Fort Bend County Libraries' University Branch Library will present “The Truth About Caregiving” – a program in the Senior Series for older adults and their family members – on Friday, February 21, beginning at 10:30 a.m., in Meeting Room 1 of the library, 14010 University Blvd in Sugar Land on the UH campus.
Liz McNeel, a senior realestate specialist and certified senior-housing professional, will moderate a panel of experts who will talk about the emotional and physical impact of caregiving.
Attendees will learn about self-care strategies to avoid burnout and the importance of support networks and resources that can help caregivers manage their responsibilities. They will learn how to manage specific challenges like dementia and mobility issues and get tips on handling the financial aspects of caregiving.
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).
Liz McNeel, a senior realestate specialist and certified senior-housing professional, will moderate a panel discussion about the emotional and physical impact of caregiving at the University Branch Library on Feb. 21. Courtesy Fort Bend County Libraries
By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
After years of failed attempts to find an outside entity to redevelop the former Imperial Sugar Company site and its iconic Char House, the City of Sugar Land has decided to go it alone.
In a news release accompanied by a slickly produced video featuring Mayor Joe Zimmerman, the city said Friday it plans to acquire what is now known as the Imperial Historic District, which was the home of the Imperial Sugar Company, which had long been the city’s economic engine and the source of its name when Sugar Land was essentially a company town.
By Dayna Worchel SPECIAL TO THE STAR
Ask 17-year-old Dulles High School senior Caleb Kirkpatrick what his plans are for the future, and he answers without hesitation.
“I want to work on an elected official’s staff and possibly get a master’s degree in public administration. But I have plenty of time to decide about that part,” he said with a huge dose of enthusiasm at a coffee shop near Sugar Land City Hall recently.
He’s been getting in a lot of practice lately since he began practicing speaking during public comment periods at both Sugar Land and Missouri City City council meetings last fall. “I want to make my voice heard,” Kirkpatrick said. He said he attends as many city council meetings for both cities as often as possible and speaks up when he sees something on the agenda that piques his interest.
His civic involvement began with an AP United States Government class assignment, which was due at the end of the Fall 2024 semester. Students could select any topic they wished related to the topic of civic engagement. Kirkpatrick decided he wanted to explore and compare the inner workings of two Fort Bend County municipal governments: Sugar Land and Missouri City. It was this assignment which ignited his passion for a career in government, he said.
Kirkpatrick’s first stop was at the office of former Missouri City Council Member Anthony Maroulis, who left his post in January after nine years representing District C . “I had asked for a 30-minute interview, but Mr. Maroulis offered me a chance to tour the district.
I had a ride-along tour lasting an hour and a half of the businesses in the dis-
Staff Reports
Houston’s resilient housing market weathered a rare winter storm in January. While the record snowfall caused temporary disruptions, the market quickly rebounded and maintained a healthy balance between supply and demand.
According to the Houston Association of Realtors’ (HAR’s) January 2025 Housing Market Update, single-family home sales across the Greater Houston area rose 1.2 percent, with 5,064 units sold compared to 5,002 in January 2024. This marks the fifth consecutive month of sales growth, a trend last observed in the first half of 2021. The high end of the market continued to experience a wave of buyer
City Council was expected to approve the acquisition as part of its consent agenda during its Tuesday meeting. Following that approval, the city said it plans to close on the properties at the end of May and then “focus on taking steps to preserve the Char House.” That architecturally distinctive building, where harvested sugar cane was processed, is marking its centennial this year.
“This acquisition would be a pivotal step towards the City’s ongoing effort to protect this landmark and honor its heritage while revitalizing the heart of the community,” reads the release.
Acquisition of the 45-acre property “ensures the Char House preservation and redevelopment efforts move
forward while removing barriers that have hindered investment in the past.
As the City’s number one priority, this project represents a transformational opportunity to honor Sugar Land’s history while shaping its future. By owning this site, the city is laying the foundation for strategic redevelopment that will continue to elevate Sugar Land as one of the most desirable places to live, work, and visit.”
“Acquiring the Imperial Historic District is a crucial step in preserving Sugar Land’s namesake while planning for its future,” Zimmerman said in the release. “Our priority is preserving the Char House and preventing further deterioration as we work to identify a future developer
that has an exceptional vision for the property. The acquisition will be funded with sales tax revenue earmarked for economic development, so no property taxes will be used. We recognize past redevelopment challenges, and with this acquisition, we are taking a hands-on approach to ensure its revitalization benefits future generations.”
