Fort Bend Independent 111319

VOL 12 No. 46

email: editor@fbindependent.com

Phone: 832-586-5741

www.fbindependent.com

FORT BEND FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2019

P. O.BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487-0623

Official newspaper of Fort Bend County, Missouri City & Stafford

Grain of Salt : New Tech Hall at HMNS tells fascinating story

Major transformation, significant investment by the museum

Adrienne Barker, Director and Chief Development Officer of the Sugar Land location and the George Observatory, right, and Randy Brunder, who researched and designed the exhibits, stand in front of the lump of salt, procured from the Hockley salt dome in Harris County.

By SESHADRI KUMAR Salt is not merely useful as a food seasoning.

It is essential to human life, in maintaining health, including nerve and muscle function, the regulation of blood pressure and the balance of electrolytes.

Salt is used extensively in many industries as well.

It is a part of preserving food by slowing the growth of unhealthy microorganisms, creating soaps and shampoos in the cosmetic industry and manufacturing a variety of items ranging from paper to rubber to ceramics.

How many would know that there is a big salt dome, just a mile east of the Sugar Land museum under the Avalon subdivision?

There are a few more near the city of Thompsons as well as in the Blue Ridge area near Willowridge High school in the Houston section of Fort Bend County.

Salt under compression from the earth forms a toothpaste-like texture, which can trap oil and gas under the ground. These salt domes are found throughout the Gulf Coast region.

The impermeable nature of the salt also makes salt domes an ideal storage site for numerous needs, including

emergency crude oil reserves.

Even though they are common throughout the world, what a salt dome is remains a mystery to many people.

Salt—with its versatile and central theme to life—serves as a common thread in the new exhibition at the Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land: Hall of Technology, which opened Nov. 8.

“We chose salt because of its unifying nature for all areas in science, tying in chemistry, energy, geology and biology, and it has many more meanings and applications beyond that,” says Adrienne Barker, Director and Chief Development Officer of the Sugar Land location and the George Observatory.

“It’s fascinating because there are so many different ways you can think about salt.”

Nestled in a city historically focused on sugar production, the new hall serves as an important resource for residents and the Greater Houston area by expanding educational opportunities for local schools, homeschooled children, and anyone seeking to learn more about chemistry and technology.

Adults and children alike will be entertained and intrigued by the interactive and immersive exhibits throughout the hall.

The oblong exhibit hall is split into four quadrants: chemistry, energy, geology and salt.

A cutaway of a salt dome in the Salt Exhibit reveals what they look like under the ground if you were to slice a piece off the earth. A large-scale video presentation also shows what it’s like going down into a salt mine.

The Geology Exhibit highlights sand samples from around the world.

Visitors are able to closely examine different sands under magnification stations, comparing their structure to their geological formations.

This section also walks visitors through the various geological elements used to create cell phones while connecting geology to salt domes—how they are formed and where they are found in the local area.

“Being a science museum and seeing a large number of patrons and visits through students, we have a huge emphasis on education in STEM,” says Barker.

“Most exhibits are designed to span the ages, appealing to adults, too.”

See HMNS, Page 2

Honoring the Sugar Land 95: Ground to be blessed Sunday, Nov. 17 Fort Bend ISD is inviting community members to attend a solemn ceremony that will be held in remembrance of the Sugar Land 95, whose remains were discovered at an abandoned and unmarked cemetery.

Nearly two years have passed since the first human remains were unearthed at an FBISD construction site, and the individuals will soon be laid to rest in the same area where they were previously found.

In all, the remains of 95 individuals were found at the site of the James Reese Career and Technical Center.

It is believed this cemetery was used between 1879-1912 and the remains are believed to be that of the labor leased to the local plantation under the state-sanctioned convict-leasing program.

A “Blessing the Ground” ceremony will be held Sunday, November 17, 2019 at the James Reese Career and Technical Center. The ceremony will begin at 6:00 p.m. and several performances, remarks, and a candlelight walk are planned in honor of the Sugar Land 95.

A committee of community members, historians, District staff and representatives from the District’s Sugar Land 95 advisory committee have assisted in the planning of the November 17 event, according to the school district.

“This has been an unprecedented journey for Fort Bend ISD, and the time has now come for us to lay the Sugar Land 95 to rest,” said Fort Bend ISD Superintendent Dr. Charles Dupre.

“These 95 souls suffered a grave injustice during their time on earth, but we remain committed to ensuring that their lives are not forgotten, and that our students will learn about this part of our history for generations to come.”

Burial of the Sugar Land 95 will occur in private in the days and weeks following the ceremony, with a second memorial event planned upon its conclusion.

Groundbreaking for Missouri City Veterans Memorial marks Veterans Day

Missouri City City Councilmember Vashaundra Edwards, left, HCC Trustee Neeta Sane, State Rep. Ron Reynolds, Councilmembers Jeffrey Boney and Reginald Pearson, former Mayor Allen Owen, Councilmembers Anthony Maroulis and Floyd Emery, former councilmember Don Smith, City Manager Anthony Snipes, Missouri City Parks Foundation President, Bill Odle, Pct. 2 Constable Daryl Smith and former City Councilmember Jerry Wyatt turn dirt for the Veterans Memorial at the City Hall complex on Texas Parkway on Monday.

On Veterans Day, November 11, the City of Missouri City held a groundbreaking ceremony for its Veterans Memorial.

The project has been a team effort between City Councils, past and present, the City of Missouri City, and generous donations from The George Foundation, Wells Fargo, H-E-B, Niagara Bottling as well as a host of other donors.

Construction is scheduled to commence in the spring of 2020, with the expected completion by end of the year.

“It is the veteran, not the preacher, who has given you freedom of religion. It is the veteran, not the reporter, who has given you freedom of the press. It is the veteran, not the Committee, gave a brief history grateful each and every day for poet, who has given you freedom of the project. the freedoms that we may take of speech. It is the veteran, not Referring to the different for granted. As we remember the protester, who has given you elements like the steel, concrete, and salute our Veterans, a simple freedom to assemble. It is the the dirt and even the grass which “thank you for your service,” is veteran, not the lawyer, who will become a component of just not enough. These brave has given you the right to a fair the edifice, Smith said the steel men and women, who sacrificed trial. It is the veteran, not the anchors the memorial with its time away from their families, politician, who has given you strength and determination. everyday lives, jobs, return the right to vote,” (anonymous) The concrete reinforces, the home different people. were the words read by District soil greets and embraces and In turn, they deserve better Commander Richard Huntley of the grass with its softness tends health care initiatives, especially the American Legion. including to embrace the power in this with post traumatic stress Commander Ruben Amaya, place with understanding and syndrome, job opportunities and and other representatives of sensitivity. the chance to succeed. the Legion, from both the State The memorial is being “All of these characteristics and local level who were also can be said of the American designed by LMA Design of present. veteran. There is a closeness we Houston and its principal Lloyd Disabled American Veterans’ can all feel at this sacred place,” Lentz, who is the son of a World Commander Chris Meyer Smith said.

War II and Korean War Veteran, and Missouri City Veterans The message, which rang the grandson of two World War of Foreign Wars Commander true and clear throughout the I veterans and the brother of a Adolf Moreno paid tribute to remarks by government officials Vietnam Veteran. the veterans.

Lentz’s concept honors and Veterans alike, was that Don Smith, former Chair Americans should wake up See VETERANS, Page 2 of the Veterans Memorial

Block Party Trailer Program launched in Sugar Land

Sugar Cube 4: The Sugar Cube is transported to various National Night Out parties Oct. 1. Sugar Land residents now have access to a trailer full of supplies to make hosting a neighborhood block party easy and enjoyable. Story on Page 2.

Page 2 • INDEPENDENT • NOVEMBER 13, 2019

Veterans From Page 1

America’s brave soldiers and features a five-point star with an eternal flame and fountain in its center and is surrounded by arched columns.

The timeless design represents the flow of life through the bubbling fountain and the flame of freedom burning eternally.

It also symbolizes the bravery, sacrifice and strength veterans stand for in this country.

There will be five flags, the U.S. flag, Missouri City flag and fl;ags of the three Armed Services.

The estimated project cost is

COMMUNITY

$1.5 million and will be done in two phases, costing $750,000 each.

When complete the Veterans Memorial will serve to honor all who have served in the military of the United States of America and educate future generations.

If you want be a part of this initiative, visit mcparks foundation.org to learn how you can support this project with a Memorial Paver or donation of any size-there is no amount too large or too small that says: THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. The program was emceed by Missouri City’s Parks Director Jason Mangum.

Earlier, Councilman Reginald Pearson welcomed the gathering. American Legion Post 294 Color Guard posted the colors, followed by Pledge of Allegiance by the Color Guard Leader, Larry Hord. Russ Clark rendered the national Anthem and Chaplain David Northcutt gave the prayer.

U.S. Rep. Al Green and State Sen. Boris Miles presented proclamations and State Rep. Ron Reynolds presented a flag flown on the State Capitol, commemorating the groundbreaking ceremony.

—By LISA GLENN & SESHADRI KUMAR

The George Foundation represented by Dr. Jim Condrey and Quynh McMahan, left, and H-E-B represented by Tanique Evans and Kefawn McCanney, as well as Wells Fargo, Niagara Bottling and a host of others donated to The Veterans Memorial Project spearheaded by the Missouri City Parks Foundation. For more information on how to contribute to the paver program visit mcparksfoundation.org.

HMNS From Page 1

Furthermore, the Hall of Technology serves a secondary purpose to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the satellite location.

“We felt it was time to update the Sugar Land location and give the Fort Bend County area a new exhibition,” explains Barker.

“Our tenth anniversary is a great occasion for us to update and refresh what we are doing in order to meet the growing needs of the community.”

