The 03-08-23 Edition of the Fort Bend Star

County hears proposals to address homelessness in area

By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Fort Bend county commissioners heard last week from a coalition of nonprofit agencies that serve youth and the homeless about the need for a more concerted effort to address a growing problems of homelessness. They asked the court to devote up to $13 million from unused federal American Recovery Act funds for a multi-year, multi-phased program.

Similarly, a representative of the Fort Bend chapter of the American Federation of Teachers asked the commissioners for $221,460 as "seed money" for a pilot project meant to address the growing shortage of teachers by offering alternative teaching certificates to people, especially in a few critical subject areas, who would agree to teach in Fort Bend ISD schools for two years.

While the commissioners were largely receptive to the merits of the pro -

posals, some were leery of diverting ARA funds from already committed infrastructure projects, the expansion of broadband Internet access across the county, or from addressing the county's employee and retiree healthcare obligations.

Shannon Stavinhola, executive director of the Parks Youth Ranch, a camp for abused and neglected children, served as the spokesperson for the

Blazing a trail

Sugar Land officials lay out vision for city in annual address

By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

The large ballroom of the Marriott hotel at Sugar Land Town Square was filled with a who's who of elected officials and the local business community Friday as Mayor Joe Zimmerman and City

Manager Mike Goodrum laid out their vision for a revitalization of the city in the annual "State of the City" event hosted by the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce.

In a slickly produced multimedia presentation, the pair took a tag-team approach, taking turns with the speech that was also

interspersed with videos showcasing city staff, City Council members and members of the public presenting a unified vision of taking Sugar Land into a new level as a growing suburban community

The presentation began with a video that looked back over the decades to once-dominant businesses

such as Blockbuster Video and Radio Shack which withered and died because they didn't keep up with new technologies and changes in consumer demands. The unspoken message in the video was that is where Sugar Land's leadership sees the city heading if it doesn't take a more proactive approach.

In their combined talk, Zimmerman and Goodrum didn't take long bringing that subtext forward.

"Life is short and we only get one chance at success," Zimmerman said, "which is why we are obsessed with being a city that is

SEE ADDRESS PAGE 5

Parish Plant named among country's 'deadliest' in new study

By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

A new report from the environmental advocacy group the Sierra Club finds that the W A Parish power plant operated by NRG Energy in central Fort Bend County is the 8th-worst coal-fired plant in the nation in contributing to premature deaths from soot pollution.

The report, titled "Out of Control: The Deadly Impact of Coal Plant Pollution," states that while

many of the nation's coalfired plants have been retired in recent years in the wake of more stringent environmental laws and market forces, researchers estimate that "the remaining fleet of coal-fired power plants is still responsible for 3,800 premature deaths per year due to particulate pollution. 10% of plants are super-polluters responsible for over 50% of these deaths."

"Polluted air has been linked to increased asth -

ma rates, bronchitis, blood clots, heart attacks, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer, diabetes, and weakened immune systems among other adverse health impacts. These health impacts not only affect the quality of life for those who are exposed, but can also lead to premature mortality," the report states, citing 2021 research by the University of Chicago

SEE PARISH PAGE 4

Sugar Land City Manager Mike Goodrum, left, and Mayor Joe Zimmerman present their vision for the city's future during the State of the City address at the Mariott hotel in Sugar Land Town Square. (Photo by Ken Fountain)

In a new report, the environmental advocacy group The Sierra Club calls the W A Parish plant in Fort Bend County one of the "deadliest" in the U.S. w (Photo by Roy Luck via Wikimedia Commons)

County KP George, shown speaking during a recent county event, and the Fort Bend commissioners court recently heard proposals to address homelessness in the county. (Photo from Facebook)

Pereira (Photo courtesy FBCSO)

Check out this week's high school soccer roundup inside today on Page 3, as we break down who still has plenty to play for in the regular season's final weeks. (Photo from Twitter)

District 20-6A boys, girls soccer races coming down to wire

By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Even though the District 20-6A playoff picture has already been solidified, there is still plenty to play for in the season’s final week, with several teams fighting for playoff positioning.

On the heels of four straight wins, the Bush Broncos currently hold a slim lead for the top spot at 9-2-2 in district play as they gun for a second consecutive district title. Ridge Point (8-2-4) is still fighting for the top

spot, while Austin (7-4-2) and George Ranch (7-4-3) are also still battling for a top-three seed.

George Ranch snapped a three-match winless streak with a 2-1 win over Hightower on Friday. Tobias Herrera scored both goals for George Ranch (10-8-3, 7-4-3) in the victory, while Gregor Jones made a season-high 12 saves to earn the victory in goal.

Austin, meanwhile, earned a 3-1 win over Travis on March 4 to improve 9-4-4 overall and 7-4-2 in district play. Alex Rubio scored twice for the Bulldogs, while Ihsan Topuz also scored

and Muhammed Kelani and Dillon Trimble had an assist apiece.

