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Fort Bend commissioners approve calling for legislature to ban open-carry guns in libraries By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Fort Bend commissioners on last week unanimously approved a legislative agenda item calling for the banning of people openly carrying guns in public libraries after an earlier, more restrictive version failed in the previous meeting. The item, which was put forward by Precinct 4 Commissioner Dexter McCoy was one of several items on the county’s official “wish list” of policies for the upcoming session of the Texas Legislature, which officially begins January 14. Usually such resolutions by local elective bodies are approved without controversy. In 2023, the Republicancontrolled Legislature passed a bill, signed by Gov Greg Abbott, which prohibited counties from banning the carrying of firearms, including concealed ones, in their public libraries, which had been a longstanding practice by many library systems. The law also required counties to remove already existing signs prohibiting weapons from libraries. Earlier this year, the Fort Bend Commissioners Court voted to comply with the new restrictions. When the county’s legislative affairs consultant laid out the legislative priorities in a November meeting, the item on guns in libraries quickly led to heated discussion. McCoy, a Democrat, said the item was a commonsense call for libraries to go back to being a place free of the dangers of weapons. McCoy, a father, said that it was particularly important that libraries, as places where children regularly frequent, be made more safe. The item he put forward called for the Legislature to ban all firearms, whether concealed or openly carried, from libraries. But Precinct 3 Commissioner Andy Meyers, a Republican strenuously objected, saying he did not believe that libraries should be seen as a “soft target” for people wishing to do harm. He also said that in the current climate in Austin, where the Republican majority in both chambers and Abbott have long been loath to put restrictions on weapons, the item had scant prospects for success. When the legislative priorities came up for an actual vote two weeks later, McCoy made a motion that all five items be voted on in a single vote. Meyers vociferously objected to that motion, saying doing so would make it appear to legislators that Fort Bend County was “serious” about getting any its priorities enacted. When the item came to a vote, McCoy and Precinct 2 Commissioner Grady Prestage, also a Democrat, voted in favor, while Meyers and Precinct 1 Commissioner Vincent Morales, also a Republican, voted against. County Judge KP George, a Democrat, abstained, preventing a majority vote.
SEE GUNS PAGE 5
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Sugar Land approves stricter public speaking rules in wake of protests over Israel-Hamas war By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Nearly a year after people began passionately calling unsuccessfully for the Sugar Land City Council to issue a resolution calling for a ceasefire in the Israeli-Gaza conflict, often testing the limits of the city’s stated public comments policy, the council last week unanimously passed a resolution imposing far more restrictive limits on residents’ ability to speak on topics not on the posted agendas. People began addressing the
council in early 2024, several months after the October 7, 2023 attack by the Palestinian group called Hamas in Israel which resulted in the deaths of nearly 1,200 Israelis and others and the kidnapping of more than 200 others. That was followed by the retaliatory war by Israel in Gaza which to date has led to the deaths of more than 45,000 Palestinians, the majority of them civilians, most of them women and children. Since then, people demanding that the council pass a ceasefire resolution or that the city
otherwise censure Israel have continued to speak week after week. Often that has included accusations that the council members were acting out of racial animus, as well as occasional outbursts of profanity and chants of “Free Palestine.” In May, Mayor Joe Zimmerman announced that the council would return to its original policy of restricting public comments to action items on the posted agenda, which the city had relaxed
SEE SUGAR LAND PAGE 2
Supporters of Palestine hold signs at the back of the Sugar Land City Council chamber on December 17. Photo by Ken Fountain
Entrepreneur Gardin makes and sells skin care bars while helping others
Fort Bend entrepreneur Laura Gardin sets up to sell her homemade skin care bars and costume jewelry at a vending event at a brew pub in downtown Houston. Gardin began making soap to help alleviate her daughter’s skin condition. Photo by Dayna Worchel
By Dayna Worchel SPECIAL TO THE STAR
There are three things in this world about which Fort Bend entrepreneur Laura Gardin is most passionate: making soap, loving her family, and helping people in her community. Gardin discussed how and why she came to create her business “Laura’s Soap Boutique,”while unloading her soap and display tables, along with some costume
jewelry, from her SUV to prepare for a vending event at a downtown Houston brew pub on a recent Sunday. “I started it about 14 years ago because my daughter Lisa, then aged 4, had eczema and nothing the dermatologist gave her was working,” said Gardin, adding that she was also looking for an opportunity to stay home with her two young children, including son Russel Jr. after working full time in the mortgage
