@FORTBENDSTAR

primatologist Jane Goodall. As part of her TIME for Kids position, she also contributes to a weekly podcast. Moparthi, whose parents are originally from India but came to the U.S. during their college years, said that it was especially rewarding to hear Wyche's insights about being both a woman and minority who has been successful in the scientific realm. Her father works in finance and her mother is a engineer. Even with her already significant achievements in journalism, Moparthi has her sights set on a scientific career. Last October, to mark Breast

It is with great pride that the Groom’s parents, Ferdinand & Karen Williams of Mobile, Alabama, and the Bride’s parents

Chad & Demetria Rutherford of Sugar Land, Texas, announce the upcoming wedding of their children,

Kendall Bernard Williams and Chansonique Alyse Rutherford

Kendall Williams was born and raised in Mobile, Alabama. He attended Alabama State University earning a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. Kendall is a Senior Consultant at Baker Tilly, an accounting firm. Chansonique Rutherford was born and raised in Sugar Land, Texas. She attended law school at Thurgood Marshall School of Law, earning her Law degree. Chansonique is a Managing Attorney at Lone Star Legal Aid and has been with the non-profit firm for the last 5 years.

Kendall and Chansonique will become Mr. and Mrs. Williams before friends and family at Peach Orchard in the Woodlands, Texas.

Worship Directory FORT BEND COUNTY

BAPTIST CHURCH

HORIZON 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

BRAZOS BEND BAPTIST CHURCH

BRAZOS BEND BAPTIST CHURCH - 979.553.3049

22311 FM 762 RD.-Needville, TX 77461

Dr. Doug Brooks- Pastor

Sunday School/Bible Study - 9:30am

Sunday Worship Service - 10:30am

Wednesday (Team Kids) - 7:00pm

Wednesday (Bible Study) - 7:00pm

Any Prayer needs call 979.553.3049

Special Events-Resurrection (Easter) Weekend www.bbbchurch.org

METHODIST CHURCH

CHRIST CHURCH SUGAR LAND • 281-980-6888

A United Methodist Community

3300 Austin Parkway • Sugar Land, TX 77479

Sunday Schedule 8:30 am Blended Worship 9:30 am Sunday School for all ages 10:30 am Traditional & Contemporary Worship www.christchurchsl.org

EPISCOPAL

ALL SAINTS EPISCOPAL CHURCH • 281-499-9602

605 Dulles Avenue, Stafford, TX 77477

SUNDAY: 10:30 am Worship Holy Eucharist www.allsaints-stafford.org

CHURCH OF CHRIST

STAFFORD CHURCH OF CHRIST • 281-499-2507

402 Stafford Run Rd. -Stafford, 77477

Stephen Higley, Preacher

Sunday Bible Study 9:30 am

Sunday Worship 10:30 am

Wednesday 7:00 pm www.staffordchurchofchrist.org

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH • 281-240-3195

502 Eldridge Rd. -Sugar Land, TX 77478

Reverend Dr. Fred Seay, Pastor

Sunday Worship In Person 11:00 am / Nursery Available Worship Online on YouTube www.fpcsl.org

Scripture of the week mostly negative, from residents, largely related to concerns over the number of multifamily units.

District 4 Councilwoman Carol McKutcheon was the sole vote against the amendment. Before the vote, she explained that she had run on a platform of keeping Sugar Land's single-family residential identity intact and that she intended to keep that promise. District 2 Councilman Naushad Kermally had already recused himself from voting on the proposal.

In December, the city announced that Houston based PUMA Development had developed a proposal that would transform the Imperial Char House, perhaps the city's most iconic building, into an office building with retail and food-and-beverage components. The Char House would be the first phase of the redevelopment of the entire 40-acre Imperial Market district, which originally the site of the Imperial Sugar Company, which gave the city its name.

The Council has already voted to provide up to $5 million in reimbursements to PUMA, in prescribed

Cancer awareness month, she spearheaded a fundraiser to support MD Anderson boot walk to end cancer. She was motivated by the death of one of her favorite teachers from cancer during the COVID pandemic.

