2023
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Seafood City brings heart and sole to Sugar Land - Page 3
281.690.4200 WEDNESDAY • JANUARY 24, 2024
Sugar Land council votes to apply for funding for Brazos River flood mitigation projects Staff Reports The Sugar Land City Council at its December 20 meeting voted unanimously to authorize city staff to submit a grant application to the Texas General Land Office for funds to two erosion mitigation projects in order to reduce flooding along the Brazos River.
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Green addresses package delivery problems at Missouri City facility By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Addressing a problem that has been festering in the greater Houston area for weeks, U.S. Rep. Al Green (D-Houston) said he is working to address delayed package deliveries from a recently opened U.S. Postal Service processing center in Missouri City at a Monday press conference. Green, whose Texas 9th Congressional District encompasses parts of southwest Fort Bend County, including Missouri City, said he was distressed not only by the
delays in delivery, but by the Postal Service’s reluctance to speak openly to the media about the reasons for those delays. The press conference was held at Green’s main district office in southwest Houston as well as broadcast over his office’s Facebook account. Green stressed that as a member of Congress he is not a spokesperson for the Postal Service, a quasi-governmental entity over which that body has oversight. “I believe the United States Postal Service should be making these statements today or should be addressing the
press. I don’t think written communiqués are enough,” he said. Green said that the service should have customer service representatives at the Missouri City facility to assist people who are seeking packages, and that the phones at the facility should be answered promptly. “It is my opinion that when you have few facts, who have rampant speculation, and there is speculation now about what is going on at the facility,” he said.
SEE PACKAGE PAGE 2
U.S. Rep. Al Green (D-Houston) speaks about package delivery problems at a Postal Service facility in Missouri City on Monday. He was accompanied by Irene Ramirez, left, and Brenda Weindrich, who described their problems with the delays. Screenshot of U.S. Rep. Al Green press conference
Smith lays out plan for taking reins of Fort Bend ISD
Erosion along the Brazos River banks in Memorial Park is one of the areas to be addressed by a $28 million grant application to the Texas Water Development Board. City Council recently voted to approve the grant application. File photo by Ken Fountain
After the major flooding events of 2015 and 2016 and Hurricane Harvey in 2016, the city and Fort Bend commissioned two erosion studies for 13 critical areas of the Brazos River, which concluded that in less than 30 years erosion could threaten homes, city and county infrastructure, parks and highway bridges along evacuation routes, senior engineering manager Jorge Alba reminded Council members. The city and county responded by creating Project Brazos, a multi-jurisdictional effort to address the causes of erosion along the Brazos’s riverbanks. Two of the critical areas identified in Sugar Land were at Memorial Park and the U.S. 59/IH 69 evacuation corridor, Alba said. As part of the the Texas Community Development Bloc Grant Mitigation Action Plan, Sugar Land received $4 million and the county received $56 million for mitigation projects. Under the resolution, the two entities would combine their funding for projects at the two locations, Alba said. In October, City Council approved contracts with consulting firm HuittZollars, Inc. and Pubic Management, Inc. to support city staff with their application for the block grant funding. The application is due January 9, with an anticipated contract award by June 1, 2023. Mayor Joe Zimmerman noted that Sugar Land originally initiated the project as lead agency in 2014, before the later flooding events.
SEE FLOOD PAGE 2
New Fort Bend ISD Superintendent Marc Smith, back row center, and members of the school board pose with Girl Scouts at the beginning of Monday’s meeting. The scouts had presented the board with Girl Scout cookies. Screenshot from Fort Bend ISD website
By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Saying he had “hit in the ground running,” newly appointed Fort Bend ISD Superintendent Marc Jones made his first official comments as the head of Texas’s sixth-largest school district in a board meeting on Monday. Smith, formerly the head of the Duncanville school district in the Dallas area, was named as the sole finalist for the superintendent’s role on December 15 following the sudden departure of former superintendent Christie Whitbeck earlier that month. After a state-mandated wait, he signed his contract in a specially called board meeting on January 8. His base annual salary is s $410,000.
