10-07-2020 Edition of the Star

High school football returns - Page 4

During a recent visit to Larry's Original Mexican Restaurant in Richmond, the area staple proved to be a timeless classic. Read our review inside on Page 8. (Photo by Stefan Modrich)

WEDNESDAY • OCTOBER 7, 2020

Visit www.FortBendStar.com

Fort Bend / Southwest • Volume 44 • No. 8

Smart Financial Centre to be polling place By Stefan Modrich SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Combo Special

Sandwich, one side, & a drink. $9.99+tax 9920 Hwy 90A Suite #D-120 Sugar Land, TX 77478 832-532-7816 We Are Building Solutions

NOW HIRING Assemblers, Operators, and Material Handlers

for our East Bernard facility located at 16856 Cabinet Road, East Bernard, Texas 77435. If interested email lperaza@leedo.com

Fort Bend County residents looking to vote in person in this year’s general election will be able to do so in one of the county’s largest public venues. County Judge KP George held a news conference outside Smart Financial Centre in Sugar Land last Thursday,

The Smart Financial Centre in Sugar Land will be available to voters in the upcoming election. (Photo by Stefan Modrich)

during which George declared the facility would be an early voting and Election Day polling site. Early voting is scheduled to take place from Oct. 13-30, and Election Day is Nov. 3. The 200,000 square foot arena opened in 2017 and seats 6,400 people. It has also been used as a coronavirus testing site during the COVID-19 pandemic. George said the Cen-

Center Stage

Markowitz, Gates in District 28 rematch SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Wen Guerra Silvia Salazar

I can help you, for more information please call me

Christopher Caldwell

Don Jones

Star working through website transition

AJ Honore

By Adam Zuvanich AZUVANICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Delivering timely news online is essential for media outlets in the digital age, and we take pride in doing so at the Fort Bend Star. Our website and print editions are extensions of each other, complement each other and help keep our community informed – whether you’re someone who enjoys flipping through the newspaper or would prefer getting your neighborhood news on a computer or smart phone. Unfortunately, in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, fortbendstar.com was infected with a digital version of the coronavirus several weeks ago. As our online readers may already know, that forced us to put our site under selfquarantine for a period of time while we diagnosed the problem and worked toward recovery. It's been a bit of a long road back, much like some of those affected by COVID-19 have had to deal with lingering effects. We have streamlined our website and started the process of creating a new website on a new hosting platform that will be better than ever in terms of presentation and user friendliness. We look forward to unveiling the upcoming website and will keep our readers posted when it is set to launch. In the meantime, we have gotten fortbendstar.com free of viruses and back in working order, so we can once again update you with the latest information about the community and share those stories on our social media pages. If you don’t follow us already, please check us out on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @FortBendStar. And please keep reading our print edition, which we have continued to deliver without a hitch. We value those who pick up our paper each week, and we hope you value us just the same. Thank you for reading.

SEE POLLING PAGE 3

By Stefan Modrich

Looking for Pre-Need Funeral Arrangements, Life Insurance or Annuities?

Hablo Español 281-905-2927

ter for Tech and Civic Life, a non-profit group, provided the county with $500,000 to be used during the 2020 election cycle to improve accessibility for voters. “This location is an amazing place,” George said. “That’s the very reason why I am excited about it. This is going to give access to thousands

Jacqueline Jean-Baptiste

Adam Sanchez Jim Narvios

Just 260 days separate Oct. 13, the first day of early voting, from the Jan. 28 runoff election that saw Republican Gary Gates win decisively over Democratic nominee Eliz Markowitz for the Texas House of Representatives seat in District 28. They are competing again for the right to represent part of Fort Bend County in Austin, with Election Day scheduled for Nov. 3. Gates is the Richmond-based owner of Gatesco Inc., which employs about 500 people across the 8,500 apartments he owns throughout the Greater Houston area. He is a member of the Appropriations Committee and Pensions Committee. As a business owner, Gates said he emphasizes the importance of vocational training as one of the key components of his platform. “Throughout the state and really throughout this country, we have the mindset that every kid is going to go to college,” Gates said. “And the reality is that’s not the situation. And we’re neglecting the vast majority, 70 percent or so who never go to college. And they’re coming out of

SEE DISTRICT 28 PAGE 6 Clint Mendonca

Ken Mathew

Cecil Willis

Chamber forum hosts Stafford candidates By Stefan Modrich SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

For the first time in more than 50 years, Stafford is preparing for a municipal election without Leonard Scarcella, the late former mayor. The current group of candidates made their cases to voters at the Stafford Civic Center, and without an in-person audience due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce hosted the candidate forum last Thursday for the upcoming local

elections for positions on the Stafford Municipal School District board of trustees, city council and mayor. Early voting is scheduled for Oct. 13-30, with Election Day on Nov. 3. The forum was broadcast on Facebook Live and Stafford METV and featured a media panel of journalists from the Fort Bend Star, Houston Chronicle and Fort Bend Independent. The night kicked off with the three school board candidates, who are vying for two seats on the sevenperson board. Incumbents

Jacqueline Jean-Baptiste and Christopher Caldwell shared the stage with challenger Clint Mendonca, who sharply critiqued the fiscal responsibility and the educational standards of the board. Jean-Baptiste cited the board’s passing of a $62 million bond, the largest in SMSD history, as a notable accomplishment. She added the board has a bond oversight committee that ensures the bond funds are spent responsibly. “We are very fiscally sound,” Jean-Baptiste said.

“We have a great amount of money in our fund balance. We even put money back into our fund balance every year. We’ve passed a balanced budget for the last seven years. The bond package helped lead to the construction of a new middle school, which was completed in August, and a new administrative building opened in June. The existing middle school was converted into a STEM campus.

SEE FORUM PAGE 6

Gates

Markowitz

George Ranch Historical Park loses icon in 'Uncle Bob' By Stefan Modrich SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Bob Beringer, known affectionately as “Uncle Bob” by the thousands of children and visitors of all ages to the George Ranch Historical Park in Richmond, died Saturday at age 63. Beringer came to the George Ranch in 2010 as a tram driver, and not long after found his calling playing the role of an 1890s sharecropper. He is survived by 14 grandchildren and was known for his easygoing personality. “Bob Beringer was such a kind and genuinely

good man. He encouraged everyone, always had a positive attitude and made us all feel as if he truly was our Uncle Bob,” Claire Rogers, executive director of the Fort Bend History Association, said in a statement. “He will be greatly missed by all the staff and certainly by a large following of regular guests to the George Ranch Historical Park.” Visitors to the ranch shared an outpouring of support and condolences for Beringer and his family on social media. “We spent some time with Uncle Bob just two weeks ago,” Lindsay

George Ranch Historical Park's Bob Beringer died Saturday at age 63. (Contributed photo)

Shepard of Pearland wrote on Facebook. “My eldest son, Alfie, and him struck up quite the friendship and

I’m sure Alfie would have loved to stay there all day with him. He is heartbroken with the news of Bob’s passing. Sending all our love to his family at home and at the Ranch. A sad day indeed.” Like many who met Beringer, Richmond resident David Hobbins claimed “Uncle Bob” as an adopted member of his family. “My youngest daughter thought he was her actual uncle and looked for him at family get-togethers,” Hobbins wrote in a Facebook post. “We got to have a good visit with him a few weeks ago. We are very sad

to hear of his passing and are praying for his family.” Beringer’s colleagues said he would be remembered for his warmth and his dedication to his job. He embodied the role so well, said JR Thomas, the site lead at the 1830s Jones Stock Farm, that he was always in character. “In the museum business, you’re only as good as the last person you saw,” Thomas said. “He was just enthusiastic and personable and happy. He was made for that place. He was absolutely made for it.” SEE BOB PAGE 6

THE STAR

PAGE 2 • Wednesday, October 7, 2020

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

Police investigating Missouri City shooting By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Houston police are investigating after a teenage boy was shot in Missouri City late Friday morning. According to a news release from the Houston Police Department, the 16-year-old victim suffered a gunshot wound to

his elbow. He was transported to an area hospital

Buy 5

CUPCAKES and get 1 free

and expected to survive, according to police. HPD said its officers responded to a shooting call at 6600 Maczali Dr. around 11:40 a.m. Friday. According to police, the boy had been chased out of his home by multiple unknown suspects before being shot. The suspects robbed the victim of his earbuds before fleeing the scene in a dark-colored, four-door sedan, police said. Anyone with information in this case is urged to contact HPD’s Major Assaults & Family Violence Division at 713-308-8800 or Houston Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477.

15850 Southwest Fwy. #100 Sugar Land, TX. 77478 281-565-6108

Sugar Land police say the man shown above may have been involved in taking a woman's car at gunpoint at a Sugar Land coffee shop last week. (Photo from Sugar Land Police Department)

SLPD searching for carjacking suspect By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Sugar Land police are searching for a man who may have been involved in the theft of a woman’s car at gunpoint last Wednesday afternoon. A news release from the Sugar Land Police Department said the victim was outside the Blendin

(This offering is not to be combined with any other offering. This store location only) www.gigiscupcakesusa.com

Coffee Club at 8410 Hwy. 90A in Sugar Land just after 1 p.m., when an unknown male came up to her with a gun and stole her vehicle. The suspect is described as a young black male who is about 5-foot-9 and was last seen wearing a black sweatshirt, according to police. Surveillance video from the store showed a man possibly match-

ing the description of the suspect leaving the store just after 1 p.m., police said. SLPD said the suspect was last seen driving east on Highway 90 in the victim’s dark gray Toyota Camry with the license plate KJZ7806. Anyone with information on the incident is encouraged to call the Fort Bend County Crime Stoppers at 281-342-8477.

Fort Bend ISD's James Reese Career and Technical Center was recently presented with a state construction award from the TASA and TASB. (Photo from James Reese Career and Technical Center Twitter)

FBISD’s career center wins state construction honor By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Fort Bend ISD’s James Reese Career and Technical Center, where an abandoned, unmarked

Re-Elect

MAYOR

FORD YOLANDA

MISSOURI

cemetery was discovered two years ago during construction, recently received a statewide architectural honor. The center, located at 12300 University Blvd. in Sugar Land, was among

713-433-6421

14700 Almeda Rd. Houston, TX 77053 www.HoustonHumane.org

CITY

First 2-year Term Accomplishments:

Future Initiatives: Redevelopment of Major Corridors Smart City Initiatives/Citywide WIFI Comprehensive Citywide Economic Development Small Business Support Improved Financial Controls

Experience: Current Mayor Former Missouri City Council Member & Mayor Pro Tem 20+ Years of Urban Planning &Community Development Experience Masters of Architecture 40+ Year Native of Missouri City

“Missouri City ranked top 10 places to raise a family in Fort Bend County” ~Niche.com Early Voting: Oct. 13 - Oct. 30, 2020 Election Day: November 3, 2020

www.yolandaford.com

Pol. Adv. Paid for by the Yolanda Ford Campaign for City Council, Treasurer, Ivy Crafton.

