Walter's gem spurs Space Cowboys win over Las Vegas -
By Juhi Varma SPECIAL TO THE STAR
Last week, the Fort Bend Regional Council (FBRC) hosted its 12th Helen Cordes Awards Luncheon – the first since 2019 – at Sugar Creek Country Club, focusing on substance abuse awareness, prevention and recovery programs.
This year’s Helen Cordes Award was presented to Sugar Land’s Dr. Bob Conlon, recognized for his decades of work supporting at-risk youth through education, prevention, and mental health programs.
“For a young person who chooses to engage in risky behavior like substance abuse, the consequences can last a lifetime, and often, consequences don’t fall only on them, but their families bear the weight, and that’s why the work of the prevention specialists at Fort Bend Regional Council is so vital,” Conlon said.
This year alone, FBRC has reached over 4,500 at-risk students through an eightweek curriculum that not only educates but also fosters safe, supportive spaces where students feel heard and understood, Conlon said.
This year’s theme, “Lighting a Path to a Brighter Tomorrow,” called attention to the need for stronger prevention efforts, as young people now have unprecedented access to misleading information about how to acquire, use, and hide drugs. Meet the honoree In his remarks, Conlan underscored the importance of community-driven support systems and early intervention programs to combat addiction and guide young people.
“Dr Conlon changed the very essence of FBRC,” Lisa Poynor, the group’s CEO, said. “He changed our soul. He changed the way we look at mission, and he changed the way we treat each other.”
Conlon earned his bachelor’s degree in social sciences from Drexel University and a Ph.D. in educational psychology from the University of Texas at Austin. He began his career working in a residential treatment center for delinquent youth before serving as a public school psychologist. In 1992, he became the Director of Special Education and eventually the director of Student Support Services at Fort Bend ISD. There, hiis work earned him the FBISD Outstanding School Psychologist Services Award, and his character education program helped the district earn the National School of Character Award.
Conlon also served for years on the state’s School Health Advisory Council, including two years as presiding officer. Since joining the Fort Bend Regional Council in 2015 as director of prevention programs, he has led efforts to build resilience and promote early intervention among atrisk students. He played a key role in launching FBRC’s Community Prevention Coalition and continues to advocate for whole-child approaches to education that support both physical and Conlon named recipient of 12th Helen Cordes
By Dayna Worchel SPECIAL TO THE STAR
Vita Goodell, retiring CEO of the Fort Bend Women’s Center, recalled one of her first acts when she began serving in that role 22 years ago. A woman approached Goodell at an event and told her that her husband had beaten her every day for the past five years.
“I offered her shelter, but she said no. I didn’t realize then a woman tries about seven to nine times to leave an abuser before she actually goes,” said Goodell.
“When she finally called back to say her husband had left the house, I took my minivan and my kids to pick to pick her and her kids up at her house
and brought them to stay with me,”
Goodell said, She didn’t know at that time that was the wrong protocol to follow when rescuing someone from an abusive situation because of the possible danger that could be involved. The woman and her family eventually went to stay at the Fort Bend Women’s Center’s emergency shelter.
“I found out all of this stuff through trial and error. My staff teases me and calls me Pollyanna,” Goodell said, referring to her endless optimism in the face of adversity. But she comes by it all naturally. Her mother, Yvonne Streit, founded Houston’s Briarwood School in the 1960s for children with
SUGAR LAND PAYS
HOMAGE TO THE FALLEN
By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Unseasonably muggy weather and the threat of rain didn’t dissuade hundreds of people from gathering at Sugar Land Memorial Park on Monday to honor those who have fallen in their service to the country during the city’s annual Memorial Day Ceremony.
The event, one of the biggest in the Fort Bend Country region, drew visitors from near and far, offering attendees stirring speeches from dignitaries, patriotic music, and many other signature moments marking the nation’s most somber holiday.
Veterans from nearly all of the nation’s military branches, including members of several area veterans groups, gathered along with family members of those of fallen service members, were joined by many people with no direct connection to the military under the park’s large pavilion to take part in the ceremony.
Members of Boy Scout Troops 731 and 1731, boys and girls, gave U.S. flags to attendees as they arrived in the park and led the Pledge of Allegiance and performed a wreathlaying during the main festivities.
Members of the Stephen F. Austin High School Naval JROTC Male Varsity Color Guard posted the U.S. and Texas flags at the start of the ceremony.
Visitors were also able to take a close look at several vintage military vehicles and other memorabilia provided by the Houston-based Sixth Cavalry Historical Association.
As usual, retired U.S. Army Brig. Gen. David Van Kleeck served as the master of ceremonies of the event. New this year was a video of Van Kleeck paying his respects at the park’s obelisk-shaped Remembrance Tower, which includes the names of fallen Sugar Land residents from all branches of the U.S. military. Van Kleeck also read aloud those service members’ names as they were displayed on the large video screen.
Van Kleeck also again read the famous poem “In Flanders Fields,” written by John McCrae, a Canadian physician who served in World War II, in remembrance of a friend killed in battle. McCrae himself died of pneumonia near the end of that war.
Area singer Elisha Jordan performed a stirring rendition of the National Anthem. (She would later join Clayton Mabin for a rendition of Lee Greenwood patriotic anthem
“God Bless the U.S.A.”) Throughout the event, the Katy-based Lone Star Symphonic Band performed patriotic music. Aircraft from the Commemorative Air Force, Houston
Wing, which restores and flies military aircraft from the World War II era, did a missing-man formation over the park.
Sugar Land Mayor Pro Tem Suzanne Whatley, welcoming the main guest speaker, told the audience that “members of our country’s freedom as early as World War I, when Sugar Land was still just a company town. And there have been many more that have fought for our country since.”