After the board gave a series of presentations to student groups from several schools for various achievements, Smith said in his first superintendent’s report that he had earlier met with students and teachers at the James Reese Career and Technical Center. “It’s such an awesome facility, and I had such a great day visiting all the classrooms and academic programs there,” Smith told the board members. Smith said he also spent part of the day meeting with the district’s leadership team. “We simply talked about the vision we have moving forward to work together a team. It was opportunity to get to know one another, it was an opportunity for me
to set expectations, he said. Smith said he also shared with the team what he called his “90-day plan” as he takes over the reins of the district, focused on five key priorities. These include “building relationships in a collaborative way with our school board, and really have a focus on mutual respect and open communication and a shared vision,” Smith said. Tensions between Whitbeck, the former superintendent, and some board members came to light in the midst of her exit, which was publicly framed as a voluntary retirement. The second priority, he said, is to gain an understanding of the perspectives of all of the district’s stakeholders, both internal and external. “This is a people
business, and you’re only as good as the people you put around you who you work with and work through. So I want to make sure I make it a priority to make those connections a priority early in my tenure in the district,” he said. Smith said his third priority was analyzing and evaluating the district staff with an eye toward identifying, attracting and retaining high-quality educators. With the district’s season for drawing up a 2024-2025 budget already at hand, Smith said his fourth priority was to meet regularly with the leadership team in order to understand what’s already been done and what will be done moving forward, focusing on transparency with the board and the public.
Smith said his fifth priority was centered on understanding the district’s academic programs and identifying areas that need improvement. He said his plan was a “fluid document” that would be amended based on data he receives on a continuing basis. “I’m excited, and I want you to know I’m coming in hitting the ground running, and have a very focused approach to getting off on a great start,” he told the board members. Board president Judy Dae welcomed “home” Smith, who previously served in executive roles in Fort Bend ISD from 2007-2012. “I think we’re all looking forward to working with you and moving this district forward,” she said.
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PAGE 2 • Wednesday, January 24, 2024
FLOOD FROM PAGE 1
“Through it all we’ve stayed the course and finally gotten funding, for only a portion,” Zimmerman said. An estimated $1.4 billion is needed for 26 projects across the county, he added, “so this is only the start.” Fort Bend County has another critical project in Simonton, Zim-
merman said. In response to a question from Council member Carol McCutcheon, Alba said the studies showed that the river’s banks along Memorial Park have eroded approximately 200 feet since 2015. Answering a question from Council member William Ferguson, Alba said the U.S. 59 project will involve modification to expand the bridge across the river by the Texas De-
partment of Public Safety. The TxDOT expenditure is $70-75 million, according to another city employee. Council members also voted unanimously to approve two interlocal agreements with the county for distribution of the funds, once approved. Under the agreements, Fort Bend County will use $38 million and Sugar Land will use $4 million for the two projects.
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O bituary JOSEPH CHARLES FALSONE SEPTEMBER 23, 1931 – JANUARY 13, 2024
Joseph Charles Falsone was born in Sugar Land, Texas, on September 23, 1931. He was a life-long resident of Stafford for 92 years. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and friend. He married his high school sweetheart, Bessie Ferro, in 1952. They were blessed to celebrate 71 years of marriage in November, 2023. After graduating from Missouri City High, he continued to farm cotton until 1979. In addition, Joe served as a Stafford City Councilman for 14 years. After retiring, he worked as an inspector with Fort Bend WCID #2 for 20 yrs. and was on the Board of Directors for the Subsidence District for 22 yrs.
Joe was so proud of his family. He was a daddy to Linda and Carol Lynn and father-in-law to Nick Lykos and Mike Baird. His three grandsons, Adam Baird (Kristin), Evan Baird (fiancée Mandy), and Nicholas Lykos III (Emily), added much joy and
happiness to his life. Grandpa shared many fun times with the boys. In the last few years of his life, PawPaw was fortunate to welcome two adorable greatgrandchildren, Savannah and Eli Joseph Baird. Joe is also survived by many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents A.J. and Lena Falsone, his siblings, Jim and wife Mary, Nick and wife Mary, Mary and husband Charles Laperouse, and Pauline and husband Vernon Eschenfelder. Those serving as pallbearers were Adam and Evan Baird, Nicholas Lykos III, Michael Falsone, James Laperouse, and Dustin Duran. He was laid to rest at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery.
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PACKAGE FROM PAGE 1
Green said he has been in touch with Postal Service officials and plans to tour both the Missouri City facility, located at 3701 Glenn Lakes Lane, and one located in Magnolia, north of Houston, along with U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Houston, whose 29th Texas Congressional District includes the northern location. U.S. Rep. Michael McCall, a Republican whose 10th Texas Congressional District includes parts of west Houston, has also expressed an interest in participating, Green said. In limited public statements released since the delivery delay issue arose late last year, the Postal Service has said the situation arose from the new implementation of new technology meant to make package delivery more efficient. While the Missouri City facility has been in place for many years, Green said he has learned from officials that the Missouri City facility was opened last year in order to deal with a large increase in packages being distributed from the north Houston location. He said the service estimates that more than additional 2 million packages were processed in 2023 over the previous year.
