07-06-2022 Edition of the Fort Bend Star by Fort Bend Star

ESTIMATES!

within 25 miles of Mobility City of Sugar Land

COMFORTABLE

LIGHTWEIGHT

LIFT CHAIR RECLINERS

ROLLATOR WALKERS

200

OFF

3 or 4-WHEEL

TRAVEL SCOOTERS

250

OFF

STAIRLIFT & WHEELCHAIR RAMPS

FREE ESTIMATES!

7746 Highway 6, Ste H, Missouri City, TX 77459 MON-FRI: 9am-5pm | SAT: 10am-2pm | SUN: Closed

832-558-8059

within 25 miles of Mobility City of Sugar Land

mobilitycity.com/stx

Suspect charged in Fresno sexual assault - Page 2 Extend Fence Life

WEDNESDAY • JULY 6, 2022

Various Color Options

BEFORE

713-397-4477 • SOS-ASAP.com

AFTER

Visit www.FortBendStar.com

Fort Bend / Southwest • Volume 47 • No. 42 • $1.00

FBISD to offer some employees retention bonuses Armors Your Glass From Burglars, Storms & Heat

713-213-5080 info@ArmorGlass.com ArmorGlass.com

2022

READERS’ CHOICE PLACE YOUR VOTES FORTBENDSTAR.COM

By Matt deGrood MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Fort Bend ISD will offer $1,000 retention payments to current and new employees in a select few areas in an effort to reduce turnover. The district’s board of trustees last week approved spending $2.1 million on $1,000 payments to current full-time and new police officers, special education teachers and aids, registered nurses, licensed voca-

tional nurses, bus drivers and monitors, according to the district. “With a budget deficit of $50 million, the decision to pay the supplemental incentives was a challenging one as we continue to work hard to reduce the shortfall and increase revenues,” Superintendent Christie Whitbeck said. “But I felt strongly about doing this because the safety, health and wellbeing of our students is always our most important objective.” Trustees approved the

expenditure at a special meeting called about a week after they approved a budget for the upcoming fiscal year with a shortfall of about $49 million, according to budget documents. To help pass that budget, the district devoted about $27 million in federal funding and some of its reserve funds to help alleviate the shortfall, according to the district. The $2.1 million retention funding will also come via federal funding, according to the district.

Whitbeck

Despite the district’s financial woes, some parents and families were upset that the retention

payments weren’t going to all the district’s employees, especially teachers. “I wholeheartedly agree that the employees who got a bonus needed it, however, if you can’t give something to all then don’t give it to none,” one resident wrote on a social media page dedicated to discussing the district. “I would have much rather they wait to announce something in which ev-

SEE BUDGET PAGE 7

Unprecedented growth

FBCSO still mum on officer-involved shooting By Matt deGrood MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

More than two weeks after a Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office deputy shot and killed a man during a traffic stop in Fresno, officials with the office are declining to answer any questions about the incident. Investigators allege that at about 10:15 p.m. June 23, a deputy tried to stop a vehicle in the 2400 block of Naill Road in Fresno and that, during the stop, the driver “evaded and assaulted” the deputy, according to a news release. The deputy then shot and killed the man, according to the news release. The deputy was transported to a hospital, where he was treated and released, investigators assert. Jacqueline Preston, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office, declined last week to release any further information about the incident, including the names of either the deputy or dead man. She also declined to elaborate on what was meant by “evaded and assaulted.” “The case remains under investigation and additional details will be released once the investigation has been completed,” she said. The Texas Rangers are investigating the incident and referred comments to the sheriff’s office. Preston’s comments about not releasing more information comes in opposition to an officer-involved shooting earlier this year, where office officials released more information about the specifics of the incident, along with the names of all involved, in the days after the shooting. Preston did not respond to a question about why the department is treating this case differently. Preston declined to provide video of the shooting.

Homestead exemptions have been increased around Fort Bend County in recent months, as local municipalities try to reduce residents' tax burdens amidst rising home prices. (Staff ﬁle photo)

Municipalities increase homestead exemptions amid rising prices By Matt deGrood MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Housing in Fort Bend County has been hot. So hot in recent months that several Fort Bend County communities, including Sugar Land and Missouri City have taken steps to reduce residents’ tax burdens. Missouri City, for instance, late last month unanimously approved an ordinance that will give senior residents a

tax exemption of about $250,000 and a 2.5 percent homestead exemption for residential homesteads, according to the city. “I am excited about joining my colleagues … to approve these muchsought-after Homestead Exemptions, on behalf of the taxpaying residents of MC,” Councilmember Jeffrey Boney wrote about the decision. All told, a 2.5 percent homestead exemption would save the average

Missouri City homeowner about $40 in property taxes, according to the city. The council’s decision comes just after Sugar Land’s council last month approved a plan that will increase the city’s homestead exemption from 12 to 13 percent for the 2022 tax year, according to a news release. That would provide the owner of a $420,000 home about $15 per year in savings, according to the city. Residents in the days

and weeks after the change were appreciative of the change. “This is magnificent,” one resident wrote on social media. “Thank you.” But it’s not clear the cities’ moves have made a major affect on the housing market, according to one real estate expert. “It’s a good move, but I don’t know if it’s been a factor in many peoples’ decision on when to buy or sell,” said Shane Light, a Sugar Land-based real estate agent.

The state’s homeowners have among the highest property tax bills in the country, according to a Texas Tribune article. That’s in large part because of the state’s reliance on property taxes to fund local governments, schools and lack of a state income tax, according to the article. That fact, combined with a skyrocketing Houston market, have meant a crazy few years in Fort Bend County real

SEE EXEMPTIONS PAGE 7

DA dismisses charges against Harris County judge By Matt deGrood MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Middleton

The Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office has moved to dismiss criminal charges against a Harris County court at law judge, bringing the county into a burgeoning controversy in its neighbor’s

courtrooms. Harris County had asked Fort Bend’s District Attorney’s Office to look over a grand jury’s decision to file oppression charges against Judge Darrell Jordan, according to a news release. The county was tasked with the investigation because Harris

County District Attorney Kim Ogg recused her office from the prosecution, according to the release. Jordan had been accused of unlawfully arresting and detaining a former TV journalist, Wayne Dolcefino, who now works as a private media consultant, according to a Houston

Chronicle article from June 27. Jordan allegedly ordered Dolcifino jailed in contempt of court on Jun 30, 2020, according to the article. Dolcefino was later found guilty and sentenced to three days in

SEE CHARGES PAGE 7

JERRY FLOWERS

Real Estate Agent, MBA, CNE, ABE Army Veteran (RET) • 832-702-5241 Jerry@dreamhomesbyjerry.com

4500 Highway 6, Sugar Land, TX 77478

THE STAR

PAGE 2 • Wednesday, July 6, 2022

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

Man charged in March sexual assault in Fresno Sign up for weekday newsletter Staff Reports By Matt deGrood MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

A Houston man has been charged in connection to the March sexual assault of a jogger in Fresno, according to the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office.

