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Take One! It’s FREE!Dec. 3, 2013 Our 20th Year of Publishing(979) 849-5407 . mybulletinnewspaper.com

LAKE JACKSON • CLUTE • RICHWOOD • FREEPORT • OYSTER CREEK • ANGLETON • DANBURY • ALVIN • WEST COLUMBIA • BRAZORIA • SWEENY

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BulletinThe Weekly

Texas unemployment rate drops to 6.2 percent

See Page 11

Sixpence None the Richer to perform at The Clarion

See Page 6

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Which car has been named ‘Green Car of the Year?’

See Page 12

ROUNDABOUT

Angleton CofCholiday events

Deck the halls with unusual Christmas season stories, falalalala, lala, lalaBy John TothEditor and Publisher

We’re officially in the holiday season, when life is lived at the fullest, stress levels raise, and we all have a great time.

So, take a break from all that hustle and bustle, and learn a few things about Christmas that you may have missed.

• In Australia, David Richards decided to celebrate by putting up 31 miles of Christmas lights around his house and break a Guinness World record.

According to CNN, The lawyer and his family strung more than a half a million bulbs around their house in the Australian capital city of Canberra to reclaim the title for lights on a residential property.

(My question is: What is the rest of the city doing for electricity when he turns these lights on?)

• Hallmark decided to alter a 19th-century Christmas carol on one of its ornaments to say “Don we now our fun apparel” from “”Don we now our gay apparel.”

Hallmark issued multiple statements on the matter, a television station reports. Unlike when the song’s English lyrics were pub-lished in the 19th century, “gay” today “has multiple meanings, which we thought could leave our intent open to misinterpretation.”

(The “fun” ornament remains on sale and will no doubt become a collector’s item.)

• Texas schools this season officially operate under the “Merry Christmas” bill, signed into law by Gov. Rick Perry in June. It also protects schools for decorating with

seasonal religious symbols, such as menorahs and nativity scenes, so long as there is also a symbol from at least one other religion and a secular symbol, the AP reports.

• Sarah Palin’s book, a defense of traditional Christmas values, is a

critical look at the “over-commercial-ism” of Christmas, according to AP. (The hardcover version of “Good Tid-ings and Great Joy” sells on Amazon for $13.92. That’s discounted from $22.99.)

• Everyone has seen the Christmas classic “Home Alone,” but have you ever thought about how the bandits played by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern survived all that pounding? In the cartoon world, it’s easy. They just go to the next scene.

But here is a doctor’s assessment of how the real world works:

Stern was smacked in the forehead with an iron, and he probably would have had bones around his eyes fractured, and if not treated prop-erly, could have ended up seriously disfigured.

Pesci’s scalp gets blow-torched: Considering Pesci remains under the torch for a good seven seconds, he would have ended up with skin and bone tissue so damaged he might

(Continued on Page 5)

The Greater Angleton Chamber of Commerce has a couple of big holiday events coming up: The annual awards luncheon, Fa La La (Ladies’ Night Out), and the Holiday Tour of Homes.

Chamber members will be meet-ing at Brazos Woods special event center on Thursday, Dec. 5 for the announcement of the Citizen of the Year, Chamber Ambassador of the Year, Pioneer Award winner and Volunteer of the Year.Chairman Jeff Bilyeu will wrap up the chamber’s achievements and highlights this year under his leadership. A traditional holiday dinner will be served by Fillip’s Cafe of Danbury.

This year’s theme of Fa La La is “Iced,” and decorations will center around this color scheme. It will be held Friday, Dec. 6 from 6-10 p.m. at the Brazoria County Fair-grounds Auditorium. It was started six years ago, providing women in the community an opportunity to be pampered, shop, and enjoy an evening with friends, co-workers or family, while taking a break from the stress of the season.

Ladies attending will enjoy a meal catered this year by Johnny Carino’s, a style show and a gift bag, which includes a beverage ticket. There will be a chance to win a 1/2 carat diamond, among other prizes. Tickets are $70 each, and sponsorship opportunities are

Events guaranteed to put you in a holiday moodThere’s a sleigh full of fun for Bra-

zoria County residents with lots of events scheduled, and most of them are free or low-cost to attend.

Holiday on the Brazos, Free-port’s annual Christmas tradition, will be held Thursday, Dec. 5 from 6-9 p.m. at the Freeport Municipal Park. Sponsored by the Freeport Parks & Recreation Department, it will be free, but donations of canned

goods for the local food pantry are requested.

There will be free cookies, hot chocolate, wassail, entertainment and hay rides and trolley rides.

There’s also a wreath decorat-ing contest, and arts and crafts will be available. For more information, call (979) 233-6101. Angleton’s annual Heart of Christ-mas event will be held Saturday, Dec.

7, from 6-9 p.m.Spread out around the county

courthouse grounds, the event has free admission.

It will feature booths with free goodies given out by area busi-nesses and groups, as well as entertainment from local school and

church choirs.Photos with Santa will be available

as well as kiddie rides and a deco-rated Christmas tree walk.

