Herrera wins Stafford City Council seat - Page 7
The Sugar Land Skeeters recently announced their schedule for their first season as an Astros affiliate. See who they'll face this year inside today on Page 4.
WEDNESDAY • FEBRUARY 24, 2021
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Fort Bend / Southwest • Volume 45 • No. 27
Gates’ Orlando trip sparks debate among constituents By Stefan Modrich SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
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State Rep. Gary Gates, a Republican from Richmond serving House District 28, which includes portions of Rosenberg, Pecan Grove and Katy, is facing scrutiny from some of his constituents after flying to Orlando, Florida during Winter Storm Uri, which left many Fort Bend County residents without power and/or water.
Gates
Gates flew to Florida
last Wednesday, the same day U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz flew to Cancun, Mexico. Cruz returned to Houston last Thursday after the trip with his family drew national outrage as many Texans suffered through days of below-freezing temperatures. Gates returned to Richmond last Friday. “Like happened to so many of you, as the cold set in earlier this week, our water pipes froze,” Gates wrote in a text message
last Thursday. “On Tuesday morning two of those pipes burst. Approximately 30 percent of our house was flooded. Several of our adult children rushed over to assist in cleaning up and patching the leak. A few hours later, our power went off. We slept on the floor in another part of the house Tuesday night. By Wednesday, the mold was affecting the part of the house that had flooded, and we made plans to stay at one of our chil-
dren's homes. Then they lost their power and began struggling with burst pipes and no water.” Some wanted to see Gates on the ground in his district helping his constituents, including Theresa Jimenez Mahecha, a resident of Rosenberg’s Summer Lakes neighborhood. “If you are an elected public servant and you
SEE GATES PAGE 6
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Area looks to rebound after storm By Stefan Modrich SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
With Winter Storm Uri in Fort Bend County’s wake, area residents are beginning to recover from a week marred by freezing temperatures, power outages and damage to homes and businesses caused by water pipes that froze and then burst. The City of Sugar Land announced last Friday it had modified the upcoming bulk waste collection schedule to provide all residents the opportunity to remove debris from their damaged homes. In addition, the city’s list of accepted bulk waste items was temporarily expanded to include construction and demolition debris generated from the winter storm. The city’s normal second Monday collection of extra bulk waste that was originally scheduled for Feb. 15 has been moved to Saturday. The March 1 collection date, the first Monday of bulk waste collection, is set to continue as scheduled.
A volunteer hands a bottle of water to a recipient during a food and water giveaway at Family Worship Center in Stafford. The event was a collaboration between the office of Fort Bend County Judge KP George, the Houston Food Bank and BAPS Charities, and served groceries to 5,500 Fort Bend County families. (Photo from Twitter)
Local businesses, nonprofits help provide storm relief By Stefan Modrich SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Sathish Rao, owner of Udipi Cafe in Sugar Land, was one of many business owners to lose power in his restaurant in the midst of Winter Storm Uri. When the power was restored last Wednesday, Feb. 17, Rao and his staff rushed to ensure they could open the following day. “I was lucky enough to
have power at my house, so I had most of my employees come to my house,” Rao said. “I had 16 of them at my house, along with my three dogs.” When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March, Rao said he delivered meals in Downtown Houston and to churches in Rosenberg and Rosharon, distributing nearly 3,000 meals to homeless people and others in need. So when sub-freezing temperatures descended upon the Houston area ear-
SEE REBOUND PAGE 6
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Fort Bend County District Attorney Brian Middleton, left, loads bottles of water into a vehicle Monday at Ismaili Jamatkhana and Center. (Photo from Twitter)
Lady Vikings earn long-awaited return to third round By Landan Kuhlmann
For further updates to the bulk waste collection schedule, residents can visit https://www.sugarlandtx. gov/316/Residential-Services. Residents can contact 3-1-1 or 281-275-2900 or email SolidWaste@SugarLandTX.gov with questions. Officials from the City of Rosenberg announced they will offer assistance to residents making home repairs
ly last week, Rao sought to do his best to ensure that no one who entered his restaurant at 2325 Williams Trace Blvd. in Sugar Land — or his location at 5959 Hillcroft St. in Houston in the heart of the city’s Mahatma Gandhi District — would go to bed hungry. “We had about 40 to 45 families who came and took advantage of it,” Rao said. “We are happy to share our
LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Dulles' Peyton Overton (facing camera) and Nya Threatt embrace following Saturday's area-round playoff win against Jersey Village. (Photo by Landan Kuhlmann)
Those in attendance at Houston ISD’s Delmar Fieldhouse Saturday afternoon could see how much the Dulles Lady Vikings’ most recent playoff win meant to those taking part in it. Dulles head coach Jay Simon was overcome with emotion after the 75-68 win against Jersey Village, his head in his hands as the final buzzer sounded to send his girls basketball team to the
Region III-6A quarterfinals. Star guards Peyton Overton and Nya Threatt embraced while simultaneously letting out screams of joy. The win was a long time coming for the program. “It all just came out emotionally, especially on my end, knowing that we as a coaching staff have invested so much into these young ladies,” Simon said. “They’ve been here every step of the way through all this adversity.” Dulles (24-0) has reached the third round of the playoffs for the first time since 2009 in
a season marked by the COVID-19 pandemic. Last week’s Winter Storm Uri threw more challenges at the Lady Vikings, whose second-round game was rescheduled multiple times. They only had two days of practice to prepare for Jersey Village, their toughest opponent to date. But the Lady Vikings beat the Lady Falcons, ranked eighth in the state by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches, to continue
SEE DULLES PAGE 6
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PAGE 2 • Wednesday,
THE STAR
February 24, 2021
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County launches youth outreach program By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
On Monday, the Fort Bend County District’s Attorney’s Office announced the launch of a new community outreach initiative called the Expose Excellence Youth Program. Under the program, the district attorney’s office and other government agencies in the county will partner on various activities geared toward youths deemed “at risk and in need of intervention,” according to a news release. Fort Bend County DA Brian Middleton, who said he had the idea for
the program upon taking office in 2019, began meeting with other elected officials and county department heads last December to streamline the creation of the program. It will kick off with an event at Hightower High School (3333 Hurricane Ln.) from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. this Saturday, Feb. 27. “We were troubled by the repetitious presence of kind-hearted, non-violent juvenile offenders within the justice system,” Middleton said in a news release. “We observed that many of the offenders ended up in the system due to a lack of proper guidance.”
