Fort Bend Independent 031319

VOL 12 No. 11

email: editor@ independent.com

Phone: 281-980-6745 50 cents

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FORT BEND FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2019

P. O.BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487-0623

Official newspaper of Fort Bend County & Missouri City

America is the last best hope for mankind: Muslim doctor tells the party of Lincoln, Reagan and now Trump

By SESHADRI KUMAR The Lincoln Reagan Dinner of the Fort Bend County Republican Party, an annual fundraiser, held on March 1 at the Safari Texas Ranch in Richmond, may turn out to be a watershed moment in the party’s history.

The party of the first elected Republican President, Abraham Lincoln, and the modern day Republican Party of Ronald Reagan, made a bold attempt to reshape its image under President Donald Trump, breaking the perception that the Grand Old Party is racist, antiMuslim and anti-minorities.

Who can make this case better than Dr. Shahid Shafi, a Muslim Republican, who survived the attempt by a faction of his own party to oust him?

Even today, in Fort Bend County, a few in the Republican Party continue to view Dr. Shafi with suspicion because of his religion, but Shafi says his faith in the party and the nation has only been enhanced and not diminished.

And the proof was in his address to the Fort Bend County Republicans and it means something only if one takes him at his words.

Shafi spoke about the efforts to remove him from the party because of his religion in

Tarrant County and shared some of his thoughts on how to grow the party for 2020 and beyond.

“Throughout this ordeal I remained very optimistic because I had faith in the founding principle of our nation that all men are created equal,” Shahid said.

Eventually, by overwhelming vote, the Tarrant County Republican Party rejected the motion to remove him “which reaffirmed my faith in our party and country. It was a shining moment for the Republican Party not just in Tarrant County, but for the entire nation; it is something we all should be proud of as Republicans.”

In 1947, partition caused riots on both sides of India and Pakistan, following the partition of India by the British. And Shahid’s family lost everything because they were Muslims.

“I grew up in Pakistan under brutal dictatorship, where police were an instrument of oppression and killed innocent people whom they were supposed to protect. I came to the US in 1990 with very little except the desire to be the best I could and here, me and my family found freedoms and opportunities that were denied to us back home.

So I remain optimistic about our country,” Shahid said.

In post 9/11 America, when

Left, U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw addresses the Fort Bend County Lincoln Reagan Dinner on March 1; Right, invited guest Dr. Shahid Shafi, with keynote speaker Dr. Ben Carson. Photo by MARY FAVRE. he won the city council seat for Southlake city, his speech on election night contained three words “Only in America.”

Then, Shahid turned to the party’s future in 2020. The party is dying as evidenced by the 2018 mid-term elections, he said.

“To grow, we need to add conservative Americans of all types and not subtracting.

Unfortunately, for the last several years our party has used a variety of litmus tests of purity

Award-winning art piece

and whoever failed the test was labeled as RINO or worse,” Shahid said.

Any attempt to paraphrase Dr. Shahid’s speech runs the risk of diluting his message and here are excerpts from his speech: “We have created artificial divisions in our country, with every group feeling under threat from the other. Men vs women, rural vs urban, whites vs nonwhites, Christians vs Jews and Muslims, immigrants vs nativeborn, straight vs gay, black lives vs blue lives, people who work in our fields and factories vs those who work in offices.

But, I remain optimistic. I am optimistic because of the history of our nation where we have overcome divisions far worse than what we are facing today.

“I remain optimistic because of sacrifices made by individuals like Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, JFK and thousands of men and women who rest in the Arlington National Cemetery and other cemeteries in our country bearing simple marks of a cross, a star, a crescent, or no religious mark at all.

“I remain optimistic because of African American scientists such as Katherine G. Johnson who struggled to get college education and use that education to help launch John Glenn into space and bring him safely back to earth.

“I remain optimistic because of a fellow Muslim American surgeon in Michigan who helped develop a revolutionary bandage

that instantly stopped bleeding when applied to injuries which has saved thousands of lives of civilians, soldiers and police officers.

“I remain optimistic because of your own J.J. Watt who raised over $30 million to help Hurricane Harvey victims.

“I challenge anybody to tell me who among these men and women that I just told you about is not welcome in our party.

“Our message as Republicans should be absolutely clear, unambiguous, unequivocal.

“We recognize no boundaries of race, ethnicity, religion, caste, creed or sexual orientation.

“So, how do we convince these Americans to join us?

The last of the bills identified as priorities by the Lt. Governor were submitted before the deadline on filing legislation for the current session arrived last Friday.

This includes sweeping reform bills like the school finance proposal, a bill that would raise the smoking age to 21 and one to pay back student debt for people who become peace officers.

In a statement released last week, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick said that the slate of 30 bills reflects his own priorities as well as the majority of the Senate.

“They strengthen our support for life, liberty and Texas values, increase protections for taxpayers, and ensure that our democracy remains strong and our economy will continue to grow and create jobs,” it read.

While bills are numbered based on the order they are filed, the Lt. Governor traditionally reserves the lowest bill numbers for legislation he considers important.

In the past two sessions, Patrick has set aside numbers one through 30 for these bills.

Senate Bill 1, as it is every session, is the state budget. Other major priorities, like the teacher pay raise in SB 3 or the mental health consortium envisioned

by SB 10, have already cleared the Senate and are now up for House consideration.

More have been considered in committee, like SB 2, which would put a limit on local property tax rate increases before triggering a ratification election, and SB 11, aimed at

strengthening school safety.

One such bill, SB 18 by Senator Joan Huffman of Houston, was passed out of the State Affairs Committee on Monday. This bill seeks to protect freedom of expression on college campuses.

“I think that college students, our future leaders, should be exposed to all ideas, I don’t care how liberal they are or how conservative they are,” said Huffman.

Her bill would establish a uniform, statewide standard for free expression on campus and reaffirm the state’s commitment to free speech.

It would define all open spaces as public forums for lawful, non-disruptive displays of expression.

Campus administrators can limit things like time, place and manner of expression provided these rules are narrowly tailored and politically unbiased.

When considering whether to approve permits for invited speakers, administrators could only consider neutralviewpoint criteria and couldn’t deny application based on the anticipation of controversy.

This measure now heads to the full Senate for consideration.

Also in committee Monday, the Senate Finance Committee approved the 2018-2019 supplemental budget to align appropriations made in 2017 with actual expenses over the last two years.

The bill’s all funds total is $8.4 billion, with $1.7 billion from general state revenue and $4.4 billion out of the Rainy

Day fund. $3.1 billion of that latter number is dedicated to costs incurred from Hurricane Harvey “I know those are big numbers,” said author and committee chair Senator Jane Nelson of Flower Mound.

“But we all knew that the cost of Harvey was going to be significant.”

Other items in SB 500 include $4.4 million to cover a Medicaid shortfall, $542 million for teacher pensions, $300 million for state hospital improvements and $100 million to harden school campuses and improve safety.

The public got its first look at the Senate version of the school finance reform bill on Friday with the filing of SB 4,

by Friendswood Senator and Education Committee Chair Larry Taylor.

As expected, the bill would direct more money to students who have dyslexia, are economically disadvantaged or enrolled in bilingual education programs.

It seeks to incentivize thirdgrade reading proficiency as well as readiness for college, the workforce or the military by giving districts more money for every low-income student that meets state standards in those areas. It would also allow districts to create effectivenessbased teacher compensation schedules to give pay raises to the best teachers in the district.

The bill was referred to the Education Committee on Monday, but a hearing date has yet to be set. —Richard Lee

See PARTY, Page 2

Priority bills filed in Senate before deadline

The above entry “Just a typical day” by Spoorthi Cherivirala, 11th grader from Dulles High School in Fort Bend ISD, has been listed among the top ten winners by Celebratingart.com.

Last fall, Spoorthi Cherivirala, the art anthology Celebrating Art. deadline is April 4, 2019. This is submitted the above art to a Each Top Ten Winner receives not a contest where every entry contest that was held for student a complimentary copy of the is accepted for publication. Art of high merit will receive an artists throughout the United anthology and a $25 award.

Art pieces are selected for invitation to be published in an States and Canada. Spoorthi was in grade 11 attending Dulles High their creativity, originality, self- anthology.

To enter, students should School at the time of publication. expression, craftsmanship, and submit one original entry online Spoorthi’s art, “Just a skill.

CelebratingArt.com and at www.celebratingart.com. Each Typical Day” was selected from thousands of entries as one of the Blick Art Materials sponsor art piece must be submitted with ten best in his/ her grade division. this contest to offer a creative the student’s name, grade, home Spoorthi is the daughter outlet that honors our youth. address, school name, and school of Ramesh and Anuradha Too often the efforts of young address. For more information, artists are unrecognized and they contact Tom Worthen, Ph.D. at Cherivirala of Sugar Land.

The contest was held for lose their motivation to express CelebratingArt, (435) 755-8126. students in grades K-12. The top themselves. CelebratingArt.com You can also email Dr. Worthen casupport@celebratingart. ten artists in each division (grades has awarded over $50,000 to at K-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12) are each students and teachers since 2010. com.

The upcoming art contest receiving special recognition in

Page 2 • INDEPENDENT • MARCH 13, 2019

NEWS

Martha Mathis, second from left, receives the Fort Bend County GOP’s Volunteer of the Year award from U.S. Rep. Pete Olson. Fort Bend county Republican Party Chairman Jacey Jetton, left, and Jason Walker, right, vice-chairman of the party.

Party

From Page 1 “We convince them to join our party not by converting them to our values but by helping solve real problems faced by ordinary Americans every day.

Our rural communities have been decimated by lack of jobs, and a stranglehold of Meth and opioid addiction.

The American dream of home ownership is now beyond the reach of many families in urban areas.

People who do have health insurance cannot buy lifesaving medicines because of high prices of prescription drugs.

College education has become unaffordable.

Untreated mental health issues had created a selfperpetuating pipeline between homelessness, crime and drug addiction.

Homeowners, especially retirees, are perpetually indebted to the government because of high property taxes.

So to grow in 2020 and beyond we need to offer, conservative, market-driven solutions to these problems faced by everyday Americans.

