GT, AP student creates 3D architect model See Page 5
June 2021 Volume 3, Issue 3
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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • ~ Cover Story ~
CONTENTS
~ Meridiana News ~
Pages 5-7
Arshia Inam Khan, student at Bel Nafegar Sanchez Elementary
~ Feature ~
~ Columns ~
Charcuterie Boards - made with a cheerful heart
The Postscript, Just Humor Me
Page 8-9
Page 14 & 16
Email Us Your Photos We would like to highlight your children’s awards, school projects or hobbies. You may include their name, age, parents, siblings etc.
Email to: officemanager@alvinsun.net 4
Page 10-13
Paws on the Parkway
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LIFESTYLE
Cover Story
Fifth grader inclined to create Arshia Inam Khan, an 11 yearold fifth grader at Bel Nafegar Sanchez Elementary has been in Gifted and Talented and Advanced Placement classes since second grade. She is currently working on different architectural designs with her GT teacher Adriana Sanchez Cantu at Bel Nafegar Sanchez Elementaty. Arshia has built a bridge and a tower inspired by Pont Des Arts and The Eiffel Tower. In March 2019, she was invited to display her art work at the Houston Livestock and Rodeo. She was among the lucky 200 students whose art work was selected to be displayed at the Rodeo. Arshia loves arts and crafts and has a passion to be a doctor. She loves painting and building things and also loves math and science.
See more photos on page 6 Arshia Inam Khan and GT teacher, Adriana Sanchez Cantu
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Arshia is shown with her entry in the 2019 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo art contest. Entrants were asked to decorate the hat to show what western heritage means to them.
August & September Birthday Photos Email to: officemanager@alvinsun.net Deadline for Next Publication June 30, 2021
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Examples of artistic pieces by Arshia.
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e i r e t u c r a h C e h t Cue Photo and Story by Sheila Rieke
Christie Tang, owner and creator of Charcuterie by Christie, will honestly tell you that when she got married at 18, she couldn’t cook a thing, “I’m not exaggerating, I had never cooked a meal.” She never went to culinary school and never had any formal training; but she always loved hosting and serving. “We all have the spirit of hospitality,” Tang said. With her natural gift of hospitality, Tang let it grow and evolve organically, now her charcuterie boards are a hit in the Meridiana neighborhood and beyond. Being at home during the pandemic with newfound time on her hands she discovered that by making charcuterie boards she was able to brighten the spirits of her clients and her own. This also goes hand in hand with her belief in giving with a cheerful heart. With her youngest daughter’s encouragement and the logo, she designed for her mom (using Christie’s favorite color, blue), Christie jumped into creating charcuterie boards that are as artistic as they are delicious. “Confetti,” is the word Tang uses to describe her boards. She likes using a cornucopia of fruit, cheeses, meats, spreads and breads
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that give her culinary creations a lot of color, texture, shapes and tastes. A feast for your eyes as well as your palate. She pairs salty items with something sweet and something crisp. “A good example is fruit paired with something savory.” Traditionally charcuterie is a meat board, and yet with a big smile Tang says, “yes, I’ve been asked to make a vegetarian charcuterie board and a cheese charcuterie board.” If her clients are happy, she’s happy. Tang creates charcuterie boards for the holidays, baby and bridal showers, housewarming and birthday parties, business events and individual boxed charcuterie lunches, big celebrations to small intimate gatherings. She can build the charcuterie board onsite or she can make it and wrap it up for a party, a picnic, or a road trip. If she’s making it onsite, she arrives early to have it ready to go before the guests arrive. She also offers advice on what wine to pair with the specific foods on the board. Cheeseballs are her specialty; she’s been making them forever and never uses a recipe. Also, homemade marinated goat cheese, which she served me when we sat down for this interview. I can see why her clients crave it and rave about it. “Charcuterie is a trend in itself,” Tang explains when prodding for the new trend in charcuterie. “People like to get together with food. It’s so fun when someone who’s never had it gets hooked. The food is always fresh, people love that.” She gets inspiration from all sorts of places. One of her favorites this year came from a video from her son, meat layered in a wine glass that turns into a rose. “It’s definitely a show-stopper.” A good knife is a must in her kitchen; she takes her knives very seriously and takes good care of them. “Nothing is better for charcuterie than a good knife, it has to slice through different textures of meat, cheeses, and fruits perfectly.” A good cutting board is essential, too. Her boards are made by veteran Chris Anderson. They met each other through Anderson’s wife, one of Tang’s clients. Their first board together was a Christmas tree designed by Tang and built by Anderson. Then for Easter he made her a cross board. The 4-foot board that you see in her charcuterie demonstration is also made by Anderson. Who would Tang pick if she could create a charcuterie board for anyone in the world? Her grandmother. “I would have everything on that board, confetti that puppy up and she would love every minute of it!” Her advice for others wanting to do what they’re interested in is to take that step of faith. “Don’t let yourself be underserved, if you have an idea or passion go for it, you are the only one standing in the way.” For Tang, the best part of her job is when her clients have had a great time, marveled at what she’s crated and have loved it all. “It really means a lot; that’s everything.” The spirit of hospitality and giving with a cheerful heart comes full circle in Tang’s business philosophy. She gives back 10 percent of her profits to the Covenant House Texas in Houston Texas and Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Texas.
