Musings

What's bloomin'?

 

White Orchid Tree is in bloom.

One of the fun things about working with gardeners is seeing their gardens and seeing what’s bloomin,’ what’s workin,’ and hearin’ what didn’t. Working with both the Quail Valley and the Sugar Land Garden Tours, I’ve been able to get first hand peeks at a delightful variety of gardens.

Those experiences get my juices flowing to maybe tackle something I’ve been putting off . . . or just some inspiration to add a little zing to a bare or uninteresting place, try a new plant or one I’ve never seen “that way.”

 

What’s fun is working with the garden owners and watching them approach opening their gardens to a bunch of strangers. Letting people in your backyard is indeed both a generous gesture and also very personal one. And the weather challenges for the past several years from record freezes to record droughts, tests the hardiest of souls.

 

All of the pictures shown have been photographed between Saturday, April 14 and Tuesday, April 17, 2012,
from Quail Valley Tour Gardens.

The Quail Valley Tour is this coming Saturday, April 21 from 10 to 3; so I spent the weekend visiting the gardens to see what’s bloomin.’ Mother Nature has been kind to this tour both with rain and less extreme weather. Well, knock on wood, she still has time to do something unexpected.  

 

One year, well-known gardener Arvada Simcoe had the most beautiful roses . . . some of her Belinda’s Dream were the size of large salad plates . . . and her many varieties of roses had such fragrances.  The night before the tour, Mother Nature let loose with a violent rain and wind storm.

 

 

Several varieties of Amalrylis
are blooming.

Those of us who had seen the garden were indeed disappointed. But with the riot of all kinds of other flowers, the public didn’t know the difference and went through a little bit of mud, actually created a little bit of mud, with the throngs entering her garden.  Arvada said it took almost 6 months for the grass to recover. Like I said earlier, it is indeed generous to open your garden.

 

 

After the record freeze and cold the next year, it stayed below 70 into April . . . but somehow, there was beauty you might have missed in what were often very lush gardens. And blooms we didn’t always have on the tour at this time of year.

 

 

Bougainvillea.

This year in addition to those annuals and perennials that are the main stay to keep color in the garden,  I’ve seen everything from a white Orchid Tree in bloom, Amaryllis, Caladiums, roses, divine smelling jasmine,  lush butterfly vines, butterfly and bee attractors,  to fruit already set on citrus, grape, and get ready for this, Papayas!  One garden actually has Cannas in bloom—and these are not your ordinary varieties, from lush ones from Guatemala.  You’ll have to come to learn how he, with the help of Mother Nature, managed this feat. Opening your garden isn’t for the faint of heart.

 

The Sugar Land Tour is May 12 from 9 to 4 with gardens featured in Sugar Creek. So you’ll get two great opportunities, 3 weeks apart to see what’s bloomin’ and the creativity of the garden owners.

Both tours sell tickets at the locations the day of the tour, come rain or shine. Follow the signs.

You can learn more about the Quail Valley Tour and down load a tour map or call Janice Scanlan at 281 261-2320.  It is April 21, rain or shine from 10-3.

Sugar Land Garden Club tour is May 12 from 9-4.  Press Spring Garden Tour when you reach the site or contact Cheryl Swanson at 281-242-1773.

Get some garden inspiration starting this weekend.

Illustrated reprint from 4-18-2012 Fort Bend Independent

More pictures, click image to enlarge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

How collections and different textures work together to enhance an area, surprise.

  To exotics . . .

Something different

My cousins from Menard came to see us on Friday.  If you’re unfamiliar with Menard, it has about 2000 population and is actually a rural area in Texas that grew (from 1608 in 2000 census). It’s north of Kerrville, Junction and the Colorado River and sits on the San Saba River. It’s dry and a transition between the Texas Hill Country and West Texas. As with any transition eco system, it is interesting country full of deer and wildlife.  It’s a great star gazing place. Dan rain harvests, runs the newspaper, The Menard News, and Cindy is an elementary school librarian, retiring from teaching and working part time now.

Usually when they come to Houston, we go inside the 610 Loop as both their kids and grandchildren live there, but they wanted to come to Fort Bend. Last visit, we went to the Printing Museum in Houston. Fascinating and well done, if you haven’t been there. So what would be different, interesting and something they can’t see in Menard in an afternoon?

We are getting so many places, museums and other events in Fort Bend, but something different? We chose Brazos Bend State Park and the Hindu Mandir on Brand Lane in Stafford. Neither one, let us down.