industry. Both children are now adults. So, in her kitchen, with husband Russel’s blessing, Gardin began creating unscented soaps with ingredients to help her child’s eczema, an inflammatory skin condition. It took a lot of trial and error at first to get the formula right. But once she did, there was no looking back, and her “Feel Better” line of soap for sensitive skin was born. The soap helped her daughter’s skin
feel better, and Gardin knew she was on to something. She said she started off slow, selling at farmer’s markets on weekends, learning the ins and outs of the business and how it worked. Gardin’s husband, two children, and her late mom, Dorothy Murphy, each helped build the business their own way. Her husband manages purchasing, orders ingredients, and does bookkeeping and taxes. Her kids helped her make labels for
the soap, and Murphy would go with her to selling events to help talk with potential customers. “A big part of me doing this was my mom. She loved it, and we started it together. She was shy and it gave her a chance to meet people,” Gardin said. She prefers not to call her product a soap, but a skin care bar. “I am 100 percent
SEE GARDIN PAGE 5
Harris to stay on as Missouri City police chief STAFF REPORTS
In a surprise announcement Friday, the City of Missouri City said that Police Chief Brandon Harris, who earlier this year announced his attention to resign, has decided to stay on the job. “As the year comes to a close, Missouri City is proud to announce that Police Chief Brandon Harris will continue to lead the Police Department, ensuring stability and sustained progress for our growing and diverse community,” the city said in a press release. Harris, who has served in the Missouri City police de-
partment full-time for three decades, was appointed to the chief's slot in January after the retirement of longtime chief Mike Berezin in May 2023. “Earlier this year, Chief Harris shared his intention to retire after decades of distinguished service, while expressing his openness to reconsider if the City did not identify a successor, who could build on his legacy of excellence,” the city said in the release. “Following this, an extensive recruitment process was launched, resulting in a conditional offer being extended to an exceptionally qualified candidate
who met the expectations of the community, City Council, leadership team, departmental employees, and the City Manager.” “However, the candidate ultimately chose to remain with their current agency after receiving a promotion and a competitive counteroffer,” the release said. The city therefore asked Harris to reconsider his retirement. “Chief Harris has been an integral part of Missouri City’s transformation into one of the fastest-growing and most vibrant communities in Fort Bend County,” said City Manager Angel L. Jones.
“His participatory leadership, dedication to public safety, and ability to inspire his team have been instrumental in the department’s progress. We are thrilled that he has agreed to remain in his role for the next three to four years and continue leading us forward.” “I am honored to continue serving the community I care deeply about and to lead the outstanding men and women of the Missouri City Police Department,” said Harris. “Together, we will continue to build on the department’s strong foundation and ensure the safety and well-being of every resident.”
Missouri City Police Chief Brandon Harris, who earlier this year announced his intention to resign, has agreed to remain in the role, the city announced Friday. File photo by Ken Fountain
THE STAR
PAGE 2 • Wednesday, December 25, 2024
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Medhat Mohamed, of Richmond, implores the Sugar Land City Council not to approve stricter rules for public speakers during meetings. The council later unanimously approved the new policy. Photo by Ken Fountain
SUGAR LAND FROM PAGE 1
somewhat at the outset of commentators’ speaking about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Speakers who did not adhere to the policy would be asked to leave the podium, and if they continued they would be escorted out of the chamber by Sugar Land police and perhaps arrested, Zimmerman said. Since then, many commentators - although fewer than there had been at the start - have continued to speak, often trying to find ways to speak on the Gaza issue through tenuous connections to routine items on the council agenda. Most often, Zimmerman has called for the speakers to cease and for them to be escorted outside the council chamber. Sometimes, people have chanted or sung songs in the course of meetings, prompting Zimmerman to clear the chamber. To date, no one has been arrested. But on December 17, Zimmerman’s and the council’s patience came to an end. In a consent agenda item, the council unanimously repealed a 2022 resolution
setting forth its procedures for council meetings and later adopted, also unanimously, a resolution outlining a new policy for public comment at council meetings and those of other city boards and commissions. “Due to recent interactions and disruptions at city council meetings all over the United States, City Council has requested Policy 3000-10 be amended to clearly define protocols and procedures when speaking and attending public meetings to ensure the efficient and orderly conduct of public business occurs at public meetings,” the supporting information for the item read. Under the new policy, people who have been deemed disruptive can be banned from attending council meetings for 60 days. Under the new rules, failing to silence cell phones or speakers standing silently during their allotted three minutes can be considered disruptive. But, as deputy city manager Jennifer May said in presenting the item, the new policy includes an appeals process, and people who are barred from attending meetings in person may still watch