In Class 4A action, the Needville Blue Jays are the champs of District 21-4A following a 6-2 win over Sweeny on Saturday. Six different players scored in the win for Needville (15-2-3, 8-1-3), who will be making an appearance in the UIL postseason for a second consecutive season.

Girls

The race for a top three seed is also in full effect in District 20-6A on the girls’ side. Ridge Point has secured the top seed, but

Elkins (12-3-5, 8-2-3), Clements (9-5-4, 8-3-2), and George Ranch (11-6-4, 83-3) are all still narrowly separated. Elkins played to a 2-2 tie with Ridge Point on March 8 before taking Bush 2-0 on March 4 to run their unbeaten streak to four matches. Ellie Pitts scored both goals for Elkins against Ridge Point, while Amelie Cherry and Amelia Olawu scored a goal apiece in the win over Bush. Isabella Paiva stopped every shot against her in net to secure the Lady Knights’ ninth clean sheet of the season. Clements split a pair of

matches last week, beating Travis 3-0 on March 8 before falling 2-0 to Ridge Point on March 4. Chloe Le broke the deadlock for the Lady Rangers in the 13th minute to give them a lead they wouldn’t relinquish as they move toward a second straight playoff berth.

On the Class 5A front, the Foster Lady Falcons are closing in on a fifth consecutive district title thanks to an 8-0 victory over Marshall on Feb. 28 and a 9-0 win against Kempner on March 3. The Lady Falcons (16-4, 12-0) have won 15 straight matches and could clinch the title if they

defeat Fulshear (13-7, 11-1) or with a win against Terry on Tuesday coupled with a Chargers loss to Kempner. Fulshear kept pace in the race, however, with a 9-1 win against Randle on Feb. 28 and a 7-0 win over Willowridge on March 3 to win its fifth straight match.

In Class 4A action, the Needville Lady Blue Jays have secured District 21-4A’s No. 2 seed thanks to a 3-2 win over Sweeny on March 4. Arianna Franco had a goal plus an assist for the Lady Blue Jays (17-4, 9-2), while Jayleen Aguirre and Maddie Watson each also found the back of the

Local baseball, softball squads showcase strength in tournaments

March 2.

It was a strong weekend for the area’s baseball and softball teams as earlyseason tournament play continued last week, with multiple squads making early cases as teams to pay attention to in the region.

Elkins had a strong showing at the Cy Fair ISD Tournament March 2-4, going 3-1 overall. Jonathan Moye had three hits while Alex Hale doubled and drove in two runs for the Knights (4-5) in a 4-2 win over Summer Creek on March 4, and Gabriel Ghuneim struck out five in a complete game effort on the mound. Hale also doubled and had four RBIs as part of a 9-7 victory against Cy Creek on March 3, while Myles Jackson had two hits and an RBI in the Knights’ 62 win over Cy Falls on

Clements had a 3-3 weekend at the Lamar Consolidated ISD Tournament March 2-4, moving to 6-3 overall on the season. Fletcher Garcia had five hits, including a homer, and five RBIs while reaching base seven combined times in wins over Bay City and Lamar Consolidated on March 2.

Daniel Trinh had two RBIs in a 4-3 win over Cy Ridge on March 4, while Taylor Brown and Ben Couture had two hits apiece.

George Ranch also went 3-3 at the LCISD Tournament last week, moving to 6-6-1 on the season. Tre Aikens homered and drove in two runs for the Longhorns in an 11-1 win over Katy Paetow on March 4, and Corbyn Womack surrendered just two hits over five strong innings on the mound.

In the Class 5A ranks, Foster had a 4-1 weekend at the LCISD Tournament to improve to 8-4 on the season. Micah Dean had two hits including a double and two RBIs while Chase Batten had two RBIs of his own in an 8-3 win over Shadow Creek on March

2, while Cooper Schwank had nine strikeouts in 6.1 shutout innings of a 20 win over Ridge Point later that day. Kai Kirchheiner doubled and drove in three runs as part of the Falcons’ 11-2 victory against Tomball Memorial on March 3, while Jacob Szafran and Alfonso Lopez also had two hits apiece.

Willowridge also went 2-1 in tournament play March 2-4. Marxquise Hayes, Dustin Goff, and William Goff each drove in two runs apiece as a part of the Eagles’ 16-1 win over Mickey Leland College Prep on March 4, and William Goff had six strikeouts in three innings of work on the mound.

In Class 4A action, the Needville Blue Jays went 3-1 at the Huffman Tournament last week to move to 8-2 on the young season. Brance Farrell homered in the tournament for Needville, and now has a team-leading 11 RBIs on the season.

Softball Ridge Point split a pair of games at the Friendswood Round Rock Tournament on March 2, sandwiched

between a 10-0 win over Dulles on Feb. 28 and a 13-3 victory over George Ranch on March 3. Jade Uresti homered twice and drove in four runs for the Lady Panthers (12-4, 40) in the win over George Ranch, while Braelyn Daniels had three hits and Abi Parker had two of her own. Daniels also homered three times in the Friendswood tournament and Bailey Gray had two home runs.