But to achieve these, we need leaders.

We need leaders with moral courage to make difficult choices. We need leaders to unite us and not divide us.

We need leaders who will spread hope, not fear; we need leaders who agree to disagree with others without dehumanizing or demonizing the other. We need leaders who will be firm in our values but will be willing to negotiate to move our country in the right direction even if it is one yard at a time.

Let us create our own rendezvous with destiny in 2020 by inspiring people to join us by the power of our ideas, ideals, by the power of hope for a better future for all of us.

I believe America is the last best hope for mankind and as guardians of this nation it is our sacred responsibility to overcome our fears and animosities and learn to trust each other to create a more perfect union of all our people so our country may remain that shining city upon the hill, beacon of liberty and hope for our children and for millions of people.

Dan Crenshaw U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw of Houston, a former Navy Seal, in his remarks said “The reason we come together under the names of President Ronald Reagan and Abraham Lincoln is to remind ourselves of the American character, the American ethos, the driving force behind the great American spirit that has created more prosperity and freedom than any other endeavor in American history.”

Conservatives are for limited government and individual rights and consider

God as the ultimate moral authority, he said.

Distinguishing liberals as different from progressives, Crenshaw said progressives are worse than liberals.

Crenshaw said,“We’re under attack from the increasingly radical progressive ideology.

Progressivism is radical change for the sake of change itself – the belief that human nature can be transformed and controlled by government, that the sovereignty of the individual can and should be subsumed by the collective will.”

Progressivism leads to government control and restrictions on our liberties, he said.

Crenshaw outlined five cultural foundations of American culture and character as “Personal responsibility, mental toughness, a sense of duty, virtue and morality; and liberty.”

“If you’re not personally responsible then you’re not empowered and if you’re not empowered then you cannot possibly be mentally tough and if you’re not mentally tough then you cannot survive in a competitive, free society,” he said. “If you’re not personally responsible, then by definition you believe others should be responsible for you, thus infringing on their freedoms, so say goodbye to liberty.

“Finally, if we’re not moral people with concrete, unchangeable virtues, then how on earth can we be trusted with freedom?”

Crenshaw decried the open door policy which compromised the country’s sovereignty. “If you don’t believe in your country, why protect it with a wall?,” Crenshaw asked.

Conservatives should make a stronger case to build an enduring and sustainable society, he said.

The purpose of government is to protect the inalienable rights, not change them…

America is the greatest idea that humankind has ever had and we should not let that be squandered away,” he said.

Ben Carson Housing and Urban Development Secretary, Dr. Ben Carson, a noted neurosurgeon by profession, began his keynote address in a calm and compassionate tone and posed a question to the audience, somewhat like preaching to the choir.

If our school system is crumbling, if Americans are not caring and the society is racist, why do people form a caravan and try to get here?

Carson asked.

It is not about Republicans and Democrats, but about people who love this country and those who fundamentally want to change it, Carson said.

Recalling his own early childhood surrounded by poverty, violence and a struggling single mother,

Carson thought he won’t live more than 25 years.

His mother worked hard from 5 a.m. to midnight and imposed strict discipline on them, forcing them to read. Today, we would have called the social services to complain, Carson quipped.

His mother’s insistence on reading expanded the horizon tremendously, he said.

It is “You who makes you, not somebody else; it is no use blaming others and the environment,” Carson said.

Noting his education at Yale and his becoming director of pediatric surgery at age 33 at Johns Hopkins, Carson said, “this county has been extremely good to me; it required a lot of hard work.”

Alluding to the current political climate, Carson said, “We find ourselves in a difficult situation. A lot of people refuse to accept the results of 2016 and they want to resist.”

Pointing to the record low unemployment level and the booming economy, Carson said, if the previous president was in office when this was going on they’d be thinking he was the greatest person who ever lived in the history of the world.”

“Our President is not a cry baby. He is somebody what we need now,” Carson said about President Trump.

“People who want to change the country don’t like him,” Carson added.

Carson said there is a subtle movement to undermine the country and that involves controlling schools to indoctrinate children, and control the media to indoctrinate the masses.

“And they have to control the courts. The last would have happened if Hillary had been elected President,” Carson said.

Carson deplored the political correctness and the #Metoo movement which made good people to stay away from public service and made good people to shut up, while the country drifted towards other system.

Growing legalization of marijuana is another sign of the society’s decline, he said.

“If you get people to hate each other and get them addicted to drugs, you can destroy the country from within,” he said.

Carson spoke about the barbaric methods used to kill unborn babies.

“What happened to our morality? What happened to our sense of decency?” he asked. “No one will ever convince me that what is in a woman’s womb is a meaningless bunch of cells, it never will happen.”

Carson urged the conservatives to challenge political correctness and stop the freedom from sliding off the cliff. Freedom means we can control our own minds,” he said.

“Our faith in God brought our country this far. We can’t abandon it now.”

FBCGOP Chair Jacey Jetton presents the Precinct Chair of the Year award to Mickey Mixon.

Fanny Jetton shares a lighter moment with Housing and Urban Development Secretary Dr. Ben Carson and her husband, Fort Bend GOP Chair Jacey Jetton, at the pre-event reception at the Lincoln-Reagan Dinner on March 1.

“Strike Out” Autism Family Fun Day

“Strike Out” Autism planning committee is also full of joy and laughs working on the details for a “winning” afternoon for children and families living with autism spectrum disorder. Pictured Standing (L to R) Pam Collins, Hope Collins Montgomery, Emily Gardner, Joan Soland and Mary Dorn. Seated (L to R) Mary Ann Gardner, Elizabeth Chipinski, Samantha Katchy and Darla Farmer. For details regarding event registration, game day tickets, volunteer and sponsorship opportunities, visit hopeforthree.org or call 281.245.0640. — Photo by Hope For Three Together, with Presenting Sponsor Fred and Mabel R. Parks Foundation, Hope For Three will host their 2019 Grand Slam Event of the year, “Strike Out” Autism, held Skeeters Opening Weekend, April 28th at Constellation Field. The 7th Annual Family Fun Day is an afternoon full of autism awareness, smiles, laughter and acceptance for over 100 local families living with autism. “Children on the autism spectrum may be especially sensitive to, and easily overwhelmed by large crowds, loud noises, and changes in routine,” said Darla Farmer, Founder of Hope For Three. “These sensitivities can turn a fun family outing into a sensory and social nightmare for the kiddo. This stops many families from attempting something as simple as a family fun day at the ball park,” continued Farmer. This event is completely free of charge for registered families.

Kids on the spectrum and their siblings, are paired with buddies, who support their participation in activities throughout the day, including an on-field autism awareness parade. Parents, siblings, and kids on the autism spectrum will feel like MVPs for the day. Reserved stadium seat tickets now available: www.hopeforthree.org/events. Sugar Land Skeeters are donating a portion of ticket sales to Hope For Three! Team players (volunteers) are wanted, and All-Star Sponsors and Underwriters needed to give help and hope to local families and children. Call 281.245.0640 or visit hopeforthree.org to learn more and mark your calendars for the Grand Slam Event of the Year.

Download the free FBInd App from the Apple Store or Google Playstore for a pleasant reading of Fort Bend Independent on your mobile phone.

INDEPENDENT • MARCH 13, 2019 • Page 3

NEWS

2019 Reading Between the Wines Sponsor Party

L to R: Co Chair, Dr. Rebecca Deurlein, The Fred & Mabel R. Parks Foundation. Jim McClellan, Co-Chair, Camille Brewer, Co-Chair, Helen Bow

L to R: Committee Member, Anna Kaplan, Literacy Council Board Chair, Leticia Lowe

The 7th annual Reading Between the Wines, presented by The Fred & Mabel R. Parks Foundation, supporting The Literacy Council for Fort Bend County, will be Friday, March 29, 2019 beginning at 6:30pm at Safari Texas Ranch.

This year’s event is cochaired by Helen Bow, Camille Brewer and Dr. Rebecca Deurlein and Honoree Mary Favre. This year’s featured author is Marcus Luttrell. Mr. Luttrell is a former Navy SEAL who wrote the book, Lone Survivor.

Fidos fight cancer at Riverstone Fidos and their humans will be combatting cancer while having fun with the return of Bark for Life, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 23, at Riverstone.

Presented by Lake Olympia Animal Hospital and Sugar Land Veterinary Specialists, the annual non-competitive walk for dogs and their owners will take place at The Club at Riverstone, 18353 University Boulevard. The walk benefits the American Cancer Society.

“Bark for Life recognizes that dogs can be essential to defeating cancer for some patients, as well as also falling victim to the deadly disease themselves,” said Nick Deacon, event leader for the Riverstone Bark for Life.

“According to the American Cancer Society, there will be 1,762,450 new cancer cases diagnosed this year. Cancer also is the leading cause of death among domestic dogs with more than six million canines diagnosed each year.”

Along with the walk, the free and public event features Houston Disc Dogs performances, a DJ, face painting, contests, inflatables, balloon twisters and food trucks — as well as vendors offering a variety of pooch-

worthy items. The first 200 dogs will receive p u p friendly swag bags.

B a c k for another year is the Adopt A Dog for a Day program sponsored by Fort B e n d Animal Services.

“People love the opportunity to take a shelter dog for a spin,” Deacon Dogs and their owners will be able to walk for said. “Our cancer research and enjoy a day of caninegoal is for themed fun during Bark for Life, slated for 9 them to fall a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 23. in love with the dog throughout the course of the event and hopefully give it a ‘furever’ home.”

Golden Paw sponsor Nature Dog Photography will be snapping “Doggie & Me” photos. Other sponsors include Best Entertainers, Natural Pawz and All Around Bounce.

For more information about Bark for Life or to register, visit www.relayforlife.org/barkriverstonetx.

For more information, visit www.riverstone.com.

Meet Tex, a male, 5-year old wire-hair terrier mix looking to be adopted by a fur-ever family. Tex loves to take long walks and cuddle.

He would be the perfect addition to a family with children.

Tex has been neutered and has tested negative for heartworms. He has also been vaccinated and dewormed.

