Author Amanda Furgiuele is demystifying the realm of business ownership
by MARQUITA GRIFFIN | mgriffin@fbherald.com
When Amanda Furgiuele was a child, she romanticized writing in the fantasy genre, penning epic novels filled with dragon tales. “And I’m so glad I was wrong, for now away,” she said because, from her experiences of than two decades of entrepreneurship and business consultation, she has “a lot to say” in a separate genre.
Furgiuele’s first book, The Pursuit of Badasserie: How to Create Badass Business Abundance, co-authored with Lynn Howard, was released last year.
“We really wanted to demystify business ownership and show our readers how to build a successful enterprise, so we broke this book down into easily-digestible chapters that focus on taking ac- tion and getting results,” said Furgiuele, who lives in Greatwood.
Furgiuele and Howard met in Maui at a Business Networking International meeting years ago and “knew early on that [they] would work together.”
“It was obvious from the start that we had similar business and life values and goals,” Furgiuele said. “We were on a Zoom call talking about business in November of 2021 and we both said we needed to write a book — we’ve been saying it for years — and we finally decided we needed to walk the walk and put our words into action.”
The Pursuit of Badasserie: How to Create Badass Business was published in July 2022.
The book focuses on “understanding and embracing the entrepreneurial mindset and journey,” Furgiuele said. “We talk about imposter syndrome, perfectionism, growth and fixed mindset, productivity and efficiency, your best clients, delegation, strategic tips and techniques, and getting out of your own
Achievement in business, said Furgiuele, is “adjusting your own mindset and understanding your time worth value and how to work smarter,” so
The Pursuit of Badasserie: How to Create Badass Business Abundance “aims to teach new and aspiring business owners how and why they make the decisions that truly matter in creating a business and life they love.”
To celebrate its one-year anniversary, Furgiuele and Howard launched a limited-time giveaway of free, signed, paperback copies of the book while supplies last. While Furgiuele said the book would specifically benefit “new and aspiring business owners, seasoned entrepreneurs, sales teams, and hobbyists looking to up-level” she feels it will aid anyone interested.
For a chance to receive a free paperback edition (after paying shipping and handling), visit www.ThePursuitofBadasserie.com or email info@thepursuitofbadasserie.com.
“Anyone can grab this book,” she said. “We want to help you grow in life and business and there is more to this book than just work.”
BOOK NO. 2 AND MORE TO COME
Howard and Furgiuele didn’t stop with one book. In March 2023, they released their second book, The Pursuit of Badasserie, The Sales Edition: Badass Business Sales Solutions.
“Before our editor had even completed the first round of revisions for book one, my co-author and I were talking about book two. We have over 40 years of combined experience in business and entrepreneurship, so we have a lot to say,” Furgiuele said.
Following what she called a “brain dump,” Furgiuele and Howard created a master list of, what is now, 10 books in the works.
“It took a lot of back-and-forth to finally pick sales to be book two,” Furgiuele said. “But because sales are such an incredibly important part of building a business, and because so many people are afraid of being ‘in sales,’ we thought this would be the perfect follow-up.” Among additional topics, Badass Business Sales Solution discusses sales strategies, closing techniques, mindset shifts, sales psychology, building authentic relationships, networking and referral partners — it “is the definitive guide to getting the sale without selling your soul,” Furgiuele said.
“There are seemingly endless negative connotations about being in sales, but the truth is, if you own a business, you are in sales. If you’re on a dating site, you are in sales. If you have ever tried to convince your kid to eat vegetables, you are in sales. We just wanted to demystify the whole sales process and make it less “icky” for anyone in business.”
She notes that while both books complement one another, they’re stand-alone works. And “because business can be daunting and bland,” the books are designed in an “easy-to-follow, engaging, accessible” manner, and the chapters include a “Track Your Badasserie” worksheet so readers can implement strategies immediately.
“It’s kind of a ‘choose-your-own-adventure’ format,” Furgiuele said. “You can open any of our books, read a chapter on the subject you need, then put it in action.”
Subsequent planning between Furgiuele and Howard also led the co-authors to record a podcast and start their first online business course on sales — both of which are additional elements included in what Furgiuele refers to as The Pursuit of Badasserie empire.
“Our next book is slated to release in the first quarter of 2024, with several more on the horizon,” Furgiuele said. “My co-author and I are also working on our own personal books, which should also release at the beginning of next year. Now that I’ve finally gotten out of my own way, I have a million ideas and stories I want to write.
“I can’t wait,” she said enthusiastically.