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The program is a collaboration between Middleton’s office, the Fort Bend County Juvenile Probation Department, Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office and Fort Bend County Community Supervision & Corrections department. Beyond Saturday’s kickoff event, district attorney’s office spokesperson Wesley Wittig said events are still in the process of being scheduled. The Fort Bend County Juvenile Probation Department will run some of the initiatives within the program, according to Wittig, while Middleton’s office will run other portions. The program will focus on: • Job skills and career training • Business and entrepreneur workshops • Recreational activities • Life skills training • Field trips • Self-expression activities (spoken word, poetry and visual arts) • Tutoring services • Driver's education
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Fort Bend County District Attorney Brian Middleton (at podium) introduces the county's Expose Excellence Youth Program on Monday. The collaborative effort, which kicks off this Saturday at Hightower High School, will focus on activities for Fort Bend's at-risk youth. (Photo from Facebook)
• Financial aid advocacy and support • Academic support and advocacy • Exposure to fine arts • Mental health and substance abuse support “COVID-19 diminished many of the protective
factors that existed prior to the pandemic,” Juvenile Probation Director Kyle Dobbs said. “… The Expose Excellence Youth Program will help youth acquire positive self-awareness, cultural competency, aspiration,
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Public-private partnerships keep Texas moving Just a week ago, many of us were shivering through at least one night without power and heat and mesmerized by the record cold temperatures that were brought upon by Winter Storm Uri. And it was a bit jarring to think about how I used a credit card and a shoehorn to scrape snow and ice off my car – and then just a few days later, while I was driving to the office this Monday, I blasted the air conditioning as the high soared to 75 degrees. As I covered last week, there’s plenty of blame to go around when it comes to the state-level failures to prepare the electric grid for below-freezing temperatures. I also saw lots of memes on social media attempting to frame both capitalism and limited government or socialism and big government as the underlying philosophies responsible for the mismanagement of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which oversees 75 percent of the state’s electrical output and the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC). And yet, paradoxically, it seems that the people who have the lowest levels of confidence in their
Stefan Modrich
elected officials have the utmost confidence in HE-B, Whataburger and Buc-ee’s. I don’t think that’s by accident. Fort Bend County’s biggest strength, in my view, is its collaboration between local officials, business leaders, faith leaders and nonprofit/ charity organizations. Visibility is important and expected. People know each other and hold one another accountable. I recently spoke with Tanya Whitaker of Richmond’s River Pointe Church, which was temporarily used as a warming center, though ultimately not immune to power outages itself. While there, she observed that it was a “beautiful thing” to see the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Department coordinating to help people who may have lacked shelter and the Fort Bend County Office of Emergency Management providing nurses to give
healthcare on site. “We had people from all walks of life in there,” Whitaker said. “The ground gets real even when you don’t have electricity and water and all those things.” There’s no silver bullet or one-size-fits-all hot take that will fix the grid or issues with water providers. Taxpayers or electricity customers will undoubtedly need to be willing to pay for the enhancements that would weatherize the grid. And whether or not the Texas Legislature makes any progress on that, we’ll likely have some indication after Thursday’s House of Representatives Energy Resources and State Affairs committee meetings. There is something to be said for the legislative experience and the ability to advocate for constituents, and many elected officials are small business owners themselves. But because of the vacuum of state-level leadership that enabled this crisis, there is an equilibrium that is out of balance right now, and that cannot be solved by simply tipping the seesaw the other direction. After a seemingly endless week, I took the chance to unwind over
the weekend by watching the 1954 movie "Sabrina," which I added to my watchlist after hearing economist Russ Roberts recently give the film a glowing recommendation. And yes, it’s a love story starring Humphrey Bogart and Audrey Hepburn, so even if you don’t care about finding any other meaning in a movie, you’ll probably find it to your liking. But my favorite scene came within the movie’s first 15 minutes and lived up to the hype, just as I’d heard it from Roberts. Bogart’s character, Linus Larrabee, the workaholic CEO of Larrabee Industries, and his younger brother David Larrabee, are sitting in the Manhattan office of the firm founded by their aging father. David, the junior partner, is a playboy who’s largely lived off the fruits of his father and brother’s work without considering the consequences. So when David questions Linus’ plan to have David marry the daughter of another industrial tycoon to facilitate a merger that will help grow the company’s market share, Linus explains to him how expansion from one business results in
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spontaneous exponential growth by others, a phenomenon economists refer to as emergent order. David: “Well, then, what's the urge? You're going into plastics now. What will that prove?” Linus: “Prove? Nothing much. A new product has been found, something of use to the world. A new industry moves into an undeveloped area. Factories go up. Machines are brought in. A harbor is dug, and you're in business. It's purely coincidental, of course, that people who've never seen a dime before, suddenly have a dollar. And barefooted kids wear shoes and have their teeth fixed and their faces washed. What's wrong with a kind of an urge that gives people libraries, hospitals, baseball diamonds and, uh, movies on a Saturday night?’” We need leaders in government and in business who are aligned in these goals, and while it’s incumbent on those
leaders to show it when no one’s watching, and not just in the midst of a crisis, the foundation is in place across Fort Bend County to build and grow from this experience. It is imperative that we all learn from the mistakes that were made before the storm by public officials and entrepreneurs alike and ensure that when we are tested by future challenges that it will bring out the best in us.
