The 05-22-24 Edition of The Fort Bend Star

Fort Bend ISD staff will present a $828.6 million operating budget for the 2024-2025 school year at a public hearing on June 3, with board action to adopt the budget set for June 10.

Chief financial officer Bryan Guinn laid out the staff’s recommended budget at the board’s regular meeting on Monday. He noted at the outset of his presentation that public school districts across the state are experiencing severe budget shortfalls this year and are expected to

It was a true changing of the guard last week at Meadows Place City Hall as longtime Mayor Charles Jessup handed the reins to his successor, Audrey St. Germain, who overwhelmingly won the election for the seat on May 4. Jessup, who had served as the one-square-mile Fort Bend County city’s mayor since 2007 and previously served as an alderman beginning in 2002, chose to step down this year. St. Germain, a teacher at Meadows Place Elementary School, won

handily in a three-person race.

A standing-room-only audience filled the Council chamber on May 14, which besides several Meadows Place residents and dignitaries also saw Sugar Land Mayor Joe Zimmerman, Stafford Mayor Ken Mathews and Council members Alice Chen and Virginia Rosas (both also reelected on May 4) and former Missouri City Mayor Allen Owen voicing their accolades for the outgoing mayor. “I’m not surprised that there’s this many here to say get out of town,” Jessup, long known for his sense of

humor, said as he opened the special meeting. “I see a lot of folks and friends who I haven’t seen in a long time and I appreciate it a lot, because I know you’re here to welcome in a new mayor.” Municipal Judge Bret Kisluk swore in St. Germain, who received a long round of applause and signed the paperwork officially making her mayor. Incumbent aldermen David Mertins Sr., Tia Baker, and Rick Staigle, who all ran unopposed in their respective elections, were also sworn in by Kisluk.

undergo similar pain in the next budget cycle.

While many have laid the blame for the Texas Legislature’s failure to increase the daily allotment for student population since 2019, Guinn noted, Gov. Greg Abbott said in public comments last week that school districts were to blame, indicating that they had relied too much of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funding in recent years to cover their operating costs. That federal COVID-era program is set to expire in September, Guinn said.

But Guinn noted that Fort Bend ISD is currently in good financial shape after undergoing two years of budget cuts after voters did not approve a tax rate election in November 2022. A second such tax rate election passed last November.

Guinn said that $720.76 million, or 87 percent, of the proposed budget will go toward salaries and benefits for the district’s more than 10,000 employees, while $107.82 million, or 13 percent, will go toward maintenance and operations expenses.

While the administration is expecting $827 million in revenues in the coming school year, Guinn said the administration is confident that it will be able to maintain a 90-day fund balance to ensure that expenses are met. The

law;

The Missouri City City Council will consider no later than August 19 several recommendations made by the city’s 2024 Charter Review Commission in its recently published final reports. The council received the final report at its May 6 regular meeting. Members of the commission appointed on January 2 were Peter Cruickshank, Jeremy Davis, Ketan Inamdar, Mark Kramer, and Mark Rubal. The commission met on January 22, February 28, March 25, and April 22 to review various items related to the Charter.

Each meeting was open to the public. In its final report, the commission makes the following recommended revisions to the charter and recommended that City Council call a special charter election.

• Qualifying that city council determinations as to qualifications for office shall be subject to judicial review;

• Deleting language requiring an election and a six-month waiting period for the implementation of city council compensation changes;

• Changing the timeframe for electing the mayor pro

tem from the second meeting in December to a meeting between November 15 and December 31;

• Clarifying that the city council may only appoint a new councilmember if 12 months or less remain on the unexpired term of office for the vacant position on the council;

• Requiring the city council to hold at least two meetings per month in 10 months per calendar year and at least one (1) meeting per month in the remaining two (2) months;

• Qualifying the amount of members required for a quorum in certain circumstances pursuant to state

• Increasing the number of councilmembers required to offer an ordinance to the governing body from one to two;

• Revising the codification provision of the Charter due to current technology and the ease in which the Missouri City Code is “recodified” and made available to the public online;

• Allowing the city manager to appoint, suspend, or remove directors of departments after consultation with the city council;

• Allowing a former member of the city council to be chosen as city manager or acting city manager after

one (1) year of leaving office;

• Authorizing the city manager to prepare and adopt personnel rules after council consultation;

• Requiring the city council to adopt pay plans by ordinance;

• Requiring the city secretary to verify the residency of a candidate for office by viewing a • Texas driver’s license or identification card;

• Authorizing the city manager and financial services director to sign City checks instead of the mayor and the city manager; and

Gahunis, left, and Harpreet Kurr of Raja Sweets & Restaurant

Despite strong offense, Space Cowboys drop finale against Albuquerque

By Amanda Perry

ALBUQUERQUE,

N.M. – Despite taking the lead early on and reclaiming it in the fifth inning, the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (29-16) dropped their series finale against the Albuquerque Isotopes (14-31) 8-6 at Isotopes Park on Sunday.