Green stressed that he has long been a supporter of the Postal Service, voting to approve millions of dollars for its operations over the years. “I believe that the Postal Service is a necessity in this country. I want it to be the best in the world,” he said. Green said he is concerned not only about the current delivery problems, but what they might bode for the mailing of ballots and other election materials during this presidential election year. “They are experiencing growing pains, the Postal Service. I understand this,” he said. “But the growing pains have to have an appreciation for what these pains are doing to the public.” During the press conference, Green introduced three people who described the problems they’ve experienced with package deliveries. A woman speaking anonymously by phone, said a wedding dress she ordered costing more than $1,600 had been delayed for weeks, forcing her to borrow another woman’s dress for her wedding (the dress has yet to arrive, she said). Irene Ramirez, who is the primary caregiver for her elderly father, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, said they have experienced problems receiving the daily heart medication prescribed to him by the Veterans Ad-
ministration. Green said he was going immediately after the press conference with Ramirez to the Houston V.A. hospital to try to procure the medication. A third woman, Brenda Weindrich, a retired postal carrier with multiple health issues she said stemmed from her service, said packages, including medication, she ordered spent several days making a circuit between the Missouri City and Magnolia centers before she was able to pick them up at the Magnolia location. Green referenced a report produced by the Postal Service’s inspector general’s office, titled “Texas-2 District: Delivery Operations,” meant to describe the causes of the delivery issues. “Frankly, I am not impressed,” he said. The full report can be found at www.uspsoig.gov/reports/ audit-reports/texas-2-district-delivery-operations. Green said his staff is drafting a letter to the U.S. House Committee on Governmental Oversight that he will circulate among some of his Congressional colleagues for their comment. Depending on how the tour of the two facilities goes, he said, he may ask that the committee, which has oversight over service, hold a public hearing in the 9th District to address the issue.
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605 Dulles Avenue, Stafford, TX 77477 SUNDAY: 10:30 am Worship Holy Eucharist www.allsaints-stafford.org
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Wednesday, January 24, 2024 • PAGE 3
The Reid Feed: Seafood City brings heart and sole to Sugar Land Janet Sue
Ryan Lee
Art and Culture Columnists
By Ryan Lee Reid and Janet Sue Reid
W
hen our boys were young, we would travel to the Philippines together when we went there on long work assignments. Beyond going to Jollibee’s for a bucket of Chicken Joy or Red Ribbon for a slice of Ube Overload Cake, they also would eat like locals sipping bowls of sinigang (a savory and sour tamarind soup) with lumpia (a crispy Filipino spring roll) washed down with a glass of refreshing calamansi juice (imagine a sublime hybrid of a sweet tangerine with hint of tart lime), followed by a scoop of buko ice cream (creamy coconut ice cream with tender bits of young coconut) or colorful halo-halo (a shaved iced parfait concoction mixed with layers of fruit, tapioca pearls, evaporated milk, ube ice
cream, and leche flan reminiscent of Korean bingsoo).
They loved Filipino ice cream so much, we would buy tubs of buko, mango, and ube ice cream at the Manila airport and have them packed with copious amounts of dry ice so they could survive the flight back to Hong Kong. Fast forward to our days in Sugar Land, and occasionally we would find some Filipino dishes or ingredients here and there, but there was no one major Filipino grocery store where we could onestop shop. There certainly was not a place close enough that we would dare try to transport ice cream back from. As for mega grocery stores, Ranch 99 Market focuses on Chinese cuisine, H-Mart focuses on Korean cuisine, and Jusgo focuses on Japanese cuisine. Now, we have Seafood City which focuses on Filipino/Pinoy cuisine. The first Seafood City opened in San Diego in 1980. There are over 30 locations in the U.S. and Canada with Sugar Land being the first store to open in Texas. Due to the diversity of Fort Bend and the greater Houston population this is not at all surprising, seeing as how stores are being opened in strategically located areas with large communities of Filipino-Americans. Accord-
You can visit Seafood City seven days of the week from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. at: 15235 Southwest Freeway Sugar Land, TX 77478 Grocery: (346) 279 2910 Grill City: (346) 279 2911 Bakers Avenue: (346) 279 2912 www.seafoodcity.com ing to a 2020 U.S. Census Bureau report there are over 230,000 Filipino-Americans in Texas alone. Sugar Land is already home to a Jusgo and 99 Ranch Market so Seafood City is a welcome addition. Seafood City opened on December 14 in the old Conn’s furniture store in the First Colony Commons shopping center. It is a commanding 50,000-square-foot grocery store with a Filipino bakery called “Bakers Avenue” and Filipino barbecue joint called “Grill City”. “Grill City” is so popular that lines stretch to the door and Seafood City has had to implement a new line system with a dedicated line manager.
