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FULSHEAR

W W W. E X P L O R E F U LS H E A R . C O M

WHERE LIFE JUST COMES

natural .

Enjoying the great outdoors and creating those special moments comes Naturally in Cross Creek Ranch where residents find a bounty of “life is great” opportunities.

• Lamar CISD and Katy ISD schools • Two on-site Katy ISD elementaries with new on-site junior high & high school opening soon • Multiple water parks and playgrounds • Flewellen Creek Nature Preserve • More than 34 miles of trails • On-site fitness center • Tennis, basketball and sand volleyball courts • On-site Italian Maid Café • Nearby shopping and dining, including H-E-B *Pricing and availability subject to change without notice.

CrossCreekTexas.com New Homes from the $200s to $1 Million+

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Secluded in one of the scenic bends of the Brazos River, Laprada Landing offers an escape from the rigors of the city. Located 40 miles west of downtown Houston, Laprada Landing feels worlds away with dense stands of mature trees and sweeping vistas overlooking the Brazos. The unspoiled, natural beauty of the tracts offers a pristine piece of the rural Texas countryside without having to sacrifice the amenities of city living. Laprada Landing, located just south of Fulshear, is easily accessible from Westpark Tollway and FM 1093. Laprada Landing offers tracts ranging from Âą60 - 105 acres, each with its own unhindered view of the Brazos River. With varying tree coverage, each tract has its own features that set it apart from the others with no two being exactly alike. There is ample opportunity to build and create your own sense of place.

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The unspoiled, natural beauty of the tracts offers a pristine F othe r mrural o r e Texas infor m at i o n cwithout o n t a chaving t piece of countryside to sacrifice the amenities of city living. Laprada Landing, ROLLER located just southMIKE of Fulshear, is easily accessible from 346-0222 Westpark Tollway and(281) FM 1093. M I K E @ M OV E W E S T. N E T

Hello Neighbors and Friends,

Content coming soon LETTER FROM TH E PUB LISH ER

See you in the spring! Daniel McJunkin

LETTER FROM THE

Publisher

MAGAZINE -

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PUBLISHER

MAGAZINE MAGAZINE STAFF DANIEL M c JUNKIN Publisher

KATIE MECHAM Art Director

JENNI M c JUNKIN Media Director

JACLYN RITTER Editor

SUSAN LOWE STRICKLAND Associate Editor

DON M c COY

Chamber Consultant

PRODUCTION STAFF BONNIE M c FERREN Bookkeeping

TRACY MILLER Accounting

JOSEPH SONNIER IT Consultant

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS DANIEL M c JUNKIN JACLYN RITTER KRISTY SMITH

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS JEFF HEGER DANIEL M c JUNKIN RHONDA RENEE PHOTOGRAPHY JACLYN RITTER

FULSHEAR MEDIA PARTNERS, LLC GEORGE LANE & DANIEL M c JUNKIN Principals

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FULSHEAR MAGAZINE 281-973-0633

4017 Penn Lane, Fulshear, TX 77441

TABLE OF

Contents Photo Credit: iStock.com/tahir abbas

FULSHEAR ACE HARDWARE

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From the Ashes WRITTEN BY KRISTY SMITH

Before settling into their life in Fulshear, Kristy and Steve lived for a time in New York City. There, they became firsthand witnesses to the horrible events that occurred on September 11, 2001. After much reflection, Kristy (Smith) is now able to share their story.

Photo Credit: iStock.com/Andrew_Deer

“The sky was falling and streaked with blood. I heard you calling me, then you disappeared into the dust. Up the stairs, into the fire. Up the stairs, into the fire. I need your kiss, but love and duty called you someplace higher. Somewhere up the stairs, Into the fire.”

These are the opening lyrics to Bruce Springsteen’s “Into the Fire.” They hit me hard every time I hear them. The album, The Rising, was Springsteen’s response to the September 11, 2001 tragedy. For me, there is no more fitting tribute. The emotions he captures in every verse are so real and still so visceral for me. Like the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963, or the catastrophic end to the Space Shuttle Challenger launch in 1986, we all remember where we were on September 11, 2001. As you are reading this, I imagine you are thinking back to when you got the phone call or turned on the television that morning. My husband, Steve, and I were in the center of that horrific event in Manhattan. We lived through it in real-time with no newscasters explaining the situation and no electronic barrier that we could turn off if it all got to be too much. This is the short version of my experience. The long version could fill a book.

Like this year, September 11, 2001 was a Tuesday. It was election day in New York City. We were supposed to vote for a new Mayor, and I had intended to go to the polls after work. Like usual, I got on the shuttle outside my apartment building. We lived in Hell’s Kitchen, just three blocks west of Times Square. At the time, it was not the hip and trendy neighborhood it is now. We were considered “way west” – nearly New Jersey! – so to entice people to move in, our high-rise sponsored a commuter shuttle to get residents to the much more central and civilized location of Fifth Avenue and 44th Street. Steve and I had just come back from a trip to Boston over the weekend to celebrate our birthdays. I had been sick all weekend and was happy to be home. The morning was glorious. Sunny skies, warm – a perfect late summer day in New York City.

04 01 - Soldiers marching in New York - Photo by Sven Duyx (2003) 02 - Kristy & Steve on their wedding day - PHOTO by Leah Flanigan (2003) 03 - World Trade Center Towers 04 - Flag off the back of a ferry

E XP LOR E.U S

I got off the bus and began my walk to my office building; a fifteen-minute commute I had been doing daily for six months. We had just moved to Manhattan from Chicago that March, and even though I had never imagined that I would visit New York City, let alone live there, I loved it. I’d get lost in thought, awed by my surroundings every morning. As I walked that morning, I heard a plane. It sounded incredibly low and

immediately, and innocently, my mind wandered to, “What would happen if a plane crashed in the city?” I pondered that thought the rest of the way to my highrise office.

I knew in my heart of hearts that Steve had made it out. He had to. I simply could not accept any other outcome.

I got off the elevator on the 33rd floor and the receptionist shouted, “A plane just hit the Trade Center!” I ran to the windows – we were up high enough that we could see some of the taller buildings further away. I took two steps, stopped short and shouted, “Steve!” and then took off toward my cubicle.

Our best friends from Chicago had just moved to Manhattan a few weeks prior. They moved into our building and lived one floor below. They were home that day. I had them to help me through the next few hours of not hearing from Steve.

My husband worked at 7 World Trade Center. He was on the 27th floor, and his office faced the two towers. I got to my desk and my phone was ringing. It was my mom calling from Michigan. She’d seen the news already. “I don’t know what’s happened, Mom. I have to call Steve. I love you. I gotta go.” I called Steve immediately after hanging up with my Mom. At this point, we had no idea what kind of plane had hit, whether it was a tragic accident, or where it hit on the building. Nothing. I got through to Steve, and as we were talking, the second plane hit. Seventeen years later, and I’m still struggling to keep my cheeks dry as I write this. “There’s been another explosion. evacuated. I have to go,” he said.

We’re

being

“I love you.” “I love you, too.” Three hours of radio silence after that. The cell towers were on top of the buildings that had been hit. Our phones became bricks in our pockets - reminders of how little control we had over the situation. I ran to my boss’s office. I didn’t know what to say or do. We all ran into the board room to watch the madness unfold on television as we tried to figure out the best course of action in real life. I worked in a high-rise. I lived in a high-rise. They were attacking high-rises. I wasn’t safe anywhere. I wanted to go home, to Michigan. Sadly, that wasn’t an option, so I left the office. If I was going to die that day, I wasn’t going to die at work. My colleague joined me. She lived in New Jersey and she did not know how she was going to get home. I was lucky. It was about a thirty-minute walk to our apartment, so I walked home every day. The only difference was this time I didn’t know if my building would still be there when I got home.

As we walked, a mini-van stopped, and the driver rolled down the window, shouting, “The tower is falling!” This wasn’t a movie. Nobody shouted “cut!” and ordered us to do it all again. This was happening, and we didn’t know what to do about it. Scared and confused, my colleague and I continued through the chaotic streets of Manhattan and made it back to my apartment. It was still standing. But the cell phones were still out.

Then, he came home. The elevator dinged and Steve and ten of his office mates shuffled out and into our 700 square foot apartment. Humor helps me deal with stressful situations, and the prospect of housing twelve people in our tiny Manhattan apartment though stressful at the time, makes me laugh now. I also laugh remembering that Steve’s boss stopped at our neighborhood grocery store – which was still open during all of this – and bought cold cuts, eggs and spaghetti to feed the masses. We didn’t buy spaghetti for a year. As the day went on, and it became evident that the attacks – because that’s what we learned they were now – were over, people began looking for ways to get home. The Circle Line, a tourist boat company that provided tours circling Manhattan with views of all five boroughs, the Twin Towers, and the Statue of Liberty, opened up their boats to ferry people from Manhattan to New Jersey for free. The lines were long but moving, and some of our temporary roommates made it home that way. Throughout all this, there was one other person I hadn’t heard from, another Chicago transplant, and one of my very best friends - Phyllis. She worked in Tower II. It was the first building hit that morning. She worked on the 101st floor. I didn’t know if she made it out. I couldn’t get a hold of her, no one could. Late in the afternoon, I finally got through to friends in Chicago, using the land line, and got word that Phyllis was okay. Later, I found out that she had been late to work that morning. She was on a bus uptown when the first plane hit. She was on a bus, and late for work. One unintended action – being late – led to my friend still being with us. There’s certainly some “larger than me” philosophy to be pondered there. I am grateful that she is still here. Around 5:00 p.m., all our unexpected guests had left. Steve and I had got hold of our parents, and they all knew we were alive. I don’t want to think about the terror they felt that day. Our apartment faced south. When we moved in, we had a 180-degree unobstructed view. We could see Times Square (barely, from the balcony, but it counts), the Empire State building, the Twin Towers, the Statue of Liberty (she was tiny, but she was visible), and the Hudson River and New Jersey. During our four-year stay, construction blocked our view of the Empire State Building and the Towers were gone. But, we still had the Statue of Liberty: a testament to the strength and pride we shared as New Yorkers. The television showed a near exact replica of what we could see from our living room. All day: smoke, fire, fear, dust. The news cycled through the horror of the towers falling, on repeat. We couldn’t take our eyes off it. Then, as we looked out our window, Steve’s building

11 - 9/11 memorabilia - magazines from shortly after - rescue 1 patch from the neighboring fire department (see photo 13) 12 - NYC Police - Photo by Sven Duyx (2003) 13 - this fire department lost 11 of their crew - Photo by Sven Duyx (2003) 14 - the newly built one world trade center

05 - view of NYC from Kristyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s apartment 06 - streets of New York - Photo by Sven Duyx (2003) 07 - grand central station terminal - Photo by Sven Duyx (2003) 08 - kristy & her mom 09 - statue of liberty in New York HARBour 10 - NY GIANTS game shortly after the attack

fell. A split second later, it fell on our television screen. In a day of surreal experiences, that was just one more.

September 12th, 2001 was the quietest Manhattan had ever been. I recall walking up 9th Avenue and expecting to see tumbleweeds, it was so empty. My husband didn’t have an office to go to. It hadn’t been hit, but it bore the brunt of the heat and the stress of losing the other two buildings, and it was gone just the same. We went to breakfast with some of his colleagues. I didn’t know if I should go to work or not. I didn’t have a playbook on how to deal with terrorist attacks at that point in my life. But, eventually, I made it to the office and was immediately turned away. Everything was too raw. Fighter planes were still circling the city, and every time one flew past, I shook, expecting it to be another attack.

Photo Credit: iStock.com/onurkurtic

to it. We cried. We laughed. We were awestruck at each other’s descriptions of our experiences. But, we had gone through this unthinkable, immense, world-changing event together. We needed each other to heal. And we did, eventually. We’re not the same as we were before that day. None of us are, not in New York, not in Texas, not anywhere. But, we are healing. I went through dark days afterward of blaming, hating, and stereotyping. None of that made me feel any better about what I had gone through. Not in the long run, anyway. Maybe at first it felt good to have someone to hate for such unspeakable actions and so much loss. But, after a while the hate didn’t have a purpose any more. It didn’t fill the hole, that hole would always be there. My feelings had nothing to do with it.