Austin won both games last week, taking down Elkins 16-6 on Feb. 28 before blanking Clements 15-0 on March 3 to move to 4-11 overall and 1-2 in District 20-6A. Sophia Lundstrom enjoyed a 4 for 4 day including a double against Elkins, while Zoe Zamora threw a no-hitter in the run-rule victory

over Clements. Hightower was victorious in its only game last week, defeating Bush 13-1 on Feb. 28. Freshman Baylee Bonner homered and drove in three runs for the Lady Hurricanes (7-8, 1-2) in the win, while four players had multiple hits as part of the 12-hit attack. Meanwhile, Ayanna Anthony had eight strikeouts in the circle while allowing just four hits across six innings.

Dulles split a pair of games, taking down Bush 2-1 in eight innings on March 3 following the loss to Ridge Point earlier in the week. Kellan Ton had two hits for Dulles (4-8, 2-2) against Bush, and Makayla Wolfe struck out 13 batters in a completegame effort in the circle.

In the Class 5A ranks, the

Fulshear Lady Chargers pulled out a 7-1 win over Lamar Consolidated on Feb. 28 before going 3-3 at the LCISD Tournament March 2-4. Freshman Ava Galaviz hit her first varsity homer, a three-run shot, for the Lady Chargers (137, 1-0) in the tournament. Out in Class 4A, the Needville Lady Blue Jays went 3-1 last week to move to 11-6 overall on the season. Kourtney Carter and Annabell Humbird each homered for Needville in a 4-1 win over East Bernard on March 4, while Makayla Smith and Jessalyn Gregory struck out five batters apiece in the circle. Carter also had two doubles and two RBIs as part of a three-hit effort on March 2 in a 5-3 victory against Fulshear.

The George Ranch boys' soccer team, shown after a match earlier this season, are among the local squads with plenty to play for entering the season's final week. (Photo from Twitter)

The Parish plant is ranked eighth in a table listing 17 plants across the country which the Sierra Club says "are responsible for 1,920 premature deaths per year — representing over half of deaths from the remaining fleet."

“The people of Southeast Texas carry the immense burden of air pollution created by Parish and numerous additional sources,” Bryan Parras, a Healthy Communities campaign representative for the Sierra Club, said in a press release. “All of these risks – especially when

H HOMELESS FROM PAGE 1

coalition, which also includes Attack Poverty!, the George Foundation, and the Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation, in the presentation of the proposal. Stavinhola laid out the scope of the homelessness problem in the county, which has been increasing in recent years. According to Fort Bend ISD, she said, 9.4 percent of all children under 18 are without stable housing. Much of the problem stems from the lack of affordable housing as rental prices in Fort Bend outpace the averages in Texas and nationally, she said.

"Affordable housing is missing in Fort Bend County, and that is a shame," she said.

Many families are living in houses that are unfit for habitations, with no running water or electricity, she said, while other families are "doubling up" or even "tripling up" in homes

added together – are more than we should ever ask one community to bear. Yet the state of Texas, and the EPA, continue to let wealthy industrial corporations harm our residents for no other reason than profit. We need stronger rules from federal regulators and state leaders who are fed up with the myth that this industry is in any way good for our people.”

According to the Sierra Club, 70 percent of the people who it says die prematurely due to pollution from the Parish plant live in Texas, and most of them live in Harris County. But, the group claims, many of the remaining people

meant for single families. Staninhola laid out the three-phased proposal.

The first phase, to serve immediate needs for 100 families, would require $1.5 million in construction costs, with $500 annually over two years for operating and maintenance costs.

The second phase, in the second and third years, would build an eight-plex facility at $1 million and a 400-unit facility at $5 million.

In the third phase, a multifamily recovery center would be built for $40 million. The facility would offer not just housing but services that would help families achieve financial stability and ultimately long-term housing. This phase would also include a 20-unit project and the construction of 25 "tiny homes."

Stavinhola said the coalition had already identified numerous public and private sources of funding that would allow for the operating and maintenance of the facilities in the long term.

harmed live in Fort Bend County, and the harmful effects also impact people in Tarrant, Dallas, and Bexar counties as a result of pollutants carried by winds.

"NRG is one of the most deadly independent power producers in the country, affecting much of Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkansas, despite only providing power to the Texas grid." the press release states. "The Sierra Club analysis shows that people of color are exposed to more soot pollution from NRG than any other utility parent company in the country. NRG’s coal plants exposed Lati -

When it came time for questions from the commissioners, there were many as well as a strenuous debate about what the county's priorities should be. The matter was first broached in an earlier meeting.

Newly sworn-in Precinct 4 Commissioner Dexter McCoy said he was fully committed to addressing the homelessness issue in the county, but was concerned that diverting the federal funds might impeded the county's work in expanding broadband access, one of his top priorities.

Precinct 1 Commissioner Vincent Morales cited longstanding infrastructure needs in some of county's rural areas and smaller cities such as Needville and Meadows Place that the county government has already pledged to address. Morales said the county should fulfill those commitments as a priority.

