WEDNESDAY • MAY 14, 2025
Texas Democratic Party removes Taylor as Fort Bend County chair
By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Staff Reports
Editor’s note: In its “Economy at a Glance” report for May, the Greater Houston Partnership – the regional chamber of commerce – examines Houston’s central role in the global economy, with a focus on its trade volumes in 2024.
On May 1, the Greater Houston Partnership released its “Global Houston ‘25” report. A summary of the document follows. The summary includes updates to data not available at the time the original publication was sent to the printer.
[Editor’s note: Read the Fort Bend Star’s coverage of the release here.]
The global economy is expected to continue growing in 2025. But recent changes to U.S. trade policy are likely to temper that growth, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) revising its global growth forecast for 2025 down to 2.8 percent in April from 3.3 percent in January. Parts of Houston’s economy may be vulnerable to slowing global growth or increased trade tensions. But its relationships with other countries are deep and multi-faceted:
• Houston consistently exports more goods and commodities than any other U.S. metro.
• The Houston/Galveston Customs District routinely handles more foreign tonnage than any other U.S. customs district.
• Almost 1,000 foreignowned firms operate over 1,800 offices, factories, warehouses, and service centers in Houston.
• Almost 150 Houstonbased firms operate over 3,200 business establishments across 111 foreign countries.
• Over 1.8 million Houston residents, nearly one in every four, were born outside the U.S.
• Eighteen foreign banks, 41 foreign chambers of commerce and trade associations, and 11 trade and commercial offices promote trade and investment in the region.
• Eighty-six foreign governments have consulates or honorary consuls in Houston. These ties have benefited the region’s economy in years past and will continue to be important to its success in 2025.
Metro Houston Exports Houston led the nation in exports in 2024, shipping $180.9 billion in goods and commodities abroad. This is more than the combined value for New York and Los Angeles, the second and third highest exporting metros. Houston has ranked as the nation’s top exporting metro in 12 out of the past 13 years. The exception was in ’16, when OPEC flooded the market with crude and oil traded under $50 per barrel most of the year. Those conditions limited exports of oil and oil field equipment from Houston.
Houston’s export
The executive committee of the Texas Democratic Party in Austin voted Monday night to remove Fred G. Taylor as chair of the Fort Bend County Democratic Party after a majority of the local party’s precinct chairs reported a host of irregularities, purportedly including more than $97,000 missing from the local party’s accounts, according to a press release.
“Tonight, the State Democratic Executive Committee met and voted to remove Fred Taylor as Chairman of the Fort Bend County Democratic Party on a vote of 73 to 12 with 6 abstentions,” Jonathan Marcantel, the local party’s secretary said in the release.
“In the coming months, the Fort Bend County Democratic Party County Executive Committee will elece an Interin County Chair,” he said.
Taylor was elected to the post in June 2024 runoff election, narrowly defeating Jennifer Cantu with 50.56 precent of the vote. Taylor replaced Cynthia Ginyard, whom Taylor told the Fort Bend Star in an interview before the vote that he was himself investigating for the improprieties. For her part, Ginyard told the Star that Taylor had been making accusations against her for a year, and that all of them were found to be without merit.
The situation involving Taylor and the state party’s vote was first reported by Houston Public Media.
Fort Bend precinct chairs April Jones, Oto Cantu, and Jennifer Stroh all told the Fort Bend Star that since he took office last June, Taylor had increasingly acted as if was the sole decision-maker in the local party. When the party’s membership elected Jones as its treasurer, Taylor refused to add her as a signatory on the party’s bank accounts or to provide documentation.
The precinct chairs said they later discovered that more than $97,000 in contributions and other monies deposited through an online portal was unaccounted for. They said they later were able to access some record from the party’s bank. They said they made a report of their findings to the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office.
Wes Wittig, a spokesman for the prosecutor’s office said that there had been an investigation of Taylor at one time, but that it was closed without any finding of criminal conduct, adding that no other information would be made available. “We do not want to damage a person’s image with allegations that are unfounded,” he said.
