

addiction, touching on topics such as: •Social Media is Everywhere •Social Media is Addicting •Most Popular Social Media Applications •Texting •Sexting •Online Predators •Steps and Guidelines Parents Can Use to Protect Their Children Parents, teachers, counselors and anyone who works with children are encouraged

to attend. The presentation will last an hour and will include a question and answer period.

Driskell is a graduate of Houston Baptist University, with a background in Psychology and Computer Information Systems Management.

He is a licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor and is currently providing therapy services out of H.O.P.E Psychotherapy of Houston, PLLC. Driskell focuses on the treatment of internet addiction and

Asperger’s Disorder. This presentation is part of FBISD’s Counseling and Postsecondary Readiness Department’s new initiative this year – FBISD Speak Up – which is focused on promoting mental health awareness and suicide prevention by reducing the stigma and fear associated with being an upstander and reaching out for support, either for yourself, a friend or family member. For more information, contact your child’s school counselor.

(1) The District is authorized to issue the Bonds; (2) The tax imposed for payment of the Bonds is legal and valid; (3) The Interlocal Agreement for Recreational Facilities entered into on December 2, 2016 between the District and Fort Bend Independent School District (“FBISD”), including the related Memorandum of Understanding between the District and FBISD, is legal and valid; (4) The pledge or encumbrance of a tax to secure the Bonds is legal and valid; (5) The expenditure and proposed expenditure of money relating to the Bonds are legal and valid; and (6) The Bonds are legal and valid.

A full description of the lawsuit and the relief sought is contained in the District’s Petition, Ex Parte Sienna Plantation Levee Improvement District, Cause No. 17-DCV246028, filed in the 240th Judicial District Court of Fort Bend County, Texas.

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED and Notice is hereby given, that any Interested Party or the Attorney General of the State of Texas may become a named party to this proceeding by pleading to the Petition on or before, and may appear for hearing and trial in the courtroom of the 240th Judicial District Court of Fort Bend County, Texas, at 10:00 a.m. on November 20, 2017, it being the first Monday after the expiration of 20 days from the date this Order is issued. After said date, Interested Parties may become named parties by intervention with leave of Court.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, that, at such hearing and trial, any Interested Parties desiring to do so may appear, and the Attorney General of the State Texas shall appear, and show cause why the prayers of the District’s Petition filed in this action and generally described above should not be granted and the Bonds described above should not be validated and confirmed as therein prayed. Be on further notice that, at such time, place, and date the Court will proceed to full and final hearing on the merits of all matters and prayers within the District’s Petition.

SO ORDERED SIGNED this 30th day of October, 2017.

DISTRICT JUDGE PRESIDING

Page 6 • INDEPENDENT • NOVEMBER 8, 2017

AUTOMOBILE: Jeep Compass

By BARBARA FULENWIDER The all-new 2017 Jeep Compass expands the brand’s global reach with attributes that include best-in-class 4x4 offroad capability, advanced fuelefficient powertrains, premium and authentic Jeep design, superior on-road driving dynamics and more.

The Compass is available in Sport, Latitude, Limited and Trailhawk. The Jeep Compass delivers best-in-class off-road capability, thanks to its intelligent 4x4 systems, each of which can send 100 percent of available torque to any one wheel. The active drive is a full-time 4x4 system while the Jeep Active Drive Low – has a class-exclusive full-time 4x4 system with 20:1 crawl ratio.

Both systems include the Jeep Selec-Terrain system which provides up to five modes -- auto, snow, sand, mud and rock mode.

The Jeep Compass has a small, wide architecture, fully independent suspension, damping front-and-rear-strut system and electric power steering, all of which deliver on-road driving dynamics.

Five engines – three gasoline and two diesel – are offered.

The 2.4-liter Tigershark fourcylinder engine powers the

Compass and delivers best-inclass 4x4 highway fuel economy of 31 mpg when paired with the six-speed manual transmission. The engine produces 180 horsepower, 175 lb.-ft. of torque and is mated to the choice of three transmissions.

They are a class-exclusive standard nine-speed automatic transmission for 4x4 model.

Jeep Compass 4x2 and 4x4 models are equipped with standard six-speed manual transmission and the six-speed automatic transmission is available on Jeep Compass 4x2 models.

The Jeep Compass interior shows off 5.0-, 7.0- or 8.4inch touchscreen displays. The center console integrates gearshift selection, Selec-Terrain controls, electronic parking brake, engine stop-start controls, climate and volume control knobs, and media charging and connectivity ports. Uconnect delivers communication, entertainment and navigation features along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto features.