First Property Tax Reduction Since 2013 Increase in Sales Tax Leading the Pandemic Response Largest Capital Improvement Project - Regional Water Treatment Plant Expansion of Metro Commuter Connector First Skate Park Completion Texas Parkway & Cartwright Beautification Improvements

I was turned in by my previous owner after Hurricane Laura hit as she was unable to take care of me anymore. My friends at the shelter say I have a beautiful coat coloring and light caramel eyes. I am still young, so I have a lot of energy and enjoy going on long walks. I will easily adapt to your home if you are patient with me and give me lots of love! I can't wait to meet you!

48 projects recently included in the 2020-21 Exhibit of School Architecture, which “celebrates excellence in planning and design of the learning environment.” A Sept. 25 news release from the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) and Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) said 25 projects were also awarded Stars of Distinction for Excellence in aspects such as design, value, sustainability, community, planning and school transformation. The James Reese Career and Technical Center – which opened for the 2019-20 school year – earned statewide honors for design, value, community and planning as part of the 2020 TASA|TASB Convention from Sept. 30- Oct. 2. Eligible projects were newly constructed or renovated public education facilities completed in the past five years. The remains of 95 African Americans, believed to be part of a state-sanctioned convict labor leasing program in the late 1800s and early 1900s, were discovered during construction in February 2018. The remains were reburied at the site late last year.

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

Hi, I am Maggie Jaramillo, your State Judge for the 400th Judicial District Court. When I was 9 years old, my parents lawfully emigrated me from Mexico to the United States in pursuit of a better life and the American dream. I learned to speak English and excelled academically both in high school and college. I married and raised 2 daughters while my husband served our country for 22 years in the United States Marine Corps. During his numerous deployments, I completed college and with the support of my family, moved to Houston to attend Thurgood Marshall School of Law. Our family reunited in Sugar Land, Texas, and I became a practicing attorney in criminal and civil matters for 18 years. On October 22, 2014, I was appointed by Governor Perry to the 400th Judicial District Court. My appointment was based on whom could best serve Fort Bend County and Texas. On Nov 8, 2016, I was elected to the court for a 4 year term.As your judge, I preside over the same types of criminal and civil cases that I used to handle as a practicing attorney. I have a record of results when it comes to these matters. Attorneys and colleagues say I am one of the hardest working courts in Fort Bend County People know me and trust me. I am experienced, fair and dedicated to what I do. This coming election, vote early, vote all the way down the ballot and vote Maggie Jaramillo. Visit www.judgemaggiejaramillo.com to check out my endorsements. Early Voting Oct 13-30, 2020. Election Day Tuesday, Nov 3, 2020. Pd. Pol. Adv. By Judge Maggie Jaramillo Campaign, Jaime Jaramillo treasurer. In compliance with the voluntary limits of the Judicial Campaign Fairness Act.

THE STAR

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

Wednesday, October 7, 2020 • PAGE

Even pandemic can’t stop wheels of democracy Of all the ways the COVID-19 pandemic has gripped every waking minute of our lives, the most pressing concern of the moment is a fundamental one for the continued functioning of our democratic republic — voting and all that comes with it. Everything from knocking on doors and distributing flyers to phone-banking has been altered by the coronavirus as communities opt for social media-driven campaigning and civil discourse. As you’ll read in this week’s paper, I was honored to be invited to participate in the media panel in last Thursday’s

Stafford Candidate Forum, along with reporters from the Houston Chronicle and the Fort Bend Independent. The event was handled professionally and safely by Carrie Schmidt and Paige Talbott of the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce and moderated by Rehan Alimohammad, a partner at the Wong Fleming law firm in Sugar

Land. All attendees followed CDC protocols and embraced the virtual nature of the event, which was streamed on Facebook Live and televised on Stafford’s METV network. If you missed it, you can watch the forum in its entirety here. The candidates, from the school board to the city council and mayoral races, all fielded challenging and pertinent questions from the media panel and an audience that submitted queries on Facebook. Opportunities to be safely socially distant and in the same room with many of the city’s public servants and community leaders are few and far between,

so I certainly appreciated the respectful nature of the dialogue between the press and the candidates. And there will be more of them forthcoming as this election season heats up. From 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7, the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce will host a forum for the seven candidates running for three positions on the Fort Bend ISD school board. Incumbent Jason Burdine is facing a challenge from Angie Hanan for Position 1, and incumbent Kristin Tassin is opposite Shirley RoseGilliam on the ballot for Position 4. Allison Drew is the incumbent for Posi-

tion 5, and she’ll face two challengers in Denetta R. Williams and Reggie Abraham. At 6 p.m. Oct. 12, the chamber will host a Fort Bend County Sheriff Candidates Forum between Democrat Eric Fagan and Republican Trever Nehls. The Fort Bend Pastors Association held a virtual town hall meeting of Missouri City mayoral and city council candidates on YouTube on Tuesday. At 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, the Missouri City candidates will gather virtually again, this time hosted by the Xi Kappa Lambda fraternity. A friendly reminder: the voter registration deadline

for this year’s election has passed, and just 26 days remain before Election Day, Nov. 3. Early voting begins next Tuesday, Oct. 13 and ends Oct. 30. Do your part to help shape the future of your community by tuning in to these town halls and making an informed choice, whether you vote in-person or by mail. We’ll be doing our part to provide you with comprehensive coverage of the races that matter most to you across Fort Bend County, and as always, let us know what issues are affecting you. Together, we can increase civic engagement and keep the wheels of democracy turning.

The new voter equipment features a touch screen and prints out a paper ballot as a backup after a vote is cast electronically. District Attorney Brian Middleton said he and County Attorney Roy L. Cordes Jr. have formed a task force to ensure the safety and integrity of the election amid concerns raised by the public at the prospect of having poll-watchers present. “The best way to vote is in person,” Middleton said. “And that’s why we want to have these large voting centers, so people can come and feel socially distant because this is one of the most important elections in United

States history.” Middleton said police officers and investigators will be deployed to deter any attempts at voter suppression or intimidation. “So, anybody that’s looking at this, who thinks or is contemplating attempting anything to disrupt these elections in Fort Bend County, you should know that we will be there to stop it,” Middleton said. “So, we want everyone to know that this will be a safe, legal election.” Election Administrator John Oldham said the preparation for administering this year’s election has been the most challenging one

he’s ever seen due to the pandemic. He expected the county to see 400,000 registered voters by the Monday deadline, and added so far about 33,000 mail-in ballots have been processed and are set to send out to voters. “We’ve already processed twice as many ballot-by-mail applications as we’ve ever done in any previous election,” Oldham said. Fort Bend County has allowed countywide voting since 2016, and will continue to do so for the 2020 election, Oldham noted. Oldham said the enforcement of social distancing requirements

mean there will not be a shortage of voting machines, but there will be a shortage of check-in stations, many of which will need to be repurposed from previous elections “as a backup for Election Day.” Oldham also cited the Sept. 30 decision by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which overturned a decision by a federal judge to reinstate straight-ticket voting, ending the practice of selecting all of the candidates of a major political party with a single punch. George said he would be “making every effort” to ensure there would be ballot drop-off locations, planning for five sites

across the county. Not long after George made those remarks, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a proclamation that counties can designate only one location for ballot drop-offs, leaving just a single site for the 885-square-mile county. “A few minutes after Fort Bend County announced its opening of satellite elections offices for voters to drop off completed mailin ballots, Governor Abbott banned these sites,” George tweeted in response to Abbott’s order. “Apparent attempts to suppress the vote like this one prove that American democracy is on the ballot.”

Stefan Modrich

★ POLLING FROM PAGE 1 of voters.” Precinct 4 Commissioner Ken DeMerchant said Smart Financial Centre will be the mostused polling place in the county, and it will feature 60 voting machines. The Commissioners Court voted to approve the $7.8 million purchase of 1,700 new machines in October 2019. The machines were supposed to debut in May, but the pandemic prompted many area municipalities to postpone their local elections to Nov. 3. They were instead used in the July 14 primary runoff elections.

C L A SSI FIED

A DS

CLASSIFIED ADS THAT GET RESULTS CALL US AT 281-690-4200

HOME IMPROVEMENT

HELP WANTED

DS Ornamental IronAFence C L ASSI F IED Driveway - Gates &

Interior/Exterior Painting Hardie Plank Siding • Pressure Washing Rooﬁng • Remodeling • Carpentry Fence/Fence Repair 14 yrs. exp.

281-642-1992

Frank Garza, owner

Free Estimates

Interior and Exterior

IRON FENCE REPAIR • IRON FENCE REPAIR

• IRON FENCE REPAIR •

ction Satisfanteed Guara

Bond & Insu ed red

• IRON FENCE REPAIR •

House Painters Plus

Operators

• Free Estimates

281-344-9212

SMALL JOBS WELCOMED

Pressure Washing

Sheetrock Repair

TRANE ON SALE!

Painting by Tod

• Great Prices • Rebates! • Financing • Warranties

“Where Quality Counts”

Insured Free Estimates References Since 1981

Tod Griffin (281)

265-7134

AIR CONDITIONING • HEATING

XR 16 SYSTEM

$30 OFF any repair

cannot be combined with any offer TACLB019260E

CLASS A CDL DRIVERS NEEDED Benefits Include:

• Sign on bonus of $6,500 • $5,000 safety bonus • Home daily • Pay per mile/ load • Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Ins, PTO • Must have Class A CDL with Tanker Endorsement

Call

Reynolds

Nationwide

1-888-648-3604

You can also visit our Website to fill out an application at

reynoldsnw.com

Call 281-468-4250 anytime www.criticalairac.com TACLA021957E (Licensed & Insured)

281-492-3450 www.myACandHEAT.com

LIMITED TIME! CALL NOW!!

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

CLASSIFIED ADS THAT GET RESULTS CALL US AT 281-690-4200

MNB ENTERPRISES LLC • DBA CRITICAL AIR

♠

ACE TILE

♠

Carpet • Remodeling • Ceramic Marble • Wood Flooring • Pressure Washing Laminate Wood Flooring • Granite Slab Countertops

Call TODAY for FREE ESTIMATE

281-898-0154

Eddie Allum

FOR SALE

Reliable Handyman

with experience in plumbing, drywall/texture, painting, carpentry, door install/repairs, cabinet repairs, and other general handyman. Please call 713-371- 3516 or email

mickey@officeorioles.com

Regional Classified Ads Call this paper to place your ad in millions of homes.