Before the vote, Taylor told the Star that he was in the midst of presenting information on his own investigation to the Texas Rangers, the investigatory division of the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Sienna Branch Library to host program on obesity
Sugar Land prepares for June 7 runoff election
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At Large Position Two
• Robert Boettcher
District Four
• Rick Miller
In addition, the proposed Charter Amendment was not approved, with 8,295 votes against and 6,267 votes in favor. Early voting for the runoff election will take place from May 27 through June 3, 2025. The Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce will host a public forum featuring candidates in the runoff election on Wednesday, May 21, in the Sugar Land Town Square Community Room, 16160 City Walk, from 5:30-8 p.m. This event is complimentary to participate and will also be livestreamed on the Fort Bend Chamber Facebook page.
The City of Sugar Land will hold a runoff election for the mayor’s seat and four City Council seats on June 7.
Fair Queen Scholarship applications
Community Reports
The Fort Bend County Fair is accepting applications for its Fair Queen Scholarship contest, according to a news release. Applications for the contest, which is open to girls ages 15-19 who live in Fort Bend County, will be accepted through June 12. Up to 20 finalists will be selected, and the competition is based on a personal interview, an essay, a networking event and participation.
During the fair from September 26 through April 5 , the Fair Queen will serve as the fair’s ambassador while attending receptions, livestock shows and auctions as part of her duties. She will also represent the Fort Bend County Fair at community events, luncheons, holiday gatherings and other fair activities, according to the news release.
The Fair Queen title offers a chance to grow as a leader, make lasting friendships, and earn scholarships and prizes. Contestants will be judged on a personal interview, an essay, a networking event, and overall participation.
The journey to the crown will begin with a mandatory orientation on July 13, followed by Enrichment/Derby Day on August 3, Group Volunteer Day on August 16, and the Life Member/Committee Dance on September 6. Contestants will also participate BBQ Cook-Off events on September 19 and 20, ride in the Kickoff Parade on September 26 before the highly anticipated Coronation that evening.
The crowned Queen will serve as an ambassador during the Fair’s 10-day celebration and at community events throughout the year, attending receptions, auctions, and representing the Fort Bend County Fair Association with pride.
For more information or to submit an application, visit fortbendcountyfair.com or call the fair office at 281-342-6171.
Happy birthday to us
Semiquincentennial.
That’s a hard word to slip into a conversation, so try the far easier bisesquicentennial. Get used to them because soon we will be reading those words, hearing them and maybe even saying them. They mean a quarter of a millennium, tonguetwisting terms for the celebrations when we mark July 4, 2026 – the 250th anniversary of the day when the Declaration of Independence was signed in Independence Hall in Philadelphia in 1776.
While the date is not much talked about thus far, what with our concern over the price of eggs, if that clanking a/c will last through the summer and whether our vaccinations will cause a fear of mustard, already plans are being made to celebrate. In 2016, Boston set up a non-profit group to organize and plan commemorative events. Philadelphia and Charlestown are getting ready. Pennsylvania became the first state to formally begin planning for the anniversary. Pittsburgh, Louisville and Denver are all making birthday plans. I haven’t heard of any local proposals, but maybe they are lost is the
You may have heard we had elections across Fort Bend County a couple of weeks ago. According to still-unofficial results, the turnout was woefully low, with approximately 7.4 percent of the county’s 419,160 voters going to the polls, either during the early-voting period or on Election Day. We’ve discussed this sad state of affairs before, and there’s no need to do so again.
One byproduct of low-turnout elections is that small numbers can translate into big shifts in results. While there are still some undecided races (including for Sugar Land mayor and two seats on that city’s city council), many of the races in the city’s municipalities, school districts, and MUD boards were resoundingly decided. And in the case of the Fort Bend ISD board, they telegraphed a significant change in the board’s governing philosophy going forward.
I’ve discussed before how when I returned to community journalism two-and-a-half years ago after having been away for about a decade, I was very surprised at how much the tone particularly around school board had changed. Much of this shift, as I noted in a recent column, has been driven by social media.