them online and submit comments in writing that will be read into the official meeting minutes. As was to be expected, the new policy was met by opposition from several speakers at the outset of the meeting. “This hurts me a lot,” said Alyssa Alfaleet, a resident and Taekwon-Do instructor in Sugar Land who stood with her two children beside her. “My family has been here since 1610. I’m a direct descendant of Roger Williams, the founder of Rhode Island and the grandfather of the First Amendment in this country.” “I understand that the situation is uncomfortable,” Alfaleet said. “My family did not spend the last 400 years to have the Sugar Land City Council start crushing public comment. Because I can tell you that Roger Williams in his hometown in Massachusetts, after he came here from London, he got kicked out because of his ‘dangerous ideas’, for his dissent. And that dissent is now what makes up our U.S. Constitution.” Alfaleet proceeded to tear up a resolution the City of Sugar Land had put out in
2021 after her students won an international TaekwonDo competition, saying she did not want to be honored by the city. “I am American. I worry about you. I do not hate you. But the road you are walking right now is delicate, and it is going to crumble out from under us if we keep going this way,” she said. “This is a representative republic, “said Medhat Mohamed, a Richmond resident, of the United States. “And in this republic, this is the way we citizens can address the body.” “How else do we address our resolutions if we cannot address the city council in a democratically elected republic?” Mohamed asked. “Understand, by closing down the avenue for citizens to address their government, this is a slippery slope, ladies and gentlemen. And if that’s the case, this is the first step to that.” When the item came up for a vote, Council member William Ferguson asked why the policy required that speakers provide their names, addresses and phone numbers before speaking, which some of the speakers said could put
them in danger. May replied that that was to determine where the speakers lived and to be able to contact them later to follow up. Council member Suzanne Whatley said he had often heard from speakers that council meetings were the only place citizens could talk to council members in a public forum. “We are your elected officials,” she said. “I’ve spoken to you on the phone, several of you, on the phone over this issue. That’s what we’re here for. This is not the only avenue for you to contact us. We take your phone calls, we see your emails.” She added that Council members’ contact information is publicly available. Zimmerman spoke at some length before the vote. “From January or February on, we listened attentively,” he said. “We told you why we would not take action, and we also suggested that you go to your elected officials at the federal level. You have continued to insult, bully, yell and cuss at the council in various forms. You follow us out to cars and trucks. You’ve scared some of the councilmembers. This is not
the forum to discuss what’s happening in Gaza, Palestine, and what happened in Israel when they slaughtered 1,200 people.” That last remark brought an angry response from many of the speakers, who demanded to know why Zimmerman did not talk about the civilian victims in Gaza. As they continued, Zimmerman ordered that the chamber be cleared and police escorted the speakers outside City Hall, where they gathered on the outside steps and the plaza. When the meeting resumed, Zimmerman moved that the item be approved, seconded by Council member Jennifer Lane, as protestors could be heard from outside. In brief discussion before the vote, Council member Stewart Jacobson said, “I would like to remind everyone that council is not expressing any opinion on any conflict abroad, any conflict in Europe, any conflict in Africa. We are not expressing any opinion other than the fact that this is not a local issue.” That was meant by agreement from other council members. The item passed 7-0.
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REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL Drymalla Construction Company, LLC (CM at Risk) is soliciting Qualifications/ Proposals from Subcontractors/Suppliers for the Lamar Consolidated ISD Campus #8 – Infrastructure – GMP 3 Utilities and Roadway Package. Project consists of public utilities and construction of Tiger Run Boulevard, including subgrade development, paving, pavement markings, traffic signals and related work. The scope of work is defined by the drawings and specifications issued. Qualifications/Proposals are due at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at the offices of Drymalla Construction Company, LLC, 608 Harbert, Columbus, Texas 78934, via fax 979-732-3663, or email to bid@drymalla. com. NO PHONE BIDS WILL BE ACCEPTED. A virtual pre-proposal meeting will be held January 9, 2025, at 2 PM. Access to this meeting is included in the Project Manual. For information on how to obtain copies of the Request for Qualifications/Proposal documents call 979-732-5731, or email Sharon Fisher at sfisher@drymalla.com.
