fort bend independent

By SESHADRI KUMARThe Fort Bend County

Commissioners Court last week unanimously approved a resolution authorizing a joint election contract between the Republican and Democratic Parties and the Fort Bend County Elections Administra-tor.

The election date has been set for March 2.

The contract will allow the county to conduct one prima-ry election rather than two.

According to Fort Bend County Elections Administra-tor John Oldham this agree-ment is “good for the Parties, good for the county, and, most importantly, good for the vot-ers.”

Under the plan the Repub-lican and Democratic Par-ties will share voting booths. There will be one team of election workers made up of representatives of both parties processing the voters.

This would make things better for both the poll work-ers and voters, Oldham said.

“Voters won’t be faced with the stigma of standing in one line versus another, or waiting in the wrong line. They can discreetly choose a party bal-lot when they check in,” Old-ham said.

After the court approved the agreement, Precinct 4

Commissioner James Patter-son praised the political party chairmen and the Fort Bend County Elections Offi ce for working together in the Pri-mary process.

“Republican Chair Rick Miller and Democratic Chair Elaine Bishop as well as our Elections Administrator John Oldham are to be commended for their initiative and coop-eration,” Patterson said.

Joint primaries are becom-ing more common in Texas. Parties have shared voting booths in Bexar County for years and joint primaries are the norm throughout most of the country.

Also, early voting in Fort Bend has been conducted jointly in the past.

The most signifi cant impact of the joint election is that the election costs would be sub-stantially reduced as the joint election would eliminate du-plication of polling booths, equipment and personnel.

While the county bears the cost of early voting, the respective parties share the election day costs and the run-off election, if necessary.

Both the parties will be re-imbursed by the Secretary of State.

In 2008, the Republican and the Democratic Parties in Fort Bend spent about $95,000 and

$105,000 respectively.The joint election 2010

may bring down the total cost to $138,000.

The county may spend an-other $130,000 on early vot-ing. The county is also ex-pected to spend $25,000 on training election workers.

Both Miller and Bishop expressed confi dence in the election administrator. The mutual faith and spirit of co-operation between the two party chairs also expedited the joint election agreement.

Miller said “The Joint Elec-tion process requires an Elec-tion Judge representing each Party at each of the voting locations. This makes the pro-cess fair to both Political Par-ties.”

“Our decision was based fi rst on ensuring the process would be fair and respectful to the voter. It will be essen-tially the same as early voting. The only difference is that we have to provide a record of the early and election day voting to the Precinct Conventions, which occur roughly 30 min-utes after the polls close. So this record will be taken for each Party as people check in to vote,” Miller said.

The other consideration was that the process would

The extension of the South-west Freeway to Sugar Land cleared the way for the growth of residential development during the 1960s. The state’s highway project extended the freeway through rice fi elds in Sharpstown to U.S. Highway 90A, a milestone that spurred the development of Sugar Creek and other areas.

The Imperial Cattle Ranch sold about 1,200 acres to a de-veloper to create what became Sugar Creek in 1968. The ar-ea’s fi rst master-planned com-munity introduced country club living near Sugar Land. It had the feel of rural estates with upscale amenities that included a Robert Trent Jones golf course.

Prior to the development of Sugar Creek, the Kempner family set the stage for up-

scale residential communities in Sugar Land with the devel-opment of Venetian Estates.

They dredged canals in family-owned farmland and swamp to build the neighbor-hood. The development served several purposes – nice, new waterside homes, the elimina-tion of a swampy area inhabit-ed by alligators and continued fl ood control protection.

Venetian Estates greatly benefi ted from the extension of the Southwest Freeway, which improved access and sparked renewed interest in the rural neighborhood. Also during the early 1960s, a new subdivision development called Covington Woods in-troduced contemporary af-fordable housing in Sugar Land for the fi rst time.

Based on the success of

Covington Woods, Venetian Estates and Sugar Creek, de-velopers began looking for new opportunities in the Sug-ar Land area.

In 1972, the Kempner fam-ily sold 7,500 acres to Gerald Hines Interests for the devel-opment of First Colony. It was one of the largest land sales in Texas history. Development of 10,000 acres began in 1977 by Sugarland Properties Inc. and would follow the next 30 years.

The master-planned com-munity offered homebuyers formal landscaping, neigh-borhoods segmented by price range, extensive greenbelts, a golf course and country club, lakes and boulevards, neigh-borhood amenities and shop-ping.

The rest is history.

FORT BEND

FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE.

Phone: 281-980-6745wwwww.fbindependent.com.fbindependent.com

P. O.BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487-0623WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2009

VOL 2 No. 51

Sugar Land redefi nes standard of living

Secondscan save

lives

Visit memorialhermann.org or call 713.222.CARE to learn more about our heart and vascular screenings.

Fort Bend County’s only accredited Chest Pain Center.

County to hold joint primary elections on March 2

At First Colony Church of Christ on Dec. 19 Sugar Land Exchange Club, Fort Bend Ex-change Club, Sugar Land Rotary, and Project Smile worked together to be Santa’s Exchange to 719 families by distributing over 10,000 toys to 2721 kids. At least 988 families received special red and green invitation letters to participate. They were chosen through Project Smile and Fort Bend County’s social service programs. There were over 400 student volunteers from area schools and countless Exchangites, Rotarians, and other service organizations members on hand to welcome the guests and help them select their toys. A month of collection and special bargain shopping preceded four days of sorting over 10,000 toys by thirty student volunteers, Exchangites, and Rotarian volunteers each night. Project Smile began 26 years ago when Carolyn Tarver sought to turn her grief from the loss of their only son Stan into something that was positive. She chose to make a few families in need smile at Christmas with gifts for their children that they did not expect. The remaining toys will be distributed at Bethel Ministry Monday morning to an additional 575 families who were on the Santa’s Ex-change waiting list and other needy families in Fort Bend County. The Smiles just continue to go around the county thanks to good people doing good things. Above, Kate Olson in the green top, Congressman Pete Olson, the Olsons’ nephew, Parker Garland, in plaid, and Betty Baitland distribute the toys.—Photo by Larry Pullen

HOLIDAY LIGHTING. Quail Valley Garden Club Holiday Lighting winners express the joy and good will of the season. First place: 3303 Deerwood: Lisa Yeager & Miguel Angel Ortiz is a child’s delight with multiple Santas and other characters. One of the Santas is pictured in this photo. Second Place, 3107 Holly Court: Glen Crawford; Third Place, 2507 Bermuda Dunes: Michael & Blanca Swatek. Honorable mentions in no order: 2911 Highland Lakes: Tamara and Michael Bailey; 3134 Stoney Brook, Denis & Sharon Menegaz; 3119 Stoney Brook, Paul & Beverly Combs; and 2919 Nancy Bell, Joel & Frances McCaulley. The Good Neighbor and Sense of Humor Award went to Robert Craig of 2931 Highland Lakes in his celebration of his neighbor Bryan Gardner’s spectacular lighting display at 2922 Highland Lakes. Drive by to experience all the winners and other homeowners who light up our lives.

Santa’s Exchange comes to town

Taxpayer sues law fi rm, taxing units and others

By SESHADRI KUMARA Sugar Land taxpayer,

Gwen Ross, has sued Fort Bend County, Fort Bend ISD, City of Sugar Land, Tax Assessor/Collector Patsy Schultz, delinquent tax collec-tor Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP and others alleging that the law fi rm ille-gally sold the property toward delinquent taxes.

The litigation relates to the property at 307 Lakeview in Sugar Land.

The owner was not living at this address and a mailing address had been given to the county.

Ross claimed that the judg-ment and sale notices were not served on her but were served on the property occupied by tenants.

Linebarger by consistently using the property address in-stead of the owner’s mailing address denied the due pro-cess of law, Ross said.

The fi rst sale proceed-ings began in January 2005. Ross came to know about it through the painters working on the house. She attempted to pay the taxes and the pro-posed sale was canceled.

Again in 2006 similar sale proceedings began and this time the tenant informed her about it.

A Linebarger employee allegedly encouraged Ross to sell the property to a man whose card she always kept in her desk.

“Nobody at or for the coun-ty could count from July 14, 2006 up 180 days to January

10, 2007 in order to deter-mine the critical deadline for redemption of the property,” Ross said in the lawsuit.

Because of the confl icting dates calculated by various entities, Ross, despite pay-ing the amount to redeem her house, was told she was in default and the property had been sold.

According to one ver-sion, the deadline was Jan. 10, 2007. Ross redeemed the property on Jan. 12 as per an-other advice.

On Jan.12 Schultz allegedly told that Ross had redeemed her property, but on Jan. 16 “unredeemed” it.

Were it not for the tragic consequences of acts, errors

See LAWSUIT, Page 3

See ELECTION, Page 3

Building homes of quality and distinction for over 40 years.

Plans, prices and availability are subject to change without notice. (10/08)

Community happenings • FORT BEND INDEPENDENT • DECEMBER 23, 2009

be effi cient and that everyone would be treated the same... no more singling out of who is a Republican or a Democrat by having separate lines. Every-one will be in the same line. This process will also save money because there will be fewer people involved in the process and one set of voting equipment will be needed.

“The other factor is that our agreement (Democrat and

Republican Chairmen) came quickly with the agreement of the Elections Administra-tor. We were shown how the process would work with an actual set-up of the entire check-in to voting process,” Miller said.

“With the Secretary of State’s Elections section also advocating the Joint Election and then the County Com-missioners voting in complete agreement, I believe this will serve Fort Bend County vot-ers very well in conducting the

Primary Election,” he said.Bishop said the county

election administration has worked to remove some of the concerns her party had lsuch as fewer number of election judges from the Democratic Party, and inadequate number of polling sites.

The administration had done everything she had asked for and hence her confi -dence that the process will be smooth, benefi ting all voters.

Six workshops have been scheduled to inform the pub-lic about FEMA’s new devel-opment and implementation of the Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map (DFIRM) program.

The formal process will in-clude an offi cial general pub-lic review.

Fort Bend County will or-ganize and host a number of public meetings to introduce and explain the FEMA adop-tion process, provide an op-portunity for the Public to review the maps, and learn about the county’s interactive web tool that is available.

A representative from the National Flood Insurance Program Region VI offi ce is expected to attend the January 5, 6, and 7 meetings.

In addition, handouts will be available at all of the meet-ings as well as information pertaining to other fl oodplain related information such as “mandatory fl ood insurance rules,” or “appeals and protest procedures.”

The dates, times and loca-tions for these workshops are listed below.