There will be a lighted parade at 6 p.m. that will proceed past the court-house. Area businesses and groups

The 14th Annual Christmas Train begins running at Victory Camp in Alvin on Dec. 6. For more details, go to: www.thechristmastrain.org.

In today’s ever changing world of technology, math and science skills are more important than ever. In the fall of 2013, nine schools were selected through the Dow Gives Education Grants program to receive grants to enhance their science and math programs. Teachers that applied for their school to receive a grant will now have the opportunity to put their creative touches and engaging techniques to work in the science and math programs they offer their students.

This year’s recipients are: Angleton Christian School, Central Elementary, Rancho Isabella Elementary, Columbia High School, Danbury High School, Holy Comforter Episcopal School, Northside Elementary and Sweeny Elementary.

“In this day and age, up-to-date technology is a must in the classroom,” says community relations manager, Gabriella Cone. “It is great to see so many teachers taking the initiative to apply for a grant so that their students can be equipped with 21st century learning tools in their classroom. Seeing how they will incorporate the technology piece with good old-fashioned, hands-on learning provides a creative twist that our selection committee was very impressed with.”

Sweeny Intermediate will be using the funding they were awarded to pur-

2013 Dow Gives Education Grant winners



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I’M NOT A TERRORIST, I SWEAR! In order to keep his boss from knowing where he is at all times, a New Jersey truck driver installed a GPS jamming device in his vehicle. In a seemingly unrelated event, Newark airport was testing a satellite signal called Smartpath which controls the air traffic control system. When the guy drove by the airport, his jammer shut the system down. He was fined $32,000 and fired from his job.

GOOD THING IT WASN’T HER SISTER SITTING THERE: A man woke up from a hernia operation with a case of temporary amnesia, causing him to forget he was married. When he saw his wife sitting at his bedside, he immediately put the moves on her. She recorded him doing this, and the clip has been viewed more than 700,000 times on YouTube.

DRUNK AND UNEMPLOYED IS NO WAY TO GO THROUGH LIFE: Billions of wasps in England have finished their work of supplying nectar for their queens, and are currently getting drunk on fermented fruit and attack-ing people. The British Red Cross has issued a warning.

SOMETHING THAT NOBODY EVER EXPECTED TO HAPPEN: An enormous metal windmill in the Scottish Highlands was destroyed by a gust of wind.

FOR SOME REASON, THAT DIDN’T AROUSE ANY SUSPICION: A woman walked into an upscale boutique in Wiltshire, England, and stole an expensive bottle of Chanel perfume. Aware that she would be filmed by surveillance cameras: she wore a disguise: a pair of glasses with a fake nose and mustache.

HEY, I’M THE VICTIM HERE: A man called the police to report that a safe containing marijuana and a large amount of money had been stolen from his Murfreesboro, Tn., residence. He admitted to officers that “he sold marijuana” for a living. They recovered the safe and arrested him when he came to the station to claim it.

SO, YOU’RE A LITTLE OFF ON THE TIME, SIR: A man stole bags of crawfish tails from a grocery store in Thibodeaux, La., and then ran to his car, which had been fitted with an ignition interlock device as a result of a drunk driving conviction. He tried blowing into it to start the car, but he was so winded that he did not succeed in his first few tries. He was there for so long that employees took pictures of him before he finally drove away. When the cops came to his home, he told them he had been at work until 4:30 p.m. They arrested him “after telling him it was not yet 4:30.”

Don’t become the victim of auto theft during the holiday seasonThe Texas Auto Burglary and Theft

Prevention Authority (ABTPA), a division of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, reminds drivers that a vehicle is burglarized every two min-utes and stolen every eight minutes in the state.

These crimes can escalate during the holiday season when drivers are frequently out shopping for gifts and traveling to visit friends and family. During these times, drivers are more

likely to leave belongings within view inside vehicles as well as become negligent in locking doors and taking keys.

To make matters worse, a thief won’t necessarily stop with taking your vehicle and the things inside. They may also look for personal documents and items that can help them steal your identity or gain access to your home, where they can burglarize additional property.

“Auto burglars are more likely to scout malls, shopping centers, entertainment venues, hotels, and other business parking lots this time of year looking for opportunities to break into vehicles,” said Michelle Lanham, program coordinator for ABTPA’s Reduce Auto Theft in Texas (RATT) public awareness task force at Denton Police Department. “Driv-ers need to understand that almost anything they leave inside their vehicles can be valuable to a thief.”

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, thieves committed 221,023 acts of vehicle burglary and

stole 64,982 vehicles in Texas during 2012.

Motorists should practice three basic safety tips to help prevent theft and burglary during the holidays and throughout the year: remove belong-ings from view, secure vehicles, and never leave keys inside. In addi-tion to practicing these prevention methodologies, drivers should park in areas that are well-lit, near surveil-lance cameras (if available), and near heavy foot and vehicle traffic. The more thieves feel threatened by detection, the less likely they are to focus on targets in such areas.

email: [email protected] (979) 849-5407 December 3, 2013 THE BULLETIN

Strange but True By Bill Sonesand Rich Sones, Ph.D.