Chemistry

The Chemistry Exhibit examines the properties of matter and how it interacts with energy through live presentations and selfguided tours using interactive touchscreens for visitors to test their knowledge.

The upgraded Chemistry Demonstration Station provides a dedicated space for live presentations by volunteers from Baker Hughes as well as volunteers from HMNS at Sugar Land.

These teaching opportunities, appropriate for a variety of ages, provide an in-depth look at chemical changes and states of

matter, observing various types of reactions and the byproducts they create.

There is a very inviting exhibit of the Periodic Table displaying all the elements in a glass showcase with material used in our day to day lives.

Energy Moving into the energy section provides visitors with an in-depth look at various sources of energy, including hydropower, wind, nuclear and fossil fuels. The interactive exhibit highlights the pros and cons of each type of energy while showcasing current technology in each area.

Missouri City City Councilmembers Anthony Maroulis, left, Jeffrey Boney, Vashaundra Edwards, Reginald Pearson, State Rep. Ron Reynolds, former councilman and former chair of the Veterans Memorial Committee Don Smith, Councilman Floyd Emery and City Manager Anthony Snipes accept a Flag and certificate of recognition of the groundbreaking ceremony from Ron Reynolds.

Block Party Trailer

Sugar Land residents now have access to a trailer full of supplies to make hosting a neighborhood block party easy and enjoyable.

“The Sugar Cube,” a block party trailer intended to help foster neighborhood relationships, was created as a result of a efforts to streamline the city’s special events offerings and avoid duplication of effort by leveraging existing event opportunities already occurring within neighborhoods.

“The Sugar Cube provides a convenient way to bring people

together where they live in hopes of finding similarities that will bring them closer together. Neighbors who connect with one another only strengthen our community,” said Community Engagement Manager Carrie PaxtonLamke.

Residents can reserve The Sugar Cube free of charge by completing an online form after their community group, homeowners’ or neighborhood association completes a short registration process with the City.

“In our increasingly digital

world, we often lack the opportunity to get to know our neighbors face-to-face,” said Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation Kimberly Terrell, “Our goal is that The Sugar Cube inspires our neighborhoods to come outside, meet one another and recreate a National Night Outstyle block party any weekend of the year.”

To learn more about The Sugar Cube or to make a reservation, visit www. sugarlandtx.gov/sugarcube.

Sugar Cube: Sugar Land children unload games from the Sugar Cube block party trailer on National Night Out, Oct. 1.

Outdoor Learning Beyond the main exhibit area, the updated Life Sciences Exhibit will add an Outdoor Learning Center early in 2020. This large covered space accommodates one to two student groups for the expansion of current programs led by volunteers, which aim to teach

visitors about the environment and unique ecosystems through hands-on discovery. Students will get their hands dirty in workshops while being able to observe plant growth at different phases.

Regardless of guests’ differing levels of science knowledge, the new Hall of Technology

helps visitors develop a deeper appreciation for the world that lies all around us.

The Hall of Technology is included in general admission to HMNS at Sugar Land. For more information, visit www.hmns. org/sugarland or call (281) 3132277.

NEWS

Sugar Land Cultural Arts Foundation to honor Kathy Huebner

Sugar Land Cultural Arts Foundation invites you to save the date for its 21st annual gala “Through the Years” set for Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020.

The Founders’ Ball is a signature event for the Fort Bend County social calendar, and this year’s event promises to be bigger and better than ever.

The Gala will honor Kathy Huebner, a long-term board member who spearheaded the very first gala 21 years ago.

Kathy’s commitment to the arts in the community, and specifically to the SLCAF, is exemplified in this year’s theme “Through the Years.”

This year’s entertainment will be presented by the Ridge Point High School Chamber Choir and the Dulles High School Viking Theatre Company. A live auction will also add excitement to the evening’s festivities, with James Patterson doing the honors as

The 21st annual SLCAF Founders’ Ball will honor Kathy Huebner for her extraordinary contributions to the Sugar Land Cultural Arts Foundation and the community. auctioneer. Auction highlights include a Martini Night at the Museum, hosted by Doug and

Susie Goff; a deep sea fishing trip for four; and a goldendoodle puppy (born 9/8/19) from Goldendoodles of Sugar Land donated by Cathy Stubbs.

Esteemed sponsors of the evening include the Amy and Gary Becker Foundation and Fort Bend Financial.

“The Sugar Land community and people like this year’s honoree, Kathy, have been the driving force behind the Foundation’s success,” said Tim Stubenrouch, SLCAF board president. “We appreciate the commitment to the arts shown by the culturally-minded individuals and businesses in our great community. We look forward to celebrating our long-standing relationships with all of you on January 18.”

Proceeds will benefit the mission and goals of the SLCAF, which include continued improvements to the Sugar

Land Auditorium, the city’s oldest public space, and the continued support of the arts in Sugar Land.

Gala sponsorship opportunities are still available, as are tables and individual tickets for the “Through the Years” gala. For more information, email info@slcaf.org. Tickets may be purchased online at slcaf.org.

Sugar Land Cultural Arts Foundation (SLCAF) is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit arts organization that exists to enhance the quality of life and tourism in the City of Sugar Land and region of Fort Bend County by advocating, supporting and promoting the cultural arts through programs, initiatives and alliances; and to preserve and present historic Sugar Land Auditorium as a center for the cultural arts and resource for the Sugar Land community.

Houston Marriott Sugar Land Celebrates 16 Years of Successful Business

Sugar Land City Council recently recognized the Houston Marriott Sugar Land for 16 years of business. It was the first full-service hotel of its kind in Fort Bend County when it opened in Sugar Land Town Square in 2003 and has since generated more than $200 million in revenue.

The Houston Marriott Sugar Land continues to thrive and contribute to the economic development of the city by attracting numerous visitors, meeting planners and conference attendees who generate both hotel occupancy and sales tax revenue to the city -- enabling the city to fund amenities that help Sugar Land maintain the second lowest tax rate in the state among cities its size.

The hotel has recently undergone a name change that was a strategic decision by the hotel to draw greater interest from potential conference and meeting planners to reflect the hotel’s strategic location in the greater Houston area.

“We are very excited about this change and feel that it will expose the hotel and city to a greater number of conventions, groups, social events and individual

Obituary: Janice Miller On Tuesday, November 5th, Janice T. Miller, passed away at the age of 72.

Janice was born on December 3, 1946 in Shreveport , LA. She firmly believed you should work as if everything depends on you and pray as if everything depends on God. This ethic showed through as she pursued her ambitions, including opening and running a business with her husband and later fulfilling her lifelong dream of raising quarter horses.

Janice had a passion for photography and travel.

She travelled extensively; including Hawaii, Alaska, South Africa, and Mexico, often capturing nature photos along the way. She took her last cruise just months prior to passing.

Janice was the second of nine siblings, four of whom have preceded her into the arms of God. She is survived by her husband John of 35 years, two sons James and Joe, sisters Linda, Terry and Dianne, brother Tommy, 5 grandkids and 11 great-grandkids.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, November 9, 2019 at The Settegast-Kopf Co. @ Sugar Creek.

Obituary: Emil Hrbacek

Pictured during a recent City Council recognition are (front row, L-R) Destination Events Manager Jessica Huble; Tourism and Visitor Services Manager Melissa Raju; Houston Marriott Sugar Land General Manager Noori Janjani; Houston Marriott Sugar Land Director of Sales Andrew Mirsky; Assistant Director of Economic Development Teresa Preza; Mayor Joe Zimmerman; (back row) Councilmembers Stewart Jacobson and Himesh Gandhi; Councilmember and Mayor Pro Tem Carol K. McCutcheon; City Manager Allen Bogard; and Councilmembers Naushad Kermally, Steve Porter and Jennifer Lane. travelers,” said General Man- ton region and beyond,” said Our City is proud to celebrate ager Noori Janjani. “This will Mayor Joe Zimmerman. this milestone with them and translate to increased revenues “The Marriott at Town recognize their contribution to and tax generation by our Square has greeted thousands our city and the region. businesses for Town Square of visitors from around the “The city is committed to its and the local area.” world, providing a significant continued partnership with the “For more than a decade, economic and cultural benefit Houston Marriott Sugar Land the Houston Marriott Sugar that further establishes Sugar at Town Square to attract more Land has provided exceptional Land as a premier destination visitors to the “Sweetest City hotelier service to the Hous- and economic powerhouse. in Texas - Sugar Land.”

One incumbent loses, three retain seats in Missouri City

By BARBAR FULENWIDER Even though Missouri City Mayor Yolanda Ford hand picked some of the district candidates to run for city council districts, only one hopeful won while three incumbents retained their seats in last Saturday’s election.

Cheryl Sterling, endorsed

by Ford, won the District A council seat over incumbent councilman Reginald B. Pearson. She received 786 votes for 52.30% to Pearson’s 717 votes for 47.70%. Harris County voters put their X in the box 205 times for Sterling and 146 times for Pearson.

Fort Bend County voters gave Sterling 230 votes and 248 to Pearson.

Incumbent Jeffrey Boney easily kept his District B office by receiving 66.21% or 1,291 votes. His opponent, JaPaula Kemp, got 33.79% or 659 of the total vote of 1,950.

Anthony Maroulis, incumbent for District C, held his seat thanks to 915 votes or 55.12% against 3 hopefuls.

S.A.M. Chatriwala received 377 votes for 22.71% of the votes; Steve Okoroha got 264 votes for 15.90%, and Raj Joseph received 104 votes for 6.27% out of the total of 1,660 cast in that election.