For the second time this series, Jesús Bastidas led off the game with a home run, his 11th of the season on the fourth pitch he saw. Bastidas went 5-for-5 with a walk as the leadoff man in all six games of the week and raised his average to .409 when hitting in the leadoff spot, excelling in the position while garnering 18 hits in 44 at-bats with a total of five home runs and 13 RBIs.

The Isotopes took the lead on an RBI single from Sam Hilliard and a fielding error with two-outs to keep the inning going, but RHP Blair Henley (L, 1-3) struck out Willie MacIver to keep the damage limited to two runs. The Space Cowboys quickly retook the lead on a 411-foot two-run mash from Quincy

In other business during the relatively brief meeting, the board voted to appoint Position X trustee Angie Hanan to represent Region 4 on the board of directors of the Texas Association of School Boards. TASB directors hold a significant voice on educational policy matters in the state, and Fort Bend ISD, as a large district, has an automatic seat. Position 3 trustee Rick

Hamilton in the top of the second. A pair of solo home runs in the third inning for Albuquerque gave the Isotopes the advantage at 4-3.

Back-to-back doubles from Jacob Amaya and Bastidas knotted up the score once again, and with runners on the corners from a Shay Whitcomb base-hit, Pedro León hit a sacrifice fly to score Bastidas from third to put the Space Cowboys on top at 54. The lead did not remain for long, as in the bottom of the frame, a throwing error from Luke Berryhill while Coco Montes was attempting to steal third allowed Montes to come home and tie the contest at five. Later in the inning, Aaron Schunk put Albuquerque ahead with a two-run home run to make it 7-5 Isotopes and end Henley’s day. RHP Con-

Garcia nominated Hasan, seconded by Position 4 trustee Shirley Rose-Gilliam. Position 5 trustee Sonya Jones offered an amendment to appoint Position 7 trustee and board secretary David Hamilton for the TASB seat, but it failed to gain a second. Before the vote, Garcia asked Hasan that if selected she would provide regular updates on TASB matters to her board colleagues. New board president Kristin Tassin asked that Hasan advo-

ner Greene came in and got MacIver to fly out for the last out of the inning to send the game to the sixth. Berryhill drew a walk with two outs in the top of the sixth that was originally called a strike but was reversed via the challenge system to give him a free base. Hamilton, the next batter, lasered a line drive down the right-field line that scored Berryhill without a throw to bring Sugar Land within one.

In the bottom of the eighth, RHP Luis Contreras gave up his first run of the season on a long ball from Grant Lavigne that gifted Albuquerque their two-run lead back. RHP Matt Carasiti (S, 5) came in for the top of the ninth and sat the Space Cowboys down in order to finish off the game.

Sugar Land Space Cowboys games can be heard on ESPN 92.5 FM or online at https://player.listenlive.co/47381 and seen on MiLB.TV, MLB.TV and Bally Live.

Perry is a writer for the Sugar Land Space Cowboys, the Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros. This article is used by permission.

cate for the FBISD board’s consensus positions on any particularly controversial matters that come before the TASB board.

For her part, Hassan noted that she has served as an alternate to the TASB board for more than three years, and was eager to become more involved in a leadership role.

When her nomination came to a vote, it passed 5-2, with Jones and newly installed Position 2 trustee Adam Schoof voting against.

Before St. Germain took her place behind the dais, Jessup offered a few outgoing remarks. He said it had been a long time since he and former Mayor Mark McGrath, who was in attendance, sat on the city council together.

“We have seen a lot of change since that time. But (the city) was well on its way. Meadows Place was well-positioned,” Jessup said, especially after it was able to create a municipal water system. Meadows Place, originally an unincorporated development called The Meadows, didn’t become a municipality until the mid1980s’s.

“We’ve had a ton of changes in our parks and our police department, our finance department, our public works department, are all very strong,” Jessup said. “This council that is sitting here is magnificent.”

• Adding language to defer to state law for conflicts of interest, except that disclosure would be required for all

Jessup welcomed St. Germain to take her new seat, and she made brief comments before inviting people in the audience to offer their own remarks to Jessup.

“To the residents of Meadows Place, thank you for having faith in me,” she said. “I will endeavor to deserve it.”

She told Jessup that

conflicts before voting.

The City Council will consider the aforementioned recommendations of the Commission, revised proposed amendments and additional proposed amend-

“earning your trust will be one of the greatest honors of my life. Your unwavering support and guidance grounded me these last few months. I look forward to your friendship and your wisdom as I try to fill impossibly large shoes.”