Workshop Schedule January 5, 2010Albert George Library9230 Gene Street Needville, Texas 77461 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.January 6, 2010Sugar Land City Hall2700 Town Center Blvd. North Sugar Land, Texas77479 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

January 7, 2010Club Sienna9600 Scanlan Trce. Missouri City, Texas 77459-6543 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.January 11, 2010Cinco Ranch Library2620 Commercial Center Blvd. Katy, Texas77494 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.January 12, 2010George Memorial Library1001 Golfview Drive, Richmond, Texas77469 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.January 14, 2010Bob Lutts Fulshear/Simonton Library8100 FM 359 South Fulshear, Texas77441 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Workshops on fl ood maps

By BARBARA FULENWIDER On the second and fi nal

reading, Sugar Land City Council at its last meeting of the year approved the city’s fourth tax increment reinvest-ment zone (TIRZ).

The zone includes just over 700 acres straddling U.S. 59 at University Boulevard. It will be used to build Sugar Land’s fi rst entertainment district in a mixed-use plan. Council cre-ated TIRZ 4 in order to pro-vide fi nancing for public im-provements and facilities that will support the development of the acreage.

Development plans call for a mixed use of commercial, cultural arts, sports and enter-tainment in an urban-density. The TIRZ also includes the University of Houston – Sug-ar Land and part of the com-mercial area of Telfair.

Ted Nelson, representing Newland Communities and the Telfair community in Sug-

ar Land, told council prior to the unanimous vote that he is highly supportive of the cre-ation of TIRZ 4.

Sugar Land and Newland Communities put together the conceptual plan for the 300 acres of commercial reserve in the TIRZ boundary.

A Tax Increment Reinvest-ment Zone is a tool that city and county governments can use to publicly fi nance struc-tural improvements and en-hance infrastructure within a defi ned area.

The goal of a TIRZ is to create additional new value via development that brings in more taxes and reinvest that tax value back into the designated area rather than use general property tax to fund the improvements.

Sugar Land fi rst used a TIRZ as an economic de-velopment tool to get Town Square built. With that hugely important and successful de-

velopment done it now is the city’s TIRZ model.

Background information to council members says “re-investment zone No. 4 will facilitate a program of public improvements including en-tertainment venues, theaters, plazas, stadiums, parks and associated projects within the entertainment district.”

Development of an en-tertainment district requires signifi cant public investment in public buildings, parking, plazas and spaces. The zone could not be developed with-out the public infrastructure and facilities fi nanced by the zone. It will cover approxi-mately 701.96 acres, and will be created for a term of 30 years.

No council members asked any questions or made any comments prior to their vote of approval on the consent agenda, which included the creation of TIRZ No. 4.

Sugar Land’s new TIRZ approved

ElectionFrom Page 1

Clements High School Stars Dance Team sold a re-cord number of poinsettia plants this year to help fund their competition season and new costumes for next year.

The team members went to local businesses and resi-dents in the First Colony area to sell poinsettias back in October attempting to get as many orders as possible. Their efforts were met with

great success. Therefore they look forward to competing in a Houston area competition February 13th, and then a state competition in Dallas on February 20th.

Director, Ms. Chelsea Harrison is very grateful to the community for all of the support, and wishes every-body a happy holiday season. Stars Dance Team members shown are, Left to Right, 1st

row, Nasim Heydari, Chris-tina Daniels, Grace Chen, Harley Guel, Katherine Saunders, and Morgan Da-vis. 2nd row, Michelle Shut-ter, Anna Busier, Lauren Castiglioni, Taylor Rainosek, and Victoria Cervantes. 3rd row Melinda Taylor, Victoria Fortenberry, Mikaela Austin, Krystal Tanaka, and Monica Seethram.

Clements’ Star Dancers

DECEMBER 23, 2009 • FORT BEND INDEPENDENT •

Community news

Houston Community Bank, N.A.Staff ord Branch

Starting or expanding a business?

Working capital needs?We are your small business solution!

JEFF SMITHPresident

18-year-Stafford Resident

13811 Murphy Road, Staff ord, Texas 77477

281-208-2111

www.houstoncommunitybank.com

Member

The Bank That Listens

TERRY CROCKETTSenior Vice President

1-800-561-WCJC (9252) • wcjc.edu

Wharton CountyJunior College

is GOING GREENwith its

continuing education schedule booklet.

• Child Development• Concealed Handgun• College Course Preparation• Computer Technology• Emergency Medical Services• Fitness• Healthcare Professions• Motorcycle Safety

• Office Training• Personal Enrichment• Professional Development• Programs for Senior Citizens• Small Business Development• Test Preparation• Tax Preparation

Four Campus Locations Near You!Wharton • Sugar Land • Richmond • Bay City

Beginning this spring, the course booklet will no longer be mass mailed to homes.

It will be posted on the college’s webpage at wcjc.edu.

We have a program for everyone!

AFFORDABLE & CONVENIENT SHORT TERM TRAININGONLINE or CLASSROOM TRAINING

LEISURE LEARNING • CAREER DEVELOPMENT • CUSTOMIZED CORPORATE TRAINING

Enhance your skills. Receive a certification. Take a class for fun.

Business and industry can also benefit from our customized employee training programs.

Start Smart in the new year with a Continuing Education

course at WCJC!

WCJC is an E.O.E. institution.

Learn more about of an array of courses, including but not limited to:

SUGAR LAND REDUCED

SUGAR CREEK Great 1 story on huge corner lot. 3 bed-rooms & study. Seller has updated carpet, tile paint in and out and roof replaced. Shows great and price already reduced to go fast in the low $200’s.

SUGAR LAND/COMMON-WEALTH. Over 4000sqft! 5 bedrooms 3.5 baths, game room, study/formal and extra room. Seller has updated carpet, tile granite counters, & more in 2009. Roof replaced too. Big yard. Price reduced to go $300’s.

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.

NEW LISTING

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

SUGAR LAND

CITY OF SUGAR LAND ETJ! PERRY 2 story with master down and gameroom up. Huge cul de sac lot! Built in 2003. Tile and wood laminate fl oors thru out. 3 car dettached garage! Priced to go at $190,000.

FIRST COLONY

First Colony/Sugar Land! Over 3100 sqft 4 bedrooms 3 full baths. Bedroom/bath down. Game room up. All new interior/exterior paint 2009! New carpet and tile 2009! Reduced to go in the $200’s and $5,000 in closing costs. Seller spent over $32K getting house ready to sell.

REDUCED

REDUCED

Suzette Peoples Broker /Owner

21 years of experience!

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

FIRST COLONY/SUGAR LAND! Popular 1 story Emerald plan! Huge over size lot! 3 bedrooms and study! Huge island kitchen. Beautiful open plan! Great location and low taxes. Priced to go fast at $215,000.

SOLD

FREE THROW CONTEST

Girls and boys, ages 10 to 14 (as of January 1, 2010), are invited to show off their Free Throw skills in the statewide contest sponsored by the Knights of Columbus. Join us at the St. Theresa Youth Center, 707 Wood St. (behind St. Theresa Church), Sugar Land on Sunday, January 10, 2010, with proof of age and written parental consent. Regis-ter and amaze us with your Free Throw skills. Plan on arriving by 12:30 p.m. to register and warm up for the competition that starts at 1:00 p.m. All contestants re-ceive a free commemorative T-shirt and a free ticket for one at an upcoming Knights of Colum-bus Fish Dinner. For more infor-mation, contact Ken Stilling at 281-437-2216 or 281-750-5446.

DHS ProGrad 2010 Car Wash Fundraiser Program

Purchase MISTER HOTSHINE discounted car wash passes.

Nice to give for holiday gifts or stocking stuff ers to teachers,

coaches, co-workers, etc. Full service passes ($12.49) good

at the Lexington/Hwy 6 or any full service location. Express

wash passes ($5) good at Dulles Ave. Either pass can be

used towards an upgraded wash package at any full service

location. Passes do not expire. 50 percent of all proceeds go

to DHS ProGrad.

Contact Paul Waddell

at [email protected] or 832-453-7001

The Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce Governmental Rela-tions Division and the City of Sugar Land present “The State of the City” breakfast meeting on Friday, Jan. 15, 2010 from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m at the Sugar Land Marriott Town Square. They will present to the citizens the City’s Annual summary of Activities. Join Mayor Jimmy Thompson and City Manager Allen Bogard as they highlight the challenges and successes of 2009 and the plans and visions for 2010. Ticket prices are as follows: Individual - $25 and Corporate Table of ten - $300.

Don’t miss this informative annual event. You may register on-line at fortbendchamber.com or please contact David Crowl with the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce at 281-491-2497 or [email protected].

Attorney Jeff McMeans has announced his bid to seek the Re-publican nomination for County Court-At-Law #2 in Fort Bend County, the bench currently held by his father Judge Walter Mc-Means.

Walter McMeans recently announced he would not seek re-election after 22 years on the bench.

Jeff McMeans, a lifelong Fort Bend County resident and life-long Republican, has his own law fi rm in Richmond which focuses primarily on criminal, juvenile, family, civil, and probate law.

“Dedication to the law and our community are priorities that I strive for, and my extensive background will enable me to make strong, quick and fair deci-sions involving sensitive juvenile cases, as well as hardened crimi-nals,” said McMeans.

McMeans is a 1984 graduate of Dulles High School, a 1988

graduate of Texas A&M Univer-sity and a 1992 graduate of Texas Tech School of Law.

He worked for the Fort Bend County Attorney’s Offi ce, is a former Assistant Prosecutor for the City of Stafford, and was a four-time elected Republican Fort Bend County offi cial for 16 years.

He was a Republican Party Delegate to the 2002 National convention, is a former Director

of the Fort Bend Bar Association and Fort Bend County Criminal Bar Association, and is a member of the Houston, State of Texas, and Aggie Bar Associations. He is also a life member of the Fort Bend Fair Association, and a long time member of Ducks Unlim-ited.

McMeans is actively involved in community service and media-tion, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Dispute Resolu-tion Center.

McMeans coaches his two sons in Sienna Plantation Youth Baseball, is a former Lamar Little League coach, plays competitive softball and attends River Pointe Church.

“My unsurpassed trial expe-rience in the areas of law heard by this court and the fact that I have handled over 1200 more cases than anyone else in this race makes me the most qualifi ed can-didate,” McMeans said.

RE/MAX Fine Properties has announced that Jeff Lutz, top pro-ducing REALTOR©, has moved his business to RE/MAX Fine Properties.

Lutz, a Graduate of the Real-tor Institute (GRI), has over eight years of experience in the real estate business, including seven years with RE/MAX.

“I am excited to join RE/MAX Fine Properties and will continue delivering to my clients the same level of personal service they’ve come to expect,” said Lutz, RE/MAX Hall of Fame club mem-ber.

“The level of professionalism in this offi ce and support is amaz-ing, and the vision that RE/MAX Fine Properties has makes this a logical choice as I expand my business.”