The main speaker of the event was Brig. Gen. Michael S. Shanley, commanding general of the Chicago-
based 85th U.S. Army Reserve Support Command (although Shanley is a resident of Katy). Shanley noted at the outset of his remarks that 2025 marks the 250th anniversaries of three of the U.S. Army, which was formed in the earliest days of the American Revolution, before the formal signing of the Declaration of Independence the following year.
“As we think about those who have fought and died for our country, we remember the Continental Army’s battle cry, which is also our theme for the anniversary of the Army’s
the
at
founding: ‘This we’ll defend.’ Which reminds us that our Army purpose is clear: fight and win the nation’s wars,” he said.
“We remain committed to honing our warfighting skills, enforcing standards of discipline, and living the values that have defined our Army culture for the past quartermillennium,” he said. “On Memorial Day, we reflect on our history and legacy of service, sacrifice, and dedication. From the Revolutionary War to present-day missions, our soldiers have consistently demonstrated their resolve to defend freedom, both at home and abroad.” Shanley noted that the holiday now known as Memorial Day first SEE MEMORIAL PAGE 5
Vita Goodell, CEO of the Fort Bend Women’s Center, third from right, poses with the center’s board members and building company staff after the 2023 expansion of the center’s long-term shelter. Goodell is retiring from the center after 22 years. Contributed photo
TOP: Members of the Stephen F. Austin High School Naval Junior ROTC Male Varsity Color Guard post
colors
the beginning of the Memorial Day Ceremony at Sugar Land’s Memorial Park. LEFT: Main speaker Brig. Gen. Michael S. Shanley, commanding general of the 85th U.S. Army Reserve Support Command, offers remarks during the event. Photos by Ken Fountain
Walter's gem spurs Sugar Land to pitchers-duel win over Las Vegas
LHP Brandon Walter’s (W, 3-1) six-shutout innings and RHP Luis Contreras’ (H,4) and RHP Nick Hernandez’s (S,2) 2.2 combined scoreless frames in relief helped the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (30-20) to a 3-1 victory over the Las Vegas Aviators (32-18) on Sunday night at Constellation Field. Walter maneuvered around two base hits in the first inning to post a scoreless frame with an inning-ending strikeout.
Sugar Land threatened in the bottom of the first as Shay Whitcomb whistled a single back up the middle before Jesús Bastidas kept the inning alive with a twoout double but Jack Perkins (L, 1-2) stranded them with a punchout.
The Space Cowboys struck first in the second as Tommy Sacco Jr. walked with two outs, and in the ensuing atbat, Kenedy Corona stepped on a 1-0 sinker and sent it 349-feet to left for a two-run homer as Sugar Land went up, 2-0.
Walter settled in during the third as he sat down in the Aviators in order on nine pitches including another strikeout, running his ledger to four.
Sugar Land’s defense executed a double play in the fourth and the fifth and the southpaw fanned two in the sixth, as he faced the minimum in four-straight innings. Walter fired 6.0 scoreless innings with seven strikeouts, scattering five hits while not walking a batter.
Las Vegas cut the lead in half with an RBI single from Alejo Lopez in the seventh, butContreraspreserved the 2-1 lead by recording the final two outs of the frame and leaving two Aviator runners on base.
on April 22 against the Tacoma Rainiers. Walter spun 57 of his 84 pitches for strikes, a 68% strike rate. The southpaw has at least a 67 percent strike rate in his last four starts with Sugar Land while not walking a batter in his last three starts with the Space Cowboys.
and scored twice on Sunday, running his on-base streak to nine games. Over that span, he has two RBI, 11 walks and six runs scored.
missed 11 days after being placed on the IL on May 14.
Fort Bend County Libraries (FBCL) will continue its annual tradition of welcoming newborns to the wonders of books. Every Fort Bend County child born during FBCL’s Children’s Book Week – June 1 through June 7, 2025 – may receive a special book bag, courtesy of the Friends of the Fort Bend County Library.
Each bag contains a book, a bib, a special certificate, a list of suggested reading for children, and information on parenting and on library services. These bags represent the library system’s commitment to providing library services for county residents throughout their lives, beginning at birth.
“We hope to start every child born in hospitals in Fort Bend County on a successful road to life-long learning,” said FBCL youth services
CONLON FROM PAGE 1
mental well-being. Conlon and his wife Dr. Celeste Conlon have been married for 47 years. Their two children, Erin and Michael, are graduates of FBISD.
Exhibits reveal how kids access and hide dangerous substances
The luncheon event opened with interactive exhibits, offering guests a hands-on look into the realities faced by prevention specialists and educators. FBRC’s Andreana Franklin walked attendees through a display revealing how teens conceal controlled substances in everyday items such as hairbrushes, lint rollers, empty chap sticks and soda cans – a cautionary look at what parents and educators might miss.
“For the actual vapes, they have to go to the vape shop,” Franklin said, adding that despite Texas laws requiring buyers to be over 21, kids are often not asked for identification at vape shops.
“Vape shops are in strip malls and they’re popping up in the nicer subdivisions,” she said. “Kids are like there’s Smoothie King, oh, there’s Jersey Mikes, oh, there’s a smoke shop right in the middle there, and it’s concealed, but it’s also attractive enough for a kid.”
FBRC’s Renea Washington introduced the Pop-Up Drug Tents exhibit, which resemble tents seen at community events or farmers’ markets. Inside the green gardening tent, guests encountered
The Space Cowboys answered in the home half of the seventh as Sacco Jr. walked, Corona pulled a liner into left and they each moved up 90 feet from a wild pitch. With one-out, Brice Matthews punched an RBI single to right, scoring Sacco Jr. and restoring the two-run advantage. Contreras came back out for the eighth and made quick work of the top of the Aviators’ lineup with a 1-2-3 inning on eight pitches while fanning two batters.
