Fort Bend Independent

FORT BEND

FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE.

wwwww.fbindependent.com.fbindependent.com

P. O.BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487-0623WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2010

VOL 3 No. 45

Seshadri KumarPublisher & Editor

10701 Corporate Drive, #282, Staff ord, TX 77477Mailing Address: P.O. Box 623, Sugar Land, TX 77487

www.fbindependent.com281-980-6745

Fort Bend Independent, (USPS 025-572) is published every Wednesday (for a subscription rate of $20 per year) by Fort Bend Independent, LLC., 10701 Corporate Dr., #282, Stafford, Texas 77477. Periodicals Postage Paid at Stafford, Texas. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Fort Bend Independent, P.O. Box 623, Sugar Land, Tx 77487.

Phone: 281-980-6745

Offi cial newspaper of Fort Bend County & Sugar Land

YARD OF THE MONTH. Quail Valley Garden Club has selected the garden of Diane and Sandy Peyton as recipient of the November Yard of the Month. Diane and Sandy have been in their home at 3318 Boca Raton for the past 20 years. They are pictured with a plant provided by Flowers by Adela. Surrounded by beautiful palm and Gem Magnolia trees, the landscape is anchored by the ever-popular Knock-out roses and Carolyn Whorton caladiums as well as purple lantanas and bright yellow and purple pansies. Drive by to enjoy their seasonal color and painted pumpkins or visit http://traction.typepad.com/qvgc/yard-of-the-month.html

By BARBARA FULENWIDERWith the mid-term elections

over it appears that folks in Fort Bend County did the same thing citizens across the nation did. They hit the button to elect all offi cials who were mem-bers of their political party of choice.

In Fort Bend County, as was expected, Republicans won in every race where there were opposing candidates.

Republican Thomas R. Cul-ver III was returned to his job as judge of the 240th Judicial District by a vote of 80,378 to Democrat Fredericka Allen’s 55,341votes.

Incumbent Republican Brady G. Elliott coasted back to the 268th Judicial District judge’s job with 80,169 votes to Democrat Albert Hollan’s 55,182 votes.

County Judge Bob Hebert ran for re-election as a Republi-can and won with 81,225 votes to 54,233 for Democrat oppo-nent Rodrigo Carreon. Write-in candidate, Chris Meeks got 185 votes.

Republican Bud Childers put Democrat Milton Flick away with 80,154 votes for the job of judge, County Court at Law No. 1. Flick received 55,263 votes. Republican Jeff McMeans got 78,834 votes for judge, County Court at Law No. 2, over Dem-ocrat opponent Harrison Gregg Jr., who got 56,754 votes.

In the district clerk race, in-cumbent Republican Annie Re-becca Elliott got 79,192 votes to win over Democrat Veronica Torres, who received 56,267 votes.

Republican Dianne Wilson got 81,322 votes to win the county clerk’s job over oppo-nent Democrat Korinthia Mill-er, who received 54,482 votes.

Fort Bend County incum-bents who ran unopposed so were returned to offi ce are Family District Judge Ron Pope, District Attorney John Healey, Judge Susan G. Low-ery, County Court at Law No. 3; Judge R. H. Sandy Bielstein, County Court at Law No. 4.

Also, elected were Pct. 2 County Commissioner Grady

Prestage, Pct. 4 County Com-missioner James Patterson, Pct. 2 Justice of the Peace Joel Clouser, Pct. 3 Justice of the Peace Ken Cannata and Pct. 4 Justice of the Peace Jim Rich-ard.

In other races, Dist. 26 State Rep. Charlie Howard, (R), Sugar Land retained his seat with 65 percent of the votes, defeating Democrat Philip Andrews who got 33 percent. Joey Rolan, a Libertarian, got 2 percent.

In Dist. 27, Ron Reynolds, (D) trounced Libertarian Derek Grayson with 85 percent to 15 percent.

In Dist. 28, John Zerwas (R) retained his seat with 72 percent of the votes polled, while his opponent, Wayne Raasch,(D), got 28 percent.

Similarly, U.S. Rep. for Dist. 22 Pete Olson and U.S. Rep. Ron Paul for Dist. 14 eas-ily won their respetive races in multiple counties.

Incumbent State Senators Glenn Hegar and Joan Huff-man were also re-elected.

The Indo American Forum of Fort Bend hosted its sev-enth annual Diwali (Festival of Lights) Gala on Oct. 29 at Safari Texas Ranch. One of the highlight of this evening was the recognition of a very wor-thy charity- Child Advocates of Fort Bend. Presenting a check for $10,000 to Jim Shaw, Vice-President of CAFB, IAF chair-man Harish Jajoo said “We are very pleased to collaborate with a very well known charity organization for a very worthy cause. CAFB is well known to be the voice of abused and ne-glected children in Fort Bend County. We as Indo-Americans want to help out in this cause in support of the entire com-munity.” Guests included US Rep. Pete Olson, Nancy Olson, and Fort Bend County Com-missioners Andy Meyers and James Patterson.

IAF is the premier organi-zation in Fort Bend area that represents the growing Indo-American community. The focus is to encourage and pro-mote participation in social, cultural and civic affairs to en-sure a better future for the next generation of Indo-Americans. For more information, visit www.indoamericanforum.org.

IAF donates $10K to Child Advocates

Jim Shaw, left, receives the check from Harish Jajoo.

Republicans retain control of county offi ces

By SESHADRI KUMARThe Fort Bend County

Democratic Party’s desire to turn the county blue miserably fell short on Nov. 2. If the 2008 presidential election gave hope to the local Democrats to stage a comeback, the 2010 midterm elections dashed their hopes.

The local party got new leadership in Fort Bend Demo-cratic Party Chairman Steve Brown who sought to rein-vigorate the party machinery. He tried to activate grass roots by appointing precinct chairs, which remained vacant forever and he encouraged local clubs. The party opened an election headquarters and hired an ex-ecutive director.

Fort Bend County Demo-crats also fi elded an unprec-edented number of candidates to challenge the Republicans.

All that is now history. The polling numbers now give a different story.

In 2008, about 206,000 peo-ple voted. This year, the total turnout was only 140,000.

The Barack Obama factor played a distinct role both in 2008 and in 2010, but in oppo-

site ways.In 2008, in Fort Bend 50.3

percent voted straight Demo-crat and 49.1 voted straight Re-publican.

In 2010, 56.79 percent voted straight Republican and 42.62 percent voted straight Demo-cratic.

In 2008, Obama lost in Fort Bend County and John McCain won the county with 51 percent to Obama’s 48.5 percent.

This year, Democrats pinned their hopes on Bill White for governor. Again, he lost to Rick Perry in Fort Bend.

In Fort Bend, Perry received 51.5 percent and White 47 per-cent.

The gap in straight party votes, where Republicans are 14 percent more than Demo-crats, appears to be consistent in all countywide races.

The Republican incumbents defeated their Democratic challengers by a margin of 15 percent to 20 percent.

Another interesting factor is that many candidates who had no Democratic opponent also received nearly 90,000 votes, thus showing that about

40,000 people who did not vote straight party ticket voted for these candidates. For example, District Judge Ron Pope who ran unopposed received 89,731 votes and District Attorney John Healey got 88,627 votes.

“We’ve become the ground zero in Texas if Democrats are going to get serious about winning statewide,” Fort Bend Democratic Party Chairman Steve Brown was quoted as saying in an article by Mike Hailey (CapitolInside.com) before the election.

Brown writes in the Opin-ion page that Democrats lost the Congress because Obama failed to communicate.

While that assessment may be questionable, locally Fort Bend Democrats certainly need to learn to communicate effectively.

Not one Democrat, barring K.P. George who ran for coun-ty treasurer, even once sent a press release to this newspaper saying he or she is running for offi ce. They are loathe to get even free press. Maybe they believe it is the duty of the press to promote Democrats.

Fort Bend stays red

Page 2 • INDEPENDENT • NOVEMBER 10, 2010

240th District Judge Thomas R. Culver

268th District Judge Brady Elliott

County Judge Bob Hebert

County ClerkDianne Wilson

District Clerk Annie Rebecca Elliott

County Court at Law Judge No.1 Bud Childers

County Court at Law No.2 Judge Jeff McMeans

Justice of the Peace Pct. 1Mary Ward

County TreasurerJeff Council

Dist. 26 State Rep. Charlie Howard

Dist. 28 State Rep. John Zerwas

Dist. 18 State Sen. Glenn Hegar

Dist. 17 State Sen. Joan Huff man

Dist.22 U.S. Rep. Pete Olson Dist. 14 U.S. Rep. Ron Paul

Congratulations to all the winning Republican candidates in contested races in Fort Bend County.

Ad Courtesy by Fort Bend County Pct. 3 Commissioner Andy Meyers

Community newsNOVEMBER 10, 2010 • INDEPENDENT • Page 3

Directory Directory Directory Directory DirectoryAT Renovations, Inc.

