HAR: More homes, easing prices benefit area homebuyers in May
Staff Reports
Houston-area homebuyers are springing into action as expanding inventory and easing home prices create new opportunities across the region. This activity is a clear indicator of the ongoing shift toward a buyer’s market.
Houston’s single-family home sales recorded their largest year-to-date increase in May. According to the Houston Association of Realtors’ May 2025 Housing Market Update, sales rose 6.8 percent year-overyear, with 9,058 homes sold compared to 8,483 during the same time last year.
Homebuyers experienced a welcome reduction in housing costs due to lower mortgage rates and a slight decline in home prices. The average sales price declined by 0.7 percent to $438,230. The median price was down 1.2 percent to $339,425.
According to Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey, the average 30-year mortgage rate decreased from 7.06 percent in May 2024 to 6.82 percent in May 2025. When combined with the dip in median price, buyers’ typical monthly principal and interest mortgage payment fell from $1,839.34 in May 2024 (assuming a 20 percent down payment) to $1,773.13 as of May 2025, resulting in $66.31 savings per month or $794.36 annually.
Growing inventory provided more opportunities for prospective buyers in May. There were 37,455 active listings of single-family homes, which is an increase of 35.0 percent yearover-year. This is the highest volume of active listings since September 2007.
“With more homes to choose from and prices becoming a bit more favorable, people are definitely feeling more confident and getting back out there,” said HAR Chair Shae Cottar with LPT Realty. “This shift signals to sellers that motivated buyers are engaged and eager to take advantage of the current market conditions. We anticipate this momentum will carry us into the summer months.”
The rental market also experienced increased demand in May.
May Monthly Market
Comparison
May marked a turnaround for the Houston real estate market. Overall property sales were 4.6 percent above last year’s volume, snapping a three-month streak of declining sales. This growth was accompanied by a 5.6 percent increase in total dollar volume, which reached $4.5 billion.
Inventory continued to grow, with 58,005 available properties, which is a 29.4 percent increase compared to last May.
Single-Family Homes Update
May was a strong month for the Greater Houston housing market, as sales rose by 6.8 percent compared to the same period last year. A total of 9,058
By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
At a hearing scheduled for Friday in the 458th District Court, attorneys for Fort Bend County Judge KP George will argue that the presiding judge of that court should recuse herself in two felony cases against him to eliminate any appearance of impropriety because – as the county’s top elected official –George has voting authority over her salary and other potential conflicts of interest.
The motion to recuse will be heard by Judge Susan Brown, the presiding judge for the judicial region which includes Fort Bend
County. She is expected to rule on whether a judge from outside the county should be brought in to hear the felony and misdemeanor cases against George.
In the felony cases, which was indicted in April, Fort Bend County prosecutors accuse George of money laundering related to campaign finance reports he filed during his first run for judge’s office in 2018. He was reelected to a second term in 2022.
The indictments allege that between January 12, 2019 and April 22, 2019, George “knowingly” tampered with campaign finance reports to conduct transactions of between $30,000 and $150,000, and transferring the
proceeds “with intent to defraud or harm.”
George and his attorneys Jared Woodfill and Terry Yates appeared before County Court at Law No. 5 Judge Teana Watson last Friday for a status conference on George’s previous misdemeanor misappropriation of identify cases, in which he is alleged to have worked with Taral Patel, his former chief of staff, to engage in a “fake hate” scheme of using false online identities to post racist messages about himself on social media and in emails during his 2018 campaign.
SUGAR LAND RALLY-GOERS CALL FOR ‘NO KINGS’
By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Hundreds of people filled the main plaza of Sugar Land Town Square on Saturday for a “No Kings” rally, voicing their opposition to the policies of President Donald Trump and joining many thousands of likeminded people at similar events across the nation.
The Sugar Land rally was one of several in the greater Houston area, which coincided with the rare military parade held in Washington, D.C.
Community Reports
Kempner High School senior Noey Do etched his name into the record books by becoming the first player in UIL history to win four consecutive 5A Boys Singles Tennis State Championships, according to a story on the Fort Bend ISD website.
But his historic defeat did not come easily. A leg cramp during the second set of his final match tested Do’s resilience, forcing him into a third set.
“We felt pretty confident going into the final match, but everything changed when his leg cramped,” Kempner Tennis Coach Anne Southard said. “It was very scary and intense because we didn’t want to go out that way.”
to mark the 250th birthday of the U.S. Army. The day also happened to be Trump’s 79th birthday, although his administration denied that was a reason for the parade.
Attendees at the Sugar Land event hailed from a broad demographic profile, both in race and age, many of them carrying signs with slogans such as “Stars & Stripes and Human Rights,” “Immigrants Get the Job Done,” “We Elect Presidents, Not Kings,” and “This is America, We Don’t Do Kings.” Numerous people carried American flags.