We were immensely proud. We were strong. We didn’t need hate. We needed 16 action, organization. Companies began putting together business continuity 15 - the new 9/11 memorial site plans in earnest. We all 16 - Kristy’s friend Phyllis at the Survivor Tree participated in fire drills – walking down thirty-three These feelings of fear and confusion lasted months, flights of stairs in some cases – to make sure we knew even years. I remember nearly breaking down on the what to do just in case. That is something that has stuck sidewalk when the subway thundered by under my with me. Everywhere we’ve lived since then, we’ve feet. The rumbling had caught me off guard; I thought it had a plan: meeting points, how to communicate if was another plane. I became hyper-aware of the flight technology fails, how to stay safe. pattern at Newark Airport. We could see those planes coming and going from our living room window. Any It’s true that it’s a different world now. But, I don’t think time one came too far out over the river, I expected it that means it’s worse. The tragedy of the September to hit my building. We both slept with “go-bags” next 11th attacks is something that will never leave our to our bed - tennis shoes, undone and ready to slide collective consciousness, and, rightfully so. Thousands on. I began running again, and Steve took up cycling. I of innocent people died that day. But, from the ashes, needed to be fit so that I could outrun whatever might we grew, and continue to grow, stronger. We need to happen next. call on that strength and lean on our friends and family when we feel like we can’t face the day. We can. I think Things did happen. A large plane went down exactly Bruce summed it up well in the chorus of Into the Fire: two months later just after takeoff from JFK Airport. It wasn’t terrorists. It was engine wake. Nearly two years later, the lights went out in the city. Most of the east coast and part of the mid-west was without power for several days over the summer of 2003. Also, not terrorists. But, we banded together. New Yorkers had never been so cooperative. Lines at blood donation centers circled entire city blocks. People looking out for each other in ways they hadn’t done before. We were sad and scared, but we were tough, and determined.

“ May your strength give us strength - May your faith give us faith - May your hope give us hope - May your love give us love”

We, New Yorkers, all talked about it a lot afterward. Every conversation, if it wasn’t the initial topic, it turned

Strength. Faith. Hope. Love. Building blocks of a strong community. Even after the worst. d

WILD ABOUT TEXAS WRITTEN BY AMBER LEUNG - Coastal Prairie Chapter President CJ McDANIEL - Coastal Prairie Chapter Training Director PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMBER LEUNG

hether you’re a native, moved here a long time ago or very recently, you have likely heard the expression, “everything is bigger in Texas!” In many ways, it’s true. From Oklahoma to the Mexican border it is 801 miles and east to west the state spans 773 miles. With over 268,000 square miles of land and an ever-increasing population upwards of 27 million residents, Texas is the largest state in the continental U.S. and the secondmost populous. So what, you might ask? Thanks to the vastness of Texas, many of us may not realize that it is one of the most ecologically-diverse states in the country with 10 distinct climatic regions. These support more than 180 species of mammals, 645 birds, thousands of varieties of plants, and tens-of-thousands of invertebrates. With all these plants and animals, Texas has always been a great place of discovery for naturalists. The first European naturalists to arrive studied and cataloged the new species for those who followed. For the settlers and their descendants, a desire to understand the interactions between nature and agriculture grew into formal disciplines of higher learning.

“To be whole. To be complete. Nature reminds us what it means to be human, what we are connected to rather than what we are separate from.” - Terry Tempest Williams -

The Texas Master Naturalist Program’s mission is “to develop a corps of well-informed volunteers to provide education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within their local communities for the State of Texas.” What does that mean exactly? Perhaps it means the opportunities for a Texas Master Naturalist (or TMN) to serve their community are only limited by their imagination, time, and energy. Some TMN choose to specialize their knowledge in specific disciplines such as plants, insects, birds. Some enjoy giving public outreach presentations to adults and children, while others prefer the peace and solitude of habitat restoration. Usually, they will serve in a combination of ways. The Texas Master Naturalist Program is jointly sponsored by the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. From its inception in 1997, it has grown to 46 chapters and more than 9,600 volunteers. While final tallies for 2016 are not yet complete, in 2015 Texas Master Naturalist volunteers contributed nearly half a million volunteer service hours with a value close to $10 million to the state. There were 2,594 acres of land conserved or impacted including 68 miles of new trails. Chapters throughout the state hosted 4,144 events reaching more than 169,000 youth and adults. The local Coastal Prairie Chapter serves Fort Bend

and Waller Counties and has more than 100 dedicated volunteers. Why the coastal prairie? That is the name of the habitat that historically existed right under our feet here. It is a type of tall-grass prairie that extended along the Texas and Louisiana coasts from Corpus Christi to Lafayette. One could call it critically endangered today, because less than one-tenth of one percent of that habitat still exists relatively undisturbed. The other 99.9 percent of the land went the way of agriculture and development long ago.

Seabourne Creek Nature Park Twenty-Year Vision, One Day at a Time Back in 2009, the city of Rosenberg partnered with the Coastal Prairie Chapter to utilize the volunteers’ depth and breadth of skills to help the city improve the 164-acre park for residents and visitors alike. A long-term plan was carefully designed that included the building of wetlands habitats, restoration of a 20-acre area to its former native prairie condition and the beautification of the park with a butterfly garden, prairie demonstration garden, and the addition of hundreds of native trees. The gardens and native prairie are in continual states of change and improvement, new additions to the park include the creation of a native edible and medicinal

ride around in horse-drawn wagons, get hands-on with caterpillars and butterflies, watch as thread is spun and fabric emerges from a loom, hold a reptile and even learn and sample some of the wild edible plants growing in the park. Visitors can also take home a variety of native plants for their own butterfly gardens and pocket prairies.

Butterfly Gardens Big Help for Small Flyers TMN volunteers Gerald Trenta, Sal Cardenas, and Roger Hathorn setting fenceposts for hog proof fence in the Seabourne Park demo garden.

plants area and rustic cedar fencing surrounding the two gardens. The cedar fences are an attractive addition born out of a necessity to protect the investments of time and money in the gardens. With the torrential rains and flooding of last summer came a greater influx of feral hogs into the park. Previously, the much-loathed animals had been happy to root trenches along the trails and in the prairie, but this time they developed an affinity for the volunteer-tended garden areas. When they returned time after time to destroy borders, uproot plants, and damage irrigation systems, the Coastal Prairie Chapter was forced to the conclusion that trapping efforts alone would not halt the onslaught. Construction on special garden fences was completed early 2017. With the new rustic aesthetics, there is a growing excitement that this year will be prove to be the most beautiful since the gardensâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; inception. Feral hogs still roam the area and their numbers are on the rise statewide, despite residentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; best efforts at trapping and hunting. They are bright, wary, and will learn to avoid traps when given the chance to escape. Feral hogs reproduce so quickly, in fact, that 70% of their population must be removed annually just to keep their numbers from growing. More research and many combined approaches will likely be necessary to achieve large-scale control over this particularly-destructive invasive species.

Roger Hathorn, Diane Shelton, and Linda Rippert prepare to re-plant the butterfly garden.

Every year on the first Saturday in November, Seabourne Creek Nature Park hosts the Prairie Heritage Festival. This is a day set aside to allow residents and visitors to learn about life on the coastal prairie during the 1800â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. The event is free and historical costumes are highly encouraged. It is a great way for visitors to envision early Texas life and receive a big dose of nature as they

Butterfly gardens are rapidly growing in popularity and are a great way to beautify homes and public spaces with wild blooms and colorful wings. Members of TMN have helped build butterfly gardens throughout Fort Bend County, including one of the primary features at Seabourne Creek Nature Park. The basic building blocks of a butterfly garden are host plants and nectar plants. Host plants are the preferred food source for caterpillars. Common host plants include milkweed for monarchs and queens and passionflower vine for gulf fritillaries and zebra longwings. Once these caterpillars complete their first life-stage and emerge as butterflies, however, they will need nectar sources. Lure them to your garden providing sustaining blooms. Blue and white mistflowers, purple coneflower, lantana, and coral honeysuckle are excellent native options to attract and feed the adults.

TMN working to protect endangered Monarch butterfly migration.

These gardens are a delight for observers but they also play an important conservation role. Texas is a critical habitat in the endangered migration of monarch butterflies because it is situated between the principal breeding grounds in the north and the overwintering areas in Mexico. Monarchs funnel South through Texas in the fall, with our region in the center of the flyway. The land has changed drastically over the last few hundred years. The future of the monarch migration is uncertain but we are hopeful it can be preserved by bringing back the flora that sustains it.

Birds of Many Colors Birding, sometimes called birdwatching, is the recreational observation of birds. As mentioned before, Texas is an extraordinary place to be a birder with 645 resident, migrant, and incidental species. It would likely not come as a surprise to anyone reading this article that

natural fires helped to maintain the prairie boundaries by clearing invading trees and shrubs and thinning the fastgrowing grasses, thereby allowing greater plant species diversity. Fires also return nutrients to the soil and make them available for the new growth that many types of wildlife (including popular game species) depend upon. “Only you can prevent forest fires,” as the bear said. This is what many of us grew up hearing. In recent times, people developed the technology and means to adopt a policy of large scale fire suppression for the protection of life, property, and livestock. Sometimes this policy was also applied in a misguided attempt at conservation. To replicate those old natural conditions, TMN volunteers assist trained Texas Parks and Wildlife personnel to conduct prescribed burns on private property. Burns are conducted only under very specific wind and humidity conditions and are carefully controlled and monitored. Trained volunteers roam the perimeters to ensure no flames escape.

The critically endangered Attwater’s Prairie Chicken. On the brink of extinction due to the loss of native prairie habitat and the spread of invasive species.

many Master Naturalists are avid birders. Readers might be surprised, however, that birders have documented nearly 200 distinct species just in Seabourne Creek Nature Park. On the first Wednesday morning of most months (usually excluding mid-winter and mid-summer), the public is invited to join a Monthly Bird Hike in the park led by local experts. Many people don’t realize the surprising beauty and vivid colored plumage that are sometimes hiding in plain sight, such as the brilliant painted bunting. Far from a selfish hobby, birding checklists can contribute valuable scientific data to individual landowners, the state, and the world. On the most local of scales, TMN volunteers form survey teams to help local landowners understand their own species diversity and as an aid for their 1-D-1 Wildlife Management Plan. Citizens can be scientists when bird lists are uploaded to the eBird.org database. This is an online, publicly-accessible database created by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. It is crowdsourced science on a grand scale, providing population and migration data that professional ornithologists could never have imagined possible 20 years ago. Volunteers also help with the state’s effort to study white-winged doves through an annual dove banding effort. Basic statistics on each bird are recorded and an individually numbered band is affixed to a leg before they are released. When a banded bird is found, the location, age and date help improve understanding of the movements, population numbers, and harvest statistics for this popular game bird.

TMN volunteers assist trained Texas Parks & Wildlife personnel to conduct prescribed burns.

Each spring, the Coastal Prairie Chapter offers training to become a Certified Texas Master Naturalist. This 12-week course provides opportunities to see and explore some of the nearby Texas Parks as well as have experienced biologists, botanists, environmentalists and other specialty field experts provide hands on training in many areas of interest. There are 24 individual specialty training components that when completed provide new members a comprehensive overview of the critical areas of concern for Master Naturalists throughout the state. Should you have interest in these classes, the office is located in Rosenberg in the Texas AgriLife Extension office on Band Road. d

To learn more about

THE Texas Master Naturalist Program and the Coastal Prairie Chapter

A Prescription for Fire

visit - http://txmn.org/coastal

A part of returning natural prairie or farmland to its best condition is through burning. Hundreds of years ago,

Events & activities open to the public are always listed on the chapter calendar.

S E RV I N G

A M E R I C A â&#x20AC;&#x2122; S

C O M M U N I T I E S

Faith, Family, & Fulshear AND IN T HAT ORDER… WRITTEN BY JACLYN RITTER, PHOTOGRAPHY BY RHONDA RENEE PHOTOGRAPHY

hile a position in local government was never on Aaron Groff’s radar, those who know him are not surprised he jumped at the opportunity and ran with it. Aaron Groff was sworn in as mayor of Fulshear on May 15th, 2018. “New experiences and change don’t scare me,” says Aaron. “I am a firm believer that nothing happens by accident. I choose to reflect on my collective experiences and understand that those experiences prepare me for what is to come.” It is Aaron’s strong sense of family, unwavering faith, dedication to his business, and love of his community that has ultimately prepared him for the role he has proudly taken on – mayor of Fulshear.