Maleek Jamal Tristan, 19, of Houston, has been charged with sexual assault, according to court records. His bond is set at $150,000. Sheriff’s office investigators had been searching for a suspect in the case since deputies responded to a

report of a sexual assault in the 4000 block of W Teal Run Estates, according to a news release. A woman told investigators she had been jogging on the track surrounding a retention pond when she was dragged to the ground and sexually assaulted by someone she didn’t know, according to the sheriff’s office.

713-433-6421

EXPERIENCED IN TOTAL HOME REPAIRS! Roof Replacement & Repairs Shower, Siding & Additions

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

• Framing • Sheetrock • Painting • Fences • Concrete/Granite • Tile, Brick & Laminate • Tree Service

832-860-1054

For decades now, we at the Fort Bend Star have worked to bring community members all they need to know to understand life in the county – from politics to business to culture. It’s our hope to continue bringing you all the latest news for years to come. But reporting in 2022 looks different than it has before, and readers have evolving needs in the fast-paced digital age. Because of that, we started our online news-

letter several months ago. The goal is simple – to distill our latest reporting into bite-sized pieces that arrive each weekday morning in your email inbox. The tidbits also include links

CHEAP TRASH HAULING FAST Home/Business • FREE ESTIMATES

WE WILL BEAT ANY PRICE

20% Off

With Ad #1 Cheapest Trash Hauling / Demolition Co. in TX! If You’ve Got It, We’ll Haul It. 7 Days Same Day Service • In Your Area

FortBendstar.com

AAACheapTrashHauling.com Insured

713-235-0560

C&M SPECIALIST

CHART YOUR COURSE TO A

HONDA & ACURA

BRIGHTER FUTURE

CAR REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE CARE

Call Craig or Mark Today 281.498.6364

OIL & FILTER CHANGE

Summer II Begins July 18 • Fall Begins August 29 •

2022WCJC_SF2_3_25x3.indd 1

• Over 100 Years Combined Experience • Averaging 20%-30% Saving Over Dealership Prices

• Genuine Honda Parts • Factory Trained Technicians

College is affordable, let us show you how. Learn more about payment plans, scholarships, loans and more at wcjc.edu

MEET LYNNETTE! This 8-year-old beauty may have an amputated tail, but the amount of love she has to give to her #FUReverFamily is nothing close to short. This sweet baby girl LOVES people SO much, she will paw at her condo window to get your attention. She would be the kind of kitty who would be happy to sit in your lap and love on you or be your shadow while you're working from home! She'll just want to be wherever you are!!

to our reporting online, so you can read more at your leisure. Please subscribe to our newsletter using the QR code just above this story. When you point a phone camera at the code, it’ll take you to a website where you can sign up to receive our free newsletter every Monday through Friday. That way you can keep up with all the latest happenings on our website, fortbendstar. com, in between reading our weekly print edition.

C&M-SPECIALIST-INC 12999 Murphy Road #D2

with 30K, 60K or 90K major service MON-THURS FRI:

(Behind Subway)

7:30am - 5:45pm

7:30am - 5pm

5/16/22 3:03 PM

Expertise Matters When You Need

BACK AND NECK CARE

Specialists Serving Fort Bend County and Surrounding Areas B

D. LV

HOUSTON METHODIST SUGAR LAND HOSPITAL MEDICAL OFFICE BUILDING 3

SUGAR LAND

LV D

FI R S TC

OL ON Y

If you suffer from back and neck pain, you have options when it comes to treatment. At Houston Methodist Neuroscience & Spine Center at Sugar Land, we offer comprehensive spine care ranging from nonsurgical and minimally invasive options to highly complex spine surgery. Whether you are experiencing everyday discomfort or severe pain from a significant condition or injury, our spine specialists provide advanced, personalized care — so you can get back to your active life.

• A dedicated care navigator who will connect you with the appropriate doctor for your condition • Expedited appointments • Advanced, state-of-the-art technology Your health and safety are our priority. We are taking every necessary precaution to keep you safe.

To schedule an appointment, scan the QR code, visit houstonmethodist.org/neuro-sl or call 281.205.4662.

YOUR BUSINESS

281-690-4200

N G TO N

BL VD

EE TW AT ER

• Personalized treatment plans tailored to your specific needs

TO W

• A multidisciplinary team of board-certified doctors and specialists

C RA

LV D

We offer:

VD BL

SAT. & SUN. CLOSED

THE STAR

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

Wednesday, July 6, 2022 • PAGE

Thank you so much for this wonderful decade of community Jonathan McElvy

PUBLISHER

More than 10 years ago, my parents visited Houston to check up on their middle son and his soon-to-be wife. A wedding was around the corner and my parents were doing what all great, groom parents do before a wedding – asking rhetorical questions and basking in the idea of a new daughter-in-law. About that same time in 2012, I was planning a second wedding – this one to a community newspaper in the heart of Houston called The Leader. That’s right: While I was planning a wedding, I also was planning on becoming a business owner for the

first time. And in much the same way, I found my parents asking rhetorical questions and basking in the idea that their son would soon own and operate his own small company. For some reason, I’ve never forgotten the question my Dad asked in the weeks before we purchased The Leader. “Well, Jonathan,” he mused. “Do you know what you’re doing?” My Dad cared because he was my first investment partner, and he had a few dollars at stake in the deal. “Dad,” I told him, “I’m going to do what I know how to do with a community newspaper. We’re going to tell important and relevant stories. If we do that, I’m pretty sure it will work.” What has happened over the past 10 years has been the most rewarding professional experience of my life, mainly because our plan

worked. One year after we purchased The Leader from my dear friend, Terry Burge, The Leader was named the most outstanding community newspaper by the Texas Community Newspaper Association. More important, we were awarded the state’s Community Service Award for a series of stories we did that improved the safety around one of our neighborhood parks. And in a sign that maybe the judging was illinformed, this column I once wrote weekly was named the best in the state. I’ve never gloated on press association honors (even though I just did) because good community newspapers should only have one judge: The Reader. That’s the litmus test that matters. For a full decade, I’ve been humbled by our readers – the ones who loved our work, the ones who wanted to improve our work, and

even the ones who couldn’t stand it. No matter the call, this community has always cared about having a strong, community newspaper that stood up for our people, our neighborhoods and our businesses. And in an era when small newspapers have been relegated behind social feeds and instant information, I can’t express how much your support has meant to our employees and me, personally. The Leader did more than provide me an employment opportunity, though. Through our work here, our company was able to acquire more newspapers and add wonderful employees. Because we had success, we purchased newspapers in Charlotte, N.C., this one in Fort Bend, the Greensheet in Houston and Dallas, and a group of five community newspapers north of Corpus Christi. And to think it all started when I told my Dad I was “pretty sure” it would

work. As you may have seen on the front page, my time as the owner and steward of this newspaper has come to an end. A couple of months ago, a company expressed interest in acquiring us, and through a period of back-andforth, we agreed to sell most of our newspaper operations. The common cliché says this moment is bitter-sweet, and I suppose that’s true in a way. Then again, there’s not much room for bitterness, because I’ll look back on a decade of running your community newspaper with fondness and pride. I’ve loved leading our staff, telling important stories and getting to know countless people in this area of Houston. I’ve made friends that will last much longer than my stay as owner of The Leader, and for that I’m grateful. I’m grateful that you, our readers, brought this newspaper into your home each

