Taking A Smile Into 2021 February 2021 Volume 3, Issue 1
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • ~ Cover Story ~
CONTENTS
What A Smile!
You can tell by the smile on her face that this young lady enjoyed herself at the Meridiana holiday market event.
~ Birthday Corner ~
Birthday Photos Submitted - Page 12-13 Submit your birthday photos for next edition
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 2
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~ Guest Columns ~ Pages 11 & 14
Inspired By God & The Postscript
~ Local Business Directory ~ Page 10
The Business Directory is great for connecting the community with local businesses.
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Cover Story
‘Merry Meridiana Market’ held December 16, 2020
Meridiana’s waterfront Oasis Village once again filled with the spirit of the holidays as Merry Meridiana Market returned. The Market is one of the area’s largest family holiday events, with more than 50 locally-owned craft vendors, petting zoo, food truck cuisine, balloon artists and of course, photos with Santa & Mrs. Claus. Families from across town browsed among vendors presenting handcrafted jewelry, custom clothing and
accessories, fun items for the home and other unique finds – all in a safe, socially distanced manner thanks to the sprawling outdoor space of the Oasis Village. Of course Meridiana residents enjoyed the added convenience of having the annual holiday gathering right in their community. “This is where I do most of my holiday shopping,” noted a Meridiana resident. “I love that the market is in our neighborhood.”
Rachel Ray, Meridiana’s Guest Relations Specialist, was ready to greet the guests and offer a hot beverage.
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LIFESTYLE
An essential part of the event, as always, the Balloon Twister from Artsy Events
Pony rides
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Pictured are two of the many local vendors who were a welcome site for residents looking for unique Christmas gift ideas.
Want To Earn Extra Money? We are looking for someone to take photos at events in the Sterling Lakes and Meridiana communities. Contact Donna 281-331-4421 officemanager@alvinsun.net 6
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Food vendors were available for lunch and dessert choices.
Keep Informed Of The Local News Have the Sunday, Wednesday or both editions of the Alvin newspaper mailed to your home. Call 281-331-4421
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Uvaldo (Jay) Zavala, age 11, of Rosharon caught this 22 inch speckled trout while wade fishing on Chocolate Bay on Monday, Jan. 4. Jay attends Meridiana Elementary and fishes every possible opportunity. Fishing and hunting are two of his favorite sports. The trout fought for a good 10 minutes and is his biggest catch so far. (Courtesy photo)
Email Us Your Photos We would like to highlight your children’s awards, school projects or hobbies. You may include their name and details of the event
Email to: officemanager@alvinsun.net 8
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Fifth graders at Meridiana Elementary are pictured using mirrors, lasers, and a protractor to investigate reflection.
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Instructional Practices in Education students at Manvel High School started the year out right learning fun activities to do with their students.
Local Business Directory
Advertise your business in this spot. Call Hazel - 281-331-4421
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COLUMN Inspired by God By Bill Derixson
Boldness In 2021
Pastor Bill Derixson
1 John 4:17 “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world.” Recently my eldest daughter and her boyfriend tag-team preached for our Church. 1 John 4:17 was their main text and their message centered around our opportunity to be bold for Christ. 2020 was a year that brought fear and uncertainty. Covid-19 brought sickness, death, and economic ruin to many. The political landscape has been volatile, but did it negatively impact the believer in Christ? Christ is our Healer, death is only a transition from our temporal life to our eternal life, and God provides all our needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus. Fear hath torment but perfect love casts out all fear. In the world we will have
tribulation, but God said to be of good cheer, for He has overcome the world. No matter what challenges we face, in God, we have the victory. The victory that overcomes the world is our faith. Believers are in the world as Christ’s Ambassadors. We are the witnesses of God’s faithfulness to all generations. How we endure and how we overcome is an example of that faithfulness. The greater our life reflects the life of our Lord, the greater the confidence we have that we are in Him and He in us. We don’t have to be uncertain in uncertain times. The righteous are as bold as lions. We can enter 2021 full of faith and confidence that God holds
our times in His hands. We can be bold and courageous and shine as lights in the dark world around us. We can be encouragers in discouraging times, comforting others with the comfort we have received ourselves from God. The whole world is going the way of prophecy. Things will get worse before they get better. Jesus is returning soon to gather His elect. Are you ready for any of that: the challenge of difficulties, the prophetic judgments of these end times, and the coming again of Jesus to gather His own? Our oneness to Christ produces likeness to Christ. Our boldness in the day of judgment comes from our transformation into Christ’s likeness.