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Scripture of the week
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PAGE 4 • Wednesday, February 24, 2021
THE STAR
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FBISD players nominated for McDonald’s All American honors By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Multiple Fort Bend ISD basketball players were recently nominated for the 2021 McDonald’s All American teams. Forward Joshua Fanuiel from the Elkins boys team as well as guards Raven Adams and Aleighyah Fontenot from the Ridge Point girls team were among more than 700 high school seniors from across the United States who were nominated for the annual honor. The final roster of 48 players will be named later this month, according to a news release from the McDonald’s All American Games. The All American Games will not be played this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, those selected will be recognized during a virtual celebration. “This decision was made in the interest of protecting the health and safety of student athletes, their families and event staff,” the organization said. “However, being named a McDonald's All American is about so much more than the game; it is a once in a lifetime achievement for high school seniors.” Fontenot was the leading scorer for the Lady
Ridge Point's Raven Adams prepares to release a shot during last Saturday's area-round playoff game against Houston Heights at Delmar Fieldhouse. Adams was one of three Fort Bend ISD players nominated for the 2021 McDonald's All American teams. (Photo by Landan Kuhlmann)
Panthers during the regular season at 23.3 points per game, a mark which led District 20-6A and ranked
third in Texas’ Class 6A. Adams, a Texas State University commit, averaged 14.3 points per game along
with 6.3 assists and almost four rebounds for the Lady Panthers, who lost in the area round last weekend.
Fanuiel is averaging 14.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game this year for the Knights, who finished the
regular season 15-1 overall and entered the playoffs as District 20-6A’s second seed.
Boys hoops squads race through opening playoff round By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
It was a clean sweep for District 20-6A in the boys basketball playoffs last weekend, when two of the area’s teams took the first step in potentially returning to their respective classifications’ state tournaments. There were a number of standout performances in as six of the area’s seven boys teams won to keep their seasons alive. Among the winners were Hightower and Stafford, which reached the UIL state tournament a year ago. Kolby Granger tied a season high with 21 points in Ridge Point’s Class 6A bi-district win over Katy Tompkins. He was one of three players in double digits for the Panthers (125), who advanced to face District 18-6A champion Bellaire (19-2) in the area round. Reggie Prudhomme had 14 points, while Matthew Lewis added 11. Joshua Fanuiel and Chris Johnson both had 18 points for the Elkins Knights as they took down Katy Mayde Creek on Saturday. Elkins improved to 16-1 and will next face Houston Memorial (18-8)
Bush's Ryan Hill dribbles Jan. 16 against Elkins. The Broncos were among six area boys teams to win bi-district playoff games last weekend. (Photo by Landan Kuhlmann)
on Wednesday. The Bush Broncos vanquished District 19-6A champion Katy Taylor on Saturday to stay alive. Zion Bourgeois paced the Broncos with 21 points, while Tyler Smith had 19 of his own. Bush (12-9) was scheduled to face Houston Heights (15-4) at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Hopson Field House.
