In a surprise announcement on December 20, the City of Missouri City said that Police Chief Brandon Harris, who earlier this year announced his intention to resign, has decided to stay on the job.
“As the year comes to a close, Missouri City is proud to announce that Police Chief Brandon Harris will continue to lead the Police Department, ensuring stability and sustained progress for our growing and diverse community,” the city said in a press release.
Harris, who has served in the Missouri City police department full-time for three decades, was named to the chief’s slot in January after the retirement of longtime chief Mike Berezin in May 2023.
“Earlier this year, Chief Harris shared his intention to retire after decades of distinguished service, while expressing his openness to reconsider if the City did not identify a successor, who could build on his legacy of excellence,” the city said in the release. “Following this, an extensive recruitment process was launched, resulting in a conditional offer being extended to an exceptionally qualified candidate who met the expectations of the community, City Council, leadership team, departmental employees, and the City Manager.”
“However, the candidate ultimately chose to remain with their current agency after receiving a promotion and a competitive counteroffer,” the release said. The city therefore asked Harris to reconsider his retirement.
“Chief Harris has been an integral part of Missouri City’s transformation into one of the fastest-growing and most vibrant communities in Fort Bend County,” said City Manager Angel L. Jones. “His participatory leadership, dedication to public safety, and ability to inspire his team have been instrumental in the department’s progress. We are thrilled that he has agreed to remain in his role for the next three to four years and continue leading us forward.”
“I am honored to continue serving the community I care deeply about and to lead the outstanding men and women of the Missouri City Police Department,” said Harris. “Together, we will continue to build on the department’s strong foundation and ensure the safety and well-being of every resident.”
FBISD: TEA finds Whitbeck administration did not break the law in tax rate election
By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
In a recently concluded investigation, the Texas Education Agency found that former Fort Bend ISD Superintendent Christie Whitbeck’s administration did not violate state laws involving electioneering and bribery during the 2023 Voter Approved Tax Rate Election because it halted a voting incentives plan aimed at teachers and students and did not promote either support or opposition for the tax rate, according
to the district.
The Fort Bend ISD administration disclosed the TEA report in a press release on the afternoon of December 20, the day before the winter break. The release does not say when it received the TEA report, nor does it include the full report.
“On February 20, 2024, the TEA received a complaint alleging the district violated state laws prohibiting electioneering, unlawful political advertising, and bribery in connection with the district’s Voter Approved Tax Rate Election (VATRE) held
on November 7, 2023,” the release states.
“The district’s former administration created a voter incentive plan to encourage voter turnout for the VATRE election. The plan offered staff members the opportunity to wear jeans and promised a breakfast provided by the Child Nutrition Department for schools whose voter turnout exceeded 90%. The former administration also circulated an incentive form to campuses titled ‘I voted’, which was to be sent home with students to give to their par-
ents. The form promised a ‘special prize; to students who returned the form and provided a place for parents to affix an ‘I Voted’ sticker received while voting,” the release states.
“In its report, the TEA concluded that the former administration’s plan to provide voting incentives to staff and students did not violate state law because the administration halted its plan after trustees insisted that former Superintendent Dr. Christie
Fort Bend EDC joins forces with chamber of commerce
By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Two years after discussions began over the fate of the Fort Bend Economic Development Council, which has worked to promote economic development in the county for nearly four decades, the council’s executive committee has decided to join forces with the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce.
In an announcement in late December, the two organizations announced the formation of the Fort Bend Business Partnership, which will include members of the council’s executive council and the chamber’s Chairman’s Circle, comprised of senior members of the organization.
“After a yearlong strategic planning process to set the course for future economic development priorities, the county and cities have determined to move forward outside of the traditional FBEDC public-private partnership model. Considering this outcome, FBEDC executive leadership has determined the best path forward to continue its mission is to consolidate efforts and resources through the FBBP within the FBCC,” the chamber said in a news release.
That yearlong process came about after an Austin consulting firm, TIP Strategies, hired on a splitcost basis by the EDC and
Community Reports
Fort Bend County, which had for decades been one of the EDC’s primary funding sources, recommended that the EDC be dissolved after the county under County Judge KP George decided in 2022 to create its own
Willowridge High School achieved a significant milestone during the 2023-24 school year, officially exiting its school improvement federal identification status, Fort Bend ISD said in a press release.
“Previously identified as a Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) campus under the Every Student Succeeds Act, Willowridge faced academic challenges that placed it in the lowest-performing five percent of Title I schools in Texas,” the release said.
Under the leadership of Principal Dr. Jennifer Roberts and her administrative team, the campus implemented initiatives to close academic gaps and increase engagement with students, including implementing educational software that helped make learning fun and competitive, and bringing in support from Region IV and the district
economic development department. Carlos Guzman was appointed that October to be the county’s first economic development director.
After the consulting firm’s recommendation, the EDC’s executive committee consid-
to partner with teachers and instructional coaches to improve day-to-day instruction in all areas. Campus leaders also provided professional development for teachers, and increased engagement with parents using callouts and hosting parent nights to open and build strong lines of communication and accountability about students’ academic progress.