Jeff and Darlene, his wife of 20 years, have resided in Fort Bend County for 16 years and have called Needville their home

for the last eight years. Busy with three sons (Austin,

a Freshman at Texas A & M, Tra-vis,16 and Cameron,13), Jeff still fi nds time to be involved within the community. He is an active member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church, participates in numerous activities for Needville ISD, and is the current Needville Athletic

Booster Club President.“We are very excited and hon-

ored to have a veteran agent such as Jeff Lutz join our family of Realtors” said Co-Ooner Minesh Patel.

“We’ve seen how he handles clients, and the quality of pro-fessionalism he demonstrates is truly amazing. Recently inducted into the RE/MAX Hall of Fame along with being a six time 100% Club member, Jeff’s resume re-fl ects the high caliber of business he has attained. His experience, knowledge and enthusiasm com-pliment our offi ce well and we expect him to reach even greater levels of success with RE/MAX Fine Properties.”

Lutz’s offi ce at RE/MAX Fine Properties, located at 4500 Hwy 6 South in Sugar Land, can be reached by calling 832-368-5719, or visiting www.Ask4meJeffLutz.com.

and omissions (by Linebarger and others), whereby Ross lost the property, they would comprise a “Keystone Kops” comedy of errors, the lawsuit states.

By virtue of the omissions and commissions by the au-thorities, Ross was placed in danger of losing the property in 2005 and by similar acts, she lost her chance to redeem the property in 2007.

The lawsuit claims breach of contract, negligent mis-representation, and wrongful foreclosure.

Charles Sutton, partner, with Linebarger said it is a pending litigation where “the taxpayer who lost the prop-erty failed to redeem it.”

The taxpayer wants the court to “correct the mistake” made by the taxpayer herself, Sutton said.

“In the court we expect to fi rmly prevail,” he said.

County Attorney Roy Cord-es said, “As this suit relates

to a delinquent tax collection the County is represented by Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP.

“Defendants Patsy Schultz, Tax Assessor-Collector of Fort Bend County and Fort Bend County have fi led a plea to dismiss plaintiffs’ claims for want of subject matter juris-diction. The hearing will be held on January 4, 2010 be-ginning at 1:30 p.m. in Judge Cliff Vacek’s Court.

“This offi ce will not com-ment further until after the hearing.”

LawsuitFrom Page 1

Jeff McMeans fi les for County Court-at-Law No. 2

McMeans

Jeff Lutz moves to RE/MAX Fine Properties

Lutz

Sugar Land Mayor’s State of the City address

By JANICE SCANLANAs a child and now I love Christmas, but growing up in a

small community, I was eight before I understood that every-one did not celebrate Christmas.

There are more than 40 global celebrations of Winter Sol-stice alone.

Christmas is one of the most famous in our part of the world, but other major religions celebrate this time of the year as a time of lights-- yes it does get dark. Goodness and a time of new beginnings are common themes as well.

While some Winter Solstice traditions have been appropri-ated into Christianity such as the Festival of St. Lucy, Yule and other ancient traditions, others such as Hindus celebrate Pancha Ganapati from December 21-25. It centers on Lord Ganesha who is a remover of obstacles and creator of new beginnings.

Hanukah varies by date, but lights are an important compo-nent and various lessons are incorporated into each evening usually sometime in December. Families celebrate with les-sons, prayers and gifts.

Islamic New Year was December 18 just last week and var-ies according to the Islamic Calendar.

I’m not qualifi ed to get into depth nor nuance of these cel-ebrations and observances—and this column doesn’t have enough space to talk about them all. The point is that many celebrate this time of the year. As I read about the various re-ligions, generosity and helping others is a theme throughout. It seems we have much in common we can agree on, whether Buddhist, Jew, Hindu, Christian or Muslim.

So why do we often focus on differences rather than on what we can agree? One of the things that makes me proud to live in Fort Bend, is that we are well represented in all faiths and creeds. Many have sacrifi ced to erect temples, churches and other places of worship to their beliefs as well as to carry on good works.

It struck me at Missouri City’s Snowfest, that a possible way we could be more tolerant and understanding of other religions, is that if I greet someone with Merry Christmas, they feel free to say Happy Hanukah or whatever greeting is important to their religion or celebration at this time of year or anytime for that matter. It would enrich my life to not feel uncomfortable expressing my belief, but also be able to enjoy some other be-liever’s traditions and the ways others express joy and wanting to be a better person. While nice, Happy Holidays does not seem to have the richness of expression that more personal be-liefs do whatever they are.

We all celebrate faith, hope and love in our own ways. It seems if we more openly and freely acknowledged all beliefs, that the American belief in religious freedom could be better realized. By celebrating the things that unite us such as the joy of helping others, we could have a richer life and better under-standing of different beliefs and traditions. And more ways to express joy and good will to all, you and yours.

Write to Janice at [email protected] and express your way of fi nding joy.

By BILL & JARED JAMESONGold has fascinated people

and was valued even before it was considered money. Gold coins fi rst appeared about 700 BC, when the concept of mon-ey (gold and silver in standard weights and coins) allowed the world’s economies to expand and prosper. The U.S. adopted gold as its monetary standard in 1900, and built up huge reserves until World War II forced the liquida-tion of some of the metal to pay for reconstruction efforts in war-torn countries.

In 1971, the U.S. went off the gold standard by deregulat-ing the price of the gold. Gold has since moved in value based on supply and demand, or more simply put, what people are will-ing to pay. But its allure seems to be constant, and when the market is down, there always is someone touting gold as the soundest in-vestment. Does gold really mea-sure up? Or is it just a fl ash in the pan?

Myth #1: Gold keeps up with the rate of infl ation - almost ev-ery gold advertisement and info-mercial promotes gold as a way to protect your money from the effects of infl ation. Infl ation eats away at the purchasing power of the dollar, so that it requires more dollars to purchase the same goods in the future. Gold, as it is argued, retains its value, so that as infl ation goes up, so does the value of gold represented in dol-lars.

Reality: It depends - it is true that before 1971 gold values matched the rate of infl ation. Un-der the Gold Standard, the Federal Reserve could only print as much currency as could be represented in gold and the price of gold was fi xed by the government. Ever since President Richard Nixon released price controls, many other factors have infl uenced

gold’s real returns. An individual’s personal re-

turn on gold is more dependent upon the timing of the purchase and the price paid than it is on the direction and magnitude of infl a-tion. For example, if you bought gold in 1969 and sold in 2007, your total return would have been 1,832 percent. The cost of goods for that same period went up just 561 percent, so your net return would have been 1,271 percent. However, if you had waited just fi ve years until 1974 to buy, you would have actually lost money due to infl ation, because the cost of goods was higher than gold’s total return. Always be conscious of how start and end dates affect any investment’s quoted perfor-mance, even gold’s.

Myth #2: There is no risk as-sociated with gold.

Reality: Gold is affected by default, fraud, and theft, just like any other investment. Once you decide to buy gold as part of your investment portfolio, you then must decide in what form. You can buy actual gold, like bullion, or the rights to a mine. There also are mutual funds and ETFs that buy and store gold themselves, and others that purchase de-rivatives that represent the asset class.

If you buy bullion, you could store it yourself, but then there is a risk of theft. Or you could de-posit it at a bank, but if the bank goes under, your gold will be just another frozen asset. Either way, physical gold is illiquid. If the ability to sell at a moment’s notice is important to you, then a pooled investment like a mutual fund or ETF provides liquidity, but your gold will be subject to the same risks as other invest-ments, such as fraud or derivative risk (third-party default).

Myth #3: Gold never loses its value.

Reality: Gold has gone through long and short stretches where its price has fallen. The price of gold fl uctuates up and down every day. October 20, the price of an ounce hit a high of $1,066. By the middle of the next day it was down to $1,050, a loss of 1.5 percent in just 24 hours.

In the early 1980s, prices hit a high of around $600 per ounce. Prices did not return to that level until 2006. In fact, if you had sold in 2002, you would have lost more than 50 percent over 20 years. Much has been made of the recent “lost decade” in the stock market, but even in the period surrounding the Great De-pression, stocks did not perform nearly as poorly as gold did in the ‘80s and ‘90s.

Some gold may have a place in a well-diversifi ed portfolio, but the spectacular rise in gold’s price in 2009 is eerily similar to

the rise of oil from 2006 to 2009. Oil at $150 per barrel was “sure” to rise to $250. But that didn’t happen; oil instead fell more than 50 percent and has been hovering between $60 and $80 a barrel for several months now.

The only “sure thing” about investing is that there always is risk, regardless of what you are investing in. Volatile times bring more risk, so your investments should be adjusted according to your risk tolerance, not accord-ing to whatever is being offered up as the next “golden” opportu-nity. History has proven time and time again that all that glitters is not gold.

WJ Interests is a fee-only fi nancial planning and invest-ment management fi rm in Sug-ar Land. For more information, contact Bill & Jared Jameson at [email protected] or 281-634-9400.

Opinion • FORT BEND INDEPENDENT • DECEMBER 23, 2009

Bill and Jared Jameson

Musings: CelebrationsFinance & Investment: Fool’s GoldFinance & Investment: Fool’s Gold

Sarah & Tom AbrahamLee & Betty AdamsMarlene AdamsSharon AinsworthJuan AlexanderJoe B. & Helen AllenFarha AhmedJeff & Cindy AndersonTerry AnncellottiHerb & Emelia AppelRandal ArbuckleKamal ArissMasaud BaabaBill BairdMike BaldwinRobert BamfordBrian BarePeter BarnhartKathy BassKarl BaumgartnerRex BaxterOzzie BayazitogluBarry BeardEd BeckhamJackson BeltBill & Barbie BentonMary BernaJohn & Julie BickhamCraig & Maralou BilligDon BirdwellKen & Meridith BlackburnDebbie BlackburnBert & Barbara BleilJoe & Shirley Bonham IIIJohn BonnerJoe BonoJim BooneCarrie BosesenbergJudy BoydChris & Lillie BreauxChris & Mandi BronsellLinda & Jim Brown

Ashley BrownCarole & Bob BrownRandy BrowningLarry BuehlerKent BurkettRick BurleyDon & Sherry BurnsTodd BurrerAdele ButcherJ.J. Butcher, Jr.John CantuDean CarpenterBev CarterRonald CastilloJackie ChaumettePaul ChengNell CiancarelliJoe Ann ClackAaron ClarkBecky ClepperJames CondreyErin CoppensTom CraytonPaul DaigleRobert DardenPerri D’ArmondBob & Marilyn DavisPaul DavisKaryn DeanBob DeforestChristine DelayMike & Brenda DingesRon DingesMary DoetterlJohn DormanRobert DoudsJames B. DukeLeslie & Don DulinTruman EdministerSusan Edwards Chris & Christy ElamDiana Faries