In the video, Zimmerman bemoans the city’s many unsuccessful efforts to find an outside developer for the site since the plant closed down in the early 1990s. Aside from the Char House, only a handful of the plant’s
trict, and we talked about upcoming events,” Kirkpatrick said.
He also interviewed Missouri City District D Council Member Floyd Emery and City Secretary Crystal Roan for his school project. “I learned so much from them,” Kirkpatrick said.
“Caleb is very well-rounded and very conversant when laying out plans for the future, and he’s very inquisitive,” Emery said. He added that it’s very refreshing to see someone Caleb’s age who wants to dedicate his life and career to public service.
interest. The luxury segment ($1 million+) recorded a 20.7 percent increase in sales compared to last January. Next was the $500,000 to $999,999 segment which saw an 8.1 percent gain. Homes priced between $250,000 and $499,999 made up the most sales in January, but sales were 1.6 percent below last year’s level. The segment comprised of homes priced $149,99 and below also experienced a slowdown in sales activity. The rental market started the new year strong with increased demand. HAR will publish its January 2025 Rental Home Update on Wednesday, February 19. “We’re seeing a healthy balance in the Houston housing market as we head into the traditionally busy spring and summer months,” said
Emery said Caleb is respectful of the older generation who have years of experience serving in city government and wants to learn from them. “Caleb is the type of person I would want to turn my future over to,” Emery said. Recent topics on which Kirkpatrick spoke at City Council meetings included the creation of the City of Sugar Land’s official off-road bicycle trail system, and the approval of an expansion of an Islamic school and mosque in the Sugar Land’s Barrington Place neighborhood after opposition from
some residents. Kirkpatrick, himself an avid cyclist, explained that the off-road trails were at first created by residents who wanted an alternative to cycling on the paved trails and were not authorized by the city.
“The city of Sugar Land could have stopped the off-road trails, but the city made official trails with markers, and they cleaned it up. Volunteers from the Fort Bend Mountain Bike
January Monthly Market Comparison
The Houston housing market’s positive momentum continued in January, with total property sales increasing 1.3 percent year-overyear. Total dollar volume rose 8.9 percent to $2.5 billion. Active listings, or the total number of available properties,
Chair Shae Cottar with
“Inventory
George Memorial Library to host program on dementia on Feb. 25
Community Reports
Fort Bend County Libraries'
George Memorial Library will present an informational program, “Dementia Conversations: Driving, Doctor Visits, and Legal & Financial Planning,” on Tuesday, February 25, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., in Room 2C of the library, 1001 Golfview in Richmond.
Ryan Gant of the Fort Bend County Health & Services department will provide an overview of dementia. Attendees will learn about challenges that can be faced, such as driving and doctor visits. Gant will also share information on legal and financial planning for caregivers.
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 George Memorial Library (281-342-4455) or the library system's Communications office (281-633-4734).
buildings and its large water tower remain.
“We know that the community has been disappointed by these developments, and we are right there with you,” Zimmerman says. “I think we can say that our city, our Char House, and our namesake deserve better.”
The acquisition of the property will be financed entirely by sales taxes, with no property tax hike involved, Zimmerman said.
The most recent effort by the city to work with a private developer was in January 2025, when City Council approved a $5 million package to assist Houston based PUMA Development in redeveloping the entire historic district, beginning with the Char House.
That plan would have converted the long-dormant Char House into a mixed-use facility including office and retail space and a top-floor restaurant, surrounded by multifamily housing of various types. The proposal to include multifamily housing at the site was met with much vocal opposition by some residents of the surround-
HOUSING FROM PAGE 1
year. A total of 5,064 units were sold across the Greater Houston area compared to 5,002 during the same time last year. The average price rose 4.4 percent to $406,492 while the median price edged up by 1.6 percent to $325,000. The price per square foot increased to $174 from $169 in January 2024.
Active listings were 33.3 percent above the volume of 2024 and have remained around 30,000 units for the last eight months, demonstrating a balance between supply and demand.
Days on Market, or the actual time it took to sell a home, increased from 59 to 61.
Months of inventory expanded to a 4.3-months supply from 3.2-months the prior year. The current national supply stands at 3.3 months, as reported by the National Association of Realtors (NAR).