Amanda Furgiuele
Lynn Howard
The Pursuit of Badasserie: How to Create Badass Business Abundance and The Pursuit of Badasserie, The Sales Edition: Badass Business Sales Solutions are available through Amazon and a few independent book stores across the United States and Thailand. The audiobooks are available on Audible. Co-authors are (left) Amanda Furgiuele and (right) Lynn Howard.
Edge Young Professional of the Year Award (2016); tell me about your entrepreneurial experiences and ventures.
AF: I have a few, but I’ve been working (unofficially) in business consulting for almost 20 years. I also own and co-own two dance and movement studios in Hawaii, am a partner in a Cabaret and Burlesque Company, have a few side hustles and hobby businesses, and have bought and sold multiple businesses in multiple states. AF Consulting Team LLC is one of my cur- rent enterprises and I have companies, partners, and clients in multiple states and countries. It’s a
How long have you been an author?
I have been an aspiring author all my life. If you looked at my “what I want to be” posters from kindergarten, which I’m sure my mom still has, it would list “writer” as my future occupation. I started writing for a small local paper when I was fifteen and was a collaborator on a few books and articles in college, but The Pursuit of Badasserie series was my first official publication.
How did you and Lynn Howard contribute to and collaborate on these books?
Amanda Furgiuele isn’t shy about her appetite for life. She calls herself tenacious, a bit of a workaholic, an unapologetic go-getter, and driven, although she considers “driven” to be an understatement. In addition to becoming an author, she’s balancing her life, which is a combination of motherhood, writing, pod- casting, homeschooling, traveling, and multiple business ventures. “I’m not everyone’s cup of tea,” she said. “I’m more like a shot of whiskey.”
Marquita Griffin: Why is The Pursuit of Badasserie: How to Create Badass Business Abundance im portant to you?
Amanda Furgiuele: Other than the fact that this book is my first and that in and of itself is special, it has opened up a new door for me. I have always wanted to be an author and now I am. I know it’s possible and this is only the beginning. From non-fiction to self-help, children’s literature, and more, I can’t wait to write, write, write. When we published it, we were so excited to hit the Amazon best-seller list in just a matter of hours! Moreover, we just recently discovered that both of our books were chosen as finalists in the prestigious International Book Awards (IBA) for Small Business and Entrepreneurship and Sales, re spectively. We knew we loved our books, and it feels pretty incredible to join a distinguished group of past laureates, including Pope Francis, Amy Tan, Anne Lamont, George Sanders, Julie Andrews, Vanessa Williams, Clive Barker, Shark Tank’s Daymon John, Brad Thor, Kitty Kelley, and many others.
MG: You’ve been awarded with the Mayor’s Business Awards for Young Small Business Person of the Year (2019), Better Business Bureau’s Torch Award for Ethics (2018), and the Pacific Business
AF: Lynn and I have a unique partnership full of our individual strengths and weaknesses. In a lot of ways, we divide and conquer and honestly, it couldn’t be a better fit. Where she gets out in the world (literally — she’s based in Thailand) and networks, I tackle the behind-the-scenes workings of websites, tech, and editing. We share many core values and both process and work at a high rate of speed and efficiency, which is the foundation of how we are able to do so much. We also trust that the other will “get it done” so we don’t have to micro-manage each other; rather, we motivate each other. In working on the books, we carved out weekly, sometimes daily meetings and check-ins over Zoom, and then wrote our own chapters individually. Each chapter notes who wrote it, and in the audiobooks, we narrate our own chapters.
What are your hopes for the books?
Is it too early to say world domination? (laughs) Just kidding. But we truly do want to reach millions of entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners. We want to make a difference and leave the world better than we found it. We are building an empire and the books are step one. That’s why we are giving away free, signed copies of our first book (just pay shipping and handling) and offering free master classes in business—to reach as many people as possible. We are also in negotiations to have our books translated into multiple languages. Maybe one day our books will even be required reading for business students and sales teams—I know I would have benefited from reading this information a long, long time ago.
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Find the perfect pumpkin at the ‘Pumpkin Patch Church’
by MARQUITA GRIFFIN | mgriffin@fbherald.com
The scorching summer temperatures punished Fort Bend County residents for months. Almost seemingly without end, days and weeks of rolling and dangerous heat with no respite from rain or even cooler evening temperatures. But as always, the summer season shifts into another, the autumn, and as Mother Nature slowly changes her garments for the season, Holy Cross Episcopal Church is also preparing with a community event that captures the essence of the fall season — the Holy Cross Pumpkin Patch.