Christie Tang from Charcuterie by Christie demonstrating the art of charcuterie.
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What Is Charcuterie?
In the French tradition, charcuterie (pronounced “shahr-ku-tuh-ree”) is the art of preparing and assembling cured meats and meat products. The idea of charcuterie has become immensely popular outside of France, and the term has evolved to include a variety of foods besides meat. A charcuterie board is an assortment of meats, cheeses, artisan breads, olives, fruit, and nuts, all artfully arranged on a serving board. The types of prepared meats used are ham, sausage, bacon, confit, or other pork products. The word originated in France, and it translates to “pork-butcher shop.” While the original French translation refers to pork, modern charcuterie boards include other types of food like pate, cheese, crackers, fruit, nuts, and dips. In French, the cook who prepares the meat is called a Charcutier. The English pronunciation of charcuterie varies slightly from the original French. The correct French pronunciation of charcuterie is “shar-coo-tree.”
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Meridiana News
Paws On The Parkway held On April 3, 2021, Meridiana hosted its 5th Annual Paws on the Parkway.
The event included food trucks, lawn games, face painters, vendors, the Houston Disc Dogs, dogs from SPCA Brazoria County for adoption, an Easter egg hunt, photo opportunities with the Easter Bunny, and more! Event covered by and photos courtesy of Sheila Rieke
L O C A L B U S I N E S S D I R E C T O R Y
Advertise your Business Call Hazel 281-331-4421 10
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These youngsters had fun getting their faces painted
Photos by Sheila Rieke
L O C A L B U S I N E S S D I R E C T O R Y
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Pets were up for adoption at the event from SPCA of Brazoria County and the Miranda family chose ‘Tinky’ to add to their home
Photos by Sheila Rieke
Residents, Landon and Isis Taylor, brought their Labrador, Egypt, to the festivities Lane gets his picture taken with Meridiana’s Grand Ambassador, Soleil
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The Bounce House and the Easter Bunny were both a hit with kids and adults
Photos by Sheila Rieke
Louryn Tiley from Lo Dipped It Specializes in dipped treats: cookies, strawberries, pretzels and adds colorful embellishments for any occasion.
From Miller and Me, Allison Beers and Abby Bevolo and their pups, Miller and Riker. The fur buddies love modeling their festive bandanas.