“Thank you for your years of service and for loving this city so, so well,” she said.

ments before August 19, 2024.

the

calls a special

for proposed

ments, City residents will ultimately decide which proposed amendments will be approved and adopted.

With Alderman Rick Staigle and outgoing Mayor Charles Jessup looking on, new Meadows Place Mayor Audrey St. Germain takes the oath of office. Photo by Ken Fountain

City Council

election

Charter amend-

The Missouri City Charter Review Commission recently made several recommendations for charter amendments to City Council. Photo by Ken Fountain

Bazaar Food and Wine Festival

Photos by Ken

Fountain

Sugar Land Town Square on Saturday was the site of the latest iteration of the Bazaar Food and Wine Festival, an event that celebrates the culinary diversity of the greater Houston region. Booths from restaurants of all kinds of international traditions offered samples, intermingled with music and dancing of a variety of styles. Part of the proceeds were donated to the James Beard Foundation.

Kimberly Cross and Chase Pickney of Williams Smokehouse lay out some of the Sugar Land Town Square restaurant’s offerings at the start of the festival.

As chef Pedro Angel Garcia of Sugar Land’s El Meson restaurant looks on, Omar Oropeza prepares paella, a Spanish dish.

Jess Madamba, left, and Jessica Desham prepare a “tomahawk” dish during the festival.

Singer-songwriter Ryan Adam Wells performs for attendees of the Bazaar Food and Wine Festival.

Tango dancers perform on the plaza of Sugar Land Town Square during the event.

Dancers perform traditional Mexican dances on the plaza. David Guerrero of Andes Cafe prepares some Venezuelan offerings.

Janelle Aimosu, left, and Jennifer Jones enjoy some of the offerings during the festival.

The Reid Feed: Fitness and friends in Sugar Land

Nestled inside Sugar Land, a unique organization named F3 is quietly making waves. Known as a leadership group within an exercise community, F3 is transforming lives by promoting fitness, fellowship, and faith (however anyone chooses to define it) among its members. What is F3?

F3 stands for Fitness, Fellowship, and Faith. This organization provides a free, peer-led workout group for men of all ages and fitness levels. It operates on the belief that fitness is a key component of leadership, which can significantly enhance personal and community life.

At the heart of F3 Fort Bend is the Area of Operations Quarterback (AOQ), a pivotal role currently held by dedicated F3 member and founder of Sandon Analytics, Cameron Stawicki, who starts his days at 5 a.m. working out with F3 in Sugar Land before working out energy deals for his cli-

ents as as an energy broker. His responsibilities include coordinating the group’s activities, scheduling who leads the workouts, and ensuring everyone is motivated and engaged. He describes his role with humility. “Leadership within F3 is a revolving door,” he says, “different members step up over time to guide and inspire others within the group.”

The benefits: more than just fitness Stawicki shared the multitude of benefits that F3 offers. Beyond physical fitness, the group fosters a strong sense of camaraderie and support among its members. They gather not only to exercise but also to share life experiences, discuss personal challenges, and provide mutual encouragement. This fellowship aspect is vital, as it allows members to form deep, meaningful connections, enhancing their mental and emotional well-being. “One of my favorite things is assigning nicknames,” says Stawicki, whose Kielbasa pays homage to his Polish heritage. “It’s a fun way to personalize relationships.”

A broader calling: the faith element

While the faith component of F3 is broad and inclusive, it underscores the idea of a higher calling or purpose regardless of how one chooses to define it. For some, this may be religious faith, but for many others, it might be community service or

personal development. “We accept all forms of belief in anything, by anyone, that transcends humanity,” states Stawicki adamantly. He emphasizes how this aspect helps members transcend their day-to-day struggles, providing a sense of direction and purpose that extends beyond physical exercise.

Inclusivity and accessibility

F3 prides itself on being accessible to all men, regardless of age or fitness level. There are no membership fees or stringent requirements. The organization operates on a voluntary basis, encouraging men to participate as they can and to push themselves without risking injury. This open, inclusive approach ensures that everyone can benefit from what F3 has to offer.

Meeting times and locations

F3 Fort Bend meets three times a week at Ellis Creek Park, located at 6101 Homeward Way, Sugar Land, across from Walker Station Elementary School. The workouts are scheduled early in the morning at 5:30 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and 6 a.m. on Saturdays. These sessions typically last about an hour, followed by coffee and conversation.

In addition to regular workouts, F3 members participate in what they call Completely Stupid and Utterly Pointless (CSAUP) events. These include challenging activities like marathons, Spartan races, and long-

distance relays. Recently, members took part in the Independent Texas Relay, a grueling 200-mile run from Gonzales to Houston, showcasing their endurance and team spirit.

The bigger picture Nationally, F3 is a nonprofit organization that has grown from its origins in North Carolina during the early 2000’s to a now global presence. Despite its informal structure, it has a profound impact on its members and communities, encouraging men to lead healthier, more connected lives.