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Travis (17-4) defeated Katy Seven Lakes and will take on District 17-6A champion Cypress Creek (20-3) on Wednesday at the Merrell Center in Katy. Hightower breezed into the area round, beating Houston Waltrip in a Class 5A matchup. Six Hurricanes scored in double digits, led by Calen Douglas’ 15 points. Bryce Griggs
(14 points, seven rebounds, seven assists) and Jacory Chatman (14 points, six rebounds) also had strong games, while Tyrone Baker had 13 points, seven rebounds and three blocks. The Hurricanes await the winner of Texas City and Crosby, which were scheduled to play Monday night. In its first playoff game since 2017, Marshall fell
73-71 in overtime on a buzzer-beating jumper by Northside. The Buffalos finished their season at 1010. In Class 4A, Stafford defeated Port Lavaca Calhoun on Friday to win its seventh straight game. Quavious Lilly paced the Spartans (17-4) with 14 points, while Xavier Iyalla had 13 and Z’Corrian Hayes chipped in 10. The Spartans will play Cuero in the area round. Girls Ridge Point couldn’t outlast Houston Heights on Saturday afternoon, dropping a 61-58 decision to finish its season at 13-8. Aleighyah Fontenot had 25 points, five rebounds and five assists in the loss for the Lady Panthers, while Dala Allen had a doubledouble with 15 points and 10 rebounds. After losing in the second round each of the last three seasons, Dulles beat Jersey Village 75-68 to advance to a third-round matchup against Katy Tompkins on Wednesday. Last Week’s Playoff Scores Boys Feb. 19 Stafford 56, Calhoun 39 Feb. 20 Hightower 100, Waltrip
43 Elkins 66, Mayde Creek 37 Travis 76, Seven Lakes 46 Ridge Point 71, Tompkins 58 Bush 83, Taylor 71 Northside 73, Marshall 71 (OT) Girls Feb. 20 Dulles 75, Jersey Village 68 Heights 61, Ridge Point 58 Boys Playoff Schedule Class 6A Area Playoffs Tuesday Bush vs. Houston Heights, 7 p.m., Hopson Field House Wednesday Travis vs. Cypress Creek, 5 p.m., Merrell Center Ridge Point vs. Bellaire, 5 p.m., Delmar Fieldhouse Elkins vs. Houston Memorial, 5 p.m., Don Coleman Coliseum Class 5A Area Playoffs Wednesday Hightower vs. Crosby. 7:30 p.m., Butler Stadium Girls Playoff Schedule Region III-6A Quarterfinal Wednesday Dulles vs. Katy Tompkins, 7 p.m., Merrell Center
Skeeters to start first Triple-A season in April By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Baseball fans in Fort Bend County have a date with the Houston Astros organization in a little more than six weeks. The Sugar Land Skeeters, who have been an independent minor league franchise since their inaugural season in 2012, will begin play as the Astros’ new Triple-A affiliate on Thursday, April 8 with a road game against the Reno Aces, the Skeeters announced last Thursday. After opening the season with a 12-game road trip, the Skeeters will play their first Triple-A game at a renovated Constellation Field on April 22 against the Salt Lake Bees. That's the start of a 12-game homestand, and the Skeeters also have 12-game homestands in late May and mid-August. Other key dates in the 70-game home schedule include a Memorial Day weekend series against
the Albuquerque Isotopes May 27-31 and a Labor Day weekend series Sept. 3-6 against the Las Vegas Aviators. The 142-game season will run through Sept. 21, with the Skeeters competing in the East Division of Triple-A West. Divisional opponents will include the Isotopes (Colorado Rockies affiliate), El Paso Chihuahuas (San Diego Padres), Oklahoma City Dodgers (Los Angeles Dodgers) and Round Rock Express (Texas Rangers). Other league opponents for the Skeeters will be the
Aviators (Oakland A’s), Aces (Arizona Diamondbacks), Sacramento River Cats (San Francisco Giants), Bees (Los Angeles Angels) and Tacoma Rainiers (Seattle Mariners). The Skeeters said announcements on ticket availability as well as upcoming promotions and giveaways will be made soon. For more information on the Skeeters, visit sugarlandskeeters.com. Sugar Land Skeeters 2021 Schedule (Home games at
Constellation Field) April 8-13: at Reno 15-20: at Sacramento 22-27: vs. Salt Lake 29-May 4: vs. Round Rock May 6-11: at Albuquerque 13-18: at Round Rock 20-25: vs. El Paso 27-June 1: vs. Albuquerque June 3-8: at Oklahoma City 10-15: vs. Round Rock 17-22: at El Paso 24-29: vs. Oklahoma City July 1-6: at Round Rock 8-11: vs. Tacoma 15-20: at Albuquerque 22-27: at Oklahoma City 29-Aug. 3: vs. El Paso August 5-10: at Round Rock 12-17: vs. Albuquerque 19-24: vs. Oklahoma City 26-31: at El Paso September 2-7: vs. Las Vegas 9-14: at Round Rock 16-21: at Albuquerque
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City Council Public Hearing 5:30 p.m., March 16, 2021, City of Sugar Land City Council Chamber, 2700 Town Center Boulevard North, hosted via live stream at http://www.sugarlandtx.gov/1238/ SLTV-16-Live-Video or https://www.youtube.com/ sugarlandtxgov/live, and Sugar Land Comcast Subscribers can also tune-in on Channel 16, to hear all persons interested in the proposed rezoning of approximately 5.1 acres from Business Office (B-O) District to General Business (B-2) District located along US Highway 59 and Parkway Blvd south of Sugar Creek Blvd, further described as “Reserve B” and “Reserve C” within the Sports Club One Sugar Creek Place Replat, Instrument No. 9436082, Slide 1315/B in Fort Bend County Plat Records.
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The agenda item for this meeting will be placed on the City of Sugar Land website at www. sugarlandtx.gov under “Meeting Agendas” City Council no later than Friday, March 12, 2021. Request details or provide feedback on the proposed rezoning online at www.sugarlandtx. gov/PublicHearingComment or contact City of Sugar Land Planning & Development Services Department at (281) 275-2218. As of the date of this publication (February 24, 2021) the Centers for Disease Control recommends social-distancing and the avoidance of large and small gatherings in public spaces in order to limit the spread of COVID-19. As a result, the City of Sugar Land has elected to conduct this meeting online. Members of the public wishing to view the meeting live may do so at the links above. Members of the public desiring to make comments during the public hearing may submit their written comments to the Office of City Secretary (citysec@sugarlandtx.gov). Comments should reference the hearing in the subject line, must be received by 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 16, 2021, then will be read into the record during the public hearing. Members of the public desiring to make their comments during the published date and time of the public hearing must e-mail (citysec@sugarlandtx.gov) or call (281) 275-2730) the Office of the City Secretary by 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 16, 2021 to register and receive instructions for direct participation during the hearing. Should the Centers for Disease Control, and/or the prevailing appropriate authority, lift the restrictions related to social-distancing and the avoidance of large and small gatherings in public spaces prior to 72 hours of the date of the public hearings, the City of Sugar Land will provide notice to the public on the City Council meeting agenda at www.sugarlandtx.gov under “Meeting Agendas.”