Friday or Saturday morning. I’m grateful that you have cared enough to support our newspaper financially. I’m grateful that you’ve allowed us to tell the stories we felt important to the growth of our neighborhoods. I’m grateful for the countless small businesses that supported us through their advertising. And on a personal note, I’m grateful that you’ve supported me as I worked to keep community news relevant in the Heights, Oak Forest, Garden Oaks and all the wonderful neighborhoods of north Houston. As a new owner takes the helm, I hope you’ll continue to support this local newspaper. Having a place to compile all of our wonderful voices is worth more than all the digital feeds in the world. Email jonathan@ mcelvycommunications.com

State and federal leaders must address the housing crisis Matt deGrood

MANAGING EDITOR

If you own a home or have thought about purchasing one in the last year or so, you no doubt know – it’s becoming increasingly difficult to afford one. Over the last few months, we’ve talked with several Fort Bend County residents who’ve seen their home appraisals increase by more than $100,000 in a single calendar year. While tax caps will help keep increases like that in check, it’s still an unsustainable trend. In fact, there’s some evidence that a housing shortage combined with skyrocketing home values is one of the biggest drivers of our current inflation issues. We here at the Fort Bend Star applaud our local municipalities for thinking outside of the box about how to help residents save some money. Both Sugar Land and Missouri City, for instance, have moved to increase homestead exemption percentages and made it faster to apply for one. But the one clear fact in speaking with residents,

elected leaders and experts is that this is an issue bigger than any single municipality in Texas. And if residents and prospective homeowners are ever going to get real relief from today’s wild and hectic market, that must come at a state and federal level. Those we interviewed said they were appreciative of higher homestead exemptions, but that it didn’t change much in their calculations on buying or selling a home. The U.S. Federal Reserve in recent months has increased interest rates in a bid to tamp down on inflation by reducing demand. But experts we’ve talked to have explained that, while the higher interest rates might force some prospective homeowners out of the market, prices will continue to increase because there’s simply not enough new homes to house everyone. Worse yet, rising interest rates and slightly lower demand might convince some builders to stop making homes, which would only exacerbate the prob-

lem. Luckily, there’s a sense that builders in Fort Bend County are continuing to add to the market. But it’s not clear if the growth is big enough to keep pace with the population. We can talk about any number of different things connected to the housing crisis, but fixing current home values requires one of two things – either we need to further incentive new homes, or the state needs to take action to reduce tax bills. Texas has long relied on property and sales taxes to generate the majority of the state’s revenues, eschewing the income taxes common in other states. The argument has always been that it will help draw businesses to the state. That argument isn’t unconvincing, but we have to ask ourselves if we’ve reached a tipping point. If an income tax isn’t the answer, are there other forms of revenue we could leverage to help reduce the tax burden on homeowners and prospective homeowners?

That, combined with more abundant housing will permanently solve our current crisis. Fights over appraisals

FORT BEND COUNTY

BAPTIST CHURCH

HORIZON BAPTIST CHURCH • 281-403-4994

METHODIST CHURCH

for your Cable and Internet?

dow dressing on a systemic problem that our leaders at the highest levels would do well to address, sooner rather than later.

Worship Directory 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

Want the BEST DEAL

CHURCH OF CHRIST

STAFFORD CHURCH OF CHRIST • 281-499-2507 402 Stafford Run Rd. -Stafford, 77477 SUNDAY: Worship: 10:30 a.m. www.staffordchurchofchrist.org

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

CHRIST CHURCH SUGAR LAND • 281-980-6888

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH • 281-240-3195

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

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

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

Scripture of the week

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; don’t rely on your own intelligence.”

No Deposit! Call Us Today for a Quick Quote!

844-560-9986

- PROVERBS 3:5

T H E M O N T H LY BUSINESS MAGAZINE Digital Version on Fortbendstar.com

and incremental and brave measures taken by local governments to help residents aren’t meaningless. But they’re ultimately win-

Contact John Sazma for advertising rates

281-690-4200 • jsazma@fortbendstar.com

THE STAR

PAGE 4 • Wednesday, July 6, 2022

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

Cowboys Corral: Forrest Whitley still a pitcher worth watching By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

The subject of this week’s player spotlight likely needs little introduction to Astros fans, but we’ll give it anyway. Long-heralded pitching prospect Forrest Whitley is finally back on the precipice of the majors, as he was scheduled to continue a rehab assignment with the Space Cowboys on Monday night against the El Paso Chihuahuas as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery last year. Whitley’s road has been a long and circuitous one, which has seen him go from top MLB prospect to one some Astros fans might think is a figment of their imagination. But make

no mistake, the sky could be the limit if things break right for the Astro’ No. 5 prospect, as he is still just 24 years old. Initial overview Whitley was one of the best prep arms in the 2016 draft, according to multiple predraft scouting reports – and the Astros clearly agreed, taking the 6-foot-7 hurler with the 17th overall pick in the first round. He would proceed to sign with the Astros, passing up a commitment to Florida State in the process. Whitley would rise quickly through the ranks of the Astros’ system, making it to Double-A Corpus Christi in his first full season in 2017 with a 2.93 ERA and 13.9 K/9 in 92.1 innings. Pre-2018, he was a consensus top-10 prospect in

SPACE COWBOYS SUN

MON

TUE

baseball, and by 2019 he was at Triple-A Round Rock at just 21 years of age. However, he would then proceed to throw just 137 total innings over the next two seasons due to a 50-game suspension for violating Minor League Baseball’s drug program plus a multitude of arm and shoulder injuries. Then on the heels of a cancelled 2020 minor league season due to COVID-19, he had to have reconstructive elbow surgery prior to the 2021 season, causing him to miss the year in its entirety. Landan’s lowdown Let’s get it out of the way now – there is no denying Whitley’s talent and physical prowess. He is a physical specimen, listed at 6-foot-7

GAME SCHEDULE

WED THUR

FRI 8:05 PM

7:05 PM

6:05

ALB 6:05 PM 10 ELPA 6:05 PM 17 REA 7:05 PM 24 ALB 6:05 PM 31 OKC

ELPA 7:35 11 ALB 7:05 18 RROCK 7:05 25 ELPA

7:05 PM

ALB 7:05 PM

OKC ELPA ELPA 6:05 PM 12 11:05 PM 13 7:05 PM 14 REA REA REA 7:05 PM 19 7:05 PM 20 7:05 PM 21 TCMA TCMA TCMA 7:05 PM 26 7:05 PM 27 7:05 PM 28 OKC OKC OKC