 

Can you find the alligator in this photo?

The alligators were out in force and the weekend crowd was only trickling into the park so you got some good long views of large and medium gators. Both Dan and Cindy remarked they had never seen alligators in the wild, just in zoos. Come to think of it, I can’t remember if it was Armand Bayou or Brazos Bend where I first saw alligators in the wild (besides the ones in Quail Valley). We also enjoyed driving past the George Ranch and talking about how the George Foundation has such a positive impact on our county.  

 

It seems we’re not the only people in Fort Bend who know how special Brazos Bend can be.  A Norwegian, who now lives in Katy, brought her Norwegian visitors, and we were in the Nature Center together. She remarked that she always brings her Norway visitors to Brazos Bend. Just like Menard, they don’t have too many semi-tropical swamps. So if you or your visitors like nature, try Brazos Bend.

 

Hindu Mandir in Stafford, Texas.

Then, we headed for the Hindu Mandir and were just-in-time for 4 o’clock prayers. The beauty alone of this Italian marble and Turkish sandstone edifice with its fountains and landscaping is breathtaking. Hearing the prayers and experiencing the solitude and peace is quite another story. Watching the gators lolling on the logs had me just relaxed enough to fully be able to enjoy this experience and how welcoming this community of believers is to outsiders. Chiman Patel gave us the full tour after prayers. He expressed his faith, belief and its history in a humble and compelling manner. What most impressed us was how he takes it into his daily life by walking 5 miles a day, eating healthy, giving back to the community.

 

It’s easy to take for granted where you live and never go see the sights or experience outside of your normal life. Does the Port Authority Tour Boat on the Houston Ship Channel still exist? If so, it’s on our list to re-experience. Write, if you know.

And write the different experiences you enjoy and/or take visitors in Fort Bend (or in the area) to janicescanlan@clear.net  or just post it here. We love day tripping and something different!

Illustrated from the 4-4-2012 Fort Bend Independent

 

Goof Plugs

I learned a new product over the weekend: the Goof Plug. What a great idea . . . something simple to “fix” life’s little goofs.  At least one of them anyway. Now guys are probably saying, “oh, those have been around a long time.” I don’t doubt they have. They’re just new to me.

 

A participant talks with Dean Robison and QVGC Outreach Chair Sharon Wright

In this case this was from the Micro-irrigation workshop Dean Robison put on for anyone who wanted to attend and sponsored by the Quail Valley Garden Club. Gosh, it’s nice when a neighbor is willing to share his knowledge learned the hard way—by doing.

Dean knows how to teach. First he walked us through his beautiful garden to show his many applications of micro irrigation; then he showed us how all the parts worked and some of the tools. And yes, the Goof Plug was one of parts.

 

As one gentleman at the workshop said, “I’ve wanted to do this in our garden; but there were so many parts and pieces, I didn’t know where to start.” Made me feel better a guy felt this way because it was exactly how I felt . . . before this workshop anyway. I’ve gone from conscious incompetence to “I’d like to try a small application of this to learn to really do it.”

And isn’t it generous that Dean shared his time free? He could have made a business out of his talent right there with people asking him to do it for them, but he’d rather just help them learn. Refreshing in our “everything is for sale age.”

 

The Robison's Garden is full of beauty.

Dean is quite the tinkerer. He’s now making beautiful glass wind chimes from re-purposed glass. The many colors filtering through the chimes were just beautiful. Yes, something is getting done with that re-cycled glass after all.

 

So I not only learned about Goof Plugs this week end, but spent it goofing around. John and I went to Galveston on Sunday. Tilman Fertitta is much further on his Amusement Pier than I had expected. There’s a wonderful old-fashioned carrousel upfront at the Seawall so it is already very inviting . . . and the rides seem to get more “thrilling” the further out the pier you go. Of course, with construction, it’s only look from the Seawall.

With new multi-story motels as well as many businesses that survived, all seemed to benefit physically from Hurricane Ike’s “urban renewal project.”  Next was the Strand. We had walked around the Strand after Ike, when, for example, the entire side of Yaga Restaurant was a debris pile in the plaza next door. You know the one—it has the giant chess game. The plaza is prettier and more inviting, and the adjacent patio at Yaga is much sleeker. But Yaga kept its wonderful, funky turquoise front.

The building exteriors are freshly cleaned. Some spaces are still undergoing renovation, but with a medium and a mega cruise ship in port, more is happening on the Strand.  I was glad to see the thriving outdoor café, art and music venues in the Post Office Street area are recovering.