The local patch attracts more than pumpkin pursuers; the tradition also draws enthusiastic people who want to volunteer. In fact, the volunteer opportunities at the patch often fill expeditiously, said the Rev. Scott Thompson of Holy Cross Episcopal Church.
Known as the largest pumpkin patch in the county, the Holy Cross Pumpkin Patch is a Fort Bend fall favorite, so much so that the church is often called “The Pumpkin Patch Church.”
“Many families have been coming to the pumpkin patch for years,” said Rev. Thompson. “And some children have literally been coming to the pumpkin patch the whole of their life.”
With the exception of 2020 and 2021, the pumpkin patch launched in 2007 and continues every fall, featuring a variety of pumpkins for sale, as well as family-friendly activities, music and food.
The 15th annual Holy Cross Pumpkin Patch will run for the last three weekends in October: Oct. 14, 15, 21, 22, 28 and 29 at the church at 5653 West Riverpark Drive in Sugar Land. The patch is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays (Oct. 14, 21 and 28) and noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays (Oct. 15, 22 and 29). There is no admission fee. For more information visit holycrosschurch.com.
Rev. Thompson said the pumpkin patch is “a happy place” that draws thousands of people. “It’s a total blast,” he said. “Attendees come from every part of Fort Bend County, and they spend several hours at the patch, enjoying food, live entertainment, taking family photos with the pumpkins, and finding the perfect pumpkin to take home.”
BRING ON THE PUMPKINS
Before opening to the public, however, Holy Cross Episcopal Church will receive a semi-truck with 40,000 pounds of pumpkins from the Navajo Reservation in Farmington, New Mexico. Those pumpkins are then unloaded by church members and student volunteers from several area high schools.
“For members and volunteers, the Pumpkin Patch formally begins on unloading day when long lines are formed, and pumpkins are passed from one volunteer to another and placed on pallets in
the field located behind the church on the northwest corner of the Grand Parkway and River Park Drive,” Rev. Thompson explained.
Last year, when the pumpkin patch came out of a two-year hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Rev. Thompson said “lots of laughs and fun is had” during the unloading process, but calculated care of the pumpkins is also included during that day. Pumpkins aren’t handled by their stems, and relay lines are used to carefully place the pumpkins on pallets.
The Holy Cross Pumpkin Patch features pumpkins and gourds that differ in shape, texture and size, the latter of which, determines the pumpkin’s price.
When guests find their favorite pumpkin, they can take it to the pricing table, and volunteers will help size it against the sample pumpkins that will showcase a price.
“The sizes of the pumpkins are wide-ranging from very small to very large and everything in between,” said Rev. Thompson. “There is also a large assortment of colorful gourds.”
SERVING IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE
The patch is further enriched by its hayrides, bounce house, photo booth, pumpkin decorating, silent auction with sports memorabilia and daily drawing for a complimentary family entertainment product.
The church will also host a Blessing of The Animals each Saturday at noon.
Live entertainment, music, dancing and food are also included in the experience.
“The patch features a wide range of food items, fun activities, and live entertainment,” Rev.Thompson said before explaining that the patch, while full of fun for the family, provides another purpose.
“Each concession is run by a church ministry group that gives 10% of its proceeds to an outside charitable organization,” he said.
Such charities include Compassion International, Samaritan’s Purse, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Pregnancy Resource Center in Fort Bend County, Lord of the Streets Mission in Houston and Free the Captives, which is ministering to formerly sex-trafficked young women in Harris County.
“Many people benefit from the sales of the pumpkins, food, and activities,” he said.
This demonstration of a servant’s heart, along with being labeled as the largest pumpkin patch in Fort Bend County, is perhaps why the Holy Cross Pumpkin Patch is a beloved community tradition.
“People love coming to patch,” Rev. Thompson said. “And church members and volunteers love meeting and serving those who attend.”
14 • Greatwood Monthly
14 • Business Buzz
forms part of the long-term strategy to make the parks better for future generations while also giving us the technology to share and react to useful information,” said Director of Parks and Recreation Joe Chesser. Visit www.sugarlandtx.gov/hellopark to find out more about the project.
FBJSL committee accepting assistance fund applications
In preparation for the 2023-2024 league year, the Fort Bend Junior Service League has revealed the members of the Beneficiary Review Committee. This year’s members are Alexis Geisler and Jennifer Semeyn as Co-Chairs, members Monique Brown, Jennifer Bombach, Susan Chevalier, Vernique Francis, Becky Green, Warraine Jolivet, Melissa Smalling, and Kelsea Weatherford as board liaison.