"With my entrepreneurship and leadership skills, I was able to reach out to a wider audience and reach my fundraising goal of $2,500 and help advance MD Anderson's efforts in the prevention, early detection and treatment and research of cancer, " she says.

"I am so proud of this initiative and feel very happy for helping raise funds for a great cause and make a difference in my community."

Moparthi also completed a science research project, "PinkRibbon - A Novel Meth- phases, toward completeing the project.

As with the earlier Planning & Zoning meeting, Tuesday's City Council meeting included hours of public comment, both inperson and in submitted written comments. Unlike at the P&Z meeting. the people who spoke in person were split roughly evenly over the proposed amendment.

Many residents, particularly those who live in the areas most adjacent to the Imperial district, voiced concerns that allowing for hundreds of new apartments and other multifamily homes would change the suburban character of the area, adding to traffic congestion and other issues. Some said they feared that the development would drive down property values.

Others, however, including some residents of the immediate area, said they were excited at the prospect of having a retail and restaurant center within walking distance of their homes. Some even said they had purchased their homes with the expectation that the long-dormant Imperial complex would be transformed into just such a center.

When it came to reading the more than 60 submitted od for Breast Cancer Detection comments for the record, a task performed by Mayor Joe Zimmerman, the overwhelming majority of them were negative.

Using Machine Learning and Convolutional Neural Networks," in which she built an app designed to predict within seconds whether a breast issue sample is cancerous. The project garnered recognition and several awards at the regional, state and National levels, including theSociety of Science's Top 300 BroadcomMASTERS.

But that's not all. Moparthi also writes poetry and does acrylic painting. She will allow that one thing she's not very good at (yet) is baking.

While Moparthi says she now is most interested in pursuing a career in doing research science, she hopes that she can one day combine her interests by becoming a science journalist.

But when it came to discussion among the Council members, Zimmerman, city staff and others went to some lengths to remind residents that the proposal was for a General Development Plan which would allow the next steps of PUMA's redevelopment plan to proceed. No actual work would be done until a Final Development Plan went before the P&Z commission and ultimately approved by Council. Zimmerman also made a special point that the proposed development would not include an extension of Houston's Metropolitan Transit Authority. Sugar Land is not part of METRO's service area, and it would require a referendum of voters to become so.

Mark Toon, CEO of PUMA, said that has yet the number of multifamily has not been set. He revealed during the meeting that his company is in discussions with Sueba, another company which already own about four acres of property adjacent to the 40 acres under contract to PUMA, about the best way to develop the area.

SUGAR LAND DANCERS “COWBOY UP” TO CELEBRATE

Texas Independence With Street Festival

OnSaturday, March 4, 2023 the staff, students, and friends of Cookie Joe’s Dancin’ School will proudly salute the Lone Star State with an outdoor festival entitled “God Bless Texas.” This one-day family friendly event is a high kickin’ tip of the hat to 187 years of Texas independence from Mexico.

Members of Sugar Land’s Cookie Joe’s Dancin’ School will perform to Texas music on the outdoor stage surrounded by games, food booths, a petting zoo, crafts, play areas, auctions, and interactive fun. “It will be a wonderful event for all ages celebrating Texas Independence.” said native Houstonian Cookie Joe. The Texas Declaration of Independence was signed on March 2, 1836.

Although there is a charge for some activities, admission to the event’s music and dance is free and open to the public. Proceeds from the annual celebration will benefit the schools’ Outreach Ministries including Star of Hope Homeless Mission, Exchange Club of Sugar Land, Child Advocates of Fort Bend, Champions Kids Camp, Texana Center, and Hope for Three, an autism advocacy group.

Generous event sponsors include Keep Rolling Automotive & Southwest Domestics.