Even the 50+ years old McDonald’s on Broadway has taken on a new fresh look –it’s McCafe now. Go goofing, so much new and refreshed old to see.

Speaking of goofing.  Saturday, March 10 (9 to 1) the Master Gardeners have a plant sale at the Fort Bend Fairgrounds, Barn H.  Ask janicescanlan@clear.net  for more info or tell me where you go goofing.

 Illustrated from the 3-7-2012 Fort Bend Independent

Passion for learning

 Consider a work night and a school night. After a hard day, most families like to stay in, rest, watch TV, read, surf the net or social media. Just relax.

The Drew Kayes family visit with Judy Belt during QV Elementary Math & Science Night.

 So the idea of another thing to do or obligation “on a school (work) night” is not usually on the high priority list. So there’s nothing like seeing proud mamas and papas at their kids’ school involved in their kids’ learning.  And that’s what five of us from the Quail Valley Garden Club got to see last Wednesday night at Math and Science at Quail Valley Elementary.

There were no parking places, and it was standing room only in classrooms, and where the experiments and displays were set up. A regular beehive of activity; but like bees, it was organized and purposeful.

 

Parents are actively involved in kids' learning. A regular beehive of activity;
but like a beehive, it was organized and purposeful.

We had Parent Teacher nights and show off kids’ work when I was in school. Everyone attended, but I don’t remember the interaction. I certainly don’t remember actually doing something!

 

The kids were doing all kinds of things in the classrooms as well. And where I visited, parents and kids were engaged and having fun. Yes, fun with math and science because they are doing stuff they can feel or touch . . . or in math’s case, apply to the real world or experience the concepts of time and space.

 

I don't remember the interaction or doing experiments from my parent teacher night experiences.

And there was passion about making sure kids were learning—and parents were asking questions about what their kids were learning as well as how could they help. And it seemed more men were involved than many times you see. I don’t have a comparison and many kids had both parents as well as siblings attending. However, I wondered, after the fact, if more men came because it was math and science night.

 

What started this thought was in mentioning Math and Science Night to many women, the first response often was, “that’s not my thing.” That’s why I was so excited that a total stranger, kindergarten girl came up to me in the hall no less. She was so proud of her experiment and wanting to show it off.  We need little girls and little boys in this country learning math and science as well as how to read, write and communicate if we are to stay competitive. And she was doing it loud and clear—before she’s taught,” that’s not for girls” or in general, “it’s boring.”

 

Penny Johnson President of QVGC and parent Lomil Truitt.

What I noticed from attending Math and Science Night, as well as a PTO meeting a couple of weeks before, was parents (and yes, these are involved parents) were concerned about several things regarding a Community Garden Quail Valley Elementary is developing at the school. Parents, first of all, wanted their kids to have learning and outdoor activities that weren’t just taking tests. They wanted to ensure that all children, not just gifted and talented, got to participate. They wanted the activities to be “real world,” with kids working together, being outside. And yes, they wanted it tied to age appropriate learning objectives.

 

 

The involvement of parents and teachers has QV Garden Club "on the bus" for partnering with QV Elementary.

Folks, these things are easy to say. Doing them is hard. I attended a meeting of math and science teachers on the community garden (after school) with teachers from all grades present. These professionals (and Principal Ramirez) were all involved in making the garden work and talking about the things it would help them teach.

It’s time we start recognizing and rewarding these kind of professionals who are ensuring that learning is engaging; mastering a challenge is exciting; finding a way is fun. 

That’s what has made this country great . . .

 Illustrated from the 2-22-2012 Fort Bend Independent

 

Please click on pictures to enlarge them.

Hope and dignity

 

Tri-Cities Re-sale Shop in Stafford offers a wide variety of affordable merchandise. Proceeds from the shop fund, 37% of its mission.

Has poverty moved into the middle class in Fort Bend County—and how does it happen? I call it the “tumble-down effect.”  An example, the state cuts the education budget, the school district lays off 400+ teachers, their spouses in professional services have less work. Income tumbles. Savings dwindle. Resources from friends and families are “tapped out.”  Substitute teaching is available, but your income is cut in half. Or you’re a school bus driver, but don’t get paid in the summer and savings run dry because you had an unexpected car or home repair. Where do people go?