And now, the FBJSL’s Beneficiary Review Committee is accepting Community Assistance Fund applications for $5,000 or less. This fund allows the league to make multiple small grants to local Fort Bend County nonprofit organizations. The CAF is funded through FBJSL’s annual Sugar Plum Market.
For more information on applying for a CAF grant, visit www.fbjsl. org/requestsupport. For more information about the Sugar Plum Market, visit www.sugarplummarket.com.
Sabrina Greenlee to speak at Annual Healing & Hope Luncheon
S.M.O.O.O.T.H. founder Sabrina Greenlee will speak at an upcoming luncheon focused on healing and hope for domestic and sexual assault survivors in Fort Bend.
Following an acid attack that blinded her in 2002, Greenlee battled many challenges before founding a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering women impacted by domestic violence (S.M.O.O.O.T.H.).
On Oct. 17, as the featured speaker at the
Fort Bend Women’s Center 6th Annual Healing & Hope Luncheon which is the center’s annual keynote event in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Greenlee will share how she transformed from victim to victor.
The luncheon is set for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Houston Marriott Sugar Land, 16090 City Walk, and will benefit the Fort Bend Women’s Center.
“Healing & Hope [...] will provide a powerful testimonial of courage, strength, and resilience,” stated Fort Bend Women’s Center officials. “You will be inspired by the tenacity of a woman, who despite all odds, continued to persevere by not just surviving, but thriving.”
For more information, visit fbwc.org.
City Council approves redistricting plan
Sugar Land City Council recently approved the citizen-led Redistricting Advisory Committee’s unanimous recommendation for revised single-member City Council districts in Sugar Land to comply with Federal law.
At-large City Council members will not be affected by redistricting, and the redistricting plan will have no impact on decisions regarding land use or any city services.
City Council held a workshop on Aug. 29 to discuss the committee’s recommendation and the public was provided opportunities to provide input throughout the redistricting process.
“The redistricting project was an open, transparent process,” said City Attorney Meredith Riede. “Redistricting has no impact on school district boundaries or precinct voting for county, state and Federal elections. Only the city’s single-member City Council districts will be affected.”
The release of the 2020 U.S. Census triggered the need for a redistricting process. The U.S. Constitution requires that members of an elected body be drawn from districts of substantially equal population with a maximum deviation no greater than 10 percent between the most populated and least populated council member district.
City Council appointed the redistricting committee in June to make a recommendation on a redistricting plan for City Council’s consideration. Members included Chair Harvey Zinn, Bob Barbour, Chris Barnett, Sue Chiang, Himesh Gandhi, Jim Levermann, Sohail Momin, Mary Von Tungeln, and Bridget Yeung.
The committee’s work was guided by outside legal counsel, state and Federal law and guidelines adopted by City Council. City Council approved Resolution No. 23-19 that established a framework to guide redistricting plans and assist City efforts to comply with all applicable Federal and state laws.
To learn more about redistricting, visit www.sugarlandtx.gov/redistricting.
Continued from page 11 BOBCATOFHOUSTON.COM PARTS • SALES • SERVICE • RENTAL 281-845-2450 4725 BUSINESS PARK DR - ROSENBERG, TX
Sabrina Greenlee
Iced Pumpkin Cookies
INGREDIENTS
ICING:
2 cups confectioners’ sugar
3 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoon melted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
COOKIES:
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ teaspoon ground cloves
½ teaspoon salt
1 ½ cups white sugar
½ cup butter, softened
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
DIRECTIONS
1Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease two cookie sheets.
2To make the cookies: Combine flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg, cloves, and salt in a medium bowl.
3Cream together sugar and butter in a mixing bowl until fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add pumpkin, egg, and vanilla; beat until creamy. Mix in flour mixture until combined. Drop tablespoonfuls of dough onto the prepared cookie sheets; flatten slightly.
4Bake in the preheated oven until centers are set, 15 to 20 minutes, switching racks halfway through. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes.
5To make the icing, stir together confectioners’ sugar, milk, butter, and vanilla in a bowl until smooth. Add milk as needed, to achieve drizzling consistency. Then drizzle icing over cooled cookies with a fork.
Pumpkin Bars
INGREDIENTS
FROSTING:
½ cup butter, softened
1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar
CAKE:
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
1 ⅔ cups white sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
4 large eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
DIRECTIONS
1Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2To make the cake, beat pumpkin, sugar, oil, and eggs with an electric mixer in a medium bowl until well combined.
3Sift together flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a separate bowl.
4Stir into pumpkin mixture until thoroughly combined.
5Spread batter evenly into an ungreased 10x15-inch jelly roll pan.
