C mpass Rose
A monthly publication from the City of Nassau Bay
JANUARY 2023
Nassau Bay City Hall | 1800 Space Park Drive, Suite 200 | Nassau Bay, TX 77058 | 281.333.4211
MOON TREES SCHEDULED TO LAND IN NASSAU BAY: FEBRUARY 2023 A Special "Leading Nassau Bay" column from Mayor Phil Johnson
I am pleased to announce that Nassau Bay has been chosen to be the recipient of Moon Trees that trace back to the history of our city and our residents in NASA’s space program. Two special Moon Tree planting ceremonies are scheduled for Friday, February 10 and Saturday, February 11. The trees will be planted at City Hall and David Braun Park, respectively.
This incredible addition to the community was made possible through a partnership between the City’s Parks and Recreation Committee led by City Councilmember Michelle Weller, Gary Mossman - former Mayor Pro Tem and current City Committee member - and the Moon Tree Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the public about the United States Space Program.
“Through a program at Webster Presbyterian Church, I met Rosemary Roosa, President of the Moon Tree Foundation,” Mossman said. “The church worked with her to get several Moon Trees planted, and when she was present for that ceremony, we talked about getting some of the trees for Nassau Bay.” The fascinating history behind the Moon Trees reaches back to Apollo 14, the NASA Mission that was launched in the late afternoon of January 31, 1971. During the mission, Astronauts Alan Shepard and Edgar Mitchell - a former resident of Nassau Bay - would become the fifth and sixth men to walk on the Moon. While Shepard and Mitchell explored the surface, Astronaut Stuart Roosa – Rosemary Roosa’s father – orbited above. On his command module, he carried hundreds of seeds that would eventually become “Moon Trees.” “The seeds Stuart Roosa took into space were brought back, planted and successfully grew into trees that are 60-75 feet tall today,” Mossman said. “As they grew and matured, the Moon Tree Foundation was formed and began planting the seeds and growing saplings. Over time, they were able to take the DNA from those trees and create new offspring. This means the trees we’re getting should have the same DNA as those original trees.”
The two planting ceremonies will be followed by programs at City Hall, which will feature a panel discussion including individuals associated with the Apollo 14 Mission as well as the NASA Artemis program, which will also carry seeds to the Moon. The program on Saturday will be tailored to local families to encourage young future astronauts to attend. Additional details will follow on the City’s website, www.nassaubay.com. Pictured: Roosa, Shepard and Mitchell of the Apollo 14 Mission. Photo courtesy of NASA.
IN MEMORIAM: BARBARA GILBERTSON, THE "TREE LADY"
The City of Nassau Bay would like to express our condolences to the family of Barbara Gilbertson, a long-time Nassau Bay resident who was affectionately known as the “Tree Lady.” Beginning in 1999, with the support of City leadership including Mayor Don Matter and City Manager John Kennedy, Mrs. Gilbertson led a small group of volunteers, including Roscoe Lee, Bob Mitchell and Jan Mayeux, in overseeing the placement and planting of about 200 trees of various species. “Barbara really did a remarkable job,” Kennedy said. “She got us to plant trees on Point Lookout, Nassau Bay Drive, in Swan Lagoon Park, in commercial areas and in the parks. She was determined, she had a plan, and she was willing to work with other people to make her vision come to life.”
Special thanks to Roger Gilbertson for providing his insight as well as a photo of Mrs. Gilbertson.