101 Southwestern Blvd. Ste.230Sugar Land, TX 77478 [email protected]

(281) 787-4302

Hrbacek & Associates,P.C.130 Industrial Blvd., Suite 110

Sugar Land, TX 77478lawfi [email protected]

281-240-2424

Sandersen & Knox LLP , Accountants

130 Industrial Blvd., Suite 130 Sugar Land, TX 77478 www.SKBTexas.com

(281) 242-3232

PhysicianAccountantNik Nikam, MD

Sugar Land Heart Center16659 S.W. FWY, #361Sugar Land, TX 77479

281-265-7567www.sugarlandheartcenter.com

AttorneyLawn& LandscapeTexans Insurance & Financial Group,

101 Southwestern Blvd., Suite 230 Sugar Land, TX 77478

www.texansinsure.com (281) 277-7800

Basil Housewright, President

Insurance

Join ABWA (American Business Women’s As-sociation) SWAPEN (SW Area Professional Express Network) for a meeting on Nov. 16 at 11:30 a.m. till 1 p.m. at Sugar Creek Coun-try Club. To RSVP visit www.abwahouston.org or contact Suzette Peoples at 281-980-3322.

Williams Way Campus22003 Southwest Freeway

Richmond, TX 77469South on US 59 to Williams Way,

5 minutes from Sugar Land

PHONE: (281) 341-2000

PHYSICIAN REFERRAL: (281) 341-4800

www.oakbendmedcenter.org

IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR AWARD WINNING HOSPITAL SERVICES, CONTACT US TODAY.

HOSPITALEMERGENCY CAREWithout the WaitWithout the Wait

community hospital

In an effort to stay abreast of the ever changing and challenging issue of mobil-ity in Texas, the very active Infrastructure Department of the Central Fort Bend Cham-ber Alliance has scheduled a presentation by Fort Bend County Judge Robert Hebert at their December meeting. Judge Hebert will discuss current information relating to the I-69 corridor.

As long ago as 1991, Con-gress gave interstate desig-nation to I-69, specifying a corridor through Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mis-sissippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. Funding for the fi rst feasibility study began in 1995, and total federal funding from 1999 to 2008 reached over $60 million.

TxDOT named the inter-state as one of its four prior-ity corridors in 2002, with en-vironmental testing ongoing since 2004. Since 2008, Tx-DOT has recommended that the I-69 study area be con-

fi ned to upgradeable existing highways only, staying on ex-isting rights of way whenever possible.

Once constructed, under present plans, the I-69 Cor-ridor will create a transpor-tation artery from Canada to Mexico crossing through southern Texas and eastern Michigan. The corridor di-vides into 32 Segments of Independent Utilities (SIU) — 16 SIU’s are in Texas and require support from state offi cials before construction can begin.

Now separated from the controversial “Trans Texas Corridor” that kept it in Lim-bo for a few years, I-69 seems imminent for Texas.

The meeting will be held at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 15 at Central Fort Bend Chamber Alliance at 4120 Avenue H, Rosenberg. Call 281-342-5464 for more information or to reserve a seat.

Suzette Peoples ABR, GRI , E-Pro, 21 years Professional

Realtor; Owner of Peoples Properties, a Real Estate & Property Management Co.; American Business

Women’s Association.

Mortgage Banker can do loans in less than 30 days! Call Suzette or email: [email protected]

Suzette Peoples Broker /Owner

21 years of experience!

Direct: 281-980-3322 www.peoplesproperties.com

NEW LISTING

Adorable 2 story 4 bedrooms 2.5 baths with master down and gameroom up. All located on huge culdesac lot. Tile and wood fl oors. Gourmet granite kitchen too. Located blocks from all 3 schools. REDUCED to go $160,000.

REDUCEDFIRST COLONY/SUGAR LAND! Adorable 1-story home on cul de sac street. No neighbors behind you! 3 bedrooms & study or formal living. Open fl oor plan. Detached garage! Priced below market at $205,000.

CUSTOM SHOW CASE HOME! Over 4300sqft 5 bed-rooms 4 baths & 1/2 bath. Study and game room. Pri-vate cul de sac lot. Thousands in upgrades! Designer Decor thru out the home. Gourmet island kitchen & more! Rare fi nd! Hurry priced to go fast under $450K.

FIRST COLONY/SUGAR LAND

Riverstone. Pool, Spa, Waterfall. Built 2003. Trend-maker beauty. Over 4,700 sqft. 5 BR 4.5 baths. 3 car, 2 masters. Rare fi nd on huge oversized cul de sac lot. No neighbors next to you. Upgrades ga-lore. Zoned to Clements. Priced in the $500’s.

NEW LISTING

REDUCED/QUAIL VALLEYUpdated 1 story 4 bedrooms 2.5 bath with new roof and carpet July 2010. Interior all repainted and new fi xtures too. Great location on land-scaped reserve. Priced to go $120,000!!

BIG PRIC

E CUT

2 STORY OVER 3600 SQFT! Paradise pool! Updated and up-grades galore! Over $90K! 4/5 bedrooms 3.5 bath. Hardwoods thru-out. Zoned to Clements high school. REDUCED to go low $300’s.

SUGAR LAND/COMMONWEALTH

REDUCED

STAFOORD

SCHOOLS

GREEN MEETING. New grass-roots group, Missouri City Green, aims to promote environmental benefi ts and beautifi ca-tion efforts in Missouri City. The group will have a general meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. at the Missouri City Library, 1530 Texas Parkway, next to City Hall. For questions or more information, join the Missouri Green group on Meet-up.com or email [email protected].

“This past Friday, Nov. 5, was probably the best Thanksgiving visit at the Fifth Street Community Center – that we’ve ever had. There are so many wonderful and kind-hearted things that happened… love, laughter and excitement,” said Mary Jo Salvaggio. Chairman of the Service to Seniors proj-ect of the Exchange Club of Sugar Land, Salvaggio co-ordinates a monthly visit to the Senior Center to host a lively party for those whose birthdays were celebrated that month. There is always cake, ice cream, gifts and en-tertainment.

This month a full Thanks-giving Feast was also a part of the festivities. Turkey, corn-bread stuffi ng, rich giblet gravy, traditional casserole

of green beans and brown sugar sweet potatoes , warm yeast rolls and peach cob-bler with ice cream were pre-pared by Chef ‘D’, donated by Emeritus Assisted Living center, graciously served by the Exchange Club and photo documented by Larry Pullen of Larry Pullen Photography. Nearly 70 Stafford/Missouri City Senior citizens, 60 years of age and older gather at the Fifth Street Community Center, Monday through Friday to enjoy the programs of Meals on Wheels.

“This event epitomized the true spirit of Thanksgiving. It was a gathering together of a ‘family’ of individuals, with open hearts, giving spirits, love and laughter. And when we all left that day we had not just our stomachs, over-

fl owing hearts,” said Susan Whitacre, Director of Volun-teers at Fort Bend Seniors, Meals on Wheels.

“It’s partnerships like this between Emeritus Assisted Living, Chef ‘D’, the Ex-change Club of Sugar Land, Larry Pullen Photography and Meals on Wheels that sets our community apart and enriches the lives of our Seniors,” said Whitacre.

Following the prayer led by Deacon Bob Dunham, Manuela Arroyos, CEO of Fort Bend Meals on Wheels took the stage to welcome the Seniors, staff and Exchange Club of Sugar Land volun-teers.

A special thanks was di-rected to Jerri Krause, Ex-ecutive Director of Emeritus for the generous donation.

County judge to present update on I-69

By BARBARA FULENWIDEROffi cials of the Fort Bend

Water Control & Improvement District No. 2 have announced that their $37.9 million bond election held Nov. 2 failed.

District voters cast 342 votes against passage while 301 vot-ers favored passing the bonds. A district spokesman said, “Therefore, the bond election did not pass, and may be called again at the discretion of the board of directors. The district would like to thank all of those who participated in the bond election.”

While the district strongly supported the purposed bond election and felt passage was necessary for present and fu-ture customers, Stafford Mayor Leonard Scarcella strongly dis-agreed. He argued obviously persuasively that it was unwise for taxpayers to take on more debt.

After the votes were count-ed, the mayor said, “The peo-ple have spoken loud and clear. They have soundly rejected the attempt of the district to smoth-er the taxpayers under a grow-

ing mountain of debt, higher taxes and fl awed policies. The confi dence in the district, which was suspect, has been shaken even further.”

District offi cials were also asked to comment on the fail-ure of the bonds to pass and a spokesman said, “The district has provided superior water and sewer service since 1946 and maintains the lowest water and sewer rates in the area.

“The district is proud they have an ample water supply through 2050 and beyond for all the district’s customers which include 100 percent of the City of Stafford and its ETJ, parts of Missouri City and its ETJ, small parts of Sugar Land and the City of Houston.