• Walter entered Sunday’s game with a 2.27 ERA and left with a 1.94 ERA, lowering his mark by 33 points.
Hernandez received the ball for the ninth and closed out the 3-1 win with a perfect inning with a punchout.
NOTABLE:
• Brandon Walter’s 6.0 scoreless innings and seven strikeouts tied his season high in each category. He went 6.0 innings on May 3 against Round Rock and registered seven strikeouts
• Luis Contreras set the Sugar Land season-high record in consecutive scoreless innings from a relief pitcher with 11.1 after registering 1.2 shutout innings on Sunday.
• With a walk on Sunday, Luis Castro extended his on-base streak to 15 games, the longest-active streak on the Space Cowboys. He is 18-for-53 (.340) with four doubles, three home runs, 14 RBI, eight walks and 11 runs scored.
• Tommy Sacco Jr. walked
coordinator Dana Brittain. “We distribute the baby book bags to babies born during that week at area Fort Bend County hospitals, but all Fort
“dupe” products, such as vape pens packaged like candy to snacks laced with psychedelics, offering a look at the deceptive marketing tactics used to target young people.
Another alarming trend seen at teen parties is popup hotboxing. Teens use a greenhouse garden tent, seal it shut, and insert a leaf blower modified to act like a giant vape pen, filling the tent with marijuana vapor while they sit inside to get high.
“Back in the day, people would sit in their car, close the windows, smoke a bunch of weed and box it in,” explained
FBRC’s Annie Heinbuch. “Now the kids are buying these tents off Amazon. They’ll have them in the backyards and parties. They’ll have them in garages, and then they’ll charge like $10 for a kid to come in and hotbox for a few minutes and then walk out.”
The luncheon also featured a screening of “Goodbye, Friend”, a heartbreaking short
Bend County babies who are born during the week of June 1 through 7 are eligible to receive one, while supplies last.”
film told from the perspective of a loyal family dog whose teenage owner dies from a fentanyl overdose. The story captures the emotional toll on the family, who ultimately send the dog to a shelter because the memories are too painful to bear.
Since its founding in 1976, FBRC has helped thousands of families. Its outpatient treatment services currently assist more than 200 individuals daily. The organization also partners with the Fort Bend County Mental Health and Drug Courts, providing vital services that address both substance abuse and mental health challenges.
FBRC will hold a fundraising raffle at its offices on Friday, May 30. Participants need not be present to win. To see a list of prizes and to enter, visit fbrc.betterworld. org/giveaways.
Varma is a freelance writer. She can be reached at juhi. varma@gmail.com.
• Jacob Melton walked on Sunday, pushing his onbase streak to nine games where he is 8-for-29 (.276) with five doubles, six walks, four RBI and five runs scored.
• Jesús Bastidas doubled in the first, his 13th of the season and his 16th game reaching base in his last 17 contests. Bastidas tied Shay Whitcomb for the team lead in doubles with 13.
• Kenedy Corona’s home run was his fifth of the season and first since May 17 against the Reno Aces. Sunday was also the centerfielder’s fourth multi-hit game of the season.
• Brice Matthews had an RBI single in the seventh in his first game back since being reinstated from the IL. Matthews
Space Cowboys games s series can be seen live on the Bally Sports Live App or MLB. TV and can be heard anywhere at SLSpaceCowboys. com.
Monday’s game between the Sugar Land Space Cowboys and Las Vegas Aviators was postponed due to rain. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on June 19, with game one beginning at 5:05 pm. Game two will commence approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of Game One. Fans with tickets to the game on June 19 can use their ticket for admission to both games. 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.
Families of Fort Bend babies born at other locations during this period should call the Youth Services department, at 281-633-4762, to receive their book bag, while supplies last.
Not only is reading to a child a wonderful opportunity for bonding between parent and child, it has also been shown to stimulate brain development. Even the youngest baby can benefit from the chance to develop eye focus by looking at the page of a book, while being comforted by the familiar voice of a parent. Reading aloud to children exposes them to the sounds and cadences of a human voice, resulting in an earlier and stronger grasp of vocabulary skills.
Helping children develop early-literacy skills is a ma-
jor goal for FBCL. Parents are encouraged to register their children for FBCL’s annual “Summer Reading Challenge.” Children from infancy through high school earn rewards for the number of books they read (or are read to them) during the summer. A kick-off celebration will be held Saturday, May 31, from 2-4 p.m., at the George Memorial Library, 1001 Golfview in Richmond..
Parents can register their child for the Summer Reading Challenge by going to the FBCL website, clicking on the “SRC Sign-Up image, and using the link for the Beanstack app to sign up. Easy-to-use online reading logs are available.
Families with newborns and pre-walking infants up to 12 months of age are also
invited to attend Mother Goose Time activities that take place weekly at several locations in the library system. Mother Goose Time provides caregiver/infant multi-sensory circle-time activities -- including simple sign language, folksongs and lullabies, and finger plays -that are especially designed to stimulate babies’ social, emotional, and physical development through rhythm and music. Check FBCL’s online calendar for the schedule of Mother Goose Time activities throughout the library system. For more information, see the Fort Bend County Libraries website (www. fortbendlibraries.gov), or call the library system’s Communications Office (281-633-4734).
2025 may receive a special book bag, courtesy of the Friends of the Fort Bend County Library. Courtesy Fort Bend County Libraries
MY FRONT YARD –
Growl, snort, whine. Those are the sounds of huge machines in my street digging a rather large hole. Why?
Because water is gushing out from the ground from a broken water pipe.