To visit Tex and other pets at the #MCTX Animal Shelter, or to inquire about adopting them, call 281.403.8707. The shelter is located behind the City Hall complex at 1923 Scanlin Rd.

L to R: Event Co-Chair, Dr. Rebecca Deurlein, Co-Chair, Helen Bow, Co-Chair, Camille Brewer, Pat Somers, Brad Somers, Literacy Council Executive Director, Kelli Metzenthin.

The committee recently hosted current sponsors, guest authors, and friends at a Sponsor Party, held at the home of Pat and Brad Somers. Guests enjoyed a cocktail buffet generously donated by Safari Texas Ranch.

Sponsorship and underwriting opportunities are still available ranging in price from $500-$5,000.

You can also choose to attend with your Book Club of 10 guests for $1000.

Individual reservations

are available for $125 and include live music, wine, a “restaurant stroll” featuring tastes from local chefs and restaurants, the opportunity to bid on exciting auction items and the chance to win a cash raffle. For more information, please email the Events Coordinator, Alexandra Sanchez, at asanchez@ftbendliteracy. org or call 281-240-8181.

Since 1987, the Literacy Council of Fort Bend County has been Changing Lives through Literacy.

The mission of the Literacy Council is to end intergenerational cycles of illiteracy by improving adult literacy skills and generate community-wide literacy awareness.

The Literacy Council provides several programs for its students: Basic Literacy, English as a Second Language, GED Preparation, U.S. Citizenship Preparation, Computer Skills and Job Readiness Skills.

Nine in custody after Family Dollar burglary Rosenberg police officers assisted in the investigation and apprehension of nine burglary suspects involved in numerous burglaries in the City of Rosenberg early Wednesday, March 06, 2019.

Initially officers were alerted to motor vehicle burglaries at the Pecan Park Apartments 1217 Westwood Drive. Officers were also dispatched to 5130 Avenue H, a Family Dollar retail location, in reference to a burglary in progress.

As officers arrived to the scene suspects were observed running from a building where apparent signs of forced entry were made to the

Family Dollar business. Suspects used a stolen vehicle to crash through the front of the store to gain entry to the Family Dollar business. Responding officers were able to capture nine suspects residing in Houston who will be charged with numerous counts of Burglary and Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity.

“Two weeks in a row we have a group of individuals enter our city with the intent to perpetrate crimes and have been provided transportation and housing in the local county jail” commented Police Chief Jonathan White. “We’re proud of the work our officers

NOTICE OF CONSTABLE SALE The State of Texas County of Fort Bend

NOTICE OF CONSTABLE SALE The State of Texas County of Fort Bend

By virtue of an Order of Sale issued out of the Honorable 434TH DISTRICT COURT of FORT BEND County on March 7, 2019 by the Clerk thereof, in the case of FORT BEND INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT VS. GERALD COLLINS, ET ALi n Cause# 15-DCV -222618 and to me, as CONSTABLE directed and delivered, I will proceed to sell, at 10:00 0’ Clock AM on the 2nd day of April, 2019, which is the first Tuesday of said month, at the William B. Travis Building, First Floor Meeting Room, 301 Jackson Street, Richmond Texas 77469-3108 of said FORT BEND County, in the City of RICHMOND, Texas, the following described property, to wit: TRACT I: GEO: 8700100040130 LOT 13, IN BLOCK 4, OF TEAL RUN, SECTION I 0, AN ADDITION IN FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF, RECORDED IN SLIDE NO. 1933/A, OF THE PLAT RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS. Levied on March 8, 2019 as the property of GERALD COLLINS, JEMENDA COLLINS UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, TEAL RUN GENERAL MAINTENANCE ASSOCIATION, INC. to satisfy a judgment amounting to $4,481.70, representing delinquent taxes, penalties, interest, and attorney’s fees through the date of judgment, plus all costs of court, costs of sale, and post judgment penalties and interest recoverable by law in favor of FORT BEND COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT# 23.

ALL BIDDERS MUST COMPLY WITH SECTION 34.015 OF THE TEXAS PROPERTY TAX CODE. Given under my hand on March 8, 2019.

By virtue of an Order of Sale issued out of the Honorable 458TH DISTRICT COURT of FORT BEND County on March 7, 2019 by the Clerk thereof, in the case of FORT BEND INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT VS. MARIO ACOSTA GONZALEZ in Cause # 15-DCV-224773 and to me, as CONSTABLE directed and delivered, I will proceed to sell, at 10:00 0’ Clock AM on the 2nd day of April, 2019, which is the first Tuesday of said month, at the William B. Travis Building, First Floor Meeting Room, 301 Jackson Street, Richmond Texas 774693108 of sa id FORT BEND County, in the City of RICHMOND, Texas, the following described property, to wit: TRACT I: GEO: 1938007700011 LOT 12, TN BLOCK 9, OF SOUTH MAIN PLAZA ADDITION, A SUBDIVISION IN HARRIS AND FORT BEND COUNTIES, TEXAS, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF RECORDED IN VOLUME 40, PAGE I, OF THE MAP RECORDS OF HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS, AND RECORDED IN VOLUME 304, PAGE 193 OF THE DEED RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS. (PROPERTY LIES WHOLLY WITHIN FORT BEND COUNTY.) Levied on March 8, 2019 as the property of MARIO ACOSTA GONZALEZ to satisfY a judgment amounting to $2,483.46, representing delinquent taxes, penalties, interest, and attorney’s fees through the date of judgment, plus all costs of court, costs of sale, and post judgment penalties and interest recoverable by law in favor of CITY OF HOUSTON. ALL BIDDERS MUST COMPLY WITH SECTION 34.015 OF THE TEXAS PROPERTY TAX CODE. Given under my hand on March 8, 2019.

Mike Beard Constable, Precinct One Fort Bend County, Texas BY: Deputy John Morales Deputy Constable #1114

Mike Beard Constable, Precinct One Fort Bend County, Texas BY: Deputy John Morales Deputy Constable #1114

and other law enforcement counterparts are doing to keep our city safe.”

Anyone with information regarding a crime is encouraged to contact Fort Bend County Crime Stoppers at 281-342-TIPS (8477).

You can also submit online at http://www.fortbend. crimestoppersweb.com/ If that tip leads to an arrest you can receive a cash reward!

Information, which leads to the apprehension and filing of charges on the suspect(s) involved, could earn you up to $5,000.00 CASH REWARD. All calls to Crime Stoppers are ANONYMOUS

NOTICE OF CONSTABLE SALE NOTICE OF LEVY REAL PROPERTY Under and by virtue of a Writ of Execution and I or Order of Sale issued on the 28th day of February, 2019 by the 400th District Court of Fort Bend County, Texas in cause# 18-DCV-250393 in favor of the Plaintiff - The Oaks Of Rosenberg Community Association, Inc. Plaintiff, for the sum of $6,198.26 ++++costs as taxed on said Execution and I or Order of Sale and further the sum of executing the same. Therefore, on the 8th day of March, 2019, I, Constable Mike Beard of Precinct One Fort Bend County, have levied on and have seized all rights, title, interest, and claim to which the said Defendant(s)- Michele N. Bartee had of, in, or to the following described real property, and will offer for sale on the 2nd day of April, 2019 at the William B. Travis Building, first floor meeting room, 301 Jackson Street, Richmond, Texas 77469 of said Fort Bend County between the hours of ten o’clock a.m. and four o’ clock p.m., any and all rights, title, interests and claims which the above defendant had of, in, or to the following described real property situated in Fort Bend County, Texas; viz: LEGAL DESCRIPTION: LOT FORTY-THREE (43), BLOCK TWO (2), OF THE OAKS OF ROSENBERG, SECTION ONE (1), AN ADDITION IN FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF, RECORDED IN SLIDE NO. 20070032 OF THE PLAT RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, MORE COMMONLY DESCRIBED AS 5419 BELVEDERE DRIVE, ROSENBERG, TEXAS 77471 ADJUDGED/MARKET VALUE: $271,370.00 Property is sold with all encumbrances and liens affixed thereto. All sales are final.

Terms: Cash or Money Order Sale to be held at or about 10:00 A.M. Mike Beard Constable, Precinct One Fort Bend County, Texas BY: Deputy John Morales Deputy Constable #1114

Page 4 • INDEPENDENT • MARCH 13, 2019

OPINION

FBISD trustee alleges “bullying tactics’ by small section of Riverstone community

By KRISTIN TASSIN Rezoning is one of the worst parts of my job as a Trustee.

Regardless of what decisions trustees make, someone in the district will likely be upset.

But, in a fast growth district like FBISD, rezoning is inevitable.

With 80 campuses, FBISD is already the eighth largest school district in Texas, and we are continuing to grow.

As neighborhoods and master-planned communities develop, existing schools become overcrowded, new schools must be built, and student populations have to be shifted to balance enrollment.

We do our best as trustees to listen to feedback from every community. Ultimately, we must make decisions based on data and what we think is best for kids.

Usually, even when residents are unhappy with our decisions, they understand the difficulty of our job and realize the impact decisions have on their neighboring communities.

Most communities work for compromise and are constructive in their feedback and how they engage with trustees.

Recently, however, members of one community have chosen to harass and bully trustees into cowering to their will.

Members of this community, which is a small portion of the

Colony.

The Board specifically stated in 2014 that this was a temporary solution and that once students could return to their zoned campus, the rebalancing between First Colony and Fort Settlement would happen. That time has come.

The only reason rezoning was not done this past fall is because the Board was diligently looking for land to build the new elementary school that the Riverstone community asked for. Now that the land has been found, we are proceeding with rebalancing as has been discussed for years.

The majority of the communities in the area support this rezoning.

Only a loud, angry few within Riverstone have threatened legal action against board members and engaged a former reporter turned political consultant to bombard trustees and administrative staff with multiple Public Information Act requests seeking six months of personal phone records, all in an attempt to bully trustees into doing what they want.

The district will likely be required to expend thousands of taxpayer dollars to assemble, redact and produce personal records for dozens of personnel.

Thousands more in taxpayer dollars could be wasted as FBISD must now consider

Tassin Riverstone development, are acting like they are the only community that matters.

The divisive tactics employed by these individuals are, ultimately, hurting students and the greater FBISD community.