 Increasingly East Fort Bend Human Needs Ministry is seeing not only first time clients, but has new programs in unexpected places. FBISD through its school nurses has identified 1/3 of its students (no, that’s not a typo) qualify for a nutrition program where each Friday, students take home food in their backpacks. These are your neighbors. This program is supplied and prepackaged by the Houston Food Bank and administered by East Fort Bend Ministries that for the past two years has seen its food warehouse empty by October.  Another hard hit group is the elderly living on fixed incomes. Then, there’s layoffs and ones looming such as Texas Instruments. Returning veterans. Yes, there is more demand in Fort Bend County, and not just from the working poor.

 

Connie Esposito and Vickie Coates

I interviewed Vickie Coates and Connie Esposito of East Fort Bend Human Needs Ministries (EFBHNM).  They have been serving our community since 1990 with help for food, clothing, electricity, and mortgages.  I came away so impressed that our county does pull together and help. And do it with heart. At the heart and conscience of our County is the George Foundation. Add the Executive Directors and the Fort Bend Alliance as well as many community and business organizations. Then, there’s you. I feel proud of the people in Fort Bend.

 Are there people trying to “work the system?” Connie related one client, a woman living on $584 per month. She was having trouble paying her electric bill. When they showed her they could help her more with her mortgage, she didn’t want to take the extra money because “other people need help too.” Yes, these are your neighbors who need a little help and hope to stay on their feet.

So what can you do? There’s lots. 37% of EFBHNM’s income comes from its re-sale shop in Stafford. And it’s an amazing store. I hope you’ll visit my website to see what a nice store it has become (and is getting nicer with a boutique of “special clothing.”) It looks and feels like a retail store. Furniture. Glassware. Maternity and kids clothes. But don’t think you can only send your gently worn clothing or other items. They also have grab bags of torn or stained clothing that particularly outdoor laborers like for work that’s dirty. If you have a garage or estate sale and have leftovers, EFBHNM will also pick up your leftovers or pick up heavy items. 

 

Press here to learn the many
ways you can participate.

Fort Bend Empty Bowls is an upcoming event March 23. In its third year, it has grown to need a larger room at Safari Texas. This event is meaningful, but fun. From 6:30 to 9:30 on Friday night, there’s both a silent and live auction—and some fun surprises. In keeping with their mission, area restaurants will supply soup and bread for dinner. You can also volunteer to help paint soup bowls or in many other places.

Help give hope and dignity.

Tickets for Empty Bowls are $25.

Illustrated from the
2-15-2012 Fort Bend Independent

More photos of Tri-Cities Churches Re-sale Shop at 425 Stafford Run , Stafford. East Fort Bend Ministeries is next door at 435 Stafford Run.

   Vickie Coates shows some of the new items in the special boutique so you don't have to look through all the racks if you need an outfit for a special event. Whether in the boutique or not, all items on the racks in Tri-Cities Resale have been inspected for stains, tears, missing buttons and mended. Grab bag items are available for clothing needed for "dirty work." Please click on images to enlarge them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And there are a myriad of volunteer opportunities from clerical work and reception, interviewing clients, pick up and delivery, work at the retail store, or help fill orders at the food pantry.Yes, you can help. Volunteer, paint a soup bowl, donate, or shop.

 

Food pantry warehouse operation is full now thanks to Thanksgiving and Christmas donations . . . and the Souper Bowl of Caring. However, for the last two years the warehouse has been near empty in October. You can give hope and dignity to your neighbors who need a helping hand to stay in their homes or make ends meet during an emergency . . . or help kids better learn in school because they aren't malnourished.

 

 

 

Magic Moment

Because this is a complicated issue I have amplified some of my comments in red italics.

The lyrics, “This magic moment . . . so different and so new” keep running through my head.  What made me think of the song was the first meeting a true cross-section of Missouri City residents participated when the National Golf Association presented the feasibility report on buying the golf course. It fit those lines.

First I admired that the consultant ensured that we understood buying the course was no cake walk. The golf business is hard and golf as a sport was declining at that time. These guys were good. They re-made Houston’s Memorial Park Golf course that is often touted as a municipal golf success story. And municipal golf is different from Country Club Golf. He underscored several points that have never left me.

First, we would never be able to pay back the start up or land costs. So the taxpayers were on the line for whatever was put into the course.  Moreover, no matter how well managed, golf is prisoner to the elements. It is also a prisoner to oil and other commodity prices. Averaging break even on operations was about the best we could expect. Third, and likely very important, municipal courses aren’t country clubs and are distracted by trying to manage fancy amenities around them. 

The rub is that unless you are a Memorial Park and blessed by large work populations near the facility that bring in potential golfers, the community must support the idea of the golf course and in some way feel either connected or benefitted by it—or as in the case of Memorial Park have such support for other forms of recreation within the park, people support the park period.