“The district is committed to maintaining its water and sew-er infrastructure, to maintain its high level of service. The district thanks the voters and residents for their interest and participation in the bond elec-tion. The district will review its options and continue to keep its residents informed.”

WC& ID No.2 bond referendum fails

By RUSSELL C. JONES Back in May this column

asked Republicans this simple question: What is Plan B?

Despite doubts at the time, the Republicans have retaken the House of Representatives, and thereby hope to show the president that he must come to his senses and do a Bill Clinton style dance to the right. That was the Republican Plan A then, and, with minor revisions, that is the Republican Plan A now. This column has suggested that nothing in Obama’s history or character supports the hope–and that is all that it is, a hope--that he would do anything other than hold fast to his conviction of the correctness–make that the righ-teousness--of his left-wing posi-tions.

If ever there was an election which should have sent a mes-sage to politicians, this was it. No serious analyst can doubt that the election was the clear, loud voice of most Americans that government needs to butt out of health care and to allow the free market to work by not stifl ing business with uncertainty over taxes, regulation and the future of the national debt. No analyst, that is, except Obama and his stalwarts.

In recent weeks Obama has hardened his position, suggesting that the “enemies” of his poli-cies should sit “in the back of the bus.” Last week this column re-viewed the arrogance and elitism which he has demonstrated dur-ing his term. Nothing since the election reveals any change in his attitude.

Last week’s election most likely hardened his leftist atti-tude. Which brings us back to the question of Plan B. Sure, in his press conference the day after the election, Obama spoke of “bi-partisianship” and working with the other side of the aisle. But, then, that was a key theme of his

candidacy before the 2008 elec-tion. We know what happened after he took offi ce. This presi-dent’s idea of bi-partisianship is convincing Republicans to vote for Democrat programs.

In his fi rst post-election radio address, Obama make clear that he is not serious about compro-mise. On the one hand he made the obligatory comment that he is willing to work with Repub-licans, restating his pre-election position that the Bush-era tax cuts set to expire at the end of the year should be extended only for a limited number of taxpay-ers. On the other hand, he used the same class warfare language as ever, saying that the country “can’t afford to borrow and spend another $700 billion on perma-nent tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires.”

In other words, Obama’s po-sition on the tax cut is exactly the same as it was before the election, and, oh by the way, he will continue to villify those in our society who create jobs and produce the nation’s wealth. Is that a man who is serious about bi-partisianship? Nope. One thinks not.

If ever there was politician who echoed Obama’s true think-ing, it is soon-to-be-former Speaker Pelosi. In announcing her decision to run for Minority

Leader in the new congress (over the objection of many moderate Democrats), Pelosi expressed Obama’s true sense of bi-parti-sianship, when she proclaimed, “We have no intention of allow-ing our great achievements to be rolled back” despite the great-est mid-term losses of any party since the depression.

In both houses of Congress, the segment of the Democrat par-ty hit hardest by the Republican tidal wave was the “blue dog” wing, members who claimed rel-atively conservative credentials, and who live in the most con-servative districts. Those who survived were the more liberal members. The result is a Demo-crat delegation even further to the left than its predecessor.

Even if Republicans are suc-cessful in getting a bill passed on any subject by the Senate, be as-sured that a presidential veto will follow if it contains any hint of rejection of Obama’s programs of the past two years. There will not be suffi cient votes to override the veto, leaving the Republicans with nothing. The liberal media will carry the story as Republican reactionism, ignoring the support of most voters.

In recent months, Plan B has evolved to be nothing more than an intent to squeeze the Obama budget and authorization bills until nothing is left for Obama-care and the other programs which were rejected by the vot-ers. Needless to say, this alterna-tive leaves the Republicans wide open to charges of obstructionism and continuing to be the “party of No.” Let’s hope that the new members will be willing to stand up to the media and the popular criticism which will follow when they start the painful task of re-ducing the size of government.

Jones is a member of the Sugar Land City Council, having been fi rst elected in 2003. He owns a law fi rm and a title insurance company in Sugar Land.

By JANICE SCANLAN America has always been

known for innovation. Our “Yankee ingenuity” fuels new industries, ideas and services. Part of this innovation has come from being a melting pot of people and insights that dif-ferent thought patterns bring to innovation. The other is having opportunities for anyone will-ing to learn and work hard.

Why then has America fall-en to sixth in Innovation in the world?

Asia no longer merely ac-cepts our “yesterday” and com-modity industries, but is actu-ally becoming a leader in new technologies.

Simply, we’ve reduced our R&D – that is research and development in basic areas of science and technology. These areas were fueled by govern-ment programs primarily in the Defense Department and NASA. Then, by entrepreneurs applying them.

Why the decline? We’re put-ting our money into consuming products, not investing in new technologies.

Lack of investment, consum-er debt, defi cits, health care and entitlements are breaking the bank.

Worse these commodity-based industries are leaving or downsizing from effi ciencies, and not returning jobs to the American middle class.

Henry Ford realized that people had to be able to buy his

cars.The new industries that are

burgeoning in Asia require much higher education than we are producing, despite we have 19 of the top 20 universities. How much ink has been devot-ed to science and math educa-tion in Fort Bend schools by all the local papers?

As CEO of IBM, Louis Ger-stner says there’s one reason we’re no longer keeping up. We do not pay our teachers a com-petitive wage.

Gerstner’s Harvard MBA class had no women in 1965. Now it is over 50 percent wom-en and those jobs pay a lot more than teaching.

So despite dedicated and good teachers, many can’t keep pace with the needs anymore because the best and brightest, who used to teach and nurse, can go into any fi eld.

And we want to invest in buildings in Fort Bend . . . not

the profession of teaching that supplies the fundamentals for all professions and vocational careers of the future.

Then, there’s divisiveness that produces lack of will to fi nd solutions. It will be inter-esting if all this anger in the last election can actually produce any solutions.

Let’s face it, too many of our politicians like the race and talking better than the govern-ing. It’s been asked in this paper why independent voters don’t get engaged.

We don’t give a fi g about the ideologies or “holy grails” in either party. We want solutions that are practical and work. We hate the attack ads, misleading ads, and all the blaming others that only depresses us.

The next reason for high pay-ing jobs going away is we’re not taking the personal respon-sibility to keep up: in careers, in the civics and issues of our time, and to be part of the solu-tion. It’s going to require busi-ness, government, and you and I to climb out of this pit.

In a fascinating exploration of How to Restore the Ameri-can Dream, Fareed Zakaria has produced print and video us-ing interviews with US-based, global CEOs such as Louis Gerstner of IBM, Muhtar Kent of Coca-Cola, Eric Schmidt of Google, and Klaus Kleinfeld of Alcoa.

Both print and video are well worth your time. Most impor-

Opinion

For free listing of upcoming

community events,send email to

[email protected]


Seshadri KumarPublisher & Editor

Email: [email protected]

www.fbindependent.com

Scanlan

The View from Sugar Land

Jones

Guest Commentary

Musings: Innovation and jobs

Come experience the diff erence!Come experience the diff erence!Salem International Christian Salem International Christian

CenterCenter14056 Southwest Fwy #118 14056 Southwest Fwy #118

(In the FedEx Bldg. in front of (In the FedEx Bldg. in front of Holiday Inn Express)Holiday Inn Express)

Sugar Land, TX 77478Sugar Land, TX 77478

www.salemic.orgwww.salemic.org

Services: Sunday

8:30 a.m.

Wednesday

7 p.m.

Expecting nothing new in WashingtonBy PRADEEP ANAD

America has been a beacon to India during the twentieth century and continues to be so even during the twenty-fi rst one.

After the country’s indepen-dence from the British in 1947, India’s constitution was based substantially on the American one. The architect of India’s constitution, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar received his PhD in constitutional law from Co-lumbia University.

Indians, in general, are en-amored by the USA and its accomplishments. The rich-est nation is held in very high esteem but in recent times, its invincibility received setbacks, after 9/11 and the credit crisis that sank global fortunes. President Obama’s visit to India will bring some much-needed additions to the Ameri-can aura for the Indian popula-tion. He will certainly promote an American agenda for India and the region. However, after having spent some time in the country, I hope he comes back with some fresh perspectives about what Americans can learn about Indians. India can learn from Amer-ica thousands of different les-sons. However, India, a 5000 year-old civilization that, in 1776, had about 25% share ofthe global GDP, may offer some interesting lessons too.

CommunityIt was in 2005 that the stark

difference in American and Indian responses to disaster became obvious. The levees broke fl ooding New Orleans and the skies exploded with rain and fl ooded Mumbai.