Leading Orthopedic Care to KEEP YOU MOVING

Find out more

For those interested in joining or learning more, F3 has a robust online presence. The national website, F3Nation.com, provides detailed information about the organization and its principles. Additionally, F3 Fort Bend maintains a Facebook page for local updates and community interactions.

In a time when community and personal wellbeing are more important than ever, F3 Fort Bend offers a powerful model of how fitness, fellowship, and faith can intersect to create positive change. Whether you’re looking to improve your physical

health, build meaningful relationships, or find a greater sense of purpose, F3 might just be the community you’ve been searching for. For more information about F3 Fort Bend, visit f3fortbend.org or facebook. com/F3FortBend.

Ryan Lee Reid, “The Piano Cowboy”, and Janet Sue Reid, “The Culinary Cowgirl”, are artists and creators. They transform space and time to move and heal people through art. They live in Sugar Land with their children. Find their full bios and contact them through ReidFeed.com.

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F3 Fort Bend is a local leadership group within an exercise community that is quietly making waves.

Top L-R: Kielbasa” Cameron Stawicki, ”Pitcrew” Mark Arredondo, “Shelby” Paul Lappage, ”Silverback” Andres Gomez, “Valet” Raul Viveros, “Hertz” Christian Taylor, “Ratched” Irfan Jindani, “Flasher” Sammy Brooks, “Easyrider” Brandon Ready, “Livestrong” Jay Yin, “Chianti” Joe Rizzo, “Pines” Kyle Perez, “Homestead” Randy Ericson. Group Photo by “Puzzlehead” Max Olguin.

Photo montage by Janet Sue Reid

By Ryan Lee Reid and Janet Sue Reid

Art and Culture Columnists

Janet Sue Ryan Lee

THE CAMPUS --

Good morning, graduating class of 2024. This occasion is a little different. It’s the first time I’ve made a commencement speech while wearing a flak jacket. I see you made it through the barbed wire, SWAT troops and pepper spray, all 25 of you. Your fellow graduates can view these proceeding through Zoom. At least you will be able to celebrate your college graduation ceremonies unlike your high school ceremonies which were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. You slipped in here before the 2025 commencements

“Has our conscience shown? Has the sweet breeze blown? Has all the kindness gone? So I walk up on high, and I step to the edge” - Collective Soul, “The World I Know”

We’re not all proud of the math that is our lives. And lessons learned aren’t always pleasant. Let me tell you a story about one I learned a long time ago. In high school, my first car was a 1970 Dodge Challenger, and I’ve never seen a bigger hunk of junk. That’s not all true, actually. The interior was still nice. The seats were well apportioned , no rips or cuts to the upholstery. The carpets were clean, and the dash was unbroken and masculine. The outer body was

which will be called off because of the COVID-20 pandemic.

Yes, you are survivors at a dark and gloomy time. The stock market is at an all-time high, the unemployment rate hasn’t been this low since Eisenhower was president, there is no military draft, our troops are not at war and your student loans are forgiven. Polls show 65 percent of Americans say they personally are doing well financially, yet 65 percent also feel the national economic situation is terrible. They are despondent and believe the nation is headed for hell and we are being led by an incompetent, ageing nincompoop. We call these people “Fox viewers.”

There are plenty of jobs to fill. The latest figures show 8.4 million job openings nationally and 701,000 just in Texas. Your majoring in such pursuits as engineering, math, computer science and crowd control open many opportunities for a career. Those who majored in poetry, philosophy or English also have a future: Walmart needs more greeters. You pre-med majors have a great future. In medical school you will be taught how to say, “I

EDITORIAL

Making the grad When deny runs runs dry

respectably smooth. The problem here was the engine. A paltry .318 automatic, with an occasional stutter problem. The exhaust had a hole in it, so that my every arrival sounded clumsy and clownish. The tires were nearly bald, a point made clear as a serious safety issue by my mom, after I was clear I had no money. It leaked both oil AND transmission fluid. The gas gauge did not work. Oh, and this was back when brown was still a color for cars. Eventually, I started getting a hard time over the “golden packaging around my Dodge turd” in the hallways at my school. Things could get contentious around lockers, and since it was an all-boys campus, it could also get dark. One day, I got fed up. I looked right at my verbal assailant, and it just came out. I proclaimed to the second floor hallway that I had a .426 Hemi under my hood. “That’s right, you losers.” I remember thinking, “I have the most powerful engine Mopar makes. “ And for a day, it worked. Those who dangled the doubts about my vehicular validity were shut down. And I left the corridor with my head held high. But it all began to turn on

can see you in three months,” “If you have a problem pregnancy book a Greyhound to California” and, “No, I don’t take patients on Medicare.”