Worship Directory FORT BEND COUNTY
METHODIST CHURCH
CHRIST CHURCH SUGAR LAND • 281-980-6888
STAFFORD CHURCH OF CHRIST • 281-499-2507
A United Methodist Community 3300 Austin Parkway • Sugar Land, TX 77479 Rev. Dr. Daniel Irving, Senior Pastor Sunday Schedule 9:30 am Blended Worship 9:30 am Sunday School for all ages 11:00 am Traditional & Contemporary Worship www.christchurchsl.org
402 Stafford Run Rd. -Stafford, 77477 Stephen Higley, Preacher Sunday Bible Study 9:30 am Sunday Worship 10:30 am Wednesday 7:00 pm www.staffordcoc.com
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH • 281-240-3195
502 Eldridge Rd. -Sugar Land, TX 77478 Reverend Dr. Fred Seay, Pastor Sunday Worship In Person 11:00 am / Nursery Available Worship Online on YouTube www.fpcsl.org
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CHURCH OF CHRIST
ALL SAINTS EPISCOPAL CHURCH • 281-499-9602 605 Dulles Avenue, Stafford, TX 77477 SUNDAY: 10:30 am Worship Holy Eucharist www.allsaints-stafford.org Scripture of the week For those whom He foreknew, He also “They will have no fear of bad predestined to become conformed to news; their hearts arethat steadfast, the image of His Son, so He would trusting in the Lord.” be the firstborn among many brethren - Psalm 112:7 -Romans 8:29
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OMEGA FIRE MINISTRIES • 832-598-8144 13155 Westheimer Rd. Suite 123, Hou. 77077 Sunday: 1st Service - 9am 2nd Service 11am. Friday: Prayer & Deliverance 7pm. Tuesday: Bible Study 7pm. www.ofmhouston.org
MIRACLE CONFERENCE FREE EVENT Font Bend Epicenter. 28505 Southwest FWY, Rosenberg TX 77471 Apostle Johnson Suleman Pastor Benny Hinn Grupo Barak performing live Oct. 28th - 6pm Healing Service Oct. 29th & 30th - 9am & 6pm Service. Register at www.ofmhouston.org
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Wednesday, December 25, 2024 • PAGE 3
EDITORIAL Our annual examination
I
t was the Year of the Dragon, although for some the year 2024 was simply a drag. We were unexpectedly visited by Beryl and its Tejano cousin, Derecho. The Astros missed the playoffs and Texas’ own U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz managed to handily win re-election on the Embarrassment Party ticket. So it is time for our annual look at the year in our rearview mirror. First the good news. We’re Number 1. University of Houston Chancellor and President Renu K hator earned more than any other public university executive in the nation last year, according to a data analysis by the Chronicle of Higher Education. Khator’s compensation totaled $1,901,444. That doesn’t even include her NIL endorsements. Her Coogs got a new head football coach, Willie Fritz, but still finished 4-8, the exact same record as the previous season under fired coach Dana Holgorsen. Speaking of higher education, sort of, the Texas Aggies had high hopes for the 2024 football season, but finished
Lynn Ashby Columnist
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with an 8-4 record, including a drubbing 17-7 loss to their arch-rival, the Texas longhorns. The two schools have played each other off and on (mostly on) since 1914. UT leads 77-37-5, which means, in order to get even, the Ags will have to win every game until 2064. But the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band is still the best college band in America. Elsewhere in college sports, the women’s basketball team of Houston’s College of Biblical Studies lost to Grambling State 159 to 18. The 141 point margin of victory set an NCAA record for both men’s and women’s basketball. The Juice Box has been squeezed out. The Astros’ Minute Maid Park home is now Daikin Park, which is
short for Daikin Comfort Technologies North America Inc. and better than its previous name: Enron Field. As for the Astros, 19 months after signing the 2020 American League MVP to a three-year, $58.5 million deal, Jose Abreu was released. Abreu had hit just .124 with two home runs in 35 games of a season that included a nearly month-long stretch back at the Astros’ spring training complex in West Palm Beach, Fla., in an effort to get his swing back together. The club will have to pay roughly half of Abreu’s contract, which will amount to nearly $30 million. Astros pitcher Ronel Blanco was suspended for 10 games, a day after he was ejected from a start against the A’s for having a foreign substance on his glove. No Major League Baseball pitcher had allowed 11 or more hits in an outing shorter than one inning since at least 1901. But on April 11, 2024, Astros pitcher Hunter Brown allowed 11 hits in twothirds of an inning pitched. Maybe that’s why our Boys of Sumer didn’t make the playoffs for the first time in seven seasons. Kyle Tucker was traded to the Cubs for
three players. All three will play in right field – at the same time. But we have some good sports news: Former Texan Andre Johnson became the first Texan voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Also at the Texans, while not up there with Rupert Murdoch’s family feud, the McNair family had a dispute. One son, Robert Cary McNair, Jr., wanted the court to declare his mother, Janice McNair, 87 -- who actually owns the Texans – incapacitated, and wanted the court to appoint a guardian for her and her estate (the Texans). She and her other son, Cal McNair, who serves as the chairman and CEO of the Houston Texans, opposed the takeover. They won. Moving on down Memory Lane, last spring the Houston area got a one-two punch from the weather. From the evening of May 16 to midday May 17 something called a derecho (which is Spanish for “right” but it was all wrong), hit us. Winds of up to 100 miles an hour shattered downtown. A survey showed 3,250 damaged windows, downed trees and more than 200 damaged trees. Even 24 hours after