“I’m very proud of our entire staff, our students and community for coming together around the goal of exiting school improvement,” Roberts said in the release. “The teachers, students and team worked hard to ensure gains were made to show progress over the last two years.”
“Our Willowridge administrators, district leaders, teachers, parents and students put in a lot of effort and long hours, and it paid off with significant results,” Superintendent Dr. Marc Smith said in the release. “This is just the beginning of the academic
ered alternative ways for the EDC to continue, but ultimately went with the recommendation to disband the organization. Jeff Wiley, the EDC’s executive director, is now its only employee and the organization no longer
has its offices in the Fluor campus in Sugar Land. which will soon undergo demolition to be replaced by mixed-use development called Lake Pointe Plaza.
The Fort Bend Economic Development Council, which was formed in 1986, is combining forces with the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce in the newly formed Fort Bend Business Partnership. Pictured are the EDC’s former offices in the Fluor campus in Sugar Land. File photo by Ken Fountain
Fort Bend prosecutor inducted into prestigious society
Staff Reports
Fort Bend County Assistant Attorney Alison Baimbridge was recently inducted into the Texas Prosecutors Society at the Texas District and County Attorneys Association Elected Prosecutor Conference in December.
Before joining Fort Bend in 2020, Baimbridge spent many years as a prosecutor in Harris County, where
WHITBECK FROM PAGE 1
Whitbeck stop it. The agency additionally concluded the district’s communications encouraged voting broadly and did not include support or opposition for the tax rate,” the release states.
In the release, the district says the TEA has provided “information regarding potential individual actions of bribery to local authorities who may conduct further investigation.”
“We are glad to see the TEA concluded that our trustees satisfied their obligation to oversee district operations by insisting our former Superintendent halt the voting incentives,” Fort Bend ISD board president Kristen Tassin said in the release. “We are glad we can
EDC FROM PAGE 1
To date, the full report by TIP Strategies has not been publicly released. The council’s dissolution’s mark a significant milestone for Fort Bend County, which has grown tremendously, both in population and economic base, since it was formed in 1986. According to the U.S. Census, the county’s population in 1980 was 130,846, growing to 225,846 in 1990. In the 2020 Census, the county’s population was 822,779, and there are now approximately 900,000 resi-
she developed an expertise in vehicular crimes. Recognized as an expert in Texas, Baimbridge serves as the Vehicular Crimes Chief prosecutor, with an emphasis on auto-pedestrian collisions.
“After the death of Lisa Torry Smith, I didn’t just draft the crosswalk legislation that was adopted into law, I sought out the leading authority on these cases and convinced her to join my office. Our communities are
put this issue behind the district and focus our attention on the many positive changes being implemented by Dr. Smith and his team.”
The controversy over the voting incentives program was criticized publicly by then-board president Judy Dae. Shortly after the successful VATRE election, Dae met with Whitbeck and told her that she had lost the confidence of a majority of the board, which ultimately led to what was framed as Whitbeck’s voluntary retirement.
Whitbeck early in December filed a lawsuit against the district and three board members - Dae (who left the board after deciding not to run for reelection), Sonya Jones, and David Hamilton alleging breach of contract and defamation.
dents. Officials estimate the county will more than double in population to 2 million residents by 2040. In the four decades since the council was formed, the county’s economic base, which had long been primarily agricultural with some manufacturing and officeoriented industries, has also broadened tremendously.
In the news release, the chamber of commerce said many of the EDC’s programs, including the Fort Bend Levee Coalition and the Fort Bend Legislative Conference, have already been moved under the direction of the
better for it," said District Attorney Brian Middleton in a press release. In 2011, the Texas District and County Attorney’s Foundation kicked off its campaign to establish a select group of supporters called the Texas Prosecutors Society. This invitation was for those who have demonstrated an interest in and commitment to improving prosecution and training in Texas. Starting with a Founding Fellows class
Not mentioned in the district’s release is a separate TEA investigation stemming from a complaint by former trustee Kristen Malone alleged that other board members had violated the Texas Open Meeting Act in secretly agreeing to oust Whitbeck last December and replace her with current superintendent Marc Smith, who officially began his duties the following month.
The district disclosed both investigations in another late-afternoon press release in June.
Efforts by the Fort Bend Star to reach TEA media relations department and a Fort Bend ISD spokesperson were not immediately successful.
A representative for Chris Triticio, Whitbeck’s attorney, said that they are working on providing a statement.
chamber.
“An agreement has been formalized to move additional significant FBEDC initiatives and resources to the chamber within the next few months. Most importantly this agreement will increase the public policy capability of the FBCC at the local, state, and federal level,” the release states.
As part of the agreement, five of the EDC’s executive officers will join the chamber’s board in early January. Jared Jameson, the chairman of the EDC’s board will serve as Chairman of the new partnership and be added
Appreciates those who helped after November 12 accident under US59 South bridge over University Blvd., Sugar Land, Texas. WITH MOST SINCERE GRATITUDE AND HEARTFELT APPRECIATION, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE WHO ASSISTED MY WIFE, WHO FELL FROM THE US59 SOUTH BRIDGE OVER UNIVERSITY, TUESDAY, NOV 12, 2024.