Media stories that followed showed very different pictures of how the populace of the cit-ies responded. On one hand, in the richest nation in the world, scenes included widespread in-stances of looting and violence; on the other hand, in one of the poorer nations in the world, the population came together to help each other out, pulling stranded strangers out of rising waters and hosting and feeding them in their homes. America is a land that pro-motes individualism, while in India a strong sense of com-munity prevails. Indians un-derstand that the government is useless in responding to any emergency. The local popula-tion in the vicinity of a disaster mobilizes itself, creating make-shift disaster relief arrange-ments to help the stricken.

In America, though individ-ualism is celebrated, there is a strong sense of entitlement and reliance on the government to deliver relief that sucks away the need for creating local community initiatives.

SecularismThe US and India are secu-

lar countries that celebrate a democracy that is built on a strong foundation of “separa-tion of church and state.” How-ever, the two countries practice secularism in different ways. In both countries, we equal-ize all religions. However, In America, we equalize by neu-tralizing all religions. Though we don’t go as far as France and Switzerland in banning hijabs and minarets, we often hear voices that try to restrict and control the public celebra-tion of religion.

In India, all religions are equal but the equality is not

created through neutralization but through celebration.

Every major global religion is practiced in India by mil-lions of people. Predominantly Hindu India has more than one hundred and fi fty million Muslims, and at least seventy million Christians. People of other religious pursuits includ-ing Jews, Sikhs, Jains, Bud-dhists, Zoroastrians (Parsis), and many others. Every city and town is dot-ted with a variety of temples, mosques, churches, fi re tem-ples, and other holy shrines, where local populations cel-ebrate their religions. Besides places of worship, religion is manifested in clothes, speech, and even holidays. All are cel-ebrated in public, not in ghet-tos or certain restricted areas.

The Indian Constitution rec-ognizes family law differences based on religion and assures freedoms for practitioners of different religions.

EntrepreneurshipA recent issue of Economist

highlighted that India is a land driven by individuals, unlike China, where entrepreneurship is driven by the state. It con-tinued that there are more than fi fty million such entrepreneurs in India and that the economic growth of the country was as-sured.

Thomas Friedman of the New York Times and The Economist are recent discov-erers of Indian entrepreneur-ship and cannot be faulted for their glowing appreciation of this Indian characteristic. They are comparing it to their own countries where entrepreneur-ship is celebrated but rarely practiced. America has a huge popu-lation of venturesome consum-ers but has a fraction of ven-turesome entrepreneurs that it needs to sustain economic growth and in creating jobs. The recent election rhetoric about “job creation” was an-other indication of the elector-ate’s expectation that it is the government that needs to de-liver solutions rather than indi-vidual initiatives. Yes, governments can cre-ate uncompetitive environ-ments and stymie growth with regulations and policies but that is true in both countries, perhaps substantially worse in India. However, the response of individual entrepreneurs to this governmental chokehold is different. Corporate chiefs of Indian business fi rms have large stakes in their own fi rms. They continue to be entrepreneurial and fi nd ways to overcome and circumvent their barriers. A majority of their American counterparts are caretakers of their businesses with minor stakes in their fi rms and dis-proportionately high rewards. The government and its poli-cies and regulations become convenient piñatas to beat.

DebtIndia is a cash-fl ow nation.

A signifi cant majority of the nation lives from hand-to-mouth, barely meeting suste-nance needs. Indians do bor-row but at huge costs that can ruin lives, if not generations of the family that are encumbered with repaying loans.

Indian folklore, stories, and family history is fi lled with the evils of borrowing money. The horrendous consequences of

borrowing and lending mon-ey, like death and disease, has touched every family. Conse-quently, the average Indian abhors credit, prefers to be debt free, live within means and have signifi cant savings for droughts that are bound to follow years of plenty. (Indians don’t save for a rainy day, be-cause rainy days are celebrated in India.) America, on the other hand, is a venturesome economy, a term proposed by Prof. Amar Bhide. American consumers are confi dent of their contin-ued, consistent earning power and are willing to take credit risks. Banks and fi nancial in-stitutions are willing partners in extending this credit that fu-els the economy.

However, during the past two decades, Americans were drugged by the Feds and Wall Street into believing that we could get far greater rewards at lower risks, with easily avail-able money. The economic fundamental that “there ain’t no free lunch” was thrown to the wind, and the country raced ahead for many years of un-precedented economic growth. As the credit crisis unrav-eled, many Americans’ pri-mary assets, their homes, were devalued and submerged under water, below their mortgaged borrowings. Jobs disappeared and foreclosure signs began showing up all over the coun-try. Americans can learn from Indians that there is no free lunch and that every penny or paisa has to be earned the hard way, with toil and labor. Prom-ises of fast economic miracles are mirages that seem very real for a brief period but disappear abruptly, leaving us high and dry without parachutes.

There is great wisdom in the biblical concept of seven years of plenty, followed by seven years of famine. The fortune of the world and individuals regresses to the mean eventu-ally.

ResourcesAll resources are always in

short supply in India. There-fore, everything is recycled fully. India is not the epitome of consuming resources in the most effi cient or effective manner but it compensates for some of this shortcoming by collecting and recycling its useful natural resources, espe-cially non-renewable ones.

Even as early as in the 1950s, there were commercial networks to collect and recycle waste. Consumers were paid to drop off their recyclables at a convenient store in the neigh-borhood. Each store was inde-pendently operated by one of these countless Indian entre-preneurs. America is a land of waste. We have wasteful practices, especially with non-renewable resources. Just leaving our re-cyclables in assigned contain-ers at the curb is inadequate. Our consumption practices have to become less wasteful. India can provide some in-sights and business models in improving our resource recy-cling habits.

Pradeep Anand is a resident of Sug-ar Land. He is president of Seeta Re-sources and author of An Indian in Cowboy Country.

Obama visits India

tant, it’s fi lled with practical so-lutions to restore the American Dream.

If you’d like free links to this series, please write to [email protected] .

Our country and way of life is worth your investing time smartening up.

NOVEMBER 10, 2010 • INDEPENDENT • Page 5

Opinion

Bill and Jared Jameson

Texans Insurance & Financial Group, Inc101 Southwestern Blvd, Ste 230

Sugar Land, TX 77478-3535PH (281)277-7800FAX (281)277-7801

[email protected]

WINTER MINI-TERMand SPRING SEMESTER 2011

REGISTRATION

WHARTON • SUGAR LAND • RICHMOND • BAY CITY EL CAMPO • PALACIOS

wcjc.edu1-800-561-WCJC

WCJC is an E.O.E. institution.

Winter Mini-Term begins December 20(Register November 1 through December 16)

Spring semester classes begin January 18, 2011(Register November 1 through January 16)

By STEVE BROWNThat classic line from the

movie Cool Hand Luke was the fi rst thing I thought of while watching President Barack Obama’s press con-ference the morning after the mid-term elections.

Do Democrats have a com-munication problem?

Yes, and it’s because we talk in a language of antici-pated policy outcomes and the minutia of legislative pro-posals, instead of building public support through a story narrative.

That is, we poorly sequence the elements of our story by clearly framing the scope of a problem before offering our policy solution.

I’ll use the passage of health care reform as an ex-ample, since most exit polls revealed that about half of all mid-term voters believed that it should be repealed.

Let’s start with the premise that we never fully explained why Ameicans needed reform. A CBS News poll found that only 42 percent of Americans had a “good” understanding of how health care reform im-pacted them.

More disturbingly, only 37 percent of Democrats under-stood the initiatives outlined in that landmark legislation.

The public doesn’t under-stand the benefi ts of health care reform because our com-munication paradigm is in-verted.

The health care debate was

framed around a set of solu-tions and not the story of an impending health care crisis. We never sold the health care narrative.

For most Americans, there was never a health care crisis. They didn’t think our solutions were acceptable responses to an unfamiliar problem.

As such, we failed to sat-isfactorily reach them at the “problem stage” and convince them that inaction would have far greater consequences than reform.

We needed to have cre-ated forums to tell why our health care apparatus needed to be changed before pitch-ing our legislative solution. Tales of middle class families going bankrupt because they couldn’t pay their medical ex-penses, or children not being given health coverage because of a pre-existing condition, or how everyday people are see-ing a continual rise in their insurance premiums to off-set the costs of the uninsured should have been told before proposing our solution.

We needed more faces of the problem, and to have those problems articulated in a way that everyone can un-derstand.

We also needed a boogey-man. It was never effectively sold that HMO’s are a villain and how government needs to ensure certain safeguards to protect citizens from the HMO infl uence.

Establishing a victim and

villain is essential in telling a story and generating public support. Instead, many hard-working Americans accepted the belief that they were the victims of this overhaul and that Obama, Pelosi and Reid were the villains.

Republican Tea Party lead-ers excel in telling the story narrative. During the course of these mid-term elections, they never proposed a sub-stantive policy solution to ad-dress health care, the econo-my or unemployment.

Their narrative was all about framing President Obama as an extreme social-ist whose only motive was to grow government. They told that story every day since the start of his Presidency, and it paid off.

