Space Cowboys drop series finale against Albuquerque - Page 2
Community Reports
With the beginning of hurricane season this week, the American Red Cross, Texas Gulf Coast Region, advises residents to make preparations.
“At the Red Cross we never stop preparing for disasters because we know they can happen anytime, anywhere,” Shawn Schulze, Regional CEO for the American Red Cross Texas Gulf Coast Region, said in a news release. “It’s critical that people make their preparations too. Large disasters are occurring almost continuously, and it only takes one to change someone’s life forever.”
To prepare for hurricanes, the Red Cross focuses on coordinating response plans and readying both volunteers and supplies. For example, the Red Cross coordinates closely with government officials and community partners to make sure people will have access to safe shelter, food and water, and critical relief supplies when needed. The organization is also actively recruiting and training volunteers that will be ready to step up and help their neighbors.
TAKE THESE STEPS TO GET READY
Plan to evacuate and to shelter safely at home. The evacuation plan should include knowing where to go, how to get there, and where to stay. The stay-at-home plan should focus on gathering the right supplies to live safely without power, water, gas, phone or internet for several days.
Sign up for free local government emergency alerts, which will include important information such as evacuation orders in an emergency. Download the free Red Cross Emergency app (redcross.org/get-help/howto-prepare-for-emergencies/ mobile-apps.html) for real-time weather alerts, open shelter locations and expert advice in both English or Spanish. People look to the Red Cross for assistance every day and volunteers help and support them on what often is one of their worst days. Because the Red Cross is operating in a state of continuous disaster response, there is an urgent need for new volunteers. Visit redcross.org/ volunteer to learn more and sign up for free online training today. There is a critical need for these key positions:
· Disaster Action Team (DAT): Help families in your community after a home fire or other disaster. DAT team members provide emotional support, emergency financial assistance and information to
By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Former Fort Bend ISD Superintendent
Christie Whitbeck is seeking a rehearing of a Fort Bend County judge’s ruling dismissing her lawsuit against the district, in which she had been publicly disparaged by three trustees in breach of a resignation agreement following her forced resignation in December 2023.
On May 19, 434th District Court Associate Judge Argie Brame signed an order granting
the district’s so-called “plea to the jurisdiction.” In that April 11 filing, the district argued, among other things, that the district was barred from Whitbeck’s claims by the doctrine of sovereign immunity, which means that in most circumstances, governmental entities cannot be sued. The case had tentatively been set for trial in January.
In December 2024, exactly a year after her departure, Whitbeck filed suit, seeking unspecified monetary damages for breach
REDISTRICTING REARS ITS HEAD AGAIN
By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Fort Bend County commissioners had something of a battle royale last week over the long-simmering issue of redistricting, but ended up punting the issue for another day. The most recent fireworks were set off by Republican Precinct 3 Commissioner Andy Meyers, whose home in the Sugar Creek subdivision of Sugar Land had been removed from his Katy-based precinct in the controversial redistricting plan put forward and passed by a new
Democratic majority of the court in 2021 following the 2020 Census. Since then, he has made several unsuccessful attempts to reverse that situation. This latest brouhaha was set in motion earlier this year when Texas Rep. Matt Morgan, a Republican whose 26th District includes portions of Fort Bend County, sent a letter to Commissioners Court stating that many of the county’s voting precincts had more than 5,000 voters, exceeding state law, while others had too few. At its March 28 meeting, a divided
court failed to approve an item to transfer up to $60,000 to the county’s elections office dealing with the redrawing of the county’s voting precinct lines. That was followed by a raucous meeting on April 22, when Meyers sought for the county to spend up to $30,000 to hire Tony McDonald, a Dallas-area lawyer, to consult on the redistricting effort. Another item on the agenda, presented by County Attorney Bridgette Smith-Lawson, called for spending up to $50,000 to hire a Houstonbased firm, Brasil & Dunn. That meeting drew sharp ex-
changes between Meyers and Smith-Lawson and Precinct 4
Commissioner Dexter McCoy (both Democrats) and ended with the commissioners not deciding to hire either firm and allowing John Oldham, the county’s elections administrator, and his staff to go ahead with their efforts to redraw the precinct lines. On May 27, there were again two competing ideas on the agenda. One was to hold a public hearing
SEE
tenants
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In a new court filing, former Fort Bend ISD Superintendent Christie Whitbeck challenges a judge’s ruling dismissing her breach of contract lawsuit against the district. File photo
Fort Bend County Attorney Bridgette Smith-Lawson, foreground, spars with Precinct 3 Commissioner Andy Meyers, left, as Precinct 4 Commissioner Dexter McCoy listens during the May 27 meeting. Photo by Ken Fountain
Despite Walter’s eight strikeouts, Sugar Land drops finale against Albuquerque
Community Reports
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. –
LHP Brandon Walter spun eight strikeouts over 6.0 innings of two-run ball, but the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (32-24) fell 3-2 against the Albuquerque Isotopes (2630) on Sunday night at Isotopes Park.