At around 7:09 PM, in darkness, she fell from the railing over University Blvd West, resulting in a broken back, shattered feet, broken ribs and a dislocated hip. She was lying on her back, helpless, when an alert driver pulled up slowly, stopping to block traffic.
The driver and bystanders called 911, with police and paramedics arriving minutes later, promptly getting her to Memorial Hermann Trauma Center.
After 7 major surgeries, she’s beginning the road to recovery, thanks in large part to the alert driver and helpful bystanders.
I cannot speak highly enough of the Sugar Land Police and EMS who handled this accident. Such fantastic people.
I’m very happy to live in Sugar Land, where people care about the wellbeing of their fellow citizens.
Matt Verona mattverona@sugarlandsoftware.com
of 106 members, the Society now boasts over 270 members.
“I’m honored to be included in the 2024 class of inductees to the Texas Prosecutors Society. I am humbled that my fellow prosecutors believe I am deserving of this distinct recognition,” said Baimbridge. “I vow to continue seeking justice for the people of our community, and always living up to the standard that the ‘State is always ready.’”
as an additional member of the chamber’s executive committee.
“The transition of Fort Bend EDC’s assets and activities to the Fort Bend Chamber signifies a strategic consolidation of Fort Bend County’s business and quality growth initiatives. While I am disappointed that the FBEDC’s role is ending, I am optimistic about the enhanced efficiency and stronger private sector voice this change will foster in Fort Bend County.” Jameson said in the release.
Wiley will continue to serve in an advisory role, both he
and Keri Schmidt, the chamber’s executive director, told the Fort Bend Star.
The new partnership will hold monthly meetings “that engage public and private stakeholders on significant events and issues, continuing the FBEDC tradition in place for over three decades,” the release states. The meetings will focus on “local public policy initiatives, programs and ballot issues that enhance business climate and protect and preserve quality of life, quality of place, and a progrowth agenda. This group will also impact and inform the county-wide Fort Bend
development, government, and education priorities,” the release states.
“The Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce is honored to carry forward the vital work of the Fort Bend Economic Development Council, preserving its long-standing legacy and impact to quality growth and business excellence in Fort Bend County,” Qiara Suggs, the chamber’s chairwoman, said. A tribute to the FBEDC will be held January 31 at the chamber’s gala. For more information, visit fortbendchamber.com.
The Texas Education Agency recently concluded that former superintendent Christie Whitbeck’s administration did not violate state laws during the 2023 tax rate election. File photo by Ken Fountain
Fort Bend County Assistant Attorney Alison Baimbridge was recently inducted into the Texas Prosecutors Society. Courtesy Fort Bend County District Attorney's Office
EDITORIAL
Our annual examination
It was the Year of the Dragon, although for some the year 2024 was simply a drag. We were unexpectedly visited by Beryl and its Tejano cousin, Derecho. The Astros missed the playoffs and Texas’ own U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz managed to handily win re-election on the Embarrassment Party ticket. So it is time for our annual look at the year in our rearview mirror.
First the good news. We’re Number 1. University of Houston Chancellor and President Renu Khator earned more than any other public university executive in the nation last year, according to a data analysis by the Chronicle of Higher Education. Khator’s compensation totaled $1,901,444. That doesn’t even include her NIL endorsements. Her Coogs got a new head football coach, Willie Fritz, but still finished 4-8, the exact same record as the previous season under fired coach Dana Holgorsen.
Speaking of higher education, sort of, the Texas Aggies had high hopes for the 2024 football season, but finished
Another New Year, another New Year's column.
(Oops, did I say that part out loud?)
All kidding aside, the new year does give us a chance to reflect on the past one, both in our personal lives and in the events that have happened in our community. In last year's end-of-year column, I discussed how Fort Bend is in the midst of a lot of change – demographic, economic, political, even structural. Some people like change, others are wary of it. And that makes for a lot of interesting news. It was in 2024, after having been in this role for just over a year, that I started to feel like I had something of a handle on the Fort Bend scene. Let me tell you, it can be a challenge. You may have noticed that the Star has a somewhat, er, limited staff. So with several cities, county government, and a couple of school districts as well as sundry crime, community and feature stories to cover, it can sometimes feel like we're stretched fairly thin. But I've learned that Fort Bend is a fascinating place, and that's what keeps it fun.
Since the beginning of my newspaper career, I've been pretty vigilant about keeping archives of my work, maintaining large binders of "clips" of my stories. Looking back through the binder for 2024, it's really interesting to see the sheer variety of things I've covered over the past year, and the ways some of those things have played out.