GHP FROM PAGE 1
in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The metro data above comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s origin of movement (OM) series, which tracks goods based on the metro from which they began their export journey. For example, a medical device may be manufactured in Houston, then flown to New York where it’s transferred via airplane to Europe. Though the export leaves the U.S. via New York, it began its journey in Houston. Census considers that as a Houston export.
Lynn Ashby Columnist
ASHBY2@COMCAST.NET
Houston Police Department files.
While you were sleeping, Washington (the city, not the Revolutionary War victor and president – we’ve come a long way) has been busy, too. The federal government has established (one guess) committees to handle the feds’ participation. Congress has ordered the U.S. Mint to redesign any quarters minted in 2026 using any of a series of five designs, including one depicting women’s contributions to independence. Maybe one will show Betsy Ross redesigning the flag to include a star for Canada.
Women may get another salute: A Liberty Bell is going to be cast to honor 250 years of women’s contributions to America, and will lead nationwide ringing tributes during the celebrations of the Liberty Belle.
Attention sports fans. The 96th Major League Baseball All-Star Game will be held at Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park in mid-July after the semiquincentennial. It’s a tradition: Back in 1976 the 47th All-Star Game was held in Philadelphia during the bicentennial.
If you’ve been around very long, you remember the 200th birthday party in 1976. It was quite a celebration, but it has not always been the case. There were no major government-sponsored 50th anniversary observances on July 4, 1826, which was the day that the Founding Fathers and former presidents John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died. In 1876, the United States organized nationwide centennial observances centered on the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. That joyous event was a bit subdued because news had just arrived that shortly before, on June 25, Gen. George Armstrong Custer and his entire force had been wiped out at Little Big Horn. Fifty years later, in 1926, a Sesquicentennial Exposition was held in Philadelphia. We now come to Donald Trump. He was a guest of the French during one of
their Bastille Day (July 14) parades and they put on a great military show. So he wanted a similar parade for his birthday, (June 14) but was talked out of it because it was, well, too military. Also Washington city officials noted that tank tracks would destroy the streets. (I don’t know how the French pull it off). But hang on. During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump pledged to throw a “spectacular birthday party” to honor the anniversary by assembling a White House task force named “Salute to America 250.” Proposals include a “Great American State Fair” to be held in the Iowa State Fairgrounds, featuring pavilions from all 50 states, “Patriot Games” for highschool athletes, and other year-long celebrations and projects across the country. On January 29, 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14189, “Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday.”
One more and long-lasting idea: a National Garden of American Heroes. Trump hatched this idea in his first term and now he gets specific: His garden will feature lifesize renderings of “250 great individuals from America’s past who have contributed to
our cultural, scientific and political heritage,” according to a White House news release. He wants “preliminary concepts” for individual statues from artists who must be American citizens. The selectees will receive awards of up to $200,000 per statue, which must be made of marble, granite, bronze, copper or brass. The project would be paid for in part with $34 million in grants committed jointly by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts. Maybe. Maybe not. Following visits from Elon Musk’s staff at DOGE, the N.E.H laid off nearly two-thirds of its staff and –uh-oh – canceled most existing grants. (The future of grants from the arts endowment remains unclear.) Trump has also directed that subjects be depicted in a “realistic” manner, with no modernist or abstract designs allowed. While no site for the garden has been determined, it will be “a public space where Americans can gather to learn about and honor American heroes,” the release said. Who picked the 250? Vince Haley. I never heard of him, but he’s a Trump appointee who has held various posts
Reset, anyone (again)?
Ken Fountain Editor
But there are other factors, including the fact that in today’s highly partisan environment (and the bifurcated media landscape), it seems that every national political argument has filtered down to every level, including that of your local school board. This phenomenon had been going on for a while, but it ratcheted up with the COVID-19 lockdowns and mask mandates and other issues that came to the fore around 2020.
