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Fort Bend / Southwest • Volume 37 • No. 39
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Sugar Land woman says HOA crossed the line By Michael Sudhalter msudhalter @ fortbendstar.com
Last winter, Sugar Land resident Eleanor Burgess put an 18-inch decorative Christian Cross in her front yard garden as a memorial to her 92-year-old mother who passed away in December. Burgess, who lives in the Commonwealth subdivision in Sugar Land, received the cross as a gift from relatives in East Texas at her mother’s funeral. She was surprised last March to receive a letter
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from the Commonwealth Homeowners Association (HOA), saying that the cross violated the neighborhood’s deed restrictions. “It was infuriating that I can’t have something so meaningful and non-offensive in my front yard to honor my mother,” Burgess said. “The HOA’s power has exceeded their usefulness. I never thought I’d be breaking any kind of rule. It never entered my mind that I was being any kind of rebel. Crosses are so much a part of our family.” As per HOA policy,
Burgess was given the opportunity to state her case during an HOA board meeting in March. “They were so defensive and ready to (oppose) me from the minute I walked in—they weren’t going to be swayed,” said Burgess, who has since reluctantly moved the cross to her backyard where the HOA has no issue with it. State law allows people to have any type of religious item on their front door, but individual HOAs have the discretion on whether to allow what they describe as “yard art.”
Commonwealth HOA board secretary David Bristow said the board doesn’t have much discretion when it comes to deed restrictions such as items in the yard. “We have to fall back on the original declaration of the neighborhood, which was set in 1987,” Bristow said. “As a board, we are bound by that document. She really wants (the cross in her yard), so it ends up being an emotional discussion.” Burgess said she doesn’t
H SEE HOA, PG 4A
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BRIEFLY Reynolds passes mental illness bill State Rep. Ron Reynolds (DMissouri City) passed House Bill 2597, which will divert persons that suffer from mental illness from the Fort Bend County Jail and provide much needed assistance to the mentally ill. HB 2597 will create a Mental Health treatment for incarceration diversion pilot program for Fort Bend County. “This pilot program will seek to provide treatment and residential assistance to those who need it most. By providing immediate assistance through crisis treatment intervention and subsequent residential treatment, the person who suffers mental health issues has a chance to gain the footing and life skills to re-enter society as a productive citizen, rather than continue to be a criminal and financial burden,” commented Representative Reynolds. Reducing the incarceration recidivism and providing productive citizens is the goal of this program. Currently, the treatment and helpful options for persons who suffer mental illness are few once the cycling begins through the incarceration system. “I was honored to work with County Commissioner Richard Morrison to be able to legislatively address these issues that the county was in need of resolving and concurrently provide assistance to some of our most vulnerable citizens,” said Reynolds.
The students, teachers and parents are all counting down the days of summer. It’s time for summer camp, some fun time at the pool or that vacation you’ve been waiting for all year. But before you pack that suitcase, remember to cast your vote. No, this one doesn’t require registration or heading out to the polls. This is the inaugural Fort Bend Star Reader’s Choice Awards, and your homework is due on May 29. Just fill out your name and address from a ballot inside the newspaper or online, and submit it, or send it to our office, 4655 Techniplex Suite 300, Stafford, TX 77477. Sugar Land resident Bryce Jones, right, shares a laugh with his parents, Sugar Land Skeeters General Manager Chris Let’s hear about your favorJones, left, and Anna Jones, center, before a Skeeters home game earlier this month. Bryce’s life was saved by blood ite businesses. Encourage your transfusions when he was an infant, and the family is looking forward to being involved in a May 27 blood drive before friends and family to support a Skeeters home game. (Photo by Michael Sudhalter) the best in Fort Bend—whether it’s a mom & pop shop, or some big box store. You already know your favorite bar, hair salon and garden/landscaping store. the Blood Drive will receive small city between Los Angeles Now, it’s just a matter of makBy Michael Sudhalter a voucher for a free Skeeters and San Diego. ing it known. msudhalter@ fortbendstar.com game ticket, a “Commit for Bryce was sick for about a There are 12 major catLife” T-Shirt and a raffle entry week, so Anna took him to the egories—Animals & Pet Throughout the baseball for the opportunity to throw hospital. He was life-flighted Services, Automotive Servicseason, there are many events the opening pitch at a future to a hospital in San Diego es/Products, Beauty, Drinking and happenings, but one of Skeeters home game. where he was diagnosed with Establishments, Education, 3-7 p.m. on them hits especially close to “We can save some lives,” Hemophagocytic LymphoEntertainment & Fine Art, Wednesday, May 27 home for Sugar Land Skeeters Jones said. histiocytosis (HLH), a rare Food & Restaurants, Genat Constellation Field General Manager Chris Jones Jones certainly knows from life-threatening blood condieral Shopping, Health, Home and his family. personal experience. tion where cells in the body Improvement/Maintenance, Donors receive Jones has played a key role Jones’ 11-year-old son, Bryce, aren’t working properly. Best Professional Service, and a voucher for a in the annual Sugar Land is a happy, healthy fifth grader Bryce required a bone marSports & Fitness. There are Skeeters game Skeeters Blood Drive, 3 to 7 who enjoys playing youth base- row transplant, but it couldn’t multiple sub-categories within p.m. on Wednesday May 27 ball and attending Skeeters happen right away. In the time each of the big 12. ticket, a free T-shirt before the game against the games. But when Bryce was an between, he required several The top three businesses in and a raffle entry for Southern Maryland Blue infant in 2004, Chris and his transfusions of red blood cells each subcategory will be recthe chance to throw Crabs. The event is held in con- wife, Anna, didn’t know if their and plasma. ognized in a future edition of junction with the Gulf Coast little boy was going to survive. The Star. out the first pitch at Regional Blood Center. The Jones Family was livIf a local business can a Skeeters game. H SEE BLOOD DRIVE, PG 4A Those who participate in ing in Lake Elsinore, Calif.—a claim to be Fort Bend’s best in their respective category, that’s another feather in their cap. If you like the work they do, you’ll want to help them achieve that. This is a new Fort Bend tradition, and we hope you’ll join us in making it a great one.
Blood drive strikes a chord for Skeeters GM, family SKEETERS BLOOD DRIVE
Baines parent calls Fort Bend ISD truancy meeting "window dressing" By Michael Sudhalter msudhalter @ fortbendstar.com
ABOUT US The Fort Bend Southwest Star 4655 Techniplex Dr. Suite 300 Stafford, Texas 77477 281-690-4200 281-690-5200 fax starnews@fortbendstar.com www.fortbendstar.com
ELEANOR BURGESS Sugar Land Resident
FBISD SUPERINTENDENT DR. CHARLES DUPRE
Sienna Plantation resident David Rodrigues attended Fort Bend ISD’s community meeting on Truancy last Wednesday at Marshall High and wasn’t impressed. FBISD hosted the first of two community meetings on Truancy last Wednesday. The second one will be held at 7 p.m. tonight at Bush High. The district has received
strong criticism for its Truancy program. Last month, FBISD superintendent Dr. Charles Dupre announced the suspension of the Truancy program, until it is thoroughly reviewed. “We’re here to have honest discussions and meet the needs of every student in the district,” Dupre said. “We will work all summer to get information for a good strategy going forward and putting strategies in place.”
A SALUTE TO OUR SOLDIERS The Fort Bend Star offices will be closed on Monday, May 25th in honor of Memorial Day. Deadline for the Wednesday, May 27th issue of the Star is Friday, May 22nd at 2pm
H SEE TRUANCY, PG 4A
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