Lynn Ashby Columnist
ASHBY2@COMCAST.NET
with an 8-4 record, including a drubbing 17-7 loss to their arch-rival, the Texas longhorns. The two schools have played each other off and on (mostly on) since 1914. UT leads 77-37-5, which means, in order to get even, the Ags will have to win every game until 2064. But the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band is still the best college band in America. Elsewhere in college sports, the women’s basketball team of Houston’s College of Biblical Studies lost to Grambling State 159 to 18. The 141 point margin of victory set an NCAA record for both men’s and women’s basketball.
The Juice Box has been squeezed out. The Astros’ Minute Maid Park home is now Daikin Park, which is
short for Daikin Comfort Technologies North America Inc. and better than its previous name: Enron Field. As for the Astros, 19 months after signing the 2020 American League MVP to a three-year, $58.5 million deal, Jose Abreu was released. Abreu had hit just .124 with two home runs in 35 games of a season that included a nearly month-long stretch back at the Astros’ spring training complex in West Palm Beach, Fla., in an effort to get his swing back together. The club will have to pay roughly half of Abreu’s contract, which will amount to nearly $30 million.
Astros pitcher Ronel Blanco was suspended for 10 games, a day after he was ejected from a start against the A’s for having a foreign substance on his glove. No Major League Baseball pitcher had allowed 11 or more hits in an outing shorter than one inning since at least 1901. But on April 11, 2024, Astros pitcher Hunter Brown allowed 11 hits in twothirds of an inning pitched. Maybe that’s why our Boys of Sumer didn’t make the playoffs for the first time in seven seasons. Kyle Tucker was traded to the Cubs for
three players. All three will play in right field – at the same time.
But we have some good sports news: Former Texan Andre Johnson became the first Texan voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Also at the Texans, while not up there with Rupert Murdoch’s family feud, the McNair family had a dispute. One son, Robert Cary McNair, Jr., wanted the court to declare his mother, Janice McNair, 87 -- who actually owns the Texans – incapacitated, and wanted the court to appoint a guardian for her and her estate (the Texans). She and her other son, Cal McNair, who serves as the chairman and CEO of the Houston Texans, opposed the takeover. They won.
Moving on down Memory Lane, last spring the Houston area got a one-two punch from the weather. From the evening of May 16 to midday May 17 something called a derecho (which is Spanish for “right” but it was all wrong), hit us. Winds of up to 100 miles an hour shattered downtown. A survey showed 3,250 damaged windows, downed trees and more than 200 damaged
trees. Even 24 hours after the wind storm hit, almost 555,000 customers still remained without power, and by Wednesday of the following week nearly 60,000 homes, businesses, and schools were still in the dark. That was only the opening act. A few weeks later we got Hurricane Beryl. Again, no power. The outage, in some neighborhoods, lasted for weeks. No need to relive those dreadful days, but my favorite memory is, while the rest of us were suffering for days in the heat and dark, we saw a photograph of CenterPoint’s CEO Jason Wells lounging in the well-lighted CenterPoint offices in front of a thermostat set at 70 degrees.In the Wish You Were Here Dept., while Beryl was barreling through Texas, our leader, Gov. Greg (“No Masks”) Abbott was touring Asia in an “Economic Development” tour. He felt our pain. Elsewhere around the state in news you can lose, Baker Tilly needed a beautiful skyline shot for a recruitment brochure he was creating to help Dallas hire a new city manager, and he found one, although when he presented
Looking back, looking ahead
For example, one of my first stories in 2025 was about the city of Stafford beginning a discussion about re-instituting a property tax. The late, longtime Mayor Leonard Scarcella led the elimination of a property tax in the mid-1990s, letting the city rely mostly on sales taxes. That had made a lot of sense back then, before brick-andmortar retail began losing a lot of its business to Internet sales. But over the years, the decline in sales taxes and an increase in demand on public services has combined to put the city in a severe financial bind, and the strain is showing. But many residents still favor the city's vaunted "no property tax" status, and the discussion on City Council, which went on for months, became very heated and sometimes very ugly. In the end, an effort to create a property tax aimed at providing for public safety failed. There's no telling when there might be an appetite to try again.
Speaking of municipal affairs, the very small (one square mile) city of Meadows Place saw a big change when teacher and first-time candi-
date Audrey St. Germain took the reins as mayor, succeeding longtime mayor Charles Jessup, who had served on the City Council for decades.
Sugar Land saw the successful passage of five bond referenda as it goes forward with what city leadership said is a mission of change, with the goal of keeping the city on an upward trajectory rather than stagnating. In the meantime, Sugar Land, like cities and other governmental entities across the nation, dealt with fallout from the terrible situation in Israel and Gaza as protestors spoke out vociferously about it at council meetings. In December, the council unanimously approved far stricter rules for public speakers at meetings.
The beginning of the year also saw the start of Mark Smith's tenure as superintendent of Fort Bend ISD, which coupled with May elections which saw a major turnover in the board led to the beginning of what returning board President Kristin Tassin called "a new day" for the district. But the repercussions from some of the dysfunction that led up that continue, including a lawsuit, investigations by the Texas Education Agency, the cancelling of some projects included in the 2023 bond election, and forays into the "culture war" battles that Fort Bend ISD had hitherto largely avoided. There are board elections coming up again in May, and it will be very interesting to see how they will go.