Almost exactly a year ago, in a column that followed last year’s local elections, I wrote that it was “time for a reset” at the Fort Bend ISD board after a highly contentious few months involving the ouster and replacement of a superintendent and accusations and counter-accusations among some board members. “One thing Fort Bend ISD does not need is to go through the culture-war battles that we’ve seen in some neighboring districts,” I wrote. “They are, first
The International Trade Administration (ITA) estimates that Texas exports supported over 1.2 million jobs in 2022 (the latest year for which data is available). Since Houston accounted for around 40 percent of the state’s exports, a backof-the-envelope calculation suggests that roughly 480,000 Houston jobs – more than one in seven – were tied to exports. But this simple calculation probably understates the full economic impact of Houston’s foreign-facing businesses, as it does not account for capital investment or services provided for foreign clients.
Customs District Traffic
and foremost, a distraction from getting all of that real work done. Here in Fort Bend, we can and must do better.”
Indeed, Kristin Tassin, the newly elected (but returning) member, announced in her very first meeting as the newly installed president promised that it was “a new day in Fort Bend ISD.” “The time for pettiness, infighting, accusations and name-calling is passed,” she said. Would that it had been so.
If anything, anyone watching from the outside (including your humble scribe) could see that those things were not only continuing, they were in some cases escalating, and not only among board members. As part of my job, I often find myself monitoring the posts and comments on Twitter (er, “X”) and in Facebook groups devoted to the district. Quite frankly, I have been shocked at times at what some folks, including elected board members who are supposed to represent every person in the district, allow themselves to say on social media, including about individual constituents or even entire classes of people.
All too often, this behavior has centered around many of the hot-button culture-war issues that take up so much of the oxygen of our political discourse. When I wrote
The Houston/Galveston Customs District set a tonnage record in 2024. The eight ports that comprise the district handled over 432.6 million metric tons of goods and commodities, a 6.6 percent increase from 2023. Those shipments were valued at $376.3 billion, up 2.9 percent over 2023. This value is still down 4.0 percent from the record high of $391.9 billion set in 2022.
Customs district data differs from the origin of movement (OM) data in that district data reflects what passes through a region, which doesn’t necessarily correspond with where an item was produced or con-
that column a year ago, the board was still in the midst of a battle over a new policy regarding the selection (and removal in some cases) of books in school libraries. More recently, the board (and residents watching) have been engaged in heated discussions over a controversial set of elementary school reading materials called Bluebonnet that includes materials from religious texts which many critics say over-emphasizes Christianity and a policy dealing with the district’s stance and actions regarding gender. As was to be expected in today’s media landscape, these battles generated headlines that cast Fort Bend ISD in less-than-flattering light. A cynic might suggest that, especially with regards to the latter two cases, generating headlines right before the board elections was the point. In neither instance was there a compelling deadline requiring those votes. (In the case of the gender policy, it was argued that the policy simply codified practices that the district’s administration was already following.) Issues like these can often serve as “red meat” for a particular political base. Board elections are officially nonpartisan, but in practice (as already mentioned) we all have seen that there has been a decided shift
sumed. However, for Houston, customs district exports align with the region’s industrial base.
In 2024, the Houston/ Galveston district exported $1.0 billion or more of the following products: crude oil and refined petroleum products, industrial equipment and computers, organic chemicals, electrical machinery and parts, plastics and plastic products, automobiles and automobile parts, articles of iron and steel, alcoholic beverages and vinegars, instruments and measuring devices, iron and steel, aircraft parts, home furnishings, pharmaceuticals,
toward fierce partisanship at every political level.