God Bless Texas will be held from 12:30 pm – 4:00 pm at Cookie Joe’s Dancin’ School, 1415 Highway 6 (1 mile north of Highway 59 by Lifetime Fitness). For more information contact Scott Arthur @ 713-824-6126.

good time, arriving in Austin about an hour earlier than planned to make it way to The Austin Club, an ornate 1878 building that originally served as the city's opera house. There, the crown mingled in an expansive banquet hall before the main program began.

Following opening remarks from Fort Bend County Judge KP George, attendees heard from Glenn Hamer, president of the Texas Association of Business, who made the case for legislation. both at the state and federal level, he said would protect and expand the state's reputation as a good place to do business.

That was followed by a luncheon panel discussion among a bipartisan group of legislators who serve Fort Bend County: Republican Sen. Lois Kolhorst, Republican Rep. Jacey Jetton, Democratic Rep. Ron Reynolds, Republican Rep. Gary Gates, and Democratic Rep. Suleman Lalani. Three other scheduled legislators - Republican Sen. Joan Huffman, Democratic Senator Borris Miles, and Republican Rep. Stan Kitzman, who unable to attend.

opening remarks. He noted that Missouri City has long celebrated its racial and cultural diveristy.

Leona D. Daniels performed a moving rendition of "Lift Every Voice and

Each of the legislators laid out their own priorities for the session. While much of the discussion fell along traditional partisan lines, there were evident areas of agreement. Some of those included creating a path to citizenship for DREAMERS while also enhancing border security and expanding education programs. Republican Gates was quite vociferous about a bill he is sponsoring, HB 2615, designed to allow public school district to provide vocational education programs that "provide eligible high school students and educational training under a plan for the issuance of a high school diploma and the application of certain student-based allotments under the public school finance system."

Kolkurst and Jetton spoke at length about one of the most contentious bills so far, SB 147, which would prohibit the purchase of real estate by certain people and entities from a group of countries deemed antagonistic to the United States: China, Iran, Russia, and North Korea. The bill has drawn widespread condemnation from Democrats and immigration advocates - including a protest at the Fort Bend County Courthouse led by

Sing," which has long been recognized at the unofficial Black National Anthem.

District B Councilman Jeffrey L. Boney gave what was billed as a "brief history" of the Palmer Plantation and the Freedom Tree, adding that "Black history isn't brief

County Judge KP George - as well as coverage in national media.

Kolhurst, the bill's primary author, said that the bill is still being modified and would allow for permanent legal residents of those countries to purchase real estate. She said the reasoning behind the bill are valid national security concerns that have been echoed by officials in the Biden Administration.

Lelani, a Pakistani-American and one of the first two Muslims elected to the Texas House, said he was heartened that the bill is still being modified to allay the concerns of immigrant communities.

After the panel discussion, the attendees broke into several groups to head to the Capitol to meet with legislators about their particular priorities. While some traveled to the complex by bus, many took advantage of a brief period of sunny (if somewhat windy) weather to walk to to the Capitol, current encased in scaffolding during a major renovation project.

Among them was the Education and Workforce contingent, comprised of the superintendents and some board members of Fort Bend ISD and Lamar CISD, as well as representatives of area community colleges and some corpo - at all."

That was followed by a voice-and-dance performance by the Missouri City-based Nia's Daughters dance ensemble which recounted the long history of African-Americans.

Other speakers included Katherine Thomas, 30, the newly elected judge of rate representatives. They were led by Jim Rice, a business man and former longtime member of the Fort Bend ISD board and a past president of the Teas Association of School Boards.

Fort Bend ISD Superintendent Kristie Whitbeck was joined by FBSID Board President Kristen Malone and Position 3 member Rick Garcia. They were to advocate on behalf of the board's own legislative priorities (which Whitbeck laid out to reporters in January), which focus on enhancing state's the per-pupil allotment, creating a "level playing field" with charter schools, and especially on opposing a proposal for creating direct education vouchers to parents, which public school systems believe would be very detrimental. The voucher program is a long-sought goal of many Republican legislators, including Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, although it has faced blowback from Republicans in rural districts. Their first step was the somewhat cramped office of Gary Gates in the below-ground Capitol Extension, who greeted the contingent wearing a long-sleeved work shirt and blue jeans. As vicechair of both the House Resolutions Calendar the 184th District Court of Harris County, the youngest elected judge in that county's history, Texas Rep. Ron Reynolds, Tyra Jones-McCollum, president of the local Jack and Jill chapter, and Charity Carter, co-leader of Edison Arts Foundation, which was the main presenter

Committee and the Urban Affairs Committee, Gates wields a great deal of influence over what legislation might ultimately make its way to a floor vote.