A few days – like a week – after the flow started a city pickup came by and an inspector checked out the situation to make sure the leak was on city property, the street, and not from some overly zealous rice farmer. The river continued to wash down the street until one week later when a work crew came and fixed the leak, and they were quick, leaving only a big hole and a muddy street.
They must be busy.
Houston Public Works has about 15 three-man crews plus 10 contract crews striving daily on these repairs, but there around 1,600 active water leaks, with 40 to 70 new ones popping up daily. Each crew repairs, on average, less than two leaks a day, totaling about 30 leaks fixed daily out of that 1,600, so if you do the math, they can’t keep up. All of this means Houston is wasting water – annually more than the entire city of Fort Worth uses in
LYNN ASHBY Columnist
Water we wasting?
ASHBY2@COMCAST.NET
a year. But don’t feel alone. In Texas we waste enough water each year to meet the needs of Austin, El Paso, Fort Worth, Laredo and Lubbock combined. It’s more than enough –186 billion gallons – to put Dallas County under a foot of water.
Texas Monthly did almost an entire issue on water, and the Texas Tribune has covered the problem extensively, so I borrowed from them. TM reported that among Texas cities, when it comes to wasting water, Dallas leads the way in both gallons lost per connection and total gallons lost. Then comes Plano, Austin, Houston (for once it’s not Number 1) and Grand Prairie. Incidentally, a newspaper in San Antonio, which always has water shortages, once checked to find the
greatest residential user of water. One guess: George Strait, who, we can figure, has quite a spread. Strait explained that he had no idea because was on the road a lot and hired someone to handle that. He vowed to turn off the taps. Texas has plenty of water: 14.7 million acre-feet. I’m not sure what an acre foot is, but it sounds like a lot of feet. We’ve got 196 major reservoirs, 191,000 miles of streams, 15 major river basins and eight coastal basins. (Basins are areas drained by a river and its tributaries; reservoirs are large artificial lakes.) And that doesn’t even count the swimming pools. Texans get their water from two main sources: Either groundwater – the majority of it is pumped from the Ogallala Aquifer (which sounds like you’re gargling) – or surface water from lakes, reservoirs and rivers.
That’s the good news. Now we drop the other bucket. Texas is facing a severe water crisis. Again. Texas is growing, and its water supply isn’t keeping up. With droughts, overuse and climate change, water is becoming a scarce
resource. Part of the prob-
lem we can’t control. La Nina, hurricanes, droughts and your neighbor whose thirsty garden looks like Versailles. A folk group called the Kingston Trio had a hit song that went, in part, “They’re rioting in Africa. They’re starving in Spain. There’s hurricanes in Florida. And Texas needs rain.”
That was in the 1950s and nothing has changed, although I think the Spaniards are eating better, and Texas also gets hurricanes. Water? Harvey put 2 feet of it in my den. And we must notice all those factories we keep welcoming that make bitcoin. Indeed, bitcoins may be the stealth cause of our water problems because they seem to use a lot of water. Bitcoin mining in Texas is booming, with two of the world’s largest cryptocurrency mines under construction in Rockdale, just outside Austin. Cryptocurrency mining in Texas uses more water than New York City. The water consumption tied to a single bitcoin transaction, on average, could be enough to fill a small backyard pool. Texas dominates the
U.S. cryptocurrency mining space, according to the world’s largest mining pool, Foundry USA. Ah, but why is Texas a good place to mine cryptocurrency?
Miners have migrated to Texas for its pro-crypto regulatory environment. I believe “its pro-crypto regulator environment” means our leaders will let the industry do as it wishes. Besides, who needs water?
Fracking, too. Frackers send roughly six million barrels of water into the earth each day. For every barrel of oil yielded at least twice as much water – 15 million barrels daily in 2022 – rises to the surface.
Unfortunately, it’s called “produced water,” which isn’t fit for consumption by cattle, crops, humans, or even manufacturing plants. Then we have our farmers. In 2020, nearly half of the state’s water was used for irrigation.
You notice how, about once a week we read that a 4,000 or 5,000 or 10,000-house development will be built in Fort Bend or Montgomery counties. Each of those houses means maybe two or 60 more people. Each American uses an average of 82 gallons of wa-
ter a day at home. Texans consume about 2.3 billion gallons of water per day for domestic use. It has been estimated the state’s population will increase to 51.5 million people by 2070 – an increase of 73 percent. At the same time, water supply is projected to decrease approximately 18 percent. Again, do your math. Conroe and Magnolia did and stopped more developments until they figure out where to get more water. (Gov. Bill Clements once proposed we run a big pipe through Louisiana and dip into the Mississippi River. Louisiana objected.) These projections raises the question: ERCOT, are you paying attention? Over the years Texas lawmakers have. We have the Texas Water Plan, the Texas Water Development Board, the Texas Water Code (which is 47,623 words long and defines what a “river” is) and local MUDs. So we must make sure that …. Wait. Water is gushing down my street. Again.
Ashby is wet at ashby2@ comcast.net
Sugar Land Branch Library to launch pollinator garden on May 31
Community Reports
Fort Bend County Libraries invites the public to help launch the library system’s new Community Pollinator Garden at the Sugar Land Branch Library on Saturday, May 31, from 10:30 a.m.-noon.
Join special guests Fort Bend County Precinct 3 Commissioner Andy Meyers, Library Director Roosevelt Weeks, and Branch Manager Mary Hulse in the Meeting Room at 10:30 a.m. for the opening ceremony, followed by the official planting in the garden at 11 a.m. Fort Bend County Master
Gardener Nancy Schafer will give a talk on pollinator gardens from 11:30 a.m.-noon in the Meeting Room of the library. Attendees will learn about the different native plants that have been chosen for the pollinator garden and the importance of pollinators to support the native Texas ecosystem. The garden will be located adjacent to the library, with a path leading from the front parking lot to the garden. A variety of Native Texas plants have been selected to attract pollinators, such as butterflies, bees, and birds. The garden will be maintained entirely by
volunteers. Applications to become a volunteer for the garden are available in the library. Volunteers must be at least 16 years of age.