A Tried & True Texas Upbringing A man’s youth is what sets the framework of his legacy. Aaron’s upbringing was not out of the ordinary, but that did not make it any less strong. It was a childhood filled with love, hard work, and guidance. “When I was young, I wanted to be a Dallas Cowboys football player,” remembers Aaron. Like many young men in Texas, Aaron spent Friday nights under the bright stadium lights of his high school. “It was live, eat, and breathe football for me.” Aaron played linebacker and several different offensive positions for Tascosa High School, in Amarillo, Texas. He enjoyed the culture that surrounded high school football. Aaron took his first job at Long John Silvers at the age of 16. At age 18, he moved to Olive Garden to work as a cook. Both jobs were close to school and, because they were flexible with his work schedule, he was able to fit work into his football schedule. “My mom had, and still has, a servant’s heart.” She taught me to put family first,” adds Aaron. “The greatest gift I received from my father is

his work ethic and his love for scripture.” These lessons, and the fact that his parents chose to lead by example, have had a large impact not only on Aaron’s chosen career path, but also on how he chooses to live.

Finding His Calling When it became clear that the Dallas Cowboy’s were not looking to recruit Aaron, he shifted his focus to business law. However, during his senior year of high school, and after years of being active in youth group, he began to sense his calling into ministry. This change of path ultimately resulted in a career in Christian ministry. At age 19, while studying psychology and religion at Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, Aaron was offered a youth ministry position at First Baptist Lorenzo. A few years later, Aaron returned to Wayland Baptist University and earned his master’s degree in theology and Christian ministry. In November of 2012, after 15 years in student ministry and a couple in family ministry, Aaron and his family made the move from Amarillo to Fulshear. “I had the amazing opportunity to help build a church from the ground up, and then to help them successfully merge with another church,” says Aaron. “It was then that I realized what my next experience was going to be.” In 2016 Aaron launched his own leadership coaching and consulting company here in Fulshear. By offering Birkman Assessments, aiding in team building, strategic planning, and vision building, Aaron helps leaders grow their companies. “I am still on staff as the Campus Development Pastor at The Fellowship, but what I love about my coaching and consulting company is it allows me to help multiple churches grow and achieve success.” On staff at his local church, running his own business, and serving as mayor of Fulshear – it sure

“Our KIDS and their FRIENDS will be here long after I am gone, and long after my twoyear term as mayor is over; so the opportunity to BUILD A FIRM FOUNDATION for the city makes me EXCITED!” - MAYOR AARON GROFF -

sounds like Aaron has a full plate! “I actually function better when I am busy,” explains Aaron. “The three jobs are much more intertwined than you may think. All three require organization, problem management, communication skills, and leadership skills.”

A Family Man at Heart As Aaron’s mother demonstrated at an early age, family comes first. Aaron and Melanie, his wife of 19 years, have chosen to adopt that mantra from the very beginning. Melanie was in college at Texas Tech while Aaron was studying at Wayland and serving in her home town of Stinnett as the youth minister. Melanie’s brother was in Aaron’s youth group. Whenever Melanie would come back into town from college, her mother would invite Aaron over for Sunday brunch. “Truth be told, we did not hit it off right away,” laughs Aaron. All it took was one night of good conversation and a movie date to see “Men in Black,” and the rest was history. “I definitely married up, as Melanie now works as a Project Manager for ConocoPhillips.” Together, Aaron and Melanie have a 15-year-old daughter named Kealy and a 12-year-old daughter named Ashley. Both are heavily involved in competitive cheerleading. Little known fact—Aaron spent one

year as the mascot at Wayland Baptist University, and the following year as a cheerleader. With that being said, he is truly the best cheer dad around! As the kids get older and have numerous school and extracurricular activities, it is increasingly difficult to carve out family time. The Groff’s still make the good ‘ol family dinner a priority. “If it means eating dinner at 4:30, that is ok,” Aaron says. “The important thing is that we are together for those few minutes to talk about our day.” Saturday nights in the fall are a big deal at the Groff household. “We are Texas Tech Red Raider fans through and through,” says Aaron. “Sporting events are our bonding time as a family.” When it comes to quality time as a couple, Aaron and Melanie enjoy an evening on the couch watching whatever happens to be on their DVR. Nothing glamorous, but Aaron says, “It’s our thing.”

The Man Behind the Title There is so much more to the man than the title. Aaron Groff is a family man, a man of faith, and a man who chooses to serve his community in many ways. At the end of the day, it comes down to faith, family, and Fulshear – in that order. d

Jack Harper Fulshear City Manager WRITTEN BY JACLYN RITTER, PHOTOGRAPHY BY RHONDA RENEE PHOTOGRAPHY

The city of Fulshear welcomed its new City Manager, Jack Harper, on April 9, 2018. Jack brings with him knowledge, experience, and a real heart for the job.

rowing up in San Antonio, Jack was active in Boy Scouts of America. He says that it was through this organization that he discovered his desire to help people and make a difference. Jack graduated from Castle Hill First Baptist Church School knowing exactly what he wanted to do with his life and laid out a path for himself that would result in attaining that goal – becoming a City Manager. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Texas Tech University, Jack secured a job working for the city of Lubbock. While building up his resume, he worked toward his Master’s Degree in public administration. Fast forward 25 years, and Jack has now worked for the cities of San Antonio, Abilene, Stamford, Hillsboro, and Waco. Not only did Jack achieve his goal of becoming a city manager but, thanks to his 25 years in local government, he says that he has had the privilege of seeing firsthand what works and what does not work when it comes to running a city. Jack has worked with cities both large and small and brings with him an extensive skillset. More importantly, he brings with him a fresh set of eyes and excitement for what is to come for the city of Fulshear. Jack Harper has been involved with the Boy Scouts of America for 39 years, volunteering with the organization even on a national level. He is proud to give back to the organization that opened his eyes to public service. Both Jack and his wife Julie enjoy watching their son, Jake, participate in Boy Scouts. Jake, like his father, has taken an interest in serving others. Jack and Julie Harper could not be prouder.

Get to know Fulshear’s new city manager, Jack Harper, with the help of a question and answer session! FM: What is the role of City Manager? JACK: When a city population grows to more than 5,000, the citizens can vote to decide if they want to be a Home Rule city, meaning they can set their own ordinances and resolutions. Fulshear became a Home Rule city on May 17, 2016. Home Rule cities often have a City Manager form of government, wherein the city council sets policy, and the City Manager is tasked with the day to day operations of running the city. An easy way to visualize this is by thinking of a business – the city council would be the board of directors, and the city manager would be the CEO. My main job is to make sure the city follows the policy set by the city council. The City Manager is also tasked with operational aspects, such as overseeing human resources, administrative personnel, the police department, building inspections, code compliance, city maintenance crews, as well as ensuring that city infrastructure (roads, water, sewer) is maintained.

FM: What are Fulshearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strengths, and where do you feel the city can improve? JACK: Fulshear is a beautiful city, a truly scenic place. Fulshear has a lot of natural charm, and I feel a lot of that stems from its people. We are a city that can provide a very high quality of life for our residents. We do, however, have a demand placed upon us as a city to continue to build our infrastructure and prepare for growth. For example, there is a lot of road construction taking place by the Texas Department of Transportation and Fort Bend County. The widening of FM1093 will help accommodate the growth that has already taken place, as well as prepare for the growth that is yet to come in and around our city. With that being said, we also must have the people in place to handle the increase in water and sewer lines, road maintenance, building inspection, and permits. Based on the population projections, our current infrastructure in place, along with city council policy, the city will plan for future needs.

FM: What opportunities do you see on the horizon that will improve the lives of Fulshear residents? JACK:

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fulshear has a lot of

natural charm,

and I feel a lot of that stems from its

people.â&#x20AC;?

We plan to partner with Fort Bend County, different stake holders, and the state of Texas as it pertains to water funding, options for infrastructure projects, and emergency management. I see nothing but endless opportunities so long as we identify our needs and identify those partners who can help us provide funding, as well as institutional knowledge and assist us as we grow. We as a city need to be more proactive and self-sufficient.

FM: What is Fulshear doing to prepare for the continuing growth, and to attract the right kind of growth?

(L to R) Angela Fritz (Economic Development Director), Maureen Murray (Events Coordinator), Jack Harper and Sharon Valiante (Public Works Director).

“We as a city need to be more proactive and self-sufficient.” JACK:

JACK:

The city engages with Population and Survey Analysis (PASA), an organization focused on gathering information on demographics. They look at demographic trends to help school districts and cities forecast what the numbers will look like in the coming years. We are using this information to help prepare the city’s budget, and to plan for revenues and expenses. As we work on the Livable Cities Initiative, we are looking to have a strategic plan to help the city identify its future growth and to learn what kinds of businesses would thrive here. This is all being done in an effort to be proactive instead of reactive.

Fulshear is a beautiful area of our state and, honestly, that is what initially drew me here. While Fulshear has history dating back to 1824, it has only been growing as of recent years. I have worked over 25 years in local government and have worked in cities that are fast growing like Fulshear, but most of these cities were already built out. What I am really passionate about is helping the citizens and staff of Fulshear work together with the city council to build a vision and blueprint for the city’s future. Not many City Managers get the opportunity and privilege to help lay the groundwork for a city. I am very excited to be a part of it.

FM: Regarding the city of Fulshear, what are you passionate about?

Since taking on the role of Fulshear’s City Manager back in April, Jack understands and embraces the Fulshear lifestyle. Through his daily actions, he is showing residents that he has the city’s best interest in mind, and he is dedicated to preserving and enriching the great city he and his family are happy to call home. d

A War Story

Without Words

WRITTEN BY JACLYN RITTER, PHOTOGRAPHY BY RHONDA RENEE PHOTOGRAPHY

Art

has the power to evoke a multitude of emotions. It can tell a story. It also has the ability to inform or educate. No one knows this better than former combat artist, Ken Haley. His job - to document the Vietnam War through drawings and paintings. From a young age, Ken could often be found sketching and doodling on whatever he could find. Who needs paper? As a ten-year-old boy selling newspapers, Ken used to draw on the sides of white cars – with pencil, of course. In his late teens and twenties, while working for the railroad, he would create masterpieces on the sides of boxcars with chalk. “I guess you could say I was an early graffiti artist,” jokes Ken. To this day he cannot help but keep a pen or pencil handy for when inspiration strikes. “I was not very good at English or math in school,” Ken says. “In fact, I didn’t test very well in general, but I always excelled in art class.” Having very little support from home, and practically on his own since the age of ten, Ken attributes his art teachers for encouraging him to pursue art outside of school. They supported him and invested in him when few others did. In a way, those art teachers paved the way for what was to become a very fascinating art career for Ken. However, it is unlikely even they could have predicted the surprising direction Ken’s raw talent and love for art would take him.

The Army

Called Ken was drafted into the Army in 1967, at the age of nineteen. He attended boot camp in Fort Bliss, Texas where the military first took note of his mechanical skills. From there Ken was sent to Fort Dix, New Jersey for training and then transferred to Fort Sill, Oklahoma for mechanical training on heavy artillery vehicles. In January of 1968, Ken was deployed to Saigon, Vietnam during the Tet Offensive, one of the largest campaigns during the Vietnam War. Ken was sent to Long Binh Post outside of Bien Hoa Army Base, with the 720th MP Battalion, where he worked as a mechanic on everything from quarter-ton jeeps, to thirteen-ton armored personnel carriers. Being a member of a Military Police battalion was an honor in itself. The MP patch signified authority and came with a lot of responsibility. “Some think the military police just sat around guarding buildings and such,” says Ken. “But really, we did whatever was needed of us, because we were simply short of hands.” In addition to his mechanic duties, Ken ran convoys as a gunner, performed highway security, river patrol, and search and destroy missions. During the little down time he had, Ken sketched his buddies’ girlfriends for extra money on the side. His

Photo by Daniel McJunkin

Simonton resident recalls his time as a combat artist during the Vietnam War

“I had a .45 on my right hip, a camera slung around my neck, a sketchpad in my left hand, and a paintbrush in my right hand.” - Ken Haley homesick friends had pictures to carry around with them, and Ken was able to practice his portraits. This proved to be the much-needed creative outlet for Ken during the eighteen months spent as a mechanic with the MP Battalion.

Finding

Art in War Whether it was sheer luck or divine intervention, Ken was able to graduate from sketching his friends’ loved ones to attaining a job where he could utilize his artistic talents. Word got out that Ken’s battalion was looking for two artists and a journalist. Ken applied and was offered the opportunity to remain with his group with the sole purpose of capturing and depicting the Vietnam War through art. More specifically, his role as combat artist was to document the activities of the Military Police. Whether it was transporting supplies or guarding prisoners, Ken’s job was to relay a positive image and glorify the MPs.