We also couldn’t resist the warm rolls called Pandesal fresh from the oven at “Bakers Avenue.” We bought half a dozen for $2.99. They were sweet and savory like a cross between a Parker House roll and a King’s Hawaiian roll. We dove right into them as soon as we bought them. They were soft, subtly sweet, and delicious. As for Filipino ice cream, we hit the Powerball of jackpots. Seafood City has the largest assortment of uniquely Filipino flavors we have ever seen in the USA. They offer ube, ube cookies and cream, ube queso, ube macapuno, buko/macapuno, buko salad, halo halo, jackfruit, avocado, avocado macchiato, pandan, and
mango. This does not even include the list of the above ice cream flavors with various boba combinations. Though Seafood City offers a large selection of traditional Filipino foods and cooking appliances like a Hello Kitty rice cooker that you can now buy at a central location instead of having to drive around to multiple stores for similar products. You can also buy fresh meat, seafood, and produce that can be used for cooking dishes across cuisines. In addition to other ethnic foods like Chinese, Korean, and Japanese, there were plenty of other diverse foods. We spotted wagyu beef, French macarons and crepe cakes, honey, pancake mixes, and lots of other household staples. We visited the store at 4 p.m. on a Sunday and the line must have been 40 customers deep for “Grill City” the BBQ restaurant. Ray Pascua was managing the line and taking additional names for people who were patiently waiting at tables for their chance to join the line. Ray said, “We needed a line manager because initially the line was so long it would stretch outside the store and disrupt the shopping experience for the other customers. So I take people’s names on this tablet and then send them a text message when the line goes down to 40 people or so.”
It can take up to 25 minutes to go through the line at “Grill City.” Customers patiently wait to eat traditional Filipino dishes such as grilled liempo, grilled pompano, BBQ chicken skewers, whole grilled squid, foot long turon, banana que (grilled bananas), butchi (sweet sesame balls), chincharon bulaklak, chicken bola bola siopao (chicken steamed buns), and pork asado siopao (pork steamed buns). Though only open a month, more than 3,000 customers per day take a trip to Seafood City. These crowds aren’t something new or abnormal for a Sunday afternoon, the store manager, Meg Austria, tells us. She says, “We are always full with customers.” It wasn’t difficult finding families who had driven well over an hour just to visit the supermarket. Clearly, Seafood City is satisfying a much needed void in the hearts and soles of the greater Houston area, and it’s even sweeter that it’s in Sugar Land. Janet Sue Reid, “The Culinary Cowgirl”, and Ryan Lee Reid, “The Piano Cowboy”, are artists and creators. They transform space and time to move and heal people through art. They live in Sugar Land with their children. Find their full bios and contact them through ReidFeed.com.
Seafood City, a mega grocery store specializing in Filipino/Pinoy cuisine, opened in December in the First Colony Commons shopping center, its first location in Texas. It features a Filipino bakery called “Bakers Avenue” and Filipino barbecue joint called “Grill City”. Photo montage by Janet Sue Reid
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Men For Change, Inc. awards scholarships to Fort Bend students
Men For Change, Inc., recently awarded scholarships to several Fort Bend-area students at its Annual Scholarship and Education Fundraiser Gala at Missouri City’s Quail Valley City Centre. Contributed photo
Men For Change, Inc., recently held its Annual Scholarship and Education Fundraiser Gala at Missouri City’s Quail Valley City Centre, marking 30 years of service to youth. Cordell Farley, author of “Life Lessons of a Throwaway Kid”, was the keynote speaker.
During the event, Missouri City Councilwoman At-Large and Mayor Prot Tem Lynn Clouser (the organization’s education director) presented a city proclamation to Men For Change. Inc., for its service to the community and youth.