Sugar Land jumped out in front in the first. Brice Matthews laid down a bunt single, and Luis Guillorme’s laser up the middle allowed Matthews to go first-tothird. In the ensuing at-bat, Collin Price pummeled an opposite field RBI double before Jesús Bastidas’ productive ground out plated the second run of the frame as the Space Cowboys pushed out to a 2-0 lead.
LHP Brandon Walter worked around a two-out double to post a scoreless bottom half of the first with before hurling a 1-2-3 second with an inning-ending punchout.
The southpaw then struck out the side in the third on 16 pitches while running his consecutive scoreless innings streak to 14.0 innings dating back to May 11 against the Salt Lake Bees, the longest from a Sugar Land starter this season.
Walter picked up where he left off in the fourth, fanning the first two batters of the inning to make it sixconsecutive hitters sat down on strikes, tying a franchise record. Although he gave up a two-out single, he forced Owen Miller into a lazy flyout to end the inning.
However, Sugar Land could not extend their lead as Albuquerque’s starter Andrew Quezada retired 12-straight batters from the second to the fifth, and in the home half of the fifth, the Isotopes tied the game at two with a two-out two-RBI double from Ryan Ritter.
Sugar Land threatened in the sixth as Zack Short led off the inning with a double laced down the leftfield line while Matthews and Bastidas walked to load the bases with two outs, but
they were left stranded. Walter held serve in the home of the sixth, setting down Albuquerque in order and sending the game knotted up at two into the seventh. Walter’s night ended after the frame as he went 6.0 innings while scattering six hits, allowing two runs and punching out eight, a new season high.
RHP Nick Robertson relieved Walter in the seventh and left a runner on third to hold the score at 2-2 with an inning-ending flyout.
NOTABLE:
· Brandon Walter struck out eight hitters on Sunday, including six in a row from the second to the fourth, his first time striking out eight since May 19, 2023 when he rang up nine with the Worcester Red Sox. He tied Spencer Arrighetti’s franchise record with sixstraight strikeouts, a feat which Arrighetti accomplished on July 28, 2023 at Las Vegas.
· Walter did not allow a walk, his fourth-straight start without issuing a free pass. The southpaw recorded his second-consecutive quality start after hurling 6.0 shutout innings against the Las Vegas Aviators on May 25.
· With a bunt single on Sunday, Brice Matthews is currently on a nine-game
hitting streak, tied for the longest hitting streak from a Sugar Land hitter this season, going 18-34 (.529) with four doubles, a triple, four home runs, 13 RBI and 12 runs scored.
· Nick Robertson extended his consecutive scoreless innings streak to 12.2 after a scoreless seventh which ties Luis Contreras for the longest consecutive scoreless innings streak from a reliever this season.
· Collin Price’s RBI double was his fourth game in his last five contests with an extra-base hit. In the series against the Isotopes, Price had two doubles, three homers and seven RBI.
· Zack Short’s double in the sixth extended his onbase streak to six games where he has two doubles, two walks and three runs scored.
· Luis Guillorme walked in the eighth, his fifthstraight game with a free pass. Guillorme came into Sunday’s game tied for fifth in the PCL in walks.