Look for us on Facebook

E-mail your community announcements to [email protected]. We run all e-mailed notices, but do

not accept faxed notices or notices sent by regular mail. Email photos as is. We’ll convert them here for publication.

Surviving Jamestown Q. When hunger turns truly hor-

rifying, how bad can things get?A. According to written accounts of

the “starving time” winter of 1609-1610 in colonial Jamestown, Virginia, sickness and food shortages got so bad that the settlers became desper-ate, eating horses, dogs, rats, snakes and even boiled boots, says Bruce Bower in “Science News” magazine. As a last resort, human corpses were consumed. The settlement was nearly wiped out, with only 60 of the 300 inhabitants surviving.

Recently, a partial skull and shinbone from a teenage girl dubbed Jane were unearthed, and analysis showed that “closely spaced cuts in Jane’s forehead, which can be made only on a motionless body, are consistent with the young girl having been dead before the cuts were made,” reported scientists at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History. Tooth development and the growth stage of the knee joint put Jane’s age at about 14 years.

Jane’s partial remains were exca-vated in a structure’s cellar, which had become a refuse pit by 1610. Aside from Jane, researchers found military equipment, pots, seashells, and the remains of horses, dogs and other animals. Jane represents the only skeletal evidence of cannibalism in the Americas during colonial times. But, said historian James Horn of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, “we don’t think Jane was alone in being cannibalized at Jamestown.” Dolphins and the rule of the ocean

Q. When are hungry dolphins on a

feeding frenzy having a rather literal “ball”?

A. When it’s a “baitball,” or a huge, pulsating sphere of hundreds or even thousands of tightly gathered fish such as mackerel, with the myriad individuals trying to avoid predators by hiding toward the center, says “Science Illustrated” magazine. “However, the dolphins have the fish surrounded and trapped just below the surface, allowing the feeding frenzy to begin.”

A full-blown baitball feed leaves few survivors, says Georgienne Bradley of Sportdiver.com, for even as predators become satiated, new enlistees arrive. Against the odds, small groups of baitfish may escape to cruise the waters, eating as much as they can as quickly as they can. “The rule of the oceans is clear and simple: Get as big as you can before you get eaten.”

Facial ambiguityQ. Do photos of pro tennis players

reacting emotionally at the end of a set or match tip off whether they just won or lost?

A. The research team set up experiments dividing subjects into three groups and asking them to rank such photos as showing wins or losses, explains lead psycholo-gist Hillel Aviezer, as reported in

“Science” magazine. Group 1 saw only the tennis player’s face, group 2 saw only the body (the face was masked out), and group 3 saw the entire photo (face + body). Surpris-ingly, those responding to body cues were most successful, whereas those seeing the face alone made many mistakes and, on average, thought both winners and losers had lost. Groups 2 and 3 more reliably determined a win or loss, though Group 3 shown both the face and body mistakenly claimed that their decision was based primarily on facial expression.

This same ambiguity of peak negative or positive facial expres-sions was also found for joy (seeing one’s house after a lavish makeover), grief (reacting at a funeral), plea-sure (experiencing sexual release), and pain (undergoing a navel piercing). Once the brief emotional peak passes, however, facial expres-sions are no longer ambiguous, and observers can reliably read them. Why the ambiguity? The authors speculate “the facial musculature is not suited for accurately convey-ing extremely intense affect. Much like speakers blaring at maximum volume, the quality of the facial signal becomes degraded and noisy.”

(Send STRANGE questions to brothers Bill and Rich at [email protected])


Come by the SPCA-BC Shelter at 141 Canna Ln., Lake Jackson, or we are at Brazos Mall, Petco and Petsmart every Saturday, to visit with these pets and many of their friends. Kennel sponsorships are now available for large or small kennels. Why not have your company or family recognized with a plaque to show you care? Call (979) 285-2340, ext. 100, or visit www.spcabc.org for details. Help control the pet population. Have your pet spayed or neutered. Come by the SPCA-BC, and fill out an application today.

See who is waiting for you at SPCA-BC

Keep a special eye on your pets during the holidays Doctors from BluePearl Veterinary

Partners are urging people to practice caution over the holidays, as many of the items prepared for humans to feast on, may pose serious problems to their furry friends.

During the holidays, there is a sig-nificant uptick in pet-related emergen-cies, many of which are avoidable.

By practicing these safety precau-tions and tips, you may just save your furry friend’s life:

• Turkey bones, chicken bones and ham bones can splinter and cause the intestinal track to become perforated. Foods high in fat content can cause pancreatitis in companion animals.

Make sure to seal garbage bags and place them in a tightly covered container to prevent your pets from getting into something that could injure them.

• Many spices and foods that are safe for humans are not safe for animals. Onions, garlic, chocolate, raisins, grapes, macadamia nuts, the sugar substitute xylitol, and raw or undercooked food can create major problems for pets.

Make sure friends and family aren’t sneaking treats to your pets. It is best to keep your pets on their normal diets.

• Doors that are left unintentionally

open can result in your pet being hit by a car. As guests and deliveries come and go, make sure pets remain safely inside.

• Poinsettias are also toxic to pets. Make sure these plants are out of reach from pets.