“I was to submit one piece a week,” says Ken. “So, wherever the Military Police went, I went. I had a .45 on my right hip, a camera slung around my neck, a sketchpad in my left hand, and a paintbrush in my right hand.” On the streets of Vietnam, right in the middle of the chaos, Ken sat with a pen and paper, taking in his surroundings and crafting, to the most intricate detail, a perfect replica of the scene before him onto paper. When asked if he found it difficult to portray the Vietnam War in the form of art, Ken shook his head. “No, I chose to look at it solely as my job. I was there to capture what was really going on—the desolation, the thick and smothering clouds of dust, and the remarkable acts of heroism.” Ken felt that by focusing on the details and achieving a sense of reality on paper, the emotion would naturally manifest itself upon the canvas. His job was not to focus on emotion, but to portray what he saw as realistically as he could. All of the pieces of art Ken produced during that time belong to the United States government. To this day, he does not know what became of them. “We were told the art was being sent back to the States to be distributed amongst all the army bases,” says Ken. “But who knows. They are out there somewhere.”

Finding

the Positive Sergeant Ken Haley proudly returned from his tour in Vietnam in January of 1970. Ken was fortunate to be able to return to his pre-military job, working full time night shifts as a switchman for the Rock Island Railroad. Thanks to the GI Bill, he also took the opportunity to apply to the Kansas City Art Institute. “I guess you can say the Vietnam War was basically in vain,” Ken says. “There was a lot of death and destruction, for very little gain.” It was his strong faith in God that helped a very young Ken Haley return home from Vietnam in one piece and one mind. “My faith helped me find the positive within the whole experience. Taking the job of combat artist proved to be a stepping stone for me. When I left Vietnam, I had a whole portfolio of photography, plus the few sketches I was able to keep. I submitted them with my application to the Kansas City Art Institute. With it being such a prestigious art school, I cannot help but think if it weren’t for my time as a combat artist, I would not have made the cut.” Ken graduated with a split major in Graphic Arts and Fine Arts.

The History of

C o m bat

A rt i s t s

Documenting and preserving the images of war in the form of art has been an integral part of the American Army for decades. “Recognizing the importance of military art as both a historical record and a positive influence on morale,” according to the National Constitution Center, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, “the Army commissioned a team of eight artists into the Corps of Engineers during World War I and sent them to France to record the activities of the American Expeditionary Forces. Their mandate was to depict the activities of the Army or the individual soldiers in the style or medium in which they felt most comfortable.” The Army chose to revive the art program during the time of WWII. Beginning in 1966, the US Army sponsored thirty-six soldiers to serve as combat artists during the Vietnam War. Our very own Ken Haley was one of that exclusive and talented group. To this day, Army soldier-artists travel the globe documenting wars and humanitarian efforts. These men and women have bravely documented our nation’s history from the front row in the form of art.

Circling Back to His Own

Artistic Expression “As my priorities became working to pay the bills and provide for my family, my art had to take a backseat,” says Ken. That is not the case anymore. After five years of serving in the missionary field in Mexico, and twenty-eight years growing a high-end custom painting company in Houston, Ken retired in 2016. Ken and Faith, his wife of 43 years, have built a beautiful home on 6.5 acres in Simonton. Situated on the west side of the property, positioned between a picture-perfect pond and their thriving chicken coop, sits Ken’s workshop. Now that he has expanded his art to include glass and carpentry, the workshop is equipped with a woodworking side and a painting side. The walls are covered with art in various stages of development. It is a space that lends itself to a creative mind. Ken has expanded his talents from realistic art to impressionistic art. After transposing exactly what he

saw to paper during his time as a combat artist, Ken now enjoys the freedom of portraying his personal style and his impressions of the world around him. Working with several mediums, including oil, acrylic, watercolor, and pen and ink, Ken depicts the likes of serene meadows, rough sea waters awaiting an impending storm, and grassy cliffs overlooking an inviting lake below. Those grade school art teachers would be proud to know that Ken never lost sight of his passion. Choosing to continue his education and stay current, Ken attends weekly art classes to continue expanding his abilities as an artist – proof that we never stop learning and growing. Ken is quick to thank the military men who recognized his talents and who gave him the platform to do what he does best for the country he was so proud to serve. Thanks to these early opportunities, art has had a presence in all stages of Ken’s life. It has been his one constant. “I love the creativity and emotions that I can evoke through my art,” says Ken. “It is the ability to say a whole lot, without words.” With no place to store all of the art, the entire collection was turned over to Smithsonian Institution’s Museum of American History. d To see some of his work and information about his future gallery openings visit: https://www.facebook.com/ArtistKennethHaley/ Ken is back to painting the sides of trains…the Blessington Farms barrel train that is! Next time you visit the farm, be sure to check out Ken’s fun and mobile art!

This beautiful, yet humbling piece was drawn by Ken Haley during his time as a combat artist in Vietnam. It depicts a military jeep driving through a temple near Tay Ninh, Vietnam. This drawing shows all the intricacies of the building itself, the tiny bullet holes, and the wear and tear bestowed upon it during the war.

“When I sat there in front of this temple

many years ago, I imagined all the history stored in its walls, and

the stories only the temple could tell. Such

A beautiful building, and yet the war was destroying it.”

NewSuperior Name… SAME

SERVICE

Photo Credit: iStock.com/dimatlt633

LOCAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ADOPTS NEW NAME TO BETTER REPRESENT ITS MEMBERS WRITTEN BY JACLYN RITTER

oogle defines “Chamber of Commerce” as “a local association to promote and protect the interests of the business community in a particular place.” Current members of the Fulshear-Katy Area Chamber of Commerce (FKACC) believe that their chamber goes above and beyond this definition. The FKACC invests in its members by providing quality training and education opportunities, increasing business visibility, providing its members a voice within the community, establishing networking opportunities, and protecting the credibility and image of its businesses. Conceptualized in 2013, and established in early 2014, the Fulshear-Katy Area Chamber of Commerce has grown to almost 500 dedicated members. This astonishing

number is a direct reflection of the chamber’s highly involved and invested staff and volunteer directors. With a recent name change, and a roll out of new member services, the local chamber is now better than ever.

WHAT’S IN A NAME? In July of 2018, the Fulshear Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors and chamber members voted to add Katy to its name. “We wanted to better reflect our membership,” says FKACC President Don McCoy. Roughly thirty percent of the 476 chamber members are Fulshear businesses. The remaining seventy percent are outside of Fulshear city limits, some as far as Sealy, Rosenberg, Eagle Lake, and League City. However, with

Member Testimonials “The leadership of Don, Amy, and Rachel has been nothing more than exceptional! The chamber is proactive in the community and has helped our business expand with exposure at events and monthly gatherings. The FKACC has been one of the best decisions we as a business have made. We are a proud member of this chamber.”

Angela Vargas

OWNER - GOOSEHEAD INSURANCE - KATY, TX

“We have been a member of the FKACC for three years, and I am grateful to be associated with such a supportive group of people. As one of the many small business owners they represent, there has never been a moment that I didn’t feel like part of the family. In addition to the many networking and business promoting opportunities they provide us each year, they recently launched an outstanding new website, email, and phone application platform that represents each member in their own way. It’s another great example of their continual hard work coming together. A simple thank you does not seem adequate for t he time and dedication that they put into promoting their members.”

Carla Casey

OWNER - FRECKLES STATIONERY AND GIFTS - FULSHEAR, TX

“When I walked into the Fulshear Katy Area Chamber of Commerce I didn’t feel as if we were becoming part of a chmaber, I felt as if we were becoming part of a community! In one word... IMPRESSIVE!”

Sherry Eberle

STOE MANAGER - WALMART STORE #4111

the majority of those 476 members located outside the city of Fulshear, the name change was the right decision. Amy Norvell, Executive Assistant with the FKACC, explains the change best saying, “Based on feedback from our annual chamber member survey, we mapped out the business address for every member, which revealed a greatly expanded geographic footprint. The numbers and the new map spoke volumes, so we chose to amend our name to include the overall Katy area to better represent our growing membership.” The change was positively accepted and welcomed by the whole community.

NEW NAME, NEW SERVICES

The FKACC found this the perfect time to introduce their new services to the public. Along with the new name, they have a new webpage: www.fulshearkaty. com. On top of that, they now provide a FulshearKaty Area Chamber mobile app. This FKACC specific app allows chamber members to login, submit press releases, manage their classified ads, add pictures, and refer members to one another. Non-chamber members can use the business directory to look for services and providers. This new mobile app is part of an ever-growing toolbox for all things related to the Fulshear-Katy area. In addition to the mobile app, a new traffic catcher page is provided to all chamber members. This is an internet page that is made specifically for each company that mirrors their current webpage but is a one stop shop for important information. This one-page link contains the business’s phone number, location, map, and business hours all in one easy to use and download page. Skilled technicians are available to help chamber members develop and update their traffic catcher pages as part of their membership.

Recent Chamber Rope Cutting Ceremonies at Local Businesses

FKACC President Don McCoy presenting at a recent chamber meeting.

“This service also provides our members with a monthly email report informing them of how many searches they matched and number of visits their page received,” says Rachel Durham, who oversees Membership Services with the FKACC. “We can then adjust search key words so that their information is matched more frequently.”

INVESTED, INVOLVED AND ENGAGED

“We strive to make the Fulshear-Katy Area Chamber of Commerce a tangible resource for our members,” says Don McCoy. “It is very hard for people, in the midst of running their own business, to take the time to study all about marketing and networking. It is our job, here at the Fulshear-Katy Area Chamber of Commerce to help educate and raise members’ awareness through weekly emails and monthly chamber meetings, so that after some time, members are better equipped to handle and support their business with confidence.” While the name may have changed to include and recognize a larger area, the Fulshear-Katy Area Chamber of Commerce is as invested, involved, and engaged as ever. The chamber as a group are so much more than just a monthly meeting and a few emails. The team and their directors are devoted to the success and future of local businesses. They believe that representing almost 500 business is a big deal, and not something to be taken lightly. The Fulshear-Katy Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to represent the large and diverse business community that makes up the Fulshear-Katy area. d

On My Honor… Building CHARACTER in Fulshear’s new generation of

GIRL SCOUTS

WRITTEN BY KRISTY SMITH, PHOTOGRAPHY BY RHONDA RENEE PHOTOGRAPHY

HONOR AND TRADITION In 1912, Juliette Gordon “Daisy” Low held the first Girl Scout meeting in her home in Savannah, Georgia with the goal of raising girls to become strong, successful women. Over 100 years later, The Girl Scouts of America is still honoring that ideal. More than two million girls and adults count themselves as Girl Scouts in the United States alone. Jenn Montgomery is a troop leader and head recruiter for the Way Out West Community, which is part of the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto council. Montgomery says that combined with the Lone Star Treasures Community, our area has girls in approximately 175 troops, from the youngest Daisies through the seasoned Ambassadors.

IT STARTS WITH A PROMISE “On my honor, I will try to serve God and my country, to help people at all times, and to live by the Girl Scout Law.” All Girl Scouts are taught the Girl Scout Promise and the Girl Scout Law from their very first meeting. The Promise is the foundation, and the Girl Scout Law provides the framework for everything Girl Scouts do. According to the Girl Scouts of the USA website, “Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make

the world a better place.” This mission is first embodied by Daisies, the youngest scouts, who earn petals representing each value of the Girl Scout Law. Once earned, the girls proudly display their petals on their vibrant blue vests. They carry these values with them through their entire scouting career and on into adulthood.

WE CREATE

LEADERS Montgomery loves the Girl Scouts and the values it teaches girls of all ages. She currently leads a Junior troop of fifth graders from three different elementary schools in the area. Her girls love to camp, so they focus on planning monthly camping trips to one of the Girl Scout campgrounds. The girls do all the planning, from deciding which camp and theme they would like to attend to planning meals, setting a budget, and shopping. Montgomery loves that Girl Scouts is designed for girls, with many of the activities addressing “female stereotypes and how to bust them.” She says that girls learn to succeed based on their choices, consequences, and planning.