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COLUMN
The Postscript by Carrie Classon
Lori’s Laughter
Carrie Classon Throughout the past year, my husband, Peter, and I have been seeing no one except Peter’s sister, Lori, and her husband. Lori has Stage 4 cancer and has had a tough fight. She’s been on oxygen all this time. The decision of how careful we needed to be was easy. If we were going to see Lori, we had to be extremely careful. And as a reward, once a week we have heard Lori’s laughter. I’ve been writing fiction for the first time in my life. No one told me in advance that writing novels is a lonely process. Especially now, there are no writers’ groups, no coffee shops to write in—although I wasn’t part of a writers’ group before, and I’ve always thought a coffee shop was a noisy place to write. Instead, I sit alone at my desk with my coffee cup and a vase of fresh flowers in front of me and I write. I write and I wait for the end of the week when we will see Lori. “Where did we leave off?” Lori will always ask, sounding excited, followed by, “I might need a reminder,” followed by,
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“I get two chapters this week, don’t I?” I will read in a mask (something I thought would be harder than it is), and I will listen for the sound of Lori’s laughter, which is loud and frequent. And many days—most days, in fact—that is enough reason to write. Because it’s impossible to never have a doubt when you are working on something like this. I wonder if it’s any good or if anyone will find it interesting or if I have any idea what I am doing. But then I read another chapter to Lori, and I remember why I’m writing to begin with. I’m writing to tell a story, to entertain, to amuse, maybe even (every so often) to make a small point. I haven’t seen Lori in four weeks now. She’s been too ill for visitors. Her pain is higher, and her oxygen is lower, and we don’t really know what is happening because she is too tired to tell us. Peter keeps bringing her food and I keep writing, but I cannot tell you how much I miss Lori’s laughter. I did not realize how much I have relied on Lori’s laughter through all these weeks and months. I did not realize how seeing her every week has anchored my life to something real and joyful and positive— because that is what Lori is. Today the sun is not shining, and a cold wind is blowing, and we have not heard from Lori and I don’t know if we will. “Maybe we’ll see her this weekend,” Peter says. “Maybe
she’ll feel better by the end of the week.” But we don’t know. No one knows. There are no platitudes about Stage 4 cancer that will make things fine. Things are not fine, and that is how it is. We don’t know what the future will hold. She has battled back before, and we are hoping she will again. But we don’t know. Peter cooks and worries. I write. Lori is now far behind in the story. I am trying to
remember what I last read to her. But every time I come to a part where a deliciously unpleasant person is behaving especially badly, I imagine how Lori would laugh, if I were reading to her, if I finally get the chance to read to her again. “Oh!” I think to myself. “Lori will love this.” Till next time, Carrie Carrie Classon’s memoir is called, “Blue Yarn.” Learn more at CarrieClasson.com.
Departments / Phone Numbers www.iowacolonytx.gov/
Iowa Colony City Hall, 12003 Iowa Colony Blvd, Iowa Colony, TX 77583
Department
Phone
Department of Community Development
281-369-2471
Department of Finance
281-369-2471
Department of Public Works
281-369-2471
Municipal Court
281-369-2471
Office of the City Manager
281-369-2471
Office of the City Secretary
346-395-4526
Community Development handles permitting, platting, inspections, and engineering.
The Department of Public Works is responsible for keeping all city assets and facilities in a state of good repair. Public Works contains streets and sidewalks, parks, municipal buildings, and right-of-way maintainance. Municipal Courts are the judicial branch of city government. In addition, the Municipal Court is part of the state judicial system. Municipal Courts hear Class C Misdemeanor criminal cases, including traffic violations, for which the maximum fine, upon conviction, does not exceed $500, and for which no jail sentence may be assessed. They also hear cases involving violation of city ordinances, which may have fines up to $2,000 for certain offenses.
The City Secretary is the clerk of the City serving as a link between the citizens and the City organization. The City Secretary’s office is committed to providing excellent customer service to the public in a timely, professional and efficient manner. Responsibilities: Provides all pertinent information for City Council meetings; Custodian of all official records of the City, including agendas, minutes, agreements, ordinances, resolutions and contracts; Maintains the City Seal and attests official documents; Oversees City elections; Provides the public with information in accordance with the Texas Public Information Act; Administers the oath of office to new City employees and officials; Publication of legal notices
Parks
Iowa Colony City Park • 4003 Meridiana Parkway (Next to Meridiana Elementary School) City Hall Park • 12003 Iowa Colony Blvd (Behind City Hall)
Police Department
281-369-3444
Mosquito Spraying Requests for mosquito spraying can be made online with Brazoria County Mosquito Control.