With the recent election, that “reset” at Fort Bend ISD may well have been achieved, even if isn’t the kind I was describing. While school boards are officially nonpartisan, the Fort Bend ISD board has had a decidedly conservative bent for several years, especially over the last few election cycles. But on May 3, the election results indicate that the district may have flipped, at least with the relatively few folks who went to the polls. Angie Wierzbicki won the Position 7 seat and Afshi Charania won the Position 3 seat. Both are seen as more liberal than the candidates they are replacing. Wierzbicki replaces David Hamilton, who elected not to run again after serving one three-year term, has been perhaps the leading voice on the board’s conservative bloc. Charania replaces Rick Garcia, who was elected at the same time as Hamilton and was also seen as among the board’s conservatives, if less vocal than Hamilton. And in a move that surprised many, Position 6 trustee Sonya Jones, another conservative who still had a year left in her term, announced on Facebook late on election night that she was resigning from the board. At this writing, it’s unknown how the district might go
in the administration. And who got selected? The usual suspects: George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Sacagawea, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Wright brothers. Then we have Julia Child and Johnny Cash. Several athletes made the list including Kobe Bryant, Jim Thorpe, Babe Ruth and Jackie Robinson. I could spot a few Texans: Sam Houston, Audie Murphy, Lorenzo de Zavala (he was the first vice president of the Republic of Texas), Davy Crockett and Roy Benavidez (he was a Medal of Honor recipient). Sam Rayburn and Stephen F. Austin didn’t make the cut, but Elvis Presley, John Wayne and Shirley Temple did. You have to be dead, so Ivanka, Eric, and Donald Jr. are not included, but no doubt there will be a massive 40-foot tall statue surrounded by fountains for one more American hero. I understand sculptors are already working on the hair. So get ahead of the curve. Avoid the rush. Buy your hats and horns, your firecrackers and Champaign. And learn how to pronounce semiquincentennial. Ashby wasn’t selected at ashby5@comcast.net
about replacing her.
Media reports indicate this wasn’t unique to Fort Bend ISD. Voters in Katy ISD (which I covered for a startup newspaper many moons ago) and other districts in the greater Houston saw conservative candidates, including some candidates, losing to more liberal ones. Is it possible that voters have become weary at seeing their school boards, which are charged with the education and welfare of our youngest and most impressionable members, engage in the most vitriolic battles on the dais and social media, behaving in ways that administrators and teachers strive mightily to keep out of the classroom? Perhaps so. It might be tempting to say the elections results represent a complete sea change on the board and the district at large. That’s probably unlikely. One election, at any level, doesn’t portend permanent change, and in a district like Fort Bend ISD, which like the county at large is extremely diverse in many ways, there will be a lot of give and take over time. There’s always another election ahead. But one hopes that the newly reconstituted board can work together to move toward that long-awaited reset. Fountain crosses his fingers at KFountain@fortbendstar.com
rubber and rubber products, inorganic chemicals, rare earths and precious metals, industrial components, toys and games, and cereal grains, aluminum and aluminum products, copper and copper products, essential oils and cosmetics, meats, wood and wood products, fruits and nuts, mineral ores, stone and plaster products, and linens.
Exports via the Houston/ Galveston district consistently exceed imports. They accounted for 66.7 percent of all cargo value handled by the district in 2024. By comparison, exports accounted for 20.4 percent of the Los Angeles district’s exports, 30.5 percent of New York’s,
Sugar Land considers new Lake Pointe redevelopment plan
By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
The second time may be the charm for the Lake Pointe area of Sugar Land as City Council considers a proposed redevelopment plan for the site of the former Fluor Corporation campus. Lovett Commercial, a company founded in 1980 by prominent by Houston developer Frank Liu, has proposed a largely residential redevelopment plan called Lake Pointe Green which would supplant the 1980s-era Fluor buildings, which have been largely vacant since the engineering and design services firm vacated them last year for a new location in Houston's Energy Corridor.
The Sugar Land Planning & Zoning Commission voted 6-1 on Monday to approve the plan, which Lovett had modified somewhat following a April 22 joint workshop held by City Council and the planning commission. City Council and an April 23 community meeting was slated to hold an initial vote on the proposal at its May 12 meeting, after the Fort Bend Star's print deadline.
The prime location near the intersection of U.S. 69 and Highway 6 has been of intense interest since Fluor announced its move in May 2023. That July, Sugar Land City Council named the Lake Pointe and the Imperial historic districts as its primary focus areas for redevelopment.
Later that year, Sugar Land-
based Planned Community Developers proposed an expansive concept called Lake Pointe Plaza, which would have included high-density middle-market housing, luxury residential units, office space, medical and life sciences facilities, a 4-star hotel with conference center and exhibition hall, waterfront retail, restaurants and entertainment venues. City Council gave the final nod of approval in December 2023, but the plan later floundered over financing issues.