Although there had been a light rain just before the rally got underway, it wasn’t long before the rain stopped. The weather remained fairly humid, but that didn’t keep attendees from standing on the plaza for two straight hours, cheering on and chanting with the speakers.
The Sugar Land rally was organized by the Fort Bend chapter of the national Indivisible organization, which formed in the wake of Trump’s first election in 2016. Rally speakers appeared on the front steps of Sugar Land City Hall, and the organizers
conferred before the two-hour event began with Sugar Land Police officers about how to make the rally trouble-free.
Jan Poscovsky, of Richmond, the lead organizer of the event for the local Indivisible chapter, said the primary goal of the rally was to allow people in Fort Bend County to have a place to voice their displeasure with the Trump Administration.
“The rally is designed to show
wins four consecutive UIL tennis championships
“It made me doubt myself,” Do said. “The possibility of getting second place for the first time was really present.” Still, Do was determined not to disappoint his coaches, parents and the community who traveled to San Antonio to support him.
“My mindset literally dictated the entire third set,” Do said.
“Every time I won a point, I would look back into the sea of maroon and see so many people cheering for me.”
The final score of the match was 6-1, 3-6 and 6-1. Do will continue his tennis career at Rice University this fall while studying business and economics. As for Coach Southard, she will retire from coaching tennis but will continue teaching.
“It’s been an amazing year to go out on,” Southard said. “This senior class is one of my all-time favorites – a truly great group of students. But it’s time, and I’m glad to have been a part of this journey.”
Earlier, Kempner Principal Dr. Danielle Jackson offered to organize a fan bus so Do’s friends and teachers could be there to cheer him on. Coach Southard was initially hesitant because she is superstitious, and it was not something they had done in the previous three years. Ultimately, they decided to schedule a bus, and it may have made all the difference. During the break between the second and third sets, he managed to recover physically and regain his focus.
Kempner High School senior Noey Do recently won his fourth consecutive 5A Boys Singles Tennis State Championship, the first player to do so. Here he poses with Kempner Tennis Coach Anne Southard. Photo via Fort Bend ISD
of people filled the plaza of Sugar Land Town Square for the "No Kings" rally on Saturday. Photo by Ken Fountain
Fort Bend County Judge KP George, left, confers with his attorney Jared Woodfill after a status hearing in his misdemeanor cases last week. They are asking for an outside judge to hear George’s cases.
Photo by Ken Fountain
Castro’s four-hit game powers Space Cowboys series finale win over Reno
Community Reports
RENO – The Sugar Land Space Cowboys (37-31) scored a run in seven different innings, including five combined runs in the eighth and ninth, to propel the Space Cowboys to a 12-5 victory over the Reno Aces (3336) on Sunday afternoon at Greater Nevada Field. In their six-game series against Reno, Sugar Land scored 67 runs with 13 homers and slashed .340/.418/.638.
Taylor Trammell flared a double to left with one out in the first before Brice Matthews lined an RBI single past the third baseman to put Sugar Land ahead, 1-0. Later in the inning, after Jesús Bastidas was hit by a pitch, Collin Price muscled a two-out RBI single to right, plating Matthews.
The Aces cut Sugar Land’s lead in half with a run in the bottom of the first. However, the Space Cowboys regained their two-run advantage in the second as Bryan Lavastida, in his first at-bat with Sugar Land, launched a lead-off homer to left.
Although Reno loaded the bases with out in the bottom of the second, RHP Miguel Ullola struck out the side, including the final two batters of the frame to strand the runners.
Sugar Land doubled their advantage in the top of the third. Luis Castro singled to center, and in the ensuing at-bat, Bastidas pummeled a tworun home run 391-feet to left as the Space Cowboys went up, 5-1. Reno scored a run in the bottom of the third courtesy of a two-out RBI single from Andy Weber.
After RHP Michael Knorr (W, 1-0) made his
Triple-A debut by recording the final out of a scoreless fourth, Castro cracked a 394-foot leadoff homer to left as Sugar Land stretched their advantage, 6-2. The Space Cowboys squandered a chance to open the game up as they loaded the bases with one out, but the runners were left on. In the bottom half, the Aces answered with a two-run home run to make it a two-run game heading into the sixth, 6-4. Castro’s phenomenal afternoon continued in the sixth as he kept the inning alive with a twoout double before Bastidas dug out a 1-1 slider for an RBI double as Sugar Land pushed out to a 7-4 lead. After the Aces scored a run in the bottom of the seventh, Castro and Bastidas led off the eighth with walks, putting two on with nobody out. Omar Narváez pulled a single into right, plating Castro, and Lavastida lifted a sacrifice fly, allowing Bastidas to score as the Space Cowboys regained a four-run lead, 9-5. An inning later, Short started the ninth with a walk, Matthews singled to right and Castro lashed an opposite-field double
to score Short, his fourth hit of the game. Later in the inning, Sugar Land opened the game up as Bastidas brought home Matthews on a sacrifice fly before Pricepunched an RBI single up the middle. The Space Cowboys plated three in the ninth, and RHP Luis Contrerasclosed out the bottom of the ninth, as Sugar Land took the Sunday finale, 12-6.