Precinct 3 Commissioner Andy Meyers, long known as the most ardent deficit

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

Rev. Dr. Daniel Irving, Senior Pastor

Sunday Schedule 9:30 am Blended Worship

9:30 am Sunday School for all ages

11:00 am Traditional & Contemporary Worship www.christchurchsl.org

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

nos to 98% more and Black

Americans to 40% more soot pollution than white Americans. With no firm retirement plans, these plants will continue to harm communities across the South."

The Sierra Club calls for the retirement of all coalfired power plants in the country, including the Parish plant, and for policies that will lead to the rapid deployment of renewable energy resources. In a written statement, NRG said that it works hard to adhere to environmental regulations while providing the energy that is vital to Texas residents and the economy.

hawk on the court, read from a prepared statement about the county's significant obligations to its employees' and retirees' healthcare benefits, which he said currently stands at $500 million and is growing at $40-45 million a year.

Meyers acknowledged the merit of the homelessness issue, but emphasized that the debt obligation issue should be paramount among the court's priorities.

County Judge KP George said he didn't disagree on any of the issues raised by his colleagues. He joked that he's heard Meyers's statement so many times that the commissioner must keep it continuously in his pocket.

But George said, the American Recovery Act funds, a COVID-era program that offered billions to local jurisdictions in the wake of the pandemic, offered the county a "oncein-a-lifetime opportunity" to address the homelessness problems, particularly

"NRG takes protecting the environment and complying with all environmental rules and regulations very seriously. We are proud of our environmental record, and committed to delivering on our vision for a more sustainable energy future. Our fleet, including the WA Parish plant, continues to meet all of its permit requirements." the company said.

"The WA Parish power plant provides almost 4% of all the power in ERCOT. It plays an incredibly important role in providing Texans with reliable and affordable power. It is dispatchable power and built to run when Texans need

for youth.

Later, Glenda Guzman Macal, president of the Fort Bend chapter of the American Federation of Teachers, presented a proposal for a joint program between her organization, Houston Community College and Fort Bend ISD.

Macal, a former Fort Bend ISD bilingual and special education teacher, discussed the nationwide shortage of qualified teachers, as school districts struggle to recruit and retain teachers. A recent poll of Fort Bend ISD teachers showed that 77 percent are considering leaving the profession.

The pilot program would recruit people who would earn alternative teachers certifications to teach, with particularly emphasis on bilingual, special education, and STEM courses.

The AFT chapter would administer the program with assistance from HCC, and the newly minted teachers would agree to teach in Fort Bend ISD schools for

power, no matter the time of day or weather conditions. The units at the plant are both coal and natural gas giving the facility extra resiliency with dual fuel and on-site fuel storage. The coal units at Parish play a key role in providing reliable power to our customers." it said.

"At NRG, we remain committed to delivering on our vision for a more sustainable energy future. We continue to decarbonize our power generation fleet and remain committed to our carbon reduction goals," the company said. The full Sierra Club report can be found at coal. sierraclub.org.

at least two years.

During discussion, Meyers noted that his daughter is a 20-year teacher in Katy ISD. "The real problem is that we're not paying our teachers enough," he said.

Morales asked Macal whether her group had sought funding from Fort Bend ISD's Education Foundation. Macal responded that they had not, as the proposed program would not be part of Fort Bend ISD's budget. Morales replied that it might be better for the district to be more directly involved, as education is not a typical function of county government. In the end, the commissioners agreed that there should be more discussion of both proposals and their relationship to the county's budget proposals. Both items were tabled for a later workshop discussion. A video of the full meeting, including a link to the homelessness proposal, can be found at fortbendcountytx.gov.

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

- ROMANS 12:12

wound.

After further investigation, detectives identified the two suspects as Pereira and a juvenile. Both suspects were located and arrested without incident.

Both suspects have been placed in custody at the Fort Bend County Jail.

Pereira was charged with murder, with a bond of

$750,000. Information on the juvenile suspect is not available because of state restrictions. “It’s a tragedy when someone’s life is taken away, especially when at the hands of another human being(s)", Sheriff Eric Fagan, said in the release. “I’d like to thank the investigators for tirelessly working on this case and quickly identifying the suspects.”

creating community and legacy in our city, in our neighborhoods, and in our lives."

"And while our core services are world-class," Goodrum added, "we know these things are meaningless if we are not creating a community and a place where you belong, be happy, and find meaning."

The pair went on to describe Sugar Land's long-touted reputation for clean and safe neighborhoods, access to good educational opportunities and medical facilities, and a thriving business community.

"We are dedicated and focused on working to ensure that your children and grandchildren are just as happy and fulfilled as you have been for decades," Zimmerman said.

The officials described how Sugar Land grew from a small company town to a destination Houston suburb in the 1970s and 1980s. But the city ultimately plateaued in its growth, they said,

and is now at a crossroads where it must decide whether to remain stagnant or move into a new future.

"It's hard to believe," Zimmerman said, "but if we don't continue to evolve and change for the better, just as we've done for decades, we will quickly find ourselves becoming closer to Blockbuster than continuing to being recognized as one of the nation's safest and best places to live, to work and play."