Unlike PCD's proposal, Lovett's Lake Pointe Green proposal consists almost entirely of residential construction, including a mix of single-family homes and townhome-style multifam -
ily housing. The plan, which would be built in three phases, calls for an expansive central green space called The Lawn that would preserve most of the mature trees on the Fluor campus. Company representatives touted the greenspace as a primary draw for potential residents looking for an active lifestyle.
But in the public meetings held to date on the proposal, members of City Council, the planning commission and members of the public have noted the lack of retail locations in the plan. Lovett officials told Council that retail isn't as attractive in the current real estate market, but later modified the plan somewhat to allow for some retail options.
Four multi-run innings send Space Cowboys to fifth-straight win
Community Reports
– The
SALT LAKE CITY
Sugar Land Space Cowboys (21-18) scored at least one run in five innings, including four multi-run frames, while five batters recorded a multi-hit game as the Space Cowboys capped off their series with the Salt Lake Bees (15-23) with a 10-4 win on Sunday afternoon at The Ballpark at America First Square.
Shay Whitcomb slapped a single to center with one out in the first, Brice Matthews walked and the two executed a double steal, putting two runners in scoring position for Jesús Bastidas. Bastidas muscled a broken-bat single into left, plating Whitcomb and Matthews as Sugar Land struck first with a 2-0 lead.
Salt Lake plated a run in the bottom half as Carter Kieboom’s RBI groundout made it a 2-1 game, and Salt Lake tied the game at two as Ryan Noda led off the home half of the second with a solo home run.
Sugar Land stole the lead right back as Whitcomb stepped on a lead-off homer to start the third, smoking a towering fly ball 414-feet to center. The Space Cowboys were not done as Bastidas was hit by a pitch, Collin Price walked and Luis Castro pulled a groundball through the left side to score Bastidas and put Sugar Land up, 42. Tommy Sacco Jr. brought home one more in the frame, sending a sinking line drive to center for an RBI single.
RHP AJ Blubaugh registered three strikeouts in the bottom of the third while stranding two runners on base to keep the Bees off the board, but Salt Lake cut their deficit to 5-3 in the fourth as Scott Kingery hit a two-out RBI-triple.
Sugar Land doubled their lead in the fifth as Matthews led off with a walk and stole second before Collin Price pummeled a two-run homer 411-feet to left-center as the Space Cowboys stretched their advantage to 7-3.
Kenedy Corona and Quincy Hamilton picked up lead-off walks in the top of the seventh as the lineup turned over. After Zack Short grounded into a fielder’s choice and stole second, Whitcomb walked to load the bases. Matthews lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to score Corona.
RHP Misael Tamarez (W, 1-1) spun two 2.1 innings of scoreless relief from the fourth to the sixth while striking out three and not allowing a hit to earn his first victory of the season.
Price picked up a groundrule double with one out in the seventh before Luis Castro cracked his first homer with the Space Cowboys 428-feet as Sugar Land opened the game up, 10-3.
Brandon Walter received the seventh and struck out one before inducing a double play to retire the side. In the eighth, the southpaw struck out three but allowed a solo homer as Sugar Land led 10-4 heading into the ninth.
RHP Miguel Castro closed out the contest with a scoreless ninth to help Space Cowboys win their fifth game in a row.
NOTABLE:
· Shay Whitcomb singled in the first and homered in the third, extending his on-base streak to 15 games, going 20-for-62 (.322) with six doubles, four home runs, five RBI and five walks in that span. Whitcomb recorded eight hits in the series against Salt Lake. He has recorded back-to-back multi-hit games and has a hit in eight of his last nine contests.
• Brice Matthews drew a walk in the first, his 28th of the season after entering Sunday’s matchup tied for second in the PCL in walks. Matthews also stole second in the opening frame and in the fifth, his 15th and 16th of the campaign after ranking second in the PCL in stolen bases.