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PAGE 6 • Wednesday, February 24, 2021
THE STAR
See us online www.FortBendStar.com
★ DULLES FROM PAGE 1 their undefeated season. Five players scored in double digits for 10th-ranked Dulles, led by Jakiya Thompson’s 18 points. Overton had 16 points and eight rebounds, while Dai Dai Powell had 11 points and nine rebounds along with three blocks. Threatt added 15 points. “For them to focus and come out of it with a win was huge for everybody,” Simon said. “I just kind of sat down to myself and took it all in. I got emotional because I was so happy for them.” Though Dulles has reached the playoffs in all but one of Simon’s five seasons, the area round had been a thorn in its side for each of the past two seasons. The Lady Vikings lost second-round games last season to Cypress Creek and to Jersey Village in 2019. But after the Lady Falcons took a 62-58 lead early in the fourth quarter Saturday, the Lady Vikings responded with 10 unanswered points to take a lead they would not relinquish. “It’s huge for this program to be at this point at the season with only 32 teams left in 6A, and it feeds into what Dulles girls basketball is all about with tradition,” Simon said. “It
★ RELIEF FROM PAGE 1 blessings.” Mahmood Marfani, a Richmond resident and founder of the Marfani Foundation, said he partnered with Chippy’s in Sugar Land to provide hundreds of meals to those in need. Over a fourday period, Marfani said, he
★ RECOVER FROM PAGE 1 related to the winter freeze. Residents can call 832595-3400 or send the city a message on Facebook with their address. The city said its public works crews will pick up materials like sheetrock, paneling, insulation, carpet, flooring materials, and/or broken pipes left at the curb. As of 3:30 p.m. Monday, CenterPoint Energy estimated there were 552 customers in the Houston area without power, approximately 74 of which were in Fort Bend County. According to CenterPoint’s outage map, http://gis. centerpointenergy.com/ outagetracker/index.html the majority of county residents experiencing outages are in the Cinco Ranch and Katy areas. With the vast majority of businesses and residents having had power and water restored and the weather reaching 75 degrees Monday, Missouri City officials announced Monday that H-E-B told the city its two locations would be open during normal hours. Fort Bend ISD announced Monday that it will operate virtually throughout this week and resume
Dulles' Nya Threatt attempts to drive past a Jersey Village defender during a Class 6A area-round playoff game Saturday at Delmar Fieldhouse in Houston. Threatt scored 15 points as the Lady Vikings won 75-68 to remain undefeated and advance to the Region III-6A quarterfinals. (Photo by Landan Kuhlmann)
for good.” Dulles now turns its attention to District 19-6A champion Katy Tompkins, the state’s 18th-ranked squad. They are scheduled to play at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Merrell Center in Katy. Simon knows it will be a challenge to win three more playoff games and return to the state tournament for the first time since 2002, because seven teams in Region III ended the regular season ranked in the TABC’s top 25. But he also knows his team is always up for a fight and that it steps up when the stage is biggest. “The thing about these kids is that they’re so loose, I don’t think they can ever be overwhelmed by the spotlight,” Simon said. “I don’t think they’ll be uptight, and they’ll always be ready to play. At this point everybody is pretty good, and we have one of the toughest brackets in the state. Each team we go through now is going to be a district champion or a 20-win team, so we can’t afford to look past anybody.” However long the run lasts, Simon and the Lady Vikings are going to enjoy it. “We’re extremely proud of these girls,” he said. “And the community’s really behind them.”
really reminds you of the tradition that we have here and that we’re trying to bring it back here.” Dulles outscored Jersey Village 17-6 over the game’s final
five minutes – which Simon said is no surprise given that his team ranks in the state’s top 10 in scoring. “We’ve been playing fast all season, and we have a multi-
tude of weapons that can go off at any time. Offensively, we know that we’re always going to be able to make a run,” Simon said. “Jersey Village was so good offensively that we had
to abandon what we normally do defensively – we knew we had to score in the half court. Our kids are multi-skilled talents, and we’re thankful for that, because it put us ahead
and his volunteers fed between 350-500 people per day and also supplied them with cases of water, cooking oils and bags of rice. Over the last four months, Marfani, who is also the director of the Pakistan Association of Greater Houston Community Services, estimated his foundation has helped provide at least 25,000 meals to those in
need as well as supplying groceries and masks throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. From last Thursday to Sunday, Texas Leaguer Brewing Company in Missouri City planned to give away 3,000 gallons of filtered water. Missouri City real estate agent Noel Pinnock and Alex’s Kitchen, a Spanish
restaurant, and Level’d Up Ink, a tattoo shop, teamed up to collect 2,000 bottles of water for 50 families. Fort Bend County Judge KP George, the Houston Food Bank and BAPS Charities collaborated for a drive-through food giveaway Saturday at Family Worship Center, a Baptist church in Stafford. The event featured 200 volunteers and 5,500
families were given a box of groceries, which included fresh produce, milk and water. On Monday in Sugar Land, George and Fort Bend County District Attorney Brian Middleton volunteered with the East Fort Bend Human Needs Ministry at Ismaili Jamatkhana and Center, collecting 22 pallets of food and water that will be donated to
area families. On Monday and Tuesday in Richmond, George partnered with Niagara Bottling’s Missouri City office to distribute thousands of gallons to residents at the county’s Justice Center. “We are in this deal together,” George said. “And we will do everything we can to help get you out of this struggle.”