• Traveling can be stressful for pets. If traveling with pets, make sure they are comfortable. Get them acclimated when they are young

by taking them on trips. If needed, herbal remedies or medications can be provided by your veterinarian to assist with calming a pet.

“Every year, at each of our hospi-tals around the country, we see an increase in emergencies during the holidays, many of which are avoid-able,” said Dr. Jennifer Welser, chief medical officer of BluePearl Veteri-nary Partners.


have needed a transplant.Both burglars take paint cans to

the face: They likely would have been knocked out.

(I did not click for the whole list, but you get the drift. BTW, the coyote in the Roadrunner cartoons is still alive.)

• Researchers in Norway and the Netherlands compared reindeer noses to human noses and found that reindeer have 25 percent more blood vessels in their nasal lining, which helps to control body tempera-ture — an important task when you’re flying all around the globe in a single evening. Researchers had reindeer walk on a treadmill, and observed that afterward, “they do indeed have red noses,” MedPage Today reports.

(So, it’s not just Rudolph?)• Of course, there is always some

scientist that needs to throw a monkey wrench into my decision to finally get a live tree this year. I should say real tree, since it has been cut, but what do you really get?

An avalanche of bugs is likely riding the Christmas Tree Express straight into your living room, reports a newswire. A scientist cited research

that has found as many as 25,000 insects — ranging from bark lice to moths to mites — living in a single tree. The lights and heat spur them to come out of hibernation, but don’t fear a creepy, crawly bug invasion: “As they cannot feed on the limited plants found in most households, the bugs will quickly dry out and die,” says the scientist.

(Just don’t hug your tree for a while. Scientists, please refrain from educating us until Jan 1. Actually, Jan. 2 or later. We won’t be able to pay attention on Jan. 1.)

• Criminals in a Canadian city will be receiving an unexpected Christ-mas card this year ... from the police chief.

The card being sent out to “prolific offenders, property offenders, and persons known for drug and gang activity” feature the chief wearing a Santa suit (and a bulletproof vest and helmet) and packing automatic weap-ons. “Which list will you be on next year?” it asks, and inside there’s a number to call if the card manages to inspire any of the recipients to switch on over to the “nice” list and turn his or her life around.

(Question: If the police chief has these criminals’ address, why don’t they just go and get them? The card is a nice gesture, though.)

• Back in the U.S., the dispute over whether a woman in Louisiana can put up lights in the shape of a middle finger has been settled.

Sarah Childs was in a dispute with some of her neighbors in Denham Springs, just east of Baton Rouge, and decided to send a message with her decorations. Neighbors complained, and police threatened to arrest her, so she and the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana sued the city. A judge ruled in her favor this week, citing her rights to free speech and due process, reports the AP.

(Santa does not leave presents when those lights are on. I guess she is not going to have a Merry Christ-mas!)

(Continued from Page 1)Deck the halls with unusual Christmas season stories


The Clarion welcomes Sixpence None the Richer on Dec. 6The Clarion at Brazosport College’s

2013-14 performance season contin-ues on Dec. 6 when Grammy-nomi-nated group Sixpence None the Richer takes the stage for a 7:30 p.m. show.

Formed in New Braunfels, Texas, in the early 1990s, Sixpence is known for their melodic hooks, catchy lyrics and outstanding songwriting.

After moving to Nashville, Tenn. soon after guitarist Matt Slocum and singer Leigh Nash formed the band, Sixpence scored several hit singles and soared in popularity.

The group parted ways in 2004 to pursue other projects, but reunited in 2007. Since then, they’ve released an EP, a Christmas album and a full-length release of new music, “Lost in Transition.”

Tickets are $35 for adults, $30 for seniors and Brazosport College employees and $10 for students and children.

For more information or to pur-chase tickets, call The Clarion box office at 979-230-3156 or visit clarion.brazosport.edu. To learn more about Sixpence None the Richer, visit www.sixpencehq.com.


Brazoria Lions Club aims at annual gun raffleThe Brazoria Lions Club’s annual gun raffle drawing (99 long guns and a

Polaris 4 x 4) takes place on Thursday, Dec. 12, with doors opening at 6 p.m. at the Brazoria Heritage Foundation Gymnasium in Brazoria.

At the drawing, bar-b-q sandwiches, chips and a drink will be served. There will also be a mini-auction for a very limited number of items, including a custom leather long gun scabbard made by the Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice, an AR-15, and two custom -made knives by Ed Carr. Other chances to win prizes will also be offered, like a card raffle for pistols, a bucket raffle, and a spirit wagon.

The prizes of the gun raffle are listed on the raffle ticket, and all prizes must be claimed within 30 days of the drawing. Winners will have choices of calibers, and gauges on model drawn on hand – first come, first choice. All gun winners must pass a NCIS background check.

A very limited number of raffle tickets for $20 each can be purchased at the drawing. Only 3,500 tickets will be sold. Winners need not be present to win. For ticket availability or more information, call: ( 979) 798-4444.

chase a variety of materials needed to build interactive kits that each include eight science experiments and more than 30 lessons on math, science and biology. These kits will provide their students the opportunity to learn from hands-on exploration and problem solving techniques; which are core skills needed to advance in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM)-related studies.