While they were reinforc-ing their story of fear, we were discussing the empiri-cal data points of preexisting conditions.

If we are to rebound, we must challenge ourselves on the way we communicate, what we say, and mobilize a diverse collection of story-tellers to carry these messag-es. Our failure to communi-cate has already cost us a lot. We would be wise to make suffi cient adjustments now before it costs us much more.

Steve Brown is the Chair-man of the Fort Bend County Democratic Party. Connect with Steve on Facebook at fa-cebook.com/sbrown2.

Failure to communicate

By BILL & JARED JAMESONGiven the current pessi-

mism toward stocks, inves-tors have been fl ocking to the safety of municipal bonds. Interest from municipal bonds is exempt from federal income taxes and also from state taxes for residents of states with income tax. The bonds are typically issued by local municipalities, school districts and states to fund capital improvement proj-ects and ongoing operations. Because of their tax-free sta-tus, their yields are typically lower than comparable risk taxable bonds.

Historically municipals have a very low default rate, and therefore in the past, most municipal bonds buy-ers have not paid much at-tention to the underlying credit quality of the issuer. Also, several companies of-fered insurance on the bonds to protect against default. We live in a different world today. Just like the old man-tra that “home prices never fall,” we will see defaults in municipal bonds.

According to the Oct. 4, 2010, issue of the Wall Street Journal, 42 percent of the municipal bond market is made up of state issues, yet these states are facing an es-timated $350 billion short-fall for 2010 and 2011. This means bondholders may face delayed interest payments or even default if they hold the wrong bonds.

And companies that for-merly offered insurance on municipals have exited the business, as they woefully underestimated their poten-tial losses. In fact, only 10 percent of bonds issued to-day are insured, vs. a histori-cal average of 50 percent.

So what’s an investor to do? We recommend that you rely on an expert to choose your bond investments for you. It no longer is safe to buy whichever bonds your broker has in inventory and is trying to sell. Ratings issued by ratings agencies are no longer reliable, as has been made abundantly clear by the mortgage rating fi asco, in which many AAA bonds are now worthless.

We recommend investing through a mutual fund or sep-arate account with a profes-sional manager guiding your bond selection.

A good quality fund and manager can help you avoid the defaults that are likely to

come. WJ Interests is a fee-only fi -nancial planning and invest-ment management fi rm in Sugar Land. For more infor-mation, please contact us at [email protected] or 281-634-9400.

Be careful buying Municipal bonds

By JAMES IVESThank you to the people of

Fort Bend County.Thank you indeed, to the

people of the entire nation. For it is your hard efforts, your sac-rifi ces and your vision, that over the last 22 months has resulted in the great Conservative victo-ry that came about on Tuesday, Nov. 2.

A short while ago, after the last Presidential campaign, the victorious Left was in full swell, pressing an aggressive agenda that offered a jolt towards a European-style Socialism for America.

Meanwhile, the defeated GOP was stunned, deprived of Congressional clout, the party of the nation, of the Founders vision and smaller government was spent. The American Dream was left without a champion.

Then the people began to stir. The people began to gather and to object, to organize, rally and to cry out.

Strict allegiance to party or to committee was jettisoned as the nation, our heroic Founders and our sacred Constitution became the restored focus of the com-mon vision.

The popular forces confound-ed all critics, all of the pundits and the ivory tower elites.

Those that tossed about refer-ences to “racists”, “red necks” and “gun nuts.”

Meanwhile, the citizens re-fused to go away, animated by the arrogance of an imperial Congress, mobilized against massive expenditures that mort-gaged off our futures and galva-nized by the specter of looming tyranny from the court of Czars and Federal Privilege.

On Tuesday, in this one election, we have seen the long-abused machinery of the Republic once again come to the fore, and once again the oft-ignored will of the people has been made manifest.

However this struggle for the very defi nition of the word “American” has only just be-

No.10-CCV-042391IN THE COUNTY COURT AT LAW NUMBER TWO (2) OF

FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS

FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS V

WILLIE M. FLORA, PAMELA EDWARDS, RACHAEL EDWARDS, MARY E. JACKSON, VERNA THOMPSON, VICKIE GREEN,

MICHAEL ROBBINS, KENNETH PITTMAN, LONNIE JONES, CLIFFORD THOMAS, LAWRENCE J. KELLEY, JR., CARLA THOMAS, BEVERLY J. THOMAS a/k/a BEVERLY CHILDS,

BEATRICE KELLEY, ALL UNKNOWN HEIRS OF THE ESTATE OF GEORGE AND HARRIET SMITH, ALL PROPERTY OWNERS

WHO ARE KNOWN BUT CANNOT BE LOCATED AND/OR EVADE SERVICE, AND ALL UNKNOWN PROPERTY OWNERS/

AND/OR LIEN HOLDERS, et al.

BRIEF ON CITATION BY PUBLICATION.In the name and by the authority of the State of Texas:Notice is hereby given to the following Defendants:To: All Unknown Heirs of the Estate of George and Harriet

Smith and all unknown property owners and/or lien holders, hereafter called Defendants whose residence, address and whereabouts are unknown, and if deceased, legally incapacitated or dissolved, the unknown heirs, devisees, successors and legal representatives, and unknown spouse or spouses, each and all of whose residences, addresses and whereabouts are unknown, and if they are deceased, legally incapacitated or dissolved, their unknown heirs, devisees, successors and legal representatives.

TO: ALL PROPERTY OWNERS WHO ARE KNOWN BUT CANNOT BE LOCATED AND OR EVADE SERVICE

You are commanded to appear before the Special Commissioners appointed by the Judge of the Fort Bend County Civil Court at Law Number Two (2) on January 13, 2011 at 9:30 a.m. in the Fort Bend County Attorney’s Conference Room, 301 Jackson St., Suite 728, Richmond, Texas 77469, who shall then and there assess the value of the property belonging to Defendants which are sought to be condemned by Plaintiff , Cause No. 10-CCV-042391 styled Fort Bend County, Texas v. Willie M. Flora, Pamela Edwards, Rachel Edwrads, Mary E. Jackson, Verna Thompson, Vickie Green, Michael Robbins, Kenneth Pittman, Lonnie Jones, Cliff ord Thomas, Lawrence J. Kelley, Jr., Carla Thomas, Beverly J. Thomas a/k/a Beverly Childs, Beatrice Kelley, All Unknown Heirs of the Estate of George and Harriet Smith, All Property Owners who are known but cannot be located and/or evade service, and All Unknown Property Owners and/or Lien Holders, Fort Bend County, Lamar Consolidated Independent School District and City of Richmond are Defendants. The Second Amended Original Statement and Petition for Condemnation fi led on November 2, 2010 discloses that the nature of the suit is a condemnation case. Plaintiff seeks fee title to 0.145 acre of land more particularly described in the attached Exhibit A of Plaintiff ’s Second Amended Original Statement.

Attorneys for Plaintiff are Fort Bend County Assistant County Attorneys, William H. “Bill” Vidor and Joe W. Cox, 301 Jackson Street, Suite 728, Richmond, Texas 77469.

Issued and given under my hand and seal of said Court in the City of Richmond, Fort Bend County, Texas, on the 8th day of November, 2010.

Dianne Wilson, Clerk of Fort Bend County, Richmond, Texas301 Jackson Street, Richmond, Texas 77469.

By Deputy Holly Clemons

gun. Ours will be a genera-tions-long campaign to stymie and frustrate the spreading Fed-eral Leviathan, to roll back its excesses across the board, and to restore the Individual as the building block of Opportunity and the cornerstone of Liberty. We are citizens of this land, and not subjects, and we shall re-main such.

I am blessed and proud to

be “One Among Many” in the vast army of patriots that have taken up this challenge, and that strive daily to protect and restore our national heritage. Only our people acting together can build a path to freedom for the entire world to follow and to emulate.

Long Live the Republic.James Ives is president of the Fort Bend County Tea Party.

Will of the people triumphs

The Spirit of Freedom Re-publican Women’s Club PAC Meeting will be held on Friday, Nov. 19 at Spring Creek Barbe-cue, 4895 Highway 6, Missouri City. 11 a.m. Meet and Greet, 11:30 a.m Toni King, author of Medicare and Health Insur-ance Survival Guide, What You Don’t Know Will Hurt You will be the speaker. Learn how to make informed decisions for you or your parents. Find out what the insurance agents are not telling you. Contact Tina Gibson at 281-491-6599 for more information.