INDEPENDENT • NOVEMBER 13, 2019 • Page 3

Long time District D councilman, Floyd Emery, won his seat in a landslide with 77.02% of the vote that came in for a whopping count of 2,209. His opponent, Cindy Forney, polled 659 votes for 22.98%. The total vote count was 2,868 in District D. Cheryl Sterling is a former college administrator with leadership experience as an educator, now retired. She has lived in Missouri City for 26 years. Her campaign was to promote the diversification of Missouri City’s economic base and create a climate that will entice companies and organizations to promote diversification and align with existing programs that will encourage them to relocate.

She also wanted the city to attract more visitors and tourists with destination locations, family-style restaurants, recreational activities for children, concert venues, movie theater, museums and family oriented entertainment.

And she has said that her top priority will be to strongly promote revitalization and the development of Missouri City by focusing on businesses, high quality grocery stores, retail stores and restaurants.

Councilmember Jeffrey

L. Boney and his wife have been married for more than 20 years, and raised their three children in the Quail Green subdivision, while running a successful business headquartered in Missouri City. Boney has a Bachelor’s of Business Administration degree from Texas Southern University and an Honorary Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Juliana King University.

He has received numerous awards and recognition for his civic and community involvement and his leadership skills.

The councilman is the past president of the Quail Green Homeowners’ Association and has served on the Missouri City Community Development Advisory Committee since 2012, where he is past vice-chair. He is also a former bank executive with Washington Mutual Bank, former president and CEO of the Houston Citizens Chamber of Commerce and founder of the Texas Business Alliance.

Anthony G. Maroulis has been a resident of Missouri City since 1997 and is married and has two children. He and his family live in First Colony and his children attend FBISD schools. Anthony is a graduate of the University of Houston,

where he studied electrical engineering and earned his degree in biomedical electronics technology. Anthony is a first generation “Greek–American” and has been very active at all levels in the community.

He has served on numerous commitees and he is a highly active volunteer in FBISD. He serves on numerous Missouri City committees.

Councilmember Floyd Emery has been married for more than 58 years to his wife, Linda. They have been homeowners in Quail Valley for more than 40 years, where they raised their two sons, Brian and Dennis. Emery retired from Halliburton in 1999 and was employed by Baroid/Dresser/Halliburton for 47 years prior to his early retirement. During his tenure, he achieved a successful business career excelling in the management and directorship of information technology, finance and human resources.

Emery continues to have extensive involvement in various Missouri City and Quail Valley community service organizations and is on the 2017 H-GAC Chairman Elect to the Community Involvement Committee.

Emil Joe Hrbacek entered into the loving arms of our Lord on Nov. 2, 2019 at the age of 94. He was born on July 10, 1925, in La Grange. Texas, to Betty and Joe Hrbacek.

Emil is preceded in death by his wife Evelyn Srubar Hrbacek and son Donney Joseph Hrbacek.

Emil will always be remembered by his sons David Hrbacek, Dennis Hrbacek and wife Lita, Dean Hrbacek and wife Jenny, grandchildren, Jayme, Bradley, Byron, John, and Amanda Hrbacek, dog Molly and a host of other family and dear friends.

Emil was an electrician for 40 years and a member of local union IBEW 716. Strong in his faith, he was a long-time member of St. Helen’s Catholic Church. He loved the outdoors, enjoyed hunting,fishing, and gardening. Later in his life, he traveled on fishing trips to Alaska three times with his sons and grandchildren. He was very passionate about gardening and was known to grow the biggest and sweetest onions around.

Emil was from the Greatest Generation and is a veteran of World War II which he rarely discussed. Emil was a PFC in the U. S. Army, Company K, 383 Infantry and served as an Automatic Rifleman. Emil received a Bronze Star for heroic service in connection with military operations against the enemy on Okinawa Island on April 10, 1945. Emil made his way through enemy fire to where he could deliver accurate fire on the enemy and silenced three enemy machine guns located in caves which allowed the entire company to continue their mission.

Emil was also the recipient of two Purple Hearts, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Ribbon, and Philippine Liberation Ribbon along with numerous other medals.

A funeral mass was held at St. Helen Catholic Church in Pearland, Texas with burial at South Park Cemetery.

Texas House District 28 race results in runoff

The much-anticipated election in the Texas House District 28 race is headed for a runoff with none of the six Republicans and the lone Democrat crossing the 50 percent mark of the total votes cast.

Democrat Elizabeth Markowitz and Republican Gary Gates are the top two vote getters who will be in the runoff election.

Tricia Krenek finished third.

The entire state Democratic Party machinery campaigned for Markowitz to turn the seat blue. Dr. John Zerwas, long-term Republican, resigned earlier this year, causing the special election.

Markowitz got the highest vote 11,355 (39.06%), followed

by Gates 8,271 (28.45%). Tricia Krenek got 5,272 (18.13%) Others in the race were Anna Alred, (2,705 votes, 9.30%); Clinton D. Purnell, (256 votes); Sara Laningham, (503 votes, 1.73%) and Gary Hale, (712 votes, 2.45%) A total of 29,074 people voted in the HD 28 special election.

Voters overwhelmingly approved the Fort Bend County drainage bond and Sugar Land’s four bond propositions.

Fort Bend County has 448,129 registered voters. A total of 67,882 people voted in countywide election, marking a 15.15 percent turnout.

Fort Bend County’s drainage district bond for flood mitigation projects received 45,123 votes in favor and 20,137 against.

That means 69 percent voted for and 31 percent voted against the bond. A total of 65,260 people voted in this election.

INDEPENDENT • NOVEMBER 13, 2019 • Page 4

OPINION ‘Beat the Pack’ program offered at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital

Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital is offering the community a proven program to help people quit smoking.

The complimentary program, called Beat the Pack®, was developed by Pfizer Inc. and is sponsored by Houston Methodist Sugar Land Respiratory Therapy Department and Cancer Center.

The next four-week series is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 8 at Houston Methodist Sugar Land’s Main Pavilion Conference Rooms A & D. Participants will meet each Wednesday for four weeks in January with a trained facilitator who will provide tools, tips and support to help smokers create and follow through with a personalized “quit plan.”

“Studies show that close to 70 percent of smokers in the U.S. want to quit,” said Amy SebastianDeutsch, director of oncology and infusion therapy services at Houston Methodist Sugar Land. “But it

typically takes a smoker between six and 11 attempts to successfully quit. Beat the Pack is a proven program that can greatly increase those odds and make it easier to give up cigarettes for good.”

Even long-term smokers can benefit from quitting. “The health benefits of quitting begin almost immediately and continue indefinitely,” said Sindhu Nair, M.D., board-certified hematologist oncologist with Houston Methodist Oncology Partners at Sugar Land.

“Within months, former smokers will have improved circulation and reduced blood pressure, enhanced oxygen flow, the return of taste and smell and less coughing and colds.

“After a year, their risk of heart disease will be reduced by half.

After 10 years of living without cigarettes, the risk of heart attack or cancer is similar to that of someone who never smoked.”

In 2015, a thorough compilation of more than 50 smoking ces-

sation studies that included more than 25,000 participants found that combining behavior support in a group setting with medication provides the best results.

“It isn’t easy to quit, and certainly it is more difficult to do so by yourself,” said SebastianDeutsch.

“Beat the Pack provides all the tools and support needed, and it does so in an informative, friendly atmosphere that offers encouragement and camaraderie.”

The four-week program is offered each quarter at Houston Methodist Sugar Land. Registration is required and space is limited.

For more information or to register, visit houstonmethodist. org/events and search for ‘Beat the Pack’, or call 281.205.4514.

Visit our Facebook page at fb.com/methodistsugarland for the latest news, events and information.

Joining forces to end modern-day slavery

By PETE OLSON Human trafficking preys on the most vulnerable in our society and is a gruesome form of modern-day slavery. It is evil. It is also everywhere.

Human trafficking can be found in cities and rural areas alike. People of all races, men and women, rich and poor, are among the victims of this scourge. Its impact can be seen in communities across the country, including my own.

For the last decade, our Federal Bureau of Investigation has stated that the Interstate 10 corridor through greater Houston has the highest volume of human trafficking in America.

Sadly, many local law enforcement leaders denied that human trafficking occurs in the 22nd Congressional District of Texas, which I have the honor of representing in the nation’s capital. Thankfully, local law enforcement in my southeastern Texas congressional district has accepted reality and conducted a sting operation that led to the arrest of 64 people in connection to human trafficking, including four gang members. At least seven people were rescued as a result of that operation. They are lucky they were rescued; thousands of others are still victim to this depraved exploitation.

If we want to end this monstrous practice, we need a concerted effort between federal, state and local partners to do it. Giving our local law enforcement needed tools to stop human traffickers is integral to saving the lives of those affected, especially when it comes to our nation’s children.

That’s why I have supported many efforts to tackle this tough

Olson issue, including bills that increase grant funding to train school resource officers to identify and respond to signs of human trafficking, and one that makes it easier for states to prosecute websites that facilitate online sex trafficking.

Congress passed both bills and the president signed them into law last year.

Properly equipping our police with training and tools, as well as making it harder for predators to find new victims online are critical components to defeating human trafficking.

Ensuring that children and their educators can recognize and deter signs of human trafficking is necessary to preventing it. That’s why I recently co-sponsored a bipartisan bill that will provide education and training of students and school faculty to identify and help children exhibiting the signs of being exploited or trafficked, and to prevent it from happening further.

Raising public awareness of this heinous act is also crucial.

That’s why I also support efforts to make January National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.

By observing January as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, we can draw national attention to this horrific crime. Human trafficking impacts our daughters, sisters and friends. The more people recognize and learn about it, the easier it will be for us to end it.