Of particular concern, the pair said, was the rapidly the city's rapidly aging built environment and infrastructure, increasing commercial bankruptcies and vacant properties. Meanwhile, the median age of the city's residents has grown steadily over the last three decades, and younger people increasingly find it hard to find affordable housing.

The city leadership has shifted its focus from refill development to guided refill and redevelopment in order to take advantage of changes in the business environment and technology that make it possible for people to live closer to

ASK THE EXPERT

work rather than commute to central business districts and other major employment hubs.

"It has been years since we've pulled off a major project" Zimmerman said, citing the Sugar Land Town Square which was completed in the mid-2000s. Other planned projects have not come to fruition because of various market forces, Goodrum added, which has harmed the city's reputation.

"We are risking failure today in our efforts to attract and retain a tax base as well as our efforts to ensure Sugar Land is a place people want to gather and live in," Goodrum said.

The city needs to seize on new opportunities to not only preserve it's current reputation but to remain a thriving community in the decades ahead, the pair said.

They cited the City Council's recent approval of a proposed redevelopment of the Imperial Char House and the surrounding area into a mixed-used center that would combine office space, residential and retail and entertainment

venues as an example of how the city is taking a new approach. Another is the city's new program to provide incentives to qualified homeowners of to renovate their aging homes.

The pair asked residents to come forward with their own ideas on how to improve the city and not just complain when they oppose a new proposal.

"We need each of you to bring us your biggest, boldest, and craziest ideas on how to ensure our community continues to provide a life better than imagined for your family, the students in our schools, and the future of your businesses," Zimmerman said. "Bring us the ideas you don't think anyone will say yes to, but you think that will help us solve our biggest challenges."

"Our city has the potential to be a trailblazer, to lead the way in creating new paths and breaking new ground," Zimmerman said, introducing the city's new marketing phase.

"Together, we can be the trailblazer. Together, we can make a difference," Zimmerman said in conclusion.

ASK THE EXPERT

Q:What do I need to know about having my vehicle towed after an accident?

Why is high blood pressure called the silent killer?

Q:What do I need to know about having my vehicle towed after an accident?

AKnow which tow company you would use in case of an accident before you have an accident! You may contact the collision repair facility you would use in advance to obtain name and phone number of a reputable towing company. Keep this information in your glove box with your proof of insurance. If you are involved in an accident during business hours, it is wise to go ahead and have the tow company take your vehicle to the shop of your choice.

:High blood pressure kills around 10 million people every year, and it’s the leading cause of heart disease—but many people don’t even have it. Since high blood pressure doesn’t always cause noticeable symptoms, it can be deadly without warning.

But there’s good news! High blood diagnosed by your physician and medication and lifestyle changes. to see your doctor regularly, even perfectly healthy. And what better time to do that than during Healthy Heart Month?

If your accident is after business hours, make sure you ask the wrecker driver where your vehicle will be towed. You may be in the situation where you will not have the opportunity to choose your tow company. In this case, ALWAYS ask what the charges will be an NEVER sign a tow bill that does not list the total charge. Be Informed?

If it’s been a while since you’ve had your blood pressure checked or visited a doctor, call (713) 814 3655 or visit LegacyCommunityHealth.org to make an appointment today. Our providers specialize in comprehensive health and wellness for seniors, and we look forward to helping you live a healthier, fuller life.

:AKnow which tow company you would use in case of an accident before you have an accident! You may contact the collision repair facility you would use in advance to obtain name and phone number of a reputable towing company. Keep this information in your glove box with your proof of insurance. If you are involved in an accident during business hours, it is wise to go ahead and have the tow company take your vehicle to the shop of your choice. If your accident is after business hours, make sure you ask the wrecker driver where your vehicle will be towed. You may be in the situation where you will not have the opportunity to choose your tow company. In this case, ALWAYS ask what the charges will be an NEVER sign a tow bill that does not list the total charge. Be Informed?

May God Bless our Men and Women in the Military

Charlton’s Body Repair

Legacy Stafford Fountains

12540 Sugardale Drive Stafford, TX 77477 (713) 814 3655

Local Family Business since 1957 1131 Staffordshire @ 5th Street • Stafford, TX 77477 www.charltonsbodyrepair.com 281-499-1126

May God Bless our Men and Women in the Military

Charlton’s Body Repair

Local Family Business since 1957 1131 Staffordshire @ 5th Street • Stafford, TX 77477 www.charltonsbodyrepair.com 281-499-1126

CROSSWORD ANSWERS

Chuck Charlton

Chuck Charlton

There is a generational gap

Growing up in Texas, we had the usual power outages caused by floods, droughts and the occasional ice storm. Of the latter you know the drill: ice would cover the tree branches which would cause the branches to break and fall across the power lines which would leave customers in the dark. Then the power would come on. That was way back in MCML.