SAT

7:35 PM

6:05 PM

ALB

ELPA ELPA 7:05 PM 15 6:05 PM 16 REA REA 8:05 PM 22 7:35 PM 23 ALB ALB 7:05 PM 29 7:05 PM 30 OKC OKC

FIND MORE INFORMATION ONLINE

www.milb.com/sugar-land

HOME • AWAY

FIREWORKS

All Game Are Subject To Change

Whitley

and 238 pounds. His arsenal is also not in question, with a fastball that sat in the low-to-mid 90s during his last stint back in 2019, with an array of four offspeed pitches that most scouting reports classified as “plus” pitches – in other words, not elite yet, but more than enough to get hitters out and complement the heater. And early on, there was little doubt left as to its effectiveness. The swing and miss ability that the Astros – and all

teams – covet was on display, as he amassed a 13.2 K/9 rate and nearly a 4/1 strikeout to walk ratio from 2016-2018 while coaxing a ground ball rate of better than 40 percent. But in 2019, disaster struck. Command issues haunted him between Double-A (19 BB in 22 innings) and upon his promotion to Triple-A (15 BB in 24.1 innings) – and when he came in the zone, the results weren’t much better. The ground ball rate dipped to 31.1 percent (lowest of career), while the line drive rate jumped to 32.4 percent (highest of career), while he surrendered nine homers in just 24.1 Triple-A innings in 2019. And it’s not a good combo when a pitcher is unable to find the zone and gets crushed when they do. There could be a few potential reasons for his struggles. It could simply have been the growing pains of young hurler, one who was ahead of the game in his development and struggled the first time he

We’re rooting for you, Space Cowboys! Dawn Spiccia

Loan Officer/ Producing Branch Manager

PLAY BALL! Jeanne

GREGORY CRS, GRI, ABR

Re/Max Hall of Fame Re/Max Platinum Club

ALB - ALBUQUERQUE ISOTOPES OKC - OCKLAHOMA CITY DODGERS RROCK - ROUND ROCK EXPRES REA - RENO ACES ELPA - EL PASO CHIHUAHUAS LAVE - LAS VEGAS AVIATORS

713-854-0923 - cell www.jeannegregory.com jeanne@jeannegregory.com

RE/MAX Southwest Each Office Independently Owned & Operated

faced legitimate adversity – which is not a death knell by any means There were also reports that the Astros attempted to tweak his mechanics in 2019 for a more repeatable delivery that could help improve command. But in doing so, is it possible they hurt more than helped. I don’t have data available – but just from having played, I know that if a player is having all these adjustments thrown at them, it can be difficult to get out of our own head and just play the game. By 2019, he had fallen out of MLB Pipeline’s 100 prospects, though he still remains the Astros’ No. 5 prospect. And that was even before Tommy John in 2021. Projection Given the volatility of his year-to-year performance and his injury history it can be extremely difficult to project the future for Whitley. On the one hand, the “stuff” in his pitch arsenal is undeniable, and he has displayed swing-and-miss potential at every level affiliate despite his overall struggles at the higher levels thus far. And as Astros fans have seen with Justin Verlander so far in 2022, Tommy John does not necessarily have to be the death omen for a pitcher’s career that it supposedly once was. However, there are some very real questions. Not only his durability due to the injuries, but also their long-term effect. All of that being said – I still believe in Whitley. He doesn’t turn 25 years old until September, and the depth of the Astros’ current rotation means they shouldn’t feel a need to rush his rehab for the sake of fast-tracking an MLB assignment. I’ve seen him live, and when he’s on, and there’s a pretty common consensus that he’s still got the highest ceiling of any pitcher in the system. Bet on him contributing by 2023 if not sooner.

E D I GU MORE LEARN ON

PAGES

2 & 25

UE 021 ISS FALL 2

sary

85th Anniver

t3 Sept 24 - Oc ne TH

li buy ticks oynf a i r . c o m

fortbendc

ount

30,000 copies

of the Guide to be delivered in

September

The Fort Bend Star Guide is a twice a year product that serves as a guide to everyday living in our unique community. Where to go, places to see, things to do and services that are available in Sugar Land, Missouri City, Richmond, Rosenberg, Stafford, and Fort Bend County.

Fall 2022 Edition – Coming September 7, 2022 CALL TO ADVERTISE

281-690-4200

THE STAR

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

Wednesday, July 6, 2022 • PAGE

SPACE COWBOYS!

HS roundup: Local stars give verbal commitments Landan Kuhlmann SPORTS REPORTER

Several local sports standouts have given early verbal commitments to continue their athletic careers at major Division I colleges. Last week, Elkins High School outfielder Braylon Payne confirmed in a message to The Star that he recently gave a verbal commitment to play baseball at the University of Houston. Payne is coming off

a standout sophomore season in which he led the Knights’ regulars in batting average (.449), slugging percentage (.719), OPS (1.228), stolen bases (36) and runs scored (32) while placing second in on-base percentage (.519) according to MaxPreps. He also tied for the team lead in home runs (4) and led Elkins with 16 extrabase hits en route to a bi-district playoff berth. “I’ve been following the Cougars for several years,” Payne said. “I’ve seen their progress and I feel the coaching staff will help me grow and develop into a better player.” Then on June 28, Ridge Point High School standout junior defensive lineman DK Kalu announced on his personal Twitter account

that he has given a verbal commitment to play football at Baylor University. Kalu, who is the son of former Houston Texans defensive lineman ND Kalu, chose Baylor out of 15 total offers according to 247 Sports, which included Houston, TCU, Kansas State and Iowa State, among others. Former Willowridge football star inducted into National High School HOF On July 1, former Willowridge High School standout running back and NFL Hall of Famer Thurman Thomas was one of 12 athletes inducted into the National Federation of State High School Association’s (NFHS) High School Hall of Fame. According to a March

TAURUS MECHANICAL INC.

news release from the federation, Thomas rushed for 3,918 yards and 48 touchdowns in three seasons at Willowridge. He helped the Eagles to a 39-3 record in that span, the release said, including back-to-back appearances in the UIL Class 4A state championship game in 1981 and 1982. He would then go on to rush for 4,847 yards in college at Oklahoma State and 12,074 yards in an NFL career that saw him elected to the Hall of Fame in 2007.