While legislation helps to direct resources to combat human trafficking, we need our leaders to stand in solidarity against this kind of evil. On November 14th, I am co-hosting an event in Washington with the Alliance to End Human Trafficking to shine more light onto this darkness in our society. This alliance will include lawmakers, nonprofit leaders and dignitaries dedicated to combating human trafficking through education, increased awareness and a demand for action.

Human trafficking has a direct impact on my family. My wife and I still tremble from the phone call our daughter gave us from South Africa. Human trafficking kidnappers attempted to abduct my little girl and her friend in broad daylight in a large town with many witnesses. We were lucky. Many others are not.

No person should ever be treated like property or something that can be sold to the highest bidder, forced into a life of modern-day slavery. By coming together to enact meaningful legislation, increasing awareness and educating the public on ways they can engage in opposing this evil, we can end human trafficking in our great nation. Evil will not win.

(Pete Olson represents the 22nd District of Texas in the United States House of Representatives.)

Sugar Land voters approve bonds for Drainage, Public Safety, Facilities and Animal Shelter

Veterans Day Observance at the Freedom Park Memorial Tower. The Katy Rotarians, George Yeiter, left, Beverly Yeiter David Frishman, Jeff Pantle (the General Contractor) and Ken Burton.

Missouri City Friends of Library seeks volunteers

Missouri City’s Friends of the Library (FOL) will welcome volunteers to its first 2019 training sessions Tuesday, Nov. 19, at 9 a.m, and Wednesday, Nov. 20, at 7 p.m, according to Missouri City Branch Librarian Cecellia Shearron Hawkins. Potential volunteers are free to choose which date and time best meets their schedule. Training sessions are one hour in duration.

Closed for almost two years for expansion and improvement, it is expected the library will resume accepting book donations by year end. It is to that end that the library/FOL is recruiting and training an adult volunteer corps.

Volunteers typically remove donated books from boxes, sort donated books onto FOL sales shelves,organize and display donated sales books by author, genre, sell these books, and annually conduct book sales.

Hawkins said volunteers can choose any day, any time the library is open, Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m – 8 p.m, to complete their volunteer work. Interested volunteers are asked to firmly commit to two hours volunteer work per week in a month.

FOL book sales fund numerous youth and adult centered projects and programs throughout each year. The FOL’s goal for 2019/20 is to successfully recruit two volunteers per calendar month. Interested persons may contact Missouri City’s FOL President, Buddy Snyder, at 281 499 3345 or the library at 282 -238-2100.

Based on unofficial election results, Sugar Land voters decisively approved four general obligation bond propositions totaling $90.76 million on Nov. 5.

The projects included in the propositions were selected based on extensive planning through various master plans, City Council input and the results of citizen satisfaction surveys that indicated drainage, public safety and traffic/mobility are the top three priorities for residents.

“The bond election provided an opportunity for our residents to choose whether to authorize property taxes to fund projects that were identified through years of community input,” said Assistant City Manager Chris Steubing. “The vote reaffirms that From left to right, Ken Burton,VFW Post Commander Don residents believe the approved projects are important to Sugar Byrne, David Frishman, Fort Bend County Commissioner Andy Land and demonstrates the public’s continued confidence in the city’s strong and responsible financial stewardship.”

Meyers, and Ron Hudson, Col. Retired USACE. Work will begin on the implementation strategy that will be presented to City Council next spring as part of the fiscal year 2021 budget process, including implementation of a maximum tax rate increase of 3 cents to support the delivery of the bond program during the next three years. The projects are expected Fort Bend County Libraries’ Sugar Land Branch Library will to be completed within three to four years. have an educational series focusing on “Art & Architecture” this Learn more about the approved bond projects at www.sugfall. The next program in the series, “Art & Architecture: Baroque arlandtx.gov/GObonds, and view unofficial results at www.

Art,” will take place on Saturday, November 23, from 2:00 to 4:00 sugarlandtx.gov/elections. pm, in the Meeting Room of the library, located at 550 Eldridge.

In this segment in the series, architecture professor Sheba Akhtar will talk about the Baroque period, a style of ornately detailed European architecture and art from the 17th and 18th centuries. Learn about the formal and spatial complexity explored

by Baroque architects such as Bernini, Borromini, and Cortona, and hear about the influence of artists such as Titan, Tinoretto, and Caravaggio.

Akhtar will also show how developments in science, navigation, 10701 Corporate Drive, #377, Stafford, TX 77477 and exploration impacted the Baroque period. Those attending Mailing Address: P.O. Box 623, Sugar Land, TX 77487 the program will also hear how art and architecture were used in the service of religious propaganda in the Catholic Counterwww.fbindependent.com Seshadri Kumar reformation movement. Akhtar is an assistant professor of archiPublisher & Editor 832-586-5741 tecture at Prairie View A&M University. She received her Master Fort Bend Independent, (USPS 025-572) is published every of Architecture degree from the University of Pennsylvania and Wednesday (for a subscription rate of $20 per year) by Fort Bend taught art and architecture history for 20 years. She has practiced Independent, LLC., 10701 Corporate Dr., #377, Stafford, Texas as an architect in the United States, England, Scotland, Jordan, 77477. Periodicals Postage Paid at Stafford, Texas. and Pakistan. She is the author of “Of Colour and Form” and POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Fort Bend Independent, numerous articles on art and architecture.

P.O. Box 623, Sugar Land, Tx 77487.

The program is free and open to the public.

Library’s Art & Architecture Series Focuses on Baroque Art

INDEPENDENT • NOVEMBER 13, 2019 • Page 5

NEWS AccessHealth and Skeeters Baseball Foundation Provide Free Sports Physicals

A first-time grant to AccessHealth from the Skeeters Baseball Foundation helped provide sports physicals for 221 students this Fall.

The grant allowed pediatricians to offer the service free of charge at AccessHealth’s Missouri City and Richmond clinics throughout the months of August and September.

This impactful collaboration gave students ages 11 to 17 the opportunity to participate in sports.

AccessHealth’s team of board certified pediatric providers encourage patients to achieve the recommended levels of physical activity.

Pediatric services include nutrition counseling, Body Mass Index (BMI) screenings and care plans for children with high BMI. The partnership with the Skeeters Base-

ball Foundation helps more pediatric patients achieve their lifestyle and activity goals.

“This is unprecedented,” said AccessHealth CEO, Mike Dotson. “We’ve never been able to provide this many sports physicals free of charge to local students from all areas of Fort Bend County.

The Skeeters even sent their mascot, Swatson, out to help sign kids up. It’s a great partnership and we’re honored the Skeeters Baseball Foundation selected AccessHealth for this grant to give more children an opportunity to get involved in school and league athletic programs.”

AccessHealth provides integrated healthcare services without regard to income or circumstance to improve the quality of life in Fort Bend

County.

The health center is dedicated to helping patients achieve a personal state of wellness through primary medical care, nutrition services, dental care and mental health services.

Ninety percent of AccessHealth patients have household incomes at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, qualifying them for discounted sliding scale fees.

AccessHealth is a United Way agency recognized at the highest level as a PatientCentered Medical Home by the National Committee for Quality Assurance.

For more information about AccessHealth, contact Lacie Sumpter at (281) 6333157 or lsumpter@myaccesshealth.org.

Determining meals before and after exercise

Before or after exercising, think twice about what you put in your body. Depending on your workout and intensity level, different exercises require varying methods of refueling. Roberta Anding, registered dietitian, sports dietitian and assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at Baylor College of Medicine, explains approaches to take with food and exercise.

“First and foremost, it’s about honoring your own physiology,” Anding said. “If you have been training for a while, you know what you can tolerate and what you can’t.

However, the general principle is the longer and harder the exercise, the more your body will rely on carbohydrate as a fuel. In addition, with longer and more intense exercise, more blood flow gets directed to the arms and legs and less is available for digestion.”

For those who exercise in the morning before work or starting their day, eating prior to your workout depends on the intensity and what your gut tolerates. If the intensity is great, such as repeated sprints or high-intensity strength training, a liquid fuel such as diluted juice or a sports drink will leave your stomach faster than solid food. If that still makes you feel queasy, try something called “swish and spit.” This means you swish a sports drink in your mouth and then spit it out. There can be some absorption of carbohydrate through the lining of the mouth.

Try eating a light carbohydrate such as oatmeal or a banana for a moderate-intensity workout. The demand for fuel will be lower after a mild workout, like walking on the treadmill or walking your dog, and needs no special preparation since it is a low-intensity workout.

People who exercise in the evening after work often worry about eating large quanti-

ties for dinner post workout.

The key is to go into your workout with adequate fuel. If you skip lunch and then exercise, the post-exercise appetite surge may make you overeat.

Anding suggests eating a nutrient-dense meal with quality carbohydrates and protein for dinner, such as grilled fish with sweet potatoes or salad, to refuel and avoid overeating before bed. Another strategy is to have a light snack about 45 minutes before visiting the gym, which may not make you feel as hungry for dinner.

You should eat a banana or an apple, or keep non-perishable, quality carbohydrate foods in your desk, including instant oatmeal or instant rice and beans.

Snacks and meals before exercise also depend on how much time you have before hitting the gym.

If you have two hours before a workout, you should eat quality, moderate-fiber foods, such as oatmeal, sweet potato, whole wheat toast or whole grain crackers. You can add a slice of cheese or a tablespoon of peanut butter as well. A sports bar with some protein would be an easy and convenient choice. Avoid fiber-enhanced foods before exercising. Be careful of bars that are labeled low-carbohydrate or low-net carbs, as they often contain too much fat or a sugar alcohol that can cause GI stress. If you only have a 15-minute window, consume easily digested snacks, such as a bowl of grapes, clementine, half a banana or an apple.

