Welcome to the West Ranch Community News section. Here you will find frequently updated Southeast Houston and Friendswood news regarding the community as well as model homes, events, and projects in and around West Ranch.
Feel free to share your thoughts and comments, as we join together with the Houston area communities and citizens in building an interactive relationship!
Throughout the year, the Friendswood Public Library has activities and story time for children. During the hot summer months, they offer an extensive schedule of FREE programs for children, teens and adults that include craft classes, movies, music and movement as well as reading clubs and more. Here are just a few of the activities for June:
June 15, 16 and 18
Toddlertime for babies from birth to 3 years
Time: 10:10 a.m. (every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from June 1 – July 30)
The recently completed Veterans Memorial was unveiled in a morning ceremony last Monday on Memorial Day. This newest addition to the beautiful community areas, including Stevenson Park and Friendswood City Hall, includes an eight by sixteen foot steel flag, created by local resident Jay Horecky, in honor of the sacrifices so graciously made by Friendswood veterans.
The granite base of the flag is inscribed “Honor, Gratitude, Respect and Remembrance to the Men and Women who served in the Armed Forces of the United States”. And, the flag is elegantly flanked by two stately columns, etched with the three military branch insignias, topped by an eagle statue and a large world globe.
A small meditation area is set up around the memorial including benches, lighting, serene landscaping for those seeking a moment of silence or prayer area.
Friendswood Junior High artist, Brooke Bartholomew has been named as a named a regional finalist for her entry into this year’s “Doodle 4 Google” contest. Making it to the Top 40 isn’t too shabby for a nationwide contest with more than 33,000 entries!
Doodle 4 Google is a competition open to K-12 students of US schools to create their own Google doodle inspired by the theme, ”If I could do anything, I would…” Bartholomew’s theme is “…Repair All the Worlds Breaks”.
Google simultaneously announced the regional winners across the 40 locations of their finalists. To win the contest, the artists must receive online votes. From May 18-25 the public can vote online for their favorite doodle.
Her Top 40 status was announced in an FJH assembly hosted by a Google representative who explained the importance and many uses of the internet. Google also handed out shirts to the students with their classmates winning doodle and presented Brooke with a life-size copy of her design.
Thank God for our great community who still practices the faith that our city was founded on!
Friendswood was among many towns across our great nation that celebrated the National Day of Prayer on Thursday, May 6, 2010, led by Mayor David Smith. The ceremonies were held at Friendswood’s Stevenson Park Pavilion and included prayer and scripture reading. Music was performed by Sound Principle under the direction of Ellen Cullins, from Bay Area Christian School.
The Continental Congress established the National Day of Prayer in 1775 and the annual event was signed into law by President Harry S. Truman in 1952 through a joint resolution of the United States Congress. President Ronald Reagan amended the Day of Prayer in 1988 by designating it as the first Thursday of May each year.
The Friendswood Journal stated the community “joined in prayer for our nation and our leaders, to thank God for His blessings upon this land and our city, to seek God’s intervention in the problems we face, and seek His guidance for our nation’s and city’s government and community leaders.”
Spring is in full bloom and the nights are cool, so plan on bringing the whole family out for the 2010 Friendswood Concert in the Park Series which runs from May through June. This year is sure to be a crowd pleaser with a grand kick-off sponsored by Radio Disney AM 1590 and underwritten by Mitch and Artha to be held May 7. Radio Disney on-air personalities will be on hand from 6 to 7 p.m. to play songs, host games, and give away prizes.
After a short intermission, the Friendswood High School Jazz Combo Band and the Clear Brook High School Jazz Band will perform from 7 to 9 p.m. A short break with more prizes will be held between band acts, and is sure to be an evening filled with fun, family entertainment.
Just two miles from West Ranch on FM 518, the 5th Annual Auto & Bike Extravaganza will be held at Friendswood’s Stevenson Park. If you’d like to shine up your wheels and sit in a lawn chair next to other enthusiasts, mark your calendar for Saturday, April 17, 2010 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Come spend the day at the park talking to fellow perfectionists or just enjoy the uniquely designed cars of the past and present. From big trucks and fast cars to Harley’s and more, Friendswood’s Auto & Bike Extravaganza has something for everyone. All years, makes and models are welcome. Food and fun tents will be set up around the park for added family enjoyment.