Refreshments at this event are provided courtesy of the Friends of the Sugar Land Branch Library. The Sugar Land Branch Library is located at 550 Eldridge. For more information, see the Fort Bend County Libraries website (www.fortbendlibraries. gov) or call the Sugar Land Branch Library (281-2382140) or the library system’s Communications Office (281-633-4734). The Sugar
Sienna Branch Library o ers free family movie series in June
Community Reports
The Youth Services department at Fort Bend County Libraries’ Sienna Branch Library will feature a free “Friday Afternoon Movie” series for families with kids of all ages in June and July. The movies will begin at 1:30 pm, in the Meeting Room of the library, located at 8411 Sienna Springs Blvd in Missouri City. The June schedule of film showings is as follows: June 6 – In this 2024 sequel, an impetuous young Polynesian girl receives an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors and must journey to the far seas of Oceana
-- into dangerous, long-lost waters – for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced. Rated PG.
June 13 – This special feature is a heartwarming tale about a boy and his dog. After unexpectedly losing his beloved dog Sparky, young Victor harnesses the power of science to bring his best friend back to life – with just a few minor adjustments. Victor tries to hide his home-sewn creation, but when Sparky gets out, Victor’s fellow students, teachers, and townspeople all learn that getting a new “leash on life” can be monstrous! Rated PG. June 20 – In this 2024 computeranimated film, Rafiki is enlisted to relay the legend of Mufasa to a
Notice of Public Hearing
young lion cub named Kiara. Told in flashbacks, the story introduces Mufasa as an orphaned cub, lost and alone until he meets a sympathetic lion named Take – the heir to a royal bloodline. The chance meeting sets in motion an expansive journey of an extraordinary group of misfits searching for their destiny. This movie is rated PG. June 27 – In this action-packed comedy-adventure movie, Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails reunite against a powerful new adversary – Shadow – a mysterious villain with powers unlike anything they have faced before. With their abilities outmatched in every way, Team Sonic must seek out an unlikely alliance
in hopes of stopping Shadow and protecting the planet. Released in 2024, this movie is rated PG.
The movies are free and open to the public. Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by a parent or caregiver. The libraries’ licensing agreement for public showing of films prohibits them from releasing the name of the movie outside of the library. For more information about the featured movies, see the Fort Bend County Libraries website (www.fortbendlibraries.gov), or call the Sienna Branch Library (281-238-2900) or the library system’s Communications Office (281-633-4734).
Notice of Public Hearing
May 17, 2025
Notice is hereby given for a Public Hearing to take place at a meeting of the Construction Board of Adjustments and Appeals of the City of Missouri City to be held on Thursday, May 29, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. in the Planning Conference Room, Development Services, 1522 Texas Parkway, Missouri City, Texas, 77489 for the purpose of considering whether the structure located at 503 Brookford Drive, Missouri City, Fort Bend County, Texas 77489 violates the standards set forth in Article XIII, Substandard Structures, of Chapter 14 of the Missouri City Code. The property is owned by Lovell Lewis, Jr. and Brandi Isles, 503 Brookford Drive, Missouri City, Fort Bend County, Texas 77489. The last known address of Lovell Lewis, Jr. and Brandi Isles is 503 Brookford Drive, Missouri City, Fort Bend County, Texas 77489. The property is more particularly described as follows:
LOT THIRTEEN (13), IN BLOCK FIVE (5) OF HUNTERS GLEN SECTION FOUR (4), ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF RECORDED IN VOLUME 22, PAGE 26 OF THE PLAT RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS.
The owner(s) of this property is to appear at this Public Hearing and show cause why such structure located at 503 Brookford Drive, Missouri City, Fort Bend County, Texas 77489 should not be declared to be a substandard structure and why owner(s) should not be ordered to repair or demolish and remove the structure. Additionally, the owner(s) will be required to submit at the hearing proof of the scope of any work that may be required to comply with Article XIII, Substandard Structures of Chapter 14 of the City of Missouri City Code of Ordinances and the time it will take to reasonably perform the work.
Any lienholders or mortgagees may appear at the Public Hearing and make comments.
Submitted by:
Kristen A. Guerrero Assistant City Attorney II
May 17, 2025
Notice is hereby given for a Public Hearing to take place at a meeting of the Construction
Board of Adjustments and Appeals of the City of Missouri City to be held on Thursday, May 29, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. in the Planning Conference Room, Development Services, 1522 Texas Parkway, Missouri City, Texas, 77489 for the purpose of considering whether the structure located at 2722 Dawn Star Drive, Missouri City, Fort Bend County, Texas 77489 violates the standards set forth in Article XIII, Substandard Structures, of Chapter 14 of the Missouri City Code. The property is owned by Michael Prather, whose last known address is 2722 Dawn Star Drive, Missouri City, Fort Bend County, Texas 77489. The subject property is more particularly described as follows: LOT TWENTY-EIGHT (28), BLOCK FIVE (5), OF QUAIL GREEN, SECTION ONE (1), A SUBDIVISION IN FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF, RECORDED IN VOLUME 24, PAGE 12, OF THE MAP RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS AND MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS 2722 DAWN STAR DRIVE, MISSOURI CITY, TEXAS 77489
The owner(s) of this property is to appear at this Public Hearing and show cause why such structure located at 2722 Dawn Star Drive, Missouri City, Fort Bend County, Texas 77489 should not be declared to be a substandard structure and why owner(s) should not be ordered to repair or demolish and remove the structure. Additionally, the owner(s) will be required to submit at the hearing proof of the scope of any work that may be required to comply with Article XIII, Substandard Structures of Chapter 14 of the City of Missouri City Code of Ordinances and the time it will take to reasonably perform the work.