AREN’T JUST TASTY You have seen them on your street or in front of the local grocery store – those cute little girls in their blue, brown, or green vests with colorful boxes of sugary goodness stacked taller than they are and smiles wider than the Gulf of Mexico. You try to ignore them, but then they speak. “Would you like to buy a box of Girl Scout Cookies?” Their cute little voices pull you in, and it is over. You have already pulled out your wallet and bought five boxes. Those cute little girls are not just there to be cute. Before they even get near a cookie booth, they will have spent hours practicing valuable life skills and learning the business of selling cookies. According to the Girl Scouts of the USA website, “[a]ll of the net revenue raised through the Girl Scout Cookie Program—100 percent of it— stays with the local council and troops.” This means, each box sold helps to keep campgrounds and programs running, as well as funding activities for each troop. To Montgomery, cookie sales are important because they teach the girls how to “take ownership of a program so they can finance their own goals.” The girls decide how they are going to spend the money they have earned, usually paying for camping trips or buying supplies for service projects.

GIRLS SERVING THEIR

COMMUNITY As part of the Girl Scout Promise, the girls learn the value of helping in their community. Laura Lear, co-leader of Brownie Troop 129156 in Fulshear has a small troop of service-oriented girls who love to help. Their biggest goal, according to Lear, is “getting our girls’ hands and feet active.” Lear’s girls have spent several hours making lunches for and donating cookies to Lunches of Love, making and distributing blankets to cancer patients at MD Anderson, and, using their troop funds, making lunches and feeding the homeless at the Emergency Aid Coalition in Houston. They make giving back to the community a priority every month, while also working on badges and having fun together. Brownie Troop 152045, led by Laura Peart, also embodies the spirit of helping in the community. This troop of second graders has been together since they were Daisies. Peart states that in that time, they have “made bedroom bags for the Rainbow Room in Rosenberg, made non-slip socks for the children’s hospital, homeless bags, and passed out valentines at a nursing home.” These girls will also get to camp at a community campout in the fall and they will pick a “journey” to work on during the year. According to Peart, “[a] journey is a set of badges all following a similar theme…with a community service project at the end that ties all the badges together.” Madi Orta’s Brownie Troop from Huggins Elementary in Fulshear regularly donates cookies to the Fulshear Police and Fire Department. The girls cherish the smiles and hugs they receive from our first responders. Montgomery’s troop routinely helps the Ballard House by donating money and supplies. In return, her girls get a chance to tour the facility and see how their hard work and donations help others in their community.

BADGES,

JOURNEYS,

AND AWARDS, OH MY! The Girl Scout program encourages young girls to discover what interests them, and then learn and attain new skills associated with those interests. From astronomy to golf,

robotics to dance, and any activity in between, there is a place for girls to discover what they love. Many of these activities have badges related to them, so not only are the girls learning a new skill or developing a new passion, they also get something tangible to remind them of all their hard work. Girl Scouts of any age and level can earn badges by completing a task or learning a skill. Each type of badge, award, or insignia has a specific place on the girl scout uniform. The uniform is worn during ceremonies and when representing the Girl Scouts in public. The highest award a girl scout can achieve is the Gold Award. The path to achieving this award, and other awards and badges, is laid out on the Girl Scouts of the USA website. It explains that the Gold Award is an individual award and the girl must be a Senior (9th or 10th grade) or Ambassador (11th or 12th grade) to begin her work. Montgomery has one girl beginning to formulate her plans for this award. Her project must meet rigorous standards set forth by the Girl Scouts of the USA. After completion, she will have created something that will live on and inspire others to help in their community and to do their personal best.

INTERESTED?

JOIN OR VOLUNTEER! There will always be a place for any girl who is interested to join the Girl Scouts. There are sign up booths at all the elementary schools during Meet the Teacher night, and the website www.gssjc.org has information on finding troops near you and the forms you will need to join. The Way Out West community also has an active Facebook page. Adults, women and men, who are interested in becoming a troop leader, or helping in other ways, are welcome to register. The Girl Scouts will provide you with the materials you need to lead; you need only bring your desire to help. Montgomery, who has been a leader for more than a decade, emphasizes that Girl Scout leaders are mentors who touch the lives of girls and young women in ways their parents cannot. They provide a safe place for their girls to talk. You can do this too. Your talents, experience, and willingness to be a presence in the lives of girls will help them achieve their goals and dreams and create leaders who will help their communities prosper. The Girl Scouts have been an important part of the lives of many girls and women in our community, our country and around the world. This author is proud to count herself and her daughter among them. d

MORE INFORMATION? If you are interested in Juliette Gordon Lowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s story, or to learn more about the Girl Scouts including cookie sales, awards and badges, and how to sign up for a local troop, please visit www.girlscouts.org

Over the summer, my daughter and I had the privilege of touring Juliette Gordon Lowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home in Savannah, Georgia. We stood in the room where the Girl Scouts began, and we were surrounded by the energy that I know Daisy Low must have exuded in that space. It is hallowed ground, indeed. Special badges await girls who make the journey to the Low home in Savannah.

Christy Bohlen

Rachel Durham

Kimberley Feinartz

Asha King

Rhonda Pholman

Johana Quijano

Edlow Schwing

Barbara Valentine

(832) 795-1915

(832) 857-4550

(281) 229-2213

(281) 788-0511

(713) 294-9691

(832) 434-0206

(713) 367-4862

(281) 546-0942

COMING IN 2019

F O R MORE INF O CA LL CHRISTIE AMEZQUITA, CCIM â&#x20AC;¢ 713.979.0436 christie@ read-king.com

www.read-king.com

RIV ER CRUISIN G

River Cruising WRITTEN BY TERRI OLIVER PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATIE MECHAM

F UL SHEA R M A GA ZI NE

ne of the fastest growing segments in the travel industry is river cruising, which is of no surprise to those who have had the pleasure of taking one of these wonderful journeys. As with any kind of travel, many of us hear “buzz” from various and sundry sources including friends, acquaintances, commercials, the internet, etc. When some people hear the word “cruise” they automatically have preconceived notions based on ocean going cruises. The main areas of commonality are that the major means of travel is water conveyance and that the vessel acts as a sort of floating hotel and restaurant. After that, the similarities diverge and that is where we will take the path leading us to the river cruise. The focus will be on European cruising, although river cruise itineraries can be found on almost every continent.

A number of factors come together to attribute to the river cruise’s burgeoning popularity. At the time that Europe was being settled, rivers were the highways of the day. Exploration and settlement made river access a must for many reasons, both economic for trade and needed water for agriculture and survival. Thus, river itineraries follow these ancient paths and lead through the European continent to the very midst of the cities along their banks. Those who have traveled through Europe or elsewhere on land based tours know the meaning of “hit the ground running.” Once you arrive after your flight, there is a fairly strict timetable to adhere to—unpacking, repacking, having your luggage beside your hotel door at 6am and

boarding a coach at 7am to drive to the next town. Self-driving tours can be more leisurely if you are comfortable driving in a foreign country and navigating highways and roads you have not driven before. The river cruise usually begins after a brief transfer to the ship and you unpack once and begin your adventure. There are many river cruise companies, and with their growth in popularity, new companies and ship expansion within existing companies is the order of the day. Additionally, there are an exciting array of river itineraries including the European Christmas markets in November and December. There are also holiday river cruises that feature once in a lifetime events such as New Year’s Eve in a Viennese palace. Your travel consultant can help you decide based on your personal tastes and budget. Of those that have taken a river cruise, 85% plan to take another one in the near future. Recently we embarked on a river cruise in Italy, focusing on the region around Venice and the Po River. The ship was our floating hotel. It provided breathtaking views of a moonlit Venice at night and panoramic views of the ancient, colorful architecture during the day. Most river cruises include some type of daily excursion itinerary. A private night time opening of St. Mark’s basilica was part of our trip and was hosted by an art historian. As our small group sat down in the semi-darkness inside, our breath was taken away as the lights slowly came up to reveal the utter magnificence of this most historic church. The size and splendor and the hopes and dreams of the people who created this material edifice to inspire awe and reverence within became a palpable reality to me. I was both amazed and humbled. The food was a culinary experience of the first order being sourced by our chef at local markets. I had never tasted prosciutto, mozzarella, cantaloupe, or many other foods that had so much flavor in and of themselves. Every evening dinner was expressly designed to engage all senses. The ship’s décor also reflected our locale by featuring an exquisite chandelier from the nearby Murano glass factory as well as other touches of beauty and elegance. Finally, we were treated to impeccable service on every level. Our needs and wants were anticipated so that we could focus on savoring every moment on board. However, the atmosphere was anything but stuffy as we met and dined with wonderful fellow passengers that made the trip even more memorable.

There is most certainly a river cruise that will provide a fabulously memorable travel experience for you. Finding the right fit and planning early are the keys to ensuring success and we all know that anticipation is all part of the excitement and inspiration of travel. d

CINCO RANCH REDNews Interviews Bill Wheless III Special Thanks to REDNews & Ginger Wheless Reprinted by permission from REDNews June 2014

ORIGINS OF A TOP SELLING MASTER-PLANNED

TEXAS COMMUNITY

by Newland Communities, is the number one top-selling community in Texas, and the number three top-selling community in the entire United States. Ted Nelson from Newland Communities gave a talk in April 2014 addressing the dramatic growth Southeast Texas is undergoing because of Eagle Ford and other energy developments and how that growth is affecting the real estate market. Mr. Nelson said that “between the medical and energy sectors, Houston now has the greatest accumulation of intellectual capital the world has ever seen.” “Cinco Ranch, Telfair, The Woodlands and a number of ‘new’ communities skirting the edges of Houston and along the Grand Parkway are becoming selfcontained cities unto themselves and a major source for the housing and retail needs of the booming influx of workers,” he stated.

Cinco Ranch is a mature community, having been developed in its current capacity for close to thirty years.

But where did it all begin? It started with the father of the father of Texas, Moses Austin. The Spanish government gave the blessing for Moses Austin to settle hundreds of families into the area. His son Stephen F. Austin, the father of Texas, finished this settlement while Texas was still under Mexican government. One of those settlers was Randolph Foster who was deeded 4,000 acres in Fort Bend and Waller counties, which at the time were occupied predominantly by Indians and buffalo. Foster’s daughter married Thomas Blakely, cattleman and future sheriff of Fort Bend County. His son, Bassett Blakely, followed in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps and became a cowboy and cattleman. Bassett Blakely owned 15,000 acres of land, 14,000 head of Brahman cattle, and his grandfather’s land. The cowhands of his Blakeley Ranch annually drove 10,000 head of cattle to the railheads in Kansas. Our interview with Mr. Bill Wheless elicited more history of Cinco Ranch post World War II up to its sale to Newland Homes. Have you ever studied the history of Cinco Ranch, in books or online? Mr. Wheless: Yes.

Bill Wheless III

William (Bill) M. Wheless III grew up at Cinco Ranch. His family and the Abercrombie family bought it in the ‘40s. It was originally purchased by the Blakely family, who had it parceled to them by Stephen F. Austin, himself, in a land deal done before Texas joined the Union. Cinco Ranch, now managed

There is information on you, your family, and the Blakelys owning the property in 1937. Mr. Wheless: Yes, I’ve seen some of that. My grandfather, William M. Wheless Senior, was head of the Land Department for the Gulf Oil Company. He did a lot of transactions representing Gulf with Mr. James Abercrombie who was an extremely successful independent oil man.

Mr. Abercrombie was on a trip, a grand tour of Europe. My grandfather was here. The head of Texas Commerce, now JP Morgan Chase Bank, came to my grandfather and said, “We foreclosed on a large ranch and we want you to buy it. We want to get it off our books.”

My grandfather was reluctant to do that because it was such a huge deal, 10,000 acres. “I don’t want to do that because it’s too big a deal,” he said “I have to consult with my partner before taking on such a huge obligation.”

William M. Wheless Senior

At that time Jesse Jones was the head of the bank. He was also the head of the Reconstruction Finance Committee in Washington for FDR. Mr. Jones told my grandfather, “No, I talked to Jim before he left. He said you can buy anything you want. Here are the papers, and I want you to sign them right now!”

Mr. Abercrombie asked my grandfather to quit his job, which at the time was a very good job, to be his partner. Mr. Abercrombie proposed putting up the financing, and he wanted my grandfather to acquire property for their venture.

With much trepidation, my grandfather signed the papers without communicating with Mr. Abercrombie, there being no faxes or emails at that time. He then owned 10,000 acres between Westheimer and Katy and Highway 6, formerly the Blakely Ranch.

My grandfather took that step and became partners with Mr. Abercrombie. That was in the 1940s, right around World War II.

