288 Express May 2020

Alvin, Manvel & Neighboring Communities

Sewing Blessings _ PAGE 4 MAY 2020 Volume 3, Issue 5 A publication of the Alvin Advertiser

WHAT ’S INS IDE PAGE 4

Cover Story Evelyn Utesey enjoys creating quilts but does not limit herself - she likes to keep busy.

PAGE 6

PAGE 11

Feed The City

Growth - OPEN SOON

PAGE 9

PAGE 13 & 14

Sports Interrupted

Local Business Directory

A publication of

Alvin, Manvel & Neighboring Communities

AND

“Your Source For News & Advertising”

Writers & Photographers Alex Wukman Stephen Collins Prentice C. James Michael Edmonds

For Advertising Information Contact:

Graphic Designer Linda Knight

Brenda Groves ads@alvinsun.net

Advertising

Darlene Hall advertising@alvinsun.net 570 Dula St. • Alvin, TX 77511 281-331-4421 www.alvinsun.net

2 . . . MAY 2020

Editorial

Account Executives Brenda Groves Darlene Hall ads@alvinsun.net advertising@alvinsun.net Betty Crawford classifieds@alvinsun.net Office Manager Donna Hopkins

MAY 2020 . . .

3

COVER STORY

Sewing Blessings One Stitch At A Time Story by Brenda Groves

Ms. Evelyn is in her happy place as she stitches away on one of her many projects “Idle hands” is not a familiar term for a person like Evelyn Utesey.

Her creative mind has spun a treasure trove of quilts, crafts and gifts for anyone who can appreciate the art of home made things.

It truly is a craft for Utesey who has been honing her skills for over 70 of her 88 years on this earth. She crochets, embroideries and sews almost anything!

An Alvinite for about 12 years, Utesey has created unique gift sets, house shoes, doilies, bathroom accessories, baby blankets, the list seems endless.

For a person who can barely sew a button on I found myself in total amazement as I stared at the rows of stacked boxes all filled with beautiful handmade quilts and embroidered pillows.

At one point she reached for a box high up on the stack and when I offered to help she politely replied, “Oh no, I can get it,” and gingerly plucked it from its resting place.

4 . . . MAY 2020

As I gazed out into her yard, colorfully decorated with Easter eggs and strings of beads flowing down from shrubs and tree branches, I wondered which family member or neighbor helped with the inspiring display. At this point I was not surprised to find out that the spry senior does all the decorating and yard work around the property.

“Each year I tell myself I’m not going to mow or weedeat or decorate, but then each year I just do it,” she supplied with a joyful giggle.

Even as a young child Utesey displayed a “where there’s a will there’s a way” attitude. At the age of 11 her father taught her how to drive so she started operating the families Desoto for short errands. “My parents got a hardship piece of paper (license) for me so I could go to the store for the family.”

Continued on page 5

COVER STORY Continued from page 4 Born the oldest girl in a family of 9 children in 1939 in the little town of Sublime Texas near Hallettsville, Utesey left school (a one room school house) in the 8th grade to go to work. She married a few years later and began caring for her own family. This is when she met a neighbor who taught her how to sew by hand and crochet, “I’ve always been fascinated with making things and fixing things,” the 88 year old stated.

A person once provided a sewing machine for the seamstress but not one for doing things the easy way Utesey, “tried to use that sewing machine but it went too fast and I couldn’t enjoy the art of it (sewing) so I stopped using it.”

She professes a strong faith in the Lord and gives Him credit and thanks everyday for her good health and energy.

When asked how she comes up with her ideas she explained, “Before I go to sleep I lay awake and think about what I want to do the next day. When I get up in the mornings I just go do it. Once I get up and around there’s no stopping me!”

Utesey’s home is filled with momentos and scrapbooks overflowing with photos of things she has made and people she has crossed paths with, including a few famous folks like Burt Reynolds and Jim Nabors whom she met while they were filming on a movie set near her hometown in Texas.

Her passion is for quilting and over the years she has sewn hundreds of creative patterns for family and friends. She even takes request such as the time she made a “Stone Cold Steve Austin” quilt from t-shirts bearing the wrestlers logos

for her son. Another quilt was created from a photo of a race car for her friend who raced at the time.

There are also hundreds of photos of things she has built by herself over the years such as a large cow feeder, garage, deer blind, house for her pet squirrels, large swing and cushions and an outdoor playhouse for her grandson. All photographed and individual marked with the

Continued on page 8

The “Racing In My Dreams” quilt was made for a friend of Utesey’s who raced cars. She used an actual photo of his race car as her model to recreate the design on fabric.

Photos are momentos from Ms. Evelyn

The task of creating a “Stone Cold Steve Austin” quilt for her son was no match for the veteran seamstress as Utesey displays the wrestlers t-shirt logos fashioned into a blanket.

Utesey built this cow feeder when she heard that someone needed one MAY 2020 . . .

5

Feed The City

Free Meal Event On Good Friday Photos by Brenda Groves It was “miles of smiles” in Alvin on Good Friday as vehicles lined up to receive a free meal and snow cone at the first “Feed the

City” event.

Corey’s Kitchen and Fear No Evil Ministries teamed up to organize the huge undertaking which was sponsored by these local businesses: Ascend Performance Materials, Waste Connections, Texas Advantage Community Bank N.A., Hometown Bank,

Alvin Noon Lions Club, Reyes Realty Group, and Hawkins Lease Services, along with Texas Sno Fruit.