RESIDENTIAL A/C & HEATING SPECIALIST

LICENSE # TACLB18036E

AIR CONDITIONING & DESIGN • HEATING

832.731.5256

www.HoustonHeatandCooling.com

SPACE COWBOYS SUN

MON

TUE

GAME SCHEDULE

WED THUR

FRI 8:05 PM

7:05 PM

T H E M O N T H LY

BUSINESS MAGAZINE

Digital Version on Fortbendstar.com

ALB 6:05 PM 10 ELPA 6:05 PM 17 REA 7:05 PM 24 ALB 6:05 PM 31 OKC

6:05

ELPA 7:35 11 ALB 7:05 18 RROCK 7:05 25 ELPA

HOME • AWAY All Game Are Subject To Change

Contact John Sazma for advertising rates

281-690-4200 • jsazma@fortbendstar.com

7:05 PM

OKC ELPA ELPA 6:05 PM 12 11:05 PM 13 7:05 PM 14 REA REA REA 7:05 PM 19 7:05 PM 20 7:05 PM 21 TCMA TCMA TCMA 7:05 PM 26 7:05 PM 27 7:05 PM 28 OKC OKC OKC

ALB 7:05 PM

SAT

7:35 PM

6:05 PM

ALB

ELPA ELPA 7:05 PM 15 6:05 PM 16 REA REA 8:05 PM 22 7:35 PM 23 ALB ALB 7:05 PM 29 7:05 PM 30 OKC OKC

FIND MORE INFORMATION ONLINE

www.milb.com/sugar-land FIREWORKS

ALB - ALBUQUERQUE ISOTOPES OKC - OCKLAHOMA CITY DODGERS RROCK - ROUND ROCK EXPRES REA - RENO ACES ELPA - EL PASO CHIHUAHUAS LAVE - LAS VEGAS AVIATORS

THE STAR

PAGE 6 • Wednesday, July 6, 2022

C LASSIFIED

A DS

SERV ICES

C LASSIFIED ♠

ACE TILE

Carpet • Remodeling • Ceramic Marble • Wood Flooring • Tile & grout cleaning & sealing • Laminate Wood Flooring • Granite Slab Countertops

♠

Call TODAY for FREE ESTIMATE

281-898-0154

Misdemeanors p.p. 500 DWI • Theft

Drug • Assaults Divorce • Child Support

Attorney D’Angelo M. Lowe 7322 Southwest Frwy., Ste. 1065, Houston, TX 77074

832-953-LOWE (5693)

A DS

Eddie Allum

Elite Construction

• Great Prices • Rebates! • Financing • Warranties

Gary Garbs - Owner ggelite4u@gmail.com

LIMITED TIME! CALL NOW!!

346-306-3627 FB Group: Elite

XR 16 SYSTEM

Exterior - Interior Painting / Sheetrock / Granite / Roofs / Pressure Wash Carpentry / Tile Work / Bath Remodeling Hardiplank Siding / Floors / HVAC Plumbing / Electrical

Call 281-468-4250 anytime www.criticalairhvac.com TACLA021957E (Licensed & Insured) MNB ENTERPRISES LLC • DBA CRITICAL AIR

100% Financing with Low Payments No Pre-Payment Penalty – No Collateral New Replacement Roofs and Roof Repairs Asphalt Shingles – Rubber Shingles Steel Shingles Flat Roofs – Metal Roofs

Mon-Fri. Paid Holidays

VETERINARY TECHNICIAN / ASSISTANT 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM 4 DAYS A WEEK ONE Saturday a month 7:00 AM –3:00 PM.

Verisk has been collecting information on ROOF AGE and CONDITION Throughout the USA and selling the service to Insurance Companies. Some Insurance Companies are NOT writing or renewing ROOF COVERAGE if the Roof is 10 Years Old. For Others they are NOT writing or renewing ROOF COVERAGE at 12 or 15 Years of Age.

LEG ALS

(Certified Veterinary Assistant) Send Resume to scacvet@gmail.com Att. Teresa

NOTICE TO BIDDERS Sugar Land Regional Airport TxDOT Solicitation No.: NTB2212SUGAR00013

FOR SALE

Many Roofs are Damaged but NOT LEAKING … Yet.

A “Notice to Bidders” is issued for construction of airport improvements at Sugar Land Regional Airport for: Parallel Taxiway Relocation – Project 5. Sealed bids need to be addressed and delivered to Mrs. Elizabeth Rosenbaum, Director of Aviation, 12888-B Hwy. 6 South, Sugar Land, Texas 77498. Bids will be received until 2:00 PM, July 20, 2022, then publicly opened and read. Any bid received after closing time will be returned unopened.

Mike Schofield

281-217-5799

We Fly Drones with Artificial Intelligence to Identify and Assess the Condition of Your Roof.

www.AerialRoofInspection.com

979-534-2018

Bidders may print free plan sets from Plans Online http://www. txdot.gov/inside-txdot/division/support/plans-online.html. Or bidders may buy plan sets from the Reproduction companies listed on the website.

LEG ALS

Questions concerning specifications and plans should be directed to, Nathan Mikell, P.E. or Craig Clairmont, P.E. at (281) 494-3252. Visit the Aviation website http://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/ division/aviation/projects.html or call Mirelda Cavazos, TxDOT, Aviation, at 512-416-4520 for bid information.

CASE NO. 19-CPR-032839 IN THE COUNTY COURT AT LAW NUMBER 6 FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Notice is hereby given that original Letters Testamentary upon the Estate of CPR-032839, pending in the County Court at Law Number 6 of Fort Bend County, Texas. All persons having claims against this Estate being administered are hereby required to present same within the time prescribed by law. Claims should be addressed in care of “Representative, Estate of Amanda Louise Jones, Deceased” and may be presented to the attorney for the Estate at the following address: Weldon Russell West, Webb, Allbritton & Gentry, P.C. 1515 Emerald Plaza College Station, Texas 77845 Signed June 30, 2022. WEST, WEBB, ALLBRITTON & GENTRY, P.C. 1515 Emerald Plaza College Station, Texas 77845 Telephone: 979-694-7000 Fax: 979-694-8000 By:___original signed by Weldon Russell__ WELDON RUSSELL State Bar No.: 24033148 ATTORNEYS FOR CRAIG STEVEN JONES

ADVERTISEMENT TO BIDDERS Sealed bids, in duplicate, addressed to Fulshear M.U.D. No. 1, for Fulbrook on Fulshear Creek Section 6- Sitework and Landscaping Improvements, located in Fulshear, Texas will be received at 5005 Lodge Lake Dr., Fulshear, TX. 77441 by 1:00 p.m. on Monday, July 11th, 2022, and then publicly opened and read aloud. Plans and specifications may be purchased at One Hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) or may be sent by email, at no charge, by contacting rachelrock81@gmail.com cc. sweitzer.assoc@ gmail.com, 281.813.8641. A cashier’s check or bid bond in the amount of 5% of the total amount of the bid must accompany each bid. The District reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to waive all defects and irregularities in bidding or bidding process except the time of submitting a bid. The successful bidder, if any, will be the responsible bidder which in the Board’s judgment will be the most advantageous to the District and result in the best and most economical completion of the project.