The more he thought about it, the more uncomfortable he was with what he had done, so he found partners to bring in on the deal before Mr. Abercrombie returned

CINCO RANCH RICE FIELDS

CLUB HOUSE CIRCA 1955

from his vacation in Europe. One was his good friend, the president of Gulf Oil Company, Mr. W. B. Pyron. The others were Mr. H. G. Nelms, a successful oil man and Mr. Lenoir Josey, another good friend of my grandfather. Now there were five partners, hence the name Cinco Ranch. When Mr. Abercrombie got back from his trip, my grandfather met him at the dock in Galveston and said, “I don’t want you to be mad, but I want to tell you what happened . . . Jesse Jones made me buy this ranch . . . But, don’t worry . . . We got three more partners and now there are five of us.” Mr. Abercrombie looked at the deal for a second and said, “I am furious. This is the best deal I’ve ever seen in my life. They purchased it for ten dollars an acre. You go buy those other partners out immediately and give them double their money.”

Mr. Abercrombie and my grandfather owned the ranch 50/50 for over forty years. My father operated it, and they grew rice and raised cattle. When I finished graduate school, my grandfather was in failing health. He decided to sell half the ranch to Robert Mosbacher. I have fond memories of working with him on that sale.

So now Mosbacher and Abercrombie were partners? Mr. Wheless: Yes. Mr. Abercrombie’s daughter Josephine owned one half and Robert Mosbacher and a group of his friends owned the other half. That was in the ‘70s. Then in 1984 Abercrombie and Mosbacher decided to sell. The first part of the ranch that sold was to Vincent Kickerillo. That was eight or nine hundred acres, now called Kelliwood. That was closer to I-10. Mr. Wheless: Yes, closer to I-10 off Fry Road. In 1984 the purchasing group consisted of US Homes, the largest home builder in America, American General, one of the largest insurance companies in the nation, and the Mischer Corporation, one of the largest land developers in Houston. Each one played a role. One was the developer, one was the financier, and one was going to build the houses.

That sale was $84M. When you add in the Kickerillo transaction, it was a raw land sale in excess of $100,000,000.

CINCO RANCH TEXAS MAP In total? Mr. Wheless: Total. Which was and still is, to the best of my knowledge, the largest raw land sale in the history of Houston. Once they had it, Mischer, US Homes, and American General, developed it through several business cycles, and American General wound up with it. Their subsidiary was called Newland, who had an affiliation with a company called Newland Homes, and Newland’s is to this day the developer of Cinco. They added several more tracts to the west toward Fulshear as they ran out of land in Cinco. It was two years ago, I think, that Cinco was rated the top-selling Master-Planned Community in the United States. I believe it even surpassed the Woodlands. That is quite remarkable. What do you think made it so successful? Mr. Wheless: Staying power, the ability to go through two really bad cycles because there were some bleak times. It wasn’t all straight up. They had such a huge land cost, and in addition they had a huge infrastructure cost. They had to channel Buffalo Bayou through Cinco. The headwaters of Buffalo Bayou start just on the northwest corner of Cinco near Katy. As you know, the Bayou goes through the middle of Houston and all the way to the Ship Channel. When did they start developing? Mr. Wheless: Kickerillo started in the early ‘80s. Cinco started in the late ‘80s. If you remember, Houston’s economy was horrible in the late ‘80s. What was the price of an acre back when you sold it? Mr. Wheless: Divide 5,200 acres into 84 million. It was an all-cash transaction.

Mr. Wheless: Now we have Bridgeland and the Woodlands. Both are really big deals. Camp Strake will be a very big deal. Yes, it will be a big deal. Mr. Wheless: When you develop large tracts, it takes a long time to absorb all the land. What was the best time and the worst time? Mr. Wheless: The best time for me personally was growing up as a kid out there and having access to all that property, hunting and fishing. My brothers and sisters and I have great memories. It was a Tom Sawyer type of existence. We hated to part with it, but my grandfather was in ill health, and he wanted to get his estate in order before he passed away. Anyway, it was hard emotionally to part with the ranch. I was privileged to be in a position to help him sell our property as well as to be involved with the subsequent sale in 1984. I remember reading, years ago, that your grandfather was considered to be one of the largest land owners in Texas. Mr. Wheless: He and Mr. Abercrombie were the second largest land owners in Harris County when he died. They also owned the Atascocita Country Club, as well as most of the land on the western shores of Lake Houston. He certainly was a role model for me. REDNews would like to thank Mr. Wheless for his travel back in time through one of the nation’s great burgeoning communities. The history of land and the big power brokers of Texas are fundamentally the history of Texans, from Stephen F. Austin to William M Wheless - big people, big deals. As George W. Bush said, “Some folks look at me and see a certain swagger, which in Texas is called ‘walking.’” d

A Tale of Two Cities F U L S H E A R â&#x20AC;&#x2122; S T U R N I NG P O I N T WRITTEN BY DANIEL McJUNKIN

This is a story about the centurylong rise and fall of the village of Pittsville, Texas. It is an illustration of how vision and planning impacts cities and how a lack of vision literally led one town to ruin.

he Texas State Historical Association has recorded a brief history of Fulshear, Texas as well as that of the village of Pittsville, Texas. The two towns were born of local landowners. Through opportunities, choice, and change, only one of the two towns would have a future.

A historical marker along the west side of FM 359 between Fulshear and Brookshire alerts passers-by to the approximate location of the all-but-forgotten village of Pittsville. According to the location of the sign, the community was located approximately 3.2 miles north of the current City of Fulshear along what is now FM 359. Except for the historic marker, little remains of Pittsville, short of fading family memories, archived historical photographs, and opportunities sadly missed.

The Founding of

Pittsville

According to the historical marker dedicated and placed on the site in 2012, the village of Pittsville, Texas was founded in the 1840s. Pittsville was named after

Photo Courtesy of the Rosenberg Railroad Museum

the major store owners in the area, A. R. and Amanda (Wade) Pitts. The Pitts’ were among the area’s early settlers. Their store must have been a veritable anchor to the community as the village enjoyed relatively consistent growth over the next twenty years. In 1860, the village of Pittsville claimed 240 residents and by 1870, Pittsville appears to have been an up-andcoming town, complete with a post office, a school, a photo studio, and other essential services such as a blacksmith and millinery as well as other businesses. These were certainly the types of businesses and accoutrements one would expect of such a young, but growing community. As time progressed, Pittsville achieved a true milestone in the life of the small, but growing village. This came in the form of what today’s governmental leaders would call increased mobility.

A Brief History of the

Texas Western Railway Originally promoted in 1870, The “Western Narrow Gauge Railway Company” was planned to run from St. Emanuel and Commerce streets in Houston to San Antonio and points far to the west. Its founders offered investors a grandiose vision, which, due to insufficient funding and ongoing financial troubles, would never be fulfilled.

Some in the Pittsville community expressed their excitement regarding the proposal to build a railway line so close to Pittsville. Clinton Drake, in his essay titled “The Pittsville Neighborhood, Fort Bend County, Texas” reports of a letter from Lee Nesbitt in January of 1871 in which the writer states: “A lively interest is felt here in the success of the Narrow Gauge Railroad; as our whole trade lies in the direction of Houston. The connection would be of great material benefit. It would bring this productive section almost to the suburbs of your flourishing city. Two hours time would take us the thirty miles distance and the effect of it would be to rapidly settle up this neighborhood, make it the chief source of supply for your market of every variety of country produce.” The relatively close proximity of a railroad that could take their agricultural products to markets in Houston in hours instead of days appears to have meant greater economic opportunities for those in the growing area. Pittsville, it may have seemed, was destined for great things. The railroad broke ground in 1872. It got off to a slow start as actual construction didn’t actually begin until 1875, at which time it was renamed the “Texas Western Narrow Gauge Railway Company”. Over the next two years, the railway would extend its westerly reach forty-two miles from downtown Houston.

As it pushed westward, the Texas Western passed through the areas to the south of what would later become Katy. The railroad continued along a northwesterly path that would bring it to approximately four miles northeast of Pittsville. From there, the railroad continued through an area to the north of what would become Brookshire. The railway construction paused when the tracks reached the newly-formed railroad town of Pattison, Texas in 1877. Within two years, hard times befell the poorly capitalized railroad. After suffering a financial failure and a subsequent bankruptcy in 1879, followed by a reorganization in 1881, the railroad was renamed the “Texas Western Railway Company”. Following the reorganization, the line was extended from Pattison, across the Brazos River and is reported to have entered Sealy, Texas by 1882. Within ten years of breaking ground, the railroad had a new name, new owners, and it had grown to what was to be its ultimate length of 52 miles.

Opportunity Knocks Only Once It is documented in regional historical archives and often rumored in local lore, that Pittsville missed a golden opportunity to secure its anticipated place in history. In the late 1880’s, the San Antonio & Aransas Pass Railroad (SA&AP Railroad) was expanding its rail system in an effort to serve markets as far south as Corpus Christi, Texas. To do so, the railroad needed a level, cost-effective route. It turned out that Pittsville was the preferred location for the SA&AP Railroad as it happened to be well aligned for the intended expansion area.

The SA&AP Railroad offered Pittsville property owners the first right of refusal on the deal of a lifetime. The SA&AP Railroad asked Pittsville property owners to provide the right of way for the new railroad in exchange for the benefits that a railroad would bring by coming through their property.

Pittsville Said “No” Monday-morning quarterbacks might too-quickly question the reasons that a community might have for rejecting the increased mobility that a railroad would represent today. Regardless of knowing the reasons why, we do know that Pittsville refused the SA&AP Railroad’s offer outright. There are any number of reasons as to why Pittsville rejected the SA&AP Railroad’s overture. It is said that some local ranchers felt the noise would frighten their cattle. It is also said that some of the landowners simply didn’t want to provide the right of way. Mr. Ken Stavinoha, Railroad Historian with the Rosenberg Railroad Museum, recalls a quote to the effect of “... the leaders of Pittsville ‘saw no future for a town on a railroad’.” He says “This would indicate that Pittsville did not consider itself as being served by a railroad and wanted nothing to do with one.” At the rejection of their offer, the SA&AP Railroad, remained intent on completing its objective and had no choice but to look elsewhere for willing landowners. As it turned out, they found one just over three miles to the south of Pittsville.

Photo Courtesy of Ken E. Stavinoha Collection

Vision Meets Action Churchill Fulshear Sr., was an “Old Three-Hundred” settler that had received a land grant from Mexico in 1824. He was the plantation owner and family patriarch that originally settled the area to the south of what would become Pittsville. By the 1880’s, his son, Churchill Jr. had inherited his father’s land, holdings, and fortune. More importantly, by all appearances, he had also acquired and refined his father’s business acumen. There is no record of the conversations and negotiations that Churchill Jr. must have had in order to facilitate the railroad right-of-way and the transaction that made the railroad passing through his property a reality. Neither is there a record of Churchill Jr.’s plans, visions, or even his mindset related to advancing his own financial agenda. History does, however, record what happened in 1888 after Pittsville rebuffed the SA&AP Railroad’s offer. Churchill Fulshear was ultimately asked to provide the right-of-way for the new railroad.

Quick Facts •

In 1890, the same year that Fulshear was laid out, the SA&AP Railroad went into receivership.

•

Churchill Fulshear, Jr. died in 1892, just two years after the town bearing his family name was founded.

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In 1892, the same year that Churchill Fulshear, JR, died, the SA&AP came out of receivership at which time the Southern Pacific Railroad gained effective control of the SA&AP.

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In 1992, one-hundred years after the death of Churchill Fulshear, Houston METRO acquired the SA&AP Railroad right of way, but allowed railroad operations to continue.

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In 1996, one-hundred years after the Texas Western Railway ceased operations, the Southern Pacific merged with the Union Pacific Railroad.

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Union Pacific continued to operate the rail line until 1999 - one hundred years after the Texas Western Railway was abandoned.

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After Union Pacific ceased operations, METRO removed the tracks and sold most of the gravel ballast.

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Fort Bend County is currently finalizing plans to acquire the railroad right-ofway from Houston METRO all the way to Eagle Lake.

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After Fort Bend County takes ownership of the SA&AP Railroad right of way, Houston METRO will retain the right to someday utilize the corridor for future commuter rail.