At the event, the following Fort Bend County students received scholarships: Bryce Chance McDonald (George Bush High School), Ashton Kahey (Marshall High School), Morgan Williams (Hightower High School), Amel Simon (Elkins High School), Wallace Tai (Dulles
High School), Kaleb Williams (Willowridge High School), and Christian Kirby (Stafford High School). Among the elected officials attending the gala were Texas Rep. Ron Reynolds, Chambers County Judge KP George, Fort Bend County Precinct 2 Commissioner Grady Pre-
stage, Missouri City District B Council member Jeffrey Boney, and former Fort Bend County’s Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Judge Joel C. Clouser, Sr. Men For Change officers attending were President Billy Polk, Vice President Will Ross, Treasurer Steven Sterling,
and Chaplain Leon Jenkins. The Missouri City-based Men For Change Inc. was founded in 1994. It is committed to advocating and empowering students to attain and inspire higher academic achievements with a continued focus on student recognition.
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Wednesday, January 24, 2024 • PAGE 5
EDITORIAL Lend me your years Lynn Ashby Columnist
By Lynn Ashby ASHBY2@COMCAST.NET
“
Elvis Is Dead and I Don’t Feel So Good Myself” -- A book by Lewis Grizzard. So how are you feeling today? If you are a Texan over the age of 78.5 years you are on borrowed time. That’s the average limit for such folks, but don’t worry, I have suggestions for you to beat the grim reaper, including where to live, what ethnicity to prefer, what sex and even how to vote. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as reported by Texas Public Radio (my vast research staff works 24/7), Texans die sooner than
most of our countrymen (and countrywomen). Compared to Texas’ 78.5 years, life expectancy in the U.S. on average is 79.74 years as of 2023. The national death age continues to get younger -- it’s the shortest it’s been in nearly two decades. The U.S. ranks 36th in the world for life expectancy at birth. This is younger than the average life expectancy for high-income countries, which is 82.7 years. But which U.S. state one lives in is also a predictor of life expectancy? Except for the fires that rage through the islands, Hawaii has the highest life expectancy in the U.S. at 80.7 years. And Mississippi has the lowest life expectancy in the U.S., at 71.9 years. But even here in the Lone Star State how long you live depends on your race and your sex. For example, women in Texas have a life expectancy of 81.2 years, while men have a life expectancy of 75.8 years. That is quite a difference. Like almost six years. If you are of the Caucasian persuasion don’t bother to buy any green bananas, as the expression goes. Hispanics in Texas (I prefer the title of Tejanos, it’s unique to
us) have a life expectancy of 81.2 years while whites have a life expectancy of only 78.1 years, and people who are Black have a life expectancy of 75.3 years. Even our politics enters into how long we live. Generally speaking, life expectancy is longer in states that have consistently been run by Democrats. Uh-oh. That does not look good for Texans, whose politics and power are totally dominated by the GOP. In states which enact liberal policies like health care, mental health services and anti-poverty programs, its citizens live longer. In states where Republicans are consistently voted into office, the life expectancy is the shortest in the nation. The reasons are pretty obvious. These Republican-run states have higher COVID rates, more drug abuse deaths, lack of access to health care, higher gun violence and more complications from treatable diseases like diabetes. As a result of how we vote, Texans are not living as long as we used to. The Lone Star State is among the states where life expectancy has dropped at least two years, according to
new reporting from the CDC. Citing other sources (no, this is not plagiarism, I’m not the ex-president of Harvard) as you may have guessed, the COVID-19 pandemic accounts for much of the increase in deaths in the nation. In 2020, there were over 1 million deaths in the U.S. from COVID-19-related issues. In Texas, there were 88,373 COVID-19-related deaths between 2020 and 2022, Texas Department of Health and Human Services reported. CDC says the leading cause of death in Texas is heart disease, followed by cancer. COVID-19 is the third leading cause of death. The CDC’s National Vital Statistics Reports shows every U.S. state and Washington, D.C. saw a drop in their life expectancy rates from 2019 to 2020. Though all were impacted, New York is the only state that saw a 3-year decrease in life expectancy, with the average 2020 life span around 77.7 years. The next highest decreases happened in Washington, D.C., Louisiana, New Jersey, Arizona and Texas — life expectancy in these states all dropped by at least two years
