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Acclaim and a Shame for Nov. 16, 2009
Published November 16, 2009
Clute moves ahead with plans for recreation, park upgrades.
When it comes to improving the quality of life for its residents, as well as bolstering its prospects for eco-tourism, the city of Clute has big plans.
City council recently voted to move forward with a Comprehensive Recreation and Open Space plan created with help from a $60,000 grant from the state’s General Land Office. Now the city can submit its proposals to Texas Parks and Wildlife in an effort to search out other grants.
First up for improvements would be Wilson Park, at Barbara Drive and Moffett Road. A council-appointed committee, working with Public Management Inc., has targeted 2011 for completion of a walking trail, lighting, restrooms and an additional pavilion, more park benches, a parking lot, resurfacing of basketball courts, a new water fountain and barbecue pits.
Improvements are slated by 2014 for Broaddus Park at East River Drive and Riley Road, Hardy Park on Hardy Street and Millstid Park on Washington Avenue. The Millstid Park project would include a nature trail and fishing pier, then nature-lovers also would benefit from canoe and kayak ramps proposed for areas along Oyster Creek by 2015.
More softball and baseball fields would be built at the Stratton Ridge Sportsplex, and the committee also urges to city to enforce the ordinance that requires a park in all new subdivisions.
While a lot depends on the success of landing grants, these plans certainly paint an exciting picture for the future, and one that wouldn’t mean an added tax burden on residents.
Day care kids treated to enriching program
The youngsters who spend their days at Memorial Child Care in Freeport get a lot more than the expected quality care, good snacks and safe place to stay while their parents are at work. They get a dose of culture as well.
The United Way-affiliated child care center Nov. 8 hosted its sixth program designed to teach kids about different cultures around the world. This latest program brought to life the worlds of West and South Africa right before the little wonder-filled eyes.
The program involved the children in the experience as well, as song and rhythms from the Dark Continent were sang and recited and foreign clothes were donned in Freeport.
Memorial Child Care Director Carmen Read understands the importance of such enrichment activities.
“I had a 7-year-old come up to me, and he’s African-American, and he said, ‘My parents said I’m African-American and I know what it means to be American, but I don’t know what African is,’” Read said. “This is when it makes a difference. You just plant that seed and as the kids get older they will recognize differences, different people and different cultures, but just as important, they will recognize likenesses.”
Among the topics they learned about were different African countries, tribes, cultures, traditions, crafts and ways of life.
Many children who attend the center come from families with single mothers or low incomes, so the program can be of particular education value to them.
The staff and management at the Freeport center should continue hosting such delightful and informative programs.
Pennies add up for Habitat drive, walk
A solitary penny laying on a sidewalk doesn’t count for much. But individual pennies, collected by hundreds, if not thousands of area students, who then gather to parade down similar sidewalks, can mean a home of their own for deserving families.
On Nov. 7, the 11th annual BASF/Wholesale Electric Walk for Habitat in Lake Jackson featured students from 26 schools, as well as many area businesses and elected officials. Entertainment included face-painting for the kids, as well as marching bands and cheerleaders from Brazoswood and Brazosport high schools.
The event caps the Penny Drive, in which area schoolchildren’s coins go toward building homes for local families.
Mary-Ellen Thomas, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Southern Brazoria County, said more than 300 people have received homes because of the program.
Habitat is a nonprofit group that builds homes for families who must contribute “sweat equity,” in addition to meeting income guidelines for the interest-free mortgages.
With pennies still to count, Thomas said Habitat has raised at least $87,000 this year — more than $7,000 coming in pennies donated by students.
The money raised is a tangible benefit, but the lessons learned by these students through the annual Penny Drives and Walks for Habitat lay the foundation for community-minded and philanthropic generations to come.
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