Protein can slow digestion, and you need the fuel in your muscles and not your stomach “Carbs are the fuel for exercise,” Anding said. “If you’re going on a run, you don’t want to eat eggs, bacon or cheese beforehand. These are all protein-containing foods that are not fuel sources. Instead, go for a slice of toast or half a banana, especially if you are

exercising in the morning.”

The three Rs are the most important tasks post workout: refuel, rebuild and rehydrate.

For runners, the focus may be on eating after exercising.

Anding suggests a lentil stew with brown rice to rebuild the carbs used while running.

With strength training, part of what makes people stronger is ending up with micro tears in the muscle. Protein is key for rebuilding damaged muscle fibers. Whey and casein provide the best efficacy for rebuilding. Whey is a fast-acting protein that contains the powerhouse amino acid leucine, which helps you rebuild faster.

She suggests making a milkbased or Greek yogurt-based smoothie to get whey and casein for rebuilding. Leucine is found in smaller amounts in plant-based milks, so it is important to consider your postexercise goals.

It is very easy to pick the wrong snack to coincide with a workout, especially if body fat loss is the goal. People often think if they sweat, they are burning a lot of calories, which is not the case. This leads to out-eating the exercise. Many foods qualified as healthy, such as almonds and avocado, are high in fat, meaning they are calorically dense.

A handful of almonds is nearly 300 calories, and you must walk around three miles just to burn off the small snack. She also stresses to not load up on energy-dense bars before exercising, especially for low intensity workouts.

“Only 25 percent of Americans meet the physical activity guidelines, so 75 percent of adults aren’t getting a minimum of 150 minutes of exercise a week,” Anding said.

“Just do something you enjoy on a regular basis, and play around with your fueling choices depending on your weight goals and what you can tolerate.”

City Manager Anthony J. Snipes earns “Credentialed Manager” designation from ICMA Missouri City City Manager Anthony J. Snipes recently achieved the “Credentialed Manager” designation from the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) in recognition of his extensive public administration service and expertise.

To receive the prestigious classification, a member must have significant experience as a senior management executive in local government; have earned a degree, preferably in public administration or a related field; and demonstrated a commitment to high standards of integrity and to lifelong learning and professional development.

“For more than two decades, I have had the privilege and opportunity to lead in cities across the nation, working side-byside in the public sector with residents, elected officials and stakeholders to help communities thrive in all service areas,” Snipes said. “Being a credentialed manager is integral to my ongoing efforts as a public servant and vital to my role as Chief Executive Officer of Missouri City.”

Snipes, who was notified

by ICMA of his designation on Wednesday, Oct. 30, is one of more than 1,300 local government management professionals currently credentialed through the ICMA Voluntary Credentialing Program. He has been a member of ICMA for approximately 20 years and was recently asked to serve on the Texas City/County Management Association’s newly formed Equity Task Force.

Credentialed managers are encouraged to continue their professional development

through a variety of educational activities and are required by the organization’s Code of Ethics to commit to at least 40 hours of professional development every year.

ICMA’s mission is to advance professional local government through leadership, management, innovation, and ethics and by increasing the proficiency of appointed chief administrative officers, assistant administrators, and other employees who serve local governments and regional entities around the world. The organization’s 13,000 members in 27 countries also include educators, students, and other local government employees.

In addition to being CEO of operations in Missouri City, Snipes is also National President and Board Chair on the Board of the National Forum for Black Public Administrators (NFBPA), a 2019 National Academy of Public Administration Fellow, a member of the Board of Directors of the Institute for Building Technology and Safety (IBTS), Vice President of the TCMA—Region 6 Board, a board member of the Missouri City Parks Foundation and a board member of Mercer University’s College of Liberal Arts Alumni board of directors.

A veteran municipal administrator whose career spans more than 20 years, Snipes’ career spans oversight in strategic initiatives that involve budgeting and performance management, public/private partnerships and organizational development.

He joined the “Show Me City” on Dec. 1, 2015, after being unanimously appointed by City Council to become the municipality’s seventh chief admin-

City Manager Anthony Snipes works side by side woith city employees and partners. Photo courtesy City of Missouri City istrative officer. He oversees about 371 full-time employees and a combined annual budget of more than $139 million.

Before joining Missouri City, Snipes was a municipal executive in Dayton, Ohio; Fort Worth and Austin. Highlights of his leadership in the “Show Me City” include: Managing the completion of the largest ever debt refunding by eliminating $79,695,000 of debt, saving the citizens $10.7 million in interest during the life of the bonds. This is the single largest transaction and savings the City’s ever managed; • Initiating a High Performance Organization (HPO) framework, introducing all teams to a work culture based on the decisions and

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leadership of employees across all levels; Developing a Business Plan model strategically aligned with City Council priorities; Launching a Community Walk, Talk and Drive Tour to connect first-hand with the citizens and learn about their issues of interest; Managing creation of the City’s first 501c3 Missouri City Parks Foundation; Launching the conceptual planning and design of an expanded City Hall complex to feature a Veteran’s Memorial, public art, a performance venue and other specialized landmarks; Directing the program for the City’s first Comprehen-

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sive Plan Symposium with regional partners, including the Kinder Institute at Rice University; Creating a Nuisance Abatement Team to develop the philosophy, processes and means to measure the outcomes and reporting out on code enforcement initiatives; Managing, with elected officials and his team, the response to Category 4 Hurricane Harvey; Directing the Financial Services Department, which has received the Government Finance Officers Association of U.S. and Canada’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for more than 30 years as well

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as the GFOA’s Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report; Overseeing a renewed focus on economic development/redevelopment; Managing the municipality’s award-winning Quail Valley Golf Course and City Centre; and Launching innovative new outreach programs including Community Night Out to further educate and engage citizens, and the Leadership NOW Symposium to provide ethics training and seminars for municipal employees from across the nation.

INDEPENDENT • NOVEMBER 13, 2019 • Page 6

Legal Notices CAUSE NO. 19-CCV-064378 THE STATE OF TEXAS TO: ERNIE ETUK, DEFENDANT, GREETING: YOU (AND EACH OF YOU) ARE HEREBY COMMANDED TO APPEAR before the Honorable County Court at Law 3 of Fort Bend County, Texas, at the Courthouse being located at the Fort Bend County Justice Center, 1422 Eugene Heimann Circle, in the City of Richmond, Fort Bend County, Texas, by filing a written answer at or before 10 o’clock A.M. of the first Monday after the expiration of 42 days from the date of issuance of this citation, same being the 11th day of December, 2019, to Plaintiffs Petition filed in said Court, on the 19th day of February, 2019, in this Cause, numbered 19-CCV-064378 on the docket of said Court and styled: StarTex Title Company, LLC vs Rosemary Evbuomwan and Ernie Etuk allegations as shown in said petition now on file in the Fort Bend County Clerk’s Office.

The officer executing this Writ shall promptly serve the same, according to requirements of law and the mandates hereof, and make due return as the law directs.

ISSUED AND GIVEN UNDER MY HAND AND SEAL of said Court at office, this the 30th day of October,2019.

LAURA RICHARD, COUNTY CLERK FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS 301 JACKSON, SUITE 101 RICHMOND, TX 77469-3108 Kristina Lawless, Deputy

You have been sued. You may employ an attorney. If you or your attorney do not file a written answer with the clerk who issued this citation by I 0:00 A.M. on the first Monday after the expiration of 42 days from the date of issuance of this citation and petition, a default judgment may be taken against you. The name and address of the Plaintiffs attorney is: Jennifer Mouton Hershorin & Henry LLP 2617C W Holcombe Blvd #252 Houston TX 77025 713-419-6399 NOTICE OF SALE OF REAL PROPERTY STATE OF TEXAS § COUNTY OF FORT BEND § By virtue of an Order of Sale dated Sept 11,2019 delivered pursuant to a Judgment issued out of the 268th District Court of Fort Bend County, Texas, said judgment rendered in favor of COLONY LAKES HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC., plaintiff, and against COURTNEY D. PRUITT and GARLAND R. PRUITT, defendant, in Cause No. 18-DCV-251819, for the sum of SIX-THOUSAND-TWO-HUNDREDSEVENTY- FOUR DOLLARS AND–NINETYFOUR- CENTS 94/100’s ($6274.94), plus fees for posting notices, publishing, and all costs of executing sale. I did on the 15TH day of OCT, 2019, at 2:00PM, levy upon the following described tract of land in Fort Bend County, Texas, as the property of COURTNEY D. PRUITT AND GARLAND R. PRUITT, defendant(s), to-wit: LOT TWENTY (20), IN BLOCK TWO (2) , OF FINAL PLAT OF COLONY LAKES, SECTION EIGHT (8), A SUBDIVISION IN FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF RECORDED IN SLIDE NO. 2390/B,OF THE PLAT RECORDS OF OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS 3523 SHOREVIEW LANE MISSOURI CITY, TX 77459 (PROPERTY) and on DEC 3, 2019, being the first Tuesday of said month, between the hours of 10:00 o’clock a.m. and 4:00 o’clock p.m., at 301 JACKSON ST, FORT BEND COUNTY TRAVIS BLDG RICHMOND TX. I will offer for sale and sell at public auction for cash, all the right, title and interest of COURTNEY D. PRUITT GARLAND R. PRUITT, defendant, in and to said property.

CONSTABLE’S NOTICE OF SALE Notice is hereby given, that by virtue of a certain Order of Sale issued by the clerk of the 268TH District Court of Fort Bend County, Texas on September 23, 2019 in cause numbered 16-DCV231714 styled VILLAGE OF OAK LAKE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION INC. vs.