Sounds like a nice place for a hedge fund tycoon, NBA star or MAGA cap salesman. Nice lot, probably with land mines, bar, pool – and generator? That’s certainly a new wrinkle in promoting houses. We live in the fourth largest city in America. Energy Capital of the World. Space City. And we sell a house for such luxuries as a generator? What’s next”? “This mansion sports a fully equipped watch tower, moat and indoor plumbing.” “A steal! Bunker with anti-balloon missiles, a well which usually has safe water and – get this – a generator which can power up to a 60-watt bulb!”

In these modern days of high-tech engineering, we lose power if it rains, snows, the temperature gets above 90 or below 60. Sometimes my power goes off for no reason at all. We mostly depend on ERCOT to handle our power grids. This may explain why Texas ranked Number 1 in total electric disturbance events in 2021 with 66. Most common cause: severe weather. The year before in 2020, we had 47 total electric disturbance events. Most common cause: severe weather. Apparently ERCOT does not know that Texas can get freezing temperatures in the winter when we need lots of electricity for heating, and turn scalding hot

in the summer when we need a/c by the billions of megawatts. Maybe someone needs to get ERCOT a calendar.

In the Big Freeze of 2021 the power plants went dead, pipes split and gas turbines stopped turbining. To solve this problem, we need more windmills. No, wait. Tucker Carlson said on Fox News that “a reckless reliance on windmills is the cause of this disaster,” claiming that “the windmills froze, so the power grid failed.” Gov. Greg Abbott said in an interview that the crisis in Texas “shows how the Green New Deal would be a deadly deal for the United States of America.” In a lengthy report after the disaster, the feds disagreed entirely. Houston, we live in peril. The Houston utility CenterPoint told state regulators that, on average, customers in 2019 lost power for a total of nearly four hours, including 2 and a half hours from unexpected outages, 45 minutes for scheduled repair and nearly 27 minutes from catastrophic storms. CenterPoint officials said the company doesn’t count

interruptions of under a minute. So it’s do-it-yourself time. Bring on the home generators. You can buy a portable one for $165. This will keep your night light on. But there is a drawback to using portable generators.

Between 2005 and 2017, more than 900 people in the U.S. died from carbon monoxide poisoning from portable generators, with another 15,400 needing emergency room treatment. Most were a result of generators being set up incorrectly indoors. In some storms, more people have died from carbon monoxide poisoning from their generator than directly from the storm itself. But when our power goes off, the main problem is the temperature. I don’t care about small power generators, if a hurricane or heavy dew puts out my a/c in August, I need cool. Likewise, if the Son of Ice Storm Uri comes to Houston, I need heat. This brings us to the SuperDuper Power Plant. That will run you about $22,000. Plus extras. You can’t just plop down a 10-ton hunk of machinery, you need a

place for it to plop -- someone to pour a big slab of concrete in your back yard. (This may be a problem if you live on the 10th floor of a condo.) Then you need an electrician to wire up the sockets and a plumber to install a gas line. Don’t forget the monthly service fee. A simple solution is to run an extension cord to a neighbor’s house who has a generator. If, on the other hand, you have a generator and your neighbor doesn’t, be prepared for angry shouts at 3 a.m. because those big generators make a terrible racket.

My interest in a home generator is not unique. But only about 5 percent of the nation’s homes have installed generators, according to a recent study by Generac, a major home generator company. It reported it sold nearly $1.1 billion worth of residential generators to U.S. customers in 2019, a 36 percent increase from two years earlier. Who buys them? The elderly who can afford them. Seventy percent of Generac’s customers are 50 years or older, have median home values of $400,000 and have a me -

dian household income of $120,000. Sales of generators are projected to grow from $4.89 billion in 2021 to $6.94 billion in 2028. I tried getting a generator myself. My idea was to be on the cutting-edge of technology, so I bought a gerbil and a treadmill, but I needed something more substantial. I found a spot in my backyard to put in a real generator. I didn’t really need a water meter or a driveway. Then I went on-line and found a model from Used Watts R Us from Matamoras, which explains why all the information was in Chinese. A week later a big box arrived with a stamped sign (in English) reading: “Some assembly may be required.” Putting my new generator together took some work what with all the Super Glue and paperclips, but I finally got it going, although in my testing at 3 a.m. the neighbors threw stones. My generator soon exploded, so I turned to my back-up plan but the gerbil died.

Ashby is in the dark at ashby2@comcast.net

Application has been made with Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission for a MB Mixed Beverage License by Ps and Qs Beverage Service LLC, dba Ps and Qs Beverage Service LLC, to be located at 620 Murphy Rd. Suite 203, Stafford, Fort Bend County, Texas.

Application has been made with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission for a Retail Dealers’ On-premise License by Ace of Clubs Sports Lounge, LLC dba Ace of Clubs Sports Lounge, to be located at 3230 S. Main St. Stafford, Fort Bend County, Texas. Officers of said corporation are Chad X. Slater, Manager and Chadwick Douglas, Member.

than 2:00 P.M., April 5, 2023 in the District Office located at 10347 Clodine Road, Richmond, Texas 77407. Bidding documents for the project are available at the following locations: Civcast USA

Civcastusa.com

(281) 376-4577

In general, the Work consists of replacing the natural gas generators at Owner’s Water Well Nos. 1 and 2 & Lift Station Nos. 1, 3 and 4.