Any lienholders or mortgagees may appear at the Public Hearing and make comments.
Submitted by:
Guerrero
Kristen A.
Assistant City Attorney II
Land Branch Library will launch its new pollinator garden on May 31. File photo
special needs because Goodell’s nonverbal sister needed extra help in education and with life skills. Streit also founded the Brookwood Community in Brookshire for adults with special needs, giving them a place to live and work.
“I’ve worked in nonprofit all my life,” Goodell said, referring to her past positions with the Briarwood School and the Brookwood Community, where she continues to serve on both boards. She also worked as an accountant for an American school in Africa in the 1980s while her husband was in the oil business. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology, along with an MBA.
With her retirement, Goodell insists the real focus should be not on herself, but on the mission and work of the Fort Bend Women’s Center.
“These women are so strong and brave,” she says of the clients who come in to rebuild their lives. The guiding beliefs of the center are first, to sur-
vive, then revive by getting on their feet, then to thrive and move on, Goodell said. A client and her children can stay in the 56-bed emergency shelter for up to 90 days, and can stay in long term housing indefinitely, she said.
Long-term housing is at a community called Rio Bend in Richmond, which has been converted into 38 apartments from the original 27. Goodell calls Rio Bend, which had been created originally to house foster families in Fort Bend County, her proudest accomplishment during her tenure at the women’s center. It began long-term housing for women’s center clients in 2018.
“Most of our residents who get help with housing want to go on and do it themselves,” she said. “They gain that selfconfidence after they’ve been here a while.”
Providing long-term housing for clients has been a challenge. Before the creation of Rio Bend, the center mainly housed clients who needed long-term housing in apartments located all over the Houston area. Goodell said when clients were evicted from
four complexes in five years because of mental health issues, she and her staff and board began to work on a solution.
“We went for affordable housing funds in 2017, but were victims of NIMBY,” she said, referring to the phenomenon of “Not in my backyard,” in which residents oppose land use for certain projects such as affordable housing or hazardous waste storage.
But the most challenging issue to face the women’s center has been the existence of domestic violence itself. “We can’t make it stop,” Goodell said, adding that her ultimate goal is to put the shelter out of business. Last year, the center had to turn away more than 1,000 callers to their hotline who needed immediate help, she said, acknowledging that some of those calls may have been duplicates.
She says it’s frustrating because the women who call really need the help. “We usually refer them to another shelter, and if there’s no space there, we’ll find another way to help,” Goodell said.
But the women’s center is
Notice of Public Hearing
May 17, 2025
Notice is hereby given for a Public Hearing to take place at a meeting of the Construction Board of Adjustments and Appeals of the City of Missouri City to be held on Thursday, May 29, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. in the Planning Conference Room, Development Services, 1522 Texas Parkway, Missouri City, Texas, 77489 for the purpose of considering whether the structure located at 3215 La Quinta Drive, Missouri City, Fort Bend County, Texas 77459 violates the standards set forth in Article XIII, Substandard Structures, of Chapter 14 of the Missouri City Code. The property is owned by Community Venture Builders, LLC, 1707 Post Oak Blvd, #290, Houston, Texas 77056, and Gary Merritt, 85 Greensward Lane, Sugar Land, Texas 77479.
The subject property is more particularly described as follows:
LOT ONE (1), IN BLOCK THIRTY-SIX (36), OF QUAIL VALLEY SUBDIVISION, LA QUINTA SECTION, A SUBDIVISION IN FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF, RECORDED IN VOLUME 8, PAGE 5, OF THE PLAT RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS; OR MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS 3215 La Quinta Drive, Missouri City, Fort Bend County, Texas 77459
The owner(s) of this property is to appear at this Public Hearing and show cause why such structure located at 3215 La Quinta Drive, Missouri City, Fort Bend County, Texas 77459 should not be declared to be a substandard structure and why owner(s) should not be ordered to repair or demolish and remove the structure. Additionally, the owner(s) will be required to submit at the hearing proof of the scope of any work that may be required to comply with Article XIII, Substandard Structures of Chapter 14 of the City of Missouri City Code of Ordinances and the time it will take to reasonably perform the work.
Any lienholders or mortgagees may appear at the Public Hearing and make comments.
Submitted by:
Kristen A. Guerrero Assistant City Attorney II
planning to help and grow its current space to help more clients. In 2026, they will begin raising $30 million to build a larger emergency shelter, adjacent to Rio Bend. The George Foundation, based in Richmond, has already donated 7.5 acres of land, and the $30 million includes two years of operating costs. The current emergency shelter has 56 beds and is about a mile from Rio Bend.
Two long-serving women’s center board members, Jared Jameson and Bruce Mercer, credit Goodell for her business talents and relationship building and fundraising skills, and say that the women’s center would not be where it is today without her.
Mercer said he was on the search committee that hired Goodell 22 years ago and that she was the clear choice over dozens of other individuals that were interviewed at the time.
“Her background with non-profits, her familiarity with finance and accounting, her interpersonal presentation skills, her integrity and
character, and, I think most importantly, her passion for our mission were exemplary. I am very happy to say that some nearly 25 years later, we were proven correct,” he said.
“Vita also brings to us a deep knowledge of accounting and finance in addition to her background in nonprofit management, which has been crucial in managing our significant growth during her tenure,” Mercer said, adding that the women’s center is one of the few in the country which has implemented a type of traumatic brain injury treatment program for clients who have received injuries from strikes to their heads and from strangulation.