online learning for students Wednesday through Friday. The district’s “Grab and Go” meals program will shift to Wednesday this week, with food available from 7-8:10 a.m. at Dulles High School as well as Hodges Bend and Missouri City middle schools. Meals also will be available from 7:30-9 a.m. at Bush, Elkins, Kempner, Ridge Point, Travis and Willowridge high schools as well as McAuliffe Middle School. To report price gouging of essentials, residents can report to the Texas Attorney General’s Office by calling 1-800-621-0508 or filing a complaint online. The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) has issued an order that will temporarily restrict energy providers from billing customers for electricity and water that they have not paid, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Sunday The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) has an online survey for Texans to report storm-related damages https://survey123.arcgis. com/share/eb1ab4928205 490182896d86783447d3 to help officials identify those who are in need of assistance. The Texas Department of Insurance can be reached
at 800-252-3439 or www. tdi.texas.gov for assistance with storm-related insurance claims. Lone Star Legal Aid is another resource for Texans in need of legal advice, and county residents can call 713-652-0277 or visit www.lonestarlegalaid. org to reach them. For assistance with home repairs, Fort Bend County residents can contact nonprofit organizations like Samaritan’s Purse at http:// www.samaritanspurse.org/ and at 828-262-1980. For mental health resources and crisis counseling, those in need can reach out to Texans Recovering Together at www. gulfcoastcenter.org or at 281-332-3472. In addition, President Joe Biden issued a major disaster declaration Saturday and authorized the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide Texas with emergency funding to supplement state and local relief efforts. According to a news release from FEMA, individuals and business owners in Fort Bend and Harris counties who suffered losses can begin applying for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance. gov or by calling 1-800621-3362 or the TTY line at 1-800-462-7585 for those who are deaf, hard of hear-
ing or speech impaired. The boil water notice for Fort Bend WCID No. 2, which serves Stafford, was rescinded Sunday, city officials announced on Twitter. The district reported it had restored adequate pressure, disinfectant levels and bacteriological quality and that the test results it provided to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) indicated the boil water notice was no longer necessary. You can use this interactive map from the Fort Bend County Office of Emergency Management (FBCOEM) to look up if your address is currently under a boil water notice at the following web address: https://fbcoem. maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/lookup/index.html?a ppid=ea75a2f1295849e8b0 a279c3690a60b0.. A complete list of boil water notices is available on FBCOEM’s website, https://fbcoem.org/. The following list of active and rescinded boil water notices are accurate as of noon Monday. Boil water notices are active in the following jurisdictions: – City of Orchard – Fort Bend County Improvement District No. 24 – Fort Bend County FWSD No. 2 (Rio Brazos ) – Fort Bend County
MUD No. 220 – Harris Fort Bend MUD No. 1 – Palmer Plantation MUD No. 1 – Palmer Plantation MUD No. 2 – Riverwood Forest (Weston Lakes) – Thunderbird Utility District No. 1 – Quail Valley Utility District Boil water notices in the following jurisdictions have been rescinded: – City of Beasley – City of Fulshear – City of Katy – Cinco Southwest MUD No.1 – Cinco Southwest MUD No. 2 – Cinco Southwest MUD No. 3 – Cinco Southwest MUD No. 4 – Big Oaks MUD – Chelford City MUD – Fort Bend FWSD No. 2 (Four Corners area only) – Fort Bend County MUD No. 2 – Fort Bend County MUD No. 34 – Fort Bend County MUD No. 41 – Fort Bend County MUD No. 50 Fort Bend County MUD No. 57 – Fort Bend County MUD No. 58 – Fort Bend County MUD No. 143 (Waterview
Estates Subdivision only) – Fort Bend County MUD No. 156 – Fort Bend County MUD No. 58 – Fort Bend County MUD No. 118 – Fort Bend County MUD No. 132 – Fort Bend County MUD No. 133 – Fort Bend County MUD No.143 – Fort Bend County MUD No. 146 – Fort Bend County MUD No. 165 – Fort Bend County MUD No. 185 – Fort Bend County MUD No. 190 – Fort Bend County MUD No. 192 – Fort Bend County MUD No. 194 – Grand Lakes MUD No. 1 – Grand Lakes MUD No. 2 – Grand Lakes MUD No. 4 – Grand Mission MUD No. 1 – Grand Mission MUD No. 2 – Greatwood – Greatwood Lakes – Harris Fort Bend MUD No. 1 – Harris/Fort Bend MUD No. 5 – Mission Bend MUD No. 1 – Mission Bend MUD No. 2
for much of the state and directed local energy providers to implement rolling blackouts during the winter storm. “I would have expected him to return sooner assuming this was an already scheduled trip,” Mona KaMo said. “But at this point, I would overlook that if he helps change Texas policies so that this doesn't happen again. Cold temperatures will return next winter.” Shawna Simon of Richmond said she wants to see the ERCOT board held accountable for its failures. “I would rather know who appoints the ERCOT board and what their qualifications are to sit on that board,” Simon said. “Were they just bought and paid for to sit on the board? And how do we get their resignations and put people on the board who are qualified experts in the energy field?” Gates said he felt he had legitimate reasons for leaving, and that being in Florida helped him to be more productive and to address the concerns of his constituents. “My wife is still recovering from an illness she had been battling for two weeks, and the room of my adult daughter, who is mentally handicapped and still lives with us, flooded,” Gates said. “Since all of my com-