After Sunday’s series finale, Sugar Land headed home for a six-game set against the Sacramento River Cats. 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.
STAFFORD MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
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Dovran Ovezov, CFO
Oldham’s proposed changes to the precinct boundaries. The other was a public hearing on three new redistricting maps for the county precinct put forward by Meyers.
Meyers cited a May 24 memo by Tony McDonald, the same lawyer he had sought for the county to hire in April, who stated that the 2021 redistricting map was potentially in violation of both state and federal law.
McDonald based that assertion on comments made by County Judge KP George and other members of the court that the new precincts were drawn to serve particular racial groups. Federal precedent allows for race to be considered in redistricting in certain cases, but it should not be the prevailing factor, wrote McDonald, who has long been associated with conservative and Republican groups.
Meyers used his own funds to solicit McDonald’s advice, as well as to hire a demographer to produce the three new maps. He also held three simultaneous public meetings, with little advance notice, in Sugar Land, Richmond, and Katy on the evening of Memorial Day, one day before the Commissioners Court meeting. About 100 people in total attended the meetings, Meyers said during the Commissioners Court meeting.
Among the approximately 20 people who spoke during the public hearing, the vast majority voiced their opposition to going forward with a full redistricting, which is ordinarily done only once every 10 years, following the decadal U.S. Census. Many of them questioned Meyers’s motivation for the effort and the accelerated way it came about. A handful spoke in favor of going forward, while a few others said the matter should be delayed, possibly until the end of the year.
Among that latter category was former County Judge Robert Hebert, a Republican who and George’s immediate predecessor, who spoke on behalf of the Fort Bend Business Coalition.
“As representatives of the
business community, we firmly believe that voters should choose their elected officials. Elected officials should not choose their voters,” Hebert said. “We understand that the current voters precinct maps require changes before the next Commissioners Court election in November 2026.”
He said the “practical deadline” for making those changes in time for next year’s primary elections was the end of 2025. “So there’s no reason to act on either of these two items at this time.”
He encouraged the court to table the matter, and consider a process used by Fort Bend County in 2011 that included a citizens’ advisory committee.
“An open, considered, and measured approach is what is called for now. Understand that the process is at least as important as the map itself,” he said.
When the actual items came up on the agenda, the real fireworks began. Meyers attempted to speak, but McCoy spoke over him to make a motion to go forward with the work by Oldham and his staff. Meyers demanded that he be allowed to speak on his item, but McCoy continued. George interjected and asked for guidance by SmithLawson, the county attorney. Ultimately, McCoy assented to Meyers. Meyers then told the court that after listening to the public feedback, he was withdrawing the item from the agenda. He asked the other members of the court if they had any intention of addressing the assertion that
the county’s current maps violate federal law. That led to a lengthy discourse, often combative, between Meyers, McCoy, and Smith-Lawson which included allegations and counter-allegations going back to the 2021 redistricting vote. Members of the audience often applauded or spoke, including one woman who yelled at McCoy while he spoke at length. In the course of that discussion, George admitted that the current map originally came from his office, although he said he had placed trust in members of his staff. (McCoy was then George’s chief of staff.) George said he was wrong at the time to say that the districts should be drawn with race as a determining factor.
Precinct 2 Commissioner Grady Prestage tried to pin Meyers down on whether and when he might bring the matter back to the court. Meyers said he agreed with George that the court needed to gain more information before proceeding, but would not commit to a certain date. Prestage told Meyers that it was “irresponsible” of him to assert that the current map had been illegally approved without any court ruling that that was so. In the end, the commissioners also decided to postpone voting precinct maps produced by Oldham, agreeing that his staff needed more time to refine them. A full video of the meeting can be found at fortbendcountytx.new.swagit.com/ videos/343952.