Jeff FarrarSandy FarrisJim FathereeBruce FayBrad FergusonJim FeuerbachRichard & Becky FieldsJ. Derek FinleyDavid FisherAnthony FrancisBill FranksRaymond FranksGerald FreedJoe FreudenbergerLinda FreyAlex GarciaLisa GarrettLouis GarvinKaren GarzaDick GayPaula GibsonGlen & Terri GillBenita GillAlbert & Marilyn GloverChris GoanDoug & Susie GoffMary Alice GonzalesKaye GoolsbyFrank GracelyJerry L. GrahamJohn & Cindy GrilloBruce GroverPaul GroverJim GroverMelissa GuadianoMayor Joe & Doris GureckyJeff HaleyLinda HancockBud & Shelley HannesBob & Susan HargartherDavid & Anita HarrisTeague Harris

Rick HarschDiane HasellLinda Hausman-PelsErna HayFerrell & Penny HaysCharlie HerderMelody HessFrank & Trudy HesterChuck HewellJim HoelkerMarcia HolmesCarl HopkinsRoger HordPeter & Susan HoughtonJo HowardLynne & Rod HumphriesKim & Scott IcenhowerBill & Susan JamesonJared JamesonLaurie JanisPam JaramilloMitch & Laurie JenkinsCharles JessupBuddy JimersonDavid JohnsonDave JohnstonBobby JonesDennis & Candy JonesLinda KalinowskiTim KaminskiTim KanaDavid KeelMonya KeenenEddie KnightDouglas KnopkaHal & Fran KnueppelKenny KucherkaJulianne KugleRocky LaiDusty LaneDare LawsonBruce Lawton

Bob LearedClaude & Laura LeatherwoodKyle Lednicky Bob & Ann LeeKristin LytleMark MageeChris MalinowshiLouis ManuelMarvin & Debbie MarcellRichard MarriottJoel MarshallNoel MascarenhasJeannie MasonOwen MatherneKevin MatochaDavid MaxwellRon & Susan McCannRichard & Karen McCarterMac McCureDan & Mary Ann McDonaldPat McDonaldWayne McLanePam & Bill McNallyRay & Patsey McKnightJim McRaeBarbara MeeksBruce MercerKelly & Steve MetzenthinJanet & Ray MeyerWayne MeyerMary Ann MihillsRick MillerJamie & Lisa MillerMargaret MintonJack & Donna MohloJim & Diane MooreVincent & Regina MoralesRichard MuellerRonnie MullinaxJames MuskaPat NaffDarlene Neeley

Billie NeuhausPaul NoydJohn & Diana NullAshley O’ConnellDavid OliverGreer PaganJames PappasPatti Parish-KaminskiRandy & Gail ParkerCee Cee ParkerDennis ParmerParke PattersonRobert PattonBarbara Paynegary PearsonBJ & Kindal PelterCharles PenceJohn & Kathy PerryBarkley PeschelJustin PhyDon PoeBrad PriceLarry PullenGeorge PurvisShantha RaghuthamanDianna RaineyTom RamseyBob & Yvonne RamsyJennifer RaymondJ. Tom RaymondBrad & Cindy ReavesRick ReedTrey ReichertKathy RenfrowE B ReynaDoyle & Maris ReynoldsMichael RichardBucky RichardsonBill & Lisa RickertGina RicklefsenRobert RingJustin Ring

Faye RoachDan RoachJack RoachJoe RobinsonPaul & Pam RobinsonSteve RobinsonRandall & Marilyn RockettClaire RogersJames RogersGary Rose Donald B. RosemanDebra RossJeff RossE. Wayne RouseSharon RoweJim RussTom SageMartin SalduaKim SavageNina SchaeferJoe SchmidDavid SchollerPatsy SchultzBarbara SeelhorstJoe SeguraAlan & Joyce SeniorCarlos SepedaShay ShafieDinesh ShahSunil SharmaThelma SheltonDavid ShowalterPaul SimmonsDavid SmithDon & Merle SmithersCheryl & Kenneth StalinskyLiz StegallJo Ann StevensGreg StirmanMike & Connie StoneTravis StoneJon Strange

Faye StromattJim SturgeonTodd SwobodaBarbara TagueEd TaussigRoberta & Cliff TerrellMayor James & Gay ThompsonJames F. ThompsonMike ThornhillAlan TinsleyJennie TrapolinoDon TrullCharlie & Nancy TurnerLlarance TurnerSharon TusaJohn Van de WielePaula & Rick Van DykeDavid & Claudia VasquezChristina & John VasquezLane & Vicki WardSharon WatsonAllison WenRobert WhiteJ.C. WhittenTom & Jackie WilcoxJeff & Julie WileyDavid WilkinsChris WilsonBob WilsonGreg WineRobert WolterRaul WongDaniel WongDavid WoodMarian WrightQuinn & Claudia WrightJody WyseBridget YeungFrank YonishBill & Pamela ZemanekRandi & Jason Zumwalt(partial list at time of printing)

“I believe that Fort Bend is a world-class county and a great place to live and work. I’ll continue working to help keep it that way!” Bob Hebert

Paid for by the County Judge Bob Hebert Campaign, Pat Hebert, Treasurer

FORT BEND INDEPENDENT • DECEMBER 23, 2009 •

2008 FORD RANGER XLT SUPER CAB BLACK A38558 Classic Chevrolet 23,056 miles 877-351-3803 $15,288

2006 GMC SIERRA 1500 ONYX BLACK CREW CAB SL2 315063 Classic Chevrolet 45,971 miles 877-351-3803 $16,769

2008 CHEVROLET EXPRESS SUMMIT WHITE CARGO VAN 142154 Classic Chevrolet 23,680 miles 877-351-3803 $14,988

2007 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE LT 1500 SILVER BIRCH METALLIC 284970 Classic Chevrolet 58,966 miles 877-351-3803 $22,975

2009 Cadillac DTS Crys-tal Red 4-dr sedan 138220 Classic Chevrolet 3,868 miles 877-351-3803 $33,912

2009 Buick LaCrosse CXL Dark Slate 243984 Classic Chevrolet 15,911 miles 877-351-3803 $19,350

2006 Acura TL Black Pearl 4-dr 6 cyl. 047858 Classic Chevrolet 62,077 miles 877-351-3803 $20,488

2005 MINI Cooper Jet Black hatchback L12033 Classic Chevrolet 56,568 miles 877-351-3803 $14,988

2010 Chevrolet Camaro Red 2-dr Coupe A9133261 Classic Chevrolet 3,943 miles 877-351-3803 $37,900

2008 Cadillac Escalade EXT White 8G199806 Classic Chevrolet 25,869 miles 877-351-3803 $47,977

2006 Toyota RAV4 Sport White 000779 Classic Chev-rolet 59,357 miles 877-351-3803 $15,488

2008 Chevrolet Corvette Black 134389 Classic Chev-rolet 800 miles 877-351-3803 $42,988

2002 Chevrolet Tahoe LS Onyx Black 305706 Classic Chevrolet 61,680 miles 877-351-3803 $12,988

2004 Dodge Dakota SXT White 690185 Classic Chev-rolet 64,965 miles 877-351-3803 $9,988

2009 Chevrolet Impala LT Black 119477 Classic Chev-rolet 29,522 miles 877-351-3803 $15,588

2006 Scion tC 2dr Coupe Dk. Red 280514 Classic Chevrolet 10,062 miles 877-351-3803 $15,988

2008 Chrysler Sebring LX Conv. White 209556 Classic Chevrolet 43,424 miles 877-351-3803 $12,956

2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT1 Red 240258 Clas-sic Chevrolet 28,224 miles 877-351-3803 $17,988

2005 Chevrolet SSR LS Truck Silver 119812 Classic Chevrolet 42,432 miles 877-351-3803 $24,988

2007 Dodge Charger SXT Black 826647 Classic Chev-rolet 45,365 miles 877-351-3803 $14,588

1997 Pontiac Grand Am SE 4dr Beige 773064 Clas-sic Chevrolet 102,758 miles 877-351-3803 $3,988

2004 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE Silver 164890 Classic Chev-rolet 47,720 miles 877-351-3803 $19,988

2004 Nissan Altima 4Dr Pewter 113299 Classic Chev-rolet 93,911 miles 877-351-3803 $8,988

2002 Honda Accord SE 4Dr Red 078504 Classic Chevro-let 78,492 miles 877-351-3803 $7,988

2009 Pontiac Vibe 1.8L 4Dr Wagon White 430168 Clas-sic Chevrolet 29,661 miles 877-351-3803 $15,988

2006 Nissan Maxima 3.5 SE 4Dr Lt. Gray 840317 Classic Chevrolet 40,636 miles 877-351-3803 $16,575

2007 Lexus ES350 4Dr Dk. Red 041304 Classic Chevro-let 70,908 miles 877-351-3803 $24,988

2008 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD LT Silver 129692 Classic Chevrolet 4,769 miles 877-351-3803 $39,988

2008 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD LT Gray 151373 Classic Chevrolet 5,002 miles 877-351-3803 $37,100

2009 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD LT White 127951 Classic Chevrolet 319 miles 877-351-3803 $41,988

2008 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HDWhite 215477 Clas-sic Chevrolet 26,150 miles 877-351-3803 $36,988

2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT Black 195004 Clas-sic Chevrolet 3,156 miles 877-351-3803 $39,450

2000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500LS Pewter 339575 Clas-sic Chevrolet 72,074 miles 877-351-3803 $8,988

2008 Volkswagen New Bee-tle Salsa Red 409143 Classic Chevrolet 6,794 miles 877-351-3803 $18,990

2008 Toyota Avalon 4Dr Sil-ver 290811 Classic Chevrolet 35,169 miles 877-351-3803 $19,988

2008 Ford Ranger XLT Su-per Cab Black A38558 Clas-sic Chevrolet 23,056 miles 877-351-3803 $15,988

2008 Chevrolet Suburban LT1500 DBlue 159311 Clas-sic Chevrolet 42,484 miles 877-351-3803 $24,988

2008 Chevrolet Silverado LT Gray 151373 Classic Chevrolet 5,002 miles 877-351-3803 $37,100

2009 Chevrolet Tahoe LT Gray 103518 Classic Chev-rolet 16,411 miles 877-351-3803 $34,888

2008 Ford Ranger XLT Su-per Cab Black A38558 Clas-sic Chevrolet 23,056 miles 877-351-3803 $15,288

2008 Chevrolet Suburban LT 1500 Silver 207374 Clas-sic Chevrolet 33,740 miles 877-351-3803 $29,988

2004 Chevrolet Suburban LT 1500 White 298298 Clas-sic Chevrolet 88,862 miles 877-351-3803 $15,988

2008 GMC Sierra 2500HD SLE Z71 Red 160926 Classic Chevrolet 29,051 miles 877-351-3803 $39,988

2008 Ford F-150 Lariat White B17879 Classic Chev-rolet 35,401 miles 877-351-3803 $29,988

2008 Chevrolet Corvette Conv. Red 103408 Classic Chevrolet 12,317 miles 877-351-3803 $42,988

2008 Chevrolet Express Ext. Van White 177235 Classic Chevrolet 33,150 miles 877-351-3803 $19,688

2002 Chevrolet Tahoe LT Red V-8 299232 Clas-sic Chevrolet 102,428 miles 877-351-3803 $10,688

2007 Chevrolet Silverado Classic Beige 112766 Clas-sic Chevrolet 118,353 miles 877-351-3803 $13,488

2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Red 247800 Classic Chevrolet 28,787 miles 877-351-3803 $18,988