Let’s talk about money. College costs including tuition, fees, and living costs in the various states place Vermont with the highest tuition and fees of $44,512 and Delaware has the lowest tuition and fees of $12,862. Here in Texas, as in most states, it’s cheaper to attend a public university than a private one.

The 2023-2024 tuition at UT-Austin is $11,678 for Texas residents and $42,778 for out-of-state students. For the academic year 2021-2022, 70 percent received grants or scholarships and the average received aid amount is $10,302. Rice’s 2024 tuition and fees are $58,128, but 63 percent of undergraduates have received grants or scholarships, with an average aid amount of $48,958. As every parent knows, tuition, room and board are only part of your cost at college. You also need money for laundry, beer, meth and to cover your cable so you can watch re-runs of “Seinfeld” and the Playboy Channel,

If you didn’t get a full scholarship, you may have racked up quite a student debt. Just how big is the student debt? It’s $1.6 trillion, roughly equal to the size of the economy of Brazil or Australia. Forty-two million people, or one in six American adults, owes on average $37,037.04. Not to worry, graduates. President Joe Biden is erasing your IOUs. Who said there is no free lunch? Don’t bother to tip the waiter. You parents who have already paid off your own student debt over the last 20 years, tough. Hit your kid up for a loan, then ask President Biden to erase it. A word of caution: When you graduate you will immediately receive requests for a donation. I mean emails, texts and letters. The UTAustin students sing, “The eyes of Texas are upon you, you cannot get away. Do not think you can escape them.” They are unknowingly singing about the UT Alumni Giving Program. The Aggies call their appeal for donations the Jimbo Fisher Retirement Fund. Now we must come to the major conflict on American campuses today: the demonstrations, cops and state troopers, barricades

and arrests. Then there are the Congressional hearings and the usual suspects: politicians seeing how much time they can get on TV. In the past, students have demonstrated and even rioted over civil rights, apartheid and the Vietnam War. Today’s rightful anger puts two well-meaning but totally opposite groups against each other: paper versus plastic.

I speak for most Americans in that, while I respect your right to proclaim your cause and totally support the First Amendment’s protection of free speech and the right to partition for your grievances, I draw the line at blocking other students’ way to their class on Peruvian pottery 101. Demonstrate, but don’t make me late. Your parents paid for you to live in a dorm, not in a tent. Some demonstrations have even led to property damage with broken windows, smashed doors and trampled classrooms. The costs to repair those damages will be deducted from your student loan forgiveness.

For those of you who were arrested and booked, remember that your name went into the police computer and then to the DPS. So when you apply

for a job, well, you may not get it. As for drumming up public support for your cause, due to the chaos and costs, the tide has turned. Now many Americans are rooting for the cops. It has been discovered that some demonstrators are not really students but experienced, professional outsiders who specialize in stirring up trouble. They can easily be spotted wit their gray hair, walkers and carrying signs reading “LBJ Must Go!” and “No Taxation Without Representation!” Also if they ask for a light so they can burn their draft card. If you feel so strongly about your cause, join it. Sign up, put on a uniform and go to the fray. Don’t just stand on the sidelines getting your 15 minutes of fame while leaving the fighting to some kids who couldn’t afford college and have to sleep in a foxhole.

Finally, assuming you do find work, next year another graduating class will be sitting in these very chairs, all thinking the same thing: “When I graduate, how can I take his job?” You have a one-year head start. Get busy. Ashby commences at ashby2@comcast.net

me. A few days later I was approached by a freshman, of all people. He wanted to know if my engine and I would care to race his brother, who owned a souped-up Chevy Chevelle. No thanks, little man. My Hemi and I ride alone. Then these guys in the class above me seemed dubious. This was serious because these guys built and repaired cars in their spare time. When pressed by them, I changed my tactic. “I USED to have a Hemi,” I told them. I’d taken it out to sell it. More questions followed. More doubts lingered. Suspicion grew. In the end, one day I found myself in the school parking lot surrounded by doubters as I tried to make my way home. They stood around my car and challenged me to pop the hood. In an unceremonious gesture, I was caught by the lie. I had to pick up what was left of my bloodied spirit, put it in a used grocery bag and stuff it in the trunk. In the movie “True Romance” Christopher Walken’s mafioso character refers to his father as “the world heavyweight champion of Sicilian liars”. In real life, I think that award is clear. Roy Cohn holds the title. A little man with a Napoleonic complex, Cohn is best known as

legal adviser to Sen. Joseph McCarthy, who in the 1950s accused Hollywood actors and writers and members of the U.S. government and military of “un-American activities”. There was no proof of course, only circumstantial constructs to score publicity and power.