Broken out by housing segment, November sales performed as follows:
• $1 - $99,999: decreased 4.1
percent
• $100,000 - $149,999: decreased 10.4 percent
• $150,000 - $249,999: in-
on dementia at the George Memorial Library on Feb. 25. Submitted photo
ing area, which officials and PUMA representatives went to great lengths to assuage. In September 2023, PUMA representatives presented initial designs for the development to the council. In the months that followed, howev-
creased 3.0 percent
• $250,000 - $499,999: decreased 1.6 percent
• $500,000 - $999,999: increased 8.1 percent
• $1M and above: increased 20.7 percent
HAR also breaks out sales figures for existing singlefamily homes. In January, existing home sales totaled 3,493, up 2.5 percent compared to the same time in 2024. The average price rose 7.6 percent to $415,004, and the median sales price increased 4.5 percent to $323,000.
Townhouse/ Condominium Update
Townhome and condominium sales rose 6.8 percent in January to 360 units. This marked only the second time sales have been in positive territory since June 2022. The average price was statistically flat at $248,241, and the median price declined 4.1 percent to $211,000.
The inventory of townhomes and condominiums expanded from a 3.6-months supply last January to 5.6-months.
Association put in over 2,000 hours of work, and it’s brought untold value to the city’s economy,” Kirkpatrick said. The Fort Bend Mountain Mike Association also funds the cost of maintaining the offroad trails.
Officials with the City of Sugar Land spoke about Kirkpatrick’s boldness to speak up on topics at city council meetings and to offer his ideas. Shayla Lee, the city’s director of strategic and government affairs, said she first met Kirkpatrick when her department hosted a focus group of Dulles High School students during a strategic planning session about the city’s future.
“During that session Caleb expressed many great ideas on impactful topics for the future of the youth in our community such as climate challenges, recreational opportunities, and overall sustainability of the city’s infrastructure. From this discussion Caleb then interviewed both staff and elected officials of the City of Sugar Land to learn even more, in addition to attending City Council meetings,” Lee said.
Deputy City Manager Jennifer May thinks Kirkpatrick’s initiative to understand the inner workings of city government is admirable. “Caleb’s proactive approach reflects a deep passion for public service and a desire to create long-lasting improvements that benefit everyone,” May said.
Kirkpatrick’s mom, Jennifer Kirkpatrick, said she is not surprised by her son’s being outspoken publicly at city council meetings. Last fall, when her son told her of his plans to speak at his first Missouri City council meeting, she had just begun her job as food and beverage director for the city’s Quail Valley Golf Course.
“I told him no, let’s just go to the meeting and observe.
I wanted to stop him from speaking,” she said. But her son insisted, and his mother said she couldn’t be prouder.
Jennifer Kirkpatrick says she has learned so much from Caleb about how government works since he began his involvement.
“Knowing what’s going on in your community affects your every day life. The last time I voted, I was more educated,”
Jennifer Kirkpatrick said.
Her son has always wanted to help people, she said with emotion in her voice. “When he was in the third or fourth grade he used to say ‘if I was president, I would put an apple tree on every corner so that no one would go hungry,” she said.
On a family vacation once when Kirkpatrick was about 8, they encountered a homeless
woman sat on the sidewalk crying and talking to herself.
“Everyone was passing her by,” said Jennifer Kirkpatrick. “But Caleb stopped and bent down, put her hands in his, and they cried together for a couple of minutes,” she said.
Kirkpatrick’s favorite part of local government are the people who work in it. “The cities of Sugar Land and Missouri City are full of hardworking and passionate people who want to serve. They don’t get much recognition or money. I find it refreshing,” he said. By the way, Kirkpatrick received a grade of 100 on his fall government project.
Worchel is a freelance writer based in Sugar Land. She can be reached at dworchel@ swbell.net
er, PUMA ran into problems securing financing to close on the property and eventually bowed out of the project.
For more information, including frequently asked questions, visit sugarlandtx. gov/ImperialHistoricDistrict.
Houston Real Estate Highlights in January
• Single-family home sales increased 1.2 percent year-over-year;
• Days on Market (DOM) for single-family homes went from 59 to 61 days;
• Total property sales were up 1.3 percent with 6,173 units sold;
• Total dollar volume rose 8.9 percent to $2.5 billion;
• The single-family median price was up 1.6 percent to $325,000;
• The single-family average price climbed 4.4 percent to $406,492;
• Single-family home months of inventory registered a 4.3-months supply, up from 3.2 months last January.