2008 Chevrolet Avalanche LTZ Black 174015 Classic Chevrolet 2,819 miles 877-351-3803 $38,988

2008 Chevrolet Equinox LT Dk. Blue 057471 Classic Chevrolet 54,469 miles 877-351-3803 $17,488

2008 Nissan Altima 2.5SL 4Dr Tan 502920 Classic Chevrolet 14,218 miles 877-351-3803 $18,488

2006 Nissan Maxima 3.5 SE 4Dr Lt. Gray 840317 Classic Chevrolet 40,636 miles 877-351-3803 $16,575

2008 Toyota Avalon 4Dr Sil-ver 290811 Classic Chevrolet 35,169 miles 877-351-3803 $19,988

2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT1 Red 240258 Clas-sic Chevrolet 28,224 miles 877-351-3803 $17,988

2002 Chevrolet Tahoe LS Onyx Black 305706 Classic Chevrolet 61,680 miles 877-351-3803 $12,988


2008 Cadillac Escalade EXT White 8G199806 Classic Chevrolet 25,869 miles 877-351-3803 $47,977

2009 Chevrolet Impala LT Black 119477 Classic Chev-rolet 29,522 miles 877-351-3803 $15,588

2006 Acura TL Black Pearl 4-dr 6 cyl. 047858 Classic Chevrolet 62,077 miles 877-351-3803 $20,488

2009 Buick LaCrosse CXL Dark Slate 243984 Classic Chevrolet 15,911 miles 877-351-3803 $19,350

2009 Cadillac DTS Crys-tal Red 4-dr sedan 138220 Classic Chevrolet 3,868 miles 877-351-3803 $33,912

2010 Chevrolet Camaro Red 2-dr Coupe A9133261 Classic Chevrolet 3,943 miles 877-351-3803 $37,900

2005 MINI Cooper Jet Black hatchback L12033 Classic Chevrolet 56,568 miles 877-351-3803 $14,988

2007 Dodge Charger SXT Black 826647 Classic Chev-rolet 45,365 miles 877-351-3803 $14,588

2008 Chevrolet Suburban LT1500 DBlue 159311 Clas-sic Chevrolet 42,484 miles 877-351-3803 $24,988

2008 Volkswagen New Bee-tle Salsa Red 409143 Classic Chevrolet 6,794 miles 877-351-3803 $18,990


2002 Chevrolet Tahoe LT Red V-8 299232 Clas-sic Chevrolet 102,428 miles 877-351-3803 $10,688

2008 Chevrolet Suburban LT 1500 Silver 207374 Clas-sic Chevrolet 33,740 miles 877-351-3803 $29,988

2007 Lexus ES350 4Dr Dk. Red 041304 Classic Chevro-let 70,908 miles 877-351-3803 $24,988

2008 Chrysler Sebring LX Conv. White 209556 Classic Chevrolet 43,424 miles 877-351-3803 $12,956

2005 Chevrolet SSR LS Truck Silver 119812 Classic Chevrolet 42,432 miles 877-351-3803 $24,988

• FORT BEND INDEPENDENT • DECEMBER 23, 2009

Legal Notices

Become a Dental Assistant!10 Week CourseStarting Soon

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www.Become-A-DA.comC. Mark Mann School

of Dental Assisting CareerCertifi ed by: The Texas

Workforce Commission Schools and Colleges

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, JANUARY 7, 2010 at 1:30 P.M. (CST). All bids will then be publicly opened and read in the Offi 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 10-032 – PURCHASE OF 13 – 69 TRANSIT BUSES FOR TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENTA pre-bid conference will be held on Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 10:00 AM in the Purchasing Department located at 4520 Reading Road, Rosenberg, Texas. Attendance is not mandatory, but all vendors are encouraged to attend.Unit pricing is required, payment will be by check after products/services are rendered. Bid, payment and performance bonds are not 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

CONSTABLE SALEUnder and by virtue of a Writ of Execution and / or Order of Sale issued on October 28TH, 2009 by the 434TH DISTRICT Court of FORT BEND COUNTY, Texas in cause #07-DCV-156834 in favor of the Plaintiff - QUAIL GREEN HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, Plaintiff , for the sum of $4,689.10++++costs as taxed on said Execution and / or Order of Sale and further the sum of executing the same. I have levied on the OCTOBER 19TH 2009 and will off er for sale on the 5TH day of JANUARY 2010 at the County Courthouse steps of Fort Bend County, Texas in the city of Richmond, Texas between the hours of ten o’clock a.m. and four o’clock p.m., and all rights, title, interests and claims which the said Defendant(s) -RONALD J. HAMILTON AND BARBARA A. HAMILTON had of, in or to the following described Real Property situated in Fort Bend County, Texas; viz.:LEGAL DESCRIPTION: LOT 13 IN BLOCK ONE OF QUAIL GREEN, SECTION TWO (2), A SUBDIVISION IN FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF RECORDED IN VOLUME 28, PAGE 1, OF THE PLAT RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY ,TEXAS (THE “PROPERTY”) ALSO KNOWN AS 2723 GREEN MEADOW COURT, MISSOURI CITY, TEXAS 77489.

Terms: Cash, Sale to held at or about 11 a.m.At the steps of the Fort Bend County courthouse

RUBEN DAVIS, CONSTABLE,Precinct 2Fort Bend County , TexasBy Gary Majors #73

CONSTABLE SALEUnder and by virtue of a Writ of Execution and / or Order of Sale issued on October 22nd, 2009 by the 240TH DISTRICT Court of FORT BEND COUNTY, Texas in cause #08-DCV-161688 in favor of the Plaintiff - QUAIL BRIDGE COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION, Plaintiff , for the sum of $1,120.00++++costs as taxed on said Execution and / or Order of Sale and further the sum of executing the same. I have levied on the NOVEMBER 12TH 2009 and will off er for sale on the 5TH day of JANUARY 2010 at the County Courthouse steps of Fort Bend County, Texas in the city of Richmond, Texas between the hours of ten o’clock a.m. and four o’clock p.m., and all rights, title, interests and claims which the said Defendant(s) -ALEXANDRINE FADIPE had of, in or to the following described Real Property situated in Fort Bend County, Texas; viz.:LEGAL DESCRIPTION: LOT FOURTEEN (14), BLOCK ONE (1), QUAIL BRIDGE SUBDIVISION, SECTION ONE (1), FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, BEING A REPLAT OF RIDGEMEONT SUBDIVISION, SECTION FIVE (5), AS RECORDED IN VOLUME 25, PAGE 25, PAGE 14 OF THE FORT BEND COUNTY MAP RECORDS (THE “PROPERTY”) ALSO KNOWN AS 5418 RIDGEMONT PLACE, HOUSTON, TEXAS 77053.

Terms: Cash, Sale to held at or about 11 a.m.At the steps of the Fort Bend County courthouse

RUBEN DAVIS, CONSTABLE,Precinct 2Fort Bend County , TexasBy Gary Majors #73

Missouri City Flag Football League registration now

under way Are you ready for some

football? Youths between the ages of 6 and 13 can now register for Missouri City’s Youth Flag Football Program. Two Divisions are playing this year, one for 6- to 9-year-olds and the second for 10- to 13-year-olds.

A $100 fee per child covers team shirts, trophies and other costs. Teams play an eight-game season as well as play-off and championship games for each division.

The football games will begin Jan. 16 at Hunters Glen Park, 1340 Independence Blvd. Games will be played on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, with no more than two games per week.

Practices will start on Janu-ary 11. In order to participate, parents must present a copy of their child’s birth certifi cate. Coaches are needed.

If you are interested, contact Kyle Frye with the Missouri City Parks and Recreation Department at 281-403-8637 or [email protected] for more information.

When: January 11-Febru-ary 27, 2010

Where: Hunters Glen Park, 1340 Independence Blvd., Missouri City, TX 77489

Cost: $100 per child, ages 6-13. Registration ends Dec. 31.

CONSTABLE SALEUnder and by virtue of a Writ of Execution and / or Order of Sale issued on the 28th day of OCTOBER 2009 by the 240TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT Court of FORT BEND COUNTY, Texas in cause #09-DCV-172553 in favor of the Plaintiff - WATERSIDE ESTATES COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION, INC Plaintiff , for the sum of $6,007.86++++costs as taxed on said Execution and / or Order of Sale and further the sum of executing the same. I have levied on the 13TH day of NOVEMBER, 2009 and will off er for sale on the 5TH day of JANUARY, 2010 at the County Courthouse steps of Fort Bend County, Texas in the city of Richmond, Texas between the hours of ten o’clock a.m. and four o’clock p.m., any and all rights, title, interests and claims which the said Defendant(s) -LETITIA BECK had of, in or to the following described Real property situated in Fort Bend County, Texas; viz.:LEGAL DESCRIPTION: LOT FORTY-ONE (41) BLOCK TWO (2) OF WATERSIDE VILLAGE, A SUBDIVISION IN FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT OR THEREOF RECORDED IN SLIDE NO. 2304/B OF THE PLAT RECORDS FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, MORE COMMONLY DESCRIBED AS 1451 SAND LAKE LANE, RICHMOND, TEXAS 77407. Any properties sold shall be subject to the right of redemption of the defendants or any person having an interest therein, to redeem the property or their interest therein if allowed, within the time and in the manner provided by law.ALL SALES SHALL BE BY CONSTABLE’S DEED AND ARE WITHOUT WARRANTY AS TO TITLE OR CONDITION, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS EVIDENCED BY CONSTABLE’S DEED.MARKET VALUE: $137,620.00Terms: Cash, Cashier’s Check or Money Order; Sale to held at or about 10 a.m.At the steps of the Fort Bend County courthouse

ROB COOK, CONSTABLEFort Bend County Precinct 312550 Emily Court, Ste 200Sugar Land, Tx 77478(281) 491-7226 Deputy Juan Diaz, #1306