NOTABLE:
· Luis Castro is on a 12-game on-base streak and an eight-game hitting streak, going 4-for-5 on Sunday with two doubles, a homer, two RBI and five runs scored. Over his on-base streak, Castro is 20-for-47 (.426) with seven doubles, two home runs, 13 RBI, eight walks and 17 runs scored. Castro had four hits on Sunday, his first fourhit game since May 26, 2019 with the Lancaster JetHawks. His five runs scored were also a seasonhigh from a Space Cowboy hitter this season.
· Jesús Bastidas pushed his on-base streak to 13 games and his hitting streak to 11 games with a 2-for-3 game on Sunday with a double, a
homer, four RBI and two runs scored. Over his on-base streak, Bastidas is 20-for-53 (.377) with six doubles, a triple, two homers, 16 RBI, seven walks and 11 runs scored. Bastidas’ hitting streak is the longest from a Space Cowboy hitter in 2025. Sunday was Bastidas’ first four-RBI game since September 19, 2024 against the Sacramento River Cats.
· With a 2-for-6 game on Sunday with two singles, Brice Matthews went 12-for-28 (.429) with a double, two triples, two home runs, nine RBI and four walks in the series against Reno.
· Bryan Lavastida made his first appearance with Sugar Land after being promoted from Corpus Christi on June 14. He went 1-for-3 with a homer, two RBI and two walks on Sunday.
· Miguel Ullola went 3.2 innings with six hits, two earned runs, five walks and four strikeouts on Sunday in his second start of the series against Reno.
· Michael Knorr made his Triple-A debut on Sunday and earned his first win in 1.1 innings of work with one strikeout.
· Anthony Huezo recorded his first hit of his Triple-A career with a single in the ninth.
After their six-game set against Reno, Sugar Land heads home for a seven-game series against the Las Vegas Aviators. Games 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.
Railfest ‘25 set for June 22 at Rosenberg Railroad Musuem
Community Reports
The Rosenberg Railroad Museum will host “RAILFEST ‘25” on Sunday, June 22 from noon to 4 p.m., giving attendees an opportunity to get an up-close look at machines from the Golden Age of Rail.
Attendees will be invited inside the museum’s 1938 ATSF #3401 Railway Post Office (RPO) car, a rare opportunity to see the interior of this historic mail car before restoration begins. When the car was in service, postal workers sorted mail as the train sped across the country. Also debuting at RAILFEST, festivalgoers will experience pure railroad folklore when storyteller MaryAnn Blue takes to the stage with “Tales from the Rails.” A longtime member and past president of the Texas Folklore Society, Blue will weave stories about life along the tracks of the Missouri Pacific Sunshine Special in the early 1920s, spin the legend of train outlaw Railroad Bill, and share the eerie tale of the “Old Dilly Place” in 1950s Palestine, Texas, as well as ghost train story from 1890s Colorado.
Picker John Armour will perform Bluegrass and railroad tunes from the event stage adjacent to the restored 1879 Quebec Business Car, an executive railcar designed for a business mogul and their entourage. Bluegrass jammers of any level are invited to circle
up and perform with John at the “Hobo Jam.”
Attendees will be able to see the museum’s full-sized rolling stock and model railroad displays from “G” gauge to “HO”. They will be able to explore intricate layouts from T-TRAK, see the Houston Area Live Steamers demonstrate the workings of old-school steam engines, and check out the Houston Tinplate Operators Society’s wild “Area 51” model railroad display. The MoPac caboose is a double-decked delight offering a glimpse into the lives of the conductor, flagman, and brakeman. Alongside it, the museum’s growing collection of rolling stock includes a vintage diesel switcher engine, a helium tank car from the early space program, an AMTRAK passenger coach, and the new Railway Post Office car, open for a limited-time sneak peek.
Festivalgoers can see the workings inside the historic Tower 17, a 1903 railroad interlocking tower that was used until 2004. Inside the museum gallery, guests will discover railroad memorabilia – from tools and telegraphs to photos and art.
Members of the Houston Area Live Steamers (HALS) will be on-site to demonstrate the workings of old-school steam locomotives and to share the history of these machines, while members of the Houston Area G-Gaugers (HAGG) operate the museum’s popular
Attendees will be able to get a rare inside look at a 1938 ATSF #3401 Railway Post Office car during RAILFEST ‘25 at the Rosenberg Railroad Museum on Sunday, June 22. Courtesy Rosenberg Railroad Museum
“garden railroad” depicting Rosenberg and surrounding areas from the 1950s.