Romans 12:1-2 says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.” Live your life surrendered to God, presenting yourself to Him for transformation, and He will make you as He is in this world. Then you will have confidence that you are accepted in Christ, and safe in the day of His judgment.
Proverbs 28:1 “The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.”
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BIRTHDAY
POEM____________ Untitled, Author Anonymous
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Aaron JeMal (AJ) Johnson on December 12th from Dad, Mom and Zoe Rain
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Hear the sound of the River of Fire Coming down like a Flood of Power Bending down to touch the Earth And thus in us reveal the Birth To tell an old, old Story How a Savior came with Glory To stand in us, The Church And not to leave us in the lurch To untie the rope that binds To Free, once and for all, our enslaved minds To tell the hopeless about unending Hope No more need to use their dope To bring the lost into the fold For the Shepherd to love and hold A dream for us to give To tell someone how they can Live Not to condemn, but Love With love that comes from above From the Father, whose love is Good To make you feel the way you should To live your life to full potential And not just live it consequential But live according to His plan And not to live by ways of man Walking hand in hand To spread the love across the land Working close with those you love And showing others how to reach above Bringing truth to light To show the world not to fight Surrendering is the way to win Love is the answer to their sin The Cross gave all we Need And we are the ones to Lead The world must know to Concede Means they allow Jesus to Breathe His loving breath into their Life And remove from them all their Strife To give them grace, peace and Rest Then and only then will their life be Best.
BIRTHDAY
Birthday Photos Email to: officemanager@alvinsun.net Deadline for Next Publication February 26, 2021
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Brek
on February 26 Happy 1st Birthday to the strongest boy we know! Itยนs been a tough first year for you, but you have accomplished so much in your short life thus far! You are our greatest blessing! We love you! #BrekStrong Love, Mom & Dad
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COLUMN
The Postscript by Carrie Classon
Nothing Happening
Carrie Classon “I’m hunkering down,” Rebecca told me. I know what she means. My friend, Rebecca, just returned from a road trip she made after a lot of careful consideration. First her mother was sick. Then she fell and broke her hip. Rebecca’s mother is ninety and she did not seem to be getting better. Rebecca decided she needed to go visit her. Rebecca and her daughter drove across three states for the visit. Rebecca said it was a wonderful trip and she bonded with her daughter as never before. Her mother is doing a little better now. “She’s still ninety. But she knows I love her,” Rebecca said. That was the purpose of the trip, after all. I was a little jealous of Rebecca, I’ll admit. My husband, Peter, and I have gone exactly nowhere—unless a trip to the dentist counts. Even going to the dentist was kind of exciting. It felt like some sort of exotic escape, not simply an occasion to have the plaque chipped off
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my teeth. I suspect I talked too much to the dental hygienist who had a job to do that was not made easier by my chatting. But I won’t be going back to the dentist in a while and, like Rebecca, I’m hunkering down. Peter and I still visit his sister, Lori, who is fighting cancer, so we are being particularly careful. It’s getting cold, people are moving indoors, and there doesn’t seem to be much reason to expect anything will change anytime soon. I think my whole notion of what constitutes a special occasion is shifting. Another friend, Yvonne, comes by with her dog, Remington, at least once a week. She used to just stop, when she was walking by and, if I saw her, I’d come out and give Remington a treat and we’d catch up. Now she rings the doorbell. “Remington!” I holler at the top of my lungs. Remington goes crazy with excitement and I come out and sit
on my front steps and chat with Yvonne. Sometimes Peter joins us. He tosses goldfish crackers to Remington who, since the start of the pandemic, has really improved his catching skills and now routinely catches six out of six goldfish that Peter tosses. “Great job!” Peter tells the exuberant dog. “I think you’re ready for the circus!” Remington is proud, I can tell. Yvonne and I will chat for up to a half an hour, or whenever Remington gets too bored and impatient to stand another minute, and she always promises to come back soon. I don’t remember get-togethers like this being so important before. But they are terribly important when we are all hunkering down. I hear a lot of people talk about how we will remember the times we are living through now. Some of the predictions are far-reaching and world-altering and industry-changing and they could be right.
But I think I will remember playing games with Remington, and looking forward to Yvonne’s next visit, and reading to Lori on her deck, and watching the moon rise with Peter—with nowhere to go, and a fading memory of where we would go if we could. We are all hunkering down now and, while I’m sure the world will get larger and more exciting again, right now it is quiet and small, and I am learning to appreciate the small and quiet things. I called up my mom, whom I haven’t seen in almost a year. “Nothing happening here!” I tell her. “Nothing happening here either!” she responds. And that seems to be okay. 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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