DENISE MUSE, in which a judgment was rendered on May 2, 2017 in favor of VILLAGE OF OAK LAKE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION INC. for the sum of Eleven Thousand Four Hundred Ninety Eight Dollars and Eighty Six Cents ($11,498.86); plus fees for posting notice of sale, publishing, costs of suit rendered by the court, legal fees, and all costs of executing this Writ.

I have levied upon the below listed property on October 23, 2019 and will on December 3, 2019 Tuesday, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. proceed to sell for cash to the highest bidder, all the Right, Title, and Interest of Denise Muse to and in the following described Real Property LOT Nineteen (19), IN BLOCK Two (2), OF OAK LAKE ESTATES, SECTION ONE (1) AN ADDITION IN FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF RECORDED IN SLIDE NOS. 1199/B, OF THE PLAT RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, (THE PROPERTY) The above sale to be made by me to satisfy the above described judgment in favor of VILLAGE OF OAK LAKE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION INC. Plaintiff, and the proceeds applied to the satisfaction thereof.

LOCATION: FORT BEND COUNTY TRAVIS BLDG301 JACKSON ST 1ST FLR MEETING RM RICHMOND, TX 77469 DATE: DEC3, 2019 TIME: APPROX. 11:00 AM BY Sergeant M. Kutach

LOCATION: FORT BEND COUNTY TRAVIS BLDG 1ST FLR MEETING ROOM 301 JACKSON, RICHMOND, TX 77469 DATE: December 3rd, 2019 TIME: APPROX. 11:00 am BY: DEPUTY STEELE

TREVER J. NEHLS Constable Pct. 4 Fort Bend County, Texas

TREVER J. NEHLS Constable Pct. 4 Fort Bend County, Texas

CITY OF STAFFORD NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Sealed Bids, in duplicate, addressed to Stafford Economic Development Corporation, Stafford, Texas, Fort Bend County, will be received at City Hall, 2610 South Main St., Stafford, Texas 77477, until 10:00 A.M., Friday, November 22, 2019, and then publicly opened and read immediately thereafter in the Council Chambers for furnishing all labor, material, and equipment and performing all work required for the “Maintenance of Landscape on I-69 & US90A”.

BIDS will be submitted in sealed envelopes upon the blank forms provided and marked in the upper left hand corner “Bid for Maintenance of Landscape on I-69 & US90A” to be opened at 10:00 A.M., Friday, November 22, 2019. BIDS received after closing time will be returned unopened.

All Bids shall be accompanied by a cashier’s or certified check upon a national or state bank in the amount of five percent (5%) of the total maximum bid price payable without recourse to the Stafford Economic Development Corporation, Stafford, Texas, or a bid bond in the same amount from a reliable surety company, as a guarantee that bidder will enter into a Contract. The notice of award of Contract shall be given by the Owner within sixty (60) days following the opening of bids. Checks submitted as bid security will be returned to the respective bidders within ten (10) days after bids are opened, except checks, or bonds, which the Owner elects to hold until the successful bidder has executed the Contract.

Thereafter, the remaining checks, including security of successful bidder, will be returned within five (5) days. Remaining bid bonds will not be returned unless requested by Bidder.

Specifications and bidding documents in electronic format may be secured from Route 5 Landscape Architecture by emailing jhendrixson@route5landarch.com.

Plans and/or Exhibits and Specifications may be examined at the following locations: Stafford Economic Development Corporation City Hall 2610 South Main St. Stafford, TX 77477 (281) 261-3900 In conformance with applicable statutes, the general prevailing wage rates in the locality in which the work is to be performed have been ascertained, and such rates shall be the minimum paid for labor employed upon this project.

The Owner reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to waive informalities in bidding. In case of ambiguity or lack of clearness in stating the prices in any bid, the Owner reserves the right to consider the most advantageous construction thereof, or to reject the bid. The award will be made to the responsible bidder submitting the lowest acceptable bid.

A Non-Mandatory Pre-Bid Conference for prospective bidders will be held on Thursday, November 14, 2019 at 10:00 A.M., at City Hall, 2610 South Main St., Stafford, Texas in accordance with the Instructions to Bidders, Paragraph 21.

AUTOMOBILE: Chevrolet Blazer

By BARBARA FULENWIDER The 2019 Chevrolet Blazer will shake up the two-row midsize SUV segment by offering a myriad of diversity to customers who put a premium on design.

Offered in L, Blazer, RS and Premier trims, with L starting MSRP of $29,995, each trim has a unique look, with specifics that suit different tastes.

The Blazer’s marketing director for Cars and Crossovers says the new Blazer is the boldest, most progressive expression of Chevrolet design.

“A wide stance, tight proportions and dramatic sculpting define the model.”

The RS model’s blackedout features have a sporty, street-inspired look, while the additional chrome on the Premier delivers a more upscale appearance. These design cues are supported with interior finishes and additional available features to distinguish each of the Blazer’s identities.

For instance the Blazer has a black grill while the RS model got a hexagon shape black mesh with RS badging and the Premier has a black grill with chrome accents. The bowtie element is in gold on the Blazer, black on the RS and gold on the Premier.

Exhaust pipes on the Blazer are round with bright tips, rectangular with bright tips on the RS and dual exhausts on the Premier model have throughfascia exit and bright tips.

Wheels on the Blazer are CONSTABLE’S SALE Notice is hereby Given, that by virtue of a certain ORDER OF SALE Issued by the Clerk of the 240TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT Court of FORT BEND County, on the 9th day of OCTOBER, 2019, in a certain cause number 14-DCV-214352 wherein WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. plaintiff , and JULIE MCKELLAR, MARK MCKELLAR AND INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE defendant, in which cause a judgment was rendered on the 5th day of JUNE, 2015, in favor of the said plaintiff WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. against said defendant JULIE MCKELLAR, MARK MCKELLAR AND INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, for the sum of $471,804.11, AS OF FEBRUARY 25, 2015, WITH INTEREST ACCRUING AT THE PER DIEM RATE OF $32.45 THROUGH THE DATE OF THIS ORDER ; POST-JUDGEMENT INTEREST SHALL ACCRUE ON THE BALANCE AT A RATE OF 5% AS MANDATED BY THE OFFICE OF CONSUMER CREDIT COMMISSIONER; ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED THAT ORDER OF SALE SHALL PROVIDE THAT PLAINTIFF, IT’S SUCCESSORS OR ASSIGNS, HAVE THE RIGHT TO BECOME THE PURCHASER OF THE PROPERTY AT THE SALE CONDUCTED PURSUANT TO THE ORDER OF SALE, AND PLAINTIFF, IT’S SUCCESSORS OR ASSIGNS, SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO CREDIT UPON AMOUNT OF THE BID MADE TO THE EXTENT NECESSARY TO SATISFY SUCH BID, THE AMOUNT OF THE JUDGMENT OWING TO PLAINTIFF, AND THE FURTHER SUM OF $0.00, together with all costs of suit, I levied upon, and will, on the 3rd day of DECEMBER, 2019 within legal hours, proceed to sell for cash to the highest bidder, all the right, title and interest of JULIE MCKELLAR, MARK MCKELLAR AND INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE in and to the following described REAL property, levied upon as the property of JULIE MCKELLAR, MARK MCKELLAR AND INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE to wit: PROPERTY DESCRIPTION: LOT FOUR (4), IN BLOCK TWO (2), OF CINCO RANCH WEST SEC. 17, A SUBDIVISION ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF RECORDED UNDER SLIDE NO. 2328A AND B, OF THE PLAT RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS DATE OF SALE: DECEMBER 3, 2019 TIME OF SALE: APPROXIMATELY 10:00 AM PLACE OF SALE: 301 Jackson Street, William Travis Building, 1ST Floor Meeting Room in the City of Richmond, Tx 77469 TERMS OF SALE: CASH CREDIT- $0.00 The above sale to be made by me to satisfy the above described judg ment for $471,804.11, AS OF FEBRUARY 25, 2015, WITH INTEREST ACCRUING AT THE PER DIEM RATE OF $32.45 THROUGH THE DATE OF THIS ORDER ; POST-JUDGEMENT INTEREST SHALL ACCRUE ON THE BALANCE AT A RATE OF 5% AS MANDATED

BY THE OFFICE OF CONSUMER CREDIT COMMISSIONER; ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED THAT ORDER OF SALE SHALL PROVIDE THAT PLAINTIFF, IT’S SUCCESSORS OR ASSIGNS, HAVE THE RIGHT TO BECOME THE PURCHASER OF THE PROPERTY AT THE SALE CONDUCTED PURSUANT TO THE ORDER OF SALE, AND PLAINTIFF, IT’S SUCCESSORS OR ASSIGNS, SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO CREDIT UPON AMOUNT OF THE BID MADE TO THE EXTENT NECESSARY TO SATISFY SUCH BID, THE AMOUNT OF THE JUDGMENT OWING TO PLAINTIFF, AND THE FURTHER SUM OF $0.00 dollars, in favor of WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. together with the costs of said suit, and the proceeds applied to the satisfaction thereof.

WAYNE K. THOMPSON Constable Pct. 3 KATY, Texas By DAVID RIVERA #1332-DEPUTY NOVEMBER 7, 2019

18-inch standard and 20-inch as available. The RS standard wheels are 20-inch dark chrome face or 21-inch glass black if available and the Premier are 20-inch machine face standard or 21-inch pearl nickel available.

Standard features include Chevrolet infotainment system with 8-inch diagonal color touchscreen; 4G LTE with available Wi-Fi Hotspot that includes 3GB/one-month data trial; Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility; electronic locking glove box; keyless Open and Start; teen driver; rear seat reminder; HD rear vision camera; dual zone automatic climate control with rear vents and heated power adjustble outside mirrors.

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE The Commissioners Court of Fort Bend County, Texas has set a public hearing on Tuesday, December 3, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. for acceptance of the traffic control plan for Greatwood Lake, Section 1, Precinct 1.