These individuals are unhappy that some students will be rezoned from Fort Settlement Middle School to First Colony Middle School, a recommendation that was actually made five years ago. Rebalancing enrollment between these two middle schools has been discussed openly and publicly by the Board since 2014.

This is not new information nor is it secret.

Rezoning in this area was postponed in 2014 only to relieve overcrowding at Baines Middle School by moving some Baines students into First

whether to issue trustees and staff phones and computers in order to protect personal information on personal devices.

This takes resources, money and focus away from educating students.

This is especially damaging at a time when we struggle to find funding for technology in our classrooms, a literacy center that helps at-risk children read, an early intervention center that helps students with disabilities prepare for the classroom, and new Early College and P-Tech programs at our more struggling high schools. This is where our money and focus should be.

Ironically, as many in the FBISD community know, trustees have taken great measures to listen and make decisions that these individuals in the Riverstone community have asked for in the past, the most recent of which is finding land within Riverstone for a new elementary school.

This community has not been rezoned any more than any other fast growth community but, even as more and more houses are being built around them, they complain as if they are the only community impacted.

As residents in Sienna, Aliana, Commonwealth and other communities know, Riverstone is not the only community im-

NOTICE OF SALE STATE OF TEXAS

BY VIRTUE OF AN ORDER OF SALE

§ § §

FORT BEND COUNTY

and issued pursuant to judgment decree(s) of the District Court of Fort Bend County, Texas, by the Clerk of said Court on said date, in the hereinafter numbered and styled suit(s) and to me directed and delivered as Sheriff or Constable of said County, I have on February 25, 2019, seized, levied upon, and will, on the first Tuesday in April, 2019, the same being the 2nd day of said month, at 301 Jackson Street, William Travis Building, 1st Floor Meeting Room in the City of Richmond, Texas 77469, between the hours of 10 o'clock a.m. and 4 o'clock p.m. on said day, beginning at 10:00 AM, proceed to sell for cash to the highest bidder all the right, title, and interest of the defendants in such suit(s) in and to the following described real estate levied upon as the property of said defendants, the same lying and being situated in the County of Fort Bend and the State of Texas, to-wit: Sale #

Cause # Judgment Date

Acct # Order Issue Date

Style of Case

Legal Description

FORT BEND COUNTY VS. FRANCES G VELASQUEZ, AKA FRANCISCA G VELASQUEZ, ET AL

LOT 47, RUBY'S SUB'D, WM NEAL SURV, ABST 64, VOL 751, PG 110*

1

16-DCV232656 12/11/18

006400000094791 0 FEBRUARY 21, 2019

2

17-DCV242090 12/06/18

002900000019190 FORT BEND COUNTY VS. BRANDON LAVAR PITTMAN, ET 1 AL FEBRUARY 21, 2019

0.170 ACRE, MORE OR LESS, CHURCHILL FULSHEAR LEAGUE, ABST 29, CLERK'S FILE# 9255050*

3

17-DCV242152 12/11/18

040400000180191 FORT BEND COUNTY VS. RITA 0 SMITH AKA RITA T KPOTIE SMITH FEBRUARY 21, 2019

1.3029 ACRES, MORE OR LESS, JANE DEES SURV, ABST 404, CLERK'S FILE# 2009124783*

Adjudged Value

Estimated Minimum Bid

$49,610.00

$15,500.00

$143,960.00

$14,400.00

$64,170.00

$7,800.00

(any volume and page references, unless otherwise indicated, being to the Deed Records, Fort Bend County, Texas, to which instruments reference may be made for a more complete description of each respective tract.) or, upon the written request of said defendants or their attorney, a sufficient portion of the property described above shall be sold to satisfy said judgment(s), interest, penalties, and cost; and any property sold shall be subject to the right of redemption of the defendants or any person having an interest therein, to redeem the said property, or their interest therein, within the time and in the manner provided by law, and shall be subject to any other and further rights to which the defendants or anyone interested therein may be entitled, under the provisions of law. Said sale to be made by me to satisfy the judgment(s) rendered in the above styled and numbered cause(s), together with interest, penalties, and costs of suit, and the proceeds of said sales to be applied to the satisfaction thereof, and the remainder, if any, to be applied as the law directs.

RECENT CHANGES IN THE PROPERTY TAX CODE NOW REQUIRE PURCHASERS OF TAX SALE PROPERTY TO HAVE A STATEMENT FROM THE FORT BEND COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR CERTIFYING THAT THE PERSON/FIRM/COMPANY PURCHASING PROPERTY AT A TAX SALE OWES NO DELINQUENT PROPERTY TAXES TO ANY TAXING ENTITY WITHIN THE COUNTY. YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE A TAX SALE DEED TO ANY PROPERTY YOU PURCHASE WITHOUT THIS CERTIFICATE. TO OBTAIN A CERTIFICATE, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR FORT BEND COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR AT LEAST TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE SALE. Dated at Richmond, Texas, February 25, 2019 Constable Wayne Thompson Fort Bend County, Texas By Deputy Notes: The Minimum Bid is the lesser of the amount awarded in the judgment plus interest and costs or the adjudged value.

However, the Minimum Bid for a person owning an interest in the property or for a person who is a party to the suit (other than a taxing unit), is the aggregate amount of the judgments against the property plus all costs of suit and sale. ALL SALES SUBJECT TO CANCELLATION WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. THERE MAY BE ADDITIONAL TAXES DUE ON THE PROPERTY WHICH HAVE BEEN ASSESSED SINCE THE DATE OF THE JUDGMENT. For more information, contact your attorney or LINEBARGER GOGGAN BLAIR & SAMPSON, LLP., attorney for plaintiffs, at (713) 844-3576

pacted by growth and certainly not the only community to have to be rezoned.

As trustees we expect communities to advocate for their positions, provide feedback, and engage with us personally and via email.

But, one community should not be allowed to dominate and usurp district time and money to the detriment of students and other communities.

The greater FBISD community should stand together against the bullying tactics employed by these individuals.

Our students deserve better.

(Kristin Tassin is a member

of the Fort Bend ISD Board of Trustees and mother of three daughters attending FBISD schools. She is managing partner of a law firm practicing intellectual property and special education law, and she is co-founder and director of a charitable organization that supports children with disabilities and their families. Tassin was founding PTO President at a Title 1 school, currently serves on the TASA School Facilities Committee and is chair of the Special Education Continuing Advisory Committee, to which she was appointed

by Governor Abbott.

Senate approves teacher pay raise as first bill AUSTIN Teachers would get a $5000 boost to their annual salaries as the Senate passed its first bill of the 86th Session Monday.

SB 3, by Finance Committee Chair and Flower Mound Senator Jane Nelson, would make that raise effective for the school year beginning this fall. Nelson said she’s set aside nearly $4 billion in the state budget to cover the pay hike for the state’s 350,000 public school teachers.

“The one thing we should do, first and foremost, is to recognize the need to uplift our entire teaching profession,” she said. An amendment added to the bill on the floor would include school librarians in the pay raise. Nelson was emphatic in her remarks on the floor that this bill wouldn’t prevent additional, merit-based pay scales expected in the Senate’s forthcoming school finance bill.

The second bill to pass this year also belongs to Nelson, and it seeks to increase access to mental health care for children and adolescents. In presenting the bill Tuesday, she said that she is deeply troubled by the impact that mental illness is having on the state’s young people.

“The goal of this bill is to provide early intervention for these children and adolescents and get them into treatment before they become a danger to themselves or others,” said Nelson.

Her bill would create a consortium of mental health professionals at the state’s medical schools to develop plans to leverage remote medical technology to provide that intervention.

One provision would create a system where pediatricians who detect signs of developing mental issues in their young patients could use telemedical services to consult with psychiatrists based at medical institutions.

Another would ask this consortium to develop a system whereby at-risk students could be assessed via telehealth technology and referred to treatment as needed.

Wednesday, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick joined Senate members to announce a package of bills dealing with disaster relief and recovery in the wake of 2017’s Hurricane Harvey. These three measures would help the state plan for, pay for and respond to future natural disasters.

The first, SB 8 by Lubbock Senator Charles Perry, would create a statewide flood mitigation plan, one that divides the state into regions based on river basins and then allows regional officials and stakeholders to figure out what projects they need to protect people and property from flooding. The state would ensure that those plans work with each other, and combine them into a statewide plan.

Harvey recovery gave officials the opportunity to see where disaster rescue and relief efforts worked, and where they didn’t said Brenham Senator Lois Kolkhorst. Her bill, SB 6, would use that experience to create a model guide for officials about what to do in the immediate aftermath of a natural disaster.

Experts on disaster response would develop a manual describing how to seek aid from federal and non-profit sources, how to dispose of debris and respond to housing needs. “Senate Bill 6 will serve as a road map to prepare our state for future hurricanes and natural disasters,” said Kolkhorst.

The final bill in the package, SB 7 by Conroe Senator Brandon Creighton, would create a financial structure to pay for aid, planning and flood projects. Many federal aid programs require that local entities put money up front in order to qualify for fund matches.

These tend to be quite generous, some programs offering as much as a 9 to 1 federal to local fund ratio, but cities and counties still have to find the funds to participate. Creighton’s bill would create a fund to help local governments do just that, as well as offer grants or low-interest loans for flood mitigation projects. $1.8 billion from the state’s Rainy Day Fund would pay for this program and the other two bills.

Another $1.2 billion in RDF money, said Patrick, will go to cover lost local school tax revenue caused by property damage and to pay back some of the expenses incurred by government agencies over the last year and a half as they dealt with unexpected Harvey-related expenses.

—RICHARD LEE

FBISD Chief Financial Officer, Board President respond

In advance of the current 86th Legislative Session, the Fort Bend ISD Board of Trustees adopted resolutions urging lawmakers to make School Finance and School Safety Legislative Priorities. Since then, District staff and trustees have been actively involved in many conversations with lawmakers to advocate on behalf of the District’s more than 76,000 students and more than 11,000 staff members, and remain hopeful that a long-term solution to the state’s broken school finance system can be achieved.