An overflow audience watches the meeting in the Ceremonial Courtroom of the Fort Bend County Courthouse. Photo by Ken Fountain
EDITORIAL
‘Tis the season to be watchful
THE PATIO – I am tying down my chairs, tables and spittoons and so should you because it’s hurricane season. I can tell because FEMA has tossed out the first life preserver. Yes, it’s that time of the year when southeast Texas becomes the lead story on national TV: “Houston is drowning, Sugar Land is at high tide and we can’t find Galveston. But first, Breaking News! At the Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trial….”
By now, most of us know the drill, but for you thousands of newcomers who think Houston was originally called Hughes Town for local weird billionaire Howard Hughes, the Astrodome shelters us from falling asteroids and Allen Parkway is named for a former mayor, let me update you. Also, and this is very important for everyone, we face some significant changes in this season of fear and trepidation (and no, I’m not talking about the Texas Legislature).
First, preparations: You need to stock up on water. Go to the store and buy lots of bottled water. Or you can go to the nearest Spec’s and buy lots of vodka. It looks
We do not remember the first time our parents held us, the pride and joy on their face, the love and happiness they felt in that moment. We had not yet said a word, but already our existence meant the world to them. Slowly but surely we start to grow. From our first step, our first day of school, to our first major fight, our parents’ love remains present and strong. Then without us realizing, our lasts come as well. Our parents tucked us in for the last time, they walked us to the bus for the last time, they brought us to school and said goodbye for the last time and we did not notice. But they did. They remember how we begged them not to leave on the first day of school, how we cried before our first sleepover because we were scared to leave them and they remember the day we told them we could put ourselves to bed. While these moments may seem small to us, they all mean something much bigger: we are growing up. Unfortunately not many people, when growing up, understand the importance of having a strong relationship with their parents and instead push their biggest support system away. It is completely normal to want independence from our parents, especially during the teenage years. As we get older, we start to crave space, freedom, and the ability to make decisions for ourselves. But what many of us do not realize is that this need for independence often comes during one of the most critical stages of brain development. Around
Lynn Ashby Columnist
ASHBY2@COMCAST.NET
just like water but tastes better. You might like some food that doesn’t taste like weekold ALPO. That reminds me. Your pets don’t like week-old ALPO, either. Do you have a manually operated can opener? Trying to use an electric ca opener when there is no electricity can be humbling. Each year on TV we see impending storm stories with customers frantically lined up at a Home Depot to buy plywood to nail over their windows, and each year I wonder: what did they do with the plywood they bought the previous year?
Check your flood insurance. You cannot wait until a hurricane comes down your street to buy a policy. My flood insurance company, Delay & Denial, Inc., requires a lead time – like
the age of six, the prefrontal cortex begins to develop, and it continues maturing well into our twenties. This part of the brain is responsible for decision-making, memory, logic, emotion regulation, and impulse control. That is why little kids have such intense tantrums – they simply cannot regulate emotions. But even as we grow older, our brains are still changing and learning how to handle complex emotions and relationships, which is why teenagers often clash with their parents. As we start to form our own opinions and see the world differently, we may begin to see our parents not just as caregivers, but as people who are “in our way.” We think we know what is best for ourselves, and we start to push back. Arguments start over things like curfews, phones, or social media. To a teen, something like having Snapchat or Instagram may feel like a basic part of life, especially when everyone around them has it. However, to a parent, those platforms can feel risky or even dangerous. Then when a parent says no, it often feels like a personal attack. Instead of understanding where they are coming from, we feel misunderstood or judged, which causes us to pull away even more.