6Bake in the preheated oven until cake bounces back when gently pressed, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool.
7While the cake is cooling, make frosting: Beat together butter and cream cheese until smooth; stir in vanilla. Add confectioners’ sugar a little at a time, beating until mixture is smooth.
8Spread frosting evenly on top of cooled cake. Cut into 24 squares.
Pumpkin Roll
INGREDIENTS
¾ cup all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 cup pumpkin puree
3 eggs
1 teaspoon lemon juice
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2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
¼ cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
DIRECTIONS
1Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch jelly roll pan or cookie sheet.
2In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking soda, and pumpkin pie spice. Stir in pumpkin puree, eggs, and lemon juice. Pour mixture into prepared pan. Spread the mixture evenly.
3Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 15 minutes.
½ teaspoon ground allspice
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, room temperature
1 cup white sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
4 large eggs, room temperature
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
DIRECTIONS
1Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease 24 muffin cups or line with paper liners.
4
Lay a damp linen towel on the counter, sprinkle it with confectioner’s sugar, and turn the cake onto the towel. Carefully roll the towel up (lengthwise) with the cake in it. Place the cake-in-towel on a cooling rack and let it cool for 20 minutes.
5Make the icing: In a medium bowl, blend cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and sugar with a wooden spoon or electric mixer.
6When the cake has cooled 20 minutes, unroll it and spread icing onto it. Immediately re-roll (not in the towel this time), and wrap it with plastic wrap. Keep the cake refrigerated or freeze it for up to 2 weeks in aluminum foil. Cut the cake in slices just before serving.
Pumpkin Ginger Cupcakes
INGREDIENTS
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 (3.4 ounce) package instant butterscotch pudding mix
⅓ cup finely chopped crystallized ginger
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking soda
½ teaspoon ground ginger
2Whisk together flour, pudding mix, crystallized ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, ground ginger, allspice, cloves, and salt in a bowl and set aside.
3Beat butter, white sugar, and brown sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition; beat in pumpkin purée and vanilla with last egg. Stir in flour mixture, mixing until just combined. Divide batter between the prepared muffin cups.
4Bake in the preheated oven until golden and the tops spring back when lightly pressed, about 20 minutes. Cool muffins in the pans for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack.
Greatwood Veterinary Hospital
At Greatwood Veterinary Hospital, we are dedicated to providing excellent and compassionate care for your furry, family friends. We offer full veterinary services in our new, spacious 6,500 square foot facility. Our experienced and caring veterinarians and staff strive to provide the best quality care available for your pets, with an emphasis on client education and an understanding of your pet’s specific needs. We would like to be partners with you in ensuring your pet’s good health and well-being. In addition to full medical, surgical, and dental veterinary care, we also offer boarding, grooming, and cremation services. Greatwood Veterinary Hospital has been providing affordable and quality veterinary care to the Fort Bend area for over 15 years. It is our hope that we can meet all your animal’s health care needs with our warm, friendly, and knowledgeable services.
To make an appointment for your pet or for more information, please call us at (281) 342-7770 or visit us at 401 Crabb River Road in Richmond.
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‘Around The Clock’ sculpture is a tribute to first responders
The city of Sugar Land recently unveiled “Around The Clock,” a new sculpture that pays tribute to the dedication and service of first responders.
The sculpture, created by artist Peter Requiam, stands as a symbol of the unity between the Sugar Land Fire-EMS Department and the community it serves.
Fiction, nonfiction, collectible sets, CDs and more finds at library book sale
The Friends of the University Branch Library will host a Fall Book Sale on Saturday, Oct. 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., in Meeting Room 1 of the library, located at 14010 University Blvd in Sugar Land, on the UH campus.
People who love books, people who love bargains, and people who need to get rid of some spare change will find a lot in common at the book sale, where they will discover adult and children’s books, all at prices that are hard to beat.
Items of special interest at this book sale include jazz CDs (Dave Brubeck, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Thelonious Monk); religious studies and inspirational books; literature anthologies; and collectible sets.
Also available are adult fiction and nonfiction books, foreign-language books (especially Chinese), infant and toddler books, Young Adult teen and “tween” selections, homeschool materials and textbooks, and special-interest books.
Prices range from 50¢ to $2.00, with special items slightly higher. Checks or cash are accepted; bills larger than $20 cannot be accepted.
“At the heart of every community, there stands a beacon of protection and support – our local fire station,” said artist Peter Requiam. “With ‘Around The Clock,’ we aim to capture the essence of this connection, showcasing the integral role Fire Station 3 plays in the lives of the residents it serves.”