CONSTABLE SALEUnder and by virtue of a Writ of Execution and / or Order of Sale issued on the 24th day of NOVEMBER 2009 by the 400TH DISTRICT Court of FORT BEND COUNTY, Texas in cause #07-DCV-157236 in favor of the Plaintiff - FORT BEND COUNTY & ET-AL Plaintiff , for the sum of $5,944.76++++costs as taxed on said Execution and / or Order of Sale and further the sum of executing the same. I have levied on the 2ND day of DECEMBER, 2009 and will off er for sale on the 5TH day of JANUARY, 2010 at the County Courthouse steps of Fort Bend County, Texas in the city of Richmond, Texas between the hours of ten o’clock a.m. and four o’clock p.m., any and all rights, title, interests and claims which the said Defendant(s) -KAY M. RADCLIFF AKA KAY M. RUNDGREN had of, in or to the following described Real property situated in Fort Bend County, Texas; viz.:LEGAL DESCRIPTION: LOT 14 IN BLOCK 2 OF A REPLAT OF CHIMNEYSTONE, SECTION 2, A SUBDIVISION IN FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT OR THEREOF IN VOLUME 29, PAGE 5, OF THE MAP RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS. (ACCOUNT NUMBER 2520020020140/ 2520020020140907)Any properties sold shall be subject to the right of redemption of the defendants or any person having an interest therein, to redeem the property or their interest therein if allowed, within the time and in the manner provided by law.ALL SALES SHALL BE BY CONSTABLE’S DEED AND ARE WITHOUT WARRANTY AS TO TITLE OR CONDITION, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS EVIDENCED BY CONSTABLE’S DEED.MARKET VALUE: $127,870.00Terms: Cash, Cashier’s Check or Money Order; Sale to held at or about 10 a.m.At the steps of the Fort Bend County courthouse


CONSTABLE SALEUnder and by virtue of a Writ of Execution and / or Order of Sale issued on the 24th day of NOVEMBER 2009 by the 434TH DISTRICT Court of FORT BEND COUNTY, Texas in cause #06-DCV-153122 in favor of the Plaintiff - FORT BEND COUNTY & ET-AL Plaintiff , for the sum of $11,097.14++++costs as taxed on said Execution and / or Order of Sale and further the sum of executing the same. I have levied on the 2ND day of DECEMBER, 2009 and will off er for sale on the 5TH day of JANUARY, 2010 at the County Courthouse steps of Fort Bend County, Texas in the city of Richmond, Texas between the hours of ten o’clock a.m. and four o’clock p.m., any and all rights, title, interests and claims which the said Defendant(s) -CARLOS NOE ARGUETA AKA CARLOS NOE ARGUETA ROMERO & ET-AL had of, in or to the following described Real property situated in Fort Bend County, Texas; viz.:

LEGAL DESCRIPTION: TRACT 13, IN BLOCK 14 OUT OF RESERVE ‘G’ OF RIDGEMONT, SECTION 2, A SUBDIVISION IN FORT BEND COUNTY, AND HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT OR THEREOF IN VOLUME 10, PAGE 11, OF THE PLAT RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, AND VOLUME 187, PAGE 97 OF THE MAP RECORDS OF HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS; THIS TRACT LYING IN FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS BEING MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED BY METES AND BOUNDS IN THE GENERAL WARRANTY DEED FROM BENJAMIN J. GIBSON TO NAVIGATOR PROPERTIES, INC., DATED SEPTEMBER 13, 2000 AND RECORDED UNDER CLERK’S FILE NO. 2000078654, IN THE OFFICIAL PUBLIC RECORDS OF REAL PROPERTY OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS (ACCOUNT NUMBER 6254020141300907)Any properties sold shall be subject to the right of redemption of the defendants or any person having an interest therein, to redeem the property or their interest therein if allowed, within the time and in the manner provided by law.ALL SALES SHALL BE BY CONSTABLE’S DEED AND ARE WITHOUT WARRANTY AS TO TITLE OR CONDITION, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS EVIDENCED BY CONSTABLE’S DEED.MARKET VALUE: $58,010.00Terms: Cash, Cashier’s Check or Money Order; Sale to held at or about 10 a.m.At the steps of the Fort Bend County courthouse


CONSTABLE SALEUnder and by virtue of a Writ of Execution and / or Order of Sale issued on the 24th day of NOVEMBER 2009 by the 268TH DISTRICT Court of FORT BEND COUNTY, Texas in cause #05-DCV-145351 in favor of the Plaintiff - FORT BEND COUNTY & ET-AL Plaintiff , for the sum of $15,434.09++++costs as taxed on said Execution and / or Order of Sale and further the sum of executing the same. I have levied on the 2ND day of DECEMBER, 2009 and will off er for sale on the 5TH day of JANUARY, 2010 at the County Courthouse steps of Fort Bend County, Texas in the city of Richmond, Texas between the hours of ten o’clock a.m. and four o’clock p.m., any and all rights, title, interests and claims which the said Defendant(s) -JEISON SILVA, ET-AL had of, in or to the following described Real property situated in Fort Bend County, Texas; viz.:

LEGAL DESCRIPTION: LOT 10, IN BLOCK 3 OF GREAT OAKS SOUTH SECTION 2, AN ADDITION IN FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT OR THEREOF RECORDED IN SLIDE NO. 2315/A TO 2315/B OF THE PLAT RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS (ACCOUNT NUMBER 3040020030100907)

Any properties sold shall be subject to the right of redemption of the defendants or any person having an interest therein, to redeem the property or their interest therein if allowed, within the time and in the manner provided by law.

ALL SALES SHALL BE BY CONSTABLE’S DEED AND ARE WITHOUT WARRANTY AS TO TITLE OR CONDITION, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS EVIDENCED BY CONSTABLE’S DEED.MARKET VALUE: $114,430.00

Terms: Cash, Cashier’s Check or Money Order; Sale to held at or about 10 a.m.At the steps of the Fort Bend County courthouse


CONSTABLE SALEUnder and by virtue of a Writ of Execution and / or Order of Sale issued on the 24th day of NOVEMBER 2009 by the 400TH DISTRICT Court of FORT BEND COUNTY, Texas in cause #07-DCV-160657 in favor of the Plaintiff - FORT BEND COUNTY LEVEE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT#7 & ET-AL Plaintiff , for the sum of $31,635.44++++costs as taxed on said Execution and / or Order of Sale and further the sum of executing the same. I have levied on the 2ND day of DECEMBER, 2009 and will off er for sale on the 5TH day of JANUARY, 2010 at the County Courthouse steps of Fort Bend County, Texas in the city of Richmond, Texas between the hours of ten o’clock a.m. and four o’clock p.m., any and all rights, title, interests and claims which the said Defendant(s) -PETER JUSTIN had of, in or to the following described Real property situated in Fort Bend County, Texas; viz.:

LEGAL DESCRIPTION: LOT SEVENTEEN (17), IN BLOCK TWO (2) OF SANDERS RIDGE, AN ADDITION IN FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT OR THEREOF RECORDED IN SLIDE NO. 1094/A OF THE MAP RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS (ACCOUNT NUMBER 8032010020170/8032010020170907)





CONSTABLE SALEUnder and by virtue of a Writ of Execution and / or Order of Sale issued on the 24th day of NOVEMBER 2009 by the 268TH DISTRICT Court of FORT BEND COUNTY, Texas in cause #09-DCV-170863 in favor of the Plaintiff - FORT BEND COUNTY INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT & ET-AL Plaintiff , for the sum of $7,287.54++++costs as taxed on said Execution and / or Order of Sale and further the sum of executing the same. I have levied on the 2ND day of DECEMBER, 2009 and will off er for sale on the 5TH day of JANUARY, 2010 at the County Courthouse steps of Fort Bend County, Texas in the city of Richmond, Texas between the hours of ten o’clock a.m. and four o’clock p.m., any and all rights, title, interests and claims which the said Defendant(s) -LAWRENCE WEST had of, in or to the following described Real property situated in Fort Bend County, Texas; viz.:

LEGAL DESCRIPTION: LOT SIXTY (60) IN BLOCK ONE (1) OF BRIARGATE, SECTION FOUR (4), A SUBDIVISION IN FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT OR THEREOF RECORDED IN VOLUME 12, PAGE 4 OF THE MAP RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS (ACCOUNT NUMBER 2150040010060907)





CONSTABLE SALEUnder and by virtue of a Writ of Execution and / or Order of Sale issued on the 28th day of OCTOBER 2009 by the 268TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT Court of FORT BEND COUNTY, Texas in cause #08-DCV-168041 in favor of the Plaintiff - ROYAL LAKES ESTATES HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC Plaintiff , for the sum of $3654.00++++costs as taxed on said Execution and / or Order of Sale and further the sum of executing the same. I have levied on the 3rdday of DECEMBER, 2009 and will off er for sale on the 5TH day of JANUARY, 2010 at the County Courthouse steps of Fort Bend County, Texas in the city of Richmond, Texas between the hours of ten o’clock a.m. and four o’clock p.m., any and all rights, title, interests and claims which the said Defendant(s) -VINCENT B. GRAYSON AND TABORI GRAYSON had of, in or to the following described Real property situated in Fort Bend County, Texas; viz.:

LEGAL DESCRIPTION: LOT 2 IN BLOCK 8, ROYAL LAKES ESTATES , SECTION 2, A SUBDIVISION OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT OR THEREOF RECORDED AT CLERK’S FILE NO. 20000617 AND SLIDE 2020B IN THE MAP OR PLAT RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS.Any properties sold shall be subject to the right of redemption of the defendants or any person having an interest therein, to redeem the property or their interest therein if allowed, within the time and in the manner provided by law.ALL SALES SHALL BE BY CONSTABLE’S DEED AND ARE WITHOUT WARRANTY AS TO TITLE OR CONDITION, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS EVIDENCED BY CONSTABLE’S DEED.MARKET VALUE: $399,550.00Terms: Cash, Cashier’s Check or Money Order; Sale to held at or about 10 a.m.At the steps of the Fort Bend County courthouse


CONSTABLE SALEUnder and by virtue of a Writ of Execution and / or Order of Sale issued on the 3RD day of NOVEMBER 2009 by the 400TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT Court of FORT BEND COUNTY, Texas in cause #08-DCV-167657 in favor of the Plaintiff - ROYAL LAKES ESTATES HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC Plaintiff , for the sum of $3596.50++++costs as taxed on said Execution and / or Order of Sale and further the sum of executing the same. I have levied on the 13TH day of NOVEMBER, 2009 and will off er for sale on the 5TH day of JANUARY, 2010 at the County Courthouse steps of Fort Bend County, Texas in the city of Richmond, Texas between the hours of ten o’clock a.m. and four o’clock p.m., any and all rights, title, interests and claims which the said Defendant(s) -DEJA DERICK JOHNSON had of, in or to the following described Real property situated in Fort Bend County, Texas; viz.:

LEGAL DESCRIPTION: LOT 17 IN BLOCK 2, ROYAL LAKES ESTATES SUBDIVISION, SECTION 1, A SUBDIVISION OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT OR THEREOF RECORDED AT CLERK’S FILE NO. 1999043736 AND SLIDE 1854B IN THE MAP OR PLAT RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS.Any properties sold shall be subject to the right of redemption of the defendants or any person having an interest therein, to redeem the property or their interest therein if allowed, within the time and in the manner provided by law.ALL SALES SHALL BE BY CONSTABLE’S DEED AND ARE WITHOUT WARRANTY AS TO TITLE OR CONDITION, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS EVIDENCED BY CONSTABLE’S DEED.MARKET VALUE: $496,470.00Terms: Cash, Cashier’s Check or Money Order; Sale to held at or about 10 a.m.At the steps of the Fort Bend County courthouse


CONSTABLE SALEUnder and by virtue of a Writ of Execution and / or Order of Sale issued on the 26th day of OCTOBER 2009 by the 268TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT Court of FORT BEND COUNTY, Texas in cause #08-DCV-165719 in favor of the Plaintiff - THE ESTATES COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION, INC Plaintiff , for the sum of $1,821.66++++costs as taxed on said Execution and / or Order of Sale and further the sum of executing the same. I have levied on the 13TH day of NOVEMBER, 2009 and will off er for sale on the 5TH day of JANUARY, 2010 at the County Courthouse steps of Fort Bend County, Texas in the city of Richmond, Texas between the hours of ten o’clock a.m. and four o’clock p.m., any and all rights, title, interests and claims which the said Defendant(s) -KENNETH COMBS had of, in or to the following described Real property situated in Fort Bend County, Texas; viz.:LEGAL DESCRIPTION: LOT 27, BLOCK TWO (2) OF HUNTERS POINT ESTATES, SECTION TWO (2), A SUBDIVISION IN FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT OR THEREOF RECORDEDAT VOLUME 32, PAGE 23 IN THE MAP OR PLAT RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS.