Senate Bill 3, adopted by the Senate this week, would increase teacher pay by $5,000.

Prior to Senate approval, language was added to include

librarians. However, FBISD Chief Financial Officer Steve Bassett is concerned about what the bill lacks: funding to make the raises sustainable and available to other employees.

“We recognize the need to increase teacher pay statewide. However, it is unfortunate that other employees are not included, such as nurses, counselors, classroom aides, custodians, bus drivers and the others who contribute to the success of our students,” said Bassett.

Bassett, a school finance expert who has already testified to lawmakers this year, also expressed concern about the elimination of the Cost of See RESPONSE, Page 5

INDEPENDENT • MARCH 13, 2019 • Page 5

NEWS Senator Huffman announces legislation Why HPV-related cancers are to combat human trafficking on the rise and how a simple

Austin— Senator Joan Huffman (R Houston) announced Monday that she has filed Senate Bills 20, 1801, 1802, and 1803 each with a unique approach to ending human trafficking in Texas.

“The Texas Legislature is doing its part to end human trafficking. I am working with the Governor and Lt. Governor, my colleagues, law enforcement, survivor advocates, and other stakeholders to pass these bills into law,” said Senator Huffman.

“Protecting vulnerable Texans and punishing those who engage in human trafficking are top priorities of mine. These bills will make a significant impact throughout the state once they are signed into law.”

Senate Bill 20 codifies the fourteen recommendations from the Texas Human Trafficking Prevention Task Force report, issued in December, 2018.

These recommendations crack down on illicit massage businesses, enhance investigative and prosecutorial tools, and protect trafficking

victims.

The report can be viewed at https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/ files/files/divisions/criminaljustice/HumanTraffickingReport-2018.pdf.

Senate Bill 1801 provides to trafficking survivors a onetime ability to make confidential records of crimes that their traffickers forced them to commit.

Senate Bill 1802 creates enhanced punishments for sex trafficking crimes, and provides new prosecutorial tools to fight those crimes. Senate Bill 1803 ensures that traffickers are required to spend time in jail when convicted of their crimes.

Governor Greg Abbott said, “We must do everything we can to eliminate human trafficking in Texas and to protect the survivors of these horrific crimes. I applaud Senator Huffman for her leadership in developing solutions that crack down on human trafficking, put dangerous criminals behind bars, and provide care and rehabilitation services for victims. Together, we will send a message that the

ideals of freedom, justice, and human dignity will always prevail in the State of Texas.”

Senator Huffman has filed several other human trafficking bills this session.

SB 458 requires human trafficking training for members of boards of trustees and superintendents of independent school districts.

SB 498 creates remedies for businesses who rent office space close to human trafficking enterprises to get out of their lease, and enhances the ability of landlords to dismiss tenants who engage in human trafficking practices.

SB 696 streamlines requirements for peace officers to complete mandatory training on human trafficking.

SB 923 prohibits persons younger than 21 years of age from working at a sexually oriented business, and creates a common nuisance for sexually oriented businesses that allow children younger than 18 on their premises.

SB 1257 develops the attorney general’s authority to investigate and prosecute trafficking crimes, concurrently with local prosecutors.

Lamar CISD and Stafford MSD have contested races

By BARBARA FULENWIDER The Lamar Consolidated ISD, and the Stafford Municipal School District each have a fair sized group of candidates running for office.

Candidates who have applied for Lamar CISD’s District 4 board seat are Sofia Sheikh and Joy Williams.

Sheikh, 42, is a treasury analyst and has lived in Sugar Land for 16 years.

Williams, 44, is an educator and administrative assistant and has lived in Texas for 43 years and in Sugar Land for almost 12 years. The two candidates who are wanting to win the District 5 seat on the LCISD Board are Charlotte Teion Parker and Jon Welch.

Parker will be on the ballet as Teion Parker and is director of provider relations. She is 45 years old and has lived in Texas all her life and in Richmond, for almost 15 years.

Welch, 47, is a marketing director, and has lived in Richmond, Tx., for almost 11 years.

District 7 candidates are Alex Hunt and Melvin Nash.

Hunt is a 34-year-old attorney who has lived in Texas for 18 years and in Katy, Tx., for 3 years.

Nash, 67, is an executive at Nash Industries and a general contractor. He has lived in Texas for 67 years and in Weston Lakes, Tx., for 10

years.

None of the candidates running for the three seats on the LCISD Board are incumbents.

Stafford MSD has six candidates running for three seats on the board. They are Ashish Hamirani, Greg Holsapple, Alicia LacyCastille, Angela LaCour, Mary Ann Smith, and Lana Hoesing.

Holsapple and LacyCastille are both incumbents hoping to retain their seats.

The hopefuls are LaCour, who is on the SMSD Education Foundation; Smith, who is on the district’s bond oversite committee, and Hoesing, who is with the Promenade HOA.

Latino Art Exhibit @ George Memorial Library Fort Bend County Libraries’ George Memorial Library announces the opening of a special exhibit, “Color Outside the Lines: Latino Art Now!,” on Sunday, March 24, in the Bohachevsky Gallery of the library, located at 1001 Golfview in Richmond. The public is invited to attend an opening day artists’ reception from 2:00 to 4:00 pm.

The exhibit, which showcases the artwork of 29 Latino women, will be on display through May 19.

Presented in collaboration with CAM Fort Bend, the exhibit features exquisite artwork created by members of Latin American Women Artists, Houston (LAWAH) from the Glassell School of Art of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

LAWAH was established

by Glassell School instructor

Response From Page 4 Education Index, which is included as part of House Bill 3, the funding bill introduced in the House on Tuesday.

“HB3, as presented this week, will not provide enough funding for FBISD to increase compensation for our other employees, or to make needed investments in safety and security, early literacy and special education without going back to our taxpayers to increase the tax rate,” said Bassett.

“On the surface, the initial estimates produced by the Legislative Budget Board,

Arielle Masson to give a more powerful voice to the artists, and to enable them to connect with and support each other.

All members of the group are students of the Glassell School of Art. Award-winning Venezuelan artist Lorena Morales will jury the exhibition. Morales’ artworks have been exhibited nationally and internationally.

As part of the exhibit, “chromospheric flowers” created by Morales will be on display as a hanging garden on the secondfloor landing of the library.

The exhibit is curated by CAM Fort Bend founder and director Ana VillarongaRoman. A member of Texas Women for the Arts and The Association of Art Museum Curators, Villaronga-Ramon was named Woman of the Year for Art 2018 by Sucesos newspaper and Solo Mujeres

Magazine.

The exhibit is part of Latino Art Now! 2019, a signature event of the Inter-University for Latino Research (IUPLR) consortium and hosted by the University of Houston Center for Mexican-American Studies (UH-CMAS).

The initiative explores and celebrates Latin American visual artists in the United States.

The Bohachevsky Gallery at Fort Bend County Libraries’ George Memorial Library is one of a number of galleries throughout the Houston area that will be participating in the prestigious collection of exhibitions.

The exhibit may be viewed during regular library hours.

For more information, call the library system’s Communications Office at 281-633-4734.

which are based on 2017-18 data, show that FBISD would gain $207 per student, but the figures do not show the full story due to the elimination of the Cost of Education Index. As presented, and with consideration of current law, FBISD appears to have a break-even scenario at best, leaving no funding left for salary increases, additional safety and mental health resources, or the expansion of programs for our special education and at-risk student populations.”

FBISD Board President Jason Burdine also expressed guarded optimism about the impending work in the legislature. Both Bassett and

Burdine add that more information will be needed for the District to fully understand the potential impact to Fort Bend ISD and its students.

“We appreciate that HB3 is a good first pass at a longterm solution,” said Burdine.

“Upon first review, we are concerned by the elimination of the Cost of Education Index as it looks like what we will receive is less than what we would have received under current law. In the coming days the District will be reviewing the bill in more detail so that we – and our community members – can continue to advocate for what is best for the students of FBISD.”

screening can save your life

Doctors at Houston Methodist Cancer Center at Sugar Land are urging men and women to take precautions against cancers caused by the human papillomavirus, or HPV. HPV refers to a group of more than 150 related viruses that can affect the human body, including the virus that causes simple warts on the hand or feet. Because they are so common, experts believe that as many as 80 percent of Americans have an HPV infection at some point in their lives.

“HPV is transmitted by skin-to-skin contact,” said Sindhu Nair, M.D., boardcertified hematologist oncologist with Houston Methodist Oncology Partners at Sugar Land. “The good news is that most of the time, HPV goes away on its own without causing any lasting problems.

However, sometimes – especially when the virus is spread by intimate contact, such as vaginal, anal or oral sex – it can lead to genital warts or even cancer.”

HPV-related cancers are growing rapidly in the U.S. Researchers estimate that more than 42,000 cases of HPV-associated cancers are diagnosed each year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HPV causes: • 91-99 percent of cervical cancers • 91 percent of anal cancers • 75 percent of vaginal cancers • 72 percent of oropharyngeal cancers • 69 percent of vulvar cancers • 63 percent of penile cancers Two common cancers caused by HPV are cervical cancer in women and head and neck cancers in men and women.

“Understanding the prevalence of HPV and how it impacts your cancer risk is critical,” said Nair. “Ideally,

boys and girls at age 11 or 12, should receive the HPV vaccine series. However, girls ages 13-26 and boys ages 1321 who have not been vaccinated should get vaccinated.”

The HPV vaccine has been in use for more than a decade, and over 200 million people around the world have received the vaccination series.

“HPV vaccines are approved by the FDA and there have been no serious safety concerns identified,” said Nair. “The American Cancer Society, the Center for Disease Control and the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices all recommend HPV vaccination.”

In addition, you should make certain you are regularly screened for cervical cancer and/or head and neck cancer, including oral cancer.

Women should receive annual Pap tests beginning at age 21 and continuing through age 65. Men and women should be screened annually for oral, head and neck cancers.

“Many HPV-associated cancers are actually preventable, thanks to the vaccine and to safe sexual practices,” said Nair. “People with questions about HPV or the vaccine should talk with their doctor.”