the wind storm hit, almost 555,000 customers still remained without power, and by Wednesday of the following week nearly 60,000 homes, businesses, and schools were still in the dark. That was only the opening act. A few weeks later we got Hurricane Beryl. Again, no power. The outage, in some neighborhoods, lasted for weeks. No need to relive those dreadful days, but my favorite memory is, while the rest of us were suffering for days in the heat and dark, we saw a photograph of CenterPoint’s CEO Jason Wells lounging in the well-lighted CenterPoint offices in front of a thermostat set at 70 degrees. In the Wish You Were Here Dept., while Beryl was barreling through Texas, our leader, Gov. Greg (“No Masks”) Abbott was touring Asia in an “Economic Development” tour. He felt our pain. Elsewhere around the state in news you can lose, Baker Tilly needed a beautiful skyline shot for a recruitment brochure he was creating to help Dallas hire a new city manager, and he found one, although when he presented the photo to the Dallas City
Council they didn’t quite to care for it. Something was amiss. No wonder. The photo wasn’t of Dallas. It was a shot of Houston. The Smokehouse Creek fire became the state’s largest wildfire after burning more than a million acres in the Texas Panhandle and part of western Oklahoma. Kristi Noem made a video touting her experience at Smile Texas, a Sugar Land clinic focused on cosmetic dentistry. “I love my new family at Smile Texas!” Noem said in a tweet accompanying a video posted to her personal account on X. Glad she likes her new family in Texas. Kristi Noem is the governor of South Dakota. And finally, Lone Star College officials briefly placed the Montgomery campus on lockdown after a driver reported a loud bang as a shooting – only to learn that the noise came from her car colliding with a deer. Gad. I ran out of room. We didn’t even get to Ted “Cancun” Cruz. We’ll continue next week. A shby continues ashby2@comcast.net
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the leader Puzzlers. Answers found in this week’s Classified section
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1. Leg shank 5. Small amount 8. Roman emperor 10. Having ears 12. Innocent young woman 14. No wrinkles 16. Small coin (French) 17. 19 hundred hours 19. A way to inform 21. A seal or signet 22. Tobacco smoke residue 23. Tai language branch 25. Set afire 26. Partridge FamilyÕs actress Susan 27. Canadian flyers 29. Faculties of perception 32. A light two-wheel carriage 34. Was ___ (looked at) 35. Appear with 37. Natives of Thailand 39. Hill (Celtic) 40. Runs PCs 42. Visualizes 44. Mistake
45. Riding horses 47. Point of purchase 49. Armless Aphrodite 53. Having negative qualities 54. Protective visual folds 55. Crystallized calcium carbonate mineral 57. Beach grains 58. One who presents a bond for payment 59. Car mechanics group 60. & & &
dOwn
1. Small paddle boats 2. Usual 3. Economic consumption 4. Without (French) 5. Powder mineral 6. Fleshy seed covering 7. Indicates 8. Stone lined grave 9. Feels remorse 10. Chemical structure 11. Decomposition 13. Morally base 14. Joins
15. Danish krone 18. Breastplate 20. Lesson reader in church 24. 1921 Turkish/ Armenian Treaty 26. In a way, refutes 28. Zoftig 30. Fish, hair or inter 31. Mains 33. Fathers 35. Transparent eye membranes 36. Stray 38. Seafowl 39. 3 pip cards 41. Invests in little enterprises 43. Placards 44. 1st woman 45. Finds a sum 46. Thick piece of something 48. River in Hesse, Germany 50. Inner forearm bone 51. 1 of 2 contesting groups 52. Olive tree genus 56. Metal container
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Muralists sought for Sugar Land Arts Fest in April Community Reports The Sugar Land Arts & Music Fest, hosted by the Sugar Land Arts Foundation, seeks talented muralists to showcase their skills through live painting during the twoday event. The festival will feature four live muralists on Saturday, April 26, and Sunday, April 27, at Smart Financial Centre in Sugar Land. This year’s live mural painting theme is “The Feeling of Music.” Artwork by selected muralists will be displayed at the Smart Financial Centre in Sugar Land from the summer of 2025 to 2026. Those interested in applying can do so via the festival website, sugarlandartsfest. com. The deadline to apply is January 31.
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Advice offered for dealing with seasonal depression, anxiety
Now entering its fourth year, the Sugar Land Arts & Music Festival highlights the cultural and artistic diversity of Fort Bend County and beyond. The event features live entertainment, cuisine from local restaurants, a children’s activity tent, and a wine and beer garden. It will also include 100 artist booths, live mural painting, and more. Local and regional artists will showcase their talent and creativity in various mediums, including painting, sculpture, photography, mixed media, glass art, woodworking, and jewelry. The Sugar Land Cultural Arts Foundation's mission is to promote, connect, and empower arts and culture throughout our diverse community. For more information, visit slcaf.org.
The holiday season can be difficult for people struggling with depression and anxiety. Physicians say it is important to recognize some common signs of behavioral health decline and seek medical help as soon as possible.