Costumed “railroad workers and travelers” will roam the grounds, bringing the past to life. Guests are encouraged to join the fun by dressing in vintage railroad attire – whether as a conductor, porter, engineer, or hobo.
“RAILFEST 2025” will be hold on Sunday, June 22 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Rosenberg Railroad Museum, 1921 Avenue F in downtown Rosenberg. Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for children ages 3–12, and $10 for seniors and veterans. Active-duty military receive free admission with identification. For more information, call 281-633-2846 or email info@ rrrm.org.
Family entertainer ‘Andyroo’ to perform at Fort Bend libraries
Singer-songwriter Andrew Karnavas (“Andyroo”) will perform at the Sienna Branch Library on June 24 and at the University Branch Library on July 7. Courtesy Fort Bend County Libraries Community Reports
In conjunction with Fort Bend County Libraries’ annual Summer Reading Challenge, the Sienna Branch Library will feature a special performance by family entertainer Andyroo on Tuesday, June 24, beginning at 2 p.m., in the Meeting Room of the library, 8411 Sienna Springs Blvd in Missouri City.
The performance will be repeated on Monday, July 7, beginning at 2:30 p.m., in the Meeting Room of the University Branch Library, located at 14010 University Blvd in Sugar Land. Space is limited at this performance. Free tickets are required for entry and will be handed out starting 1 hour before showtime. No late admittance.
Andrew Karnavas (“Andyroo”) is a Houston singer/songwriter who delights children of all ages by interweaving music and movement with playful storytelling. His songs are silly and imaginative, with subjects ranging from animals to weather.
In his performance of “Andyroo & the Andyrooniverse,” Andyroo takes everyone on a musical journey to the Andyrooniverse – a magical town created by the ever-expanding landscape of children’s imaginations, where they will encounter swinging monkeys, a friendly platypus, Silly Sal the Salamander, and a big balloon
that will whisk everyone away to a whole universe of exciting, animated characters.
A featured performer on Radio Disney AM 1590, Karnavas has appeared at the PBS Kids show at SXSW, on the Kids Country Stage with Radio Disney at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, and at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.
This program is made possible by the Friends of the Library organizations that support these libraries.
FBCL’s annual Summer Reading Challenge encourages reading among children from birth and up, as well as teens and adults. “Color Our World” is the theme for this year’s Summer Reading Challenge. Readers of all ages can earn rewards based on the 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 Summer Reading Challenge and the performance are free and open to the public. For more information, see the Fort Bend County Libraries website (www.fortbendlibraries.gov) or call the Sienna Branch Library (281238-2900), the University Branch Library (281-633-5100), or the library system’s Communications Office (281-633-4734).
To: Our Stockholders
From: You’re CEO
It is time once again for the yearly report from SleazeScum, Inc., a report which is a time-consuming and meaningless task on my part. (I have a tee-time at 3:30.) But those nosy, meddling bureaucrats at the SEC demand it. However, this may be the last time a report is necessary since President Donald Trump has followed the suggestion of his onetime best buddy who has now been put on an ice floe off the coast of the Sovereign State of Greenland. Elon Musk and his Muskrats at DOGE have cut down on government waste, fraud and abuse by merging the SEC into the U.S. Forest Service with headquarters in Nome, Alaska. I doubt the slim-downed department, Edgar Mildew and his wife, BonnySue, will have time to go through this report to check on its honesty and accuracy, if you get my drift.
First, some of you are wondering about the dividends and the lack thereof. I decided to follow the lead of Jeff Bezos who, in the early days of Amazon, did not pay out dividends but plowed the
HAR FROM PAGE 1
homes were sold versus 8,483 a year ago. This positive momentum was mirrored in pending sales, which increased by 19.8 percent year-over-year.
The average sales price was $438,230, a 0.7 percent dip from last May, while the median price decreased 1.2 percent to $339,425. The price per square foot also edged down, from $182 to $180. Active listings for singlefamily homes reached 37,455 in May, which is up 35.0 percent compared to last May. This volume represents the highest level of active listings since September 2007, when 37,500 units were on the market.
Months of inventory also rose, climbing from 3.9 months last May to a 5.2-months supply – a level last reached in July 2012. This figure surpasses the national average of 4.4 months as reported by the National Association of Realtors.
Days on Market, or the actual time it took to sell a home, also increased from 46 to 50 days.
Broken out by housing segment, home sales in the Houston area performed as follows:
$1 - $99,999: increased 23.8 percent
$100,000 - $149,999: increased 18.6 percent
$150,000 - $249,999: increased 12.0 percent
$250,000 - $499,999: increased 5.7 percent
$500,000 - $999,999: increased 0.2 percent
$1M and above: increased 6.3 percent
In May, existing home sales rose 5.1 percent with 6,370 closings compared to 6,059 last year. The average price was statistically flat at $458,299, and the median sales price was unchanged at $345,000.