ALL SALES SHALL BE BY CONSTABLE’S DEED AND ARE WITHOUT WARRANTY AS TO TITLE OR CONDITION, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS EVIDENCED BY CONSTABLE’S DEED.MARKET VALUE: $98,670.00Terms: Cash, Cashier’s Check or Money Order; Sale to held at or about 10 a.m.At the steps of the Fort Bend County courthouse


THE STATE OF TEXASCITATION

BY PUBLICATIONTO: SHARON BARILE UNKNOWN HEIRS AT LAW OF EVANGELINE M. BARILENOTICE:You have been sued. You may employ an attorney. If you or your attorney do not fi le a written answer with the clerk who issued this citation by 10:00 a.m. on Monday next following the expiration of forty-two days from the date of issuance of this citation, same being January 25, 2010 a default judgment may be taken against you. Said answer may be fi led by mailing same to: District Clerk’s Offi ce, 301 Jackson, Richmond, Texas 77469, or by bringing it to the offi ce. Our street address is 401 Jackson Street, Suite105. We are located on the fi rst fl oor of the courthouse building. The case is presently pending before the 434TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT of Fort Bend County sitting in Richmond, Texas, and was fi led on August 17, 2009. It bears cause number 09-DCV-174173 and is styled:BAC Home Loans Servicing, LP FKA Countrywide Home Loans Servicing, LP vs Sharon Barile, Glenda Barile Salazar and the Unknown Heirs at Law of Evangeline M. Barile In Re: 507 Colony Lake Estates Drive, Staff ord, Texas 77477.The name and address of the attorney for PLAINTIFF OR PETITIONER is:MARK G. TOHABIBARRETT DAFFIN FRAPPIER TURNER & ENGEL, LLP15000 SURVEYOR BOULEVARD, SUITE 100ADDISON, TX 75001972-386-5040The nature of the demands of said PLAINTIFF OR PETITIONER is as follows to-wit: PLAINTIFF BAC HOME LOANS SERVICING, LP FKA COUNTRYWIDE HOME LOANS SERVICING, L.P, ITS SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS BY AND THROUGH ITS AnORNEY OF RECORD, MARK G. TORABI OF BARREn DAFFIN FRAPPIER TURNER & ENGEL, LLP, 15000 SURVEYOR BLVD., ADDISON, TEXAS 75001, 972-386-5040, BROUGHT SUIT AGAINST DEFENDANTS SHARON BARILE, GLENDA BARILE SALAZAR AND THE UNKNOWN HEIRS AT LAW OF EVANGELINE M. BARILE, TO ENFORCE THE VENDOR’S LIEN ON AND ASSERT SUPERIOR TITLE TO THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 507 COLONY LAKE ESTATES DRIVE, STAFFORD, TEXAS 77477 AND LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS: LOT TWENTY-NINE (29), IN BLOCK FOUR (4), OF COLONY LAKE ESTATES, SECTION ONE (1), A SUBDIVISION IN FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLATTHEREOF RECORDED UNDER SLIDE NO(S). 2452/B AND 2453/A, BOTH OF THE PLAT RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS.

If this Citation is not served, it shall be returned unserved. Issued under my hand and seal of said Court, at Richmond, Texas

DISTRICT CLERK ANNIE REBECCA ELLIOTT

Fort Bend County, Texas

By: Deputy District Clerk JOSIE PLATZTelephone: 281-633-7613

NOTICE OF SALE OF REAL PROPERTYSTATE OF TEXAS §COUNTY OF FORT BEND §

By virtue of an Order of Sale dated OCT 22, 2009 delivered pursuant to a Judgment issued out of the COUNTY COURT AT LAW 2 of Fort Bend County, Texas, said judgment rendered in favor of THE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION, OF THE HIGHLANDS plaintiff , and against MOHAMMAD IQBAL, defendant, in Cause No. 07-CCV-033178 for the sum of FOUR-THOUSAND-TWO-HUNDRED-EIGHTY-TWO AND 01/100’s ($4282.01), plus fees for posting notices, publishing, and all costs of executing sale. I did on the 30TH day of NOV, 2009, at 3:00 pm, levy upon the following described tract of land in Fort Bend County, Texas, as the property of Mohammad Iqbal, defendant(s), to-wit:LOT THIRTY –SEVEN (37), IN BLOCK THREE (3), OF THE HIGHLANDS, SECTION TWO (2) AN ADDITION IN FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF RECORDED IN VOLUME 22, PAGE 25, OF THE PLAT RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, AND BEING MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS 2507 PLANTERS ROW, SUGAR LAND, TEXAS 77478. and on JAN 5, 2010, being the fi rst Tuesday of said month, between the hours of 10:00 o’clock a.m. and 4:00 o’clock p.m., at the north entrance of the Fort Bend County Courthouse, in Fort Bend County, Texas, I will off er for sale and sell at public auction for cash, all the right, title and interest of IQBAL, MOHAMMAD, defendant, in and to said property.

LOCATION: FORT BEND COUNTY COURT-HOUSE, RICHMOND, TX. 77469DATE: JAN 5, 2010TIME: APPROX. 10:00 AMBY: SERGEANT M. KUTACH

TROY E. NEHLSConstable Pct. 4

Fort Bend County, Texas

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGFORT BEND COUNTY

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENTNotice is hereby given that Fort Bend County is applying for the following federal and state public transportation funds to support public transportation services within Fort Bend County:

DESCRIPTION AMOUNT RECEIVED FROM $340,000.00 Texas Department of Transportation

Any individual wishing to comment on the programming of these funds may do so by attending the public hearing to be held at 1:00 pm on January 5th, 2010 at the Fort Bend County Courthouse, 7th Floor Commissioner’s Court Room, 301 Jackson Street, Richmond, Texas 77469. To request an application copy or for information regarding the program of projects, contact Paulette Shelton, Fort Bend County Transportation Director, 12550 Emily Court, Suite 400, Sugar Land, Texas 77478, telephone 281-633- 7433.Submitted by

Dianne Wilson, Fort Bend County Clerk

FY10 Federal Section 5310 Elderly and Disabled Program Funding

Notice Public HearingStaff ord Municipal School District will hold a public hearing on the Annual Performance Report and Academic Excellence Indicators at the February 8, 2010 School Board meeting beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Staff ord Municipal School District Administration Building in the Boardroom, 1625 Staff ordshire, Staff ord, Texas, 77477.

Stafford MSD Education Foundation will host its fi rst Golf Tournament, March 18, 2010. All proceeds of the char-ity tournament will go directly to the Foundation to help sup-port student scholarships and teacher grants.

Registration is open to the fi rst 36 teams or 144 players. Several sponsorship levels are available from $250 for hole sponsorships to $5,000 for shirt sponsorship. All dona-tions are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

Registration forms are available at www.stafford.msd.esc4.net or by email-ing [email protected]. The foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization.

SMSD Education Foundation’s

Golf Tournament

Music MagicMusic Magic, an enrich-

ment program, is for six and seven year old boys who like music and singing and want to learn more. The eight-week program brings music alive for the boys through the use of movement, singing, musical games, and other child-cen-tered activities. Boys develop better large muscle coordina-tion, pitch matching, increased focus, rhythm awareness and musicianship.

The Fort Bend Boys Choir of Texas, renowned for their positive, proactive musical education of boys, administers the Music Magic program. Sara Ward, a staff member of the organization for over 20 years, serves as the Music Magic director.

Music Magic will continue its 13th season on Tuesday evenings at the First United Methodist Church of Missouri City, 3900 Lexington Blvd., Missouri City, from 6:30 p.m. – 7:15 p.m. beginning Jan.19 and ending March 9. The cost for the course is only $70 and no auditions are required for this class. Boys will receive a free Music Magic T-shirt af-ter classes start. Call the choir offi ce at 281-240-3800 to pre-register or visit www.fbbctx.org. You can also check out their fan page on Facebook.

Music Magic boys Teddy Jefferson and Ethan Hendrix during their recent Fall 2009 class.

By BARBARA FULENWIDERThe Scion xD is an ur-

ban subcompact with great space, good pep and a low price.

The fi ve-door xD is in its third model year with new standard and optional audio systems and vehicle stability control as standard equip-ment.

The base retail price for the xD is $14,800 with a manual transmission and $15,600 with the automatic transmission.

The xD’s new standard AM/FM/CD/USB 1260-watt maximum output Pioneer audio system got more func-tionality for 2010.

New features are an organ-ic electroluminescent screen, iPod/USB connectivity, ad-vanced sound retriever and a subwoofer RCA output.

The standard Pioneer au-dio system has a USB port and universal auxiliary port on the center console that lets users listen to their portable music collection through the xD’s six Pioneer speakers.

The optional Alpine Pre-mium audio system provides the same basic features as the standard Pioneer audio system with the exception of a 4.3-inch color touch panel thin-fi lm-transistor screen, HD Radio technology, media expander and front and rear RCA outputs.

Passengers can listen to HD Radio broadcasting with

the premium audio system and view text, song titles, al-bum and artist name on the head unit.

The RCA outputs allow for up to three amplifi ers – front, rear and subwoofer. The op-tional audio system will also power a back-up camera and is ready for a plug-in naviga-tion unit.

I like the aggressive look of the Scion xD. It’s boxy with a wide stance, thick muscular body and long, narrow back window.