Enter the magic moment. Residents from all over the city were wildly excited about getting the courses and everyone was seeing green. Problem was to the small number of committed golfers, green meant golf greens. To the rest of the community (or about 84%) green meant open space, access to trails, and a hub for recreation of all sorts. It meant starting to give Missouri City an identity and making it green. The problem we see today is that this dynamic still exists and taxpayers look at the numbers and proportions spent on various aspects of not only the golfing operation but also how it impacts the city budget. The issue raised about golf is that with 54,000 rounds of golf played, the course lost over $100K. If you add in the telephone and utilities, it's close to $450K. Other citizens have asked if we should review our fees structure to see how we might better optimize fees for golf play as a minimum.

Beyond that, we have an extremely complicated governance. The golf course is not under the Parks and Recreation Department. It is under a limited private corporation of which the City Council is the Board of Directors. Which hat does the Council wear in this arrangement? Of course, Council should oversee this aspect as they do other city operations, but a golf course that is competing in the private world of business needs agility to adjust fees and pricing, not just day-to-day operations making the course run. The amount of rounds of golf is likely doing a good job bringing people in, but this is supposed to be very close to break even. If we are still losing money, what will happen in rainy years?

To take politics out of the Parks Operations in Houston, both Memorial and Hermann Parks are run by foundations that have contracts with the City of Houston for clear roles and responsibilities of who does what--and who pays for what. John Walsh, who is one of the key board members of the Hermann Park Conservancy and former CEO of Friendswood Development, told Bob Gowens and I that the Hermann Park Conservancy outsourced their golf operations because despite having a stellar group of business professionals on the board Mr. Walsh said, "We were lousy at running a golf course."

How might we move forward? How might we re-capture the magic moment where many groups saw a way to make our city better? First, the new Recreation and Fitness Center on Cypress Point has much community promise, and we have the horsepower in Parks and Rec to manage it. Running this center and MacNaughton Park is our City's Parks and Recreation people, who have experience running these types of centers and developing programs for them. The Community or Civic Center will appeal more to business organizations and special events. So we need to involve our former cross-section again?  By this, can we agree on some measures of success as a community. Are there other ways to make the community feel more invested in this golf course--particularly those who live outside Quail Valley who do not play golf?  What might those be? What do other communities do?

This is not an involvement or marketing problem alone. It is a Strategic Problem that we do not have a systematic plan showing how this amenity will live up to some of its magic promise, the phases  that it will take to get there, strong and measurable goals of optimizing golfing operations as we go, and use figures of the facilities by various groups. Moreover, there need to be clear contracts with Missouri City of what her obligations are to the limited golf operation corporation and for continued maintenance of land and buildings. We initially intended to outsource the golfing operation to keep it professional and for the agility of private business. Perhaps that idea needs to be revisited now that barriers of ownership are resolved? When the City decided that it was feasible to purchase (or go to Emminent Domain as she was forced to do), the Finance Committee had suggested we outsource the operation of the Golf Course. Because the ownership was not settled, traditional outsourcing was not an option. So we brought in a consultant, Dave Elmendorf who worked on the strategic and project management issues while current director Tyson Stittleberg ran day-to-day. I personally think both people did and in Tyson's case are doing a good job. I cannot imagine an outsourcer would not want to keep a team in place that is bringing in 54,000 rounds. They would, however, have time and a bigger picture to look at some of these fee or any other issues. No one can do more than they have time to do--no matter how good. Many of the strategic and optimization issues are analytical and strategic that require constantly gauge what the competition and market is doing. The reason for a private umbrella is for agility of operation. Getting decisions and educating Council to the why may consume a lot of time  and totally undo any speed advantage.

I suggest our new City Manager Edward Broussard lead this effort. He has not been party to the decisions and his resume touts strength in strategic planning, community involvement and mixed use development. Let’s build on that past magic to make our city greater.

I hate the throw this to the new guy, but frankly, I foresee this as being a constant political issue if we do not find a way to remove politics from the operation of this golf course. And we have elections every year. That's a constant whipsaw. I'd rather see us debate the future of the city, not continue to re-hash the past.

Amplified from Musings column in the 2/9/2012 Fort Bend Independent.