Community Reports The holiday season is a time for joy and celebration, but it can be difficult for people struggling with depression and anxiety. Physicians say it is important to recognize some common signs of behavioral health decline and seek medical help as soon as possible. “Every problem is easier to solve if you solve it right when it first happens and don’t wait. There are a lot more mental health problems due to people not getting treatment than people getting treatment too early,” said Sarah Lynnette Martin, MD, a member of the Texas Medical Association (TMA) Committee on Behavioral Health. She is a psychiatrist at Texas Tech Physicians of El Paso and an assistant professor at Texas Tech Health El Paso. Martin urges families and friends to check on loved ones during the holidays, especially those with a history
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of depression and anxiety, and look for changes in their moods. “At the holidays they're making excuses not to come to events that they've always enjoyed,” she offered as one example. “They've lost that spark of enjoying life.” Changes in sleeping patterns and appetite also are indicators that someone is not feeling well. Physicians say losing a loved one and loneliness are common reasons for feeling depressed during the holidays. “It's so easy to be lonely these days,” said Martin. “It used to be you had to go to the grocery store and you had to go to the post office, and you knew all those people that you would see there.” But with more people working from home and with groceries and gifts being delivered to people’s doorsteps, the reasons for going out have dwindled. Removing those day-to-day interactions can contribute to loneliness.
Martin also points out that winter’s shorter days and less sunlight also can affect people’s moods. She said it is important for people to get out in the sunshine during the winter. “People do better mentally if they have more sunlight. So, getting outside in the middle of the day is a great idea,” she said. She also recommends exercising during the holidays to stay physically and mentally fit. Losing a loved one can also make the holidays especially difficult. To counter this feeling, Martin recommends celebrating the memory of people they have lost. “It can be sad, but mostly it's beneficial to people,” she said. “If you do something special and remember them, most likely the good will outweigh the bad.” Martin warns that there are two worst-case scenarios that need immediate medical attention: thoughts of selfharm or a suicide attempt. If someone is feeling suicidal, Martin recommends
they be taken to a psychiatric hospital. If the individual has inflicted self-harm they should go to an emergency department. Before a situation escalates to that, however, it is important to ask those who are struggling with depression how they are feeling, including even asking them if they have suicidal thoughts. “There's a lot of research that shows asking someone if they're suicidal does not make them suicidal. Asking if they're suicidal lets them understand how seriously you are taking their symptoms,” said Martin. Anyone suffering emotionally and mentally during the holidays and wishing to talk to someone can call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline – available daily, 24 hours a day. The TMA behavioral health web page at texmed. org/BehavioralHealth also has resources to help people struggling with loneliness and anxiety.
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GARDIN FROM PAGE 1
about customer service, I believe in my product, and I am trying not to get your last dollar. I just want people to have a great product,” said Gardin, who keeps her skin car bars reasonably priced to make them more accessible. She charges $20 for five bars, although her prices will be increasing after the first of the year. The positive benefits of her “Feel Better” soap are prized by her other customers as well. Leticia Duruji said her mother, a breast cancer survivor, loves Gardin’s soap because it doesn’t burn her skin like other soaps. “She finds it to be very therapeutic,” said Duruji, who makes and sells sweet treats and packaged coffee at many of the same events as Gardin. Another loyal customer, Marilyn Moore, is also a jewelry vendor with Gardin at the once-monthly Faux Real Trade Days Liberty. She said she often buys from her and has never been disappointed. “The quality is outstanding. It smells so good, and is so
creamy. Her packaging is beautiful and she goes above and beyond,” Moore said. But Gardin is more than a successful entrepreneur. When she sees an opportunity to help someone out, she does it because of her own rough experiences growing up. Both Moore and Duruji have experienced her generosity of spirit firsthand. “She’s so caring,” Moore said, adding that she brings her special needs niece and nephew with her to the event in Liberty, and Gardin makes them feel special by taking them to her booth and bringing them ice cream treats and toys. Moore called her an amazing person and said she feels blessed to know her. Duruji said she had been thinking of selling her homemade chocolate, pecan, and caramel candy at events, but was going through some tough economic times. “Laura acted as my sponsor, paying for my candy ingredients, and she pushed me to get out there. Laura even gathered money to help me pay my rent. She’s done more for me than blood relatives,” Duruji said.
Gardin likes to help people when she can, and usually selects a family with children to help at Christmas by helping solicit donations for them through her personal Facebook page. “I grew up poor, often never knowing where I would spend the night, or what I would have to eat,” she said. Gardin spoke openly of the abusive childhood she and an older brother endured at the hands of an alcoholic father. Her mother was very loving toward her and her brother. Her father died by suicide in 1986. Because of these circumstances, she has a special place in her heart for families in need. “She’s very caring and wears her heart on her sleeve,” Moore said. To reach Gardin, email her at gardinx4@juno.com. She can also be contacted through her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ Laurassoapboutique. Worchel is a freelance writer based in Sugar Land. She can be reached at dworchel@ swbell.net.
LET THE PROS HANDLE IT!