THE FOLLOWING ADS HAVE NOT BEEN SCREENED BY THE SOUTH‐ EASTERN ADVERTISING PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION (SAPA); Therefore, any dis‐ crepancies thereof shall not be the responsibility of the aforementioned association. Your publisher has agreed to participate in this program and run these ads as a ser‐ vice to the Southeastern Ad‐ vertising Publishers Association. HEALTH & MEDICAL

Portable Oxygen Concen‐ trator May Be Covered by Medicare! Reclaim indepen‐ dence and mobility with the compact design and longlasting battery of Inogen One. Free information kit! Call 855727-9628 Attention Viagra users: Generic 100 mg blue pills or Generic 20 mg yellow pills. Get 45 plus 5 free $99 + S/H. Guaranteed, no prescription necessary. Call 855-3981878 HEARING AIDS!! Buy one/get one FREE! Highquality rechargeable Nano hearing aids priced 90% less than competitors. Nearly in‐ visible! 45-day money back guarantee! 844-357-4008

LEGAL SERIOUSLY INJURED in an AUTO ACCIDENT? Let us fight for you! Our network has recovered millions for clients! Call today for a FREE consul‐ tation! 844-997-0591

Donate your car, truck or van. Help veterans find jobs or start a business. Call Patri‐ otic Hearts Foundation. Fast, FREE pick-up. Max tax-de‐ duction. Operators are stand‐ ing by! Call 1-844-982-2392

GENERAC Standby Genera‐ tors. The weather is increas‐ ingly unpredictable. Be prepared for power outages. FREE 7-year extended war‐ ranty ($695 value!) Schedule your FREE in-home assess‐ ment today. Call 1-833-9530224 Special financing for qualified customers.

SATELLITE TV

$59.99/month Directv Spe‐ cial. 155+ Channels, HBO for 12 months and 3 months of Premium Movie Channels! Whole Home GENIE HD DVR! Call Now! 877-221-8427

Become a published au‐ thor! Publications sold at all DISH TV - Over 190 Chan‐ major secular & specialty nels Now ONLY $59.99/mo! Christian bookstores. CALL Christian Faith Publishing for 2yr price guarantee, FREE In‐ your FREE author submission SERIOUSLY INJURED in an stallation! Save HUNDREDS kit. 1-877-484-4025 AUTO ACCIDENT? Let us over Cable and DIRECTV. DENTAL INSURANCE from fight for you! Our network has Add Internet as low as Physicians Mutual Insur‐ recovered millions for clients! $14.95/mo! 1-855-977-7405 ance Company. Coverage for Call today for a FREE consul‐ TIMESHARE Recently diagnosed with 350 plus procedures. Real tation! 1-888-409-1261 CANCELLATION LUNG CANCER and 60+ dental insurance - NOT just a years old? Call now! You and discount plan. Do not wait! Thinking about installing a Avoid Timeshare Cancella‐ your family may be entitled to Call now! Get your FREE Den‐ new shower? American Stan‐ tion Scams. Consumer pro‐ a SIGNIFICANT CASH tal Information Kit with all the details! 1-866-694-6148 www AWARD. Call 844-791-6012 .dental50plus.com/southern dard makes it easy. FREE de‐ tection attorney will get you a sign consultation. Enjoy your legal low flat fee cancellation today. Free Consultation. No #6258 Risk. shower again! Call 1-844- for less, with a 100% money DIAGNOSED WITH LUNG SAVE BIG on HOME INSUR‐ CANCER? You may qualify 254-8510 today to see how back guarantee. TimeShare‐ ANCE! Compare 20 A-rated for a substantial cash award - you can save $1,000 on in‐ BeGone has an A+BBB rat‐ insurances companies. Get a even with smoking history. stallation, or visit www.new‐ ing and 5 star reviews. To quote within minutes. Aver‐ NO obligation! We've recov‐ showerdeal.com/sapa request a quote, call 1-800age savings of $444/year! ered millions. Let us help!! 223-1770 or go to: outlegally FDA registered face mask Call 855-993-0514! (M-F Call 24/7, 855-331-4660 .com 8am-8pm Central) on sale starting with DIRECTV - Switch and WANTED TO BUY DISH Network $59.99 For Save! $49.99/month. Select $14.50/50 units, plus freight. 190 Channels! Add High All-Included Package. 155 Order now to slow down CASH FOR CARS! We buy Speed Internet for ONLY Channels. 1000s of Shows/ Coronavirus an d protect all cars! Junk, high-end, to‐ $19.95/month. Call Today for Movies On Demand. FREE yourself and your family! 888taled – it doesn’t matter! Get $100 Gift Card! Best Value & Genie HD DVR Upgrade. Pre‐ 856-0079. info@mpface‐ free towing and same day Technology. FREE Installa‐ mium movie channels, FREE www.mpface‐ cash! NEWER MODELS too! tion. Call 1-855-837-9146 for 3 mos! Call 1-877-666- mask.com. Call 1-866-508-8362. (some restrictions apply) 2821 mask.com MISCELLANEOUS Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate to‐ day. 15% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Dis‐ counts. Call 1-888-927-8649

O U R W E B S I T E I S B AC K ! F o r t b e n d s t a r. c o m

THE STAR

PAGE 4 • Wednesday, October 7, 2020

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

LEGALS NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES BY AMENDING CHAPTER 2, (FEES FOR VARIOUS CITY SERVICES), CHAPTER 5, (RATES AND CHARGES), AND CHAPTER 5, (FIRE PROTECTION FEES FOR DISTRICTS IN EXTRATERRITORIAL JURISDICTION) BY REVISING CITY SERVICE FEES The City of Sugar Land City Council on September 15, 2020 adopted on second consideration City of Sugar Land Ordinance No. 2211: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SUGAR LAND, TEXAS, AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES BY AMENDING CHAPTER 2, ARTICLE V, DIVISION 4, SECTION 2-136 (FEES FOR VARIOUS CITY SERVICES), CHAPTER 5, ARTICLE VIII, DIVISION 3 (RATES AND CHARGES), SECTIONS 5-246 – 5-265, AND CHAPTER 5, ARTICLE IX, DIVISION 1, SECTION 5-421 (FIRE PROTECTION FEES FOR DISTRICTS IN EXTRATERRITORIAL JURISDICTION) BY REVISING CITY SERVICE FEES. The penalty section states that any person found guilty of violating this ordinance will be fined not more than $2,000.00 for health, safety and welfare offenses and $500 for all other offenses. Said ordinance is available in the Office of City Secretary, City of Sugar Land, 2700 Town Center Boulevard North, Suite 122, Sugar Land, Texas, (281) 275-2730, and may be examined between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Due to current COVID-19 pandemic conditions, examinations must be scheduled by appointment with the Office of the City Secretary ((281) 275-2730).

NOTICE TO BIDDERS DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM WATER MAIN REHABILITATION PROGRAM The City of Sugar Land seeks bids for furnishing all labor, material, and equipment, and performing all work required for the following project in the City: CIP PROJECT NAME: Distribution System Water Main Rehabilitation Program CIP PROJECT NUMBER: WA1801 LOCATION OF WORK:

Sugar Creek Subdivision, Sugar Land, TX 77478 (Key Map 568 U, 568 R, 568 V, 569 N, 569 S, & 569 W)

Plans, specifications, and bidding documents may be obtained from CivCast www.civcastusa.com search project name “Distribution System Water Main Rehabilitation Program – WA1801” or document may be viewed in the office of the Design Engineer at the following location: Kaluza, Inc: 3014 Avenue I, Rosenberg, TX 77471 Sealed bids in triplicate, one (1) original and two (2) copies, shall be delivered to the City of Sugar Land, Office of the City Secretary, 2700 Town Center Boulevard North, Suite 122, Sugar Land, Texas, 77479, on or before 11:00 a.m. CST on Thursday, November 12, 2020, at which time bids will be publicly opened and read via teleconference. Bids received after the opening date and time will not be considered. A non-mandatory pre-bid meeting for all interested parties will be held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, October 26, 2020 via virtual meeting. Details for attending the pre-bid meeting will be posted on CivCast www.civcastusa.com. Questions regarding this bid must be submitted online to CivCast www. civcastusa.com system or by contacting Edward L. Nagorski P.E., at (281) 341-0808 or email enagorski@kaluzainc.com by Thursday, October 29, 2020 on or before 5:00 p.m.

NOTICE TO BIDDERS SUGAR CREEK COUNTRY CLUB STORM SEWER REHABILITATION PROJECT The City of Sugar Land seeks bids for furnishing all labor, material, and equipment, and performing all work required for the following project in the City: CIP PROJECT NAME:

Sugar Creek Country Club Storm Sewer Rehabilitation Project CIP PROJECT NUMBER: CIP DR2004 LOCATION OF WORK:

The project is located at Sugar Creek Country Club, 420 Sugar Creek Blvd. Sugar Land TX 77478, just southeast of HWY 59 and Sugar Creek Blvd.

The scope of this project includes the in-place rehabilitation of approximately 1,560 L.F. of 54” RCP storm sewer located on and adjoining the Sugar Creek Country Club. Project requirements include placement of temporary water-tight plugs in storm sewer, removing storm water from the pipe and maintaining dry conditions in the pipe during rehabilitation. Pipe openings (joints, lifting holes, cracks, etc.) in the existing storm sewer pipes, manholes and inlets will be sealed and grouted to eliminate infiltration. Existing voids in the soil around and above the pipe will be filled and the project site will be restored including replacement of concrete cart path, golf course turf, irrigation systems and existing site facilities. Plans, specifications, and bidding documents may be obtained from www. CivCastUSA.com, search for project name “Sugar Creek Country Club Storm Sewer Rehabilitation Project”, or documents may be viewed in the office of the Design Engineer at the following location: KALUZA, INC. 3014 Avenue I, Rosenberg, Texas 77471 Sealed bids in triplicate, one (1) original and two (2) copies, shall be delivered to the City of Sugar Land, Office of the City Secretary, 2700 Town Center Boulevard North, Suite 122, Sugar Land, Texas, 77479, on or before 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 22, 2020, at which time bids will be publicly opened and read. Bids received after the opening date and time will not be considered. A non-mandatory pre-bid meeting for all interested parties will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 14, 2020 via a virtual meeting. Details for attending the pre-bid meeting will be posted on CivCast www. CivCastUSA.com. Questions regarding this bid must submitted online to www.CivCastUSA. com system or contact Richard W. Stolleis, P.E., at 281.341.0808 or by email, rstolleis@kaluzainc.com by Friday, October 16, 2020 on or before 5:00 P.M. Please post question to the Q&A feature on CivCast. Contact with any personnel of the City other than as authorized in this Invitation to Bid, regarding this Invitation to Bid, may be grounds for elimination from the selection process. The City does not assume responsibility for not receiving questions from the Bidder or the Bidders’ receipt of any answers, addenda, or amendment. THE SELECTED BIDDER(S) WILL BE REQUIRED TO ENTER INTO THE CITY OF SUGAR LAND STANDARD CONTRACT FOR CIVIL ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AND PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN THE MINIMUM INSURANCE COVERAGES REQUIRED UNDER THE CONTRACT. THE CONTRACT IS AVAILABLE AS AN ATTACHMENT TO THIS ITB. The City Council will award the contract as provided in the Invitation to Bid. The City of Sugar Land will give notice of the contract award within sixty (60) calendar days after the opening date and time.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING SPECIAL EXCEPTION REQUEST FROM THE REAR YARD SETBACK REQUIREMENT IN THE INTERIM SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (R-1-I) ZONING DISTRICT FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1307 SHADY BEND DRIVE. Zoning Board of Adjustment Public Hearing 5:00 p.m., October 21, 2020, 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 Special Exception to the Rear Yard Setback for 1307 Shady Bend Drive, Lot 7, Block 2, Greatwood Brooks Mill Section 1, in the Interim Single-Family Residential (R-1-I) District.

