eco-explorers at brazos bend state park, thursdays

Brazos Bend State Park is offering Eco-Explorers again this summer. This program, for children ages 4-12, meets each Thursday from 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. in the Nature Center during July and the first week of August. The program consists of a learning activity, followed by games, crafts, songs and refreshments. A fee of $2 per child is charged to cover the costs of the crafts and refreshments.

This year, besides the Brazos Bend State Park Rangers and volunteers, the Houston Audubon Society and the Coastal Prairie and Gulf Coast Master Naturalist Chapters are assisting in providing activities for the children. The schedule includes: Learn the basics and ethics of fishing at Hale Lake pavilion; July 2, Astronomical Delights, Take a visit to the George Observatory for a trip to infinity and beyond; July 9, Clues to Who ’s Hiding From You. Learn to identify animal tracks, scat and other signs left behind; July 16, Micro-Monsters, Discover what lurks beneath the surface of a quiet pond. Use viewing boxes and microscopes; July 23, Variety Day, vultures, spiders, mammals and leaves; July 30, Bit-O-Honey, Hardworking honeybees know how to get the job done; and Aug. 6, Reptile Roundup. Wrap up the summer with a hiss and a bellow —snakes and alligators.

For park information, visit the Web site or call 979-553-5101. For information about Texas Parks & Wildlife sites and events, visit www.tpwd.state.tx.us.

autism play group of fort bend county, july 11

The Autism Play Group of Fort Bend County will get together on July 11 from 10 a.m.-noon at Lost Creek Park, 3703 Lost Creek Blvd., Sugar Land.

This group provides social opportunities for children with autism, ages 1-12 years and their families while building a support network in Fort Bend County. The group meets the second Saturday of every month. Thanks to local sponsors, drinks, snacks and door prizes are provided. Cost is free but donations are appreciated. RSVP is required.

For more information, contact Susan at susan@susangar.com or 281-726-2665.

Saturday with the Master Gardeners, July 11

Visit the 4 acres of Demonstration Gardens and talk to the volunteers who design and maintain them on July 11 from
9 a.m.-11 a.m.  

Park in front of the Agriculture Center, located at 1402 Band Road in Rosenberg and take one of the sidewalks back to the area behind the building to find the Master Gardeners.  

For more information, call 281-341-7068 or go to www.fbmg.com.

FBISD Summer Shakespeare/Drama Camp, july 13-24

Fort Bend ISD will offer a Shakespeare/Drama Camp on July 13-24 for students interested in receiving instruction in acting, script study, movement, voice and stage fundamentals. The camp will operate from 8 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday, at Dulles Middle School, 500 Dulles Avenue in Sugar Land. Enrollment is open to students who have completed grades 6, 7 and 8 (or grade 5 with a recommendation from their elementary music teacher). Camp fees are $70 (for Fort Bend ISD students) and $85 (non-Fort Bend ISD students). Registration forms are available online at www.fort-bendisd.com/administration/FineArts/. Completed registration forms and fees must be submitted to FBISD by mail only. For more information, contact FBISD ’s Fine Arts Department at 281-634-1124.

sweet adelines/sugar land,
meets mondays

Sweet Adelines International is open to women of all ages who enjoy singing. Sweet Adelines celebrates more than 55 years of promoting harmony and friendship among women and has a membership of 28,000 women around the world.

Sweet Adelines is dedicated to educating its members in the art of singing four-part harmony, barbershop-style. Musical knowledge isn ’t necessary to sing with this chorus—any woman of average singing ability, with or without vocal training, will find a part that fits her vocal range.

Sweet Adelines/Sugar Land meets on Mondays at 7 p.m. at Christ United Methodist Church, 3300 Austin Parkway, Sugar Land. For more information, call 713-774-3975.

LIBRARIES’ NEW WEB FEATURE PUTS BOOK REVIEWS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

Fort Bend County Libraries’ newest Web tool, “Books, etc,” provides additional personal service to library patrons by providing highlights on books by favorite authors, in favorite genres or on topics of interest. Patrons who are looking for a new book to read can look at online lists of bestsellers or award-winners, and they can also sign up to receive free e-newsletters by e-mail on their specific reading interests.

Clicking on the “Books, etc” icon on the libraries’ Web page, www.fortbend.lib.tx.us, opens up the selection of book lists and free e-newsletters to which patrons can subscribe. Once patrons have made their e-newsletter selections, they will receive an e-mail on a regular basis, as the library highlights new titles in that category. Each e-newsletter includes a brief description of the books, as well as links to the library ’s catalog.

Some of the categories include fiction bestsellers, children’s picture books, mystery novels, romance novels, and science fiction and fantasy novels. For nonfiction enthusiasts, e-newsletters are available on business and financial books, science and nature, and nonfiction bestsellers.

Library patrons who are interested in politics or history may want to sign up for the “Book TV this Weekend” e-newsletter, which provides a brief summary every Friday of upcoming programming on C-Span II Weekend BookTV, as well as links to streaming video of the prior week ’s featured programs.

Library patrons can learn more about their favorite authors by subscribing to the “Meet the Author” e-newsletter, which provides profiles of today’s top authors.

Patrons can read book reviews by the library’s own staff on the “Staff Picks” selection. “Books, etc” also presents a “Hot Topic” list, which highlights a specific subject of current interest each month.

“Books, etc” also provides selections of award-winning books and bestseller lists. The “Bestseller and Award List” link opens up a page of award-winning books, such as Pulitzer-Prize winners, top books for children and teens, ALA notable books, and more.