• Townhome/condominium sales increased 6.8 percent year-over-year. The median price declined 4.1 percent to $211,000, and the average price was statistically unchanged at $248,241.
Editor’s Note: The HAR report is used by permission. Find the full report at https://www.har.com/ content/department/mls?y.
Dulles High School student Caleb Kirkpatrick, 17, speaks at a Missouri City City Council meeting last fall. His interest in local government began with an AP U.S. Government class project. Contributed photo
Ryan Gant, from the Fort Bend County Health & Services department will host a program
The City of Sugar Land has announced it plans to acquire the Imperial Historic District, including the iconic Char House.
Photo by Ken Fountain
EDITORIAL
Bordering on the contradictory
HE TV —
T“Thousands of Houstonians joined people across the nation in protest against President Donald Trump’s anti-immigration executive orders, marching, shouting ‘si, se puede,’ — ‘yes, you can.’ Protesters carried various central and south American flags.” Wait! Hold it! No way, José. Because all of this seems a bit, well, contradictory. The demonstrators are apparently undocumented immigrants and their supporters who are demanding (demanding?) that they be allowed to stay in the U.S. illegally, while chanting in Spanish and waving flags from Guatemala, Mexico and other countries south of the razor wire. Wouldn’t they curry more sympathy among their hosts if the demonstrators waved the Stars and Stripes while singing “God Bless America” or maybe “Don’t Fence Me Out?”
We can all agree that today the U.S. has lots of (take your pick) illegal aliens,
ILynn Ashby Columnist
ASHBY2@COMCAST.NET
undocumented immigrants or foreign border jumpers. But let’s not parrot our new leader, Agent Orange, calling them murderers, rapists and terrorists. Ah, but how many are there? Former U.N, Ambassador Nikki Haley put the figure at 8 million as did Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas claimed almost 10 million. Marco Rubio said that “there are between 20, 25, maybe 30 million.” Fox News estimated 8 trillion. For an official number, the feds put the count at about 11 million, but that’s a guess. It’s like saying, “This is the count of those we didn’t count.” Huh?
The U.S.-Mexico border is 1,954 miles. Of that, Texas has the lion’s share: 1,254 miles. To defend our section, Gov. Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star has
spent $11 billion in Texas taxpayers’ money, and the current Legislature has earmarked another $6.5 billion. Uh, Guv, can we discuss our school teachers’ pay? Gov. Abbott hopes Trump will reimburse us. Don’t count on it. Still, the President has dispatched active-duty troops, including Marines, to the border, not to arrest the interlopers but to only render “logistic aid.” Maybe the Marines will keep sheaths on their bayonets. And Trump has vowed to finish the wall. It’s 20 feet high, but remember the old joke: There is a run in Matamoras for 21-foot ladders. On the other hand, the debate in Mexico over Roe v. Wade is how best to cross the Rio.
Throughout his presidential campaign, Trump said, and with total accuracy, that the Biden administration let too many undocumented immigrants come in. But also to be totally accurate, no Dem ever promoted “open borders.” Name one. That accusation was trotted out enough times by the GOPers that some gullible low IQs believed it. Yet at the same time the Biden White House kept telling us “the border is secure,” when God and NBC
showed us, night after night, scores if not hundreds of immigrants swarming across the Rio. A mystery: Joe Biden was a career pol who, over the years, figured out what the voters wanted (although it took him three attempts to win the Presidency). So how could he and the other Dem leaders have been so tone deaf to ignore what the rest of us worried about? It helped cost them the election.
We shouldn’t feel guilty about our immigration policies. The U.S. welcomes the largest number of immigrants in the world, and many of them obey our laws by becoming legal permanent residents, seeking humanitarian protection or becoming U.S. citizens. I really like to see those TV shots of welcoming new citizens, and there are a lot of them. In fiscal year 2024, we welcomed 818,500 new citizens during naturalization ceremonies held across the U.S. and around the world. The 3-year total was more than 2.6 million new citizens. So stop with the guilt trip, OK?