Holiday Fun

Whether you’re a football fan or just love the holidays . . . there was plenty to enjoy this past weekend. For John and I, it kicked off with the first Snowfest Tree Lighting evening event. It was well-planned as well as attended. Tree lighting with fireworks, toboggan and camel rides, lots of fun venues like running bungee cords, rock walls, and a very interesting catapult swing. And, of course, Santa.

Missouri City Snowfest Tree Lighting with Living Christmas Card Singers in foreground in picture above.

The tree is just beautiful along with the color-changing snowflakes on MC buildings. John remarked how well laid out and organized . . .and event people-watching is always the best. Congratulations to MC Parks and Recreation  as well as all the other MC departments that help make this event fun and smooth going. 

Followed by the Snowfest parade the next day, even Scrooge would have trouble not being in the holiday spirit. So many groups participate in the Parade, and I think the floats are getting fancier . . . but when you’re in the parade, you only see what’s near you in the parade, staging or at the windup.

The kids groups are always amazing as are the adults and parents who see that all this comes together whether it was Girl Scout Troops, Martial Arts, dance and cheerleading troops, Sta-Mo Pony Baseball, Glover Eaglettes, MC Soccer or MC Dolphin swim team. There were many very large groups of kids.

Picture on right Glover Eaglettes with Chick-fil-A Santa Cow.

There was a terrific marching band, but I was too far away to see which school, the Elkins ROTC Color Guard, Stafford and Dulles ROTCs. And everyone wanted their picture with the Chick-fil-A cow dressed in a Santa suit . . . I got a high five, but anyone with a 3 foot Poinsettia hat as Queen of the Poinsettias, along with the wonderful elves and garden fairies from Quail Valley Garden Club, deserves one. With wind gusts to 20 mph (and it was a cold wind), I didn’t know whether I was a weather vane . . . or about to be a Sally Field Flying Nun, but the 3 foot Poinsettia held together and I stayed earthbound.

Picture on left Sharon Wright, Sandy Smith, Lynn Ellis, Sydrah Williams with Judy Belt in foreground. Marsha Strain can't be seen.

So to the churches, civic groups and businesses that put together entries, thanks for helping make our community fun. I was happy to see Kyle Jones have a lead disc jockey role with the large MC Dolphin float. Music throughout the lineup makes the parade fun, and this guy is one of the parents who spend at least two hours before every home event, setting up tents, food, etc to keep people comfortable during the swim meets. There are so many stories about such volunteers in our community, but that’s one I know. And you see these same people supporting the community whether it’s in-season for them or not. And the MC Library!

Extra, Extra . . . the concrete is poured on the MC section of Oyster Creek Trail from the Y to Dulles Ave!

Now for the fans . . . it’s been since 1993, and with a third string QB and we’re going to the playoffs! Wow, Texans. The heart in all of this is so much like the Luv Ya Blue of the Oilers in ’93 for you transplants that may not remember that time. Literally some of the players were walk-ons, but you had some greats like Dan Pastorini, Earl Campbell, Billy White Shoes Johnson, a killer defense with an all-star bunch as well as Bum Phillips (hmmmm, we have another Phillips as in Wade today). And we can’t forget then Defensive Coach Ed Biles who lives in MC to this day.  

The nice piece of justice is the play-off was clinched by a loss by the Tennessee Titans. Now where did those guys used to play? Hats off to Gary Kubiak.

So experience the holiday fun with family and friends.

Illustrated from Musings column in the 12/14/2011 Fort Bend Independent.

Safe and happy holidays to all. I really meant it by the 3 foot "crown" . . . If you haven't done something fun or silly, try it . . . it's good for the soul!

Janice Scanlan on right above.

Skip Belt, Lizzy & Curtis Belt on left.

Joy of giving

I experienced real holiday joy Sunday at the Wassail held at the Dew House. The kind of simple pleasure we often miss in our gatherings today because they are too overdone. Starting with simple, docent-made holiday decorations, hot homemade wassail, cookies, a crowd of well wishers, and young people entertaining.

Please don’t think I’m neglecting your choir or group, but I saw The Quail Valley Middle School String Orchestra of four violins and three cellos perform. These seven kids love to play and formed together—instigated by their leader Eric and a lot of support from parents. Now I wish I had been that disciplined and poised when I was middle-school age, but what was refreshing is that these kids were full of energy, enthusiasm and discipline. To all the people who fought to have an academy school at QVMS, they should feel proud. Add that to your joy list of giving this year if you were involved then or now.