At the county level, Fort
Bend saw perhaps its most notorious political scandal in years, as both County Judge KP George and his former chief of staff, Taral Patel, were charged with various offenses related to a purported "fake hate" social media campaign (both men are Indian-American). Patel, a Democrat, lost his election bid against longtime Republican Precinct 3 Commissioner Andy Meyers. But both he and George face criminal charges, and there have been indications there may be more to come. Since Patel had previously served in the Biden Administration, the allegations brought Fort Bend into the national news spotlight, but not in a way most would wish.
In non-political news, the entire region suffered greatly with the arrival of Hurricane Beryl in July. Fort Bend was particularly hard-hit, and it took weeks for many of us to get our power back. The Fort Bend Star, like nearly everyone, struggled to continue business as usual during a completely unusual time. The debris left by the storm stuck around for a couple of months before it could all be cleared away. With climate change an ongoing concern, we can probably expect many more storms like Beryl in coming years.
Speaking of environmental matters, they came into sharp focus in Fort Bend this year, with hearings and protests over the NRG's WA Parish coal-burning power plant outside Richmond, a proposed
power plant in Sugar Land, a proposed concrete-crushing plant in Rosharon and a proposed concrete batch plant in Missouri City. Fort Bend took another bad hit in the national (and even international) news when a 90-foot-tall statue of a Hindu deity was unveiled at a temple in Sugar Land, prompting members of one church to stage a protest, for some unfathomable reason. Thankfully, Fort Bend as a whole embraces its image as one of the most diverse, including religiously diverse, communities in the United States, as evidenced by the popular Interfaith Thanksgiving service, which in November was held at a United Methodist Church.
Perhaps the overarching story of 2024 was the presidential election, just one of many important elections across the globe in what some deemed the "Year of Elections" in which the very state of democracy was seen to be in play. Many, if not most, of us expected the U.S. election to be a very tumultuous one, but no one could have predicted just how tumultuous it turned out to be, with two attempts on the life of Donald Trump, the dropping out of President Joe Biden and the historic elevation of Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate in an extremely truncated campaign. Still in all, while the November 4 results showed just how politically divided our populace continues to be, I think most of us were
the photo to the Dallas City Council they didn’t quite to care for it. Something was amiss. No wonder. The photo wasn’t of Dallas. It was a shot of Houston. The Smokehouse Creek fire became the state’s largest wildfire after burning more than a million acres in the Texas Panhandle and part of western Oklahoma. Kristi Noem made a video touting her experience at Smile Texas, a Sugar Land clinic focused on cosmetic dentistry. “I love my new family at Smile Texas!” Noem said in a tweet accompanying a video posted to her personal account on X. Glad she likes her new family in Texas. Kristi Noem is the governor of South Dakota. And finally, Lone Star College officials briefly placed the Montgomery campus on lockdown after a driver reported a loud bang as a shooting – only to learn that the noise came from her car colliding with a deer. Gad. I ran out of room. We didn’t even get to Ted “Cancun” Cruz. We’ll continue next week.
Ashby continues at ashby2@comcast.net
glad that the election went off without the kind of turmoil we've been in previous campaigns. There will be plenty of political fights after the peaceful transfer of power on January 20. That's actually healthy, and the Founding Fathers devised a constitutional, representative system – with checks and balances in place – that at its best works pretty well at managing all of the competing viewpoints among our populace on the relationship of government, the economy, and society at large. That system has weathered a lot of fierce storms throughout our nation's history, and if we remain vigilant, it will continue to do so.
No doubt we're going to have our own share of battles of various sorts in Fort Bend in the coming year. Again, that's to be expected. If there's one topic I've written about as much as all of the change we're seeing, it's the hope I – and, I daresay, most of us – have that we see some return to civility in our public discourse. That was the subject of one of my earliest columns, and I've written about it many times since. We're all getting a bit tired of all the vitriol, aren't we? The major media and social media ecosystems encourage it, mostly for profit-purposes, but in our own lives, in the way we interact with our neighbors, we can make a different choice. Let's do it.
Fountain hopes at KFountain@fortbendstar.com
It’s waking up every morning and staring at your reflection, wondering if today you’ll finally feel enough. It is the pressure to conform to an ever-changing standard of beauty, the silent competition among peers, and the pervasive whispers of self-doubt that fill your mind like static. Being a teenage girl means navigating a labyrinth where every turn seems designed to question your worth. In high school, the hallways are battlefields. There’s the social hierarchy to navigate, an invisible ladder
where each rung feels more precarious than the last. The cliques form early, lines drawn with sharp edges. You walk the tightrope of trying to fit in without losing who you are – except, who you are is still a question you’re trying to answer.
The way others see you seems to carry more weight than how you see yourself. It’s exhausting, trying to
be everything for everyone. Are you the clothes you wear, the number of "likes" on your latest social media post, the grades you earn?