“We have wanted to implement this program for quite some time,” said Sweeny Intermediate science teacher Kelly Henderson. “The students will

be thrilled to hear we are receiving a grant for this new and fun addition to our science curriculum.”

For the students of Angleton Christian School, their grant will enable them to purchase Interactive Whiteboard Systems, Dual-Mode Document Cameras and LCD Projec-tors for science classrooms with technology needed to enhance their STEM Curriculum. “Students will now be able to better study soil and water samples for their Mars Rover Curriculum,” said Terri Jones, Direc-tor of Curriculum and Assessment for ACS. “Using data from their analyses, students will engineer a replica of

NASA’s Mars Rover using recycled materials. Aside from their Mars Rover Project, students and teachers will be able to collaborate with partner classrooms on various lessons and activities using video conferencing.”

More than $50,000 was awarded in education grants this year as part of Dow’s ongoing commitment to STEM education. Dow has been provid-ing the grants to local schools since 2006.

(Continued from Page 1)2013 Dow Gives Education Grant winners announced

They ignited a turkey and tree on purposeThe News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.) (MCT)

CARY, N.C. — The Cary, N.C., Fire Department has set fire to a full-sized turkey and a small Christ-mas tree to demonstrate what can happen.

The tree was dry, and the turkey, which should have been completely thawed and dried, was partially thawed and wet. The aluminum pot was overfilled with peanut oil and heated to more than 500 degrees Fahrenheit, about 150 degrees higher than the safe temperature.

Flames were already curling around the edge of the turkey fryer when a firefighter removed the lid. A second firefighter dropped in the wet turkey from the end of a pole. Flames engulfed the entire operation.

A few minutes later, a firefighter lit shredded paper in a bucket next to the tree. In 30 seconds, the tree was consumed in tall, crackling flames. Within a minute and a half, only a smoking trunk remained.


The Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, Sweeny Complex, held its annual United Way campaign and broke its own record. Campaign team members sold barbecue sandwiches, auctioned off items, had a bake sale, and collected donations to raise a grand total of $50,340.08. That’s $10,000 more than last year. Pictured from left to right are Wayne McDowell, Chevron Phillips Chemi-cal Sweeny Complex Plant Manager; Susan Cooman with the United Way of Brazoria County; and Chevron Phillips Chemical Sweeny Complex fundraising team members Bruce Swift, Kelly Luther, Abby Rimel, and Amanda Baca. Team members not pictured are Patricia Dewoody, Kevin Wood, Earl Mathis, Megan Aary, Jackie Drake, Matt Lowery, Willie Isom, Ruben Jones, Shauna Simpson, Lester Tipps, and Hyon Ko.

CP Chem sets new UW fundraising record

ACC Dolphins host winter baseball campThe Alvin Community College baseball team will help area kids learn finer

points of the game during a free baseball camp that will run from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Dec. 7 at Phillips Field.

The camp is open for kids ages 6-16. There will be 30 ACC baseball players to teach campers about hitting, pitching, fielding, outfield play, bunting and base running.

Campers should bring their baseball equipment, including a glove and/or a baseball bat.

The camp is open to the public. For more information contact Assistant Coach Jason Schrieber at (281) 756-3699.


available. There also will be a silent auction and an opportunity to win a designer purse with tickets available for $10 each or 3 for $25.

The annual Holiday Tour of Homes will be the afternoon of Sunday, Dec. 8, and five local homes will be show-cased. Refreshments will be served at the Kirksey Gregg home at the Bar K Ranch again this year. Tickets are $15 per person, adult or child.

For more information about any of these events, or sponsorship oppor-tunties, please contact the chamber staff at (979) 849-6443.

(Continued from Page 1)

Angleton CofC holiday events

can also sponsor a decorated tree for display in the walk, and the tree will be donated to a needy family.

For more information about Heart of Christmas, or if interested in being in the parade, hosting a booth, or sponsoring a Christmas tree, please contact Martha Eighme at [email protected].

Angleton also has Pancakes with Santa on Thursday, Dec. 5, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Angleton Rec-reation Center. All ages are invited to a pancake meal and a photo with Santa for only $4 for adults, $2 for children (age 2 and under free) and $3 for senior citizens. Pre-registration is required. Please call the Angleton Parks & Recreation Department at

(979) 849-6443 and push option 5.Clute’s Christmas in the Park

will be held Thursday, Dec. 5, through Saturday, Dec. 7, at Clute Municipal Park from 5-9 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 4-9 p.m. Saturday. There will be free admis-sion to the park, and visits with Santa will be available nightly at 6:30 and with Sweet Potato the Clown at 6:30 and 8:30 nightly. There will be free moonwalks, marshmellow roast, and entertainment by students of dance and gymnastic schools as well as school choirs.

For more information, call the Clute Parks & Recreation Department at (979) 265-8392.

Additional information about sev-

eral of these events can be found in advertisements inside this issue.

(Continued from Page 1)

Events around Brazoria County guaranteed to put you in holiday mood

Candles, Carols and Candy Canes is the theme for a Christmas event to be sponsored at Northway Baptist Church in Angleton on Sunday, Dec. 8.