For his part, Cohn helped design the shameful movement and hypocritically denied his own homosexuality while spurning McCarthy to out those in Tinseltown and the government. It was disgraceful, of course. But Cohn’s philosophy of “deny, deny, deny” eventually found its way to Donald Trump, as the two were close friends before Cohn died of AIDS in 1986. Cohn represented Trump in the early 70s after our now-former president was charged with violating fair housing laws in New York. Trump has since become an almost mythical liar. I never knew how truth and lies could ever be so casually and freely exchanged. It takes a special type of liar to state what he knows is false, and truly not care. During a Minnesota rally last week, for example, Trump told a big crowd, “I won Minnesota in 2020”. This is not true. He did not. Assuming he’s not

showing the early stages of dementia, you’ve got to wonder about the DJT gall, and how people don’t seem to care.

Trump’s protocol predictably includes no doubt when leaning into various mistruths, only to shelf responsibility for another day.

I’ve put way too much thought into whether Trump knows he’s lying, but doesn’t care. Or maybe he has a biblical ability to not think what he’s saying is bad, because it might serve a greater purpose. Or is he just programmed against editing himself because he believes what he’s saying is actually real? Regardless, he’s also able to skirt accountability by appearing on friendly airwaves and smaller, locally owned news outlets.

Logic might dictate that the clock is running out. If Trump wants to be president again, he’ll have to eventually meet the mainstream media. Every Trump supporter I’ve ever met calls such outlets a giant anti-Trump effort. But I spent 25 years in TV news, and I say this. If Trump is viewed as a certain way, it’s not because of slant, not among PBS or The Associated Press. The mainstream media tries to reflect exactly what’s happening, and that

could mean that certain views may just exist in more people. There’s only been one news network that settled a civil case for knowingly promoting lies. And it was for three quarters of a billion dollars. There was a day when a candidate would be laughed out of contention for so obviously lying about winning a state, for whatever the reason. But no one on his side is asking questions. And he’s not making himself available for mainstream interviews. As the election draws closer, Republican allies are calling Trump’s criminal case a travesty without even waiting for all the evidence to land. And as the Republican frontrunner continues to complain about unsubstantiated conspiracy theories and cold courtrooms, I get the feeling that people will see more under the hood as November approaches. Interviews won’t be as controllable. Audiences not so manipulated. Underhand softball questions perhaps faster and closer to the chin. Eventually Trump will have to address the crowd around his Challenger. Does he have a Hemi?

Garay can be reached at MarkGaray426@gmail.com

Ashby

By Lynn Ashby

By Mark Garay

SECTION 00010

ADVERTISEMENT AND INVITATION FOR BIDS

Sealed bids on the original forms, signed by an officer of the Company, will be received by Fort Bend County MUD No. 25 (the “Owner”) for furnishing all labor, material, and equipment and for performing all work required for the construction of:

Water Well No. 4 Generator Replacement (the “Work). Sealed, competitive bids will be received no later than 2:00 P.M., June 13, 2024 in the District Office located at 10347 Clodine Road, Richmond, Texas 77407. Bidding documents for the project are available at the following locations:

Civcast USA

Civcastusa.com

(281) 376-4577

In general, the Work consists of furnishing and installing a new natural gas generator to replace the existing standby generator at Owner’s Water Well No. 4.

A non-mandatory Pre-Bid Conference Call will be held on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, at 2:00 P.M. Prospective bidders must contact Mr. Hector Pena, P.E. at hpena@ardurra.com for details on how to join the pre-bid conference call. Owner will be bound by the terms of this invitation only to the extent funds, from whatever source, are available. All bids must be accompanied by proposal guaranty in the form of a Certified or Cashier’s Check, or Bidders Bond drawn to the order of Fort Bend County MUD No. 25, and in the minimum amount of five percent (5%) of the total amount of the bid. No proposal may be withdrawn for a period of ninety (90) days after receipt of bids except with the approval of Owner. Owner reserves the right to reject any or all bids or to accept any bid from any responsible person which will be most advantageous to it and result in the best and most economical completion of the Work. The successful bidder will be required to provide a Performance Bond and Payment Bond in full amount of the contract.

Leonela

Ruvalcaba, Executive General Manager, Owner

PAULA DINKINS

Paula Dinkins went home to be with the Lord May 12, 2024, at the age of 89. Paula was born on a beautiful October 7th day in 1934, to Ervin Estelle Hawkins Sr. and Gladys Elliott Hawkins in Camden, Arkansas.

She attended Baylor University and married the love of her life, William Earl Dinkins Jr. while living in Waco, Texas. Paula was the owner of Paula’s Antiques in Houston, Texas for 20 years then sold Antiques in Canton Texas for another 10 years until her husband Bill passed away.