Academics are another battlefield. There is an expectation to excel in every subject, to maintain a perfect GPA, to stack extracurriculars like trophies on a shelf, all while pretending it's effortless. Stress is a constant companion, a weight that settles upon your chest and never quite lifts. Sometimes, under the weight of it all, even breathing becomes difficult.
And then there are the whispers. Not just the literal ones, though those sting too,
but the societal ones, the ones that tell you how to behave, how to act, how to shrink yourself to fit. Be pretty, but not vain. Be smart but not intimidating. Be confident, but not bossy. Smile more. Speak less. Don’t be too much or too little. The rules are endless, and suffocating. It’s a game no one can win. The loneliness of this teenage girl hell is perhaps the cruelest part. You may have the best of friends, and yet you can feel nobody sees you. It is a risk to be vulnerable when each weakness can be used against you. So, you wear a mask. You laugh at the right jokes, you post the right pictures, you say the
right things. But at night, when the world is quiet, the mask slips, and you're left alone with your thoughts –raw, unfiltered, and painfully honest. And yet, in the chaos, in the pain, there's resilience.
There's power in survival, in finding moments of joy, in forging connections that cut through the noise.
There's power in the quiet defiance of being yourself in a world that constantly tells you you're not enough.
There's power in knowing one day you'll emerge stronger, shaped but not defined by these years.
If you are a Fort Bend County high-school-age student (public, private, charter, or homeschool) who might be interested in becoming a Youth Columnist, please send an email to editor@ fortbendstar.com.
Hell is a teenage girl, yes. But there is beauty in the fire. Because from the ashes of these trials rises a woman who knows her worth, who’s learned to carve her own path, who’s found her voice. And that is something no one can take away. Morris is a Ridge Point High School student, class of 2027, a varsity tennis player, and an active member of JCC Maccabi Houston.
Sugar Land launches 'The Art of Reading' program
Community Reports
The City of Sugar Land Civic Arts Division recently launched its "The Art of Reading" campaign, an initiative that merges art and promoting literacy. The project features five "little libraries", each painted by local artists, to inspire imagination, encourage reading, and enhance public spaces.
The artist-painted libraries will be located at Dulles High School, Brazos River Park, Clements High School, Kempner High School, and the Stadium Drive Roundabout.
The "The Art of Reading" campaign is about more than
Community Reports
The Youth Services Department at Fort Bend County Libraries' University Branch Library will present a special performance of "Rhyme, Reason, & Shadow Puppetry by Puppet Pizzazz" on Monday, January 6, beginning at 2:30 p.m., in Meeting Room 1 of the library, 14010 University Blvd in Sugar Land, on the UH campus.
Families with children of all ages are invited to attend
just aesthetics — it addresses a growing need to foster literacy and unite communities. According to recent literacy data, less than 50 percent of U.S. adults read above an 8th-grade level. Coupled with the decline in regular reading habits due to the rise of technology, this initiative provides a creative and accessible solution to rekindle a passion for reading.
In addition to offering free reading opportunities, these libraries serve as a sustainable way to recycle books and promote the sharing of diverse literary resources. Through this initiative, Sugar Land hopes to inspire book
this interactive performance, in which Mother Goose and other favorite nursery rhymes will be brought to life through the magic of giant shadowpuppet action. The program is designed to encourage a love for reading and a passion for poetry, while enhancing verbal communication skills and promoting early-childhood literacy in a fun and casual environment.
Puppeteer Greg Ruhe is the creator of Puppet Pizzazz. He developed his puppetry skills
clubs, lifelong readers, and a stronger sense of community.
“The ‘Reading is Art’ little libraries are a wonderful way to give our residents access to both visual and literary art in a meaningful and tangible way,” Sha Davis, Sugar Land
while attending West Virginia University and continued his study of puppetry while participating in eight seasons at the National Puppetry Conference at the Eugene O'Neil Theatre Center. He co-founded the Children's Theatre of Houston and also worked as a teaching artist and performer for the Texas Institute for Arts in Education. Ruhe is a member of UNIMA, the world puppetry organization, Puppeteers of America, and the Greater
Civic Arts Manager, in a news release. “The virtual lessons filmed by each artist add such a personal touch, allowing our community to connect directly with the creative process behind these libraries. This campaign is a celebration of
Houston Puppetry Guild. He is also on staff for the National Puppetry Festival. This program is made possible by the Friends of the University Branch Library. The program is free and open to the public. For more information, see the Fort Bend County Libraries website (www.fortbend.lib. tx.us) or call the University Branch Library (281-6335100) or the library system's Communications Office (281-633-4734).
creativity, storytelling, and the power of sharing—something we are truly excited to bring to Sugar Land.”
To further engage residents, each artist has created a video component showcasing their work, offering art
lessons, and providing a behind-the-scenes look into their design process. These virtual elements allow the community to connect with the artists and gain inspiration for their own creative pursuits.
The unveiling of the "Reading is Art" Little Libraries began on December 20 and continues through February 7. Residents are encouraged to visit these libraries, explore the artwork, and borrow or contribute books.