It will be held 6-8 p.m. and will include kids’ crafts; puppets; live music and caroling; and live Nativity characters as well as face painting and stories.

The church is located at 1421 Buchta, Angleton, 77515. For more informa-tion, call (979) 849-1253.

Families or friends who have lost a loved one, whether a still-born baby, infant , or any age, are invited to participate in a memorial walk on Sunday, Dec. 8 in West Columbia at 5 p.m.

“We will walk and carry them (those who have passed away) with us until we see them again,” stated organizer Esther Lara.

Walkers should meet in front of the West Columbia Civic Center parking lot, located at 516 E. Brazos Ave., 77486, behind Prosperity Bank on Highway 35.

Participants are encouraged to bring or wear blinking or glow -in-the-dark items for the walk, and helium-filled balloons that glow in the dark will be avail-able for $5. Participants are invited to put messages on the memorial balloons before releasing them.

The proceeds from balloons will go toward a documentary focusing on the deaths of infants during pregnancies or infancy. This issue is examined at stillproject.org.

Please don’t take candles for safety reasons.

Memorial walk, balloon release planned

Northway Baptist in Angleton plans Christmas event


Sponsors of this column

(Send your queries to “My Answer,” c/o Billy Graham, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, N.C., 28201; call 1-(877) 2-GRAHAM, or visit the Web site for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association: www.billygraham.org.)

Refusing to think about eternity is misguidedMy Answer

By Billy GrahamTribune Media Services

Q: My friend refuses to think about anything dealing with life after death. He says the only thing that interests him is his life right now. And anyway, he says, he believes everything will work out for the best somehow. How can I get through to him? - L.Y.

A: Your friend isn’t alone; if you stood on a street corner in almost any major city today and asked people how much they think about God or life after death, most would probably give you a similar answer.

Why is this? Why do so many people put their heads in the sand (so to speak) and refuse to think about what will happen to them when they die? One reason, I’m afraid, is because it’s simply easier. Why bother thinking about eternity when you have so many other things going on in your life right now? Like the man in one of Jesus’ parables, they say to themselves, “Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry” (Luke 12:19).

But often people refuse to think about eternity for another reason: They like the way they’re living right now, and they’re afraid that if they take God or eternity seriously, they’ll have to change. And they might be right, because Christ calls us to repent of our sins and follow Him alone.

Pray for your friend; only God can change his heart and show him the folly of his ways. Pray, too, that you will be a witness for Christ by the way you live - by your love for others and the purity of your life. Remember Jesus’ words: “You are the light of the world.... Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14,16).

Texas unemployment rates falls to 6.2% in OctoberAUSTIN — The seasonally adjusted

unemployment rate in Texas fell to 6.2 percent in October, down from 6.3 percent in September. The state’s unemployment rate remained well below the national October unemploy-ment rate of 7.3 percent.

In October, Texas had an esti-mated total nonfarm employment of 11,232,700 jobs, an increase of 267,400 jobs over the year. Total non-farm employment in Texas rose by an estimated 7,400 positions in October following an increase of 36,400 jobs in September, a total of 43,800 jobs added over the last two months.

“The private sector in Texas recorded a strong annual growth rate of 2.9 percent in October, adding nearly 265,000 jobs over the year,” said Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Chairman Andres Alcantar. “We encourage job seekers, in particular our returning veterans, to visit their local Workforce Solutions office for assistance in finding work.”

Seven out of 11 industries that added jobs in October included Leisure and Hospitality, which expanded by 7,600 positions; Professional and Business Services, which added 5,000 jobs; and Trade, Transportation and Utilities, which grew by 3,700 positions.

“It’s good to see our unemployment rate declining for three consecutive months, from 6.5 percent in July to 6.2 percent in October,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Ronny Congleton. “Positive economic growth means continued employment opportunities for the job seekers and

workers of Texas.”Industries such as Mining and Log-

ging, and Professional and Business Services, continued to show annual growth in Texas. Mining and Logging added 15,000 jobs over the year, while Professional and Business Services added 73,200. Both of these industries have grown by more than 5.0 percent over the year.

“The Texas economy continues to move forward, with every major industry in the state showing positive growth over the last year,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Employ-ers Hope Andrade.

The Midland Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) had the lowest October unemployment rate in the state at 3.1 percent.


Honda Accord wins Green Car of the Year by producing a version that gets 50 MPGLOS ANGELES — The Honda

Accord is the 2014 Green Car of the Year for its number of fuel-efficient versions.

The award was announced at the Los Angeles Auto Show, decided by a jury of industry people and celeb-rity Jay Leno.

“This car offers something for everybody,” including a version that

gets 50 miles per gallon,” said Mike Accavitti, American Honda senior vice president.

The Accord was a finalist in a field that included two diesels: the Audi A6 TDI and BMW 328d, as well as the Mazda3 and Toyota Corolla.

Detroit’s automakers were shut out. Last year the Ford Fusion was named the winner, and the Dodge

Dart Aero was a finalist.The Accord is available with mul-

tiple powertrain options, including a four-cylinder, V-6, hybrid and plug-in hybrid.