Free oral, head and neck screening In partnership with the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance, join Sindhu Nair, M.D., board-certified hematologist oncologist; Alexander Wong,

M.D., board-certified oncologist; and L.T. Johnson, D.D.S., board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon, for a free oral, head and neck cancer screening with appointments starting at 8 a.m. on Saturday, April 27 at the Houston Methodist Cancer Center at Sugar Land, 16675 Southwest Fwy., Sugar Land, TX, 77479.

Limited appointments are available for this event.

For full details, restrictions and to schedule an appointment for a screening, visit events.houstonmethodist.org/ cancerscreening-sl or call 281.205.4514. We ask that attendees arrive 15 minutes prior to their scheduled appointment to complete the appropriate paperwork.

MANAGING FINANCIAL TOXICITY AFTER A CANCER DIAGNOSIS Join us for a free class on managing the financial toxicity of cancer and its treatment at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 7 in Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s Main Pavilion Conference Rooms A & D. For more information or to register, visit events.houstonmethodist.org/financial-sl or call 281.205.4514.

To learn more about Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, visit houstonmethodist.org/sugarland or our Facebook page at fb.com/ methodistsugarland for the latest news, events and information.

Fort Bend Chamber presents updates on the Stafford Grid project The Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce’s Governmental Relations Division will host an informative presentation on The Grid redevelopment on the former Texas Instrument (TI) site in Stafford, on Thursday, March 28, from 7:30 a.m. – 9 a.m. at the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce office, 445 Commerce Green Blvd., Sugar Land, TX 77478.

The guest speaker, Brian Murphy, is the Managing Principal of StreetLevel Investments, an investment and development firm with an expertise for ground-up, valueadded and distressed assets which are transformed into dynamic retail, entertainment, dining, medical, residential and hotel environments through public and private partnerships.

StreetLevel Investments and joint-venture partner Provident Realty Advisors, Inc. have broken ground on the much-anticipated, expansive mixed-use development coming to Stafford.

Spanning 192 acres, the Grid will integrate 350,000

Murphy square feet of destination retail and restaurant concepts; 2,400 residential units; 500,000 square feet of creatively focused office space; multiple hotel brands and concepts; a premier health club; a luxury cinema; a network of pocket parks, jogging and bike trails; and activated public space, together in a walkable urban district.

The Grid will create a vibrant community gathering place for residents, office workers and visitors from neighboring communities throughout Fort Bend County.

It is strategically located at the

gateway to Fort Bend’s Innovation Corridor; providing a rich history of world-changing innovation and we look forward to a new economic growth in the southwest Houston region.

The Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce Governmental Relations Division provides Chamber members with access to local and state government officials which offers the business community an opportunity for input on these issues. Details of upcoming events can be found at www.

FortBendChamber.com.

Registration is open. Event Presenting Sponsorship: $600, includes reserved seating for 6, recognition at the event, and logo recognition on all printed and digital marketing materials.

Member Reservation: $25.

Prospective Member Reservation and onsite admission: $35. Lunch included.

Register today at www.

FortBendChamber.com or contact Matthew Ferraro at 281-491-0277 or Matthew@ fortbendcc.org.

Public hearing on school names The Lamar CISD Board of Trustees is in the process of reviewing nominations for the names of the new elementary schools, along with the new junior high and high school. The Board will name the following schools as part of the November 2017 Bond Election: Elementary #30, Elementary #31, Junior High School #6 and High School #6. Elementary #29 is funded from the November 2017 Bond Election, but it has already been named Fletcher Morgan Elementary School by the Board, due to the need for Tamarron Elementary to open first. Staff, parents and community members have all submitted names for the Board to review as a part of the school naming process. The Board has been provided with all nominations submitted. There will be a public hearing on the school name nominations at 6 p.m. on March 19. The Board is scheduled to approve the school names on Apr. 18.

INDEPENDENT • MARCH 13, 2019 • Page 6

AUTOMOBILE: Volkwagen Jetta

By BARBARA FULENWIDER The Volkswagen Jetta is one of the world’s most successful sedans, with more than 17.5 million sold worldwide since it was introduced in 1979. Of that total more than 3.2 million have sold in the United States.

Now the all-new 2019 Jetta offers bolder design, more interior space and the newest technology from the premium class. The 2019 Volkswagen Jetta is available in S, SE, RLine, SEL, and SEL Premium trim levels.

Pricing for the Jetta S,

which includes new technology and features, is $18,745.

The SE trim has an MSRP of $22,395 and the sporty R-Line starts at $23,245. The SEL model is $24,693 and the test drive SEL Premium retails for $26,695.

The Jetta interior is rede-

signed and has more headroom, knee room, and shoulder room. The trunk has 14.1 cubic feet of space and splitfolding rear seats (60/40) are standard.

The power-adjustable seats of the SEL Premium offer standard perforated-leather seating surfaces with heating and front-seat ventilation. Every 2019 Jetta comes with a multi-function steering wheel that is leather-wrapped and can include optional heating.

Other standard equipment is the panoramic glass tilt/slide sunroof that is on all models.

Jetta SEL models offer four driving modes to choose from: Normal, Sport, Eco, and Custom. Custom lets the driver tailor the steering and throttle, ACC, and climate control settings.

SEL and SEL Premium trims offer drivers a reconfigurable instrument-panel screen on a 10.25-inch display.

Available for the first time is a 12-channel, 400-watt amplifier, digital signal processing and nine speakers, including a subwoofer. Car-Net App-

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

The Commissioners Court of Fort Bend County, Texas has set a public hearing on Tuesday, April 2, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. for acceptance of the traffic control plan for Tamarron Parkway, Precinct 3.

The Commissioners Court of Fort Bend County, Texas has set a public hearing on Tuesday, April 2, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. for acceptance of the traffic control plan for Riverpark West (all sections), Precinct 1.

The Commissioners Court of Fort Bend County, Texas has set a public hearing on Tuesday, April 2, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. for acceptance of the traffic control plan for Lakeview Retreat, Section 2, Precinct 2.

The hearing will be held in the Commissioners Courtroom at 401 Jackson Street, Second Floor, Richmond, Texas. You are invited to attend and state your approval or objection on this matter.

The hearing will be held in the Commissioners Courtroom at 401 Jackson Street, Second Floor, Richmond, Texas. You are invited to attend and state your approval or objection on this matter.

The hearing will be held in the Commissioners Courtroom at 401 Jackson Street, Second Floor, Richmond, Texas. You are invited to attend and state your approval or objection on this matter.

The Commissioners Court of Fort Bend County, Texas has set a public hearing on Tuesday, April 2, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. for acceptance of the traffic control plan for Anserra, Section 5, Precinct 3.

The hearing will be held in the Commissioners Courtroom at 401 Jackson Street, Second Floor, Richmond, Texas. You are invited to attend and state your approval or objection on this matter.

Submitted by,

Submitted by,

Submitted by,

Submitted by,

Laura Richard Fort Bend County Clerk

Laura Richard Fort Bend County Clerk

Laura Richard Fort Bend County Clerk

Laura Richard Fort Bend County Clerk

NOTICE OF SALE STATE OF TEXAS

BY VIRTUE OF AN ORDER OF SALE

§ § §

FORT BEND COUNTY

and issued pursuant to judgment decree(s) of the District Court of Fort Bend County, Texas, by the Clerk of said Court on said date, in the hereinafter numbered and styled suit(s) and to me directed and delivered as Sheriff or Constable of said County, I have on February 22, 2019, seized, levied upon, and will, on the first Tuesday in April, 2019, the same being the 2nd day of said month, at 301 Jackson Street, William Travis Building, 1st Floor Meeting Room in the City of Richmond, Texas 77469, between the hours of 10 o'clock a.m. and 4 o'clock p.m. on said day, beginning at 10:00 AM, proceed to sell for cash to the highest bidder all the right, title, and interest of the defendants in such suit(s) in and to the following described real estate levied upon as the property of said defendants, the same lying and being situated in the County of Fort Bend and the State of Texas, to-wit: Sale #

Cause # Judgment Date

Acct # Order Issue Date

Style of Case

Legal Description

Adjudged Value

Estimated Minimum Bid

1

14-DCV219934 12/12/18

460000515105090 FORT BEND COUNTY VS. 7 WYNONA ELLIOT FUNK FEBRUARY 20, 2019

FRESNO RANCHO, TRACT 5, BLK 515, MAGNOLIA PLACE, VOL 2, PG 23 & VOL 220, PG 361*

$45,820.00

$3,300.00

2

17-DCV242456 05/15/18

800000005040090 FORT BEND INDEPENDENT 7 SCHOOL DISTRICT VS. ARASH CHRIS DOORFARD, ET AL

TR1: TELEVIEW TERRACE, BLK 5, LT 4, VOL 326, P 462*

$74,840.00

$9,000.00

3

17-DCV243479 12/06/18

783500018003090 FORT BEND COUNTY VS. 1 WALTER FANIEL, JR., ET AL FEBRUARY 20, 2019

ROSENBERG, BLK 18, LT 3, VOL P, PG 146*

$7,750.00

$3,300.00

(any volume and page references, unless otherwise indicated, being to the Deed Records, Fort Bend County, Texas, to which instruments reference may be made for a more complete description of each respective tract.) or, upon the written request of said defendants or their attorney, a sufficient portion of the property described above shall be sold to satisfy said judgment(s), interest, penalties, and cost; and any property sold shall be subject to the right of redemption of the defendants or any person having an interest therein, to redeem the said property, or their interest therein, within the time and in the manner provided by law, and shall be subject to any other and further rights to which the defendants or anyone interested therein may be entitled, under the provisions of law. Said sale to be made by me to satisfy the judgment(s) rendered in the above styled and numbered cause(s), together with interest, penalties, and costs of suit, and the proceeds of said sales to be applied to the satisfaction thereof, and the remainder, if any, to be applied as the law directs.

RECENT CHANGES IN THE PROPERTY TAX CODE NOW REQUIRE PURCHASERS OF TAX SALE PROPERTY TO HAVE A STATEMENT FROM THE FORT BEND COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR CERTIFYING THAT THE PERSON/FIRM/COMPANY PURCHASING PROPERTY AT A TAX SALE OWES NO DELINQUENT PROPERTY TAXES TO ANY TAXING ENTITY WITHIN THE COUNTY. YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE A TAX SALE DEED TO ANY PROPERTY YOU PURCHASE WITHOUT THIS CERTIFICATE. TO OBTAIN A CERTIFICATE, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR FORT BEND COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR AT LEAST TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE SALE.