since 2019. As we can see, the unusual blip in all these statistic is COVID-19, which messes up everything. That pandemic accounted for the greatest spike in deaths in the U.S. in 100 years. As recorded in 2020 by U.S. Census, between 2019 and 2020, deaths in the U.S. increased by 19 percent, which is huge. This brings us back to Texas. Experts say Texans can improve our life expectancy by addressing social and economic issues with several approaches that include spending more on public health, education, and social programs. But that would take a total overhaul of our state government. Indeed, our state leaders, Gov. Greg Abbott in particular, have done all they can to prevent us from taking the simple step of using masks. As of last September, all Texas governments – state, county, city – and I suppose school districts – were banned from issuing mandates requiring masks, vaccines, and lockdowns. Come to think of it, I don’t feel so good myself. But worry not, because Texans’ life expectancy can be improved, and I have some
recommendations. You can move to Hawaii. If you are white or Black, change your ethnicity to Tejano. Men, undergo a sex-change operation. I‘m not sure where transgender people fit in. Stay away from alcohol, tobacco and wild sex parties. (Actually, you are already dead but don’t know it.) Do not walk into a cantina on a Saturday night and yell, “Draw!” Avoid bikers disputes. Do not pat a pit bull that is foaming at the mouth. Avoid all state employees. So when a highway patrol car signals for you to pull over, speed up. Watch those drugs. The CDC reports that in the year ending in August 2022, over 107,000 people died overusing fentanyl. This is equivalent to a plane with nearly 300 people aboard crashing every day. This reminds me, don’t sit next to a door on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737. Do not drive on the West Loop unless you are in an M1 Abrams tank. It’s OK to wear your MAGA cap to a Klan rally, but never wear an Elvis costume anywhere. Ashby grows older at ashby2@comcast.net
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HIRELOCAL • SHOPLOCAL • EATLOCAL Inaugural 'State of Justice' event to be held on Jan. 25 Staff Reports On Thursday, January 25, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., the Fort Chamber of Commerce’s Governmental Relations Division will host Fort Bend County District Attorney Brian Middleton in the inaugural “State of Criminal Justice” event, titled “Are You Safe in Fort Bend County?” The event will take place at Safari Texas Ranch, 11627 FM 1464, Richmond. “The primary duty of the Fort Bend County District Attorney is not to convict, but to see that justice is
served. Brian Middleton will introduce a first of its kind event in Fort Bend County. Learn what is happening in your community with crime and the steps being taken to maintain one of the safest communities in Texas,” states a press release from the chamber. Middleton, a Democrat, was first elected in November 2018 and took office in 2019, succeeding longtime Republican district attorney John Healey. A 1990 graduate of Houston’s Lamar High School, Middleton
received a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Houston in 1994 and graduated from Thurgood Marshall School of Law in 1997 and was licensed to practice law the same year, according to his biography on the county website. Before becoming district attorney, Middleton served as both a judge and a prosecutor in Fort Bend Coujty, as well as working in private practice. Information on how to register for the event can be found at fortbendchamber.com.
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Fort Bend County District Attorney Brian Middleton will speak at the inaugural State of Justice event at Safari Ranch on Jan. 25. Courtesy Fort Bend County
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FOR NON-PROFIT EVENTS
ONGOING LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF FORT BEND
The League of Women Voters of Fort Bend, a nonpartisan organization, will provide voter registration and education events prior to the Feb. 5 deadline to be a registered voter in the March 5 Primary election. Locations, dates, and times include: (1) Wednesday, 1/24 -- Fort Bend YMCA, 4433 Cartwright Rd, Missouri City 7:30am - 12:30pm and 5 - 7pm; (2) Thursday, 1/25 -- First Colony Library 3:30 - 5:30pm; (3) Sat., 1/27 -Cinco Ranch Library 10:30am - 1:30pm and University Branch Library 11am - 2pm; (4) Tuesday, 1/30 and Wednesday, 1/31 -- WCJC Sugar Land, Brazos Hall, 9am - 2pm; (5) Thursday, 2/1 -- ThriftWise, 501 Hwy 90E, Richmond -- 10am - 1pm. Register to vote, update your current voter registration, and get nonpartisan voting information at any of these events, or contact lwvfortbend@gmail.com.
BOYS CAN SING WITH THE AWARD-WINNING AND EMMYNOMINATED FORT BEND BOYS CHOIR!