A crook cooks the books
ASHBY2@COMCAST.NET
money back into the company. Who can ague Bezos’s success? We will resume paying dividends as soon as we have any. That may be awhile since our investment in the Gaza Hilton & Bunker Casino is not going well. Actually, we can’t find it. Our partnership in KremlinWorld was doing fine until a Ukrainian drone happened by. The jury is still out on our program to sell franchises in the Joe Biden Fitness Clubs. To be honest, the jury is in, but we plan to appeal.
Last year in our annual report we bragged about our heavy investment in cryptocurrencies. That plan did not exactly succeed. We tried to track down where our money went but, as you may know, cryptocurrencies, like bit -
Townhome/Condominium
Update
Houston’s townhome and condominium market experienced a continued slowdown in May, marking the fourth consecutive month of declining sales. A total of 485 units were sold, which is a 12.9 percent decrease from the 557 units sold last May. The average price declined 5.5 percent to $265,903, while the median price dropped 8.3 percent to $221,500.
Townhome and condominium listings increased to 3,311, resulting in a 7.8-month supply of inventory. This is a significant jump compared to the 4.6-month supply reported last year at this time. Inventory levels reached their highest point since September 2011, when the supply stood at 8.0 months.
Houston Real Estate Highlights in May
• Single-family home sales increased 6.8% year-over-year;
• Days on Market (DOM) for single-family homes went from 46 to 50 days;
• The single-family median price declined 1.% to $339,425;
• The single-family average price was down 0.7% to $438,230;
• Single-family home months of inventory expanded to a 5.2-months supply, up from 3.9 months last May.
• Townhome and condominium sales declined 12.9% year-over-year. The median price declined 8.3% to $221,500, and the average price fell 5.5% to $265,903.
• Total property sales increased 4.6% with 10,565 units sold;
• Total dollar volume rose 5.6% to $4.5 billion.
Editor’s Note: The HAR report, lightly edited, is used by permission. Find the full report at https://www.har.com/content/ department/mls.
coins, don’t really exist. You can’t go to an ATM and get, say, $2,000 worth, or even drop some in the collection plate at your Klan rally. There must be some way of making real – not electronic – cash. The Trump family is supposed to have reaped millions on their cryptocurrency transactions, even more than the profits on those golden tennis shoes and Bibles.
Speaking of our Beloved Leader, I have asked for a pardon for my alleged and totally false charges of arson. Our records were locked in a fire-proof safe, but someone left it open and it wasn’t me. I don’t care what the video tapes show. My $1,000 gift to the OSHA inspector after he wrongly accused the firm of using child labor on the napalm tester was a birthday gift. The fact that he then put his report in the aforementioned fire-proof safe was a mere coincidence. It makes no difference since OSHA has disappeared. Following White House orders, we have abolished our diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) department and replaced it with non-union robots – white, male and straight.
Now let’s turn to our Texas operation (and it’s not a “Mafia front” as the DA charged). Gov. Greg Abbott has signed legislation to create a new state department much like DOGE: The Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office. But instead of eliminating waste, fraud and abuse in government TREO aims to eliminate red tape for businesses. This includes streamlining state authorization for toxic dumps near elementary schools by simply moving the schools or holding classes at night when the dumps are closed. Other proposals include cutting red tape on food inspections. (“Just spray the veggies with Clorox,” one TREO official suggested before croaking on a tainted pork chop.) Another proposal: Red lights – are they necessary? And: Let’s rename the hospital Haystack Memorial – who needs new needles? To cut down on skyrocketing government expense, TREO will cost about $10 million to operate through 2027. Moving forward, we here at SleazeScum, Inc. plan to get our share of the latest goldmine in Texas: the $1 billion statewide voucher program. That $1B is coming
from the taxpayers of Texas and is going to, hee-hee-hee, us! That fortune will be paid to the parents who will then pay it to private schools, religious schools or even for home schooling. We open a bunch of these schools which will have no accounting, no state oversight but, regrettably, no high school football teams. Goodbye, Friday Night Lights. And it should be easy to find empty school houses. Just check the neighborhood toxic dumps. But you ask, “No oversight? Certainly the Texas Education Agency will be monitoring the financing just as they do all state money going to education.” Wrong. The Billion Bucks Boondoggle will be managed by, get this, the State Comptroller’s Office, which has zero experience in such matters, but maybe the newbies will. To run the Guv’s private school handout the Legislature approved sending the office an additional $30 million and authorized hiring 28 new staffers to run the program. (Another step forward in cutting back on state spending.) Fortunately, our state comptroller is going to… Oops. We don’t have one.