VICINITY MAP:

The agenda item for this meeting will be placed on the City of Sugar Land website at www.sugarlandtx.gov under “Meeting Agendas” Zoning Board of Adjustment no later than Friday, October 16, 2020. Request details or provide feedback on the proposed Special Exception online at www.sugarlandtx. gov/PublicHearingComment or contact City of Sugar Land Planning Department at (281) 275-2218.

@FtBendAthletics:

Travis' opener called off because of COVID-19 case By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

While many of Fort Bend ISD’s schools were able to finally kick off their football season last week, the wait continued at least another week for one area school. The Travis Tigers, who were scheduled to face Richmond Foster on Thursday, had their game cancelled due to a positive COVID-19 test from someone associated with Foster’s football program, according to a tweet from Lamar Consolidated ISD. LCISD also cited “a need to quarantine additional players.” The Travis-Foster game was last week’s only local athletic event impacted by COVID-19, which as of Monday had infected a total of 16,603 Fort Bend County residents, with at least 196 people having died from

SERVICES MATH/COMPUTER TUTOR Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, word processing, spreadsheet, graphics. Bill Stewart. BSEE 281-3411582.>+

the disease and 15,471 patients having recovered. Travis is now scheduled to begin its season at 7 p.m. Friday with a road game against Montgomery Lake Creek as it looks to extend a 13-game regular-season winning streak that dates back to 2018. Marshall, a state finalist last year in Class 5A Division II, may have looked far from the offensive juggernaut that fans in Fort Bend and around the state are accustomed to seeing in last week’s 70 victory over Elkins. But the result was much the same for the Buffalos. Marshall, ranked No. 2 in 5A heading into the season, made a firstquarter touchdown from Jy’Adrian Wortham stand up in the win over the Knights. A defense that returned multiple starters led the way for the Buffalos, and junior defensive back Adari Haulcy had two interceptions. A strong ground attack paved the way for Clements in the Rangers’ 50-13 victory over Houston Sterling last week as they matched their win total from 2019. Senior quarterback James Sat-

LEGALS

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING PROPOSED CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR T-MOBILE MONOPOLE CELLULAR TOWER ON APPROXIMATELY 2500 SQUARE FEET LOCATED AT THE REAR OF THE PROPERTY AT 12935 DAIRY ASHFORD ROAD Planning and Zoning Commission Public VICINITY MAP: Hearing 6:30 p.m. October 22, 2020, 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 conditional use permit for a new 130-foot tall T-Mobile monopole communications tower on approximately 2500 square feet located on the rear of the property at 12935 Dairy Ashford Road, and further identified as Lot 5, Block 1, L.H. Dreier Subdivision, Volume 194, Page 264A in the Wm. Stafford 1 ½ League, Fort Bend County, Texas. The agenda item for this meeting will be placed on the City of Sugar Land website at www.sugarlandtx.gov under “Meeting Agendas” Planning and Zoning Commission no later than Friday, October 16, 2020. Request details or provide feedback on the proposed Conditional Use Permit online at www.sugarlandtx.gov/PublicHearingComment or contact City of Sugar Land Planning Department at (281) 275-2218.

As of the date of this publication (October 7, 2020) 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., Wednesday, October 21, 2020, 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., Wednesday, October 21, 2020 to register and receive instructions for direct participation during the hearing.

As of the date of this publication (October 7, 2020) 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., Thursday, October 22, 2020, 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., Thursday, October 22, 2020 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 Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting agenda at www.sugarlandtx.gov under “Meeting Agendas.”

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 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting agenda at www.sugarlandtx. gov under “Meeting Agendas.”

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING SPECIAL EXCEPTION REQUEST FROM THE REAR YARD SETBACK REQUIREMENT IN THE STANDARD SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (R-1) ZONING DISTRICT FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 3123 E. HICKORY PARK CIRCLE. Zoning Board of Adjustment Public Hearing 5:00 p.m., October 21, 2020, 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 Special Exception to the Rear Yard Setback for 3123 E. Hickory Park Circle, Lot 37, Block 4, Colony Park, in the Standard Single-Family Residential (R-1) District.

VICINITY MAP:

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING SPECIAL EXCEPTION REQUEST FROM THE REAR YARD SETBACK REQUIREMENT IN THE RESTRICTED SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (R-1R) ZONING DISTRICT FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 4319 APRIL MEADOW WAY Zoning Board of Adjustment Public Hearing 5:00 p.m., October 21, 2020, 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 Special Exception to the Rear Yard Setback for 4319 April Meadow Way, Lot 33, Block 1, Crescent Lakes Section Two, in the Restricted Single-Family Residential (R1R) District.

VICINITY MAP:

The agenda item for this meeting will be placed on the City of Sugar Land website at www.sugarlandtx.gov under “Meeting Agendas” Zoning Board of Adjustment no later than Friday, October 16, 2020. Request details or provide feedback on the proposed Special Exception online at www. sugarlandtx.gov/PublicHearingComment or contact City of Sugar Land Planning Department at (281) 275-2218.

tler accounted for 113 of the Rangers’ 295 rushing yards and two scores. He also added 111 yards and three touchdowns through the air as Clements amassed 451 yards of total offense in the win. On defense, Ian Conatser and Giovanni Arredondo had multiple sacks to lead the Rangers’ onslaught, which produced 12 sacks. In other area action, Kempner senior running back Joseph Trim rushed for 182 yards and three touchdowns in the Cougars’ 33-13 victory over Alvin. Ethan Griswell helped the Cougars stymie the Yellow Jackets’ offense with two interceptions. The Willowridge Eagles also emerged victorious, holding off a late comeback attempt from Dulles in 12-11 victory. Senior quarterback Rufus Scott accounted for 140 total yards and two touchdown passes in the win, while Anthony Stevens and Nicholas McFarland each had interceptions. Last week’s scores Willowridge 12, Dulles 11 Marshall 7, Elkins 0 Kempner 33, Alvin 13 College Station 54, Bush 0 Clements 50, Houston Sterling 13 Dickinson 38, Ridge Point 21 Westfield 37, Hightower 28 Westside 21, Austin 7 This week’s games Thursday Dulles at Mayde Creek, 6 p.m. (Legacy Stadium) Kempner vs. Wisdom, 7 p.m. (Mercer Stadium) Marshall vs. Galena Park, 7 p.m. (Hall Stadium) Travis at Montgomery Lake Creek, 7 p.m. (Montgomery ISD Athletic Complex) Friday Bush vs. Dobie, 7 p.m. (Hall Stadium) Clements vs. Pasadena, 7 p.m. (Mercer Stadium) Ridge Point at C.E. King, 7 p.m. (C.E. King High School) Stafford at El Campo, 7 p.m. (El Campo High School) Saturday Elkins at Clear Springs, 12 p.m. (Challenger Columbia Stadium) Austin vs. Woodlands College Park, 6 p.m. (Mercer Stadium) Willowridge vs. Northside, 6 p.m. (Hall Stadium)

FBISD limits attendance at games By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Fort Bend ISD announced last Thursday that the district is implementing several riskmitigation protocols for fan attendance as football teams have returned to action around the region. FBISD district and campus stadiums will limit seating at sporting events to 50 percent of a venue’s capacity, and every other row of seating will be marked off until further notice. All fans at least 2 years of age must wear face coverings or masks to attend games, while all fans, event workers and officials will be screened using temperature checks and screening questions prior to entry. Parents and fans will also not have access to the locker rooms, training areas or playing field before or after the game, according to the district. Ticket sales for games will be limited to online purchase through GOFan on FBISD’s athletic website up to two hours before kickoff on game day.