Over the years, Paula attended First Baptist Church in Sugar Land Texas, Oak Forest Baptist Church in Houston Texas and Calvary Baptist Church in Midlothian Texas. Paula loved to travel with her husband, family and friends. As she started selling and buying antiques, Bill and Paula and long-

time friend Margie Shaw traveled the countryside. Besides antiquing, she liked to buy, remodel and resell property and enjoyed painting.

She is preceded in death by her parents, E. E. Hawkins and Gladys Hawkins; her youngest daughter, Robin Kay Dinkins; her husband, Bill Dinkins; brothers, E. E. Hawkins Jr. and Gerald Hawkins. Paula is survived by her daughters, Susan Charba and husband Kenneth, DiAnne Erwin and husband Lynn; sister, Marsha

Nickel Bailey; grandchildren, Holly and Craig Bell, Heather and Walter Hickman, Hayley and Kevin Horn, Stephen Charba, Casey and Dominique Erwin, Jason and Nicole Erwin, Emily Erwin and Brent Rogers; great-grandchildren, Alison Bell, Patrick Bell, Noah Lyndes, Madylene Hickman, William Hickman, Dyson Horn, Dalton Horn, Penelope Rogers, Rylee Rogers; other family and special friends, Mary Sue Rix and George Marshall Rix (cousins), Margie Shaw (longtime friend).

Special acknowledgements and thanks to the caregivers at MidTowne Assisted Living and Memory Care in Midlothian Texas. As well as the hospice team at Heart-to-Heart Hospice Care, who made her final months more comfortable.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the American Cancer Society.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING TO DISCUSS BUDGET AND PROPOSED TAX RATE

The Fort Bend Independent School District 2024 Preliminary will hold a public meeting at 5:30 PM, June 3, 2024 in in the Board Room of the Administration Building, 16431 Lexington Blvd., Sugar Land, Texas. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the school district’s budget that will determine the tax rate that will be adopted. Public participation in the discussion is invited.

The tax rate that is ultimately adopted at this meeting or at a separate meeting at a later date may not exceed the proposed rate shown below unless the district publishes a revised notice containing the same information and comparisons set out below and holds another public meeting to discuss the revised notice.

Comparison of Proposed Budget with Last Year’s Budget

The applicable percentage increase or decrease (or difference) in the amount budgeted in the preceding fiscal year and the amount budgeted for the fiscal year that begins during the current tax year is indicated for each of the following expenditure categories.

Tax Year Current Tax Year

Total appraised value* of all property $68,766,944,567 $77,543,584,154

Total appraised value* of new property** $2,669,760,337 $1,971,332,186

Total

$60,525,416,863

$1,128,227,443

*Appraised value is the amount shown on the appraisal roll and defined by Section 1.04(8), Tax Code.

** “New property” is defined by Section 26.012(17), Tax Code.

*** “Taxable value” is defined by Section 1.04(10), Tax Code. Bonded Indebtedness

ONGOING

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

CONCERT HONORS FALLEN HEROES

The Exchange Club of Sugar Land presents “A Night to Remember” on Sunday, May 26, at 7:05 p.m. The patriotic concert features a brass band, Grammy winning singers, ballet dancers and a 30-member chorus. The concert takes place in Sugar Land Town Square, in front of the City Hall Façade. Bring a chair and join us!

“A Night to Remember” is FREE and open to the public. Canned food donations are encouraged for East Fort Bend Human Needs Ministry.

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF FORT BEND

The League of Women Voters of Fort Bend, a nonpartisan organization, will provide voter registration and education events prior to the Feb. 5 deadline to be a registered voter in the March 5 Primary election. Locations, dates, and times include: (1) Wednesday, 1/24 -- Fort Bend YMCA, 4433 Cartwright Rd, Missouri City 7:30am - 12:30pm and 5 - 7pm; (2) Thursday, 1/25 -- First Colony Library 3:30 - 5:30pm; (3) Sat., 1/27 -- Cinco Ranch Library 10:30am - 1:30pm and University Branch Library 11am - 2pm; (4) Tuesday, 1/30 and Wednesday, 1/31 -- WCJC Sugar Land, Brazos Hall, 9am - 2pm; (5) Thursday, 2/1 -- ThriftWise, 501 Hwy 90E, Richmond -- 10am - 1pm. Register to vote, update your current voter registration, and get nonpartisan voting information at any of these events, or contact lwvfortbend@gmail.com.

NO HOCUS POCUS IN MUSIC MAGIC CLASS FOR 6 & 7-YEAR-OLD BOYS!