Our current chief bean counter, Glenn Hegar, is leaving the post to become chancellor of the Texas A&M University System. Oversight? More like overlook. Reading, ‘riting and riches, that’s our key to Texas education. There have been some questions about my salary, expense account and Halloween bonus, but on another matter our investment in a new Broadway musical, “Donald & Elon –Pals Forever” has been put on hold pending lawsuits filed by both stars. Oh, as for the latter, we also heavily invested in Texas-based companies, Musk’s SpaceX, the Boring Company and Tesla. That may have been a mistake since Trump just posted: “The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon’s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts.” I think a contract has been put on Elon Musk, if he survives the ice floe. Finally, to grease the skids (and palms) in Washington, we have made an endowment to Trump University (formerly Harvard).
Ashby is subpoenaed at ashby2@comcast.net
University Branch Library to host program on senior home care on June 20
Fort Bend County Libraries’ University Branch Library will present “The Truth About Home Care” – a program in the Senior Series for older adults and their family members – on Friday, June 20, 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 real-estate specialist and certified senior-housing professional, will moderate a panel of experts who will talk about the realities of home care and the complex world of in-home support.
McNeel will discuss the different types of home care agencies, costs involved and payment options, and tips for finding reputable providers.
During the program, caregiving experts and people with firsthand experience
with home care and will discuss the pros and cons of aging in place versus moving to an assisted living facility or senior care community. The program is free and open to the public. For more information, see the Fort Bend County Libraries website (www.fortbendlibraries. gov), or call the University Branch Library (281-6335100) or the library system’s Communications Office (281-633-4734).
PARKING INSTRUCTIONS: Park inside the gated lot (VISITOR LOT 4). Bring the parkingticket stub to the check-out desk inside the library to be validated by library staff. Parking is FREE if the ticket is validated by the library. Parking outside the gated lot may result in a parking violation from the University of Houston.
Lynn Ashby Columnist
Liz McNeel, a senior real-estate specialist and certified senior-housing professional, will present a program on home care for seniors at the University Branch Library on June 20. Courtesy Fort Bend County Libraries
Live birds to visit libraries in June, July
Community Reports
In conjunction with the Summer Reading Challenge 2025, Fort Bend County Libraries invites children of all ages to soar into the world of birds, books, and beyond with Wild Bird Adventures’ conservationist Mary Anne Morris, who will be accompanied by several of her live, wildlife ambassadors at the libraries this summer. Discover the world of birds, from backyard favorites to fascinating rare species. Meet live owls and hawks and hear about the sights, sounds, and history of these soaring hunters!
This event will take place at the following libraries:
· June 25, 3 p.m. – Sugar Land Branch Library (550 Eldridge)
o Space is limited. Tickets are required for entry and will be handed out starting 1 hour before showtime. No late admittance.
· July 10, 2:00 pm – Missouri City Branch Library (1530 Texas Parkway)
· July 22, 2:00 pm – Sienna Branch Library (8411 Sienna Springs Blvd, Missouri City) Director of Wild Bird Adventures, Morris
JUDGE FROM PAGE 1
Both George and Patel are Indian-American.
Patel, who had been accused of numerous felony and misdemeanor charges during his unsuccessful run last year for Precinct 3 Commissioner, accepted a plea agreement in April and is cooperating with prosecutors in the cases against George.
In their motion to recuse, George’s attorneys that 458th District Court Judge Maggie Perez-Jarmamillo should recuse herself from hearing George’s cases because as the elected county judge who serves on Commissioners Court, he has a vote on not only her salary, but the salaries of all of the personnel who work under her.
has been educating the public about nativebird conservation for more than 30 years. Wild Bird Adventures provides a home and habitat to birds that can no longer live in the wild. They serve as wildlife ambassadors helping to support an environmentally informed citizenry. This program is made possible through the generous support of the Friends of the Library organizations that support these libraries. Proceeds from the Friends of the Library book sales and annual membership dues help to underwrite the costs of special programming and various cultural events at the 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 rewards based on the 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 July.
The program is free and open to the public. For more information, see the Fort Bend County Libraries website (www.fortbendlibraries.gov) or call the library system’s Communications Office (281-633-4734).
Perez-Jarmamillo recently appeared before Commissioners Court asking that they not only not cut
funding for court personnel, but also increase the number of associate judges in the courthouse. The attorneys also
the leaders of our government that there are people who are not aligned with the current practices. We don’t believe they are doing what we want them to do. There is no mandate,” she said. “The mandate of the people is that we want our infrastructure, our safety net, we want all that back, and they’ve taken that away.”
In opening remarks, Poscovsky and other organizers reminded attendees that the rally was meant to be a nonviolent and peaceful event. A fairly large contingent of Sugar Land police officers was joined by Texas state troopers. Although Gov. Greg Abbott had promised to deploy Texas National Guard units to some of the “No Kings” rallies across the state, none were seen at the Sugar Land event.