For more information on Civic Arts projects, visit us at sugarlandtx.gov/CivicArts.
Applications for 2025 Fort Bend County Fair scholarships
Community Reports
The Fort Bend County Fair is accepting applications for its scholarship program. The organization will award recipients a $5,000.00 scholarship. The opportunity to be awarded a fair scholarship is open to many qualifying students, but applications are required.
All recipients must be high school seniors graduating in Spring 2025 from a recognized Fort Bend County private, public, or homeschooled program. To be eligible, students must have
participated in the Fort Bend County Fair Livestock Shows, Art programs, Rodeo events, FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America_, Ag Mechanics competition, Horticulture contest, Queen contest, or have been Fort Bend County Fair volunteers. Scholarship recipient selections are based on Fair involvement, school activities, community involvement, and academic achievement.
Since 1979, the Fort Bend County Fair has been giving back to the county’s youth through its scholarship program. In 2024, the fair awarded
over a quarter of a million dollars to deserving youth.
The deadline to submit a scholarship application is Thursday, January 16.
“These scholarships are supporting our youth in achieving their educational goals. We aim to assist our kids because they represent our future. We encourage students to submit their applications,” Keith Smith, Fort Bend County Fair executive manager, said. For more information on the 2025 scholarship requirements and application, visit fortbendcountyfair.com or call the fair office at 281-342-6171.
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Almeda
SIMON
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Community Reports
With the evolution of electronic devices over the years - including smartphones, tablets, and even the ability to cast video from a digital device to a large-screen TV or monitor - free access to Fort Bend County Libraries' digital collection has become more popular than ever. In January, demonstrations of the OverDrive online collection and the Libby app will take place at several FBCL locations in January,
In 2007, the system launched an online eLibrary with 400 OverDrive ebooks in its digital collection. The service was so well received that 600 more books were added a few months later.
Since then, the OverDrive collection of ebooks and eaudiobooks has grown to 37,018 digital copies available for free checkout. Since it was launched, library users have checked out offerings from the OverDrive collection more than 2.3-million times.
In 2015, FBCL added access to the hoopla digital collection, which expanded the eLibrary offerings to include streaming movies, TV series, music, and e-audiobooks. The total number of checkouts from the hoopla digital collection - which now includes e-audiobooks, ebooks, comics, movies, music, and television - is quickly nearing the one-million mark, with the most popular categories being e-audiobooks, ebooks, and movies.
The Libby by OverDrive app and the hoopla digital app have made accessing, browsing, downloading, and streaming selections easier and even more convenient for library cardholders who are on the go. These digital resources are popular options for travelers, commuters, or those participating in physical exercise.
Both OverDrive and hoopla digital offer selections for library users of all ages, in-
cluding children, teens, and adults. The two collections include bestsellers and new releases. Library cardholders can select from virtually every genre, ranging from mystery and romance to cookbooks and travel guides, tech and business guides, young adult and children's titles, and much more.
Hoopla has made it easy for children to browse for children's materials, and for parents to feel confident letting kids browse on their own. "Kids Mode" can be implemented in the hoopla website and apps with the flip of a switch.
Libby by OverDrive offers curated lists for different genres, including ones specifically for children, enabling them to go directly to Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominees, the 2x2 Reading List, and Lone Star Reading List.
The service is compatible with all major computers and devices, iPhone(r), iPad(r), Android(tm) phones and tablets, and Chromebook(tm).
An FBCL library card is required to access the eLibrary resources. Any resident of the state of Texas can obtain a free FBCL library card, and there is no charge to access selections in the eLibrary. Since the digital files automatically expire at the end of the lending period, there is never an overdue fine.
Demonstrations of the OverDrive online collection and the Libby app will take place at several FBCL locations in January, but those who are interested may also inquire about them at any time at any FBCL location.
Those attending the demonstrations are encouraged to bring their smartphone, tablet, and library card for personal assistance in setting up the service.
• Tuesday, January 7, 2:-3 p.m., Computer Lab. Registration required.
Fulshear Branch Library (6350 GM Library Road, off Texas Heritage Parkway, north of FM 1092)
• Wednesday, January 15, 11 a.m.-noon, Computer Lab. Registration required.
University Branch Library (14010 University Blvd, Sugar Land)
• Tuesday, January 28, 10:15-11:15 a.m., Computer Lab. Registration required.
These services and demonstrations are free to the public. To register for a demonstration, visit Fort Bend County Libraries' website (www.fortbend.lib. tx.us), click on "Classes & Events," select the library, and find the program on the date indicated. For more information, call FBCL's Communications Office (281-633-4734) or the branch libraries.
NOTE: Parking Instructions for University Branch Library: Park inside the gated lot (VISITOR LOT 4). Bring the parking-ticket stub to the check-out desk inside the library to be validated by library staff. Parking is FREE if the ticket is validated by the library. Parking outside the gated lot may result in a parking violation from the University of Houston.