The newcomers have to go through a lot of hoops to join us. The ceremony is often held in a courtroom where
the judge makes a welcoming speech, they swear their allegiance and wave little American flags. To the side are their smiling relatives, all thinking the same thing: “Now we can stay.” In my somewhat checkered career as a journalist I have visited U.S. embassies and consulates all over the world and often would see lines of wannabe Americans standing in the snow in Warsaw or the suffocating heat in Lima, holding their tattered documents, hoping to come here legally, and wondering: “Why am I going to all this trouble when my cousin just climbed the river bank, found a Border Patrol agent and sought asylum? He’s now driving an Uber in Waco.”
As for those who took the express line here (six relatives or less), join the crowd. Texas has the second-highest undocumented population in the U.S. behind California.
As of July 2024, there were about 1.6 million of them in our state. Over 448,000 criminal noncitizens — of all legality — were booked into local Texas jails between June 1, 2011, and Dec. 31, 2024, with over 319,000 classified as being here illegally. You probably run into il-
legal aliens daily. Houston has some 407,000. Fort Bend County another 39,000. About half of them are on track to be eligible to stay with work permits, but that pathway may change any hour now. My housekeeper comes occasionally to hose down the kitchen. BettySue is from Honduras with a Social Security card, pays taxes and obviously is legal because she comes and goes back home to visit her mother. BettySue has one son who is a graduate of UT-Austin in construction engineering. Another son is at Texas A&M studying bio- something. The American dream. She showed me a photo of her family of about 20 celebrating a birthday. “Back in Honduras?” I asked. “No, in Houston.” Then I had a carpenter who said he was from Guatemala. He came here on a two-year work permit. That was 22 years ago. The bronze plaque on the base of the Statue of Liberty should read: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. Just get in line and have your documents ready.” Ashby huddles at ashby2@ comcast.net
What's so wrong with boredom?
n the new age of social media and its obsession with maintaining our attention, boredom has been cast into some distant space in the back of my mind. I’ve long associated boredom with a non-mechanized age, or long summers in my childhood spent slumped over couches or grinding flowers for a witchy brew. Growing up with limited screen time, Boredom was a constant, after-school companion. It was an unpleasant feeling; like a yawning black fog was upon me, feeding the restlessness that develops gradually into irritability. There was a dark cast over my eyes when I was away from my devices. I felt as though I couldn’t live without them, that life had slowed down several
Community Reports
The Sugar Land Space Cowboys will host auditions for singers to perform the National Anthem at Space Cowboys home games in 2025 on Tuesday, March 4 from 3:30-6 p.m.
Auditions will be held at Constellation Field and all participants must sign up to audition in advance by filling out the form at milb.com/ sugar-land/forms/2025anthem-tryouts/form. The form can also be found online at SLSpaceCowboys. com. The Space Cowboys are looking for traditional renditions of “The StarSpangled Banner,” sung acapella and performed in 90 seconds or less. Auditions will be on a first come, first sing basis. Performers with previous National Anthem experience may submit a video of their live performance in lieu of attending the audition, and video submissions are preferred for those who have previously performed the National Anthem live due to an anticipated large turnout for in-person audi-
Grace Hu Youth Columnist
degrees once social media was removed from the equation. Now, I chase that slower melody insistently. Reflecting back as a high schooler, I believe the source of that childhood boredom stemmed from the introduction of screen time: the fear of it grew exponentially once I got my hands on my first iPhone in fifth grade. This, naturally, fed into Murphy’s Law. My fear of Boredom created an increasing emergence of Boredom. It was like some hulking shadow. The more afraid
I was, the more I noticed its presence. Before that, boredom lingered in the sidelines like some unwelcome, shunned spectator; after, it barreled headlong beside the football players on the court (of my life). It cheered on Monotony and reawakened on Mondays. As a child, clamoring for five extra minutes on the iPad felt universal. My friends had personal devices, why couldn’t I? My friends spent hours on the Internet, why do I only get thirty minutes? It felt unfair, like I was missing out on some essential ingredient to living life to the fullest. I understand now that it was FOMO (fear of missing out). I’m grateful now that my parents had limited my screen usage back then. I mean, who knows how I could have turned out? I was only able to discover the passions I cherish now through prolonged periods of boredom. It
tions. Applications must be submitted by Sunday, March 2 at 5 p.m. Though auditions are intended for individuals, groups can email Garret Randle at grandle@astros.com with questions. For the first time in franchise history, the Space Cowboys will open their season at home when they will begin their campaign as the defending Triple-A National Champions by hosting the Oklahoma City Comets on Friday, March 28 at 7:05 p.m. Prior to the start of the season, the Space Cowboys will take on the Houston Astros for two exhibition games at Daikin Park on March 24 and 25.
spurred this itch to do something, the itch that is largely absent today with my iPhone within arm’s reach. Boredom turned me to books. Boredom coerced me into writing. And more recently – over winter break while trapped in the bleary, freckled frost that fell over Toronto – boredom coaxed me into picking up one of my cousin’s old handbooks on color photography, planting a seed of interest that is still maturing today.