2 years. Thinking of fleeing? Don’t bother trying to get a hotel room anywhere this side of San Antonio, they’re full. Take a tip from your U.S. senator and reserve a plane ticket to Cancun. Our favorite power company, CenterPoint Lunacy, (motto: “Patience is a virtue”) keeps running ads telling us that, unlike Beryl and the derecho and when there’s a heavy dew or the temperature gets above 80, they are prepared. CenterPoint has a truck and two-man crew standing by in Waco and they now have three – yes, THREE – gerbils on treadmills. If CenterPoint won’t tell you where you can find power to run your grandfather’s dialysis machine, check with Whataburger. The Texas National Guard is busy stringing barbed wire in Eagle Pass. President Donald Trump –declaring “No transgenders in the military!” – has disbanded the Salvation Army. What are your chances that a hurricane will hit southeast Texas? About 100 to 110 percent. Actually, it depends on who is doing the predicting. (Translation: No one knows.) The National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (or NOAA Telling) is predicting 13 to 19 named storms this season. AccuWeather predicts 13 to 18 named storms, with 7 to 10 hurricanes and 3 to 5 major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher). The Weather Company forecasts 19 storms, with 9 hurricanes and 4 major hurricanes. Colorado State University also anticipates 17 named storms, including 9 hurricanes and 4 major hurricanes. I’ve always wondered why a university located in Fort Collins, Colorado, is in the hurricane prediction biz. Maybe Rice or UH predicts snow avalanches. When is the most likely time for us to get hit by a hurricane? Well, each year the official season begins on June 1. It’s officially over at the end of November although I don’t recall any Thanksgiving Day football games being cancelled due to a hurricane. Around here Beryl hit on a July 8 but it seems the end of August and the first part of September are the hot spots. The Galveston Storm hit on Sept. 8, 1900. Incidentally, the quartermaster of the U.S. Army reported back to Washington:
Growing up
This kind of disconnection builds slowly. We start hiding things, not because we want to be secretive, but because we do not want to deal with conflict or disappointment. We convince ourselves that our parents would not understand or would just say no so we stop telling them about what is really happening—whether it is something as big as a mistake we made or something small like a new friendship. The more we hide, the more distance forms and the more distance there is, the harder it becomes to go back.
A strong relationship with parents is built on trust, communication, and mutual respect. When that trust breaks, it becomes easy for teens to feel like they are completely alone. They stop reaching out. They stop asking for help. And sadly, this can lead to even more dangerous behavior because now, not only are we struggling, but we are doing it in silence. And silence can be dangerous. It can convince you that you are on your own when really, the people who love you most are just waiting for you to let them in.
I was that kind of teen during my freshman year of high school. I shut everyone out, especially my parents. I was afraid they would be disappointed in me if I told them the truth about what I was going through. I thought they would not understand. So I stayed quiet. I pretended everything was fine, even when it was not. I carried everything by myself, even though I did not have to and I could not carry it well. Looking back, that was one of
Sugar Land
the hardest years of my life. Not just because of the academic pressure or the stress of starting high school, but because I was trying to do it all alone. My mental health suffered, and so did my relationship with my family. My parents had no idea how to help because I refused to give them the chance. They tried. They asked questions. They offered support. But I kept telling myself I did not need it. I did not want to feel weak, so I pretended to be strong and that only made things worse. This year, things started to change. I decided to stop hiding and start letting them in again. It was not an overnight shift, and it definitely was not easy, but I slowly began to open up. I spoke about school, friendships, things that mattered to me. I started spending more time with them, not because I had to, but because I wanted to. I began to realize that they were not out to control me or ruin my fun. They were just trying to help me grow into someone strong and capable. I stopped seeing them as strict rule-makers and started seeing them as what they really are – my family. My support system. The people who love me more than anyone else ever will. We still argue sometimes. That has not gone away. But the way we handle conflict has changed. We actually talk now. We listen to each other. Even if we do not agree on everything, we find ways to meet in the middle. Because of this, I feel closer to them than I have in a long time. We
“Galveston is destroyed beyond its ability to recover.” Goodbye, Galveston. Hello, Houston. Harvey visited us August 25, 2017. It’s still around. I know because my neighborhood’s suit against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is still in the courts. (They opened the Barker Reservoir floodgates to prevent a flood.) Maybe in repayment my grandchildren will receive a tank. In Harris County – which has received nearly half of the state’s National Flood Insurance Program payouts – more than 78 percent of homes are uninsured. What about names? This year we begin with Andrea then Barry and Chantal and all the way to Van and Wendy which will be, if necessary, our 21st storm. Huh? But there are, I think, 26 letters in our alphabet except February which has 28. Storms are given in alphabetical order, but there are no Q, U, X, Y or Z hurricanes because there are not enough usable names that begin with those letters. Earlier I mentioned there are some significant changes for this season. I call it Hurricane Chain Saw or, when we get