Dated at Richmond, Texas, February 22, 2019 Constable Mike Beard Fort Bend County, Texas

Connect smartphone integration for compatible devices is standard on all Jetta models.

The new Jetta is powered

by Volkswagen’s 1.4-liter turbocharged and direct-injection engine that makes 147 horsepower and 184 poundfeet of torque. The 16-valve engine can generate peak torque at just 1,400 rpm. EPAestimated fuel economy is 30 mpg in the city and 40 on the highway. A six-speed manual transmission is standard, with an eight-speed automatic optional.

A Start/Stop System is standard on automatic-transmission models and stops the engine during idle when the brake pedal is held. The point is saving gasoline. The Jetta S comes standard with 16-inch aluminum-alloy wheels and

205/55 R16 all-season tires while the premium model gets 17-inch wheels with 205/55 R17 all-season tires.

At the front of the Jetta are 11.5-inch vented discs, with 10.8-inch discs at the rear.

There is also electronic brakepressure distribution and hydraulic brake assist. Available safety features include blind spot monitor with rear traffic alert; adaptive cruise control; active lane keep, and high beam control.

Yes, have no doubt about it, the Jetta is still a fun car to drive. The character and zip are still there. It’s also larger than in past years and is still most comfortable. The SEL test drive Jetta’s total price came in at $26,945 including destination charges.

Don’t Mess with Texas Trash-Off : April 6

Missouri City Green will host the Don’t Mess With Texas Trash-Off event on Saturday, April 6 at the Missouri City Community Center located at 1524 Texas Parkway 77489. This is a great service opportunity for Scouts, school and community service organizations and corporations as well as families and individuals to make City parks and trails shine during the largest one day clean up in the state of Texas.

Sign-in is at 8 a.m. with lunch and awards at 10:45 a.m. Registration and waiver forms are available online at www.missouricitygreen.org. ALL participants must sign a waiver. Participants under 18 years old must have waivers signed by parent/ guardian. For more information, email info@missouricitygreen. org.

Notice of Intent

This is to give notice of intent to introduce in the 86th Legislature, Regular Session, a bill to be entitled an Act relating to the creation of magistrates in Fort Bend County; granting the district courts and statutory county courts (county courts at law) the ability to create magistrate judge positions if authorized by the commissioners court.

PUBLIC ONLINE AUCTION Fort Bend County

Site: Gus George Academy 1521 Eugene Heimann Circle, Richmond, TX. PREVIEW: Tues., 3/12/19, (9 am – 12 pm) AUCTION ENDS: Mon., 3/25/19 SEIZED JEWELRY Black PVD Coated Stainless Steel Breitling Super Avenger Custom Watch, Stainless Steel & 1 8K Rose Gold Breitling Chronomat Watch, 18K Yellow Gold “Crown & B” Pendent, 10k Yellow Gold w/Black Rhodium Finish Necklace, 10K White Gold Diamond & Ruby Cross Pendent, 18K Rose Gold Dog Tag & 34” 14K Rose Gold Beaded Chain, 14K White Gold White & Black Diamond “B” Pendent & 36” Sterling Chain, 14K Rose Gold Bangle Bracelet, Black Stainless Steel Gucci Dive Watch, 14K Gold Diamond, Ruby, & Sapphire “Crown” Pendent w/30”14K Rose Gold Chain, 18K Yellow Gold Ring, Watch Box – See Website www.fortbendauction.com www.onlinepros.com #7341

(800)243-1113 OR (281)357-4977

Download your free mobile app for Fort Bend Independent from the Playstore.

THE STATE OF TEXAS CITATION BY PUBLICATION TO: THE UNKNOWN HEIRS OF BILLIE BROADEN AKA BILLIE J BROADEN AKA BILLIE JEAN BROADEN AND THE UNKNOWN HEIRS OF DOUGLAS BROADEN; NO KNOWN ADDRESS NOTICE: You have been sued. You may employ an attorney. If you or your attorney do not file a written answer with the clerk who issued this citation by 10:00 a.m. on Monday next following the expiration of forty-two days from the date of issuance of this citation, same being Apri1 15, 2019 a default judgment may be taken against you.

The case is presently pending before the 268TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT of Fort Bend County sitting in Richmond, Texas. It bears cause number 19-DCV-259278 and is styled: Henry Morales vs The Unknown Heirs of Billie Broaden; aka Billie J. Broaden; aka Billie Jean Broaden, and The Unkown Heirs of Douglas Broaden.

The name and address of the attorney for PLAINTIFF is: DAVID L. MARTINDALE DAVID L MARTINDALE PLLC 911 FRONT STREET RICHMOND TX 77469 713-997-0110 The nature of the demands of said PLAINTIFF is as follows to-wit: PLAINTIFF REQUESTS THAT DEFENDANTS BE CITED TO ANSWER THIS PETITION, AND THAT ON FINAL TRIAL, PLAINTIFF HAVE: JUDGMENT FOR TITLE AND POSSESSION OF THE REAL PROPERTY WHICH IS THE SUBJECT OF THIS SUIT, AND SUCH OTHER AND FURTHER RELIEF TO WHICH PLAINTIFF MAY BE JUSTLY ENTITLED. If this Citation is not served, it shall be returned unserved.

Issued under my hand and seal of said Court, at Richmond,Texas on this the 26th day of February, 2019.

BEVERLEY MCGREW WALKER, DISTRICT CLERK FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS 1422 Eugene Heimann Circle, Room 31004 Richmond, Texas 77469 Mailing Address: 301 Jackson Street Richmond, Texas 77469

By Deputy District Clerk Donald Evans 281-238-3276

City of Missouri City LEGAL NOTICE THIS IS A MANDATED PUBLICATION OF THE LEGAL NOTICE

By Deputy Notes: The Minimum Bid is the lesser of the amount awarded in the judgment plus interest and costs or the adjudged value.

However, the Minimum Bid for a person owning an interest in the property or for a person who is a party to the suit (other than a taxing unit), is the aggregate amount of the judgments against the property plus all costs of suit and sale. ALL SALES SUBJECT TO CANCELLATION WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. THERE MAY BE ADDITIONAL TAXES DUE ON THE PROPERTY WHICH HAVE BEEN ASSESSED SINCE THE DATE OF THE JUDGMENT. For more information, contact your attorney or LINEBARGER GOGGAN BLAIR & SAMPSON, LLP., attorney for plaintiffs, at (713) 844-3576

DUE DATE of REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS APRIL 2, 2019 AT 2:00 PM. Request for Qualifications for the provision of PROFESSIONAL AUDITING SERVICES Commodity Code: 918-04, 946-20 Responses must be sealed, marked on the outside of the delivery envelope with the RFQ name and number as listed above, and the due date. Responses must be delivered to the attention of City of Missouri City Attn: Purchasing Office - RFQ No. 19-048 Professional Auditing Services 1522 Texas Parkway Missouri City, Texas 77489 Responses received after the specified time will not be opened. All necessary information and addendums may be obtained from the following websites: http://www.txsmartbuy. com/sp or https://www.demandstar.com/Default.asp

INDEPENDENT • MARCH 13, 2019 • Page 7

NEWS Fort Bend Education Foundation caught Disco Fever at annual gala!

The 26th Annual Fort Bend Education Foundation Gala took Jason Burdine, FBISD Board of Trustees President and Mike place at the Sugar Land Marriott Siwierka, Title Sponsor Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins & Hotel on March 2, 2019.

This event, presented by PerMott LLP. — Photos courtesy of Mary Favre and Elsa Maxey due Brandon Fielder Collins & Mott LLP, set a new record netting over $364,000 for Grants to Teachers and Schools.

The ballroom was packed with almost 800 guests, and every school in Fort Bend ISD participated by providing a Silent Auction basket.

The Ridge Point High School Drumline and Jazz Band, along with the band, Password, entertained supporters with Disco music throughout the evening.

Gala Co-Chairs Stacy Bynes and Laura Winters toasted the guests for their efforts to support the Fort Bend Education Foundation to enrich and enhance the quality of education for all Fort Bend ISD students.

Executive Director Brenna Cosby, right, recognizes Sonal Bhuchar for her service to the Education Foundation and FBISD, where she served on both the boards.

Spaghetti dinner set for April 26

Ready for Spaghetti. Scott McClintic, left, Carlos Perez, Ruthanne Mefford, Jim Kij, Paul Barnett, Amy Mitchell, and Dennis Dowell.

The Exchange Club of Sugar Land’s 32nd Annual Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser will be held Friday, April 26, 2019 from 5:30 p.m to 8 p.m at Fluor Corporation cafeteria, 1 Fluor Daniel Drive, Sugar Land.

This fundraiser supports local non-profits including Child Advocates of Fort Bend, Fort Bend County Women’s Center, Texana Center for Autistic Children, Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels, Fort Bend Council on Substance Abuse, Crime Stoppers, YMCA, ESCAPE Family Resource Center, Literacy Council of Fort Bend and many others.

It also supports Exchange Cooperative Community Service Projects like Santa’s Exchange which provides thousands of gifts for underprivileged children.

This year we have NINE local law enforcement agencies and firefighter teams competing in our Spaghetti Sauce Cook-off.

They will be judged by our Celebrity Judging Team: Joe Southern - Fort Bend Star Editor

Spaghetti kid Patti Kaminski-Fort Bend your supper! We will get you out in time! Join us for fun, Focus Minerva Perez - Latina Voic- and remember IT’S ALL FOR THE KIDS! es/Channel 13 formerly Tickets and raffle tickets Each team’s eccentric costumes are always a hit. A chil- are available online at https:// dren’s area with a cake walk, www.eventbrite.com/e/exface painting, games and prizes change-club-of-sugar-landis just part of the fun-filled annual-spaghetti-fundraiserevent. A live and silent auc- tickets-58546982601, and from tion, raffle and live entertain- Carlos Perez at 281-923-4900 ment complete this enjoyable or any Exchange Club member.