There is no charge to subscribe to the “Books, etc” e-newsletters, and the book lists are available to everyone. Additional e-newsletters will be added to the service as time goes by. Library patrons should just be ready with their library card so they can start requesting their favorite books right away.

For more information, call the library’s Public Information Office at 281-341-2677.

fort bend county libraries offers downloadable audiobooks

Fort Bend County Libraries announces the addition of downloadable audiobooks for Apple Macintosh computers to its online digital library collection. Mac users can now download the library ’s audiobooks in the MP3 format and transfer titles to Apple devices, including iPod Classic, iPod Touch, iPod Nano, iPhone, iPod Shuffle and virtually any MP3 player for listening on-the-go.

Previously, only PC-users could download the audiobooks because the format was not compatible with iPod devices. Not all downloadable audiobook titles are available in both formats, however.

Library patrons can browse the virtual library shelves by clicking on the OverDrive link at www.fortbend.lib.tx.us. The first time patrons download a book, they will be asked to install the free Overdrive Media Console software from the library Web site. Patrons may browse through the collection and make their selections, enter their library card number and check out the titles that they want. For those new to digital downloading, thorough instructions are included on the site.

For more information, call the library’s Public Information Office at 281-341-2677.

Farmers’ Market, every sunday

Wild West World first introduced the farmers’ market in April 2007, and it has been growing ever since. Is there anything better than an organic homegrown tomato? The farmers bring jellies, watermelon, blueberries and strawberries, olive oils, fresh tomatoes, potatoes, corn, okra, breads even whiskey bread. They offer produce that is growing in this area. The farmers educate their customers about the produce and products they are purchasing and how it is different than what is purchased at the supermarket. You can even start your own garden with the Herb Cottages organic pieces from the WWW garden every Sunday from noon-4 p.m. Wild West World is located on FM 359 in Richmond. Please see more information on the farmers ’ market page at www.localharvest.org.

FBISD Summer Band and Orchestra Camp, july 13-24

Area students are invited to take part in Fort Bend ISD’s Summer Band and Orchestra Camps, July 13-24, at Lake Olympia Middle School, 3100 Lake Olympia Parkway in Missouri City. The camps will operate from 8 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday. Enrollment is open to students who have completed grades 6, 7 or 8 or who have completed at least one year of musical training on their instrument. Camp fees are $70 (for FBISD students) and $85 (non-FBISD students). Registration forms are available online at www.fortbendisd.com/administration/-FineArts/. Completed registration forms and fees must be submitted to FBISD by mail only. For more information, contact FBISD ’s Fine Arts Department at 281-634-1124.

american red cross swimming lessons at Lamar CISD Natatorium, through July 31

American Red Cross Swimming Lessons (all levels and all ages) will be offered through July 31. The 2-week sessions meet Monday through Thursday. The cost is $50 per person for eight 40-minute classes. Class times are 9:15 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and 11:45 a.m.

Public Swim hours run through Aug. 1. The pool will be open for public swim Mondays through Saturdays from 1 p.m.-6 p.m. Admission is $3. Lap swimming is offered year-round, with the exceptions of major holidays or bad weather.

Private rentals are available upon request and availability.

For more information, call 832-223-3598 or visit www.lcisd.org. (Click on LCISD departments, then athletics, then scroll down to swimming and diving programs.)

Family Vacation Bible School,
aug. 10-14

Take a step back in time on Aug. 10-14, from 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m. as Holy Cross Episcopal Church is transformed into Rome. Visit Paul at his house with his Roman guard, and then go to the underground church, buy things in the Roman marketplace, play Roman games, sing and watch a drama unfolded each night. This VBS is for children as well as adults.

Registration is $10 per person: (1) Kids ages 3-5 years with parent participation (2) Kids that have completed K-5th grade (3) Parents/entire families encouraged to participate. Register online at www.holycrosschurch.com, e-mail hope@holycrosschurch.com or call 281-633-2000.

Hearts of Hope … Giving Life a Chance Banquet, Sept. 12

Pregnancy Resource Center of Fort Bend County will hold its yearly fundraising banquet on Sept. 12 at Safari Texas Ranch in Richmond. The planning committee is accepting silent auction items, sponsorships and underwriting. The guest speaker will be veteran photojournalist, Michael Clancy. The annual banquet is a major source of funding for PRC and ensures its continued effort to save innocent lives by helping women resist the temptation of abortion.

PRC has been making a difference in the lives of women and children for more than 25 years by offering information, emotional support, spiritual encouragement and practical help to empower women to choose life for their child and sexual integrity for themselves.

To submit a silent auction item or sponsor/underwrite the Hearts of Hope Banquet, contact Angie Borges at 281-232-2375.

Missouri City kids Summer Camp

Staying in Missouri City this summer just got a whole lot more fun for kids. That is, if they ’re signed up for “Doctor Gonnawannastay’s Institute of Fun.”

Missouri City is accepting enrollment of children ages 5 to 13 for the 2009 Summer Camp program, presented by Taking Kidz Places Transportation. The week-long camp sessions end the week of Aug. 10.

Sessions include crafts, field trips, swimming, cooking lessons, foreign language classes, academic enrichment and indoor and outdoor sports. Camp hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, with extended care available from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The camp is held at the Community Center, 1522 Texas Parkway. For more information or to register, call 281-403-8500, visit the Community Center between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. or visit www.missouricitytx.gov/Government/Parks-and-Recreation/Programs, click on Activities to download an application.