4141 yearsyears ofof coveringcovering SouthSouth BeltBelt Voice of Community-Minded People since 1976 Thanksgiving Day 2017 Email: [email protected] www.southbeltleader.com Vol. 42, No. 43 Holiday closings set South Belt-Ellington Leader The Leader office will be closed through Stuchbery celebrates 50th anniversary Friday, Nov. 24, for the Thanksgiving holiday. Clear Brook City MUD The Clear Brook City MUD office will be This year marks the 50th anniversary of E. Stuchbery, longtime educator and fi rst musi- In 1972, Stuchbery became so crowded it was school in the district with an enrollment of more closed Thursday, Nov. 23, and Friday, Nov. Stuchbery Elementary. cal director in the Pasadena Independent School necessary to send the fi fth-grade class to the ad- than 1,000. This included the transfer of students 24, in observance of Thanksgiving. The office Opened in the fall of 1967, Stuchbery was the District. jacent Thompson Intermediate. The arrangement from Scarsdale, who had previously attended will re-open on Monday, Nov. 27, at 8 a.m. fi rst elementary school to be located in the new The school opened with 375 students, and remained in place until the nearby Frazier Ele- Meador Elementary. Payments may be left in the drop box located subdivision of Sagemont. Miles C. Bozarth was named the campus’s fi rst mentary opened in 1975. Overcrowding at the campus was alleviat- on the drive-thru window side of the building. The campus was named in honor of James principal. That same year, Stuchbery became the largest ed in the fall of 1977 when Burnett Elementary Residents who receive Friday trash service opened in the Scarsdale subdivision. will have regular services Nov. 24. All trash The fi rst winter carnival in PISD was held at must be at curbside no later than 7 a.m. Stuchbery in February 1968, and the school’s Moore Elementary celebrates Thanksgiving PTA. purchased playground equipment with the profi ts from the event. City holiday trash schedule As the area grew, so did the traffi c problems. Residents living in the city will not have The PTA. was responsible for sponsoring vol- trash pickup Thanksgiving Day. Thursday unteer mothers to serve as patrol offi cers. The collections will be rescheduled for Friday, mothers were trained and deputized by Harris Nov. 24, while Friday pickups will be resched- County. uled for Saturday, Nov. 25. Through it all, Stuchbery has remained a resil- ient part of the South Belt community. “We are Stuchbery strong, and we are 50 years Gulf Freeway closures set strong in the community,” said current Stuchbery At least one northbound and one south- Principal Jose Hernandez. bound main lane and frontage road lane on the The school will recognize its 50th anniversa- Gulf Freeway from FM-528/NASA Road 1 to ry with a celebration Wednesday, Nov. 29, in the Fuqua will be closed daily from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. school cafeteria from 6 to 8 p.m. through Friday, Dec. 8. Alternate entrance and One of the highlights of the event will be the exit ramps will be closed. dedication of a wing at the campus in honor of At least two northbound and two southbound former kindergarten teacher, Shirleene Lipsey, main lanes and frontage road lanes on the Gulf who recently passed away. Lipsey was one of the Freeway from FM-528/NASA Road 1 to Fuqua longest-tenured teachers at Stuchbery, having will be closed nightly from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. worked at the school for more than 30 years until through Friday, Dec. 8. Alternate entrance/exit her retirement at age 83. ramps will be closed. The celebration, will also include refresh- At least one northbound and one southbound ments, a gallery walk, music and student perfor- main lane and frontage road lane on the Gulf Moore Elementary recently celebrated Thanksgiving before taking Alan Figueroa, (standing) Travis Tran, Natalie Dent, Evany Garcia, mances honoring the school’s fi rst 50 years. All Freeway from FM-528/NASA Road 1 to SH a week off for the holidays. Shown above at the celebration are, left Maddox Martinez, Jacob Gonzales, Ethan Vega, Jayden Rice, Brody alumni and current and former staff are invited to 96/League City Parkway will be closed nightly to right, (sitting) Carolina Penado, Ernesto Davalos, Brianna Bus- Clouse, Samuel Barahona, Jesse Martinez, Ava Soloya, Nyla Rich- attend. from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. through Dec. 31. Alternate tos, Jader Portillo, Kelly Alfaro, Camila Salomon, Hiba Mateen, ardson, Jordan Garcia and Bjork Klimowicz. See additional photos For additional information, call 713-740- entrance and exit ramps will be closed. Karen Stewart, Trinity Woomer, Edy Gutierrez, Martin Antonio, on this page and Page 6A. Photo submitted 0752. The closures are associated with an ongo- ing construction project