For those interested in entering their “Ride” in the competition the following categories with be judged: Paint and Body, Interior, Detailing, Engine Compartment and Overall Appearance.
The City of Friendswood’s 8th annual KIDFISH is scheduled to take place on April 3rd, 2010 from 9 a.m. until noon at Friendswood’s Centennial Park Pond. West Ranch parents are encouraged to bring their children 16 years of age and younger to this exciting outdoor event.
The KIDFISH Foundation will stock over 750 pounds of adult fish in the park pond for participants to catch. Participants can bring their own equipment, but bait, tackle, and loaner rods will be provided to children who do not have their own equipment.
One Friendswood High School Student and former Girl Scout returns as a Daisy Scout Leader.
Kelly Hickman is familiar with the girl scouts as well as the commitment and hard work it takes to succeed. She was a girl scout for 13 years and received the Gold Award – the highest award a girl scout can receive. After graduating from Friendswood High School, this Friendswood native made her way to the University of Texas where she obtained a dual degree in government history and Spanish. Now she plans to take some time and make a difference in young girls’ lives and give back the support and care that was given to her own.
Something that starts small can often grow big, and that’s the case with ‘The Mustang Spirit Store’ – an online store offering “unique spirit apparel” to the Friendswood community, letting each person show their own Mustang Pride.
Jennifer Burris and Delia Dao, two “Friendswood soccer moms,” were talking during a game one day and had the thought of opening a store for the Friendswood community that would sell items residents could wear displaying their school spirit and show their team pride. What started with a “crazy thought” grew into an online store which launched in April 2009. Inventory is now overflowing their one room space. As Burris put it, “It’s fallen into place. It’s exciting and kind of scary at the same time.”
Even after spending years serving in Bolivia through the United States Peace Corp and being named one of the top 100 Extraordinary Women, Elizabeth Gore of Friendswood, Texas still values her hometown.
“In Friendswood, I have the best friends in the world still, even though I’ve been running around the globe with the U.N.,” Gore said. “The best place in the world is to go home to Friendswood to see all my best friends. What a special place to be from. So, I’m very proud to have grown up in such a great community.”
Representing Friendswood, Gore started her “Summit on the Summit” challenge on January 7 to raise money for the global clean water crisis. She will climb 19,340 feet to the top of Mount Kilimnjaro, with each square foot available to be sponsored through www.summitonthesummit.com.
“Our goal is raise funds,” Gore said. “Even the smallest contribution will provide families with clean water. I am asking Friendswood residents to log on to our website and make a donation. Even $5 or $10 makes a huge difference.”
Young local, Blake Sartain, demonstrated this by donating his allowance to the cause, sponsoring a foot for the climb.
Throughout the year, the Friendswood Public Library has activities and story time for children. During the hot summer months, they offer an extensive schedule of FREE programs for children, teens and adults that include craft classes, movies, music and movement as well as reading clubs and more. Here are just a few of the activities for June:
Thank God for our great community who still practices the faith that our city was founded on! 
Spring is in full bloom and the nights are cool, so plan on bringing the whole family out for the 2010 Friendswood Concert in the Park Series which runs from May through June. This year is sure to be a crowd pleaser with a grand kick-off sponsored by Radio Disney AM 1590 and underwritten by Mitch and Artha to be held May 7. Radio Disney on-air personalities will be on hand from 6 to 7 p.m. to play songs, host games, and give away prizes.
Just two miles from West Ranch on FM 518, the 5th Annual Auto & Bike Extravaganza will be held at Friendswood’s Stevenson Park. If you’d like to shine up your wheels and sit in a lawn chair next to other enthusiasts, mark your calendar for Saturday, April 17, 2010 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The City of Friendswood’s 8th annual KIDFISH is scheduled to take place on April 3rd, 2010 from 9 a.m. until noon at Friendswood’s Centennial Park Pond. West Ranch parents are encouraged to bring their children 16 years of age and younger to this exciting outdoor event.
One Friendswood High School Student and former Girl Scout returns as a Daisy Scout Leader.
Something that starts small can often grow big, and that’s the case with ‘The Mustang Spirit Store’ – an online store offering “unique spirit apparel” to the Friendswood community, letting each person show their own Mustang Pride.
Even after spending years serving in Bolivia through the United States Peace Corp and being named one of the top 100 Extraordinary Women, Elizabeth Gore of Friendswood, Texas still values her hometown.