I wish now that I understood the importance of it. I wish now that I hadn’t grazed the surface of the Internet at all – the sensationalized, addictive drug that it is. I’m sure I could’ve accomplished more things by now, if that was the case.
Even now, I do feel that my iPhone has a vice-like grip on me (ironic because physically it’s the opposite). Scrolling is an all-consuming habit. Despite pre-set screen times
and cell phone lock boxes, I still gravitate toward social media and its accompanying brain fog. To take back power, I’ve begun doing things the old-fashioned way. I’ve re-welcomed boredom into my life, un-digitized my diary, and started minimal amounts of meditation before bed (the last of which I still find awful but stomach anyway( which has led to my recent enlightenment (which is really quite small, actually).
Boredom is not so scary after all. Shocker! As a creative, some of my best ideas have stemmed from times of intense boredom, something I’ve been attempting to recreate as of late. It doesn’t quite work when I’m conscious of my pursuit. It’s somewhat like trying to bait a mouse: lurking too close to the booby trap or being too excitable winds up chasing away the prey. My equation for “Best of boredom” is more fixated on
environmental factors, which is why I’ve been frequenting my local library and coffee shop. I hope this worldwide epidemic of thaasophobia (or the fear of sitting still or being idle) fizzles out. I’m sure there are deeper roots to it: the fear of emptiness, of the abandonment of self or coming face to face with yourself; but with self-discipline, it’s possible to climb out of this overwhelming pit, like I’m in the process of doing.
Hu is a Clements High School student, class of 2026, and an aspiring journalist and author.
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.
Black History Month events to be held around Fort Bend on Feb. 22
Staff Reports
Saturday, February 22, will see several commemorations of Black History Month around Fort Bend County.
Black History Month, also knows as AfricanAmerican History Month, is officially celebrated in the United States and Canada as a means of honoring the accomplishments of people of the African diaspora. Below is a listing of some of the major events around the Bend.
Sugar Land
The City of Sugar Land will hold its Black History Month Celebration on Saturday, February 22, 2025, from 2-4 p.m. at Sugar Land Town Square, 2700 Town Center Blvd. North. This event will honor Black culture, creativity, and entrepreneurship through captivating performances, a Black-owned business market, and an exclusive art exhibition.
The award-winning contemporary dance company, Urban Souls Dance Company, known for compelling storytelling through movement, will be the featured performing act of the event. Urban Souls fosters connection and community by bringing Black narratives to life. Their work prioritizes racial equity, healing, and justice through dance, education, and advocacy.
In addition to the live performance, attendees can explore an all-Black vendor market, featuring a diverse selection of businesses, artisans, artists, authors, bookstores, and food vendors. This marketplace is an opportunity to support local Black entrepreneurs while experiencing the vibrancy of Sugar Land’s creative and business communities.
The event will also showcase an exhibition by Bevin Biggers, Sugar Land’s inaugural Artist in Residence. Biggers’ work explores themes of identity, history, and resilience, providing a unique artistic lens on the Black experience.
Missouri City
As part of their monthlong celebration the City of Missouri City and Edison Arts Foundation will host the Missouri City Tanique Evans Freedom Walk, honoring H-E-B community partner Tanique Evans, who died in July 2024. The event will bein at the new Community Park 1700 Glenn Lakes Lane. Attendees will then walk about a half a mile from Community Park to the Freedom Tree for the official groundbreaking of the new Freedom Tree Park, where, they will hear from local leaders, pastors, poets, singers, and performers, then return to Community Park
for a celebration of unity and freedom.
The Family Reunion/ Cultural Celebration will be held from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. It will feature Texas Children’s Kids Zone, food trucks, black vendors, music, dance, and more with special R&B, Pop, Jazz, and Gospel vocalist Shaleya.
In addition, The Ensemble Theatre will present a sneak preview of their upcoming performance of Camp Logan, spoken word artists, dance performers, and music.