Safety and security are always paramount so Jeep Compass drivers and passengers ride in the Compass’ safety cage construction with such optional equipment as for-

ward collision warning, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross path detection, rear backup camera with grid lines and electronic stability control with electronic roll mitigation.

The test drive Jeep Compass was the Limited 4x4 with every convenience available.

With all standard equipment the small, four-door SUV with liftgate, retails for $28,995.

Options on the Jeep Compass were numerous and increased the price to $34,955. Some of them were the safety features listed above while others were a premium audio system, aluminum wheels, power liftgate, all season tires, a year of Sirius XM, rain sensitive intermittent windshield wipers, etc.

The Compass seats five adults comfortably and still has cargo space behind the second row seats. Standard equipment includes automatic transmission, remote start, keyless entry, pushbutton start, power locks, rear window defroster, security alarm, electronic park brake, eight-way power driver seat, four-way power lumbar, rear 60/40 folding seat, dual AC zone control, automatic headlamps, power adjustable mirrors, fog and cornering lamps and more.

Fort Bend Christian Academy Senior Kelsey Brown named National Merit Semifinalist Kelsey Brown, Fort Bend Christian Academy senior, has been named a National Merit Semifinalist in the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Program.

The program has existed for more than 60 years and continues to acknowledge and reward exceptional high school seniors.

Semifinalists are current high school seniors who took the PSAT their junior year and scored among the top 1% in their respective states.

About 1.6 million juniors entered the competition, and only 16,000 Semifinalists remain.

Brown has the opportunity to continue in the competition for 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth about $32 million.

Brown is a member of National English Honors Society, National Honors Society (NHS) and Mu Alpha Theta.

She serves as the president of Interact Club, a Rotarysponsored service organization, Rho Kappa and International Thespian Society.

Theatre is an important creative outlet for Brown. Her performance in plays have

been recognized with the following awards: Honorable Mention (One Act District), All-Star Cast (One Act State) and AllStar Cast (One Acts District).

“I owe credit to Mrs. Thompson, Mrs. Baez, and Mr. Leite,” Brown said.

“Mrs. Thompson is responsible for a significant amount of my growth as a performer; Mrs. Baez is responsible for my pursuit of engineering; Mr. Leite is responsible for my love of calculus.”

Brown plans to major in Mechanical Engineering, but she may minor/double major in theatre as well. She hopes to attend either Yale University or the University of Southern California.

FBCA students Susana Yu,

Brown Alex Somorriba and Bryton Flecker were National Merit Commended, and Somorriba received the additional distinction of National Hispanic Recognition.

Fort Bend Christian Academy is an independent, collegepreparatory school for grades PK-12 located in Sugar Land, Texas, one of the most diverse communities in the U.S.

Glass-encapsulated miniatures on display at First Colony Branch Library

Fort Bend Hope

Burton Reckles

Kyle Neely, Fort Bend Hope; Diana Neely, Fort Bend Hope; Regina Morales, Central Fort Bend Chamber; Kay Garrett, Absolutely Focus Media; Heather Reichert, Central Fort Bend Chamber Fort Bend Hope along with the Central Fort Bend Chamber held a Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting in downtown Rosenberg on Wednesday, October 25, 2017.

Business owners and community members received a tour of the facility, enjoyed great food and, most importantly how they can get involved in helping the community.

Fort Bend Hope is a 501(c)3 Nonprofit partnership between multiple churches in the Richmond-Rosenberg area.

The Board of Directors and volunteer teams are made up of pastors and congregants from churches across multiple denominations. Their vision is to see individuals, families, and communities empowered to pursue positive change in their neighborhoods.

Pastor Parker Zimmerman

of Faith United Methodist Church in Richmond explained how Fort Bend Hope got its start, “Over the past four years, our ministries have taken us to local parks, cafeterias, coffee shops, parking lots, and classrooms in the Rosenberg and Richmond areas.”

The Pastor continued, “The church formed a 501c3 nonprofit in order to collaborate with non-church partners, accept donations, and most importantly, invite ecumenical participation.”

Pastor Zimmerman thanked his board members and the generosity of Fort Bend County, “With the help of generous donations from our congregation and the residents of Fort Bend, we were able to open a new ministry called Fort Bend Hope.”

Pastor Zimmerman then introduced Ruth McPhail-

Ubaldo as Fort Bend Hope’s Director, “We are so blessed to have Ruth as our director, and she is the contact for the community if there is anyone who has questions or wants to get involved.”

Programs at Fort Bend Hope include after school mentoring program which includes a snack, homework help, reading skill-building as well as arts and crafts.