ONGOING
ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE GRAND PARKWAY BAPTIST CHURCH
In conjunction with the Literacy Council of Fort Bend Bend County, GPBC will offer ESL classes on Tuesday nights from mid August 2024 through May 2025. We are located at 12000 FM 1464 Richmond across from Austin HS. Our students speak several languages and encompass many faiths, all are welcome. For more information call 281-277-2200 and ask for ESL information. You may also email ESL@grandparkway.org
EMMY-NOMINATED FORT BEND BOYS CHOIR HOLDING AUDITIONS
The Fort Bend Boys Choir is seeking talented young boys who like music and singing. If know of one, encourage him to audition for our award-winning and Emmy-Nominated Fort Bend Boys Choir! No experience is necessary and boys should be around eight years of age or older with an unchanged voice. Auditions are by special appointment at the First United Methodist Church Missouri City, 3900 Lexington Blvd., Missouri City, TX. Visit the Fort Bend Boys Choir’s webpage at www.fbbctx.org or call (281) 240-3800 for more details about auditions. Benefits as a choir member include greater self-esteem and self-confidence, better work ethic and a sense of belonging and community. A boy’s voice has an expiration date so it is important to audition when boys’ voices are still unchanged. Auditions are free!
AMERICAN LEGION POST 942
311 Ulrich Street, Sugar Land meets the fourth Tuesday of each Month at 7:00 pm. All Veterans are welcome.
LOVING FRIENDS IS A GROUP OF WOMEN AND MEN WHO ARE WIDOWS AND WIDOWERS THAT MEET MONTHLY FOR LUNCH, FRIENDSHIP, AND SOCIALIZATION Lunches. are planned for the fourth Tuesday of the month at various local restaurants. Please contact Bobbie Tomlin at {281} 967-0718
For more information about us and to learn about this month’s planned lunch. We hope to meet you soon.
QUAIL VALLEY GARDEN
CLUB
The Quail Valley Garden Club is very busy, not only with meetings, but with some fun “stuff” for our members and the community. Please find our fall schedule of events that the QVGC will be involved with this fall leading up to the holidays.
FBJSL IS ACCEPTING CAF GRANT APPLICATIONS
We provide grants of up to $5,000.00 to charitable causes serving Fort Bend County with requests to fund a critical need, pilot a program, or expand a significant service to the community. If your agency or organization is interested in applying for a CAF grant, please visit the Request Support page of the FBJSL website (www.fbjsl.org/request-support). All applications should be submitted via e-mail to brccom@fbjsl.com
THE SANCTUARY FOSTER CARE SERVICES
We are a child placing agency that provides wrap around care support for foster children and foster families. We provide free therapy services, 24 hr. crisis intervention, respite/alternative care services and community-based support. For more info, www.sanctuaryfostercare.org
AARP CHAPTER 3264
ALIEF
Meets the first Thursday of every month at 10:00 a.m. at Salvation Army Church, 7920 Cook Road, Houston, TX 77072. Educational Program/ Entertainment at each meeting. Bus Trips every month. Seniors 50 and above invited. Call 281-785-7372 for more information.
SUGAR LAND ROTARY CLUB
Sugar Land Rotary Club, the nation’s oldest community service organization, 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, 832-987-4193, dean7351@gmail.com We just started a new evening club also. Contact me for more info.
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: 281-204-7716 vincer.music@gmail.com.
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.
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, 281-5751145 or mike@reichekfinancial.com We
and
MISSOURI CITY AARP CHAPTER 3801
Meets the second Monday of every month at 11:30 a.m., at 2701 Cypress Point Dr., Missouri City Rec Center. Lunch, education, and entertainment. All seniors over 50 invited. For more information, call 713-8595920 or 281-499-3345.
CANCER SUPPORT GROUP PRESENTATION
The Brightwater Cancer Support Group will present an educational program for the community on January 9, 2025, beginning at 6:30 p.m., at the Southminster Presbyterian Church, 2310 Brightwater Drive in Missouri City. Dr. Issam Raad, Chair, MD Anderson, Department of Infectious Diseases will speak on “Cancer and Infectious Diseases, and the Power of Hope.” Dr. Raad is the Founder and President of Health Outreach to the Middle East, a medical missions organization founded in 1990 that currently sponsors and manages more than 20 charity clinics and hospitals in 14 countries in the Middle East. In 2006, he founded the Worldwide Institute of Medical Education. He is also the Founding and Senior Pastor of the Arabic Church of Houston. RSVPs required: ramirezsusan51@gmail.com
FELICIA SMITH JIGSAW PUZZLE COMPETITION
Register for the family-fun Felicia Smith Jigsaw Puzzle Competition. This exciting event is on January 25, 2025 at Fort Bend Christian Academy, North Campus Gymnasium, 1250 7th., Sugar Land 77478. Teams of four, ages eight and up have two hours to complete a 300-500-1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle. Awards immediately follow, and bragging rights are guaranteed! Check-in is at 9 am, and the timed competition is from 10 am to noon. The event is one way the local nonprofit raises awareness and funds for families with autistic children and loved ones. Register your team ($160) now. For volunteer or sponsor information, or autism resources, visit www.hopeforthree.org