THE STAR

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

Wednesday, October 7, 2020 • PAGE

ORDER OF GENERAL ELECTION (AVISO DE ELECCIÓN GENERAL) To the Registered Voters of Sugar Land, Texas: (A los votantes registrados de Sugar Land, Texas:) An election has been ordered by, Ordinance No. 2190; postponed by, Ordinance No. 2199; and revised by, Ordinance No. 2204, to be held on November 3, 2020 for the purpose of electing a Mayor and two Council Members to at-large positions 1 and 2; and to vote “Yes” or “No” on the following amendments to the City’s Charter: Se ha ordenado una elección en virtud de la Ordenanza No. 2190; pospuesta por la Ordenanza No. 2199; y revisada por la Ordenanza No. 2204, a llevarse a cabo el 3 de noviembre de 2020 a fin de elegir un Alcalde y dos miembros del Ayuntamiento para cargos 1 y 2 generales; y votar “Sí” o “No” en las siguientes enmiendas a los Estatutos de la Ciudad: Sugar Land Proposition A (PROPUESTA A DE SUGAR LAND) Shall Sections 2.01 and 2.03 of the City Charter be amended to increase the current two-year terms for the council members and mayor to three-year terms; change the term limitations from four consecutive terms in a nine-year period to three consecutive terms in a nine-year period; provide that single-member district and at-large positions are aggregated for the purpose of terms limits; and be effective for the single-member district positions as of the May 2021 election and for the mayor and at-large positions as of the May 2022 election? ¿Las Secciones 2.01 y 2.03 de los Estatutos de la Ciudad deben modificarse de modo tal que se aumenten los períodos actuales de mandato de dos años correspondientes a los miembros del Ayuntamiento y el alcalde a un período de tres años, que se modifiquen las limitaciones de mandatos de cuatro mandatos consecutivos en un período de nueve años a tres mandatos consecutivos en un período de nueve años; que se establezca que los cargos de distritos uninominales y generales se agreguen en virtud de los límites de mandatos; y que, en el caso de los cargos de distritos uninominales, entren en vigor a partir de la elección de mayo de 2021 y, en cuanto al alcalde y los cargos generales, a partir de la elección de mayo de 2022? Sugar Land Proposition B (PROPUESTA B DE SUGAR LAND) Shall Section 2.02 of the City Charter be amended to require the city secretary verify city council candidate and incumbent residency by viewing a Texas Driver’s License or Texas Identification Card and a Voter Registration Card? ¿Debe modificarse la Sección 2.02 de los Estatutos de la Ciudad para que se exija que el secretario del ayuntamiento verifique al candidato al ayuntamiento y su residencia actual mediante solicitud de una licencia de conducir de Texas o un documento de identificación de Texas y una tarjeta de inscripción en el padrón electoral? Sugar Land Proposition C (PROPUESTA C DE SUGAR LAND) Shall Section 2.06(b) of the City Charter be amended to allow city council 60 days to fill an office vacancy of less than twelve months? ¿Debe modificarse la Sección 2.06(b) de los Estatutos de la Ciudad de modo que el ayuntamiento cuente con 60 días para ocupar la vacante a un cargo de menos de doce meses? Sugar Land Proposition D (PROPUESTA D DE SUGAR LAND) Shall Section 2.08(b) of the City Charter be amended to mandate city council vote aye or nay on all ordinances and resolutions unless prohibited to do so by law? ¿Debe modificarse la Sección 2.08(b) de los Estatutos de la Ciudad para exigir la elección por voto afirmativo o negativo por parte del ayuntamiento de la ciudad respecto de todas las ordenanzas y resoluciones, a menos que lo prohíba la ley? Sugar Land Proposition E (PROPUESTA E DE SUGAR LAND) Shall the City Charter be amended to add a new section titled “Forfeiture of Office” to provide that a member of council automatically resigns from office upon the conviction of a felony or crime of moral turpitude? ¿Deben modificarse los Estatutos de la Ciudad para incorporar una nueva sección denominada “Pérdida del cargo” a fin de establecer que un miembro del ayuntamiento renuncie automáticamente al cargo, luego de recibir una condena por un delito grave o un delito de conducta inmoral? Sugar Land Proposition F (PROPUESTA F DE SUGAR LAND) Shall the City Charter be amended to add a new section titled “Resign to Run” to provide that a member of council automatically resigns from office upon the filing for the position of an external public office? ¿Deben modificarse los Estatutos de la Ciudad para incorporar una nueva sección denominada “Renuncia por candidatura”, a fin de establecer que un miembro del ayuntamiento renuncie automáticamente al cargo luego de ocupar un cargo público externo? Sugar Land Proposition G (PROPUESTA G DE SUGAR LAND) Shall Section 3.04(a)(1) of the City Charter be amended to require initiative and referendum petitions be signed by a number equal to or greater than 15% of the registered voters in the city as of the petition date? ¿Debe modificarse la Sección 3.04(a)(1) de los Estatutos de la Ciudad de modo que se exija que las peticiones de iniciativas y referéndums estén firmadas por una cantidad de votantes registrados a la fecha de la petición igual o superior al 15 %? Sugar Land Proposition H (PROPUESTA H DE SUGAR LAND) Shall Section 3.04(a)(2) of the City Charter be amended to reduce the number of required signature on a mayoral or at-large recall petition to 15% of the city’s registered voters as of the petition date? ¿Debe modificarse la Sección 3.04(a)(2) de los Estatutos de la Ciudad a fin de reducir la cantidad de firmas necesarias en una petición para revocar un cargo general o un cargo de alcalde al 15 % de los votantes registrados de la ciudad a la fecha de la petición? Sugar Land Proposition I (PROPUESTA I DE SUGAR LAND) Shall Section 3.04(a)(3) of the City Charter be amended to reduce the number of required signatures on a district member recall petition to 15% of the city’s registered voters residing in that district as of the petition date? ¿Debe modificarse la Sección 3.04(a)(3) de los Estatutos de la Ciudad a fin de reducir la cantidad de firmas necesarias en una petición para revocar el mandato de un miembro del distrito al 15 % de los votantes registrados con residencia en dicho distrito a la fecha de la petición? Voter approval of one or more of the above proposed amendments to the City’s Charter will not have a fiscal impact to the City. La aprobación del votante de una o más de las enmiendas propuestas anteriormente a los Estatutos de la Ciudad no tendrá un impacto fiscal sobre la Ciudad. The Early Voting Clerk will receive applications for a ballot to be voted by mail until the close of business on October 23, 2020. El secretario de votación anticipada recibirá solicitudes para que las boletas sean enviadas por correo hasta la hora de cierre del 23 de octubre de 2020. Mail or fax applications to vote by mail to: Envíe por correo o fax las solicitudes para votar por correo a: Early Voting Clerk, Secretario de votación anticipada Office of Elections Administration, Oficina de administración de elecciones 301 Jackson St. Rosenberg, TX 77471 Fax 281-341-4418 Early voting by personal appearance will be held at the locations, times and on the days as set forth in the below schedule. La votación anticipada por presentación personal se llevará a cabo en los lugares, los horarios y los días establecidos en el siguiente cronograma. Election Day Vote Centers will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the locations as set forth below. Los Centros de votación para el día de la elección abrirán de 7:00 a.m. a 7:00 p.m. en las ubicaciones establecidas a continuación. FORT BEND COUNTY EARLY VOTING SCHEDULE NOVEMBER 3, 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION PROGRAMA DE VOTACIÓN ANTICIPADA DEL CONDADO DE FORTBEND ELECCIÓN PRESIDENCIAL DEL 3 DE NOVIEMBRE DE 2020

Hours (Horas)

Early Voting Location Fort Bend ISD Admin Bldg - 16431 Lexington Blvd., Sugar Land George Memorial Library - 1001 Golfview Dr, Richmond Hightower High School - 3333 Hurricane Lane, Missouri City James Bowie Middle School - 700 Plantation Dr, Richmond James Reese Career & Technical Center - 12300 University Blvd, Sugar Land Sugar Land Branch Library - 550 Eldridge Rd., Sugar Land Stafford City Hall - 2610 Main Street, Stafford Al Rabba World Food - 5800 New Territory Blvd, Sugar Land Beasley City Hall - 319 S. 3rd Street, Beasley Chasewood Clubhouse - 7622 Chasewood Drive, Missouri City Cinco Ranch Library - 2620 Commercial Center Drive, Katy Fort Bend County Road & Bridge - 3743 School Street, Needville Fort Bend County Rosenberg Annex - 4520 Reading Road, Rosenberg Four Corners Community Center - 15700 Old Richmond Road, Sugar Land Fulshear High School - 9302 Charger Way, Fulshear Greatwood Community & Rec Center - 7225 Greatwood Pkwy, Sugar Land Jacks Conference Center - 3232 Austin Parkway, Sugar Land Jones Creek Ranch Park - 7714 FM 359 Rd, Richmond, Katy Reserve (fka Childhood Center) - 1711 Spring Green Blvd, Katy Kroger’s Riverstone (Community Room) - 18861 University Blvd, Sugar Land Lost Creek Park Conference Center - 3703 Lost Creek Blvd, Sugar Land Meadows Place City Hall - 1 Troyan Way, Meadows Place Missouri City Community Center - 1522 Texas Pkwy, Missouri City Our Lady of Guadalupe Family Life Center - 1600 Avenue D, Rosenberg Quail Valley Fund Office - 3603 Glenn Lakes, Missouri City Richmond Water Maintenance Facility - 110 N 8th Street, Richmond Sienna Annex Community Room - 5855 Sienna Springs Way, Missouri City Smart Financial Centre - 18111 Lexington Blvd, Sugar Land Sugar Land City Hall - 2700 Town Center Blvd N., Sugar Land Tompkins High School - 4400 Falcon Landing Blvd, Katy

Sunday October 25, 2020 (domingo)

Monday- Friday October 26 - 30, 2020 (lunes - viernes) (octubre 26 - 30, 2020)

Tuesday - Saturday October 13 - 17, 2020 (martes- sábado) (octubre 13 - 17, 2020)

Sunday October 18, 2020 (domingo) (octubre 18, 2020)

Monday - Friday October 19 - 23, 2020 (luness-viernes) (octubre 19 - 23, 2020)

Saturday October 24, 2020 (sábado) (octubre 24, 2020

8:00 a.m. To 5:00 p.m.

CLOSED (Cerrado)

8:00 a.m. To 7:00 p.m.

7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

CLOSED

7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

8:00 a.m. To 5:00 p.m.

CLOSED (Cerrado)

8:00 a.m. To 7:00 p.m.

7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

12 Noon to 5:00 p.m.

7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

(octubre 25, 2020)

November 3, 2020 - Election Day Vote Centers - Centros de votacion del dia de las elecciones VOTING CENTER (CENTRO DE VOTACIÓNE)

Adams Junior High School Al Rabba World Food Beasley City Hal Beck Junior High School Beckendorf Jr High School Bowie Middle School Brazos Bend Home & Ranch Briarchase Missionary Bapt Church Briscoe Junior High School Calvary Baptist Church Chasewood Clubhouse Cinco Ranch Branch Library Clements High School Commonwealth Clubhouse Crockett Middle School Cross Creek Ranch Community Room Eagle Heights Church Elkins High School Fairgrounds Bldg D Firethorne Community Association Fort Bend ISD Admin Building Four Corners Community Center Fulshear High School Gallery Furniture Garcia Middle School George Bush High School George Memorial Library Great Oaks Baptist Church Greatwood Community/Rec Center Hightower High School Hunters Glen Elementary School Imperial Park Recreation Center Jacks Conference Center Jones Creek Ranch Park Joy Lutheran Church Katy Reserve (fka Childhood Center) Kempner High School Kendleton Church of God Knights of Columbus (Needville) Kroger’s Riverstone Lake Olympia Marina Clubhouse Lantern Lane Elementary School

ADDRESS (DIRECCIÓN)

CITY (CIUDAD)

4141 Cross Creek Bend Lane 5800 New Territory Blvd 319 S. Third Street 5200 S Fry Rd 8200 South Fry Rd. 700 Plantation Dr 22930 FM 1462 Rd 16000 Blue Ridge Rd 4300 FM 723 4111 Airport Ave 7622 Chasewood Dr 2620 Commercial Center Dr. 4200 Elkins Dr 4330 Knightsbridge Blvd 19001 Beechnut 6450 Cross Creek Bend Lane 16718 W. Bellfort Blvd 7007 Knights Court 4310 Highway 36 S 28800 S. Firethorne Rd 16431 Lexington Blvd 15700 Old Richmond Rd 9302 Charger Way 7227 W. Grand Pkwy S 18550 Old Richmond Rd 6707 FM 1464 1001 Golfview Dr 7101 FM 2759 Rd 7225 Greatwood Pkwy 3333 Hurricane Lane 695 Independence Blvd 234 Matlage Way 3232 Austin Pkwy 7714 Farm to Market 359 717 FM 359 Rd 1711 Spring Green Blvd 14777 Voss Rd 619 FM 2919 13631 Highway 36 18861 University Blvd 180 Island Blvd 3323 Mission Valley Dr