Young boys need music in their life for mental, physical and emotional growth and the best place to receive quality music instruction is with the Fort Bend Boys Choir of Texas! They offer Music Magic, an eight-week music enrichment class for six and seven-year-old boys. The Fort Bend Boys Choir of Texas, currently in its 42 nd season, brings music alive with the use of movement, musical games, singing and other child-centered activities. Boys learn about pitch matching and rhythm awareness in addition to developing large muscle coordination, increased focus and better musicianship. Music Magic helps boost brainpower, sparks creativity and forges strong connections with others. No auditions are necessary for the class – just a love of music and singing! Serving as Music Magic director is Founder and Artistic Director William R. Adams who leads this class on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 p.m. – 7:15 p.m., beginning March 19 and ending May 14 at the First United Methodist Church Missouri City, 3900 Lexington Blvd., Missouri City. Music Magic will then sing at the Fort Bend Boys Choir’s annual Spring Concert on Saturday, May 18! Classes are limited in size so please call the choir office at (281) 240- 3800 to pre-register or visit their Music Magic web page at https://fbbctx.org/our- programs/music-magic/. Be sure to stop by their Facebook page for the latest on the Fort Bend Boys Choir's Music Magic class and the organization's public performances.

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

ALIEF AARP CHAPTER 3264

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 281785-7372 for more information.

LAND ROTARY CLUB

SUGAR

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, nonpolitical, humanitarian service organization with a global presence to satisfy your passion. We’re on a quest for new members! Call or email Dean Clark, 469-850-2424, dean7351@gmail.com. We’re a friendly group that meets once a week for lunch.

FT. BEND ACCORDION CLUB

Meets on the 4th Sunday of every month from 2:pm - 4:pm at: CHRIST CHURCH SUGAR LAND (in the Chapel) 3300 Austin Parkway, Sugar Land, TX 77479 FREE and Open to the Public! We welcome everybody! If you play accordion, beginners to professional and would like to play Call, Text or email: Vince Ramos Cell: 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, 281-575-1145 or mike@reichekfinancial.com We would love to have you join us and see what we are all about!

MISSOURI

CITY AARP CHAPTER 3801

Meets the second Monday of every month at 11:30 a.m., at 2701 Cypress Point Dr., Missouri City Rec Center. Lunch, education, and entertainment. All seniors over 50 invited. For more information, call 713-859-5920 or 281-499-3345.

Summer camp 2024 Guide Guide

MISSOURI CITY

CAMP OLYMPIA

Day, Sports Ages: 4 - 14

Dates: June 10 - Aug. 2

Cost: $220-$310 weekly

$250 (beginning April 1)

$275 (week of camp) 7100 Knights Court www.olympiatx.com

FORT BEND FAMILY YMCA

Academics, Art, Day, Sports Ages: 5 - 15

Dates: May 30 - July 28

Cost: $75 per session, per child 4433 Cartwright Road www.ymcahouston.org

i CODE

Academics, Art, Day Ages: 6 - 18

Dates: May 29 - Aug. 2

Cost: $279 - $459 weekly 4899 Hwy. 6, Ste. 113C www.icodeschool.com/sugarland117

STAFFORD

CLASS 101

Academics Ages: 13 - 17

Dates: June 3 - Aug. 2

Cost: $800 (6 week course)

$3,999 (college planning) 609 Dulles Ave., Ste. 500 www.class101.com/sugarlandtx

STUDY DORM

Academics

Dates: June 3 - Aug. 2

Ages: 6 - 17

Cost: $150-plus weekly 609 Dulles Ave., Ste. 500 www.mystudydorm.com/ summer-camp-houston

SUGAR LAND

ART CAMPS AT CORDOVAN ART SCHOOL

Art, Day Ages: 5 - 16

Dates: May 28 - Aug. 18 (Summer)

Cost: $204 $569 weekly 3219 Hwy. 6 www.cordovanartschool.com

ELDRIDGE PARK COMMUNITY CENTER

Academics, Sports

Ages: chess, medical 5 - 16; soccer 4 - 14

Dates: June 24 - July 26

Cost: $160-$493 weekly DATES AND PRICES VARY BY CAMP. 2511 Eldridge Road www.sugarlandtx.gov

IMPERIAL PARK RECREATION CENTER

Sports Ages: 4 - 17

Dates: June 3 - Aug. 2

Cost: $132 - $438

AGES, DATES, AND PRICES VARY BY CAMP. 234 Matlage Way www.sugarlandtx.gov

INSPIRATION STAGE

Art, Day Ages: 4 - 16

Dates: May 31 - Aug. 4

Cost: $210-$285 weekly 2210 Lone Star Drive www.inspirationstage.com

PINE COVE

Art, Day, Night, Sports Grades: 1 - 6

Dates: June 24 - 28

Cost: $359 weekly 13223 Southwest Freeway www.pinecove.com

SPANISH SCHOOLHOUSE

Spanish, Day, Sports Ages: 3 - 8

Dates: June 3 - July 26

Cost: $245 (two days), $649 (five days) 1120 Soldiers Field Drive www.spanishschoolhouse.com