Fulshear Said "Yes" In 1888, Churchill Fulshear Jr. decided to embrace the SA&AP Railroad by providing the railroad right-of-way through his property. This decision, combined with the economic coup that it would ultimately represent, must have set him apart from other area landowners. Having a railroad on property that he controlled would put his holdings on the doorstep of an ever-expanding marketplace. The railroad could certainly put him in the position of leading the areas growth. So it was in 1890 that the railroad platted the town of Fulshear. Its footprint is forever memorialized in Fulshear’s downtown streets that are still in place today. The new SA&AP depot in that was built in Fulshear was slightly more than three miles from Pittsville. Although the SA&AP Railroad is no more, its impact reverberates even now, 124 years after Fulshear’s founding in 1890, in the Fulshear area’s mobility planning. FM 1093, for example, parallels the original SA&AP Railroad rail right-of-way. The presence of FM 1093 has led the way for many thousands of acres of development in and around Fulshear and to tens of thousands of acres to be developed in the growing cities beyond. The corridor created by the railroad in 1888 has made a way for the improved mobility that has been provided by the Westpark Toll road. The investment made in this now-indispensable mobility corridor has been singly-responsible for increasing access to business, employment and shopping centers of Houston’s vibrant Galleria and Downtown areas. The SA&AP Railroad certainly did set the stage for the growth that the City of Fulshear now enjoys and is, in many ways, still making plans to accommodate. As a visionary, Churchill Jr. showed vision and judgment in his approach to doing business and improving access to

complete with their own depots along a much better railroad. The new MK&T depot in that was built in Brookshire was just over four miles from Pittsville. As fate would have it, the MK&T’s tracks intersected with the Texas Western’s tracks between Brookshire and Katy, in a location between what are now Woods and Igloo Roads near HWY 90. This symbolic severing of the rails, would end all hope of the Texas Western Railway recovering its former glory.

Irreconcilable Differences As often happens when technologies collide, there was no way to overcome the fact that the two intersecting railways were simply not compatible with one another. The Texas Western Railway was, from its inception, a narrow gauge railway. By definition, the distance between its rails utilized a 3’ 0” “narrow gauge” standard. the area. As a farmer, rancher, and landowner, Churchill, Jr. undoubtedly saw that a new railroad traversing the area would bring vast improvement to how he got products to market and how business was done in the area. He clearly wanted to be a part if it.

The Texas Western’s

Dashed Glimmer of Hope Even though the SA&AP Railroad had come through Fulshear in 1890, and clearly claimed its share of the railway cargo and passenger transportation market along its path, some might think that the Texas Western Railway would still be able to compete on some level. After all, farmers and ranchers in the areas in and around Sealy, Pattison, and Brookshire as well as those in Pittsville and Katy still had to get products to and from markets in Houston. Considering that the Texas Western Railway was still the best option to serve these areas due to the proximity of the railway, it is reasonable to believe that there must have been plenty of business for the Texas Western Railway, right?

Enter the MK&T Railroad By 1893, the well-financed Missouri-Kansas & Texas railroad (MK&T) had out-maneuvered the Texas Western Railway Company by entering Houston market area from Waco and into Sealy, Texas. By the time the MK&T railroad steamrolled into the area, their rail line was already providing rail service to San Antonio and passed through many of the towns to the west that the Texas Western Railway Company had previously planned to someday serve. It must have been a dark day for the Texas Western Railway Company, when the MK&T railroad crossed westward from Sealy and continued laying their tracks. In a move that would sap what remained of the Texas Western railway’s business, the MK&T would establish Brookshire and then Katy as new railroad towns,

The MK&T, on the other hand, was created to be a “standard gauge” railroad. Its design utilized a wider track width of 4’ 8-1/2”. Being designed as a standard gauge railroad, the MK&T’s cars were considered more stable and potentially safer. Due to the improved rail standard, the MK&T’s trains had greater capacity and could achieve greater speeds. In short, the MK&T was a better railroad than the soon-to-be-outdated Texas Western Railway. The differences between the gauges of their tracks meant that the two railway companies could in no way share the tracks. This unavoidable incompatibility certainly sealed The Texas Western Railway Company’s fate as there was no way to share the MK&T’s tracks. Though it was once considered a useful and costeffective regional railroad, it took just sixteen years for the vision of the Texas Western Narrow Gauge Railway to be eclipsed and confounded by the opportunities and progress presented by the superior railroad technology.

Texas Western Railway Fades into History In 1895, five years after the SA&AP Railroad came through the new “Fulshear” area, and just two years after the MK&T rolled into the new “Brookshire” area, the Texas Western Railway was sold. It ceased operations in 1896. In 1899, twenty-nine years after it was originally promoted, and twenty-two years after it began serving the village of Pittsville, the once proud, state-of-the-art Texas Western Railway was abandoned altogether. By mid-summer of 1900, the tracks had been removed. For its part, the village of Pittsville struggled to remain viable throughout the coming years. It is reported that after the SA&AP Railroad came through Fulshear that many Pittsville residents and business owners simply shifted their interests and their livelihoods to the newlyminted Fulshear community in order to take advantage

of the improved railroad and the expanding market it brought with it. The eventual exodus sealed the fate of the once-thriving village, relegating Pittsville to be recorded as a footnote to our area’s future and placing it on the path of relative obscurity.

Consequence of a

Crossroad Moment It is reasonable to see how the SA&AP Railroad serving Fulshear, with its increased regional reach, higher speed, and better freight and passenger service, instantly became a better option for farmers and ranchers in the area than was the Texas Western Railway. As well, most would also agree that the MK&T entering the market just three years later, being well financed, spanning three states, and being equally close to Pittsville as was the Texas Western Railway, further sealed the community’s fate. The issue that truly doomed Pittsville may have simply been the village’s own failure to choose well at a crucial “crossroad” moment. It might have been Pittsville’s own decision to pass up their best opportunity to adapt to the changes brought on by invention, innovation and technology that brought their community to ruin. A different decision would almost certainly have resulted in a different outcome. Had Pittsville embraced the SA&AP Railroad, we might be heralding the growth of Pittsville today instead of Fulshear’s bright future. It was by the residents’ own choice, not by chance, that Pittsville failed to embrace the change that improvements in technology always bring. As Pittsville’s future ultimately passed it by, it was a lack of vision that brought the once hopeful and confident village to its ultimate decline and downfall. Pittsville’s last residents are said to have simply migrated away from Pittsville to Fulshear and to Brookshire over the next fifty years. History records that the last residents left Pittsville in the late 1940’s, leaving little to be recovered.

A Lesson Learned? Wisdom teaches that a lesson is best learned only once. By comparing the choices and decisions that Pittsville and Fulshear each made, we see that the future rewards those who remain willing to pursue it. It is by being willing to support good vision with commensurate investment that a community

Photo from the Sethora West Collection Courtesy of Frances Smart

is able to keep pace with the opportunities and challenges that invention, innovation, and technology will always bring.

Anticipating the

Future

Today, Fulshear is growing, in part, due to the early vision and subsequent decisions of the City’s Founder, Churchill Fulshear, Jr. He deserves credit for the foundation on which Fulshear’s future is being built. Since the time of Churchill Fulshear, Jr., there have been many decisions made that have shaped the current City of Fulshear. Be assured, that in the coming years, there will be many more decisions to be made. Many of those future decisions will have equally significant potential outcomes. In his ongoing commitment to work with others in order to shape the city’s future, Fulshear Mayor Tommy Kuykendall is continuing the tradition of visionary leadership. Along with the Fulshear City Council and the entire municipal staff at Fulshear City Hall, Tommy and his team are dedicated to capturing, communicating, and fostering the vision that Churchill Fulshear Sr. set into motion when he received his original land grant from Mexico over 190 years ago. Through such dedicated planning, Fulshear’s leaders will surely continue to provide for the growth that is now occurring in Fulshear. d Special Thanks to Jim Vollmar and Ken E. Stavinoha, Directors of the Rosenberg Railroad Museum, for their invaluable assistance and direction that provided important factual elements,that significantly improved the of accuracy and historical context of this article. Thanks also to Lisa Rickert, Program Director for the Rosenberg Railroad Museum, Chris Craven, and Glenn Fair for their assistance and railroad insight.

Briscoe

The Next Generation of

It all started

on a flight to Las Vegas when Bill and Jorden Briscoe Mahler, father and son owners of Briscoe Manor, had a conversation about the future of the Briscoe property on 723 in Richmond. That drawing on a paper napkin turned into a successful and unparalleled wedding and event venue nestled with large pecan trees that create the perfect backdrop and serene atmosphere. As Briscoe Manor approaches their 10th anniversary since creating their first happily ever after, Jorden reflects back on the beginning. “It was definitely a lot of hard work in the beginning with some ‘figure it out as we go’ mentality, but seeing our staff grow from just two people working every angle of the venue to our now 9 full time on-site staff; it is humbling, to say the least.”

“We are Texas

all the way, but not in a cheesy, overused way.” Jorden explains that Briscoe Manor offers a subtle yet elegant rustic setting. The heritage behind the Briscoe family and land is rich and those involved with Briscoe Manor exude that ideal and make it their priority to keep that history alive. Jorden feels that the majority of the brides that choose Briscoe Manor as the place to have their wedding hold the same type of southern Christian family values, far from the bridezillas that you see on TV.

One thing you should know

is that Briscoe Manor is more than just weddings. They have a space for corporate uses that gives a simple meeting or corporate gala an elegance and privacy that just cannot be matched in

Photo by Carlino’s Photography

WRITTEN BY ASHLEY MANCHACA

the area. They have the ability to allow their client 100% private access to the 50 acre estate. They provide security for every event. “We also have a large paved private parking lot that a lot of other venues just aren’t putting at the top of their priority list; they are forcing people to pay for valet for their car to sit who knows where during the events.” Jorden’s wheels are always turning to provide new ideas to keep Briscoe Manor fresh in the already hot wedding industry, especially with the rise of new event venues. He is always trying to put money back into the business. For 2015, they added Ella’s Décor Barn which is an area for booked brides to design and rent items that the Briscoe Manor staff have noticed were popular amongst their current brides. In a world of Pinterest and DIY, this creative barn allows a bride the look and feel she is going for without having to buy numerous inventory items that she has no need for after the wedding. Jorden details the purpose in explaining, “It is all about trying to make it convenient for the bride.” Additions like this are what creates that edge that Briscoe Manor has above all other local event venues.

Briscoe Manor’s legacy

is something that is important and on the forefront of Jorden’s mind. When asked, he states, “For our legacy, I hope it’s one that created good jobs for our employees that they felt like they could take pride in and feel as though they are a part of something bigger than themselves. As for our Brides and Grooms, we treat people the way we want to be treated and that is largely proportionate to our success. Looking back, the families that choose Briscoe Manor for more than just one of their children …that’s when you know you’re doing it right.” d

Jorden’s

R U N D O W N H

I’ve always been drawn to politics, maybe one day it will call me…Republican of course.

Just a thought…Growing up, I thought my grandpa was one of the smartest people I’ve ever known… and he was, even with a sixth grade education.

S D E E N TES ? A D TED A D P U

Being loud is not something I am. I’m a quiet person so people usually think I’m just that or that I’m being rude…I think I ‘m just quiet. Shhh.

Smoking meat on my BBQ smoker is my new favorite hobby right after hunting.

Children will bring out your parents in you real quick…it’s true.

Always…be nice. I don’t care who you are, it doesn’t impress me. Treat everyone the same.

Amy Briscoe Mahler was my grandma and probably the sweetest lady I have ever known… and if you don’t think so…then you simply never met her.

Easton and Ella are our twins and just turned 2 years old recently. They are hard work, but fun for sure!

H H

My desk is a mess, yet I know where everything is.

My degree is actually in Criminal Justice, but somehow I managed to find myself owning a wedding venue…interesting.

Photo by Carlino’s Photography

Next year makes the 5th Anniversary with my wife, Stephanie. We met as neighbors in college back in 2002 at Texas State.

Briscoe Manor is the best wedding venue in the Houston area…I like to think and I like to also think that we are the bar setter for all of the others to follow.

Photo by Evoke Photography

Weddings • Corporate Special Events ( 2 81) 2 3 8 - 4 700

H H

If I could wear a cap every day, I would.

October 2016 marked our 10yr Anniversary here at Briscoe Manor, crazy how time flies.

5801 FM 723 Richmond, TX 77406

My Dad, Bill has played a much larger part of my life then he probably realizes. He’s a great dad and grandpa, we’re lucky to have him.

i nfo @bri scoem a n or .com www. bri scoem a n or .com

ANDY MEYERS

SERVE,

FAITHFULLY

WRITTEN BY DANIEL MCJUNKIN PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANIEL MCJUNKIN

SPEAKING OF HARVEY During the height of the storm, Meyers’ role across Precinct 3 concentrated on the most pressing needs. His attention was focused on opening shelters, collecting food, water and supplies, emergency planning meetings with the Commissioner’s Court, and continued later as he organized large community informational events at Cinco Ranch and Fulshear high schools. In the final tally, over 4,000 homes in Precinct 3 flooded.