ZIP CÓDIGO POSTAL

FULSHEAR, TX SUGAR LAND, TX BEASLEY, TX KATY, TX KATY, TX RICHMOND, TX NEEDVILLE, TX MISSOURI CITY, TX RICHMOND, TX ROSENBERG,TX MISSOURI CITY, TX KATY, TX SUGAR LAND, TX SUGAR LAND, TX RICHMOND, TX FULSHEAR, TX RICHMOND, TX MISSOURI CITY, TX ROSENBERG, TX KATY, TX SUGAR LAND, TX SUGAR LAND, TX FULSHEAR, TX RICHMOND, TX SUGAR LAND, TX RICHMOND, TX RICHMOND, TX RICHMOND, TX SUGAR LAND, TX MISSOURI CITY, TX MISSOURI CITY, TX SUGAR LAND, TX SUGAR LAND, TX RICHMOND, TX RICHMOND, TX KATY, TX SUGAR LAND, TX KENDLETON, TX NEEDVILLE, TX SUGAR LAND, TX MISSOURI CITY MISSOURI CITY

77441 77479 77417 77450 77494 77406 77461 77489 77406 77471 77489 77494 77479 77479 77469 77441 77407 77459 77471 77494 77479 77478 77441 77407 77478 77407 77469 77469 77479 77459 77489 77478 77479 77406 77406 77479 77498 77451 77461 77479 77459 77459

VOTING CENTER (CENTRO DE VOTACIÓNE)

Lexington Creek Elementary School Lost Creek Conference Center M.R. Massey Admin. Bldg. Meadows Place City Hall Merrell Center Mission Bend Library Missouri City Baptist Church Missouri City Community Center Missouri City Parks & Recreation Museum of Natural Science Mustang Community Center Oak Lake Baptist Church Orchard City Hall Our Lady of Guadalupe Family Life Ctr Pinnacle Senior Center Pioneer Community Center Quail Valley Elementary School QV Fund Office Reese Technical Center Richmond Water Maintenance Facility Ridge Point High School Ridgegate Community Ass’n Ridgemont Early Childhood Ctr River Park Recreation Ctr. Rosenberg Annex Building Rosenberg City Hall Seven Lakes High School Sienna Annex Simonton City Hall Smart Financial Center Stafford City Hall Sugar Creek Country Club Sugar Lakes Clubhouse Sugar Land Branch Library Sugar Land Church of God Sugar Land City Hall Thompsons City Hall Tompkins High School Townewest Towne Hall Travis Elementary School Westlake Prepatory Academy

ADDRESS (DIRECCIÓN)

2335 Dulles Ave 3703 Lost Creek Blvd 1570 W. Sycamore Rd 1 Troyan Dr 6301 South Stadium Ln 8421 Addicks Clodine Rd 16816 Quail Park Dr 1522 Texas Parkway 2701 Cypress Point Dr 13016 University Blvd 4521 FM 521 15555 W. Airport Blvd 9714 Kibler 1600 Avenue D 5525#C Hobby Road 6501 Rohan Road 3500 Quail Village Dr 3603 Glenn Lakes 12300 University Blvd 110 N. 8th St 500 Waters Lake Blvd. 5855 West Ridgecreek Dr 5353 Ridgecreek Circle 5875 Summit Creek Drive 4520 Reading Rd 2110 Fourth Street 9251 S Fry Rd 5855 Sienna Springs Way 35011 FM 1093 18111 Lexington Blvd 2610 S Main St 420 Sugar Creek Blvd 930 Sugar Lakes Dr 550 Eldridge Rd 1715 Eldridge Rd 2700 Town Center Blvd N 520 Thompson Oil Field Road 4400 Falcon Landing Blvd 10322 Old Towne Ln 2700 Avenue K 23300 Bellaire Blvd

CITY (CIUDAD)

ZIP CÓDIGO POSTAL

MISSOURI CITY SUGAR LAND FRESNO, TX MEADOWS PLACE KATY, TX HOUSTON, TX MISSOURI CITY, TX MISSOURI CITY, TX MISSOURI CITY, TX SUGAR LAND, TX FRESNO, TX SUGAR LAND, TX ORCHARD ROSENBERG, TX HOUSTON RICHMOND, TX MISSOURI CITY MISSOURI CITY SUGAR LAND, TX RICHMOND MISSOURI CITY, TX HOUSTON, TX HOUSTON, TX SUGAR LAND, TX ROSENBERG, TX ROSENBERG, TX KATY, TX MISSOURI CITY, TX SIMONTON, TX SUGAR LAND, TX STAFFORD, TX SUGAR LAND, TX SUGAR LAND, TX SUGAR LAND, TX SUGAR LAND, TX SUGAR LAND, TX THOMPSONS, TX KATY, TX SUGAR LAND, TX ROSENBERG, TX RICHMOND, TX

77459 77478 77545 77477 77494 77083 77489 77489 77459 77479 77545 77498 77464 77471 77053 77469 77459 77459 77479 77469 77459 77489 77053 77479 77471 77471 77494 77459 77476 77479 77477 77478 77478 77478 77478 77479 77481 77494 77498 77471 77406

Notice of such election is given by posting a substantial copy of this election notice, in English and Spanish, at City Hall and three other places in the City, not less than fourteen days nor more than thirty days prior to the date set for the election; and a substantial copy of this election notice, in English and Spanish, published on the same day in each of two successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation published in the city, the date of the first publication being not more than thirty days and not less than fourteen days prior to the date set for the election. Issued this the 7th day of October, 2020. - Thomas Harris III, City Secretary La notificación sobre esta elección se proporciona mediante publicación de una copia destacada de esta notificación de elección, en inglés y español, en el Ayuntamiento de la Ciudad y en otros tres lugares de la Ciudad, con una anticipación no menor a catorce días y no mayor a treinta días previos a la fecha establecida para la elección. Asimismo, se publicará una copia destacada de esta notificación de elección, en inglés y español, el mismo día en cada una de dos semanas consecutivas en un periódico de circulación general publicado en la ciudad. La primera fecha de publicación tendrá una anticipación no menor a catorce días y no mayor a treinta días previos a la fecha establecida para la elección. Emitida el día 7 de octubre de 2020. - Thomas Harris III, City Secretary

THE STAR

PAGE 6 • Wednesday, October 7, 2020

★ FORUM FROM PAGE 1 One significant point of contention between Mendonca, Jean-Baptiste and Caldwell was the subject of academic rigor. Mendonca pointed to data from the Texas Education Agency, which he said left much to be desired in terms of performance and career preparedness. Stafford’s intermediate, middle school and high school each earned “B” overall ratings. Stafford Elementary received a “D” overall rating. “We need to step that up,” Mendonca said. “We need to improve the quality of our schools, we need to improve the college readiness of the students when they’re graduating, and we need to make sure there’s enough engagement from the whole community to make sure that the school district succeeds.” When asked about the lack of availability for digital devices for remote learning, Caldwell said the fault lied with the increased demand globally for the technology necessary for virtual classrooms, and not with the school district. He said the board approved a $2 million purchase last year for the devices. “We do have, and have purchased enough devices for every student in the school district,” Caldwell said. “The holdup is not the school district, it is actually the production of that device.” Mendonca said it was a mistake to use Apple as the vendor for computers or tablets because Microsoft or Android allow for more flexibility and mixing and matching of devices. “Unfortunately larger school districts did place bigger orders and we got pushed to the back and there’s nothing we can do about that,” Mendonca said. “But had we made a more prudent deci-

★ DISTRICT 28 FROM PAGE 1 high school and they have no skills for today’s job market.” Markowitz said making vocational training more widely available is also part of her platform. The former content developer for The Princeton Review holds a doctoral degree in Curriculum & Instruction — Learning, Design and Technology from the University of Houston and said the first piece of legislation she would pass would be to eliminate the STAAR test. “We spend hundreds of millions of dollars annually on the development, administration, scoring, and lost learning time using the STAAR test,” Markowitz said. “It has been voided for two of the past three

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

sion with where we were getting our devices from, I believe we could have dealt with the backlog by turning around and shopping elsewhere and getting as many devices as possible for our students.” In response to a question about the city’s nonresponse rate in the 2020 U.S. Census of 36 percent, all three candidates agreed the school district and the city have an important role to play, and should work in tandem to increase civic awareness and participation. “In cooperation with the City of Stafford and the municipal school district, it is everyone’s responsibility to inform our community about the importance of the census,” Caldwell said. “And the importance of the money it can bring into the community and to the school district.” Mendonca said while the census is not the direct responsibility of Stafford MSD, the community is full of engaged citizens who can be mobilized for the benefit of the school district. He also said that in the future, making civic engagement a more important piece of the school curriculum could also contribute to developing students who are better prepared to succeed. “If we include the importance of filling out the census and getting out there and voting to those students, we can prep them for the future,” Mendonca said. We can get them ready, so this issue doesn’t happen in future years.” Generational divide in city council race The race for Stafford City Council Position 4 was marked by several stark contrasts during the forum. Incumbent Don Jones, running for his third term, leaned heavily on his experience as a school administrator at Stafford MSD and within the

Houston Community College system as an adjunct professor and program director. The challenger, Adam Sanchez, is a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission. He previously ran for mayor in 2019 and worked in the Public Works Department in Missouri City, and said his aim is to represent “the next generation of Stafford leadership.” Jones listed The Grid, a $500 million mixed-used development on the site of the former Texas Instruments campus at Highway 59 and West Airport Boulevard, among his accomplishments in his four years on city council. “We need to point out and shine a light on (the fact that) we have a development going on that people see at Highway 59 and Interstate 69,” Jones said. “We’ve got to start letting people know that we are here, that we are open for business, and that we are exciting and a great place to spend so we can generate that much-needed tax revenue.” Among the changes Sanchez said he would seek to affect if elected were to make the city’s zoning code more friendly to small businesses. He said he has been active in promoting Stafford’s small business community because of its importance to helping produce sales tax revenue for the city. “We have to combine The Grid, The Fountains and the Stafford Centre,” Sanchez said. “It makes it a point of destination. It will only generate tax revenue to put the city in the best light and tax revenue to put back in the fund balance.” Among other points of emphasis for Sanchez were having a proactive approach to improving drainage and flood control in the city and strengthening Stafford's relationship with Missouri City’s

animal shelter. Sanchez also said it was important for the city to be creative when addressing the myriad economic challenges restaurants and particularly bars have faced, even after the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission recently loosened some of its restrictions in an attempt to make it easier for bars to obtain food and beverage permits and essentially reopen as restaurants. “We should work with our county officials, our elected officials at the state and federal level to find funding,” Sanchez said. “If (bars) are forced to shut down, we’re going to have to come up with something that will keep them going. Just because you shut down a bar, doesn’t mean it only affects the bar. It affects the people that go to it. “This pandemic threw a curveball to everybody and we can’t just pick and choose which businesses open and which ones stay closed.” Jones proposed a community forum of small business owners to allow them to voice their concerns. “These business owners need to be heard from,” Jones said. “We need to hear directly from them to know specifically what they need. And then we also need to bring these resources in this forum that are available. The Small Business Administration is providing loans as I speak. We need to connect those entities to the help that they need.” When asked about the 2019 measure that hiked the mayoral salary from $10,800 to $120,000 and added $7,200 annual salaries to each city council member, Jones and Sanchez each said they agreed that the figure was a fair amount of compensation, noting that Scarcella never made more than $10,800 for nearly his entire mayoral tenure.