devastated, the Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Elon Musk has depleted the ranks of NOAA and its National Hurricane Center. It’s just as well. On their radar they could only find the Gulf of America. Not to worry. The hurricane center still has its crack storm staff on the beach and on the alert. His name is Charlie, but he takes off every summer explaining, “It’s too dangerous out there.” We still have Mary Jo. She sits in an abandoned lighthouse with lanterns, ready to warn: “Two if by sea!” So how do we know if a storm is coming up the Houston Ship Channel? Check the flag on your flagpole. If the flag is drooping, no wind. When the flag flutters, a breeze. Standing straight out? It’s windy. When the flag is missing, time to leave. When the flag pole is missing, it’s too late. Look at the bright side. No power means you won’t have to watch the Diddy Combs trial. Ashby is under water at ashby2@comcast.net
are making new memories, not just the kind you forget the next day, but the kind that matters. The kind of memories that remind me of when I was little and everything felt safe and simple. I truly believe that this school year has been one of the best not because life got easier, but because I stopped going through life without my parents. Today’s world makes it hard for teens to stay close to their parents. There is so much pressure to fit in, to be accepted, to have a group. Sometimes that pressure is so strong that we begin to act like someone we are not. We make choices we know we should not make and we hide it all from our parents because we are afraid of being judged or punished. But in doing so, we end up losing our connection to the people who care the most. It becomes a cycle – hiding things leads to guilt, guilt leads to distance, and distance leads to more hiding. Before we know it, the relationship disappears.
The truth is, our parents are not perfect, and neither are we. We, teens, have the chance right now to rebuild that relationship because we do not have forever. Time moves fast and the longer we wait to fix what is broken, the harder it becomes to find our way back. So if you are holding back from reconnecting with your parents, maybe now is the time to start. Say something. Share something.
Let them in, even just a little.
You might be surprised by how much that one small step can change everything.
leadership:
Our time here, in our home, is limited so we must strengthen our bond before we start to slip through their fingers. When we take our final steps across the stage at graduation, when we get into our prom dress, when we get dropped off at college or into our first apartment, those are the final moments of our childhood with our parents before we are off on our own. We are so focused on our own lives and what’s best for us, we fail to remember it is our parents’ first time living as well. They are not here to be the villains in our story and are not here to limit our potential. In fact, they are like our own personal guide who has knowledge that is at our disposal. They are here to love and nurture us while also helping us figure out who we are and finding our future. In the end, our relationships with our parents are not about perfection but about growing together and loving each other through change.
“The feeling that I’m losing her forever And without really entering her world, Slipping through my fingers all the time I try to capture every minute.” - ABBA.
Morris is a Ridge Point High School student, class of 2027, a varsity tennis player, and an active member of JCC Maccabi Houston.
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.
Editor's note: The following op-ed is provided by the Fort Bend Business Coalition. It has been lightly editor for style purposes. This piece does not necessarily reflect the views of the Fort Bend Star or its staff. The Fort Bend Star welcomes opinion articles on matters of interest to Fort Bend County residents. Publication is at the discretion of the editor. Send submissions to editor@fortbendstar.com.
Voter turnout for the May 3 election was dismal at best –7.54 percent or nearly 32,000 registered voters – and that election was for officials in municipalities and school board positions all across Fort Bend, not just Sugar Land.
Why is the upcoming Sugar Land run-off election critical for the future of Sugar Land? Because experienced, effective city leadership is vital for a successful, thriving community. City leadership affects citizens in a most direct, hands-on manner, oftentimes more so than federal governance. City leadership is paramount in shaping the future of a municipality for decades to come. City leader-
ship determines whether a city thrives or fails. Having theright leadership matters, and it matters now and for our future.
The Fort Bend Business Coalition is dedicated to cultivating and supporting elected officials who understand and act on the needs of the business community by exercising common sense in making decisions and developing policies. And as a former mayor of Sugar Land for eight years, let me assure you that running a city requires business acumen.