“The diversity of this field of final-ists illustrates not only that green has gone mainstream, but also that there is no single approach to achieving ever-higher levels of fuel efficiency and environmental performance,” said Ron Cogan, editor of the Green Car Journal, which presents the award annually.

“There’s something for everyone in this year’s field of finalists.

The Audi A6 TDI has a 3-liter, six-cylinder diesel, lightweight body and a start-stop system to further improve fuel efficiency. The sedan gets 38 mpg on the highway.

The BMW 328d has a four-cyl-inder diesel and gets 45 mpg on the highway and has a start-stop system.

The third generation of the Mazda3 is lighter and has SkyActiv technology. With the 2-liter engine,

the compact car gets 41 mpg on the highway.

The Toyota Corolla, new for 2014, gets 42 mpg on the highway with its Eco version that has a 1.8-liter engine.

Tetsuo Iwamura, CEO of American Honda, said he wants to close the gap in hybrid sales by which Honda trails Toyota and Ford. Honda’s hybrid cars include a one-motor Insight, the new two-motor system in the Accord and a three-motor system in the new Acura RLX.


History of the WorldBy Mark AndrewsTribune Content Agency

Dec. 2: ON THIS DATE in 1804, Napoleon Bonaparte was crowned emperor of France by Pope Pius VII. In 1927, the first Model A Fords were sold; the price was $385.

Dec. 3: ON THIS DATE in 1947, the Tennessee Williams play, “A Streetcar Named Desire,” premiered in New York. In 1950, Paul Harvey began his national radio program.

Dec. 4: ON THIS DATE in 1918, President Wilson set sail for France to attend the Versailles Peace Conference. In 1945, the Senate approved U.S. participation in the United Nations.

Dec. 5: ON THIS DATE in 1831, former President John Quincy Adams took his seat as a new member of the House of Represen-tatives. In 1989, East Germany’s former leaders, including ousted Communist Party chief Erich Honecker, were placed under house arrest.

Dec. 6: ON THIS DATE in 1790, Congress moved from New York

to Philadelphia. In 1947, President Truman dedicated Everglades National Park in Florida. In 1957, America’s first attempt to put a satellite into orbit failed as the rocket blew up on its launch pad at Cape Canaveral, Fla.

Dec. 7: ON THIS DATE in 1787, Delaware became the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution. In 1941, Japanese forces attacked American and British territories and posses-sions in the Pacific, including the home base of the U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Dec. 8: ON THIS DATE in 1941, the United States entered World War II as Congress declared war against Japan. In 1980, former Beatle John Lennon was shot to death outside his New York City apartment build-ing by an apparently deranged fan.

Answer to last week’s question: This week in 1923, Calvin Coolidge became the first U.S. president to deliver a speech over radio.

This week’s question: In 1898, what Spanish territories did the United States acquire at the end of the Spanish-American War?

The ACC Wind Ensemble and Alvin Community Band will perform its Christmas concert on Dec. 15 at 3:30 p.m. in the ACC Theatre.

The concert is free and open to the public.

The Community Band and Wind Ensemble will perform some of the same songs on Dec. 7 during

the Alvin “Home for the Holidays” event at National Oak Park. The Community Band will play from 3-4 p.m. and the ACC Jazz band will be playing from 12:30 – 1 p.m. on that same day. The park is located at 118 South Magnolia St.

The ACC Drama Department will be producing Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol for their Christmas

play starting on Dec.7.Jacob Marley’s Christmas

Carol is a Tom Mula play that depicts the class Charles Dickens tale The Christmas Carol.

Performances will be at 8 p.m. on Dec. 7, 12-14. There will be a 2:30 p.m. performance on Dec. 8. Tickets are $6 in advance and $8 at the door.

Alvin College offers holiday entertainment fare3,700-year-old wine cellar discoveredBy Deborah NetburnLos Angeles Times (MCT)

LOS ANGELES—Archaeologists have unearthed one of the oldest and larg-est wine cellars in the near-East, dating back to approximately 3,700 years ago.

Packed with 40 jars, 3 feet high each, it had a modern-day capacity of 2,000 liters, or about 3,000 bottles of wine.

Sounds like the living wasn’t too bad in 1700 B.C.The cellar was discovered in northern Israel on the grounds of a vast palatial

estate that was once home to the ruling household of a northern Canaanite city.Using organic residue analysis, the archaeologists were able to determine

that the wine in the jugs was sweetened with honey and infused with juniper berries, mint, cinnamon and myrtle.

“Some of it was red, and some of it was white, and with these additives, I imagine it would have a bit of a cough syrup taste,” said Assaf Yasur-Landau, of the University of Haifa, who helped discover the cellar.

Whether or not that appeals to you, the researchers note that the people who made this wine thought very carefully about its production.

“This wasn’t moonshine that someone was brewing in their basement,” said Andrew Koh, a professor at Brandeis University, who did the organic residue analysis. “The wine’s recipe was strictly followed in each and every jar.”