Jameson echoed much of what Mercer said about Goodell and the impact she has made on the growth of the Fort Bend Women’s Center.
“A lot of what the shelter looks like today is attributable to Vita. She’s been fabulous at building relationships and has built a great network. And she’ll continue to help,” he said.
Although Goodell still plans to help fundraise for the women’s center and will continue to serve on the boards of the Briarwood School and the Brookwood Community, she will also do some traveling with her husband to visit her three children and grandchildren, who live in other parts of the country.
“I want to travel and see my grandchildren and help with them. Maybe bring a travel trailer to North Carolina or Denver where they live to stay a while,” she said. The Fort Bend Women’s Center will hold a fundraiser, called “The Bon Voyage Boogie,” on June 28 to bid farewell to Goodell at the Sugar Creek Country Club. For more information and tickets, visit fbwc.org/en/.
If you or someone you know needs help, contact the center’s 24/7 hotline at 281-342-HELP (4357). Worchel is a freelance writer based in Sugar Land. She can be reached at dworchel@ swbell.net.
Notice of Public Hearing
May 17, 2025
Notice is hereby given for a Public Hearing to take place at a meeting of the Construction Board of Adjustments and Appeals of the City of Missouri City to be held on Thursday, May 29, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. in the Planning Conference Room, Development Services, 1522 Texas Parkway, Missouri City, Texas, 77489 for the purpose of considering whether the structure located at 1814 Kingman Drive, Missouri City, Fort Bend County, Texas 77489 violates the standards set forth in Article XIII, Substandard Structures, of Chapter 14 of the Missouri City Code. The property is owned by Richard L. Pfirman whose last known address is 2611 Cypress Creekway Parkway, Suite A102, Houston, Texas 77068.
The subject property is more particularly described as follows:
LOT 4, BLOCK 4 OF HUNTERS GLEN SECTION TWO, AN ADDITION IN FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS, ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF RECORDED IN VOLUME 17, PAGE 6 OF THE PLAT RECORDS OF FORT BEND COUNTY, TEXAS.
The owner(s) of this property is to appear at this Public Hearing and show cause why such structure located at 1814 Kingman Drive, Missouri City, Fort Bend County, Texas 77489 should not be declared to be a substandard structure and why owner(s) should not be ordered to repair or demolish and remove the structure. Additionally, the owner(s) will be required to submit at the hearing proof of the scope of any work that may be required to comply with Article XIII, Substandard Structures of Chapter 14 of the City of Missouri City Code of Ordinances and the time it will take to reasonably perform the work.
Any lienholders or mortgagees may appear at the Public Hearing and make comments.
Submitted by:
Kristen A. Guerrero Assistant City Attorney II
began after the U.S. Civil War and was originally called Decoration Day, since it marked the tradition of family members decorating their fallen service members’ gravesites with flowers or flags. “This American tradition continues today,” he said.
Shanley offered his gratitude to members of Gold Star Families, those who have
Ulost loved ones in military service.
“The first people to perish in service to this country were fighting for what would become our United States of America,” he said. “There were not the disciplined, professional Army that you know today. They were farmers, shopkeepers, teachers, and blacksmiths. They all came together to fight for the right to govern themselves and have more control over their financial and social well-being.”
Shanley said that just months after the war began in earnest following the opening battle at Lexington, Massachusetts, George Washington, the newly installed commanding general of the Continental Army, expressed his grave doubts about its prospects in a letter to a friend and neighbor.
“And with that army, General George Washington won the war for independence against the world’s greatest superpower at the time, ensuring citizens to-
nseasonably muggy weather and the threat of rain didn’t dissuade hundreds of people from gathering at Sugar Land Memorial Park on Monday to honor those who have fallen in their service to the country during the city’s annual Memorial Day Ceremony. The event featured patriotic music, speeches by dignitaries, displays of military vehicles and equipment, a flyover of WWIIera aircraft and more. Photos by Ken Fountain
day enjoy freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear,” said Shanley, echoing the famous “Four Freedoms” speech of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
“On Memorial Day as we think about those who first served our country, we remember as the Americans’ creed states, they gave lives and their fortunes for the freedoms we enjoy today,” he said.
“We remember the service of all veterans throughout
the history of our great nation who have defended our Constitution and our country from foreign and domestic enemies. From the Revolutionary War to present-day missions, our soldiers have consistently demonstrated their resolve to defend freedom at home and abroad,” he said.
“This Memorial Day I hope you’ll remember the common bond we have with soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who have gone before us and selflessly served our country
and paid the ultimate price,” he said. Members of the Sugar Land Police Department Honor Guard performed a 21-gun salute, followed by a rendition of “Taps” performed by bugler Andy Andrews of the Lone Star Symphonic Band. At the conclusion of the event, attendees exchanged greetings with each other and the presenters and took in the numerous monuments of the park.
Sugar Land Branch Library offers programs for
highschool aged teens in June
Fort Bend County Libraries offers programs specifically designed for high school-aged teens entering grades 9 through 12. In June, the Sugar Land Branch Library (550 Eldridge) will present the following opportunities for teens to meet up for games, art classes, or craft activities.
Super Mario Party –Monday, June 2 , 4-5 p.m., Meeting Room. Teens can show off their dice-rolling skills on the Switch while relaxing, enjoying snacks, and making new friends.
• Teen Art: Bob Ross Painting Hour –Saturday, June 7, 2-3-3:30 p.m., Meeting Room. Teens will follow along with a happy little Bob Ross tutorial, as everyone’s favorite soft-spoken artist guides them through painting a beautiful landscape piece. Supplies will be provided. Registration required.
• Board-Game Club –Mondays, June 9 and 23, 4-5 p.m., Conference Room. Learn the basics of new classic board games, as well as niche titles, and meet others who enjoy playing board games.