STAFFORD MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DISTRICT RFP # 22-006 REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR INTERNAL OPERATIONAL AUDIT SERVICES Stafford Municipal School District is seeking request for proposals from qualified companies to provide Internal Audit Services for the District. Proposal responses are due on or before July 19th by 2PM CST. Proposals can be found on the SMSD website at: https://www.staffordmsd.org/departments/fiscal-responsibility

SENI R 6TH ANNUAL

AT THE STAFFORD CENTRE

10 / 12 / 22 • 9AM - 1PM

ROOF INSURANCE is Rapidly CHANGING

1131 Staffordshire @ 5th Street, Stafford, TX. 77477

Experience is great but we will train as well. We offer On-line ACT Technician training to help get your CVA

Amanda Louise Jones, Deceased, were issued on April 25, 2019, in Cause No. 19-

Did You Know?

Call Chuck at 713-203-1692

Looking for a new team member to join our great little clinic

DECEASED

www.SugarLandRoofingLLC.com

PORTER

AMANDA LOUISE JONES

Residential – Commercial Call for Fast – Free Estimates

832-944-ROOF (7663)

HelpWanted

§ § § § § § §

Sugar Land’s Professional “Affordable” Roofers

CLASSIFIED ADS THAT GET RESULTS CALL US AT 281-690-4200 TRANE ON SALE!

H ELP W AN TED

IN THE ESTATE OF

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

H OME IMP ROV EMEN T

MATH/COMPUTER TUTOR Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, word processing, spreadsheet, graphics. Bill Stewart. BSEE 281341-1582.>+

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

Expo

• FREE Admission • FREE Food & Drinks • Gifts and drawings • Games and activities • Educational information on health, finances and legal concerns • A chance to meet experts who will offer free advice on a number of senior issues • An opportunity to mingle with friends

JOHN SAZMA 281-690-4200 • JSAZMA@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Application has been made with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission for a MB: Mixed Beverage Permit: Taller’s Tavern LLC dba Taller’s Tavern, to be located at 7035 W. Grand Parkway S. Suite 99 Richmond, TX 77406, Fort Bend County. Member Jon Valdetero

THE STAR

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

★ BONUS FROM PAGE 1 eryone got something.” Another resident wrote he had grave concerns about the district falling behind by not paying teachers competitively. The decision to give some employees retention bonuses comes just weeks after district employees held a protest outside the district’s administration building, seeking better

★ EXEMPTIONS FROM PAGE 1 estate, Light said. “There’s no shortage of people coming to Texas and that’s not going to change anytime soon,” he said. “It’s continuing to

★ CHARGES FROM PAGE 1 jail, six months probation and a $500 fine,

Wednesday, July 6, 2022 • PAGE

salaries, safety precautions and smaller class sizes, among. Other. Issues. “I taught for 31 years and, last year, my salary was only about $16,000 higher than a first-year teacher,” said Terri Verdone, a teacher who opted for retirement from FBISD, at the protest. District administrators have argued they have increased teachers’ pay, such as during the pan-

demic, but that they’re currently constrained by the budget shortfall. Essentially, before the pandemic, the district spent about $40 million on new programming and had been instituting teacher salary increases to keep pace with a growing market, but a quickly-growing student population helped make that possible, according to Steve Bassett, deputy superintendent for the district.

The coronavirus pandemic changed all that. The student enrollment the most recent school year was about 2,100 fewer children than expected, Bassett said. District demographers estimated the enrollment would be about 79,700, but the year started with about 77,500 enrolled students, Bassett said.

drive inventory down and keeping demand up.” Fort Bend is one of the fastest-growing counties in the country, increasing from a population of about 585,375 in 2010 up to about 822,779 in 2020, according to numbers

according to the article. Last week, Jordan was arrested and accused of subjecting Dolcefino to

That number increased to about 78,650 by the end

of the school year – higher than the pre-pandemic enrollment – but not enough to reach where demographers expected, Bassett said. Because of the way school finances work in Texas, districts have essentially two options to increase their revenues, Bassett said. Those are, either increase student enrollment, or ask voters for a tax rate increase, he said.

The board of trustees last week approved an almost $768 million budget, according to documents. District administrators are working on ways to reduce the budget longterm, including by not filling some open positions and looking at programs, Bassett said. It’s not yet clear whether or not the board of trustees could call for a tax rate increase referendum, Bassett said.

from the U.S. Census Bureau. More than 10,000 new homes are projected to come on the market in 2022, compared to about 9,350 in 2021 – an increase of about 21.35 percent, according to a report pre-

pared by the Fort Bend County Central Appraisal District. But demand is far outpacing the new homes, according to the report. The central appraisal district is a subdivision of the state that appraises

property for a taxing unit within the boundaries of the district, according to the district’s website. It uses a standard formula for calculating the appraised value of a home. The frenzy of the market has calmed down some-

what in recent months, Light said. Where sellers might be fielding 20 offers in two days, that number has declined somewhat, he said. But it’s still very much a seller’s market, Light said.

summary punishment without a hearing, according to the article. But Fort Bend District

Attorney Brian Middleton said his prosecutors presented the case to a grand jury, which de-

clined to indict. “…If we believe we cannot prove a charge beyond a reasonable

doubt, we have an ethical obligation to dismiss the prosecution,” Middleton said.

PAIN NO LONGER LIMITS HIS ABILITY TO WORK

T H E M O N T H LY

BUSINESS MAGAZINE

DR.Varghese John is a local dentist. He says “I was experiencing back pain that was limiting my ability to work. I decided to consult with SLHC after reading stories about them in a local publication. My first impression of Dr. Harris was that he tells the truth. He told me he can’t cure this; that my back pain may be generational or due to my profession. Being a dentist, I do not sit properly. I sit in odd positions for a long period of time and I turn in awkward ways. It has caused damage to my cartilage, joints and muscles. However, Dr. Harris said he could make my life better. He put together a treatment course for me that included appointments with both Dr. Harris & Dr. Brazzell. About halfway through the course, I started to find relief. Now that my treatment course is over, I’m much better! My pain level used to be between 4 and 7 and now I’m at 0 or 1. I do recommend SLHC. They’re good. They don’t promise to make you good as new...they explain the limitations, what to expect, how it will feel and what it will cost. They leave it up to you to decide what to do. There’s no pressure. Everyone in the office is very matter of fact, respectful and professional. It has worked for me. In addition to my reduction in pain, my mobility in my neck has improved! I’m no longer limited in my ability to work.”