mittee hearings in Austin were canceled for the week, I asked my cousin in Florida if we could stay with him for two days. We arrived by our plane late Wednesday night with plans of returning Friday afternoon.” After the Fort Bend Star reached out to Gates on Thursday to ask about his trip, it received a call from Craig Murphy, president of Murphy Nasica & Associates and a political consultant for Gates. Murphy said at the time that Gates was on a business trip to meet with a “major vendor.” “This was not a pleasure trip,” Murphy said. “There were no trips to Disney World.” Gates later told the Fort Bend Star that the primary purpose of the trip was to find a safe place for his family to stay where he had internet and phone service to continue corresponding with constituents and with his employees. Gates also said he took the opportunity while the legislative session was suspended due to inclement weather to meet with a major vendor in Florida for his Gatesco Inc. property management company, which owns 34 apartment complexes in Harris County. “While in Florida for those 48 hours and with de-
pendable service, I was able to respond to over 150 calls, texts, and emails,” Gates wrote in an email Monday. “I was also able to approve and purchase hundreds of thousands of dollars in emergency supplies for our 25,000 residents and direct deployment of our employees to resolve issues. I was also able to finalize our last six bills for my constituents and prepare for my hearings starting today on appropriations.” Fort Bend County Judge KP George also lost power and water at his family’s home in Richmond for several days, and has traveled around the county to assist with food and supplies drives for families while his home has sustained water damage from busted pipes. State Rep. Jacey Jetton, a Republican representing House District 26, which includes Sugar Land, assisted Sugar Land City Councilman Naushad Kermally and local restaurant GyroHut, which served meals to seniors who had lost or spoiled food after being without power in Telfair for 4 ½ days in some cases. Katy Democrat Eliz Markowitz, who lost to Gates in two previous elections, tweeted, “My state rep left when the going got tough,” and, “Elections have consequences.”
★ GATES FROM PAGE 1
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choose to abandon your constituents in their most desperate times of need you don’t deserve to hold that office,” she said. “Their most basic function is to serve and advocate for the people they represent.” Sara Meyers said the decisions of Cruz and Gates reflected a lack of sensitivity to the needs of those who were most vulnerable during and after the storm. “I wish I could say I’m surprised, but I’m not,” Meyers said. “Politicians couldn’t be more clear that they don’t care about their constituents.” Other county residents said they sympathized with Gates’ reasons for leaving but understood why Gates’ decision to travel out of state might have been received poorly by some. “He was clear why he went,” Larry Cook of Richmond said. “He has a handicapped daughter and a sick wife. I know it is all about optics. I get that. But good gosh.” Some area residents were more concerned about what Gates and the Texas Legislature will do to reform the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which manages electricity flow
THE STAR
See us online www.FortBendStar.com
Herrera beats Virippan for Stafford council seat By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
A successor has been chosen to fill Stafford Mayor Cecil Willis’ vacated seat on the city council. Xavier Herrera defeated Tom Virippan in a special election Saturday to become the city’s new councilman in Position 5. Herrera received 546 votes, or 70.61 percent of the vote. Virippan garnered 226 votes, or 29.39 percent of the vote. The city released the unofficial election results at 8:20 p.m. Saturday. Herrera has been a Stafford MSD board member since 2015 and is the chairman of the city’s planning and zoning commission. He is also the communications director for Fort Bend County Judge KP
Wednesday, February 24, 2021 • PAGE
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George. Virippan also has a background in education, as a former teacher and principal. In November, he lost his election as the Republican challenger to incumbent
State Rep. Ron Reynolds in House District 27. On May 1, councilmembers Alice Chen and Wen Guerra will be up for re-election for Position 1 and Position 2, respectively.
MASAKI21STAR
Formerly known as the Fort Bend Newcomers Guide, the Fort Bend Star Guide is a twice a year product that serves as a guide to everyday living in our unique community. Where to go, places to see, things to do and services that are available in Sugar Land, Missouri City, Richmond, Rosenberg, Stafford, and Fort Bend County.
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PAGE 8 • Wednesday, February 24, 2021
THE STAR
See us online www.FortBendStar.com
Review: Raizes Mexican Kitchen brings flavors of Michoacán to Stafford tro dressing that I would have also enjoyed as a topping for the Alambres along with the salsas that were provided. To wash it down, I had one of Raizes’ aguas frescas, a homemade guava juice that was lightly sweetened and refreshing, and a nice way to end a meal that was both warmly familiar and new at the same time.
Pictured are the Alambres from Raizes Mexican Kitchen in Stafford during a recent visit. (Photo by Stefan Modrich)
By Stefan Modrich SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Set your phone’s navigation app on course to a Mexican restaurant in the Houston area and you’re bound to pass dozens of them on the way. If you’re not discerning, it might make little difference to you whether or not you’re having Tex-Mex or some other Latin fusion or sampling traditional staples from Durango or Jalisco. And when you order Mexican food or prepare it at home yourself as often as I do, it can be difficult to find something memorable or worth revisiting. But in Raizes Mexican Kitchen in Stafford, I found exactly what my empty stomach was looking for. Raizes is the creation of Aristo Gaspar, a native of Michoacán, Mexico who has been in Houston for 30 years. He studied culinary arts in Mexico City at the Escuela De Gastronomía Mexicana, where he received his certification in Mexican Gastronomy. I admired Gaspar’s patience as I am notoriously indecisive when mulling over menus.