Gates and his visitors spoke at great length about his bill geared toward enhancing vocational education. The contingent was especially interested in hearing whether it would include a component for participation for private industry. He told them it was explicitly meant for that, as it is private employers in the construction trades who are most vocal about the need for employees who already have some level of proficiency.

When Whitbeck asked Gates, a strongly conservative Republican, about his views on vouchers, he gave them a surprising answer: he is not particularly in favor of them, although he didn't explicitly say he would actively oppose them.

The group's next stop was the much more spacious and ornate office of Ron Reynolds, a corner office on the fourth floor of the Capitol. A progressive Democrat, Reynolds spoke at length about his desire to protect public education.

When Whitbeck told him of Gates's remarks regarding vouchers, Reynolds of the city's Black History Month activities.

After the speeches, the participants made their way back to Community Park for several performances by local schoolchildren.

La Chanda Ricks attended the walk with her son Marcus and their 5-year was pleasantly surprised. But he gave them some sobering insight. He said he expected the vouchers program to easily pass through the Patrick-controlled Senate, although it might run into some trouble in the House, including among rural Republicans. old son, Marcus Jr., as members of the Jack and Jill organization. Marcus was said he was glad to learn some of the history. "We're here in support of our city and this wonderful opportunity to celebrate Black History Month

If it passes in both houses it would go to a conference committee, where its final form would be uncertain.

"This is going to be a bloody civil war," Reynolds said.

The contingent next made its way to the office of Jacey Jetton. He wasn't there, but the group did hold a long meeting with legislative aide Jason Haug, who took extensive notes about their concerns. Suleman Lalani. the fourth legislator the group hopes to meet, was also unavailable.

With the day winding down, the group made it way to the waiting bus, where it took the contingent to a reception with members of the legislature and their staffs at the Stephen F. Austin Royal Sonesta Hotel. After a couple of hours of mingling over drinks and fingerfoods, the exhausted group climbed aboard the bus again for the long trek back to Fort Bend County.

Crossword Puzzle

713-433-6421

14700 Almeda Rd

Houston, TX 77053 www.HoustonHumane.org

Grizzly

Grizzly went on a doggy day out with a pal, and this is what they had to say:

1. He rides well in the car. Knew what to do when I opened the car door… jumped right in and made himself comfortable 2. This guy LOVES to snuggle! ALWAYS wants to be near someone and slept on the couch snuggled up against my mom last night. Total lap dog. Loves to jump onto the couch or recliner if someone is sitting there. Will nudge your hand if you are petting him and suddenly stop.

3. He appears to be potty trained! No accidents in the house. Didn't try to lift his leg on anything, either.

4. Not a shy or scared dog….. confidently walked into the house and acted like he had lived there for years.

5. Loves walks and has a high level of energy so will need to be walked several times a day. Pulls on leash.

6. He's like a cat when it comes to jumping. He can jump high. Fearless… can even jump onto a bar stool.

29. Another name for Rag and bone man 30. To draw

7. Loiters near cook when dinner is being made and tries to wait for people food but doesn't whine or bark. He's a polite begger :-)

8. Likes toys that make crinkle sounds, can chew them up fast.

9. No biting incidents although he'll "play bite" a little when he's actively playing with someone on the floor. He wasn't nervous around men…No biting or growling when he was sitting with me and my dad walked up to pet him. Sat with my dad a lot, too.

10. Will not try to run out the door anytime I come into or out of the house.

11. Never heard him bark!

Grizzly will make a great addition to someone's family. I'd suggest