The centerpiece of the sculpture is a commanding figure, prominently displaying a bold, red number three against a backdrop of gold. This central figure represents Fire Station 3 and serves as a reminder of its pivotal position within the community.
Surrounding this centerpiece are 12 stylized houses, arranged in a clock face pattern that symbolizes the continuous readiness of SLFD-EMS – an unwavering presence, 24 hours a day.
The artistic arrangement of silver ladders and gold fire poles adds a dynamic circular rhythm to the sculpture. As one’s gaze travels around the artwork, the ladders and poles create a mesmerizing pattern – up the ladder, down the pole, up the ladder, down the pole. A closer look reveals the subtle formation of a Maltese Cross, an emblem universally recognized as a symbol of protection within the fire service.
Reflecting the iconic colors of SLFD-EMS – red, white, black and gold – the sculpture’s palette pays homage to the service and sacrifice of the city’s first responders. The doors of the houses incorporate an additional color palette, inspired by the team colors of Sugar Land’s Triple-A baseball team and the spirit of the Space Cowboys.
“Collaborating with Peter Requiam on this sculpture has been an incredible journey, said Sugar Land Cultural Arts Manager Sha Davis while expressing her excitement about the project. “‘Around The Clock’ is a testament to the strength of our community’s bond with our first-responders. It reinforces our commitment to making Sugar Land a vibrant arts destination by embracing artistic visions that showcase our city’s true essence.”
The unveiling of “Around The Clock” took place at Fire Station 3 on Sept. 27 during a ceremony that celebrated the unity between first responders and the community they serve.
Donations of gently-used books (fiction and nonfiction adult, youth, and children’s hardback and paperback books that are clean and not torn), CDs, and DVDs are always welcome and may be taken to the library throughout the year during regular business hours. Textbooks published within the past five years are also accepted.
Items that cannot be accepted include cassettes, VHS tapes, encyclopedias, magazines, medical/legal/computer books older than 2019, or books that are damp, moldy, dirty, or insect-ridden.
The Friends of the University Branch Library organization is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt corporation. Donations and contributions to the Friends are tax-deductible.
Proceeds from the book sale and annual membership dues also help to underwrite the costs of special programming and various cultural events at the University Branch Library. Membership applications will be available for people who would like to join the Friends of the University Branch Library.
For more information, visit www.fortbend.lib.tx.us. More library events follow.
Family Movie Day
When: Monday, Oct. 9, 2:304 p.m.
Preschool Story Lab: Autumn
When: Tuesday, October 10, 2:30-3:30 p.m.
What: This activity for preschoolers from 3 to 6 years of age. The Pre-School Story Lab is a creative story time event that encourages children to discover and explore concepts in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM). The activity will begin with a brief story time to introduce the topic of the month: Autumn. Children and their caregivers may then rotate through a variety of hands-on activities based on that theme.
CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS:
artist known for
About Peter Requiam | Peter is an accomplished artist known for his captivating sculptures that have been featured in numerous public spaces and cultural institutions. Visit www.reiquam.com.
What: This animated comedy-adventure movie, released in 2020, reveals how Scooby-Doo and his pal Shaggy first met and became life-long friends, teamed up with young detectives Fred, Velma, and Daphne, and went on to become some of the world’s most-beloved crime busters. In this episode, the team is faced with a plot to unleash the ghost dog Cerberus upon the world. As they race to stop this global “dogpocalypse,” the gang discovers that Scooby has a secret legacy and an epic destiny greater than anyone imagined! This family movie is rated PG.
Craft packets will be given out at the end of each program, so that children may
18 • Greatwood Monthly 18 •
& Entertainment
Arts
Continued on page 20
Peter Requiam
• 19 To advertise, call 281-342-4474
take them home to enjoy.
Pajama Night Story Time
When: Wednesdays, 7-7:45 p.m.
What: Families with children of all ages will enjoy stories, songs, and action rhymes. Oct. 4 – Autumn; Oct. 11 – Counting; Oct. 18 – Forest Friends; Oct. 25 –Sweet & Scary Building Club
When: Tuesday, Oct. 3, 4-5 p.m.
What: Families with children of all ages will use LEGOs and other materials to build the challenge of the month or something of their own design. This activity takes place on the 1st Tuesday of every month.
Rise & Shine Family Story Time
When: Saturdays, Oct. 14 and 28, 10:30-11 a.m.
What: Families with children of all ages are invited to come and enjoy stories, movies, and crafts together. This activity takes place on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of every month.