As for the cellar itself, it was about 15 feet by 25 feet and located just off a large banquet hall in the palace. The cellar and the banquet hall were destroyed in the same event—possibly an earthquake or a mudslide, said Yasur-Landau.

The jars, which have survived the past 3,700 years largely intact, were fairly plain and undecorated. They were clearly meant for storing wine, not serving wine to guests, explained Eric Cline of George Washington University.

Cline was co-director of the dig along with Yasur-Landau. They, along with Koh, presented their findings at the annual meeting of the American Schools of Oriental Research.


Solutions on the right side of this page

Bulletin Crossword Puzzle of the Week Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit www.sudoku.org.uk.

Solutions

Across1 Protocol7 Dupe14 Where seals are their least grace-ful15 Script used to transcribe foreign words into Japanese16 Low-tech calculator17 Modeling job?18 Drop shots, in badminton19 Nearsighted one

20 Was into21 Low22 “Daniel Deronda” (1876) was her last novel24 Regatta racer26 Osiris’ sis28 Speculate30 Choir section31 Wielding absolute power33 Legal extremes?35 He plays Andy Bernard on “The

Office”36 Tool that’s swung40 Letters in a prof’s email address41 City where the first koala sanctu-ary opened42 Term paper abbr.45 Wild outing47 14-time A.L. All-Star48 Collection of plates50 Isn’t industrious52 Tag for some as-is mdse.53 Legend site54 Get one’s goat, e.g.56 It was once called Mission San Antonio de Valero58 Underwater escape mechanism60 Stories on stands61 Enhances62 Slim and trim63 Ritual candelabrum64 Cutie pies

Down1 Farm stand spot2 Neutral3 Flatter in a cajoling way4 Pool convenience5 Taken6 Some investments, briefly7 Writer who said “All literature is gossip”8 Perched on9 Campaign hot button10 Word with jack or box11 Settled12 Cancels13 Part of some golfers’ pre-shot routines15 It has an all-white scale19 They show a lot of leg23 Chem test paper?25 Fruit named for a Turkish town27 Maker of small suits29 A pitcher may appear in it32 Unlike spring chickens34 Porter’s “__ Girls”36 Stationery shade37 Algebraic uncertainty38 Unfathomable size39 Wooer’s buy41 Tolerates42 Penn movie with a Seussian title43 Cubism pioneer Georges44 Call into question46 Statue base49 Straphanger51 21-gun salute, e.g.55 Actress Merrill of “Operation Pet-ticoat”57 Bank security59 Bit of blogger shorthand60 It may be tapped off(c)2013 TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, INC.

Boggle AnswersKENYA UGANDA SOMALIA COLUMBIA INDONESIA

In memory of Greg Wilkinson

email: [email protected] (979) 849-5407 December 3, 2013 THE BULLETIN Jumble AnswersJumbles: LOFTY BIPED DROWSY BARRENAnswer: when service was slow, the hungry diners became -- “WAITERS”

MR. MORRIS By Rick Brooks

Bulletin HoroscopeTribune Content Agency

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Power up to pass over pitfalls. Your executive abilities may come in handy in the week ahead. Loved ones might be too busy to give you attention when you need it, but you’re big enough to overlook it.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Pass-

ing the buck could cost you some dough. Don’t expect other people to take care of your work or other tasks in the week ahead. You could be careless, especially if money is involved.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): One and one is two. You can balance the

books with the best of them and excel at organization. A special someone may not be willing to give you the benefit of the doubt this week, so don’t push your luck.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Money is like water and will drain away if there’s a hole in the container.

Keep a sharp eye on small expenses in the week ahead. You can coast on your reputation as a team player at work or in your career.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Color your world. Get out the crayons so you aren’t tempted to delve into gray areas this week. Rather than imagin-ing the worst that can happen, focus on the best that can happen and stick to it.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Fuzzy thinking fouls up the data feed. During the upcoming week, you might imag-ine things are one way when they are the other way. Concentrate on being accurate and pay attention to small details.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Fault finding fuels feuds. In the week ahead, remain cool as a cucumber and ignore the nagging desire to pick apart a relationship. You might even take criticism from others to heart when it isn’t deserved.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Picky people might hide their picks. You should be sensitive to nuances, but not so sensitive that you imagine the worst. Count your change twice when

shopping, especially in the first half of the week.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You can’t be an ace when you’re lost in space. Focus on enhancing your reputation in public in the week ahead and find ways to demonstrate that you’re true blue with family and loved ones.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You can climb your way to the top on the shoulders of those willing to offer support. In the week ahead, you should be circumspect about saying something that could be misunder-stood or misinterpreted.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Vagueness causes dissension. Avoid making promises in the first part of the week when people can be hard to pin down and money can evaporate. Guard against the impulse to shop until you drop.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You can only please some of the people some of the time. This week, you may find yourself trying to please everyone and end up not pleasing anyone, including yourself. Stay true blue to yourself.

THE MIDDLETONS By Ralph Dunagin and Dana Summers

ANIMAL CRACKERS By Fred Wagner

BROOM HILDA By Russel Myers

the bulletin take one! it’s free! · 2013. 12. 3. · sixpence none the richer to perform at the...

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