Wheel fl ares accentuate the body along with an inte-grated rectangular lower and upper grille and horizontal head lamps.

The xD’s side mirrors have integrated turn signals.

The Scion xD rides on 16-inch wheels and 195/60 R16 tires.

Buyers have the choice of three standard wheel covers, which are shared with the xB.

The Scion xD is powered

by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder en-gine with dual variable valve timing with intelligence.

It makes 128 horsepower and features a roller-rocker system and lightweight pis-tons for better fuel economy. Estimated miles per gallon are 27 in city driving and 33 on the highway.

Customers can choose either a fi ve-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic.

The xD sits on a short, wide frame that produces an okay ride. To enhance control, the Scion xD features an L-arm type MacPherson strut in the front and torsion beam sus-pension in the rear.

Inside the Scion xD the instrument panel features indicator lamps, fuel guage, odometer and a radar-like speedometer and tachom-eter.

The digital clock and HVAC and audio controls are on the center console. Storage and cargo space are plentiful

in the xD. There’s a change box

handy for toll road drivers and even a storage tray un-der the steering wheel.

The Scion xD’s rear seats are 60/40 and fold fl at for a level cargo space.

For versatility, more leg-room and added cargo space, they also slide six inches for-ward and back.

The rear seats also can re-cline 10 degrees and be ad-justed fi ve diff erent ways for added comfort.

The test drive Scion xD came with the automatic transmission, electronic power steering, front disc and rear drum brakes, four-wheel anti-lock brake system with electronic brake-force distribution, vehicle stabil-ity control with traction con-trol and brake assist, halo-gen headlights, intermittent front windshield wipers, rear window wiper, front bucket seats, cruise control, AC, rear window defogger, power door locks and windows, re-mote keyless entry and tilt steering wheel.

With the options of a Scion security system, Bluetooth hands-free and carpet fl oor mats added the price totaled $17,193, including delivery/processing.

This is a perfect city run-about. It has plenty of cargo space in a stout body and the accelerator has attitude.

DECEMBER 23, 2009 • FORT BEND INDEPENDENT •

Not just oil, Pennzoil

Film Review

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Automobile: Scion xD

I am not a big fan of Foreign Films because I’m intimidat-ed by subtitles; afraid I won’t get it. And I was not going to watch this one but some of my new-found fi lm critic friends shamed me into it. Allegedly, a real fi lm critic watches for-eign fi lms. Well, we all know that I’m not a real fi lm critic; I just play one on the internet.

This movie was a pleasant surprise. I enjoyed it from start to fi nish. It is a very simple story of gang violence and young love but told in a loving, suspenseful manner.

El Casper is in love with Martha Marlene but keeps it a se-cret from his Honduran gang for fear of harm to his brash lover. Casper participates in a violent initiation of a young boy who the gang names El Smiley. The leader of the gang, Lil Mago, accidently kills Martha and casually tells Casper that he can get another girlfriend. Casper is devastated but cannot show his emotions in front of the gang.

Meanwhile, the audience is introduced to a Honduran family that is riding the train with other immigrants who are in search of the good life in the U.S. Casper in on the run from the gang and ends up on the train with the immigrants and becomes inadvertently involved with a beautiful naïve teenager named Sayra.

This is a low-budget movie that cooks. In spite of limited resources, Writer/Director Cary Fukunaga demonstrates that he has the skill to make a movie that communicates those elusive feelings of compassion, fear, desperation, violence, hope, and love. I watched this movie on a screener DVD and stayed up until 1:00 a.m., so it had to be a pretty darn good movie in order to keep me up that late. Rock ‘n Roll.

Grade 90. Larry H.

Email [email protected]

The Houston Film Critics Society honored THE HURT LOCKER as the best movie of 2009 and named George Clooney and Carey Mulligan best actor and actress in cer-emonies Saturday.

The organization also be-stowed its Lifetime Achieve-ment award posthumously to Patrick Swayze, the Hous-ton-born actor who shot to fame with DIRTY DANCING in 1987 and starred in such motion pictures as GHOST and POINT BREAK. Swayze died Sept. 14.

G.W. Bailey, a veteran char-acter actor perhaps best known for his work in POLICE ACADEMY movies and in TV’s THE CLOSER, received the so-ciety’s Humanitarian of the Year Award for his work with the Houston-based Sunshine Kids Foundation. The Sun-shine Kids was founded in 1982 to improve the quality of life for children with can-cer by involving them in ac-tivities and travel. Bailey has served as executive director of the organization since 2001.

The fi lm critics society awards were presented in a fi lm clip-fi lled ceremony Sat-urday at the Museum of Fine Arts’ Brown Auditorium.

THE HURT LOCKER, a riv-eting cinema verite-style

drama about U.S. soldiers serving on a bomb squad in Iraq, received three awards from the Houston group. Kathryn Bigelow was named Best Director and Barry Ack-royd received the award for cinematography.

UP IN THE AIR also received three awards. In addition to the fi lm’s star George Cloo-ney, costar Anna Kendrick was named Best Supporting Actress and Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner were awarded the award for Best Screenplay.

Other awards went to THE COVE which was named Best Documentary and to SIN NOMBRE for Best Foreign Language Film.

Other winners included Christoph Waltz as Best Sup-porting Actor award for his work as a sadistic Nazi in INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS, and UP for Best Animated Feature. UP’s composer, Mi-chael Giacchino, received the award for Best Score.

The other music award went to Jarvis Cocker, Wes Anderson & Noah Baumbach for composing the year’s best song, Petey’s Song from FANTASTIC MR. FOX.

The society handed out one other special award – an outstanding achievement award to Margaret Stratton,

a veteran Houston fi lm pub-licist who retired this year.

Founded in 2007, the Houston Film Critics Society is comprised of critics from Houston-area newspapers, TV & radio stations and web-sites and was organized for the purpose of increasing public awareness of cine-matic excellence and to en-courage the publication and broadcasting of substantive critical commentary on fi lm.

This is the third year the organization has presented Best of the Year awards.

The Houston Film Critics Society complete list of 2009 winners:2009 Best Picture - The Hurt Locker2009 Best Director - Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker2009 Best Actor - George Clooney, Up in the Air2009 Best Actress - Carey Mulligan, An Education2009 Best Supporting Actor - Christoph Waltz, Inglouri-ous Basterds2009 Best Supporting Ac-tress - Anna Kendrick, Up in the Air2009 Best Screenplay - Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner, Up in the Air2009 Best Animated Film - Up2009 Best Cinematography - Barry Ackroyd, The Hurt

Locker2009 Best Documentary - The Cove2009 Best Foreign Film - Sin Nombre2009 Best Original Score - Michael Giacchino, Up2009 Best Original Song - Petey’s Song by Jarvis Cock-er, Wes Anderson & Noah Baumbach, Fantastic Mr. Fox2009 Outstanding Achieve-ment Award - Margaret Stratton2009 Humanitarian of the Year Award - G.W. Bailey2009 Lifetime Achievement Award - Patrick Swayze

The Houston Film Critics So-ciety Top Ten Films for 2009:

1. The Hurt Locker2. Up in the Air3. Star Trek4. Precious5. Inglourious Basterds6. Up7. (500) Days of Summer8. Avatar9. Invictus10. District 9

For further information about the Houston Film Critics Society or their 2009 awards, contact Nick Nichol-son, President of the HFCS. Nicholson can be reached at [email protected] or at 713-303-7560.

The Hurt Locker chosen as the best movie

• FORT BEND INDEPENDENT • DECEMBER 23, 2009

Dean Hrbacek

Merry Christmas!

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

Sugar Land, TX 77478lawfi [email protected]

Merry Christmas!

Andy MeyersCommissioner

Precinct 3Fort Bend County

Suzette Peoples, Broker /Owner

21 years of experience!

[email protected] Direct: 281-980-3322 www.peoplesproperties.com

Merry Christmas to wonderful clients

and friends!

Merry Christmas!Sandersen Knox & Co., LLP,

Certifi ed Public Accountants130 Industrial Blvd. #130

Sugar Land, TX 77478

281-242-3232

Seshadri KumarPublisher & Editor

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

281-980-6745

Email: [email protected]

www.fbindependent.com

David HamnerSales Associate

Diane ParksGraphic Artist

Merry Christmas &

Happy Holidays from

Your District Attorney

For ALL Your Vehicle Needs!

149VehicleWash & Vacuum 95

plus tax Hand wash Clean windows Dress tires Vacuum vehicle M1

Wiper BladeReplacement 95

plus tax$

Replace 2 front wiper blades (most vehicles)

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M7

Air ConditioningSystem Check 3995

plus tax$

Test A/C operation Check refrigerant

level A/C performance test

Front orRear BrakeReplacement brake pads/shoes

or drums is additional fee

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Front WheelAlignment

12 months / 12,000 miles

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ANN IVERSARY

City of Sugar Land

NEW YEAR’S EVEDecember 31, 2009

Sugar Land Town Square

5 p.m. - 8 p.m. - Children’s Celebration9 p.m. - 1 a.m. - New Year’s Eve Celebration

Spectacular Entertainment, Live Music, Midnight Sugar Cube Drop and much more…

Come help us celebrate!

Alcohol available for purchase from 9 p.m.Free soft drinks served to designated drivers.

Further information at 281-275-2885

www.sugarlandtx.gov/celebration.asp

Fort Bend Independent wishes all its readers and advertisers a

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Nicolas Corredor, left, and Katherine Crockett, second grade members of the St. Laurence Catholic School Chess Club, participated in the 13th Annual Texas Grade Championships Chess Tournament the weekend before Thanksgiving. Their combined performance at the tournament earned St. Lau-rence the fi fth place trophy for second grade teams.

Texana Center receives donation from AT&T

AT&T made a special presentation during the recent West Campus groundbreaking at Texana Center. Frank Gracely, left, Regional Manager, External Affairs with AT&T, presented George Patterson, Chief Executive Offi cer and Dianne Wilson, Board of Trustees Chair, with a donation of $10,000 towards Texana’s West Campus Project. “AT&T is proud to support Texana in their efforts to provide services to Texans with developmental disabilities and to allow these Texans to reach their full potential,” said Frank Gracely. “We are thrilled about this gift from AT&T and will look forward to inviting them back when the West Campus is complete,” said George Patterson. In 2008, AT&T contributed $169 million through corporate, employee and AT&T Foundation giving programs. Supporting education has been a major focus for AT&T for more than a century, and education is a key philanthropy focus.

The new West Campus Learning Center will provide vocational training, habilitation services, employment assistance and supported employment services to people with developmental disabilities. These services are vital and needed, as there is no other provider in our service area offering equivalent programs. Above, Frank Gracely, left, George Patterson, Dianne Wilson, Texana Center; Anita Najar, representative from the offi ce of Dora Olivo, District 27; and Rep. John Zerwas, District 28.

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