Unflappable Leadership
Being the calm in the eye of a storm is crucial for our city leadership. During my tenure as Sugar Land mayor, a major event hit our city: Hurricane Ike. When the Texas governor declares an emergency – as Gov. Rick Perry did during Ike
– a calm demeanor, common sense practices and rational approach to life and death situations are paramount. When evacuation orders are an option, the mayor has sole discretion and unlimited authority to execute life-saving mandates. The individual elected to this position must exhibit unparalleled leadership skills and experience to manage crises that put our citizens in peril and do so with an experienced, level hand.
Relationship Building with Cogent
Communication
Understanding the roles – and cultivating the relationships – of city staff, fellow council, community leaders, constituents and first responders is a vital part of city leadership. It takes a concerted effort along with cogent communication to forge beneficial relationships with the community as a whole, which extends well beyond city limits. Effective city officials must develop and foster relationships with multiple counterparts, including other cities, county, state and federal officials. This requires a degree of political savvy and cogent communication skills that are vital for a city’s reputation and longevity.
possess standard business practices that come
ters
Community Reports
In conjunction with the 2025 Summer Reading Challenge, the Youth Services department at Fort Bend County Libraries’ Sienna Branch Library will host a special performance of “The Science of Sound” by Tom’s Fund Band on Tuesday, June 10, beginning at 2 p.m., in the Meeting Room of the library, 8411 Sienna Springs Blvd in Missouri City.
In this fun and interactive performance for children of all ages, learn how sound waves, vibrations, air molecules, and frequency all come together to create music. Demonstrations of unique sounds are introduced with a trumpet, guitar, flute, hand percussion, and concertina.
Children are encouraged to sing, move, and listen together, as they explore how sound is produced, how it moves, and how it is perceived.
This performance is made possible by the Friends of the Sienna Branch Library.
FBCL’s annual Summer Reading Challenge encourages reading among children from birth and up, as well as teens and adults. Readers of all ages can earn awards based on the
health care provider to help meet people’s immediate needs in emergency shelters and refer them for ongoing, specialized care.
number of books they read or time they spend reading, and children can participate in a variety of fun and exciting programs at the libraries in June and July. The program is free and open to the public. For more information, see the Fort Bend County Libraries’
Like the people we serve, the Red Cross is proud that our volunteers represent a wide array of cultures, backgrounds, ages, gender identities, lifestyles and beliefs. Everyone is welcome. Learn more about volunteering at redcross.org/volunteer/ become-a-volunteer.html.
WHITBECK FROM PAGE 1
of contract and defamation, and requesting “correction, clarification, or retraction” of numerous statements made in public or in writing by Position 5 trustee Sonya Jones, then-Position 7 trustee David Hamilton, and then Position 2 trustee and board president Judy Dae, as well as by the district itself.
The three trustees were sued in their official capacities, but Whitbeck and her Houston attorney, Chris Tritico, later dropped the individual claims against them. Since Whitbeck’s resignation, both Dae and Hamilton left
the board after not seeking reelection. Jones remains on the board, although she said in a Facebook post following the most recent election on May 4 that she was resigning to take a job opportunity. Her current status remains unclear.
In her order, Brame dismissed Whitbeck’s claims with prejudice, meaning they cannot be filed again.
“We are grateful for the district court’s decision. It is unfortunate that Dr. Whitbeck chose to pursue a meritless lawsuit that subjected taxpayers to needless and costly litigation,” Fort Bend ISD Board President Kristin Tassin said in a press release. Tritico, Whitbeck’s attorney, writes in an amended appeal
filed Friday that he was not made aware of Brame’s order until he was contacted by the Fort Bend Star for comment on May 27. He writes he had not received an emailed notice of the order, which is the usual practice.
In the appeal, Tritico requests that Brame hold a “De novo” hearing (Latin for “as for the first time”) on his claims that she erred in granting the district’s plea to the jurisdiction and that she review all of the issues raised in the district’s and Whitbeck’s filings.