Because the Sugar Land rally was one of the largest in the suburban Houston area, many attendees came from fairly far away. Among them were Leslie Penny, a U.S. Navy veteran who came with her daughter Piper, 18, from Bay City.
“I’m a veteran, so this means a lot to me,” said Leslie. “I feel like what’s happening goes against everything that I fought for. Our right to do what we’re doing, what Trump is doing right now. And for the immigrants. Our ancestors came here to start fresh and I feel like [immigrants] are being so mistreated. I just hate it for them and I’m here to stand up for them. For them, for the veterans, and for the elderly folks. I’m afraid that we won’t have Social Security when the time comes. Lots of reasons.” Another veteran at the rally was Air Force veteran Mark Lester, who was one of the early speakers during the rally.
argue that George has voting authority over approving travel expenses and other expenses for the judges in the county.
At Friday’s hearing, Carter reset the proceedings for two weeks, until after Brown makes a ruling on the recusal motion.
Speaking with reporters outside the courtroom after the hearing, George’s attorneys said they don’t believe Watson or Perez-Jarmamillo have acted improperly thus far in handling their client’s cases. But the cases should be heard by a judge from outside the county, over whom George has no authority, in order to avoid any appearance of impropriety or conflict of interest.
“The standard is when a reasonable person looks at this situation, could there be a look of impropriety,” Woodfill said. “Not whether the judge can be
partial or impartial; that’s not the standard. The standard is how does it look to the public at large?”
Woodfill said a judge from outside the county should be brought into the cases. Yates said the issue of whether a change of venue of the cases to another county would likely be brought up later.
In the meantime, George is appealing Watson’s ruling last year not to quash his indictment in the misdemeanor cases before the 14th Court of Appeals.
On a related note, Daniel Wong, a businessman and former Sugar Land City Council member, used the occasion of the Friday hearing to formally announce his candidacy for the 2026 Republican nomination for Fort Bend County Judge outside the courthouse. Wong, who in a press
release stated he would make eliminating wasteful spending by the county his top priority, is the first Republican to formally announce his candidacy in a race that has already drawn several contenders in the wake of George’s legal issues. Earlier this year, former Texas State Sen. Jacey Jetton announced he is exploring with a committee whether to run. Democrats 434th District Court Judge J. Christian Becerra, former Precinct 4 Constable Nabil Shike, and political consultant Muzzammil “Eddie” Sajjed have also announced their intentions to run when filing opens next spring. While George has made no formal announcement of his plans, he told the Fort Bend Star earlier this year that he intends to run for a third term.
Lester said that U.S. service members “do not take an oath to a king, or a queen, or a tyrant, or a dictator. And we don’t take an oath to a wannabe dictator. We don’t take an oath to an individual.
“We take an oath to the Constitution, and we take an oath to the idea that is America, and we’re willing to die to protect it,” he said to a large cheer from the crowd. “No kings, no throne, no crown,” he said, leading the audience in a chant that was a constant refrain through-
out the event.
“The cavalry isn’t coming to save us,” Lester told the crowd. “Because the cavalry is here and it’s us.”
Speaker Diana MartinezAnderson, a public school teacher, identified herself as “an anchor baby” - that is, a person born in the United States to people from another country, which under the 14th Amendment to the Constitution confers U.S. citizenship. The U.S. Supreme Court is soon to make a ruling in a case challenging that
status brought by the Trump Administration. “Our country belongs to all of us.” she told the crowd. “We are all America.”
The rally included remarks from several political figures, including 434th District Court Judge J. Christian Becerra. A Democrat, he has announced his candidacy to run for Fort Bend County Judge next year.
Becerra, a Richmond native who is the grandson of Mexican immigrants, told the audience that Fort Bend County, one of the most diverse counties in the United States, can serve as an example to the nation on how to have a pluralistic, multiethnic society.
Sarah Golden, a singersongwriter who lives in Fort Bend County and has appeared on the television show “The Voice,” performed two songs: one of her own
compositions called “A House Divided,” and the classic Civil Rights-era anthem “We Shall Overcome.”
Only a handful of proTrump folks were at the rally, but police worked to keep them separate from the main body of attendees. Still, there were some contentious discussions between some attendees and a group of young men who yelled things like “Go Trump!” and “Deport illegals!,” referring to undocumented immigrants.
An older man, Shadi Sidarous, was at the event with his family and entered into a few contentious discussions with rally-goers, many of them having to do with immigration. Police officers kept a watchful eye on the confrontations, only occasionally asking people who were arguing to separate themselves.
Sidarous, an Egyptian immigrant who has lived in the United States since the 1970s, said he attended because he wanted to know what the rallygoers were saying.