Councilman Ken Mathew, running unopposed for reelection, underscored the importance of attracting young professionals to the city. “When the young people come here, they bring their children, and (Stafford MSD) is going to benefit,” Mathew said. Mayoral candidates vie to succeed Scarcella The field for the mayoral forum consisted of two active council members in Cecil Willis and Mayor Pro Tempore Wen Guerra, AJ Honore, who formerly served as Mayor Pro Tempore, and Jim Narvios, a law student at Texas Southern University. “I’m a poor politician but a good businessman,” Guerra said in his opening statement. “I was instrumental in bringing The Grid and a lot of the developments that are working along Highway 90 as we speak.” Guerra said despite the economic recession that has resulted from the pandemic, the city was still able to balance the budget. “I want to leave this city in a financial state that we don’t have to worry about what we’re going to next month, next quarter, next year,” Guerra said. “I want to make it easy for the next mayor to not have to suffer what we’re going through right now.” Willis leaned heavily on his 36 years of experience in making his case to voters in a fiery opening statement, a jab at Narvios lacking elected public service on his resume. “This is not a time for internships, it’s not a time for on-the-job training,” Willis said. “It’s also not the time to abandon the ship. I will continue the course that Mayor Scarcella has set. It’s sound, it got us to where we are, and there’s no reason to throw something out.” Narvios, who served for 15 years as the City of Houston’s

spokesman for multiculturalism and diversity, said he “felt a need to serve the people” and a calling to run due to the pandemic and the death of Scarcella. He was critical of spending $555,000 on the Stafford pyramid monuments and millions on landscaping, and said he would not cut funding to essential city services. “I may not have the experience that (my opponents) have,” Narvios said. “But you have to understand, we are in the position we are in today because of the administration that has come before me.” Willis was also adamant that one of his goals is to “elevate SMSD to what we dreamed it would be” and insisted that the school district “was not created for the world, it was created for Stafford.” The district currently offers enrollment to non-residents on a space-available basis through an application process. Honore’s vision for the city includes an increased focus on animal welfare and community policing as well as the addition of a grocery store. He also proposed “advocating for our heritage” through the creation of a history museum. Asked about how he would make up for the city’s budget deficit, Honore said the city would earn $1 million by repealing sales tax exemptions for energy and telecommunications companies. He also said several residential rental properties are not paying their tax bills, which would be another revenue source. Willis said the city is on a solid foundation after it received the largest sales tax check in its history in August. “There is a light to the end of this tunnel,” Willis said. “Stafford has a strong, sound, economic base. It’s getting stronger.”

years, so it’s simply just throwing money away.” In its place, she recommends Texas adopt an exam similar to the Iowa Test of Basic Skills, which is only administered once a year for students from third through eighth grade. Gates supports merit pay for teachers and said it would be “irresponsible” to not have a way to evaluate schools on quality and performance. “Maybe there are some things that can be done to tweak it and not make things so focused on STAAR testing,” Gates said. “But you can’t just eliminate it. You have to have some kind of mechanism to see how they’re doing.” Markowitz, a Katy native, has picked up endorsements from former Vice President Joe Biden and former U.S.

Rep. Beto O’Rourke. “It’s a wonderful thing to see that our hard work has paid off and that we’ve been recognized at the statewide and national level,” Markowitz said. “To have leaders of the Democratic Party tell you that you’re doing something right is a rare occurrence and one that I would say is quite beneficial. It also makes you think you’re doing something on the right track.” O’Rourke, the former El Paso congressman, is working to try to turn Texas blue and sees HD-28 as an opportunity for Democrats to put the state in play in this year’s presidential election thanks to the active participation of people in Fort Bend County. During a Zoom call hosted by County Judge KP George

on Sunday, O’Rourke said the down-ballot momentum will help the Democrats to capture the statehouse and give Biden the chance to become the first Democratic presidential nominee to win the state since Jimmy Carter in 1976. “If it’s going to happen — look, I love Joe Biden, I love Kamala Harris, I love all the national Democrats who are working on that campaign,” O’Rourke said. “But if they win Texas, it’s not going to be because of them, if we’re honest with each other. It’s going to be because of KP George, (Fort Bend County Democratic Party Chair) Cynthia Ginyard, all of these amazing downballots who are expanding the electorate.” Former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg and former San Antonio mayor Julian Castro block-walked for Markowitz leading up to the runoff in January, when she and Gates were vying to replace Republican John Zerwas in a special election. So HD-28 is no stranger to the

national spotlight. Gates has seen the county’s shifting demographics and said he’s appreciated the opportunity to hone his messaging to target a broader swath of people beyond traditionally Republican voters. He said he knocked on more than 17,000 doors prior to the runoff election. “The Democrats have really brought in millions of dollars from out of state,” Gates said. “They’re focused on that race and trying to flip the seat. One of the messages I’ve been sending is, ‘Hey, we have to change our message to be much more inclusive,’ and get away from this rhetoric that is a lot of times directed at a small segment of the population. Because if you don’t, Republicans will continue losing seats.” Markowitz hopes to capitalize on some of the public’s dissatisfaction with the handling of the coronavirus by top GOP leaders, including President Donald Trump and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.

“Word on the ground and word from all the voters that I’ve been speaking to is they’re quite frustrated with the current state of affairs,” Markowitz said. “They’re frustrated with the lack of proactive planning. They’re frustrated that when we shut down in March that it appeared the administrations on the statewide and the federal level did absolutely nothing to ensure a safe reopening to the public.” Gates said the biggest mistake officials in Texas made concerning the coronavirus was not thoroughly analyzing the testing and infection rate data. “We should have put a lot more education and resources into protecting the most vulnerable,” Gates said. “That’s usually the older people and those with pre-existing conditions. Ninety percent plus of all the trouble has been in those areas. And because we didn’t focus on that, I think we really hurt ourselves financially by damaging a lot of businesses.”

most visitors to spend 30 minutes at site within the park, Thomas said visitors would spend hours in The Sharecropper’s Farm because of Beringer. So “Uncle Bob” the sharecropper was born. Sherer said Beringer became famous in ranch circles for his encounters with wildlife. From painting wooden eggs to stopping snakes from eating the eggs laid by the hens at the ranch to confronting a bobcat that grabbed one of his chickens, Beringer was never

one to shy away from adventure. Thomas said Beringer was his best friend, and was grateful for the memories Beringer made with Thomas’ twin boys, who were born the same year Beringer arrived at the ranch. “He always had incredible advice about kids and how to raise them,” Thomas said. “He was an incredible father.” When the Christmas season rolled around, Beringer would play Santa Claus at the ranch, a job Thomas said he took very seriously. “He did a lot of things he wanted to do that he didn’t have to do,” Thomas said. “That was one of the important lessons that he taught me.” Some other Uncle Bobisms: “Family always comes first” and “Do a good job and do it well.” Thomas hopes Beringer’s work ethic and friendly demeanor will live on through Thomas' children. As a diligent researcher and historian of the Reconstruction Era he was assigned to inhabit, Beringer was also a consummate storyteller, his colleagues said. Thomas believes it will be a fitting tribute if his legacy can live on through memories of those who grew up going to the ranch to visit him and passing them on to future generations. “He embodied the spirit of the ranch,” Thomas said. “People went (to visit the ranch) looking for him. He was an icon of the ranch.”

★ BOB FROM PAGE 1

BAPTIST CHURCH

HERITAGE BAPTIST CHURCH • 281-403-4994 2223 FM1092 • Missouri City, TX 77459 John Strader , Senior Pastor Sunday Bible Study 9:30 am Sunday Worship 10:45 am 6:00 pm Wednesday 7:00 pm AWANA/Youth www.hbctx.org METHODIST CHURCH

CHRIST CHURCH SUGAR LAND • 281-980-6888 A United Methodist Community 3300 Austin Parkway • Sugar Land, TX 77479 Sunday Worship in the Sanctuary Simple Service / Prayer & Communion: 8 am Contemporary: 9:15 am / Traditional: 10:30 am Modern: 10:30 am Sunday School for all ages available at 9:15 www.christchurchsl.org EPISCOPAL

ALL SAINTS EPISCOPAL CHURCH • 281-499-9602 605 Dulles Avenue, Stafford, TX 77477 SUNDAY: 10:15 am Worship Rite Two www.allsaintsstafford.org

CHURCH OF CHRIST

STAFFORD CHURCH OF CHRIST • 281-499-2507 402 Stafford Run Rd. -Stafford, 77477 SUNDAY: Bible Study: 9:30 a.m. Worship: 10:30 a.m. Afternoon Worship 5:00 p.m. WEDNESDAY : Bible Study 7:00 p.m. www.staffordchurchofchrist.org

After Celeste Sherer, the director of education at George Ranch and the programs department saw Beringer’s personality shine in his interactions with visitors from the kindergarten and first-grade students, they knew he needed a bigger opportunity to showcase his skills as one of the reenactors participating in the “living history” that is George Ranch. While it was normal for

LUTHERAN CHURCH

FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH, LCMS 281-242-7729 800 Brooks St., Sugar Land Sunday: 8:00 am Traditional Worship 9:15 am Sunday School 10:30 am Contemporary Worship (Nursery Available) 4:00 pm Spirit of Life Worship PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH • 281-240-3195 502 Eldridge Road, Sugar Land, TX 77478 Reverend Dr. Fred Seay, Pastor Sunday Worship In Person 11:00 am / Nursery Available Worship Online on YouTube www.fpcsl.org

Scripture of the week

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” - Romans 8:28

A Helping Hand from

Ed’s Pharmacy 3740 Cartwright Road (@ FM 1092)

(281) 499-4555

What to do About Iron-Deficiency Anemia

Iron is an important element, as it is involved in a wide variety of chemical processes in the body. One major role involves the trans-port of oxygen throughout the body. Iron deficiency is a common nutrition disorder worldwide and is reported to contribute to approx-imately one-half of anemia cases. Iron deficiency anemia results in low red blood cell counts due to low iron in the body. Iron def-iciency anemia is more likely to affect infants, young children, pregnant women, and females with heavy menses. A person with low iron may experience shortness of breath and tiredness. Supplemental iron is available in different forms. Each provides different amounts of elemental iron. Elemental iron is the amount of iron in an oral tablet that is available to be absorbed by the body. Treatment options for moderate-to-severe iron deficiency anemia include ferrous fumarate, ferrous sulfate, and ferrous gluconate. The recommended oral daily dose for the treatment of iron deficiency in adults ranges from 150 to 200 milligrams of elemental iron per day. Some side effects include diarrhea and upset stomach. Iron therapy for correcting iron deficiency may take several months to replenish the iron stores in the body.