The Dew House has been a real community effort.  One volunteer, Mr. Rodgers, an electrical engineer, electrified a chandelier originally made for candles. There’s no kit for something like that so it’s a lot of visits to the hardware store and re-dos to get it right.  But what comes through is the satisfaction of giving . . . there are so many stories such as that regarding Dew House. And just like the QV String Orchestra, the joy of doing and someone else appreciating radiates joy through the festivities.

The joy of giving is not just things, but of yourself.  

If you can’t afford donations this year, you can volunteer. 

Stressed trying to select the right gift? Take the recipient shopping to get a better fit. For example, a musical instrument. I asked Steve Eller of Smack Guitars for pointers on guitars (that I suspect fit many musical instruments).  The first is that type is very individual. You can still get a wide price range and find a fit, but you need to go to a store that has a wide selection as well as someone who knows the merchandise and how to help a customer to find a fit (281 498-7128). I’ll throw in another point . . . with something like a musical instrument, consider giving lessons as well. This can be a family/friend endeavor with various members contributing to lessons, supplies, music, etc. Involving others spreads the joy.

Now, all of us are looking to save money  . . .that printer may price-wise look like a great bargain. Then you discover how expensive toner and ink cartridges can be. He can’t sell you a printer, but Michael of Cartridge World in Missouri City can tell you which printers are less expensive “to feed.” You can then save money (and the environment) at Cartridge World by using re-filled cartridges (281 303-5702).

Select areas to give that mean something to you and benefit others. You’ll experience more joy and satisfaction. By giving locally, you can also see the fruits of your effort. Think about it . . . what’s important to you?

And Missouri City Snowfest starts with a tree-lighting at City Hall Friday night, Dec 9, at 6:00 pm. You’ll be entertained by Living Christmas Card to delight the entire family as well as snow and the toboggan slide for kids of all ages. And then the Saturday Parade at 9. Experience the joy.

On another note, Missouri City Parks & Recreation and volunteers are finding a more permanent location for the Farmer’s Market. Stay tuned for more.

Illustrated from Musings column in the 12/07/2011 Fort Bend Independent.

Since there isn't always room in the newspaper . . .

Other groups that appeared at the Dew House Wassail were the Elkins Knightbeats and the Scanlan Oaks Whistle Stops. Sponsors were HEB Sienna Market, Leonetti Graphics, Oyster Creek Manor and Missouri City Mayor Allen Owen.

Growing better community

A community is more than its streets and buildings. It’s what it means to people and how it allows them to live, work, and play together determines whether it takes root in the hearts and minds of its inhabitants or is just a bedroom or passing through point.

Growing a community is easy to talk about and hard to do. Last Thursday, November 10, the Quail Valley Garden Club celebrated planting a grove of Golden Figs on the Edible Arbor Trail on Oyster Creek (between the Fort Bend YMCA on Cartwright and Mosley Park on FM 1092). It was a beautiful day and poignant for many club members.

Quail Valley Garden Club is 40 years old this year and planted its first five trees in 1974 at the Richmond State School. They’ve been planting trees ever since, particularly in Missouri City. They’ve also given plenty of scholarships, landscaped and maintain the Arbor at Ridgeview Park . . . and the list goes on.

It takes a lot of effort and commitment to fund raise and give service to the community. While some groups have grown large and have large fund raising efforts, it’s all the groups contributing and individuals becoming involved that makes a community. It’s having a variety of ways for people to meet, hold their club meetings, special events, or just informal happenstance like meeting in the park.  

And people won’t use parks or trails unless they’re beautiful. People won’t support the community if parks and meeting places aren’t used. So it’s constantly planting trees, developing amenities and supporting gatherings that build a sense of community.

Roads and bridges may be a community's arteries. Parks and recreational opportunities are its soul.

Missouri City is really entering a new era of understanding this concept and having city ordinances that encourage groups to form, meet and then give back to the community. 

And it was a special event, The Quail Valley Backyard Tour that paid for the grove of trees . . . and the city issues permits for those events.  Up until now, special events by groups could only be held every six months. And for most events that’s more than enough. You know if you’ve ever organized one!

However, something like a Farmer’s Market that needs to meet periodically can’t develop unless it is held on a much more frequent basis.  A Missouri City Farmer’s Market got its fledgling start celebrating the ground breaking of the Missouri City Recreation Center on October 8. The response was so positive, the market will host a Thanksgiving Harvest Special Event November 19 from 10 am to 1pm at 2601 Cartwright on the Cypress Point side of the shopping center across from the new MC Recreation Center.