Spirit of Freedom Republican

Women’s Club

Legal Notices


NOTICE TO BIDDERS

SUGAR CREEK 16-INCH WATER LINE IMPROVEMENTS

The City of Sugar Land seeks bids for furnishing all labor, material, and equipment, and performing all work required for the following project in the City:

CIP PROJECT NAME: Sugar Creek 16-Inch Water Line

Improvements

CIP PROJECT NUMBER: WA0504

LOCATION OF WORK: Sugar Creek Golf Course, North

Keswick Court from Country Club

Boulevard to Sugar Creek Boulevard

Plans, specifi cations, and bidding documents may be obtained at the following location with payment of $50.00:

Huitt-Zollars, Incorporated

1500 S. Dairy Ashford

Suite 200

Houston, Texas 77077

(281) 496-0066

Sealed bids shall be delivered to the City of Sugar Land City Secretary Offi ce,

2700 Town Center Boulevard North, Suite 122, Sugar Land, Texas, 77479, on or before 11:00 a.m., Thursday, November 18, 2010, at which time the names of fi rms submitting proposals will be read. Proposals received after the opening date and time will not be considered.

A non-mandatory pre-bid meeting for all interested parties will be held 11:00

a.m., Thursday, November 28, 2010, City of Sugar Land Public Works, 111

Gillingham Lane, Sugar Land, Texas 77478.

The City Council will award the contract to the respondent providing the best value that complies with all requirements of the Request for Proposal. The City of Sugar Land will give notice of the contract award within sixty (60) calendar days after the opening date and time.

Glenda Gundermann, TRMC, CMC, AAECity Secretary

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD SOUTH PROJECT


CIP PROJECT NAME: University Boulevard South through Brazos Landing CIP PROJECT NUMBER: ST0805 LOCATION OF WORK: From Commonwealth Boulevard to 600 feet beyond Outfall Channel


Huitt-Zollars, Incorporated1500 S. Dairy Ashford

Suite 200Houston, Texas 77077

(281) 496-0066

Sealed bids shall be delivered to the City of Sugar Land City Secretary Offi ce, 2700 Town Center Boulevard North, Suite 122, Sugar Land, Texas, 77479, on or before 11:00 a.m., Thursday, December 09, 2010, at which time bids will be publicly opened and read. Bids received after the opening date and time will not be considered.

A non-mandatory pre-bid meeting for all interested parties will be held 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, November 17, 2010, Brazos Room, 2700 Town Center Boulevard North, Sugar Land, Texas, 77479.

The City Council will award the bid to the lowest responsible bidder that complies with all requirements of the Request for Bids. The City of Sugar Land will give notice of the contract award within sixty (60) calendar days after the bid opening date and time.


PUBLIC HEARING NOTICEThe Commissioners Court of Fort Bend County, Texas has set a public hearingon Tuesday, December 7, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. to vacate plat of Huntington PlaceSection 1, being a 27.843 acre subdivi-sion containing 133 lots in 3 blocks and 7 reserves, located in the William Pettus League, Abstract 68, recorded on May 20, 2008 of the Fort Bend County Plat Records plat No. 20080097, Precinct. 1. Plat, Subdivision and Dedication be vacated and canceled so as to convert all of the said platted property to acre-age tracts as same existed before such property was platted, subdivided and recorded.The hearing will be held in the Com-missioners Courtroom, 309 South Fourth St., Suite 700, William B. Travis Bldg., Richmond, Texas. You are invited to attend and state your approval or objection on this matter.Submitted by,Dianne WilsonFort Bend County Clerk

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICEThe Commissioners Court of Fort Bend County, Texas has set a public hearing at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 7, 2010 for Grand River Section 1 Replat of Lot 10 in Block 4, Pct. 1. The hearing will beheld in the Commissioners Courtroom, William B. Travis Bldg., 309 S. Fourth St., Rm. 700, Richmond, Texas.Under state law, you the owner, have certain rights with respect to the proposed replat. Should you wish to exercise your right, you maybe heard at the planned public hearing. You may contact Franklin Schodek with Henry Steinkamp Inc. at 281-342-2241 for information prior to the hearing.Submitted by,Dianne WilsonFort Bend County Clerk

NOTICE TO PROPOSERS

PAVEMENT REHABILITATION PROJECT


CIP PROJECT NAME: Pavement Rehabilitation Project

CIP PROJECT NUMBER: ST1101

LOCATION OF WORK: Various Locations Throughout the City


City of Sugar Land Public Works

111 Gillingham Lane

Sugar Land, Texas 77478

Sealed proposals shall be delivered to the City of Sugar Land City Secretary

Offi ce, 2700 Town Center Boulevard North, Suite 122, Sugar Land, Texas,

77479, on or before 11:00 a.m., Thursday, December 02, 2010, at which time the names of fi rms submitting proposals will be read. Proposals received after the opening date and time will not be considered.

A non-mandatory pre-proposal meeting for all interested parties will be held 9 a.m., Thursday, November 11, 2010, City of Sugar Land Public Works, 111

Gillingham Lane, Sugar Land, Texas 77478.



NOTICE TO PROPOSERS

ON-CALL PAVEMENT REHABILITATION


CIP PROJECT NAME: On-Call Pavement Rehabilitation

CIP PROJECT NUMBER: N/A

LOCATION OF WORK: Various Locations Throughout the City


City of Sugar Land Public Works

111 Gillingham Lane

Sugar Land, Texas 77478

Sealed proposals shall be delivered to the City of Sugar Land City Secretary

Offi ce, 2700 Town Center Boulevard North, Suite 122, Sugar Land, Texas,

77479, on or before 11:00 a.m., Thursday, December 02, 2010, at which time the names of fi rms submitting proposals will be read. Proposals received after the opening date and time will not be considered.

A non-mandatory pre-proposal meeting for all interested parties will be held 9:30 a.m., Thursday, November 11, 2010, City of Sugar Land Public Works,

111 Gillingham Lane, Sugar Land, Texas 77478.



LEGAL NOTICEINVITATION TO BIDDERS

Sealed Bids will be received in the Offi ce of Gilbert D. Jalomo, Jr., County Purchasing Agent, Fort Bend County, Rosenberg Annex, 4520 Reading Road, Suite A, Rosenberg, TX 77471 for the following until THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2010 at 1:30 P.M. (CST). All bids will then be publicly opened and read in the Of-fi ce of the Purchasing Agent, Rosenberg Annex, 4520 Reading Road, Rosenberg, TX 77471. Bids received after the specifi ed time will be returned unopened.BID 11-020 – TRAILER MOUNTED PORTABLE GENERATORLump sum pricing is required; payment will be by check after products/services are rendered. Bonds are required.Fort Bend County reserves the right to reject any or all bids.

Signed: Gilbert D. Jalomo, Jr., Purchasing Agent Fort Bend County, Richmond, Texas

LEGAL NOTICEREQUESTS FOR STATEMENTS OF QUALIFICATIONS

Sealed Qualifi cation Statements will be received in the Offi ce of Gilbert D. Jalomo, Jr., County Purchasing Agent, Fort Bend County, Rosen-berg Annex, 4520 Reading Road, Suite A, Rosen-berg TX 77471 for the following until THURS-DAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2010 AT 1:30 P.M. (CST).

Q11-017 – ANIMAL SERVICES ADDITION

Fort Bend County reserves the right to reject any or all qualifi cation statements received.Signed: Gilbert D. Jalomo, Jr., Purchasing AgentFort Bend County, Richmond, Texas

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

Sealed bids in triplicate, one (1) original and two (2) copies, addressed to the City of Sugar Land, Texas, will be received until 11:00 o’clock a.m., Thursday,

December 2, 2010, for:

PURCHASE OF AUTO PARTS

Sealed bids shall be appropriately marked as follows:

BID NO. 2011-02 PURCHASE OF AUTO PARTS

BIDDER’S NAME, ADDRESS, AND DUE DATE

Bidder shall sign and date the bid. Bids that are not signed and dated will

be rejected.

Signed and sealed bids shall be delivered to the City Secretary Offi ce, on or before 11:00 o’clock a.m., Thursday, December 2, 2010, City of Sugar Land City Hall, Suite 122, 2700 Town Center Boulevard North, Sugar Land, Texas, 77479. All bids received after the appointed time shall be returned to bidder unopened. Notice of the award of contract shall be given by the City within thirty (30) days following the date for the opening of bids.

The City reserves the right to revise or amend the specifi cations prior to the date set for opening of bids. Such revisions or amendments, if any, will be announced by addenda or addendum to the specifi cations. Copies of such addenda so issued will be furnished to all prospective bidders and may or may not aff ect the bid opening date.

The City of Sugar Land reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to waive informalities in bids received. The award will be made to the lowest responsible bidder.

ITB documents may be secured from City of Sugar Land City Secretary Offi ce, 2700 Town Center Boulevard North, Suite 122, Sugar Land, Texas, 77479, or by

registering at https://www.bidsync.com. Registration is free. All bid documents, amendments and other information relating to the bid will be posted at this site.