Do you know a boy who loves music and singing? If so, encourage him to audition for the Fort Bend Boys Choir of Texas! No previous singing experience is necessary and boys should be around eight years of age or older with an unchanged voice. Boys have a limited time to sing in the unchanged, treble voice so it is important to take advantage NOW! At this time, auditions are by special appointment at the First United Methodist Church Missouri City, 3900 Lexington Blvd., Missouri City, TX. Visit the Fort Bend Boys Choir’s Audition page at https://fbbctx.org/auditions/ or call (281) 240-3800 for more details. Make the holiday season brighter for you and the boys in your life … check out the award-winning and Emmy nominated Fort Bend Boys Choir today as they celebrate this season’s theme: Singing Boys are Nothing but Treble!
SAVE THE DATE JANUARY 27, 2024 FELICIA SMITH JIGSAW PUZZLE COMPETITION
Register now for the family fun Hope For Three Autism Advocates, Felicia Smith Jigsaw Puzzle Competition. This exciting event is on January 27, 2024, at Fort Bend Christian Academy, North Campus Gymnasium, 1250 7th., Sugar Land 77478. Teams of four, young and seasoned, have two hours to complete a 250-500-1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle. Awards immediately follow, and bragging rights are guaranteed! Check-in is at 9 am, and the timed competition is from 10 am to noon. The event is one way the local nonprofit raises awareness and funds for families with autistic children and loved ones. Register your team ($160) now. To volunteer, serve as a sponsor, or for autism resources, visit www.hopeforthree.org
AMERICAN LEGION POST 942
311 Ulrich Street, Sugar Land meets the fourth Tuesday of each Month at 7:00 pm. All Veterans are welcome.
LOVING FRIENDS IS A GROUP OF WOMEN AND MEN WHO ARE WIDOWS AND WIDOWERS THAT MEET MONTHLY FOR LUNCH, FRIENDSHIP, AND SOCIALIZATION
Lunches. are planned for the fourth Tuesday of the month at various local restaurants. Please contact Bobbie Tomlin at {281} 967-0718 For more information about us and to learn about this month’s planned lunch. We hope to meet you soon.
QUAIL VALLEY GARDEN CLUB
The Quail Valley Garden Club is very busy, not only with meetings, but with some fun “stuff” for our members and the community. Please find our fall schedule of events that the QVGC will be involved with this fall leading up to the holidays.
ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE GRAND PARKWAY BAPTIST CHURCH
In conjunction with the Literacy Council of Fort Bend Bend County, GPBC offers ESL classes on Tuesday nights 6-8:30 from August 22, 2023 through May 21, 2024. We are located at 12000 FM 1464 Richmond. Our students speak several languages and encompass many faiths. All are welcome. For more information call 281-277-2200 and ask for ESL information. You may also email ESL@grandparkway.org
FBJSL IS ACCEPTING CAF GRANT APPLICATIONS
We provide grants of up to $5,000.00 to charitable causes serving Fort Bend County with requests to fund a critical need, pilot a program, or expand a significant service to the community. If your agency or organization is interested in applying for a CAF grant, please visit the Request Support page of the FBJSL website (www. fbjsl.org/request-support). All applications should be submitted via e-mail to brccom@fbjsl.com
THE SANCTUARY FOSTER CARE SERVICES
We are a child placing agency that provides wrap around care support for foster children and foster families. We provide free therapy services, 24 hr. crisis intervention, respite/alternative care services and community-based support. For more info, www.sanctuaryfostercare.org
EXPERIENCE COUNTS! 35+ YEARS SERVING FORT BEND COUNTY 14090 S.W. Freeway Suite #200
281-243-2344 (Direct) Sugar Land, TX 281.243.2300 (Main) • KenWoodPC.com
ALIEF AARP CHAPTER 3264
Meets the first Thursday of every month at 10:00 a.m. at Salvation Army Church, 7920 Cook Road, Houston, TX 77072. Educational Program/Entertainment at each meeting. Bus Trips every month. Seniors 50 and above invited. Call 281-785-7372 for more information.
SUGAR LAND ROTARY CLUB
Sugar Land Rotary Club, the nation’s oldest community service organization, wants you to be its guest at a meeting that could turn out to be the best fit for getting involved with a local, non-political, humanitarian service organization with a global presence to satisfy your passion. We’re on a quest for new members! Call or email Dean Clark, 469-850-2424, dean7351@gmail. com. We’re a friendly group that meets once a week for lunch.