Kendleton
Fort Bend County will host its official Black History Month at Kendleton Church of God, 619 FM 2919, Kendleton from 10 a.m.noon. Community leaders, historians, and residents will come together to honor Kendleton’s rich cultural heritage. This event will spotlight local stories, historical reflections, and initiatives aimed at fostering community growth.
The event will feature remarks from local officials, a keynote presentation on Kendleton's cultural heritage with music, storytelling from local elders who will share Kendleton’s history and personal stories, traditional refreshments, and the official launch of the “Grow Together” campaign of community and sustainability initiatives.
Freedom Tree Park in Missouri City will be the site of one of several Black History Month celebrations around Fort Bend County on Saturday, Feb. 22. File photo
I am 3 years old, and I am an expert at finding the coziest corners to curl up in. I’m always ready for a gentle stroke or a soothing chat.
I crave companionship, and would make a great addition to any home, if I do say so myself! Stop by the Houston Humane Society and consider making Tilda a part of your family! ADOPT TILDA!
Community Reports
Members of the Fort Bend ISD community are invited to visit one of three student-run businesses at a special event on Saturday, February 22 at the James Reese Career and Technical Center, 12300 University Blvd. Sugar Land, from 9 a.m. – noon.
Attendees will see first-hand how the district prepares our next generation of skilled professionals through a fully functioning auto shop, salon and grill. The following activities will be offered during the event:
• The Grill at Reese: French Chicken Dinner Cooking Class – Learn to prepare a delicious French chicken dinner in a hands-on class taught by culinary students. The experience costs $55 and includes all materials. Register at eventbrite.com/e/french-chicken-dinnerclass-tickets-1224960252089?aff=oddtd
tcreator.
• The Salon at Reese: Hair Styling Workshop – Learn styling tips and tricks from cosmetology students. Admission is free. After the clinic, attendees can purchase salon services including shampoo and style and root touch-up. Register at eventbrite. com/e/the-salon-at-reese-hair-clinictickets-1233826110109?aff=oddtdtcrea
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Legal Notice
C L ASSIFI ED A DS
Application has been made with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission for Wine Permit by The Wine Man, to be located at 13003 Murphy Road, Suite N7 Stafford, Fort Bend, Texas.
Owner: David Maggard
Notice of Public Sale
RecNation RV and Boat Storage unit contents are being sold to satisfy a landlord’s lien. Sale to be held at www.storagetreasures.com from 2/27/2025 12pm to 3/7/2025 12pm. Clean up deposit is required. Seller reserves the right to withdraw the property at any time before sale. Unit items sold to highest bidder. All spaces contain household items unless otherwise noted. TXHOU11 - 18103 West Little York Rd, Katy, TX 77449: Kamis, M; Corson, Andrea (2)
Work location is Sugar Land, TX with reqd to travel & work from var unanticipated client worksites throughout USA. Please mail resumes to 2245 Texas Dr, Ste 300, Sugar Land, TX- 77479 (OR) e-mail: ramesh.tavva@ cesltd.com
Black Makers Mart at Sugar Land Town Square
Despite some blustery weather on Saturday, hundreds of people turned out at Sugar Land Town Square on Saturday for the Black Makers Market, billed as “a celebration of Black excellence and creativity.” Vendors from around the greater Houston area and elsewhere displayed their wares, including handcrafted jewelry and other items, Black-themed artwork, and foods and wine.
Mario Martin of Blue Moon, left, describes some of his spices to Erin and her daughter, Bella, of Rosenberg. Photos by Ken Fountain
Young children play on the plaza of Sugar Land Town Square. Gabrielle Garza of H&H Winery, based in The Woodlands. offers a sample to Roserny Jimenez.
Densia Manago of Busky Belle pours a sample of moscato wine for Mariah Miller of Missouri City. Jeannette Hardin shows off some of her handmade soaps to Katrina.
Deejay “G-Funk” lays down the groove during the Black Makers Mart at Sugar Land Town Square.
Tiera Barefield of Urban Candles shows off some her wares to Brandon McDaniel.
Artist Jesse Brown, also known as Yishaii, shows off some of his Afrofuturist works to Phyllis White of Bastrop.
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
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 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.
PRIMARY CARE Personalized to You
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• Offer same-day sick visits
• Are conveniently located close to work or home
• Accept most major
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