For questions regarding this bid, please contact Jason Poscovsky, Contract Administrator, Telephone (281) 275-2302 or via email at [email protected]


NOTICE TO CREDITORSNotice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary for the Estate of Vicki Sorrells Mikel Deceased, were issued on October 11, 2010, in Cause No. 10-CPR-023141, pending in the County Court at Law No.2, Fort Bend County, Texas, to: Gary Frank Mikel and Robyn O’Daniel Bennatt.All persons having claims against this Estate which is currently being administered are required to present them to the undersigned within the time and in the manner prescribed by law.c/o: Dean A. HrbacekAttorney at Law130 Industrial Blvd., Suite 110Sugar Land, Texas 77478DATED the 4th day of November, 2010

Dean A. HrbacekAttorney for Gary Frank Mikel and Robyn

O’Daniel Bennatt.State Bar No. 10128800

130 Industrial Blvd. Suite 110Sugar Land, Texas 77478

Telephone: 281-240-2424Fax: 281-240-7829

This is a very complicated movie so let me break it down for you: it’s screamingly fun-ny and Robert Downey Jr and Zach Galifi anakis are perfect for their characters. I lied; this is not a complicated movie.

Peter Highman (Downey Jr.) the architect is in Atlanta for business and he needs to get home pronto because his wife is about to give birth to their fi rst child. Ethan Trem-blay (Galifi anakis) is a jolly, goofball out-of-work actor that literally bumps into Peter in the Atlanta airport, and in short order the two of them are on the “no fl y” list and kicked off the plane.

Now this very odd couple must get to Los Angeles via cars, trucks, and other modes.

Hmmm. Doesn’t this sound a lot like the 1987 classic “Planes, Trains, and Automo-biles” starring Steve Martin (Neal) and John Candy (Del)? Well, yes it does, but don’t let that bother you because much to my surprise, Peter and Ethan are as charming, hilari-

ous, and complicated as Neal and Del.

There’s that word again: complicated. I didn’t mean to imply that the plot or the story is complicated, but there are many layers of the onion that need to be peeled back in or-der to arrive at the true hearts and souls of our two heroes, err losers. No, loser is not right either. Perhaps wounded and vulnerable? Sad and pa-thetic? I know; two guys just trying to get through life the best way they know how.

The fi lm is directed and co-written by Todd “Hang-over” Phillips and he has once again shown his comedic ge-nius. The gags and one-liners are sprinkled throughout the movie. I started laughing in the fi rst scenes and never stopped. This movie is near faultless in reaching its goal: take two great actors, give them a witty script, and have some fun with it. I’m smiling now.

I’ve been on a roll lately in awarding the “big winner”

award to someone connected to my most recent movie ex-perience and this is no excep-tion. The big winner is... drum roll: Zach Galifi anakis; he has consistently been funny in his latest movies - “Hangover,” “It’s Kind of a Funny Story,” and “Dinner for Schmucks,” but he has never played the big dog. And he was opposite the brilliant Robert Downey Jr and held his own, thank you very much. Soon, people will even know how to pronounce his last name.

This fl ick is not for young people which is too bad be-cause it’s so funny, but the sex, drugs, and F-bombs give it a rating of R. So, if you are a degenerate and want a good laugh, go see “Due Date” and take a date.

Rock ‘n Roll.Grade 90. Larry H.

See LarryHmoviereviews.com and email to [email protected]

FILM REVIEW: Due Date

By BARBARA FULENWIDERThe Lexus RX has been a fa-

vorite of mine in the Lexus line up since it was fi rst introduced in 1998. It was an immediate hit and continues to be Lexus’ best selling vehicle. This SUV has winning ways because it is made like a sedan rather than a truck so rides and drives like a sedan. The RX 450 hybrid has all the same initial characteristics plus. It is now one of the top 10 fuel economy leaders for 2011.

The Environmental Protec-tion Agency and Energy Depart-ment put the RX 450h SUV as ninth in their rankings of top 10 leaders in fuel economy. It made the list by getting 32 miles to the gallon in city driving and 28 on the highway for a combined fuel economy of 30 mpg.

Lexus was the fi rst luxury brand to offer a hybrid vehicle – the RX 400h in 2005. Since then it has introduced a new hybrid almost every year including the GS 450h, LS 600h L and most recently the HS 250h.

A Lexus hybrid starts as qui-etly as it runs with the electric and gasoline motors engaged. It is powered by a 3.5-liter, 24-valve, dual overhead cam V6 engine and electric motors and has a power control unit and other fuel-saving features that give it top 10 fuel economy. The system makes 295 horsepower and can operate in electric only or gas engine only modes as well as a combination. The gas engine alone makes 245 horse-power and 234 lb.-ft. torque at 4,800 rpm.

The RX 450H four wheel drive model’s hybrid powertrain uses two motor generators. The MG1, the engine driven genera-tor, is a starter and can charge the battery pack or power other electric motors as needed and the MG2 is the front-drive mo-tor. The MG1 controls the output speed of the transaxle and the MG2 delivers torque.

When coasting or braking the Lexus RX 450h, the electric mo-tors capture the heat through the brakes and turn it into electric-ity that recharges the batteries. If the Lexus RX 450h is ordered with all-wheel drive a third rear-mounted motor generator is add-ed to drive the rear wheels.

Driving the RX 450h is a qui-et, smooth experience on 18-inch

all season tires. The handling agility comes from its double-wishbone rear suspension, which also allows more cargo space. Front suspension was optimized by a thick stabilizer bar.

Lexus’ vehicle dynamics in-tegrated management handling technology is standard on the RX 450h. It anticipates loss of vehicle control in any direction and governs all of the vehicle’s handling systems -- anti-lock brakes, brake assist, vehicle sta-bility control and traction con-trol.

Hill-start assist control also comes standard on the Lexus RX 450h to keep the vehicle from moving backward or for-ward when on an incline. It can be controlled by the driver and works in forward and reverse.

Safety and security features on the RX 450h include the op-tional adaptive front lighting system for high beams of HID headlamp equipped models and for the low beams of the LED equipped models. When enter-ing a corner, the lighting system estimates where the vehicle will be in three seconds and adjusts the lateral aim of the headlamps. The system also includes an au-to-leveling function.

Also available is an auto-matic high beam system, which switches between high and low beams in response to oncoming vehicles and those traveling in front, and a pre-collision system with dynamic radar cruise con-trol. It helps the driver maintain a pre-set following distance from the car in front.

All RX models are equipped with keyless entry with push-button start, power tilt and tele-scopic steering column, 10-way power front seats and leather-wrapped three-spoke steering wheel with integrated audio controls. The rear seat splits 40/20/40, slides fore and aft, re-clines and folds down with one-touch levers mounted in the lug-gage compartment.

The Lexus RX 450h with all standard equipment retails for $43,235. Options on the test drive model included the adap-tive front lighting system, heated and ventilated front seats, navi-gation system with backup cam-era, etc., and the premium pack-age, which includes a moonroof, heated outside mirrors, power

AUTOMOBILE: Lexus RX 450arear door, etc. The options boost-ed the price tag to $50,004.

The RX 450h is a standout, comfortable and luxurious ride and drive that provides compact car like fuel economy.

LEGAL NOTICEREQUESTS FOR STATEMENTS OF QUALIFICATIONS

Sealed Qualifi cation Statements will be received in the Offi ce of Gilbert D. Jalomo, Jr., County Purchas-ing Agent, Fort Bend County, Rosenberg Annex, 4520 Reading Road, Suite A, Rosenberg TX 77471 for the following until THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2010 AT 1:30 P.M. (CST).

Q11-021 – PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR DESIGN OF BRIDGES;Q11-022 – PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR DESIGN OF TRAFFIC SIGNALS.Fort Bend County reserves the right to reject any or all qualifi cation statements received.

Signed:Gilbert D. Jalomo, Jr., Purchasing Agent Fort Bend County, Richmond, Texas

NOVEMBER 10, 2010 • INDEPENDENT • Page 7

Russell C. Jones

Thelma Holoway Jones

Lewis W. “Chip” Smith IV

AV Rated by Martindale Hubbell Not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

PROUDLY SERVING FORT BEND SINCE 1981

● Real Estate ● Landlord/Tenant ● ● Banking ● Creditors' Rights ● Collections ● ● Business and Corporate Law ● Immigration ●

● Business Litigation ● Mergers and Acquisitions ● ● Estate Planning ● Probate ●

● Property Owners' Associations ●

In the Sugar Land Industrial Park 407 Julie Rivers Drive, Sugar Land, Tx. 77478

281-242-8100 [email protected] www.jonesattorneys.com

Not just oil, Pennzoil

Let It BeadFor all Your Beading and jewelry

Needs Including the Largest

selection of Beading Supplies, Body

Jewelry, Custom Jewelry and Gifts.

3613 Hwy 6, Sugar Land, TX 77478

[email protected]

(281)265-0140

10% Discount

with this adDiscount not applicable to classes, parties or repairs.