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

THE STAR

Wednesday, October 7, 2020 • PAGE

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. SCHEDULE A MAMMOGRAM.

TAKE A MOMENT TO PRIORITIZE YOUR HEALTH. Your annual mammogram is a wise investment in your long-term health. At Memorial Hermann, we make it convenient to get the breast cancer screening services you need with online scheduling, 3-D mammography at all locations and our enhanced Safe Wait™ safety measures. That’s care on your terms and schedule.

SCHEDULE YOUR MAMMOGRAM. 877.40.MAMMO memorialhermann.org/mammo

Advancing health. Personalizing care.

THE STAR

PAGE 8 • Wednesday, October 7, 2020

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

Review: Larry’s Original Mexican Restaurant a timeless tradition By Stefan Modrich SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

You can’t make it 60 years in the restaurant business without firing on all cylinders, and Larry’s Original Mexican Restaurant has done just that. The Richmond mainstay boldly announces your arrival with its iconic neon signage, and evokes the scene in the Pixar film “Cars” when James Taylor’s “Our Town” plays over a montage of the fictional western town Radiator Springs. The main dining room was buzzing at lunchtime on Mexican Independence Day (Sept. 16), when I paid my visit, and as I took my socially-distanced seat in an adjacent dining room, I took the opportunity to do my homework on the familyrun spot, which has belonged to the Guerreros for its entire run, spanning more than a halfcentury.

Taylor sings of settling down, building a town, and watching it grow. The Guerreros, as the song continues, “made it live.” At its inception, Larry’s was influenced by Felix Tijerina, considered by many to be the godfather of Tex-Mex cuisine, and Maria Ninfa Rodriguez Laurenzo, a Rio Grande Valley native and founder of Ninfa’s. Both were trailblazers in the realm of Mexican cuisine in Houston. And the quality speaks for itself. Ninfa’s supplies the restaurant with tortillas, but everything else is made in-house from scratch. I had Fish Tacos ($10.25) with blackened tilapia, lettuce and tomato, with the customary brown rice and refried beans on the side. It was the first time I’d tried the tilapia prepared this way, and it was an adventure. Combining the smokiness of the fish with a juicy bite of lettuce and tomato (be sure to squeeze

Pictured are the ﬁsh tacos at Larry's Original Mexican Restaurant, located at 116 East Highway 90A in Richmond. (Photo by Stefan Modrich)

3 Generations of Quality Service, Integrity & Honesty

plenty of lemon and lime juice on top, if you are wont to do so), it produced one of the most unexpectedly satisfying taco experiences I’ve ever had. If you’re looking for something a bit heavier, the Beef

Autos foreign & domestic Vehicle + RV detailing

Family Owned and Operated in Fort Bend County

Since 1951

Larry’s Original Mexican Restaurant Address: 116 East Highway 90A, Richmond Hours:11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Saturday Dining Options: Curbside pick-up, dine-in and no-contact delivery available via Grubhub Entrée prices: $7.25-$16.95 Kid-friendly: Yes Senior discount: No Healthy options: Vegetarian dinner (cheese enchilada) Star of the show: Fish Tacos

Now

Then Charlton’s Garage & Station & Auto Sales in Stafford, Texas, 1951-1970. Owned by E.C. Charlton.

Special Combination Nachos ($9.95) are topped with chile con queso, refried beans, beef fajitas, guacamole, lettuce, tomato, cheese and jalapeno. Larry’s is also highly regarded for its enchiladas. The

Chicken Enchiladas ($10.25) are served with a choice of enchilada gravy, original chili, salsa verde or spicy sour cream sauce. Some other dishes that are on my radar: The Machacado Breakfast ($7.95), which includes eggs mixed with brisket, bacon and beans, the Tampico ($14.45), six pieces of shrimp brochette served on a bed of rice with charro beans, guacamole and pico de gallo, and the Spinach Quesadilla ($10.75). Unlike the tragic conclusion Taylor pens in “Our Town,” of a place that longs for a bygone era, Larry’s continues to cement itself as one of the premier destinations for Tex-Mex lovers in the Greater Houston area. If you’ve got any food tips or suggestions on what to order next time at Larry’s or anywhere else in Fort Bend County, please email me at smodrich@ fortbendstar.com or mention me in a tweet @StefanJModrich.

Current garage at Staffordshire & Fifth St. Stafford, Texas.

Still the Same Great Service!

281-499-1126 • Staffordshire Rd at 5th Street Stafford, TX 77477 • www.Charltonsbodyrepair.com Monday – Friday, 7am-6pm

Those were the days - Charlton’s Body Repair - 01-31-18- 3colx3”

COMMUNITY

CALENDAR

Deadline is noon every Friday. Limit entries to 40 words and answer the “5 Ws” Who, What, When, Where, and Why. Email to editor@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. OCTOBER 7 FT. BEND-HARRIS RETIRED EDUCATORS HOSTING AN ELECTION FORUM Of equal importance to our state election is the FBISD Board of Trustees election. The May 2 election had been moved to November 3 because of COVID-19. We will host a forum via zoom. Please note that the forum date is now Wednesday, October 7th, at 1:00 p.m. Each candidate will list his/her qualiﬁcations for FBISD Board of Trustees, and then be asked questions by our Legislative Chairman. As with our monthly meetings, only paid members will be invited and sent an ID# and password by email. Needing any further information, contact cmduvall@aol.com. OCTOBER 8 FORT BEND-HARRIS RETIRED EDUCATORS ZOOM MEETING Ft. Bend-Harris Retired Educators are Zooming into the fall, and hopefully cooler weather. You won't want to miss our next meeting on Thursday, October 8, at 10:00 a.m. Our program will focus on the November Texas Legislature election which will greatly affect the retired and working educators in our state. Only paid members will be invited by email and sent a password for the meeting. To join, contact cmduvall@aol.com for further information. OCTOBER 11 - OCTOBER 31 ST. CATHERINE OF SIENNA EPISCOPAL PRESCHOOL 4747 Sienna Parkway, Missouri City 77459, presents The Great Pumpkin Patch. There is no charge for admission Ð come and take pictures and enjoy the pumpkin patch with your little ones. 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. each day.

Honored to be your choice for life insurance.

OCTOBER 19 GOLF FORE AUTISM Hope For Three Autism Advocates, with Presenting Sponsor Timewise, will host their 5th Annual Golf Fore Autism tournament, October 19th, 11:00am at Sweetwater Country Club in Sugar Land. The charity tournament raises funds for families and children living with autism spectrum disorder. The day hosts creative contests, rafﬂe, auctions, wine pull and an exclusive hole-in-one sponsored by Mercedes Benz of Sugar Land. Register your foursome ($600) or individual play ($150) now. To learn more about spectacular sponsorship, underwriting and volunteer opportunities visit hopeforthree.org/events ONGOING DVD-BASED ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS WITH NO HOMEWORK REQUIRED Weekly class designed to help you understand and appreciate the Bible by giving you a better sense of the land and culture from which it sprang. The class meets at 9:45 am every Sunday at First Presbyterian of Sugar Land (502 Eldridge Rd.). For more information call 281-240-3195 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, 281-575-1145 or mike@reichekﬁnancial.com We would love to have you join us and see what we are all about! SIENNA CRAFT/SEWING GROUP Sienna Craft/Sewing group. Meets every Tuesday from 10-noon at Sawmill Clubhouse in Sienna Plantation. We sew, crochet, knit, needlepoint, etc. contact Livia Erich at 281-543-3524 or liviaerich@yahoo.com for additional information.

LISA N SIMS, AGENT Monday - Friday 9 - 6 Saturday 10 - 2 After hours by appointment

11647 S Highway 6 Sugar Land, TX 77498 Toll Free: 281-201-2448 lisa@agentlisasims.com

EXPERIENCE COUNTS! 35+ YEARS SERVING FORT BEND COUNTY 281-243-2344 281.243.2300

14090 S.W. Freeway Suite #200 Sugar Land, TX

WHILE WE’RE WAITING SUPPORT GROUP For Bereaved Parents - grieving the loss of a child at any age. Meets the third Thursday of every month, 7 p.m., at the First Colony Church of Christ, 2140 First Colony Blvd., Sugar Land. For more information, call 281-413-2484. 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. AMERICAN LEGION 271 MEETING We meet the first Thursday of every month at the Post Hall, 4520 Hwy. 36 in Rosenberg. A covered dish meal is served to members at 6:30 p.m. followed by meetings at 7:30 p.m. For more information, call 281-341-9966. AMERICAN LEGION 294 MEETING Meets the first Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Old Hickory Inn BBQ, 3334 FM 1092, just north of Highway 6 in Missouri City. For more information, please call 713-376-7295. ALZHEIMER’S CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP Caregivers of patients with AlzheimerÕ s disease or other related dementias are invited to attend the first Thursday of each month, 7-8:30 p.m. at St. JohnÕ s United Methodist Church, 400 Jackson St. in Richmond, across from the historic Fort Bend County Courthouse. Free and open to the public. For more information, call 713-3141313 or 1-800-272-3900.

(Main) • KenWoodPC.com

Alief MEDICAL SALES

OCTOBER 24TH - NOVEMBER 1ST

YOUR CHANCE TO SAVE LIVES!

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.

(Direct)

HOUSTON HUMANE SOCIETY BE A HERO!

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 281-4993345.

Dine-In Open!

TAKE-OUT & CATERING

AVAILABLE

17 years

family owned and operated LUNCH SPECIALS HOME MADE TAMALES & TORTILLAS MARGARITA’S TO-GO!

SOUTHWEST FREEWAY 281.240.3060 12821 LasHaciendasGrill.com

SHORT TERM WHEELCHAIR RENTALS AVAILABLE

Buy a pair of COMPRESSION TRAVEL SOCKS and get the 2nd pair

11851-A Wilcrest Houston, TX 77031 Phone 281-530-3232 • www.AliefMedicalSales.com

20% OFF