FYI

UH-Clear Lake honors veterans at Nov. 11 event

The University of Houston-Clear Lake hosted a Veterans Day celebration to honor and remember veterans of all service branches on Sunday, Nov. 11.

Organized by Cheryl Rhode, of the Office of University Advancement’s executive secretary, the event included a special program offering thanks to veterans and their families. University president William A. Staples and associate professor of legal studies James Benson, both Army veterans, welcomed guests.

Associate Professor Emeritus of health care administration Paul Bruder gave an invocation, while the Junior Army ROTC Color Guard from Clear Lake High School presented and posted the colors.

Songs, including the national anthem and “God Bless the U.S.A.” were led by Tyler Walea, the associate pastor and worship leader of First Church of Pearland.

Robert Naughton, a retired captain in the U.S. Navy and Vietnam prisoner of war, presented “The Call to Serve” and thanked the university for remembering to honor veterans.

He urged those who can’t or haven’t served in uniform to offer support by volunteering to welcome home returning soldiers and helping them assimilate back into society.

An open forum was held where all in attendance were welcome to share their thoughts. During this forum, student Randy Seawright announced the creation of a UH-Clear Lake Veterans Service Office set to open in Spring 2013.

After the reading of a poem “Welcome Home,” the event concluded.

University of Houston-Clear Lake is at 2700 Bay Area Blvd., Houston.

Pasadena invites all to join holiday parade

The city of Pasadena and the Pasadena Strawberry Festival will host the Holiday Lighted Parade at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, on Fairmont Parkway.

According to a release regarding the event, the parade route will run along Fairmont from Preston to Pansy and back.

Entries into the parade are now being accepted, and everyone in the community is invited to participate.

The parade is open to all individuals, groups and businesses in the area. The only requirement for entries is lights, a vehicle and a bit of creativity. There is no entry free.

Each entry will have the opportunity to write a brief story about their company and each organization will be announced during the event and its rebroadcast on the Pasadena Channel.

Applications are available online by visiting www.tinyurl.com/8v7zg23. The finished application may be faxed to the Strawberry Festival Office at 281-991-8880. Applications must be received by Friday, Nov. 23 to ensure a place in the parade lineup.

Awards will be given in several categories, including best overall, best lighted entry, most holiday spirit and most unusual.

This will be the second year that the parade is held on the city’s busiest thoroughfare. Last year, the event drew more than 30 lighted entries from community groups, schools, businesses and organizations.

For more information, call the Strawberry Festival at 281-991-9500.

Pasadena is the 17th largest city in Texas with a population of almost 150,000 residents. It is the second largest city in Harris County. The area was founded in 1893 and was named after Pasadena, Cal. The city has a total area of 44.5 square miles. Pasadena is governed by a mayor-council form of government. Johnny Isbell is mayor of Pasadena; the eight city councilors are Ornaldo Ybarra, Jackie Welch, Don Harrison, Pat Van Houte, Leroy Stanley, Phil Cayten, Steve Cote and Darrell Morrison.

Auditions for new show to be held Dec. 2-3 

The Pasadena Little Theatre will hold auditions at 7 p.m. Sunday and Monday, Dec. 2-3 for the play “Never Too Late” by Sumner Arthur Long.

The cast consists of six men and three women with an age range of 20 to 60. The auditions will be made up of cold readings from the play’s script.

The story focuses on the lives of Harry and his wife Edith, and his daughter and her husband.

Shows will run weekends from Friday, Jan. 25, to Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013.

The theater is located at 4318 Allen-Genoa Road, Pasadena.

For more information, visit www.pasadenalittletheatre.org.