Seven hundred Chicken Alfredo meals and 550 snow cones were given out at Scopel

Continued on page 7

Orthopedic Surgery & Sports Medicine One Medic Lane Alvin, Texas 77511 (281) 331-3100 VO T E

Keith S. Schauder M.D.

6 . . . MAY 2020

D

nvel

in/Ma v l A f o Best 2019

Continued on page 7

Feed The City Continued from page 6 Square in less than 2 hours.

The City of Alvin Parks and Recreational Department also donated bags of Easter eggs for the children.

It was a Good Friday indeed leaving folks with grateful hearts, full stomachs and a reminder of what can happen when our community bridges the distance to bring people hope ... and a smile.

MAY 2020 . . .

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COVER STORY Continued from page 5 description.

She admits the only thing trying to slow her down is failing eye sight. But she has a plan.

“I have been teaching myself to sew with my eyes closed, just in case I’m not able to see one day. I’m getting real good at keeping the stitch in line, as long as no one interrupts me,” she chuckles, “and then I lose my place in my mind.”

Utesey no longer makes large quilts but she does sew lap throws which she delivers to the nursing homes and friends. “I always check on the older folks in case they need help,” she explains.

In response to the recent COVID-19 crisis Utesey has put her fingers to sewing by hand over 100 mask which she has supplied to assisted living facilities and friends in need.

Evelyn Utesey’s life can be summed up with this truth, “we reap what we sow” and in her life time she is sowing the gift of time, consideration, beauty and love into many, many lives, one stitch at a time.

Above: A “blanket of friendship” is the theme for this colorful quilt Utesey made for a friend.

Left: “The inquisitive donkey” was made by Utesey using her own hair for the tail.

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8 . . . MAY 2020

SPORTS INTERRUPTED

Sports Interrupted Story and Photos by Prentice James As the COVID-19 novel coronavirus impacts lives and topples activities throughout the country, everyone is left trying to figure out a path forward. One such area that has been thrown into a complete tailspin is sports.

Sporting events usually offer an escape from everyday life. However, in the midst of the present COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic area sports and their respective seasons have grinded to a halt. While some sports were in the middle of state championships, others were in the early stages of competition.

The University Interscholastic League (UIL) and other governing bodies have an uncertain path ahead. Intercollegiate spring and summer sports have already pulled the plug on activities. The UIL has targeted May 4th for the return of its sports, but that appears to be a Hail Mary at best and according to some circles reckless at worst.

At the reading of this article, we will likely know the fate of prep spring and summer sports in Texas. Regardless of the outcome, the focus forward should be the physical and mental health of society. Yet for our student-athletes, already robbed of classroom time and competition, we cannot help but lament their predicament especially the seniors.

Hopefully, student-athletes impacted during this current pandemic will not allow this present time to define their careers or completely color their outlook. It has been written that, “What we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory that will be revealed to us later.”

Student-athletics struggle to remain hopeful during times of uncertainty.

Former Shadow Creek slugger Benjamin Greer’s debut season as a Baylor Bear has been wiped out due to the NCAA canceling the entire spring slate of athletics.

Hoping to bounce back from a sophomore slump during the 2018 track and field season, Manvel’s Sydnee Williams will likely now have to look to 2021 to replicate the magic of her silver medal performance at state as a freshman.

Continued on page 10 MAY 2020 . . .

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SPORTS INTERRUPTED Continued from page 9

It is unlikely that Shadow Creek spring tennis will have the opportunity to follow-up on a successful fall season.

Alvin Baseball had nearly completed its early season tournament schedule before the novel coronavirus pandemic took hold.

Photos by Prentice James

Manvel’s Caleb Malbrough, the defending Class 5A triple jump gold medal winner, was working himself into mid-season form before his season was halted.

Just over a month ago, Malbrough signed to continue his academic and athletic career at the University of Houston.

10 . . . MAY 2020

For the second straight year, Alvin Football will not have spring practice to prepare for the murderers’ row that will be District 236A. Although the UIL allows Class 5A and 6A schools the option to start fall practice a week early in lieu of spring ball, this was not the original plan for head coach Tim Teykl.

O•P•E•N S•O•O•N

GROWTH

Left: Adoue Street Business Center in Alvin

Discount Tire - Alvin

E.C. Mason Elementary - Manvel

Shop Well And Prosper At Your Alvin

CORN DOG MUFFINS Ingredients

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Recipe makes 12 Servings

  

Instructions 1.

2.

3.

4.

 

16 oz. cornbread mix 1 1/4 cup(s)buttermilk 1/4 cup(s) La Tourangelle Roasted Walnut Oil 1 large egg 12 oz. cocktail smokies

Preheat oven to 400°.

Prepare a muffin pan by spraying each muffin cup with non-stick spray, set aside.

In a large bowl combine mix with buttermilk, oil, and egg. Mix well to form a smooth batter.

Scoop some batter evenly into each muffin cup and add 1 to 2 smokies to center of each filled muffin tin. Repeat with each muffin, bake 15 to 18 minutes or until muffins are golden brown. Allow to cool and serve with butter and honey, or ketchup and mustard.

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MAY 2020 . . .

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O•P•E•N S•O•O•N

GROWTH

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12 . . . MAY 2020

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L OCA L BUSI N ES S DIR EC T ORY

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L OC AL BU SI NE SS D I REC T ORY Ten

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MAY 2020 . . .

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