Meyers’ home flooded too, although he minimized his attention to it. His time and resources were focused primarily upon his responsibilities as Commissioner. Apparently, not even his own staff knew the initial extent of Andy’s flood damage. According to Meyers’ staff member, Robert Pechukas, “It wasn’t until weeks later that we found out that his home had also taken on water.” Robert continued, “I had been talking with him hourly during the height of the storm and I didn’t even know that his house had flooded. He was so focused on communication and help for our residents who were relying upon us for information as we pieced it together. It’s a testament to what kind of man he is.”

urricane Harvey brought out the best of many in Fort Bend County. To be sure, there are countless stories of people helping their neighbors, communities becoming more united, dramatic rescues, and selfless giving. But, Fort Bend County has prevailed as the worst storm in history galvanized the community with the will to triumph over the tragedy. Among the many unsung heroes of Hurricane Harvey, Fort Bend County Commissioner Andy Meyers stands out for his decisive actions during and after the event. His work is ongoing.

Future generations may very well benefit from what Andy accomplished during Harvey because of the subsequent attention he brought to a quirk of the Texas Open Meetings Act. This law is intended to ensure open public access to governmental meetings and carries stiff punishment for any violation.

Commissioner Andy Meyers represents Precinct 3 in Fort Bend County. It is an area that extends from the Brazos River in Simonton all the way down to the Sugar Creek community in Sugar Land. It can be said that this heavily populated precinct was the hardest hit during Hurricane Harvey.

The troublesome issue came to light during Hurricane Harvey as Meyers, in his role as Commissioner was forbidden to freely communicate with the County Judge, in his role as Emergency Director. This, even though the County Judge could speak with the city mayors unhindered. For example, the County Judge

OPEN MEETINGS HAMSTRINGS

“It wasn’t until weeks later that we found out... I didn’t even know that his house had flooded too.”

could pick up the phone and call the Mayors of Katy or Fulshear to coordinate planning or evacuations, but the Open Meetings Act forbid that call being placed between himself and Commissioner Meyers. That meant delays and duplication of efforts were a real risk for the 230,000+ residents of Precinct 3 who do not live inside city limits. Precinct 3 Constable, Wayne Thompson put it this way. “Commissioner Meyers and his staff were operating with one hand tied behind their back because of that law. That’s why the State Legislature hustled Andy in to testify.” According to the Constable, “The interim committee members were stunned when he gave them the blow-by-blow of how the Open Meetings Act hurt the communication and confused our residents with the evacuation orders. They called up the Attorney General’s experts to verify what Commissioner Meyers said, and the AG’s office confirmed it. They’re going to change the law for the better this session, in large part due to Commissioner’s leadership and testimony.”

AFTER THE STORM Commissioner Meyers’ leadership didn’t end with the storm’s passing. He soon began brainstorming ways to provide financial relief to individual families impacted by Harvey. Early in his tenure as commissioner, Andy founded a charitable organization called Fort Bend Charities, Inc. The mission of this organization is to give to organizations and people in need of various types of assistance such as Katy Christian Ministries, Simonton Christian Academy, and the Lone Star Veterans Association. Fort Bend Charities had a new mission after Hurricane Harvey: assisting families who had been financially impacted by the storm and flood. “Andy raised over $130,000 through the charity,” said Chris Elam, another member of the Precinct 3 staff. “He told the Charity Board that he didn’t want it to be some

Hugh Durlam, who lives in Canyon Gate and was flooded out due to the Barker Reservoir, said, “he had a charity to raise funds for victims of Hurricane Harvey and was able to put thousands of dollars in the hands of those who really needed it. Commissioner Meyers always took my calls or called me back quickly. He was very hands-on, ground floor, and accessible during this disaster and worked tirelessly to help make us whole.”

GOOD WORK

sort of Instagram social media promotion campaign. So he made the plan and executed it. He found the families who needed help the most and has spent the better part of six months individually giving those families $1,000 checks. They have really appreciated it, especially coming from someone who lives in his own home that still isn’t fully repaired.” One recipient, Adriana Vecino, said, “On behalf of my family, thank you so much for your donation. We have been blessed for receiving assistance from generous people like you.”

As the months have gone by since Harvey’s devastating hit on our community, and residents have resumed their daily lives, Andy continues in many additional “under-the-radar” roles. Whether working through the State Legislature to improve laws, raising funds through Fort Bend Charities, Inc., or grinding out the 12+ hour workdays he regularly keeps, his staff acknowledges that Andy is always on the move. as he continues to advance solutions for his constituents that go above and beyond the duties of his elected office. Regardless of the time and financial burdens from his personal flood damage and recovery, Andy Meyers continues to work through his position as County Commissioner to faithfully serve those whose lives have been turned upside down by Harvey. d

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RED CH ICK EN CURRY W ITH B A B Y B OK CH OY

RED Chicken Curry

WITH BABY BOK CHOY WRITTEN BY JACLYN RITTER

There is nothing more warm, soulful, and nourishing than curries. These feel-good kinds of meals always leave you feeling satisfied. Curries span many regions, India, Asia, and Britain to name a few, and the ingredients are endless. From ginger to lemongrass, coconut milk to a garden array of fresh herbs and spices â&#x20AC;&#x201C; curries are dishes that warm the soul. I was first introduced to curry while studying abroad in Wales. To say I was conflicted about my feelings toward the dish my host family laid in front of me one summer evening would be an understatement. The bold flavors were overwhelming to my conservative palette. However, over the past decade, I have found myself seeking out curries of all kinds.

F UL SHEA R M A GA ZI NE

With that being said, I am often daunted by curry recipes. There are so many ingredients, many of which I have never cooked with before. After many failed attempts, I tend to leave it to the experts and order carry out. No more! I found this recipe in the September 2018 issue of Health Magazine. I garnered up some courage and gave it a whirl in the kitchen once more, and I am so glad I did. It was divine! As the weather starts cooling off, make a big pot of this soul warming dish you will not be disappointed! d

INGREDIENTS

• 2 tbsp. olive oil, divided • 1 medium-size red bell pepper, chopped • 1 medium-size shallot, chopped • 1 tbsp. finely chopped lemongrass • 1 ½ tsp. grated fresh ginger • ¼ cup red curry paste • 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth • 1 cup coconut cream • ¼ tsp. fine sea salt, divided • 6 oz. baby bok choy (2 heads), quartered • 2 6-oz. boneless, skinless chicken breasts • ¼ tsp. black pepper Serve over jasmine rice with basil and lime wedges.

WITH BABY BOK CHOY

Makes 4 servings

1. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add bell pepper; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 6 minutes. Add shallot, lemongrass, and ginger; cook, stirring often, until fragrant, about 1 minutes. Add curry paste: cook, stirring constantly, until slightly caramelized, about 30 seconds. 2. Add chicken broth, coconut cream, and 1/8 teaspoon of the salt. Bring to a boil over mediumhigh heat, scraping bottom of pan to release browned bits. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, until slightly reduced, about 5 minutes. Add bok choy; cook, stirring often, until tender, about 4 minutes. 3. Meanwhile, heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium. Sprinkle chicken breasts with pepper and remaining salt. Cook until a thermometer inserted in thickest portion registers 165 degrees Fahrenheit. About 6-7 minutes each side. Let rest for 5 minutes before slicing. 4. Prepare rice according to package directions. Divide rice, curry sauce, and chicken in shallow bowls and garnish with basil and lime wedges.

WW W.F ULSHEA R .COM

Red Chicken Curry

PREPARATION

A NEW STYLE OF COUNTRY LIVING

WRITTEN BY JACLYN RITTER, PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF HEGER

hat was it about the city of Fulshear that drew you in? For many, it was Fulshearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s small town feel and undeniable charm. It is here where families can acquire sizable property and experience a bit of the country, all while being a short drive away from the city and its multitude of amenities. As Houston continues to push westward and Fulshear grows, open acreage become harder to come by. Nestled along a bend in the Brazos River, Laprada Landing offers that much needed escape from busy city life. This Highland Resources property, located just three miles southeast of Fulshear, is unlike anything else. With 720 acres divided into just nine tracts, buyers will

have the unique opportunity to let their imaginations run wild. The vast views of wildlife, flowers and mature trees draped in delicate Spanish moss overlooking the river, paint a picture of nature at its finest. Whether it be intended as the family ranch, or a second home away from downtown, Laprada Landing is what everyone is talking about.

LAND RICH IN HISTORY

Laprada is no ordinary piece of land, it is part of Texasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; rich history. Its unique narrative begins in 1824 when David Randon and Isaac Pennington acquired land from Stephen F. Austin, joining the prominent group of

“THE MORE TRANQUIL A MAN BECOMES, THE GREATER IS HIS SUCCESS, HIS INFLUENCE,

HIS POWER FOR GOOD. CALMNESS OF MIND IS ONE OF THE BEAUTIFUL JEWELS OF WISDOM.”

Texas’ first settlers – the Old Three Hundred. Randon and his wife Nancy McNeel ran a successful plantation on the property until 1859 when they sold the land. After being passed through a few more hands over the years, Highland acquired the 2,000 acres in the late 1970’s. After thirty years of cattle ranching operations, the decision was made to market the southernmost 720 acres. While they could easily sell to a residential developer who would likely strip away the property of its charm, displacing the wildlife and thinning out the trees, Highland has chosen to divide the acreage into nine tracts, ranging from 60 to 105 acres. “We have owned this property for over thirty years, so we have had a long time to think about its future,” says Charles Wolcott, President and CEO. “It was never in the cards to do a development property, it is just too pretty.” In fact,

JAMES ALLEN

they have incorporated protective covenants within the deed to ensure that the location remains secluded and not built up like the tightly packed communities nearby. For example, only one residence is allowed per 60 acres and every home site must be set back off the road a minimum of 300 feet. Highland is so proud of the property’s legacy, that they have taken it a step further and applied through the Fort Bend Historical Commission for a historical marker. They are pleased to say that just recently they have been accepted. The marker will be called the Randon and Pennington Grant of 1824. Charles is pleased knowing that it is no longer hearsay, it is proven historic record. “We hope that by acquiring this historical marker people see the deep history tied to the property and that they are not just buying a piece of ranch land, but a piece of Texas history.”

NATURE AT ITS FINEST

“We are excited to be involved with this property,” shares Gloria Catalani, operations manager at Highland. “I even find myself escaping the city and relaxing amongst the vast wilderness just to get away from the day to day strife.” This comes as no surprise because the aura of Laprada Landing is truly magical. There the air smells sweeter, the grass is greener and the stars seem to shine brighter. Situated on newly named Laprada Trace, a county road that dead-ends within Laprada Landing, buyers can rest assured that there will be no through traffic. Majestic pecans, live oaks and water oaks cover the property. In the spring, the area is draped in color thanks to the beautiful Texas wildflowers. “The river is the large selling point – the gem,” says Charles. There are no land locked tracts. All nine front a large stretch of the Brazos and have buildable home sites. The land is perpetually preserved and protected from dense development as portions of this property are within floodway and floodplain delineations that were finalized by FEMA in 2014. Highland was looking for a name as unique as the property itself – something evocative of the feel of the land. Laprada is a play on words of the Spanish word la pradera, meaning meadow. The name has since been trademarked as to remain unique to the property.

PRIME LOCATION

“We want to be different than anything else in the area, but still blend in,” notes Gloria. “We are working to create understated country elegance in a unique and secluded location.” Located right around the corner from the highly sought after Fulshear area, and only 40 miles west of Houston, there will be no sacrifice of the desirable amenities city living brings. Residents will be minutes from local stores and restaurants. This kind of property is hard to find. Laprada Landing is a place you can go to escape, to breathe, to be closer with nature – and call home. A place with as rich a history as this is meant to be preserved and enjoyed. It is now time for a new generation to be part of that legacy. d

Energy Corridor

8 Katy

ay Westpark Tollw

610

Sugar Land

For more information about LAPRADA LANDING contact

MIKE ROLLER at (281) 346-0222

RE/MAX REALTY WEST

Bra z

r ve Ri os

Houston

MIKE@MOVEWEST.NET

Fulshear

The Galleria

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