Starting April 1, you may go evening.

Have tickets to GIGGLE or by CLASSIC CHEVROLET CELTIC WOMEN? We are to get tickets.

Music Magic for Six-and Seven Year Old Boys starts March 19

FBISD Superintendent Dr. Charles Dupre, Daniel Samuel, Anita Samuel and Seeju Dupre

Education Foundation President Dustin Fessler with Gala Co-Chairs Stacy Bynes and Laura Winters and Emcee City of Sugar Land Mayor Joe Zimmerman.

Young boys who love music and singing should take Music Magic, an eight-week music enrichment program for six- and seven-year old boys. The Fort Bend Boys Choir offers this special class which bring music alive through movement, musical games, singing and other activities. Boys learn about rhythm awareness and pitch matching in addition to developing large muscle coordination, better musicianship and increase focus. The best part is that there are no auditions for this class! William R. Adams, the organization’s Founder and Artistic Director, is returning as the Director for this class – how cool! For this 22nd season of the Music Magic program, the class will meet on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 p.m. – 7:15 p.m., beginning March 19th and ending May 7th at the First United Methodist Church Missouri City, 3900 Lexington Blvd., Missouri City. Music Magic will then sing at the Fort Bend Boys Choir’s Spring Concert on Saturday, May 11th! The cost for this course is only $100 and boys will receive a free Music Magic t-shirt once classes start. Classes are limited in size so please call the choir office at (281) 240-3800 to pre-register or visit their website at www.fbbctx.org. Be sure to stop by their Facebook page for the latest on the Fort Bend Boys Choir’s Music Magic class and the organization’s public performances.

Willowridge Jazz Concert. Innervision Records saxophonist Dean James and Hammond Organ USA Jazz organist Vel Lewis will perform their hit songs live, with a performance by the Willowridge Jazz Ensemble on Sunday, April 28, at 3:30 p.m. Food trucks will be on hand for ticket-holders. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/willowridge-jazz-concert-tickets-56945024100. A portion of the proceeds will be used to purchase brand new instruments for select students who are gifted, but disadvantaged and not able to own an instrument of their own.

For information, contact F2F Music Foundation: (281) 404-5529 https://f2fmusicfoundation.org FBEF Executive Officers Jeremy Alberty, Kay James, Dustin and Stacy Fessler and Lynn Halford

Page 8 • INDEPENDENT • MARCH 13, 2019

NEWS

Commissioner Andy Meyers hosts Fort Bend Arts Festival

Fort Bend Arts Festival story book characters parade

Visitors browse through the exhibits Fort Bend County Pct. 3 Commissioner Andy Meyers will be hosting the sixth annual Fort Bend Arts Festival on Saturday, April 27, 2019 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Fort Bend County Library Cinco Ranch Branch.

Always free to the public, the Fort Bend Arts Festival attracts over 5,000 local residents and has become a much loved community event that applauds young writers and artists living in Fort Bend County Precinct 3.

A culmination of the Fort Bend Art Festival Literary & Fine Arts competition, the festival includes a public exhibition of over 300 visual art and essay pieces created by local

Fort Bend County Precinct 3 students from Katy ISD, Lamar CISD & Fort Bend ISD. “It’s a joy to see the impressive work this event showcases year after year,” said Commissioner Meyers.

“To see the caliber of work and how it progresses as the students mature speaks volumes about the wonderful things these citizens of tomorrow will accomplish.”

Festival-goers also enjoy a Storybook Character Parade through the LaCenterra retail center, over 100 kid-friendly vendors, local summer camp & activities expo, food trucks, live entertainment, goat yoga, a helicopter fly-over by the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Of-

fice, laser tag, a gaming truck, free caricatures and more.

The Fort Bend Arts Festival is a collaborative effort of Fort Bend Charities, All about Katy - Katy Summer Fest, Fort Bend County Libraries - Cinco Ranch Branch, and is made possible by our dedicated committee members, and our generous sponsors.

Sponsorship opportunities are available, and offer the perfect opportunity to connect with thousands of residents living in Katy, Cinco Ranch, Fulshear, Richmond, and surrounding areas.

For more information visit http://www.fortbendartsfest. com or contact emily.hodges@ fortbendcountytx.gov.

The family of 2018 Fort Bend Art Festival competition winner with Commissioner Andy Meyers, rear left, U.S. Rep. Pete Olson and Pct. 3 Constable Wayne Thompson.

Katy Christian Ministries to open Resale Sugar Land Town Square launches SLTX Studio, with ‘The Whimsy World’ by Shelbi Nicole Store at Grand Parkway & Kingsland Blvd.

Thrift shoppers south of I-10 in Katy will soon be able to shop and donate with Katy Christian Ministries (KCM) at a convenient new location at Kingsland Plaza, 23232 Kingsland Blvd., Katy, TX. “The KCM Board of Directors reached a unanimous decision after a long research and evaluation process completed in 2016. Since then, we have continued to strengthen operational efficiencies to make sure we were ready for a smooth transition to a second location that is geographically convenient to our neighbors South of I-10,” said Deysi Crespo, Executive Director of KCM. Proceeds from the sales of donations from the new Donation Center and Resale Store support the work of KCM as it works locally to alleviate poverty, address food insecurities, and provide immediate and longterm crisis interventions and counseling for victims of domestic and sexual violence.

“These funds stay in our community and benefit our neighbors who may find themselves in a seemingly impossible situation. With God’s love as our foundation, nothing is impossible through His guidance and the support of the community,” added Crespo.

“The increase in funds from the second Resale Store will allow us to continue our strategic growth to match the growth in the Katy/Fulshear area, and the needs that will parallel that growth.”

“This second resale location will add 9,000 sq ft. for resale operations and sales.

With this increase in space, we can increase the capacity and scope of our services.

We also aim to increase the quality of the customer experience as they donate to and shop the KCM Resale Store,” says Dennis Lee, KCM Board Member and Project Coordinator for the expansion.

From left to right, Christina Wiggins, KCM Resale Store Manager; Dennis Lee, KCM Board Treasurer & Project Manager for the project; George Puig, KCM former Board President; Deysi Crespo, KCM Executive Director; and Becce Slinkard, KCM Board Vice President.

Kent Black, KCM Board President stated, “This new addition is not only aligned with our mission, but also a part of our solution to meet goal 14 on our strategic plan.”

“By 2020, KCM will have the technology, facilities and space required to meet current and future needs,” Black added, “We have gone from 2015 where we served a total of 3,309 households, to now in 2018, serving a total of 8,648 households. As our community and the need for services grows, KCM must grow to continue fulfilling its mission to transform lives.”

Feedback from donors, customers, and volunteers has helped KCM identify the need for a location South of I-10 where donors can drop donations for their favorite charity and shop gently used furniture, decor, household necessities, clothing, electronics and more.

One customer calls her trips to donate and shop at the KCM Resale Store in Old Katy, her “Shop & Drop.”

Under the leadership of Crespo, the KCM Resale Store Manager, Christina Wiggins, and the Operations subcommittee of the Board of Directors, plans are well underway to open the new location in late April or early May. The KCM Donation Center, currently located on East 3rd Street in Old Katy, will be relocated to the new site allowing for greater efficiency when processing community donations and overall operations of both locations. The KCM Resale Store on First Street, in Old Katy will remain open as well.

“I’m honored to be a part of this growing ministry and I am excited about our expansion with a second location. I know God has blessed this ministry and will continue to shine His light on us through the support of our community,” said Christina Wiggins, KCM Resale Store Manager.

Visit www.ktcm.org for mroe information.

Planned Community Developers Ltd. (PCD) announced today a new arts and event space opening in Sugar Land Town Square.

SLTX Studio, located two doors down from Altar’d State and across from the Plaza in Sugar Land Town Square, provides residents, tenants and guests with an experiential escape into exhibits and activations from a roster of rotating artists.

The new studio and exhibit will officially kick off with a grand opening party benefiting the Fort Bend Rainbow Room on Friday, March 15 from 6 to 9 p.m., then officially open to the public on Saturday, March 16.

“The new SLTX Studio allows the public to be immersed in fun, photo-worthy art and exhibits, reinforcing the reputation Sugar Land Town Square has for being an entertainment hub where friends and family gather together,” said Taylor Scott, marketing and events manager for PCD Management LLC, the management company that oversees Sugar Land Town Square. “SLTX Studio promises to offer guests something fresh and new to experience and see, starting with the engaging art installation and followed by a photo room with rotating works by several local artists.”

SLTX Studio’s first exhibit is “The Whimsy World” by Shelbi Nicole. An esteemed Houstonbased artist, Shelbi Nicole will bring her interactive and Instagram-worthy display of imaginative art to Sugar Land Town Square for six weeks.

Shelbi Nicole’s activation was recently displayed in downtown Houston, drawing huge interest from the local public.

“I focused on bringing in elements from my paintings to life through ‘The Whimsy World’ in the form of murals, installations and sculptural elements to create poseable areas where guests are encouraged to create their own memories via photographs with my work,” Shelbi Nicole said. “I feel especially

privileged to be the first artist to be featured at the new SLTX Studio.”

SLTX Studio will host “The Whimsy World” Thursdays from 3 to 9 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m.

The grand opening event, scheduled for Friday, March 15, 2019, will be for ages 21 and up with attendees carded at the door before entry. Ticket price includes cocktails courtesy of Deep Eddy and My

Drink Bomb, a live DJ, swag bags for the first 150 people, and light bites. Artist Shelbi Nicole will be in attendance.

There will be more than 10 new art installations at the SLTX Studio, including a sitespecific giant sugar and sugarthemed cube and an infinity mirror room, which cases the visitor as part of the art.

To find out more about the SLTX Studio, visit www.

SugarLandTownSquare.com/ SLTXStudio.

PLANTATION at Quail Valley Active Senior Living; Embracing the lives of Seniors 55 and Better March Madness $399 move in special

2815 Cypress Point Dr, Missouri City, TX 77459 www. plantationqv.com

Phone: (281) 208-4470