FT. BEND ACCORDION CLUB
Meets on the 4th Sunday of every month from 2:pm - 4:pm at: CHRIST CHURCH SUGAR LAND (in the Chapel) 3300 Austin Parkway, Sugar Land, TX 77479 FREE and Open to the Public! We welcome everybody! If you play accordion, beginners to professional and would like to play Call, Text or email: Vince Ramos Cell: 281-204-7716 vincer.music@gmail.com
FORT BEND JUNIOR SERVICE LEAGUE RECRUITING NEW MEMBERS FOR 2022-2023 YEAR
To join, the membership application can be accessed at https://www.fbjsl.org/join/how-to-become-a-member/. FBJSL will also be hosting multiple virtual and in-person recruitment events over the summer where potential new members can learn more about the League. Information regarding attending these events is available at www.fbjsl.org or on the FBJSL Facebook page at www.facebook.com/FortBendJuniorServiceLeague/.
LITERACY COUNCIL OF FORT BEND COUNTY
We enhance lives and strengthen communities by teaching adults to read. We need your help. Literacy Council is actively recruiting Volunteer Tutors to provide instruction for English as a Second Language (ESL) Levels 0-5, three hours a week. For more information, call 281-240-8181 or visit our website www.ftbendliteracy. org
JAM WITH SAM
Join Sam Grice Tuesday evenings at 6:30 for a casual evening of music. We play a variety of music including bluegrass, country, gospel and some western. We request acoustic instruments only please. We welcome both participants and music lovers who enjoy listening to good live music. There’s no charge and we welcome beginners and gladly offer gentle assistance. We meet at First Presbyterian Church, 502 Eldridge Rd, Sugar Land. Please call Sam at 832-428-3165 for further information.
GIVE A GIFT OF HOPE
Give a Gift of Hope one-time or monthly. Your help provides access to therapies and services children with autism might otherwise go without. Please consider Hope For Three in your Estate, Planned, or Year-End Giving. Register now, or learn more about exciting events: www.hopeforthree.org/events
DVD-BASED ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS WITH NO HOMEWORK REQUIRED
Weekly class designed to help you understand and appreciate the Bible by giving you a better sense of the land and culture from which it sprang. The class meets at 9:30 am every Sunday at First Presbyterian of Sugar Land (502 Eldridge Rd.). For more information call 281-240-3195
EXCHANGE
EXCHANGE, America’s Service Club, always welcomes guests and is in search of new members! Various Fort Bend clubs exist and can accommodate early morning (7 a.m.), noon and evening meeting time desires. For more info, contact Mike Reichek, Regional Vice President, 281-575-1145 or mike@reichekfinancial.com We would love to have you join us and see what we are all about!
MISSOURI CITY AARP CHAPTER 3801
Meets the second Monday of every month at 11:30 a.m., at 2701 Cypress Point Dr., Missouri City Rec Center. Lunch, education, and entertainment. All seniors over 50 invited. For more information, call 713-859-5920 or 281-499-3345.
713-371-3740
Have a Non Profit? Need to get it out there? Put here in our community calendar!
THE STAR
PAGE 8 • Wednesday, January 24, 2024
See us online www.FortBendStar.com
Missouri City to hold recycling event on Jan. 27 Community Reports On Saturday, January 27, from 9 a.m.-noon, Missouri City Green will hold its 10th
Annual Electronics Recycling event at a new location, Freedom Center Church, 2303 FM 1092 Road, Missouri City. Residents are encouraged
to bring unwanted, broken and unused electronic devices, which will be disposed of correctly without personal information being compromised.
Donated items will be refurbished by CompuCycle (a R2 Certified Recycler) where possible, or broken down so that their valuable
component parts can be put back into the manufacturing process. Compucycle cannot accept items from flooded homes.
Full information about the event, including a flyer listing acceptable and non-acceptable items, can be found at missouricitygreen.org.
On Saturday, Jan. 27, from 9 a.m.-noon, Missouri City Green will hold its 10th Annual Electronics Recycling event at Freedom Center Church. Courtesy Missouri City Green
• F O R T B E N D S TA R . C O M •
THERE’S A
BETTER APPROACH TO CANCER CARE in Sugar Land
At Houston Methodist Neal Cancer Center, we treat every aspect of your cancer. Leading oncologists work with our specialists across disciplines to minimize cancer’s effects on major organs. One comprehensive team — dedicated to your individual care — uses the latest research, treatments and technology to stop your cancer. From infusion and clinical trials to surgery and reconstruction, our innovative care is available in Sugar Land. That’s the difference between practicing medicine and leading it.
The Woodlands
Willowbrook
Katy-West Houston Baytown Texas Medical Center
281.274.7500 houstonmethodist.org/cancer-sl
Sugar Land
Clear Lake