“They don’t want to have a king. I don’t want to have a king, either,” he said. Shortly after the appointed end time, the rally drew to a close. Organizers reminded attendees to leave peacefully and to throw away any debris. Hundreds of people filed away from the plaza, occasionally being met with taunts by the younger Trump supporters. As he was leaving, one man went up to them and shook their hands.
“You’ve got just as much right to be here as I do,” he said.
Editor’s note: Find more photos from the event at fortbendstar.com.
Fort Bend County Judge KP George, center, and his attorneys Jared Woodfill and Terry Yates speak to reporters after a hearing last week. Photo by Ken Fountain
Wild Bird Adventures’ conservationist Mary Anne Morris will bring live birds to several Fort Bend libraries in June and July. Courtesy Fort Bend County Libraries
Sugar Land police officers keep a watchful eye as "No Kings" rally-goers leave the plaza past a group of young Trump supporters.
Leslie Penny, left, and her daughter Piper, 18, of Bay City, attend the rally in Sugar Land Town Square. Photos by Ken Fountain
Sarah Golden, a Fort Bend County singer-songwriter who has appeared on the television show "The Voice," performs her song "A House Divided."
Rally attendees square off with young Trump supporters on the outskirts of the rally.
Shadi Sidarous, an Egyptian immigrant and Trump supporter, talks with a "No Kings" rally attendee.
Eye on Fort Bend Eye on Fort Bend
Hector Pantga of La Cocina De TJ serves up a dish for a young patron during the inaugural Taste of Missouri City event on Saturday.
Mike Burgess, who operates Missouri City Eatz with his wife Angie, drills some hamburger patties.
Patrons take advantage of the shade while enjoying their food.
Naomi Ramirez of La Cocina Te DJ prepares samples.
Patrons wait for their food from OMG
Baked Potatoes, one of the many food trucks at the event.
DJ Vallermix lays down the groove at the event.
Attendees of the inaugural Taste of Missouri City event choose from a variety of restaurant booths and food trucks.
Steven Rawls samples some of the sauces of Sienna Sauce offered by Monique Crayton.
Children play in one of the inflatables.
At-Large Position 2 Council member Lynn Clouser, who spearheaded the Taste of Missouri City event with the Small Business Advisory Council, kicks off the festivities with opening remarks.
Patrons enjoy their meals on the main plaza of the city center.
Mayor Pro Tem Sonya Brown-Marshall, right, and two Missouri City police officers join others in a line dance.
May Gill of Micheaux’s Southern Cuisine serves some a plate to Troy Mack.
Katy-based band Sound Seduction per-
Deadline is noon every Friday. Limit entries to the “5 Ws” Who, What, When, Where, and Why. Email to editor@fortbendstar.com
ONGOING
EARTH KIND KIDS CAMP REGISTRATION OPEN
Youths in grades 3-5 can have fun this summer learning about gardening by attending Earth Kind Kids Camp, sponsored by Fort Bend County Master Gardeners.
The July 21-24 day camp will cover the topics of gardening, horticulture and environmental science through different high-energy projects that help the youths learn about seeds, plants, rain and other topics between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. each day.
Registration is open for the camp, which will be in Building D at the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds, 4310 Texas 36 in Rosenberg. The camp is limited to the first 25 paid participants. Register at https://agrilife.org/ftbend4h/event/2025earthkindkidscamp/ The fee is $85. Registration includes all materials, snacks and a T-shirt. For more information, contact Brandy Rader at Brandy.Rader@ag.tamu. edu
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 restaurants. Please contact Bobbie Tomlin at {281} 967-0718
For more information about us and to learn about this month’s planned lunch. We hope to meet you soon.
QUAIL VALLEY GARDEN CLUB
The Quail Valley Garden Club is very busy, not only with meetings, but with some fun “stuff” for our members and the community. Please find our fall schedule of events that the QVGC will be involved with this fall leading up to the holidays.
FBJSL IS ACCEPTING CAF GRANT APPLICATIONS
We provide grants of up to $5,000.00 to charitable causes serving Fort Bend County with requests to fund a critical need, pilot a program, or expand a significant service to the community. If your agency or organization is interested in applying for a CAF grant, please visit the Request Support page of the FBJSL website (www.fbjsl.org/request-support). All applications should be submitted via e-mail to brccom@fbjsl.com.
THE SANCTUARY FOSTER CARE SERVICES
We are a child placing agency that provides wrap around care support for foster children and foster families. We provide free therapy services, 24 hr. crisis intervention, respite/alternative care services and community-based support. For more info, www.sanctuaryfostercare.org
ALIEF AARP CHAPTER 3264
Meets the first Thursday of every month at 10:00 a.m. at Salvation Army Church, 7920 Cook Road, Houston, TX 77072. Educational Program/Entertainment at each meeting. Bus Trips every month. Seniors 50 and above invited. Call 281785-7372 for more information.
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