The hearing will be held in the Commissioners Courtroom at 401 Jackson Street, Second Floor, Richmond, Texas.

You are invited to attend and state your approval or objection on this matter.

Submitted by,

Laura Richard Fort Bend County Clerk

CONSTABLE’S NOTICE OF SALE Notice is hereby given, that by virtue of a certain Order of Sale issued by the clerk of the 434TH District Court of Fort Bend County, Texas on Sept 11, 2019 in cause numbered 16-DCV232518 styled First Colony Community Services Association, Inc. vs. MAHESH AND ALPA SHAH FAMILY PARTNERSHIP LTD, A TEXAS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP in which a judgment was rendered on NOV 10, 2016 in favor of First Colony Community Services Association, Inc. for the sum of Twenty Nine Thousand Five Hundred Twelve Dollars and Zero Cents ($29,512.00); plus fees for posting notice of sale, publishing, costs of suit rendered by the court, legal fees, and all costs of executing this Writ.

I have levied upon the below listed property on SEPT 18, 2019 and will on DEC 3, 2019 Tuesday, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. proceed to sell for cash to the highest bidder, all the Right, Title, and Interest of MAHESH AND ALPA SHAH FAMILY PARTNERSHIP LTD. A TEXAS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP to and in the following described Real Property: THAT CERTAIN TRACT OR PARCEL OF LAND CONTAINING 1.2428 ACRES OF LAND MORE OR LESS LOCATED IN THE S.M. WILLIAMS LEAGUE, ABSTRACT NO.97, FORT BEND COUNTY , TEXAS, AND BEING ENTIRETY OF UNRESTRICTED RESERVE P-1 OUT OF TOWN CENTER LAKESIDE PHASE 2 REPLAT OF UNRESTRICTED RESERVES O&P AMENDING PLAT, A SUBDIVISION IN FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF RECORDED UNDER SLIDE NO 2238/A OF THE PLAT RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXASMORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS 16260 KENSINGTON DR. SUGAR LAND,TX 77479 (PROPERTY) The above sale to be made by me to satisfy the above described judgment in favor of First Colony Community Services Association, Inc. Plaintiff, and the proceeds applied to the satisfaction thereof.

LOCATION: FORT BEND COUNTY TRAVIS BLDG 1ST FLR MEETING ROOM 301 JACKSON, RICHMOND, TX 77469 DATE: December 3rd, 2019 TIME: APPROX. 11:00 am BY: DEPUTY STEELE TREVER J. NEHLS Constable Pct. 4 Fort Bend County, Texas

And there is more: Traction Mode Select; adjustable rear sliding seat; six-way manual driver seat; five passenger seating with 60/40-split second row and up to 64.2 cubic feet of max cargo space with the second row folded flat.

Propulsion comes from a standard 2.5L I-4 engine (193 hp) featuring intelligent Stop/ Start and backed by a ninespeed automatic transmission.

A 3.6L V-6/nine-speed combination with 305 horsepower and Stop/Start is also offered on the Blazer and comes standard on the RS and Premier models.

Additional available features include panoramic dual-pane power sunroof; advanced twin-clutch AWD

NOTICE OF CONSTABLES SALE THE STATE OF TEXAS COUNTY OF FORT BEND By virtue of an Order of Sale issued out of the Honorable 458TH DISTRICT COURT of FORT BEND County on Nov ember 7, 2019 by the Clerk thereof, in the case of FORT BEND INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT vs. LOUlS ERIC LJVNG JR in Cause# 18-DCV-253144 and to me, as CONSTABLE directed and delivered, I will proceed to sell, at 10:00 0 ‘ Clock AM on the 3rd day of December, 20 19, which is the first Tuesday of said month. at the William B. Travis Building, First Floor Meeting Room, 30 l Jackson Street, Richmond Texas 77469-3108 of said FORT BEND County, in the City of RICHMOND, Texas, the following described property, to wit: TRACT 1: GEO: 8100050080110907/ 8100050080110 LOT ELEVEN ( II ) IN BLOCK EIGHT (8) OF REPLAT OF TOWNEWEST, SECTION FIVE (5), AN ADDITION IN FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF RECORDED IN VOLUME 29, PAGE 1, OF THE MAP RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS Levied on November 7, 2019 as the pro petty of LOUIS ERIC LJUNG JR to satisfy a judgment amounting to $8,612.26, representing delinquent taxes, penalties, interest,and attorney’s fees through the date of judgment, plus all costs of cost, costs of sale, and post judgment penalties and interest recoverable by law in favor of FORT BEND INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT; FORT BEND COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT# 2, FORT BEND COUNTY DRAINAGE DISTRICT; FORT BEND COUNTY GENERAL FUND; FORT BEND COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICE DISTRICT 5 AND FORT BEND COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT #2.

ALL BIDDERS MUST COMPLY WITH SECTION 34.0 15 OF THE TEXAS PROPERTY TAX CODE. GIVEN UNDER MY HAND ON November 7, 2019 CONSTABLE FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS. WAYNE K. THOMPSON Constable Pct. 3 KATY, Texas

By DAVID RIVERA #1332 DEPUTY NOVEMBER 7, 2019

system; hitch view for trailering that helps the driver align the hitch with the trailer hitch; and automatic heated steering wheel. Other additional available features are automatic heated/ventilated front seats; heated outboard rear seats; rear camera mirror; adaptive cruise control-advanced; a suite of safety features; wireless charging; up to six USB ports; hands-free power liftgate and Chevy’s first cargo management system.

The 2020 Blazer RS AWD has a MSRP of $43,500 with all standard equipment. Options added $4,670 and the destination charge added $1,195 more for a grand total of $49,385.

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE The Commissioners Court of Fort Bend County, Texas has set a public hearing on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. for acceptance of the traffic control plans for Firethorne West Section 1 at Davenport Drive at McDonough Way, Precinct 3.

The hearing will be held in the Commissioners Courtroom at 401 Jackson Street, Second Floor, Richmond, Texas. You are invited to attend and state your approval or objection on this matter.

Submitted by,

Laura Richard Fort Bend County Clerk PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE The Commissioners Court of Fort Bend County, Texas has set a public hearing on Tuesday, December 3, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. for acceptance of the traffic control plans for Sienna Plantation Section 15B, and Sienna Plantation Section 33A, Precinct 1.

The hearing will be held in the Commissioners Courtroom at 401 Jackson Street, Second Floor, Richmond, Texas.

You are invited to attend and state your approval or objection on this matter.

Submitted by,

Laura Richard Fort Bend County Clerk

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE The Commissioners Court of Fort Bend County, Texas has set a public hearing on Tuesday, December 3, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. for acceptance of the traffic control plans for Mission Trace Section 2, and Mission Trace Section 4, Precinct 3.

The hearing will be held in the Commissioners Courtroom at 401 Jackson Street, Second Floor, Richmond, Texas.

You are invited to attend and state your approval or objection on this matter.

Submitted by,

Laura Richard Fort Bend County Clerk

City of Missouri City LEGAL NOTICE THIS IS A MANDATED PUBLICATION OF THE LEGAL NOTICE ******* OPENING DATE OF December 10, 2019 AT 2:00 pm. ******* Request for Proposal RFP No. 20-313 Construction Manager at Risk for the Mustang Bayou Wastewater Treatment Plant Responses must be sealed, marked on the outside of the delivery envelope with the RFP name and number as listed above, and the date of opening. Responses must be delivered to the attention of City of Missouri City Attn: Purchasing Office RFP No. 20-313 1522 Texas Parkway Missouri City, Texas 77489 Prior to the acceptance deadline. Responses marked improperly and therefore misdirected may be disqualified. Until final award of the contract, the City reserves the right to reject any or all responses, to waive irregularities or technicalities, to readvertise, or proceed to do the work otherwise when in the best interests of the City.

No bid may be withdrawn during the 60 days following the bid opening date.

COMMUNITY Sugar Land 101 Class applications available Legs needed

The city of Sugar Land will accept applications through Dec. 5 for the next Sugar Land 101 class scheduled to begin in January 2020. Sugar Land 101 participants learn about city operations from Sugar Land’s top managers. The class also includes two citywide tours, including a behind the scenes look at city facilities. Those applying for Sugar Land 101 must be a resident of Sugar Land for at least one year, a registered voter, over 21 years of age, not currently holding or running for elected office and willing to attend the 10-week session. To apply online or for more information about Sugar Land 101 and additional enrollment requirements, visit https:// volunteer.sugarlandtx.gov/. Enrollment is limited.

Literally! Your legs are needed to assist Finish Line Sports and Hope For Three Autism Advocates bring awareness to a disorder that affects one in 45 school-aged children.

On November 28, Thanksgiving morning, autism supporters and avid runners/walkers will hit the pavement for Finish Line Sports’ Annual Turkey Trot in Sugar Land.

The campaign, which is currently underway, is an opportunity to not only celebrate the joys and blessings of Thanksgiving, but to take action by supporting and raising funds for families living with autism. So “Wattle” you waiting for?

A click of a finger will allow you to sign up for the Turkey Trot and encourage family and friends to support your efforts in “being” the difference.

For more information on the Annual Finish Line Sports Turkey Trot visit hopeforthree.org/ events/turkey-trot.

Readying for the Finish Line Sports Turkey Trot are L to R: Bradley and Bayleigh Minor. Hope For Three. Autism Advocates. Providing Help. Creating Hope. Picture Courtesy: Deon Minor

Child Advocates of Fort Bend Christmas Home Tickets Now Available

Shown L to R are: Committee members Pat Somers, Jaime Virkus, Ginny Ellsworth, Tina Worrell, Simmi Chaudhary, Nancy Dale, Child Advocates of Fort Bend Development Director Lisa Moore, Julie Sams, Kelly Vaughan, Child Advocates of Fort Bend Development Officer Dana Mersiovsky, Brynlee Stephens, Ashley Stephens and Theresa Shmerling.