Sponsored by Sorelle Deli that features fresh food from local farmers, the market will offer a wide variety of fresh, locally grown vegetables, fruits and yard eggs as well as the home growers who bring their “what’s growing” surprises.  There are also crafters, custom orders of holiday wreaths and baskets as well as fresh baked goods inside the deli.  

Missouri City Council will review on November 21, whether to authorize the market for several months while it is reviewing its special event ordinances as part of an ongoing review that is making our ordinances more relevant to businesses and residents. For example, we updated what colors are allowed on signs several months ago.

To get a flier that includes a list of produce that will be featured, press the following link  Download Community Show & Sell

Illustrated from Musings column in the 11/16/2011 Fort Bend Independent.

To read about the Missouri City Recreation Center opening and "Sweet Celebration" that went with it, press here.

There's not always room in the newspaper to say thank you . . .but this picture of the audience at Edible Arbor Trail Ceremony speaks volumes in "happy taxpayers." 

In my opinion City Employees often get picked on unmercifully. I've probably done some of the picking myself. City employees due to a sizeable budget shortfall are being asked to do more with a whole lot less, but that was true before this year.

They also don't make the ordinances they have to enforce--Council does.

Thank you MC Parks and Recreation especially Paul Wierzbicki for developing the concept of the Edible Arbor Trail and for Parks Director Larry Foos and Ass't Parks Director Randy Troxell for supporting it as well as to all the employees in the Department who make it possible and all the other dedication that goes unnoticed.

And thanks to the MC Public Relations department who photograph, film and put all this info before the public on the Website and MCTV.

And thanks to the MC Development Department that includes Planning, Permitting and Inspections including Gary Smith, Director; Travis Huff; Paul McKeever and Tracy Landrum for helping us identify how we might get a Farmer's Market legally started in Missouri City and working with us. We also appreciated Larry Foos and Shane Mize in Parks & Recreation for taking the time to acknowledge a market could be an important community building asset.

And Public Works uses the latest computer equipment to design the beautiful signs and know how to construct them.

 

Recreation Center Dedication & Sweet Celebration

The dedication of the Missouri City Recreation Center was well attended by the public and officials with national and local tennis representatives from Austin and North Houston.

Mayor, City Council and Parks Board were also represented and several members of the Missouri City community expressed they were excited for the center which in addition to 12 tennis courts will have a gymnasium, exercise room and 3 multi-purpose rooms that include audio visual equipment.

The Parks Department also showed their excitement with a "2nd" ground breaking.

 

Refreshments were served and center plans signed by attendees . . . all look forward to this becoming a center for recreation and a magnet for group community meetings where people either bring or cater their own refreshments if they so desire. It will likely be more attractive to smaller groups or those wanting a more informal atmosphere.

While the Missouri City Community Center at the Golf Club started a couple of weeks ago is designed for larger events and will have a grill for dining as well as other facilities to support the thriving golfing operation, it will appeal to groups that have banquets, luncheons, weddings, and likely more formal events. The Missouri City Golf operation has had a large number of tournaments this fall and is buzzing with activities. The tall red and white banners the U of H Alumni used during their golfing event were particularly impressive.

After the Ceremony, a community Sweet Celebration . . .

One of the recommendations of the Texas Parkway Cartwright study, were that revitalizing the Recreation Center would encourage business re-development on Cartwright, and re-vitalization is indeed happening. Businesses on Cartwright have already begun to spruce up in anticipation of more people coming into the neighborhood. See more photos.

In addition to its live entertainment on Thrusday evening, Sorelle Italian Deli started a Community Show and Sell for home growers,crafters, and makers as well as community groups selling or promoting something after the dedication. Vendors who attended were pleased by the event and plan to come back. One vendor had to get more food items from home as she "sold out."

What was nice about the event is you could chat, browse, have a coffee, gelato, others sweets or a full meal inside the deli. It was a nice way to get Saturday "going" casually in the neighborhood--and with fresh growers and crafters, you never know what to expect. The Quail Valley Garden Club gave away fresh herbs as well as took pre-orders for caladium bulbs.

And there was a drawing with grand prize a Houston Texans flag, earrings and fresh preserves.

Community Show & Sell will be held on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays  (and October 22) each month from 10 am to 1 pm under the wide cover outside the Sorelle Italian Deli. Just look for Lady Lasagna at 2601 Cartwright, Suite E (at Cypress Point).

There is no charge to vendors, but you must sign up to show. Contact Sorelle owner Bennie Gonzalez at 281 208-9999 to be a vendor . . . or download a flier for the event.  Download Community Show & Sell