• Jesús Bastidas picked up two RBI in the first, his fourth-straight game with an RBI. In his last 14 games, Bastidas is 16-for-48(.333) with four doubles, three homers, 13 RBI, eight walks and 16 runs scored.
• Luis Castro is on a fivegame hitting streak after getting called up to Sugar Land this week. In the series against Salt Lake he went 10-for-20 (.500) with three doubles, a homer, eight RBI, two walks and five runs scored.
• Collin Price pounded his sixth home run of the season and first in the month of May.
• The Space Cowboys recorded three runs or more in five of their six games against Salt Lake and a multi-run inning in all six contests this week.
• Dating back to last season, the Space Cowboys have won 16 of their last 18 games against the Bees. In their last two games against the Bees, Sugar Land had 24 runs on 29 hits. After an off day on Monday, the Sugar Land Space Cowboys were set to return home for a six-game set against the Reno Aces. Game can be seen live on the Bally Sports Live App or MLB.TV and can be heard anywhere at SLSpaceCowboys.com. This article is provided by the marketing office of the Sugar Land Space Cowboys, the Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros, and is used by permission.
Sugar Land City Council this week is considering a proposed redevelopment of the Lake Pointe area called Lake Pointe Green. A portion of the plan called The Bridge is depicted in this Lovett Commercial. Lovett Commercial rendering via City of Sugar Land City Council screenshot
LHP
Deadline is noon every Friday. Limit entries to the “5 Ws” Who, What, When, Where, and Why. Email to editor@fortbendstar.com
ONGOING
REMEMBERING DIRECTOR W.J. “JIM” ESTELLE
There will be a gathering on Saturday May 17, 2025, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Texas Prison Museum in Hunstville to remember and to pay tribute to the legacy of W. J. “Jim” Estelle, former Director of the Texas Department of Corrections (TDC). Director Estelle’s tenure spanned the years of 1972 through 1982. Director Estelle passed away February 13, 2025, in El Dorado Hills, Ca. All past employees and friends of Director Estelle are cordially invited to attend. If you have any questions, please contact David Stacks at the Texas Prison Museum at (936) 295-2155. The museum is located at 491 TX-75 N, Huntsville, Texas, 77320.
CAR WASH FOR KIDS IS APRIL 27TH TEENS
RAISE AWARENESS FOR AUTISTIC PEERS
Mark your calendars for an unforgettable day of fun and giving back! Car Wash for Kids is on April 27th and sponsored by Sugar Land Baptist Church and OCuSOFT. The event will take place at C & C Dental, 17003 Southwest Freeway in Sugar Land, from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm Join Hope For Three Teen Huddle and over 100 energetic teen volunteers from around Fort Bend County as they rev up to celebrate Autism Awareness Month and promote acceptance. Student teens from local schools will hand wash your car with an eco-friendly solution—FREE! Donations are encouraged to support local families living with autism. Want to get involved? There are plenty of opportunities to volunteer, donate or sponsor! Come out for a day of community, fun, and making a difference. For more details or autism resources, visit www.hopeforthree.org/events, call 281-245-0640, email events@hopeforthree.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.
FOSTER CARE SERVICES
SANCTUARY
THE
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.
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.),
or sbs9now@gmail.com.
COMPREHENSIVE CARE FOR NEUROLOGICAL CONDITIONS Close to Home
At Houston Methodist Neuroscience & Spine Center at Sugar Land, we provide comprehensive, expert care for mild to severe neurological conditions. With innovative and advanced treatment options, our doctors collaborate across specialties to meet each patient’s unique needs — from diagnosis and treatment through recovery.
Our team of experts treats a variety of conditions, including:
• Alzheimer’s disease and memory disorders
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
• Aneurysms
• Brain tumors
• Headaches and migraines
• Epilepsy and seizures
• Multiple sclerosis
• Neuromuscular disorders
• Neuropathy
• Parkinson’s disease and tremors
• Sleep disorders
• Spinal disorders
• Stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA)
To schedule an appointment, scan the QR code, visit houstonmethodist.org/neuro-sl or call 281.276.8999