Tickets to the 28th annual Child Advocates of Fort Bend Christmas Home Tour are now available online at www.cafb. org and at several Fort Bend locations including the Randalls locations in Pecan Grove and on Highway 6 in Sugar Land.

The Christmas Home Tour features private homes in Fort Bend County beautifully decorated for Christmas. Neighborhoods and homes vary each year, so guests who have been to the Home Tour before are guaranteed to see something new each year. This year’s homes are in Alkire Lake, Sugar Creek, Sweetwater and Sienna. One $30 ticket allows entry to all homes during tour hours, allowing busy guests to see the Tour all at once or visit a few homes each day, depending on their schedule. The Tour runs Friday, December 13 from 10am until 4pm and 6pm until 9pm and Saturday, December 14 from 10am until 4pm. A complete list of ticket sales locations is available at www. cafb.org.

“Our Home Tour Committee is hard at work finalizing the details for this year’s tour,” stated Child Advocates of Fort Bend Development Director Lisa Moore. “We’ve got amazing remodeled homes and a lot of fun things in store for guests this year, including our

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6th annual wreath raffle. There will be refreshments in all the homes – home baked cookies in two houses, appetizers in one courtesy of Dream Dinners Missouri City, specialty juices courtesy of Minute Maid and an ice cream cart in another home, courtesy of Southern Ice Cream. Last year we had Santa in one of the homes and he was such a big hit with our guests that we’re offering photos with Santa this year. On Friday evening, we’ll have valet parking available for guests at the home in Alkire Lake.

The Home Tour is a really fun event but, most importantly, it is a fundraiser. In fact,

INDEPENDENT • NOVEMBER 13, 2019 • Page 7

the Home Tour is one of Child Advocates of Fort Bend’s largest fundraisers and 94% of the money raised by the tour goes toward programs and services.

“By sponsoring or purchasing a Home Tour ticket, you can help us ensure that all child victims of abuse get the therapy and healing services they desperately need,” stated Child Advocates of Fort Bend CEO Ruthanne Mefford.

Sponsorships are still available for $100 - $10,000. “All sponsors who are participating at the $375 level and above are invited to the Sponsor Party prior to the Home Tour,” stated Moore. “Our Sponsor

Fort Bend Boys Choir Christmas Musicale with Special Guest Operatic Countertenor John Holiday

The Fort Bend Boys Choir is so excited to announce a special guest, American Operatic Countertenor John Holiday, will perform with the choirboys at their annual Christmas on Saturday, December 7, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church-Missouri City. Three treble choirs – Training, Town and Tour – will be showcased along with Music Magic, the organization’s class of six and seven year olds. John Holiday, the Fort Bend Boys Choir’s 1999 Outstanding Choirboy of the Year, has performed worldwide with many opera companies including the LA Opera and the Metropolitan Opera.

Tickets are available on the choir website or at the door. Adult admission is $18.00 and children 12 and under are $5.00. As always, choir alumni are free! All proceeds from the Christmas Musicale are used for program support, operational expenses and scholarships. Visit the Fort Bend Boys Choir’s website at www. fbbctx.org or call (281) 240-3800 for more details. You can also inquire about their upcoming open auditions for new choirboys on December 14, 2019 for boys ages eight and older with an unchanged voice!

Party will be held at The Design Firm. If you haven’t been there before (and even if you have), you’re in for a real treat.

There are rooms and rooms of displays in every corner. Each of their designers will be decorating one of the rooms for the holidays and guests will be able to vote for their favorite. It will be fun and festive, and you are guaranteed to leave there in the holiday spirit!”

To become a sponsor or to volunteer or for more information go to https://www. cafb.org/events/home-tour/ or contact Lisa Moore at 281-344- MISSOURI CITY BRANCH LIBRARY CELEBRATES COMICS. 5108 or lmoore@cafb.org.

Fort Bend County Libraries invites comic-book lovers to a special event -- “POW! Let’s Talk Comics!” -- at the Missouri City Branch Library on Saturday, November 16, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm, in the Meeting Room of the library, located at 1530 Texas Parkway. A representative from Bedrock City Comics will talk about current comics coming out, with an emphasis on strong female characters and people of color. Hear about the latest graphic novels, heroes, heroines, and more. Those attending will be eligible to win a 3D print that will be raffled after the program.

12603 Southwest Freeway, Suite 165 · Stafford, TX 77477 This event is free and open to the public. For more information, see the Fort Bend County Libraries website (www.fortbend.lib. tx.us), or call the Missouri City Branch Library (281-238-2100) or the library system’s Communications Office (281-633-4734).

SANDERSEN & SCHEFFER, PLLC Certified Public Accountants

Thank you Fort Bend for an excellent two years & looking forward to many more

Sandersen & Scheffer, PLLC, conveniently located at the corner of the Southwest Freeway and Kirkwood Road, is a full-service Accounting firm, offering a broad range of services for business owners, executives, and independent professionals.

Alan K. Sandersen, CPA Sherri R. Scheffer, CPA (281) 242-3232

www.cpa-tx.com info@cpa-tx.com

INDEPENDENT • NOVEMBER 13, 2019 • Page 8

COMMUNITY Children’s opera, “Opera to go” Operation Thanksgiving—Stuff of Strega Nona, at the libraries the Squad Car & Fire Truck!

In the spirit of giving, “Show Me City” citizens, officials, staff and volunteers will partner again this year to host the 11th annual “Operation Thanksgiving—Stuff the Squad Car & Fire Truck!” on Saturday, Nov. 16 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Public Safety Headquarters, 3849 Cartwright Rd. All City departments are collaborating to sponsor the operation, and donations will assist individuals and families in need during the holiday season.

Residents and stakeholders are encouraged to come out and fill at least 11 police squad cars and 2 Fire & Rescue Services trucks with canned and non-perishable food items. The goods will be donated to Bethel Ministry and the Fort Bend County Women’s Center.

If residents would like to drop-off donations before Saturday, Nov. 16, they are welcome to deliver them to the following City facilities: Police and Fire Departments, 3849 Cartwright Rd. City Hall, 1522 Texas Pkwy.

Inspections & Permits in the City Hall Complex, 1522 Texas Pkwy.

Municipal Court, 3845 Cartwright Rd. Recreation and Tennis Center, 2701 Cypress Point Dr. Fire Station 1: 3849 Cartwright Rd. Fire Station 2: 12043 McLain Blvd.

Fire Station 3: 2496 Texas Pkwy.

Fire Station 4: 5955 Sienna Pkwy.

Fire Station 5: 190 Waters Lake Blvd.

Fort Bend County Libraries’ Bob Lutts Fulshear/Simonton Branch Library will present a performance by Houston Grand Opera’s “Opera to Go!” of Strega Nona, on Monday, November 25, beginning at 1:00 pm, in the Meeting Room of the library, located at 8100 FM 359 South in Fulshear.

The performance will be repeated at the University Branch Library later that day, beginning at 4:00 pm, in Meeting Room 1 of the library, located at 14010 University Blvd in Sugar Land, on the UH campus.

Based on a children’s book

by Tomi DePaola, this familyfriendly light opera, sung entirely in English, is about a woman named Strega Nona who has a magical touch with

food.

Her helper, Big Anthony, is tempted to try his own hand at magic when Strega Nona leaves town. Can he resist the temptation?

This story is a great way to learn about the importance of paying attention and respecting other people’s property.

The program is presented with the generous support of the Friends of the Library organizations that support these branches.

Proceeds from the Friends of the Library book sales and annual membership dues help to underwrite the costs of special programming and various cultural events at the libraries.

A free hand-stamp, available starting one hour prior to the performance, is required

for admission at the Bob Lutts Fulshear/Simonton Branch Library.

Since space is limited at the Bob Lutts Fulshear/Simonton Branch Library, children should be in grades 2 through 8 to attend.

The performance at the University Branch Library is open to families with children of all ages.

The performance is free and open to the public. For more information, see the Fort Bend County Libraries website (www.fortbend.lib. tx.us), or call the Bob Lutts Fulshear/Simonton Branch Library (281-633-4675), the University Branch Library (281-633-5100), or the library’s Communications Office (281-633-4734).

Phto courtesy of HGO (L-R) Geoffrey Peterson, James Resch, Becky Armenta, Andrew Campbell

Over the years, thanks to the generosity of residents, businesses, employees, churches and community groups, the event has consistently exceeded its collection goals and continues to attract donors and partners from around the region.

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DO YOU QUALIFY FOR A LUNG CANCER SCREENING? 55-77 years old

QUIT

or

CURRENTLY smoke

in the last

15 YEARS

Have at least a

30-PACK-YEAR smoking history

=

X 2 packs per day

15 years

30

pack-year history

The American Cancer Society recommends annual low-dose CT screenings for current or former heavy smokers who qualify. Lung cancer screening helps with earlier diagnosis and treatment planning when the disease is easier to treat and possibly cure.

Our program helps high-risk individuals receive a diagnosis and treatment plan early when the disease is easier to treat and possibly cure.

• Annual low-dose CT scans • Consultations with health care providers

• Tobacco cessation programs • Referrals to Houston Methodist specialists, if needed

To find out if you qualify or to schedule an appointment, call our oncology nurse navigator at 281.672.8585.

16655 Southwest Fwy. | Sugar Land, TX 77479 houstonmethodist.org/cancer-sl

Our lung cancer screening center is accredited by the American College of Radiology.