Ultimately, I decided on the Alambres ($11.95) which are a popular dish in Mexico City and in Oaxaca. If you’re the type of eater who reliably orders fajitas at Mexican restaurants but you’re looking for something more authentic, then I can recommend this as a good stepping stone for you. Alambres feature chicken, beef and pastor meats. A layer of melted cheese holds the meats together with peppers and onions. On the side, a standard helping of rice and beans are included as well as your choice of corn or flour tortillas. I opted for corn and found them to be soft but durable enough to scoop up the rest of the ingredients. One of the most enjoyable things about Mexican cuisine for me is the opportunity to take several small parts and customize them into a whole that is entirely of your own discretion. Also included was a small salad with a delicious cilan-
COMMUNITY
CALENDAR
Raizes Mexican Kitchen Address: 345 Dulles Ave., Stafford Dining Options: Dine-in, curbside pickup, delivery via Grubhub, Seamless, UberEats Hours: 7: a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday-Monday, 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday-Saturday Entrée prices: $7.95$14.95 Kid-friendly: Yes Senior discount: No Alcohol: No Healthy options: Veggie Breakfast Tacos ($2.65 each) Star of the show: Alambres
Deadline is noon every Friday. Limit entries to 40 words and answer the “5 Ws” Who, What, When, Where, and Why. Email to jsazma@fortbendstar.com or mail to: Fort Bend Star, 3944 Bluebonnet Drive, Stafford, Texas 77477.
FOR NON-PROFIT EVENTS
In light of the COVID-19 outbreak and the cancellation of several community gatherings, please check with each organization for updated information about the status of their events. FEBRUARY 25 LAMBDA SIGMA CHAPTER OF DKG VIRTUAL MEETING FEBRUARY 25TH Local chapter, Lambda Sigma of Delta Kappa Gamma, a professional society of leading women educators will conduct a rescheduled zoom meeting this Thursday, February 25th, at 5 p.m. (social time, 4:30) to celebrate the chapter's 39th birthday. Guest speaker: Pamela Berge, Area 4 Coordinator. Educators who are interested in learning more about DKG, contact dkglsnews2020@ gmail.com
MARCH 11 FT. BEND/HARRIS RETIRED EDUCATORS NEXT ZOOM MEETING is Thursday morning, March 11th, at 10:00. Program: The Sugar Land 95 (leasing the work of the prisoners to private individuals or corporations 1879 - 1909). Speaker: Chassidy Olainu-Alade, FBISD's coordinator for community and civic engagement. Paid members will receive an emailed zoom invitation a week prior to the meeting. Further information for any retired educator, email cmduvall@aol.com.
MARCH 5 MOVIES IN WESSENDORFF PARK Richmond is bringing back the monthly Free outdoor movies, beginning with National Treasure at Wessendorff Park, 500 Preston St. beginning March 5. The free outdoor film screening is organized by the city of Richmond and will be held in Wessendorff Park with plenty of room for distancing and kids to run. As in past years, Rotary Club of Richmond will supply free popcorn and the city will provide water. Families are encouraged to bring their own chairs and blankets.
ONGOING 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 YearEnd Giving. Register now, or learn more about exciting events: www.hopeforthree. org/events VIRTUAL The Temple Experience featuring Dr. Temple Grandin Ð February 20, 2021 Tickets, spectacular sponsorships and creative underwriting opportunities available.
MAY 8 CHILD ADVOCATES OF FORT BEND’S ANNUAL GALA FOR THE CHILDREN 30TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION! Join us to honor 19,000 children in Fort Bend County who have been abused and neglected Saturday, May 8 - 6 pm, Sugar Land Marriott Tickets $125. Sponsorships $2500 - $10,000 www.cafb.org
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AMERICAN LEGION MEETINGS. Will be the fourth Tuesday of every month at the Raymond Freeman Post 0942, 311 Ulrich, 7:00 pm, Sugar Land, Texas. 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 EXPERIENCE COUNTS! 35+ YEARS SERVING FORT BEND COUNTY 281-243-2344 281.243.2300
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meets at 9:30 am every Sunday at First Presbyterian of Sugar Land (502 Eldridge Rd.). For more information call 281-2403195 EXCHANGE EXCHANGE, AmericaÕ 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, 281575-1145 or mike@reichekfinancial.com We would love to have you join us and see what we are all about! MISSOURI CITY AARP CHAPTER 3801 Meets the second Monday of every month at 11:30 a.m., at 2701 Cypress Point Dr., Missouri City Rec Center. Lunch, education, and entertainment. All seniors over 50 invited. For more information, call 713-859-5920 or 281-499-3345. BECOME A FOSTER GRANDPARENT Volunteers are needed to be a role model, mentor and friend to children with exceptional needs in the community. Training, mileage reimbursement, tax-free monthly stipend if eligible. Call today to help change the world, one child at a time in Rosenberg. For more information, call 281-344-3515. DAV CHAPTER 233 MONTHLY MEETING The second Tuesday of every month at the United Way Fort Bend Center, 12300 Parc Crest Dr., Stafford, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. For more information, email maw0500@ gmail.com.
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AVAILABLE
18 years
family owned and operated LUNCH SPECIALS HOME MADE TAMALES & TORTILLAS MARGARITA’S TO-GO!
SOUTHWEST FREEWAY 281.240.3060 12821 LasHaciendasGrill.com
HIRELOCAL • SHOPLOCAL • EATLOCAL