Wednesday, December 25, 2024 • PAGE 5
GUNS FROM PAGE 1
When the issue came up again on December 17, a new version of the priority item on guns had been introduced by McCoy, this one calling only for the prohibition of the “open carrying” of weapons in libraries. McCoy said he made the change after the
idea that libraries should be gun-free locations. One speaker said he was disappointed that the item had been “watered down,” but still favored it. No members of the public spoke against the item. When it came to a vote, the item passed unanimously without discussion, as did the four other priority items.
Fort Bend County commissioners this week voted to approve a legislative priority calling for the Texas Legislature to ban the open carrying of firearms in public libraries. Here, they are pictured in an earlier meeting. File photo by Ken Fountain
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Outside Sales Representative Location: Fort Bend, Texas Company: Fort Bend Star – Your Hyper-Local Community Newspaper Are you a people person with a passion for community engagement and a knack for sales? The Fort Bend Star, a trusted voice in our community for over 40 years, is looking for an energetic and results-driven Outside Sales Representative to join our team. About the Role As an Outside Sales Representative, you will play a key role in connecting local businesses with our loyal readership. You’ll work with business owners, organizations, and community leaders to help them achieve their advertising goals while supporting local journalism. Key Responsibilities • Build Relationships: Develop and maintain strong relationships with local businesses and organizations. • Generate Revenue: Meet or exceed sales targets by selling print and digital advertising solutions. • Prospecting: Identify and reach out to potential clients through cold calling, networking, and referrals. • Client Solutions: Customize advertising packages to meet the unique needs of each client. • Local Presence: Represent the Fort Bend Star at community events to promote the paper and build connections. What We’re Looking For • Proven experience in sales (media/advertising sales a plus). • Strong communication and interpersonal skills. • Self-motivated, goal-oriented, and able to work independently. • Familiarity with Fort Bend County and its community is a big advantage. • Reliable transportation and willingness to travel locally. What We Offer • Base salary + commission structure. • Flexible schedule and remote working opportunities. • The chance to make a meaningful impact on your community.
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As temperatures drop in the Texas Gulf Coast Region, the American Red Cross urges families to take several steps to heat their home safely. “Heating equipment is a leading cause of home fires in this country,” said Vanessa Valdez, Regional Communications Manager, Texas Gulf Coast Region, Red Cross. “But there are steps people can take to avoid having this happen to them. Help keep your family safe by providing at least three feet of space around all heating equipment, testing your smoke alarms monthly and practicing your two-minute home fire escape plan.” Overall, home fires account for most of the 60,000-plus disasters that the Red Cross responds to each year — and home fire responses are 30% higher during cold months than warmer times of year. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), space heaters are most often responsible for home heating fires. Follow these tips on how to safely heat your home: • If you must use a space heater, never leave it unattended. Place it on a level, hard and
nonflammable surface, such as a ceramic tile floor. Don’t place it on rugs and carpets, or near bedding and drapes. • Plug space heater power cords directly into outlets — never into an extension cord. Turn the space heater off every time you leave the room or go to sleep. • Keep children, pets and anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment. • Never use a cooking range or oven to heat your home. • Never leave a fire burning in the fireplace unattended. Make sure any embers in the fireplace are extinguished before going to bed or leaving home. Use a glass or metal fire screen to keep embers in the fireplace. • Have furnaces, chimneys, fireplaces, wood and coal stoves inspected annually by a professional and cleaned if necessary. To help protect your family year-round, test your smoke alarms monthly and practice your home fire escape plan
until everyone can escape in less than two minutes — the amount of time you may have to get out of a burning home before it’s too late. If you cannot afford to purchase smoke alarms or are physically unable to install one, the Red Cross may be able to help. Contact your local Red Cross for help or visit our website at redcross.org\Texas. Visit redcross.org/fire for more information, including an escape plan to practice with your family. Download the free Red Cross First Aid app so you’ll know what to do if emergency help is delayed and the free Emergency app for weather alerts, open Red Cross shelter locations and safety steps for different emergencies. Choose whether you want to view the content in English or Spanish with an easy-to-find language selector. Find these and all of the Red Cross apps in smartphone app stores by searching for the American Red Cross or going to redcross.org/apps. Since October 2014, the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, working with community partners, has saved at least 2,212 lives by educating families about fire safety, helping them create escape plans and installing free smoke alarms in high-risk areas.