to widen the freeway from three to fi ve lanes in each direction and the frontage roads from two to three lanes in Mayor responds to insufficient federal Harvey relief assistance each direction. On Friday, Nov. 17, the White House sent “Houston, the region’s economic engine, suf- ment before it gets to cities. This approach will – seniors, children and everyone in between – Cabrini women sell cookies Congress a $44 billion disaster request, falling fered more rain in a short period than any other cause inexcusable delays, and create bureaucrat- with housing, food, and other essentials. The The Women’s Club of St. Frances Cabrini far short of the aid offi cials in Texas, Florida U.S. city in history, yet is being funded by Wash- ic barriers, for getting the funds to Houston. role of the federal government is crucial, howev- will hold its Cookie Walk on Sunday, Dec. 3, and Puerto Rico had originally sought to recover ington at a level below areas hit by hurricanes “City government and local nonprofi ts are do- er, and a mere trickle of money won’t be enough from 8 a.m. to noon in Francesca Hall, 10727 from hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. Katrina (New Orleans), Sandy (Eastern Sea- ing what they can to address the damage and aid to help Houston heal from a deluge. Hartsook. A large assortment of homemade Gov. Greg Abbott had initially requested $61 board) and Maria (Puerto Rico). the many Houstonians still in need of assistance “Houston, we are on our own.” holiday cookies will be sold by the pound. billion in aid for Texas alone. “Our city, it seems, is being punished for its Come early for the best selection. While administration offi cials said they plan effi cient Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts and to provide additional relief funds in the coming its decision to work, not whine, for its fair share Heavy trash pickup resumes for many Sageglen to meet Nov. 27 months as costs are evaluated, several elected of- of public money that residents of the region have fi cials in the state have spoken out against what paid into the U.S. Treasury. While normal heavy trash service has not re- The change in companies is intended to im- The Sageglen Community Association will they see as an insuffi cient federal response. “One of several bitterly disappointing parts sumed for residents living in the city limits fol- prove the reliability of the district’s waste col- hold its meeting Monday, Nov. 27, at the com- Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner released the of today’s appropriations announcement is the lowing Hurricane Harvey, it has for residents liv- lection, according to Kirkmont MUD Manager munity building at 11610 Sageyork at 7 p.m. following statement: absence of funds to help stop preventable fl ood- ing in unincorporated parts of Harris County. Linda Arnone. “Today’s decision by the federal government ing from the next epic storm, which will surely Residents living in the Clear Brook City Mu- At press time, City of Houston offi cials said it Kirkmont I to meet to drastically underfund Houston’s fl ood recov- come. nicipal Utility District have had their heavy trash remained unclear when the city’s normal heavy pickup service resumed on every Thursday, ex- trash collection service would resume, as crews The Kirkmont I HOA will hold its board ery and fl ood prevention effort is a formula for “Another serious letdown is the decision to future failure. send federal grant money through state govern- cluding Thanksgiving. are still focusing their efforts on storm debris re- meeting Wednesday, Nov. 29 at 7:30 p.m. at According to Clear Brook City MUD Gener- moval. Recycling service, however, has resumed. the MUD Building, 10102 Blackhawk. Home- al Manager of Administration Cecelia Ganje, the Storm debris owners and interested candidates for the De- heavy trash must be clearly separated from storm Storm debris collection has concluded for cember elections may attend. The nominating Turner to speak at SJC graduation and construction debris or it will not be collect- residents living in the Clear Brook City MUD, committee will consider individuals for nom- ed. which used a private contractor to do the work. ination as a candidate for the board of direc- Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner will deliver mayor’s other priorities include implementation the keynote address at the San Jacinto College of a six point holistic plan for addressing home- For residents living in the Sagemeadow Mu- According to Ganje, the district’s third and fi - tors. Submit name, address, telephone and nicipal Utility District, heavy trash pickup ser- nal collection pass took place Wednesday, Oct. email address with a brief resume indicating commencement ceremonies on Sunday, Dec. lessness and new programs to reduce fl ooding 17.