Preschool Story Time
When: Thursdays, 10:30-
11:15 a.m.
What:Ppresents stories, movies, and age-appropriate craft activities for children 3 to 6 years of age. The themes are the same as those for Pajama Night Story Time every week.
Toddler Time
When: Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 10:30-11:00 a.m.
What: offers caregiver/child activities, stories and songs for older babies, from 1 to 3 years of age. The themes are the same as those for Pajama Night Story Time every week.
Mother Goose Time
When: Mondays, 10:30-11 a.m.
What: Provides caregiver/ infant multisensory circle-time activities -- including simple sign language, folksongs and lullabies, and finger plays -- that are especially designed to stimulate babies’ social, emotional, and physical development through rhythm and music. Mother Goose Time is intended for pre-walking infants from age 0 to 12 months.
YOUNG ADULT PROGRAMS:
Intended for teens in grades
9-12.
NEW! YA Book Club
When: Thursday, October 5, 4-5 p.m. Conference Room 1.
What: Teens will have an opportunity to meet with others who share the same love for good books and have a lively discussion on the reasons a book or its characters were liked or disliked. This month, readers will talk about Shadowshaper, written by Daniel José Older. This title is available in print and digitally as an e-audiobook on Hoopla; call the library to check availability of additional print copies.
Young Adult Advisory Council
When: Thursday, October 12, 4-5 p.m., Conference Room 1.
What: Teens entering grades 9-12 who are interested in an exciting new leadership opportunity and volunteer service hours are invited to attend this meeting of the Young Adult Advisory Council. Members will have a chance to share ideas about library programs, help out at events, give suggestions for teen services, books, and movies, and meet
new people. Meets on the 2nd Thursday of every month, except during the summer.
College Fair
When: Saturday, October 21, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Meeting Room 1.
What: Representatives from colleges and universities will be on hand to share information about their programs with current high school students and parents or guardians. Learn about educational opportunities available at the colleges, as well as admission requirements, financial aid, student housing, and more.
Teen Read Month: The Spider’s Sign of the Eight
When: Tuesday, October 24, 4-5:30 p.m.
What: Teens will hunt through one of the participating libraries on the designated day in search of eight “messengers” hidden in the building. They must then try to solve the riddle that the messenger presents. Those who complete the challenge by solving all eight riddles will receive honor and win a prize! Registration is encouraged. Registration
20 • Greatwood Monthly
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ADULT PROGRAMS: Financial-Literacy Basics
When: Wednesday, October 4, 6-8 p.m., Meeting Room 2.
What: Learn how to make smart, informed decisions about money. Get tips on: retirement planning, college planning, estate planning and legacy building, long-term care and protection, and the effects of taxation on wealth creation.
Craft Squad: Needle Felting
When: Friday, October 6, 2-4 pm, Meeting Room 1.
What: People who enjoy crafts are invited to join the Craft Squad. Each month features a different craft demonstration. In October, the featured craft demonstration is “Needle Felting,” a fiber-art craft. In this beginner-level class, learn how to use wool and needles to create a needle-felted cat figure. This program is for adults and older teens only. Registration is required.
University Branch Book Club
When: Wednesday, October 11, 6-7 p.m., Meeting Room 2.
What: The book to be dis-
cussed is Everyone Knows You Go Home, written by Natalia Sylvester. This title is available in print; call the library to check availability of additional print copies. This book club meets on the second Wednesday of every month. New members invited to attend.
Craft Squad Social
When: Fridays, October 13, 20, and 27, 2:00-4:00 pm, Meeting Room 1.
What: At weekly Craft Squad Socials, crafters can bring their own craft and materials to work on while networking with other crafters. The Craft Squad Social is suitable for adults and older teens only.
Culinary Book Club
When: Wednesday, October 18; 1:30-2:30 pm, Meeting Room 1.
What: This month, the theme is “Fall Favorites.” Because of health precautions, participants will not be bringing food this month, but are encouraged to bring a recipe and a photo of their dish or a short video showing how to prepare it. The Culi-
nary Book Club meets on the third Wednesday of every month, and different cooking genres are explored each month.
Reel Talk Documentary Series
When: Monday, October 23, 6-8 pm, Meeting Room 1.
What: Reel Talk is a series of documentary screenings with brief discussions of the films after they are shown. In October, the film to be shown is a documentary that chronicles the discovery and subsequent legal battle over the world’s largest and most-complete Tyrannosaurus-rex skeleton, named “Sue.” The film explores the scientific, ethical, and commercial implications of the find, shedding light on the challenges faced by paleontologists in their quest to unearth ancient secrets. This film is rated PG.