Contact John Sazma for advertising rates 281-690-4200 • jsazma@fortbendstar.com

167 Citadel Way Suite 500 Sugar Land, TX 77478

CODE: JOHN21STAR

Digital Version on Fortbendstar.com

K eep up w it h n ew s in F o r t B en d

THE STAR

PAGE 8 • Wednesday, July 6, 2022

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

Review: Thai Cottage II offers abundance of healthy options

Nibbles & Sips: Brett's BBQ econd location opening nexth month By Landan Kuhlmann

By Matt deGrood

LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Sometimes I wonder if I was a vegetarian in some past life. While I certainly enjoy meat as much as the next person, I think veggies are severely underrated. And vegetables are exactly how I decided what to eat at this week’s review location – Thai Cottage II in Sugar Land, 4723 Sweetwater Blvd. I found this place almost by accident – the first place I eyed for a food review was closed and I was searching for a quick backup nearby. A quick Google search showed that this local chain with locations across the Houston region got decent reviews and looked moderately priced. It turns out both of those things were mostly true. The restaurant’s modern-looking dining area was quite full on the afternoon I visited and I even overheard one patron mention that he thinks the restaurant might have expanded recently. Whatever the case, it was quickly apparent Thai Cottage is a popular lunch location for the area’s families and working professionals alike. I’m always appreciative of a good lunch menu and Thai Cottage offered that in such spades that it was difficult to pick which item sounded the tastiest. I ultimately settled on the Princess of Siam with chicken because mushrooms, carrots and zucchini sounded like the perfect vegetable combination. Each lunch item comes with steamed rice, a vegetable crispy roll and your choice of either a

Pictured is the No. 1 combo at Dave's Hot Chicken, which features two tenders, pickles, fries and a side of Dave’s sauce. (Photo by Matt deGrood)

The Princess of Siam was one of many attractive lunch options available at Thai Cottage II in Sugar Land. (Photo by Matt deGrood)

soup of the day or salad. I opted for the salad. Both the salad and roll were fine – nothing to write home about, but perfectly edible. The vegetables on the Princess of Siam were quite nice, however. I enjoyed forking my way through crisp and succulent zucchini, f lavorful mushrooms and balancing carrots. The chicken was nice as well, but I found myself almost wishing I

could have replaced the protein with even more vegetables. Another fun aspect of my visit was getting to pick a spicy level (I opted for hot, given my aforementioned love of spicy food). The food wasn’t quite as burning as I might have wanted, but I did appreciate the option.

Thai Cottage II Address: 4723 Sweetwater Blvd., Sugar Land Hours: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. , 5-9 p.m. Monday-Friday Entrée prices: $11.50$18.00 Kid-friendly: Yes Senior discount: No Healthy options: Tasty Healthy ($14) Star of the show: Princess of Siam ($11.50) Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

COMMUNITY

CALENDAR JULY 9-12 LIBRARIES PRESENTS 'THE AZTEC PRINCESS' BILINGUAL FABLE F o r t B en d C o un t y L ib r a r ies w ill h o st a sp eci a l st o r yt ellin g p er f o r ma n ce f o r c h ildr en , “ T h e Azt ec P r in ce s, ” o n S a t ur da y, Ju ly 9 , b eg in n in g a t 3 p . m. , in t h e M eet in g R o o m o f t h e M issi o n B en d B r a n ch L ib r a r y, lo ca t ed a t 8 4 2 1 Addicks C lo din e R o a d. T h e p er f o r ma n ce w ill a lso t a ke p la c e a t t h e S ien n a B r a n ch L ib r a r y o n T uesd a y, Ju ly 1 2 , b eg in n in g a t 2 p . m. a n d 3 p . m. , in t h e M eet in g R o o m o f t h e lib r a r y , lo ca t ed a t 8 4 1 1 S ien n a S p r in g s B lv d in M isso ur i C it y . F o r in f o r ma t io n , se e t h e F o r t B en d C o un t y L ib r a r ies w eb si t e ( w w w . f o r t b en d. lib . t x. us) , o r ca ll t h e M issi o n B en d B r a n ch L ib r a r y ( 8 3 2 - 4 7 1 - 5 9 0 0 ) o r t h e S ien n a B r a n ch L ib r a r y (2 8 1 -2 3 8 -2 9 0 0 ). JULY 12 FIRST COLONY BRANCH LIBRARY FEATURES 'SINGING ZOOLOGIST' F o r t B en d C o un t y L ib r a r ies ’ F ir s t C o lo n y B r a n c h L ib r a r y w ill w elc o me L uc a s M iller , “ T h e S in g in g Z o o lo g ist , ” f o r a f un f a mily eve n t , “ An ima ls R o ck, ” o n T uesd a y, Ju ly 1 2 , b eg in n in g a t 2 : 0 0 p m, in t h e M eet in g R o o m o f t h e lib r a r y , lo ca t ed a t 2 1 2 1 Aust in P a r kw a y in S ug a r L a n d. T h e eve n t is f r ee a n d o p en t o t h e p ub lic. F o r in f o r ma t io n , se e t h e F o r t B en d C o un t y L ib r a r ies w eb s it e ( w w w . f o r t b en d. lib . t x . us ) , o r c a ll t h e F ir s t C o lo n y B r a n ch L ib r a r y ( 2 8 1 - 2 3 8 - 2 8 0 0 ) o r t h e lib r a r y system’s Communications Ofﬁce (281-633-4734). ONGOING FORT BEND JUNIOR SERVICE LEAGUE RECRUITING NEW MEMBERS FOR 2022-2023 YEAR T o j o in , t h e memb er sh ip a p p lica t io n ca n b e a ce se d a t h t t p s : / / w w w . f b j s l. o r g / j o in / h o w - t o - b ec o me- a memb er / . F B JS L w ill a lso b e h o st in g mult ip le vi r t ua l a n d in - p er so n r ecr uit men t eve n t s o ve r t h e su mmer w h er e p o t en t ia l n ew memb er s c a n lea r n mo r e a b o ut t h e L ea g ue. I n f o r ma t io n r eg a r din g a t t en din g

A Katy-area barbecue shop is expanding, and has plans to open in the coming weeks in the northern part of Fort Bend County. According to job fair posting on the restaurant's Facebook page, Brett' BBQ is aiming to open its second location at 25220 Kingsland Blvd. in the Katy/Fulshear area in the middle of August. In just three years, Brett’s BBQ Shop has already outgrown its 600-square-foot digs on 606 S. Mason Road in Katy and is headed to the new Boardwalk Crossings. Owner Brett Jackson started the oak-smoked, Central Texas style barbecue joint in October 2018, and Texas Monthly named the restaurant to its 2021 “50 Best BBQ Joints” list. The job fair will take place July 22 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. The company is currently hiring for Shift Leader, Pit Apprentice, Cashier, Busser, Bartender, Meat Cutter, Line Cook and Prep. For immediate consideration, interested applicants cam email Jacqueline@brettsbbqshop. com. Orleans Seafood sets mid-July opening Orleans Seafood has set an opening time frame for its Fulshear location. The Katy-based restaurant will open at 6230 FM 1463 in just a few weeks, according to Facebook message from the company. According to its website, Orleans’ Fulshear menu will be the same as the one at its existing Katy location, featuring Cajun staples like seafood gumbo, etoufée, po-boys, char-

Brett's BBQ Shop is holding a job fair soon for its Katy location in north Fort Bend County, which is slated to open in mid-August. (Photo from Facebook)

grilled oysters and boiled crawfish when it is in season. For more information, community members can visit orlea nssea food k itchen. com or email info@orlea nssea food k itchen. com. Los Perez to open Katy location A Houston-based Mexican restaurant is expanding in the northern part of area, and should be opening its doors in the coming weeks. Los Perez Mexican restaurant is hoping to open its doors at 3211 W. Grand Parkway S., Suite 100 in mid-July, according to a Monday Facebook message from the company. It will keep operating its Houston restaurant at 9439 Highway 6 South. According to the restaurant's website, Los Perez will offer appetizers such as nachos and chimichangas, as well as classic Mexican staples including quesadillas, tamales, enchiladas, burritos, f lautas, and more. For more information and to keep up with a potential opening date, follow the restaurant on Facebook or visit its website at losperezmexicanrestaurant.com.