CONSERVATIVE CARE ON THE CUTTING EDGE

Technology is not always the answer.

Surgery is not always a solution.

Experience and concern make that very important difference in the science and the art of helping you heal from your orthopedic injuries. You and I will work together to create a plan best suited for you.

14090 Southwest Fwy, #130Sugar Land, TX 77478Phone: (281) 491-7111

www.tomparrmd.netwww.FtBendSportsMedicine.com

THOMAS J. PARR, M.D.ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON

THE TIME IS NOW,THE TIME IS NOW, THE WAIT IS OVERTHE WAIT IS OVER

www.RemaxFine.comHighway 6 & Austin Parkway

We Can Show We Can Show You You

ANY House ANY House Listed!Listed!

281-265-281-265-55335533

By SUSAN WHITACREFour seconds of kicking,

spinning and demonstrating an intensely bad attitude in front of a crowded arena in Las Ve-gas, won a local two year old an international reputation and a $100,000 purse.

“ Ragin’ J.T. was born with a predisposition as an intimi-dating athlete with attitude. When he was entrusted to our care and training over a year ago, we soon realized that he wasn’t just any bull,” said Fort Bend County resident and in-ternationally renowned breed-er and trainer of bucking bulls Billy Jaynes,

Ragin’ JT recently won the title of World Champion Bucking Bull, after winning the ABBI World Champion-ship competition in Las Vegas Nevada.

Bucking Bull owners from across the US, Canada, Eu-rope and South America come to enroll their bulls at Billy

Jaynes world class training center right here in Fort Bend County.

Cowboys aren’t the only ones investing in bull owner-ship these days. Retired Major League Baseball players Solly Hemus and J.R Richard, NHL hockey player and winner of the Stanley Cup, Curtis Le-schyshyn, millionaire oilmen and young business women own bulls being trained at Bil-ly Jaynes ranch.

“It’s not just the excitement of the bull vs. man competi-tion, nor the romantic lure of a cowboy tradition that is alive and well that fi lls the stands. It’s because Bucking Bull ownership is a creative, excit-ing and potentially very lucra-tive investment opportunity as well,” said one bull owner.

Investors consigning to the Million Dollar Futurity bull sale expect a return of 10-20 percent in just over 12 months. And then there’s Ragin’ J.T.’s

recent victory which won his owner over 10 times his ini-tial investment in less than 2 years!

Fort Bend Resident Billy Jaynes (owner of The Jaynes Gang Bucking Bull Trainers and CEO of Exclusive Genet-ics) is creating an internation-al buzz by presenting the fi rst ever Million Dollar Bull Futu-rity Competition in 2011. Entry is limited to 300 two year old bulls with the fi rst 25 placing bulls winning signifi cant cash prizes totaling $1million. The owner of the winning bucking bull will be going home with a half a million dollars in prize money ($500,000).

To arrange a tour of the ranch or to learn more about what over 60 million fans con-sider the toughest and most thrilling sport on earth, call Billy Jaynes or Clint Wade 817-235-9570 or email [email protected]. (www.exclusivegenetics.com)

Bad Attitude wins $100,000 purse for 2-year old!

Committee members, dec-orators and sponsors are gear-ing up for the 19th Annual CASA Christmas Home Tour set for Dec. 10 and Dec. 11. A Fort Bend holiday tradition, the Tour offers guests the op-portunity to view six beauti-fully decorated homes in Fort Bend County, while helping to raise much needed funds to support CAFB’s programs serving abused and neglected children. This year’s tour will feature homes in First Colony, Alkire Lake/Lake Pointe and Richmond.

Guests at this year’s CASA Christmas Home Tour will be dazzled by some of the most exquisite holiday décor and home designs, entertained by area talents, treated to home-made cookies and hot apple cider – all by purchasing one ticket. Tickets will go on sale starting November 1 - $15 pre-sale; $20 day of the event. For more information on tick-ets or the Home Tour, go to www.cafb.org.

The Tour’s success not only lies in ticket sales but from generous corporations and individuals who spon-sor the Tour through mon-etary contributions or in-kind donations. Setting the pace for the event are 2010 Tour Sponsors Fred and Mabel R. Parks Foundation and The

(Susan Whitacre recently at-tended her fi rst PBR event and is now the proud co-owner of a Million Dollar Futurity Bull.)

Rosenberg-Richmond Auto Mile. Joining them are Arch-angel Sponsors Sysco Corpo-ration and Consolidated Home Health. Home Tour sponsor-ship opportunities range from $100 - $10,000.

If you are interested in mak-ing a difference in the life of

an abused child by sponsor-ing this festive holiday event, please contact Kelli Metzen-thin at 281-344-5106. For oth-er information, contact Irene Wisner at 281-344-5108.

Proceeds from the Christ-mas Home Tour help Child Advocates of Fort Bend ad-

vocate for the needs of abused and neglected children in this community. Through its two programs, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and the Children’s Advocacy Center, the agency touches the lives of more than 400 young victims each month.

Child Advocates of Fort Bend gathers forces for19thAnnual CASA Christmas Home Tour

Getting into the spirit are L to R: Child Advocates of Fort Bend Development Director Kelli Metzenthin, Ron Ewer of Rosenberg-Richmond Auto Mile, Al Gaylor of Sysco, Jim McClellan of Fred and Mabel R. Parks Foundation, Gary Finnegan of Rosenberg-Richmond Auto Mile and Neighborhood Chair Anne Burke.

Methodist Sugar Land Hos-pital, in collaboration with Fort Bend and Sugar Land Exchange Club and the Sugar Land Rotary, will provide free fl u shots on Saturday, Nov. 13 to community members who participate in Santa’s Gift Ex-change.

Fort Bend residents can bring a new, unwrapped toy or clothing item to Methodist Sugar Land Hospital from 8 a.m. to noon in exchange for a fl u shot. The toys and cloth-ing will benefi t local children in the Fort Bend area.

“We are proud to partner with the local exchange clubs once again to provide this community offering. This is a great way for the community to stay healthy while also put-ting smiles on children’s fac-es during the holiday season,” said Chris Siebenaler, CEO of Methodist Sugar Land Hospi-tal.

To participate in this com-munity event, please bring an unwrapped, new toy or cloth-ing item to the new main lob-by of Methodist Sugar Land Hospital between the times of 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 13.

In the picture, Front Row: Amy Saenz; Leena Taneja

Back Row: Eva Short; Jackie Freeman; Kaelyn Stolhand

Free fl u shots at Methodist


O

C

Cong

On behathanks e“stand-

ampaign

gratulat

lf of ourevery Coup, spea

n and for

We are

The

tions toin

Candidanservati

ak-up anr casting

very ap

Republic

e HER

our newn Fort B

ates, Theve and Rd show-uyour vot

preciativ

Rick Millcan Party

RD Ar

wly ElecBend Co

e RepubliRepublicaup” durintes in Ea

ve of you

ler, Chaiy of Fort

rrived

cted Repunty!!

ican Partan Voterng this 2arly Votin

ur suppo

rman Bend Co

d!!

publican

ty of Forr who cam2010 Genng and o

rt and V

ounty

n Officia

t Bend Cme forwaneral Eleon Electio

ote!!

als

Countyard to

ection on Day.

Recently Classic Chevrolet’s collision center in Sugar Land was recognized as the top performing shop for the third quarter of 2010 by Nationwide Insurance. There are many criteria for performance. Some of which are customer satisfaction, cycle time (meaning turn around time) and repair quality. Above, Collision Center Manager Mike Gnader displays the certifi cate. Meanwhile, Classic Chevrolet’s used car center is undergoing a major face lift. The new used car center will have a totally new interior, making it more customer friendly. The 9,000 square-foot facility will be totally transformed to make customers feel comfortable in a grand ambience with new fl ooring, lighting and pleasing interior. The management has awarded the construction contract to Jamail & Smith of Stafford, thus giving a boost to local economy. The new used car center is expected to open before Thanksgiving.

Classic Chevrolet remodels used car center

The Sugar Land Choral Society will perform two concerts on Nov. 15 and 16, 8 p.m. at the Imperial Theater at 2210 Lone Star Drive in Sugar Land Town Square. General admission tickets will be sold at the door for $5, beginning one hour prior to each concert. The con-certs will feature music by Lauridsen, Rutter, Brahms, Landes, Mon-teverdi, an arrangement of The Star Spangled Banner by Pfautsch, and MISSA KENYA by Basler, with chamber orchestra. Kevin M. Klotz, DMA student at University of Houston, is Conductor of the chorus, and Jessica W. Myers is accompanist. Daniel Sigmon, Musi-cal Director of Imperial Performing Arts says, “The variety of music will delight every audience member.” Space is limited, so get there early. Call Edward Crowell, Executive Director, at 281-277-7444, or [email protected].

This ad is generously donated by Fort Bend Independent

Documents

Fort Bend Independent