This October, Fort Bend Hope will begin its first class of a year-round English development program where students will cover fundamentals of the English language (ESL), practice reading and writing, and join conversation groups.

In addition, Fort Bend Hope is excited to partner with Catholic Charities to host a Fatherhood Initiative Course!

Fort Bend County Libraries’ First Colony Branch Library, 2121 Austin Parkway in Sugar Land, will feature an exhibit of glass-encapsulated miniatures throughout the months of November and December in the lobby of the library.

From the studio of Sugar Land resident Burton D. Reckles, the art pieces include a variety of miniatures encased in bottles, light bulbs, and pocket-watch cases. The collection includes traditional ships-in-bottles, humorous dioramas, whimsical children’s fantasy scenes, Judaic mementos, and Holocaust art.

Reckles began his hobby more than 65 years ago, when he started building models from kits and eventually worked his way up to scratch-built museum pieces. At the suggestion of his wife about 32 years ago, his focus turned to miniatures, particularly ships in bottles. Once he mastered this technique, he broadened his choice of media to include light bulbs and watch cases.

“I create works on various subjects for different reasons,” says Reckles. “In some cases, working on a piece serves as a creative outlet, while in other cases – such as the Holocaust – I have a personal affiliation to the event and wish to maintain its visibility.” He adds that his wife says his work is a product of a “quirky sense of humor.”

Reckles also enjoys his hobby because he believes in keep-

ing alive a 400-year-old dying art-form. “The art was born in the late 1600s, but today, in this country of over 300 million [people], there are less than 100 artisans still pursuing the art. In another generation, the only examples of GEMs (GlassEncapsulated Miniatures) will be seen in museums and private collections,” he explains. “I hope that perhaps someone seeing my work will get inspired to try to create their own GEM and, in so doing, delay the art’s passing.”

Some of Reckles’ art pieces have been exhibited in museum

collections in Japan, Europe, and the San Diego and Houston Maritime Museums, as well as at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, DC, where a curator titled the piece “modern American maritime art.” He has won numerous awards for his artwork. The exhibit may be viewed during regular library hours. For more information, call the First Colony Branch Library at 281238-2800 or the library system’s Public Information Office at 281633-4734.

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INDEPENDENT • NOVEMBER 8, 2017 • Page 7

NEWS Rosenberg Railroad Museum’s GLAMP-Out Party

Rosenberg Railroad Museum grounds

RRM’s Garden Railroad at dusk

What’s a GLAMP-out party? It’s a “glamour camp-out party,” complete with twinkly lights and a “fabulous flannel” dress code.

The Rosenberg Railroad Museum is setting up the “make your own s’mores” bar and inviting you to the party.

RRM’s GLAMP-Out is sponsored by Legacy Ford of Rosenberg, and will be held on November 11th from 6 p.m.8:30 p.m. at 1921 Ave F in downtown historic Rosenberg.

GLAMP-Out attendees are invited to mix and mingle while enjoying bites and drinks from area restaurants, participate in a wine pull and sit by a fire pit while watching the (garden) trains go by.

According to museum executive director, Ratha Liladrie, the museum is “excited to have this relaxing event that allows guests to enjoy some amazing food while experiencing all the exhibits RRM has to offer, including an up close view of 3 active train lines and our 1879 passenger car, the Quebec.”

Musician, Shawn McCauley will be performing at the event and local favorites: Bayou Boys PoBoys, M&M’s Southern Creole Kitchen, Leroy the Brookie Man, BR Vino and Randall’s will be among those offering bites and drinks for attendees to enjoy.

The Rosenberg Railroad Museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to the education and preservation of Fort Bend County’s railroad history. Tickets for this fundraiser are $50 per person and are available at www.rosenbergRRmuseum. org or by calling 281-633-2846.

For more information, visit www.rosenbergRRmuseum.org or email ratha.liladrie@rosenbergrrmuseum 281.633.2846.

Sheriff’s Office offers safety evaluation for churches

In light of the tragic events in Sutherland Springs, TX, the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office is inviting area churches to contact us to schedule a security and safety evaluation. Specialized Deputies will visit your place of worship to discuss your security plan with church leadership. A personalized presentation on “active shooter response” may be scheduled for your congregation, as well. Please contact us via our Crime Prevention Unit at 281-238-1536 or SOCP@fortbendcountytx.gov

PLANTATION at Quail Valley Active Senior Living; Embracing the lives of Seniors 55 and Better

2815 Cypress Point Dr, Missouri City, TX 77459 www. plantationqv.com

Phone: (281) 208-4470

Page 8 • INDEPENDENT • NOVEMBER 8, 2017

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