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Just Humor Me
by Brenda Groves
Killing Sacred Cows
When I was very young I had a strange habit. I often recall pulling up a chair to our ice box, climbing up, swinging the freezer door open and scooping handfuls of soft ice from the sides of the freezer. The shavings were similar to a snow cone and so refreshing so I guess it just felt good on a hot summer day. Well, my mother wanted to curb this habit for many reasons so she told me that the freezer ice was made from toilet water. I remember challenging this and asking her, “How?” I don’t recall the explanation but apparently it was good enough because I stopped cold. Lol. To this day, I still have an unpleasant image come to mind sometimes of toilet water chilling in our fridge. You know, it’s hard shaking off things we’ve heard and come to believe over the years. I especially struggled with some Biblical instructions and explanations of who God is and His character. For example, when it comes to the sufferings of Christ I had heard it taught that Christians were to suffer like Christ. They would go on to say that sickness, poverty and emotional turmoil are all part of the sufferings of Christ. But then I read the Bible for myself and studied the New Testament and not once does scripture say that Jesus suffered sickness or poverty. Not once.
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He got hungry. He got tired. He got beaten. He got bruised. He got spat on. He got ridiculed. He got mocked. He got stripped naked. He got lied about. He got shunned. He got abandoned. But not once did He get sick. Except when He “Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses,” and by “whose stripes we WERE healed.” Matt: 8:17, 1 Peter 2:24. Nor was Jesus poor. (Remember the wise men who delivered gold, frankincense and myrrh to Jesus and His family?) “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might be rich.” 2 Cor. 8:9 You know, you can’t give away what you don’t have. I know, I was taught that wealth is a sin. Well, if you use it out of a selfish heart then, yes, I believe it becomes an idol. But if a person looks at wealth as just a tool for good, then that is the heart of God. He knows we need/use money on this earth and He said, “Seek ye first, the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you.” Matt. 6:33 If we don’t love money then it cannot be a root of evil in our lives, instead it will be a blessing for us, and for others we share it with. Jesus was rich, He even had a treasurer to manage the funds, Judas. We also see in scripture that Jesus “had no place to lay His head” but that is not because He was homeless but because He was constantly on the move from town to town ministering to people. You know Jesus had only three years to usher in the good news of redemption, repentance, renewal and reconciliation. He had to counter two thousand
years of commandments, traditions of men, man’s laws, rules and harsh punishments for any infractions. Jesus introduced a strange new teaching that had been unheard of. Grace - getting what you don’t deserve and Mercy - not getting what you do deserve. Throughout His ministry, Jesus was administering both when He “went around doing good and healing all those who were oppressed of the devil because God was with Him.” Acts 10:38 Jesus Himself never suffered sickness. So neither should we. He did in fact suffer persecution, and so will we. And the word of God does promise that “all those who live Godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” 1 Tim. 3:12 “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.” John 15:20 The sufferings of Christ were at the hands of men. Sickness and poverty are curses (Deut. 28:20-68) in the Old Testament under the law, but in the New Testament and under the New Covenant Jesus became accursed for us. “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.” Gal. 3:13 Jesus never suffered sickness, in truth He “who knew no sin, became sin for us; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Cor. 5:21. Sickness is a result of the fall of man where death entered the world. When we hear teachings that we must suffer sicknesses like Jesus we should go to the word of God. We can learn to submit to God (His word) and resist the devil
(John 10:10) and he will flee from us. “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” James 4: 6-7 Interesting that pride is mentioned in relation to yielding to the word of God. I had a lot of pride working in me because I was holding onto the doctrines of men I grew up with, instead of allowing the word of God to become truth. Even if the Bible came against my previous beliefs and experiences. The result? The Word of God/His promises became effective in my life and I began to see healing manifested in my own body and others I prayed for who believed. This is not a “fake it until you make it” theology, but rather it is “believe and receive, or doubt and do without.” So because of my belief and practice of God’s word in my life I (and many others who believe in divine healing, miracles, signs and wonders for today) have suffered the sufferings of Christ which is persecution. Believing God’s best will make you stand out like a healed thumb and some won’t like it. But it’s not their body, their future, their life. What sacred cows do you need killing so that you can live? Praise Jesus His word endures forever. PS: Dear Readers, I am opening up a discussion, with no condemnation as we are all learning and growing in the knowledge of Him, to anyone who wants to write me with questions about sacred cows lurking in your pasture - or freezer. Lol. Please feel free to address your questions to: bkgroves1996@yahoo.com