• Teen Art: A Feathered Pallet with Wild Bird Adventures – Monday, June 16 , 4-5 p.m., Meeting Room. Join wildlife conservationist Mary Anne Morris, director of Wild Bird Adventures, as she talks about the history of birds in art. In this hands-on workshop, teens will discover the joy of nature journaling and creating art with an actual live bird as the model! Supplies will be provided. Registration required.
• Teen Craft: Paper Crafting Fidget Toys – Monday, June 30, 4-5
p.m., Conference Room. Take origami – the Japanese art of paper folding – to a whole new level by learning how to use paper and glue to create manipulative objects to fidget with! Registration required.
Materials for these activities were made possible by the Friends of the Sugar Land Branch Library.
These activities are free and open to the public. Materials are limited, however, and reservations are required for some of the programs. To register online at FBCL’s website (www. fortbendlibraries.gov), click on “Classes & Events,” select “Sugar Land Branch,” and find the program. Participants may also register by calling the Sugar Land Branch Library (281238-2140), or by visiting the Adult Services Information desk at the library.
Former Army Capt. James B. McLaughlin, of Sugar Land, who was a company commander during the Vietnam War, reads a plaque at the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument at Sugar Land’s Memorial Park.
With her mother Fardowso Mursal and baby sister watching, Siham Mursal, 6, takes the wheel of a vintage U.S. Army jeep provided by the Houston-based Sixth Cavalry Historical Association.
Members of Boy Scout Troops 731 give American flags to Denise and David Eilers of Brenham as they enter the park.
Members of American Legion Post 942 recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
A member of Boy Scout Troop 731 lays a memorial wreath.
Singer Elisha Jordan joins Clayton Mabin for "God Bless the U.S.A."
Bugler Andy Andrews of the Lone Star Symphonic Band performs a rendition of "Taps."
A "Fallen Soldier Memorial" display near the main stage.
With the flags of all of the U.S. armed services beside her, singer Elisha Jordan performs the National Anthem.
Fort Bend libraries feature live exotic animal in children's summer programs
Community Reports
Children will have an opportunity to explore the wonders of the animal kingdom when Fort Bend County Libraries hosts The Creature Teacher’s Richard "Rick" Urwin and his live exotic animals at special programs this summer.
This interactive experience – filled with laughter, learning, and awe-inspiring creatures – will give kids the chance to see incredible animals up close while learning fascinating facts about their habitats, behaviors, and unique adaptations.
Part of FBCL’s 2025 Summer Reading Challenge, this special event will take place at the following locations.
June 2, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. – University Branch Library (14010 University Blvd, Sugar Land)
• Space is limited. Tickets are required for entry and will be handed out starting 1 hour before showtime. No late admittance.
June 3, 2 p.m. – Sienna Branch Library (8411 Sienna Springs Blvd, Missouri City)
June 10, 2: p.m.
–First Colony Branch Library (2121 Austin Parkway, Sugar Land)
• Space is limited. Tickets are required for entry and will be handed out starting 1 hour before showtime. No late admittance.
June 17, 2 and 3 p.m.
– George Memorial Library (1001 Golfview, Richmond)
• For school-aged children in grades 1-5.
• Space is limited. Tickets are required for entry and will be handed out starting 30 minutes before showtime. No late admittance.
June 25, 3 and 4 p.m. – Cinco Ranch Branch Library (2620 Commercial Center Blvd, Katy)
• For school-aged children in grades 1-5.
• Space is limited. Tickets are required for entry and will be handed out starting 1 hour before showtime. No late admittance.
July 22, 2 p.m. – First Colony Branch Library (2121 Austin Parkway, Sugar Land)
• Space is limited. Tickets are required for entry and will be handed out starting 1 hour before showtime. No late admittance.
July 23, 3 p.m. – Sugar Land Branch Library (550 Eldridge)
• Space is limited. Tickets are required for entry and will be handed out starting 1 hour before showtime. No late admittance.
Urwin has been teaching children about wildlife for the past seven years. After working as an environmental scientist across Texas, New Mexico, and Louisiana, Urwin returned to the Houston area to follow his passion for wildlife education and working with animals.
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. Made possible by the Friends of the Library organizations that support these libraries, the events are 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) or the branch libraries.
Deadline is noon every Friday. Limit entries to the “5 Ws” Who, What, When, Where, and Why. Email to editor@fortbendstar.com
NON- PROFIT EVENTS
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 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 by giving you a better sense of the land and culture from which it sprang. The class meets at 9:30 am every Sunday at First Presbyterian of Sugar Land (502 Eldridge Rd.). For more information call 281-240-3195.
EXCHANGE
EXCHANGE, America’s Service Club, always welcomes guests and is in search of new members! Various Fort Bend clubs exist and can accommodate early morning (7 a.m.), noon and evening meeting time desires. For more info, contact Mike Reichek, Regional Vice President, 281-575-1145 or mike@reichekfinancial. com We would love to have you join us and see what we are all about! MISSOURI CITY AARP CHAPTER 3801 Meets the second Monday of every month at 11:30 a.m., at 2701 Cypress Point Dr., Missouri City Rec Center. Lunch, education, and entertainment. All seniors over 50 invited. For more information, call 713-859-5920 or 281-499-3345.
SUGAR CREEK BACKYARD GARDEN TOUR
Plan to attend the Sugar Creek Backyard Garden Tour, organized by the Sugar Creek Garden Club, on May 3, 2025, 10 a.m.
The Creature Teacher’s Richard "Rick" Urwin will present live exotic animals at special children's programs this summer at Fort Bend County Libraries branches in June and July. Courtesy Fort Bend County Libraries