A non-mandatory Pre-Bid Conference Call will be held on Thursday, March 16, 2023, at 3:30 P.M. Prospective bidders must contact Mr. Hector Pena, P.E. at hpena@ardurra.com for details on how to join the pre-bid conference call.

Owner will be bound by the terms of this invitation only to the extent funds, from whatever source, are available.

All bids must be accompanied by proposal guaranty in the form of a Certified or Cashier’s Check, or Bidders Bond drawn to the order of Fort Bend County MUD No. 25, and in the minimum amount of five percent (5%) of the total amount of the bid. No proposal may be withdrawn for a period of ninety (90) days after receipt of bids except with the approval of Owner. Owner reserves the right to reject any or all bids or to accept any bid from any responsible person which will be most advantageous to it and result in the best and most economical completion of the Work. The successful bidder will be required to provide a Performance Bond and Payment Bond in full amount of the contract.

Leonela Ruvalcaba, Executive General Manager, Owner

LEGALS

SECTION 00010

ADVERTISEMENT AND INVITATION FOR BIDS

Sealed bids on the original forms, signed by an officer of the Company, will be received by Fort Bend County MUD No. 25 (the “Owner”) for furnishing all labor, material, and equipment and for performing all work required for the construction of: Water Well No. 2 Rehabilitation (the “Work). Sealed, competitive bids will be received no later than 3:00 P.M., April 5, 2023 in the District Office located at 10347 Clodine Road, Richmond, Texas 77407.

Specifications and bidding documents for the project are available at the following locations:

Civcast USA Civcastusa.com

(281) 376-4577

In general, the Work consists of cleaning the existing well, and replacing the existing well pump and motor at Owner’s Water Well No. 2.

A non-mandatory Pre-Bid Conference Call will be held on Thursday, March 16, 2023, at 4:00 P.M. Prospective bidders must contact Mr. Hector Pena, P.E. at hpena@ardurra.com for details on how to join the pre-bid conference call.Owner will be bound by the terms of this invitation only to the extent funds, from whatever source, are available.

Owner will be bound by the terms of this invitation only to the extent funds, from whatever source, are available.

All bids must be accompanied by proposal guaranty in the form of a Certified or Cashier’s Check, or Bidders Bond drawn to the order of Fort Bend County MUD No. 25, and in the minimum amount of five percent (5%) of the total amount of the bid. No proposal may be withdrawn for a period of ninety (90) days after receipt of bids except with the approval of Owner. Owner reserves the right to reject any or all bids or to accept any bid from any responsible person which will be most advantageous to it and result in the best and most economical completion of the Work. The successful bidder will be required to provide a Performance Bond and Payment Bond in full amount of the contract.

Leonela Ruvalcaba, Executive General Manager, Owner

Lynn Ashby

Columnist

LIBRARY’S SENIOR SERIES IN FEBRUARY FOCUSES ON TECHNOLOGY IN MARCH

“The Truth About Technology for Seniors” – a program in the Senior Series for older adults and their family members -- on Friday, March 17, from 10:30 am to 12:00 noon, in Meeting Room 1 of the library, located at 14010 University Blvd in Sugar Land, on the UH campus. The program is free and open to the public.

SUGAR LAND GARDEN CLUB

MARCH PRESENTATION:

A What Is That Herb, and Why Should I Plant It?

Tricia Bradbury: 10 A.M.Tuesday March 21st. St. Basil’s Hall, 702 Burney Rd, Sugar Land. Free!

LEARN ABOUT LONG-TERM PREPARATIONS FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

AT LIBRARY PROGRAM

Fort Bend County Libraries will present a special program, “LongTerm Preparation for Children with Disabilities,” on Thursday, March 30, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm, in the Meeting Room at the Missouri City Branch Library, located at 1530 Texas Parkway. For more information, see the Fort Bend County Libraries website (www.fortbend.lib. tx.us) or call the Missouri City Branch Library (281-238-2100) or the library system’s Communications Office (281-633-4734).

LEARN HOW TO SET BOUNDARIES & ACHIEVE DREAMS AT MISSOURI CITY BRANCH LIBRARY PROGRAM

Fort Bend County Libraries’ Missouri City Branch Library will host motivational speaker Cydney Rax for a special program on “Balance & Boundaries:

How to Keep It Together as You Pursue Your Dreams,” on Saturday, March 25, from 2:00 to 3:00 pm, in the Meeting Room of the library, located at 1530 Texas Parkway. For more information, see the Fort Bend County Libraries website (www.fortbend.lib.tx.us) or call the library system’s Communications Office (281-633-4734).

HOPE FOR THREE TEEN HUDDLE

Sunday, April 2, 2023. Hope For Three Teen Huddle is revving up for its annual Car Wash for Kids presented by Sugar Land Baptist Church on Sunday, April 2nd, at C & C Dental, 17003 SWF, Sugar Land from 10 am to 2 pm. Student volunteers, ages 12 and over, promote awareness, acceptance, and inclusion for their peers with autism. This Eco-friendly car wash is free, but donations are welcome. Volunteers and sponsors needed. Visit www.hopeforthree. org/events to learn more.