Tabletop Society: Hocus Pocus: The Game
When: Thursday, October 26, 3:30-5:30 pm, Meeting Room 1.
What: The Tabletop Society is a board-gaming club for adults, college students, and
teens. Each month will feature a different game, so players can try out new games for free before making an investment in their own copy. In October, the featured game is Hocus Pocus: The Game, a cooperative game of magic and mayhem. Players work together to stop the Sanderson sisters from completing their wicked potion before the sun rises. Participants who arrive after the game has begun are welcome to observe the game or play something different. The group meets on the 4th Thursday of every month, and new members are encouraged to attend.
Please note the parking instructions for the University of Branch Library: Park inside the gated lot (Visitor Lot 4). Bring the parking-ticket stub to the checkout desk inside the library to be validated by library staff. Parking is free if the ticket is validated by the library. Parking outside the gated lot may result in a parking violation from the University of Houston.
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New to fall edible gardening?
by SANDRA GRAY | Fort Bend Master Gardener
If you have moved to this area from a more northern climate, you might be surprised to learn that it is common in the Houston area to plant two vegetable gardens a year. How lucky are we?
Not all fruits and vegetables are planted in both seasons. For example, okra, pumpkins, and watermelons are planted only in the summer months while lettuce and spinach are usually only grown during the fall planting. However, many vegetables can be grown in both spring and fall gardens. Some, like tomatoes, are perennials but are planted twice to increase production.
There are some differences in how the plants grow at different times of the year. Carrots are typically planted from mid-January to early March and late August to early November. It then takes about 70-80 days for them to mature (this varies by variety). However, autumn carrots grow slightly slower as the weather cools, which results in a sweeter taste. Others, like ‘Green Magic’ Broccoli (a Texas Superstar), can be grown in both seasons but perform better in cool growing conditions.
Other plants, such as the Celebrity tomato (a Texas Superstar plant), may be grown in both seasons but are more vulnerable to pests in fall because the insects are more plentiful in fall than early spring. This should not dissuade you from growing tomatoes in the fall but you need to be vigilant about pests and diseases.
Some vegetables that do particularly well in fall gardens are:
Leafy greens: arugula, cabbage, endive, kale, lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard
Root vegetables: beets, carrots, leeks, radishes, rutabagas, turnips
Cruciferous vegetables: broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower. For all vegetables, you will have more success if you:
• Plant in sunny locations
• Avoid using pesticides
• Choose the right varieties for your locale
• Prepare the soil well by breaking up the top 10” and adding compost and fertilizer
• Add flowers to attract pollinators
• Water adequately
• Fertilize correctly (no lawn fertilizer!)
• Follow the directions for the varieties you plant.
Happy gardening!
FBC Master Gardeners garner recognition for educating public
The Fort Bend County Master Gardener Association received the first-place award in the 2022 Texas Master Gardener Association’s Search for Excellence “Teaching Site” category. This category recognizes a project that establishes a new or substantially enhances an existing physical location for educational purposes to display or share best horticulture practices. FBCMGA won the award with their Vegetable Garden Enhancement Project. The goal of this project was to enhance learning experiences in natural resource conservation in Fort Bend communities by providing hands-on learning through onsite demonstrations. The award was presented at the Texas Master Gardener Association annual conference and then brought back to the county for a special presentation to the local members who made the project a realit
their first-place-award plaque. Front row, from left, are Carol Gaas (FBCMG President), Brandy Rader (Volunteer Coordinator), Brenda Myers, Louie McDaniel (TXMG Volunteer Ambassador), Peg d’Hemecourt and Falguni Patel. Back row, from left, are Ron Rogers, Jean Trevino, Mary Parkhouse, Don Myers, Steve Schmerbeck (FBCMG Immediate Past President), Don Parkhouse, Anita Maddox, and Boone Holladay (Fort Bend County Extension Agent-Hortisculture).
Learn about Recycling Resources
The University Branch Library’s Live Online: FBCL Living Sustainably Club will meet online, Monday, Oct. 16, 6-7 p.m., livestreamed through Webex so readers can participate virtually and interact with others in real time. Guest speakers will share information on various topics that focus on discussing, educating, and demonstrating how everyone — from individuals to businesses — can live sustainably within a budget! The topic for October is “Recycling Resources.” Learn about recycling resources in the area, such as the Fort Bend County Recycling Center. Gain a better understanding of materials that can be accepted, where/when to go, and any fees that are involved for specific items. Registration required. Call 281-633-4726.
22 • Greatwood Monthly Gardening
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