TSTC graduates look forward to new careers after fall commencement Community Reports Graduates from Texas State Technical College’s campus in Rosenberg and their families and friends attended TSTC’s Fall 2024 Commencement held December 17 at the Stafford Centre in Stafford. Each of the 130 graduates received either an Associate of Applied Science degree or a certificate of completion in their respective programs. For many of the graduates, the ceremony marked the transition from education to a new journey: their career. Manuel Camacho, a graduate of the HVAC Technology program, was one such person. “I’ve been talking with people from Coolers, Inc. throughout the spring and summer semesters,” Camacho said. “Career Services helped me find them. They’ve been really cool, and I’m looking forward to hopefully being hired.” Abe Aguirre, an HVAC Technology instructor, was excited to see his students begin the next step in their lives. “Even though I just start-
Some 130 students from Texas State Technical College’s Rosenburg campus, received associate degrees or certificates of completion at the Fall Commencement on December 17.
ed in November, it has been amazing to see their hard work and passion they put into their craft,” Aguirre said. “They are all very talented.” Some students had already begun work, even before graduating. Cesar Castellari, who received an associate degree in Industrial Systems, has been working in the field thanks to an internship at Frito Lay.
“English isn’t my first language, so this program (at TSTC) has been really helpful in not only learning the skills needed, but the language, too,” Castellari said. “I’m hoping to carry on at Frito Lay in a full-time position after graduation.” Registration for TSTC’s spring semester is underway. For more information, visit tstc.edu.
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Graduates looked forward to their careers after Texas State Technical College’s Fall Commencement at the Stafford Centre in Stafford.
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Wednesday, December 25, 2024 • PAGE 7
EXPERIENCE THE EXTRAORDINARY AT THE HOUSTON MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCE AT SUGAR LAND WITH SPECIAL HOLIDAY HOURS!
THANKSGIVING WEEK November 23–December 1 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving Day
CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY December 21–December 30 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Closed Christmas Day
NEW YEAR’S EVE Tuesday, December 31 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
NEW YEAR’S DAY 2025 Wednesday, January 1 12 p.m.–5 p.m.
Visit hmns.org/sugarland
THE STAR
PAGE 8 • Wednesday, December 25, 2024
Deadline is noon every Friday. Limit entries to the “5 Ws” Who, What, When, Where, and Why. Email to editor@fortbendstar.com
FOR NON-PROFIT EVENTS
ONGOING ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE GRAND PARKWAY BAPTIST CHURCH
In conjunction with the Literacy Council of Fort Bend Bend County, GPBC will offer ESL classes on Tuesday nights from mid August 2024 through May 2025. We are located at 12000 FM 1464 Richmond across from Austin HS. 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
EMMY-NOMINATED FORT BEND BOYS CHOIR HOLDING AUDITIONS
The Fort Bend Boys Choir is seeking talented young boys who like music and singing. If know of one, encourage him to audition for our award-winning and Emmy-Nominated Fort Bend Boys Choir! No experience is necessary and boys should be around eight years of age or older with an unchanged voice. 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 webpage at www.fbbctx.org or call (281) 240-3800 for more details about auditions. Benefits as a choir member include greater self-esteem and self-confidence, better work ethic and a sense of belonging and community. A boy’s voice has an expiration date so it is important to audition when boys’ voices are still unchanged. Auditions are free!
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.
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
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.
See us online www.FortBendStar.com
male cat for Fix Fix your FREE! Felix Feb. 19 End the overpopulation pet crisis in Houston.
14700 Almeda Rd. Houston, TX 77053 (713)433-6421 | www.HoustonHumane.org EXCHANGE
Sugar Land Rotary Club, the nation’s oldest community service organiza-
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, 281-5751145 or mike@reichekfinancial.com We would love to have you join us
tion, wants you to be its guest at a meeting that could turn out to be the
and see what we are all about!
SUGAR LAND ROTARY CLUB
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, 832-987-4193, dean7351@gmail.com We just started a new evening club also. Contact me for more info.
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.
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.
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.
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 713-8595920 or 281-499-3345.
CANCER SUPPORT GROUP PRESENTATION
The Brightwater Cancer Support Group will present an educational program for the community on January 9, 2025, beginning at 6:30 p.m., at the Southminster Presbyterian Church, 2310 Brightwater Drive in Missouri City. Dr. Issam Raad, Chair, MD Anderson, Department of Infectious Diseases will speak on “Cancer and Infectious Diseases, and the Power of Hope.” Dr. Raad is the Founder and President of Health Outreach to the Middle East, a medical missions organization founded in 1990 that currently sponsors and manages more than 20 charity clinics and hospitals in 14 countries in the Middle East. In 2006, he founded the Worldwide Institute of Medical Education. He is also the Founding and Senior Pastor of the Arabic Church of Houston. RSVPs required: ramirezsusan51@gmail.com
FELICIA SMITH JIGSAW PUZZLE COMPETITION
Register for the family-fun Felicia Smith Jigsaw Puzzle Competition. This exciting event is on January 25, 2025 at Fort Bend Christian Academy, North Campus Gymnasium, 1250 7th., Sugar Land 77478. Teams of four, ages eight and up have two hours to complete a 300-500-1,000-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. For volunteer or sponsor information, or autism resources, visit www.hopeforthree.org
Happy s y a d i l o H from