As of Monday, there was no scheduled hearing on the Fort Bend County District Clerk’s website.
• Small class
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Libraries to feature children’s theater production of ‘The Three Nasty Gnarlies’
Community Reports
In conjunction with the 2025 Summer Reading Challenge, Fort Bend County Libraries will feature a special children’s theater performance of “The Three Nasty Gnarlies” on Thursday, June 12, beginning at 3 p.m., in the Meeting Room of the Mission Bend Branch Library, 8421 Addicks Clodine Road. This performance is for children of all ages.
The performance will be repeated on Tuesday, July 8, beginning at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m., at George Memorial Library, 1001 Golfview in Richmond. This performance is for children entering grades 1-5. Space is limited and free tickets – available 30 minutes before each program – are required for entry.
Part of ARTreach’s Books Alive! program, this children’s theater performance is based on the children’s book of the same title by Keith Graves. This be-yourself story is about three junkyard monsters who grow self-conscious about their looks after meeting a know-itall butterfly.
Combining the message that everyone is beautiful in their own way with the importance of taking care of the environment, the performance delights while it educates and reminds everyone about acceptance.
ARTreach’s Books Alive! program develops and performs musical-theater performances based on beloved children’s books that inspire literacy and promote theatrical creativity, while sending positive messages. The event, which is free and open to the public, is made possible by the Friends of the Library. For more information, see the Fort Bend County Libraries website (fortbendlibraries.gov) or call the Mission Bend Branch Library (832-471-5900), George Memorial Library (281-3424455), or the library system’s Communications Office (281-633-4734).
REVAMP FROM PAGE 1
improvements are essential to keeping Town Square competitive in a changing market, while preserving the character and energy that make it a beloved destination. This kind of long-term collaboration is exactly what makes Sugar Land such a great place to invest.”
The 32.8-acre, mixed-use Sugar Land Town Square district was established in 2003 through the city’s first publicprivate partnership. Town Square is home to several major employers and maintains an overall occupancy rate of 73 percent across office, retail and restaurant spaces. Since 2018, the district has seen more than 27 million visitors.
“Sugar Land Town Square set the standard for publicprivate partnerships—and it continues to lead by example,” said Jessica Huble, the city’s assistant director of redevelopment. “This investment underscores our commitment to reinvest where it matters most and support partners who are just as invested in Sugar Land’s future as we are. Redevelopment isn’t just a priority – it’s vital to long-term success, and we are proud to support what’s next for Town Square.”
HELP SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM
The Mission Bend Branch Library will host a performance of “The Three Nasty Gnarlies” on June 12. The George Memorial Library will present the performance on July 8. Courtesy Fort Bend County Libraries
City of Sugar Land recently
Town Square, here seen during
Deadline is noon every Friday. Limit entries to the “5 Ws” Who, What, When, Where, and Why. Email to editor@fortbendstar.com
ONGOING
RICHMOND/ROSENBERG ALZHEIMER’S
CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP MEETING
Please join us on Thursday, June 5, at 7 p.m. for our monthly meeting. We will be meeting in Room 105, the Gathering Room, at St. John’s United Methodist Church, 400 Jackson Street, Richmond. We are looking forward to an open discussion this meeting. Caregivers, please feel free to bring your ideas to discuss with the group. Alzheimer’s Association support groups, conducted by trained facilitators, are a safe place for caregivers and loved ones of people with dementia. Support groups create a safe, confidential, supportive community and a chance for participants to develop informal mutual support and social relationships. They educate and inform participants about dementia and help participants develop methods and skills to solve problems. Questions may be sent to: gallowkj@earthlink.net.
ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE CLASSES AT GPBC
In conjunction with the Literacy Council of Fort Bend Bend County, Grand Parkway Baptist Church will offer ESL classes on Tuesday nights from mid-August 2025 through May 2026. We are located at 12000 FM 1464, Richmond, across from Austin High School. 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 restau rants. 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.
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.
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
Three in your Estate, Planned, or Year-End Giving. Register now, or learn more about exciting events: www.hopeforthree.org/events.
EXCHANGE