Deadline is noon every Friday. Limit entries to 40 words and answer the “5 Ws” Who, What, When, Where, and Why. Email to jsazma@fortbendstar.com or mail to: Fort Bend Star, 14100 Southwest Frwy. Ste 230, Sugar Land, TX 77478

FOR NON-PROFIT EVENTS

t h es e ev en t s is a v a ila b le a t w w w . f b j s l. o r g o r t h e F B JS L F a ce b o o k p a g e a t w w w . f a ce b o o k. oc F o r t B en dJu n io r S er iv ce L ea g ue/ .

o n m/

LITERACY COUNCIL OF FORT BEND COUNTY W e en h a n ce liv es a n d st r en g t h en co mmun it ies b y t ea ch in g a dult s t o r ea d. W e n eed yo ur h elp . L it er a cy C o un c il is a c t iv ely r ec r uit in g V o lun t eer T ut o r s t o p r o vi de in st r uct io n f o r En g lish a s a S eco n d L a n g ua g e ( ES L ) L eve ls 0 - 5 , t h r ee h o ur s a w eek. F o r mo r e in f o r ma t io n , ca ll 2 8 1 - 2 4 0 - 8 1 8 1 o r vi si t o ur w eb si t e w w w . f t b en dlit er a cy. o r g JAM WITH SAM Join Sam Grice Tuesday evenings at 6:30 for a casual eve n in g o f musi c . W e p la y a va r iet y o f musi c in cl udin g b lueg r a s s , c o un t r y , g o s p el a n d s o me w es t er n . W e r eq uest a co ust ic in st r umen t s o n ly p lea se . W e w elco me b o t h p a r t ici p a n t s a n d musi c lo ve r s w h o en j o y list en in g t o g o o d live musi c. T h er e’ s n o ch a r g e a n d w e w elco me b eg in n er s a n d g la dly o f f er g en t le a si st a n ce . W e meet a t F ir st P r esb yt er ia n C h ur ch , 5 0 2 Eldr idg e R d, S ug a r L a n d. P lea se ca ll S a m a t 8 3 2 428-3165 for further information. THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY FOR MEN S ug a r L a n d F ir s t U n it ed M et h o dis t C h ur c h , 4 3 1 Eldr idg e R o a d o f f er s a T h ur sd a y M o r n in g B ib le S t udy F o r M en . T h is g r o up is o n g o in g a n d use s a va r iet y o f st udies t h r o ug h o ut t h e ye a r . T h e b r ea kf a st , co f f ee a n d do n ut s a r e f r ee. Jo in us a n y t ime! T h ur sd a ys, 6:30-7:30 am in Wesley Hall. Call the church ofﬁce at 281-491-6041 or Mike Schoﬁeld at 281-217-5799 for mo r e in f o r ma t io n . SUGAR LAND AMERICAN LEGION Amer ica n L eg io n F r eema n P o st 9 4 2 meet s t h e f o ur t h T uesd a y o f eve r y mo n t h a t t h e P o st f a ci lit y, 3 1 1 U lr ich , S ug a r L a n d, T exa s, a t 7 : 0 0 P M . All ve t er a n s a r e w elco me. P o st h a ll is a va ila b le f o r r en t a l f o r eve n t s. C a ll 7 1 3 - 5 5 3 - 5 3 7 0 if in t er est ed.

GIVE A GIFT OF HOPE Give a Gift of Hope one-time or monthly. Your help p r o vi des a ce s t o t h er a p ies a n d s er vi ce s ch ildr en w it h a ut is m mig h t o t h er w is e g o w it h o ut . P lea s e consider Hope For Three in your Estate, Planned, or Year-End Giving. Register now, or learn more about exci t in g eve n t s: w w w . h o p ef o r t h r ee. o r g / eve n t s DVD-BASED ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS WITH NO HOMEWORK REQUIRED W eek ly c la s s des ig n ed t o h elp y o u un der s t a n d a n d a p p r eci a t e t h e B ib le b y g ivi n g yo u a b et t er se n se o f t h e la n d a n d cu lt ur e f r o m w h ich it sp r a n g . T h e cl a s meet s a t 9 : 3 0 a m eve r y S un da y a t F ir st P r esb yt er ia n o f S ug a r L a n d ( 5 0 2 Eldr idg e R d. ) . F o r mo r e in f o r ma t io n ca ll 2 8 1 - 2 4 0 - 3 1 9 5 EXCHANGE EXCHANGE, America’s Service Club, always w elco mes g uest s a n d is in se a r ch o f n ew memb er s! V a r io us F o r t B en d cl ub s exi st a n d ca n a co mmo da t e ea r ly mo r n in g ( 7 a . m. ) , n o o n a n d eve n in g meet in g t ime desi r es. F o r mo r e in f o , co n t a ct M ike R eich ek, R eg io n a l V ice P r esi den t , 2 8 1 - 5 7 5 - 1 1 4 5 o r mike @ reichekﬁnancial.com We would love to have you join us a n d se e w h a t w e a r e a ll a b o ut ! MISSOURI CITY AARP CHAPTER 3801 M eet s t h e se co n d M o n da y o f eve r y mo n t h a t 1 1 : 3 0 a . m. , a t 2 7 0 1 C yp r ess P o in t D r . , M isso ur i C it y R ec C en t er . L un ch , educa t io n , a n d en t er t a in men t . All se n io r s o ve r 5 0 in vi t ed. F o r mo r e in f o r ma t io n , ca ll 7 1 3 -8 5 9 -5 9 2 0 o r 2 8 1 -4 9 9 -3 3 4 5 . BECOME A FOSTER GRANDPARENT V o lun t eer s a r e n eeded t o b e a r o le mo del, men t o r a n d f r ien d t o ch ildr en w it h exce p t io n a l n eeds in t h e co mmun it y. T r a in in g , milea g e r eimb ur se men t , t a xf r ee mo n t h ly st ip en d if elig ib le. C a ll t o da y t o h elp ch a n g e t h e w o r ld, o n e ch ild a t a t ime in R o se n b er g . F o r mo r e in f o r ma t io n , ca ll 2 8 1 - 3 4 4 - 3 5 1 5 .

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

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

(Direct)

(Main) • KenWoodPC.com

Honored to be your choice for life insurance. 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

Dine-In Open!

TAKE-OUT & CATERING

AVAILABLE

19 years

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

SOUTHWEST FREEWAY 281.240.3060 12821 LasHaciendasGrill.com