HOPE FOR THREE WILL HOST ITS INAUGURAL FAMILY FUN FEST

Saturday, April 22, 2023. Hope For Three will host its Inaugural Family Fun Fest, presented by Fred and Mabel R Parks Foundation, on Saturday, April 22nd, at River Pointe Church, 5000 Ransom Rd., Richmond, from 10 am to 1 pm. The outdoor festival provides an inclusive opportunity for local families whose children, teens, and adults have special needs. Families must be Fort Bend County residents and register to attend. Volunteers and sponsors needed, details at www.hopeforthree.org./events

GOLF FOR A CAUSE 2023

BENEFITTING THE SANCTUARY FOSTER CARE SERVICES

April 24 at Sienna Golf Club in Missouri City. For sponsorship and player details, please go to our website at https://www.sanctuaryfostercare.org/golf Questions? Reach out to Jenny Fridge at 713483-4003

ONGOING

FORT BEND COUNTY LIBRARIES’

ONLINE BOOK CLUB

Online meetings on the fourth Wednesday of every month. Free and open to the public. Registration is required; to register online www.fortbend.lib.tx.us, “Classes & Events,” select “Virtual Programs,” find the program on the date indicated. Participants may also register by calling George Memorial Library (281-342-4455).

SUGAR LAND ROTARY CLUB

Sugar Land Rotary Club, the nation’s oldest community service or-

ganization, wants you to be its guest at a meeting that could turn out to be the best fit for getting involved with a local, non-political, humanitarian service organization with a global presence to satisfy your passion. We’re on a quest for new members! Call or email Dean Clark, 469-850-2424, dean7351@gmail.com. We’re a friendly group that meets once a week for lunch.

FT. BEND ACCORDION CLUB

Meets on the 4th Sunday of every month from 2:pm - 4:pm at: CHRIST CHURCH SUGAR LAND (in the Chapel) 3300 Austin Parkway, Sugar Land, TX 77479 FREE and Open to the Public! We welcome everybody! If you play accordion, beginners to professional and would like to play Call, Text or email: Vince Ramos Cell: 281204-7716 vincer.music@gmail.com

FORT BEND JUNIOR SERVICE LEAGUE

RECRUITING NEW MEMBERS FOR 20222023 YEAR

To join, the membership application can be accessed at https://www. fbjsl.org/join/how-to-become-a-member/. FBJSL will also be hosting multiple virtual and in-person recruitment events over the summer where potential new members can learn more about the League. Information regarding attending these events is available at www. fbjsl.org or on the FBJSL Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ FortBendJuniorServiceLeague/.

LITERACY COUNCIL OF FORT BEND COUNTY

We enhance lives and strengthen communities by teaching adults to read. We need your help. Literacy Council is actively recruiting Volunteer Tutors to provide instruction for English as a Second Language (ESL) Levels 0-5, three hours a week. For more information, call 281-240-8181 or visit our website www.ftbendliteracy.org

JAM WITH SAM

Join Sam Grice Tuesday evenings at 6:30 for a casual evening of music. We play a variety of music including bluegrass, country, gospel and some western. We request acoustic instruments only please. We welcome both participants and music lovers who enjoy listening to good live music. There’s no charge and we welcome beginners and gladly offer gentle assistance. We meet at First Presbyterian Church, 502 Eldridge Rd, Sugar Land. Please call Sam at 832-4283165 for further information.

THURSDAY MORNING

BIBLE STUDY FOR MEN

Sugar Land First United Methodist Church, 431 Eldridge Road offers a Thursday Morning Bible Study For Men. This group is ongoing and uses a variety of studies throughout the year. The breakfast, coffee and donuts are free. Join us any time! Thursdays, 6:30-7:30 am in Wesley Hall. Call the church office at 281-491-6041 or Mike Schofield at 281-217-5799 for more information.

GIVE A GIFT OF HOPE

Give a Gift of Hope one-time or monthly. Your help provides access to therapies and services children with autism might otherwise go without. Please consider Hope For Three in your Estate, Planned, or Year-End Giving. Register now, or learn more about exciting events: www.hopeforthree.org/events

DVD-BASED ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL

CLASS WITH NO HOMEWORK REQUIRED

Weekly class designed to help you understand and appreciate the Bible by giving you a better sense of the land and culture from which it sprang. The class meets at 9:30 am every Sunday at First Presbyterian of Sugar Land (502 Eldridge Rd.). For more information call 281-240-3195

EXCHANGE

EXCHANGE, America’s Service Club, always welcomes guests and is in search of new members! Various Fort Bend clubs exist and can accommodate early morning (7 a.m.), noon and evening meeting time desires. For more info, contact Mike Reichek, Regional Vice President, 281-575-1145 or mike@reichekfinancial.com We would love to have you join us and see what we are