Greatwood August 2023

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August 2023

Contents & Staff

16 24 6

CHAIRMAN, EDITOR & PUBLISHER

Clyde King cking@hartmannews.com

MANAGING EDITOR

Marquita Griffin mgriffin@fbherald.com

ADVERTISING

Stefanie Bartlett sbartlett@fbherald.com

Ruby Polichino ruby@fbherald.com

06

FEATURE | Sabrina Greenlee will be the guest speaker at the 6th Annual Healing & Hope Luncheon.

10

TALK OF THE TOWN | The Sugar Land Heritage Foundation announces the new president and board members.

20

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | Auditions are opent for the Fort Bend Boys Choir of Texas.

WRITERS & CONTRIBUTORS

Marquita Griffin

Scott Reese Willey

Brandon Norvell

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

Melinda Maya mmaya@fbherald.com

Rachel Cavazos rcavazos@fbherald.com

TO ADVERTISE

If you are interested in advertising in the Greatwood Monthly, please call 281-342-4474 and ask for Stefanie Bartlett or Ruby Polichino. We’ll be happy to send rates, and deadline information to you.

PHOTO & ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS

We are looking for fresh story ideas and enjoy publishing your articles in the West Fort Bend Living. If you have an story idea or photo to publish please send your information to mgriffin@fbherald.com with “West Fort Bend Living” in the subject line.

©2023 Greatwood Monthly. All Rights Reserved. Greatwood Monthly is a sister publication of Fulshear Living Monthly, West Fort Bend Living Monthly, Pecan Grove Monthly and is a publication of the Fort Bend Herald. Our publishing headquarters is 1902 S. Fourth Street, Rosenberg Texas 77471.

From victim to victor

Sabrina Greenlee to speak at Healing and Hope luncheon

The founder of S.M.O.O.O.T.H., a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering women impacted by domestic violence, will be the guest speaker at an annual event in Fort Bend centered on domestic violence.

Some may know the name Sabrina Greenlee after she shared her story of survival and overcoming obstacles last year with The Root’s Deputy Editor Tatsha Robertson, but on Oct. 17, Greenlee will continue to share her experiences, motivations and goals as a survivor of domestic violence at the Fort Bend Women’s Center 6th Annual Healing & Hope Luncheon — the center’s annual keynote event in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

The luncheon is set for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Houston Marriott Sugar Land, 16090 City Walk and will benefit the Fort Bend Women’s Center.

As the only full-service domestic violence and sexual assault emergency shelter and crisis hotline in Fort Bend, the Fort Bend Women’s Center provided supportive services to 1,368 adults and 633 youth and assistance to 211 sexual assault survivors last year. Additionally, the center offered more than 9,300 mental health service hours and more than 36,500 case management service hours.

The nonprofit also reported that it received 11,221 calls to its crisis hotline.

“Healing & Hope [...] will provide a powerful testimo nial of courage, strength, and resilience,” stated Fort Bend Women’s Center officials. “You will be in spired by the tenacity of a woman, who de spite all odds, continued to persevere by not just surviving, but thriving.”

A POWERFUL STORY

Although most are appalled, shocked and grieved by the acid attack that blind ed Greenlee in 2002, her story of overcoming physical, mental and emotional brutality began in childhood.

When she was 10 years old she was sexually as saulted by a man she knew, and neither her mother nor grandmother believed her, and one of her broth ers, who was 12 at the time, died in her arms after a car accident. She told The Root that following her brother’s death, her mother forewent the parental at tention her surviving children needed, and by the time she was 18, Greenlee had become a teenage mother, had gone through harsh relationships and married an abusive man.

But the late Harris Steve Hopkins, came into her life when Greenlee said she was broken, lost and needed saving. Greenlee said Steve, as he was known, never abused her, and the two had a son, who became NFL player DeAndre Hopkins. Greenlee said Steve also

cared for her older two children as if they were his. But when their son, DeAndre, was a few months old, Steve died in a car accident.

In the years that followed, she had her fair share of turbulent experiences as she pushed forward as a single mother. In 2002, however, Greenlee suffered an encounter that put her life on an unanticipated trek and blinded her.

A man she was dating then had a girlfriend — a woman Greenlee was unaware of — who threw a mixture of Red Devil Lye and Clorox onto Greenlee.

Blood was everywhere, her skin was slipping off, she couldn’t see, and her ex-boyfriend took her to a nearby gas station. She describes the chaotic moment of having her ex and the store attendant throw water on her from a fountain in the back. Amid the pain and chaos, though, her ex-boyfriend abandoned her.

“I hear [the clerk], but I don’t hear him anymore,” she said in an interview with The Root. “Well, he leaves me there to die.”

But Greenlee didn’t.

She was put into a medically induced coma for about a month and when she woke, the road ahead of her consisted of pain, setbacks, and indescribable challenges as she tried to regain sight and move forward.

Greenlee had more than 30 surgeries on each eye, but the operations left her eyes weak, resulting in permanent detachment of her retinas. Greenlee is permanently blind in her right eye and has about 60 percent of sight in her left eye.

The woman who attacked her with the mixture was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

For a little more than three years, Greenlee said she stayed in her room except to go to eye appointments, and at a low point, considered throwing herself into traffic.

“I was broken and I was tired — so tired of being tired, I had to have people come in to come in and feed my children,” she said in a 2022 interview with The Root Institute. “Life was bad.”

The home she shared with her four children was located near a highway, and Greenlee said she figured she could touch each mailbox to reach it. It was her son, DeAndre Hopkins, who stopped her.

“I figured if I could get out of the house and touch each mailbox [ ...] and get to the final mailbox, I would hear a car coming and throw myself in the road,” Greenlee said.

When she reached the second mailbox her son, who had been following her the entire time, “put his big hand on [her] shoulder” to stop her. They embraced. Greenlee said she was startled because she didn’t know her son was following.

“We never said a word, we start walking back to the house. I went back in my room and we

went in his room, and we never talked about it again for years.”

RESTORING, RECREATING AND REPAIRING

Although she said her life has been “no crystal stair,” Greenlee credits her faith for fueling her confidence to inspire people to restore, recreate and repair themselves.

The South Carolina native, mother of four, and grandmother of six became the founder and CEO of S.M.O.O.O.T.H., Inc. — Speaking Mentally, Outwardly Opening Opportunities Toward Healing.

The nonprofit, which Greenlee launched about 10 years ago, connects survivors to reputable community aids, including counseling, personal and mental health, and financial and legal resources.

Through this platform, Greenlee and her team educate and empower women and children through outreach efforts and programs such as Pretty Scars Into Stars, 100 Shades of Purple, S.M.O.O.O.T.H. Santa, and the S.M.O.O.O.T.H. Transition Initiative.

Greenlee is also a recipient of the 2020 Houston Humanitarian Awards and that same year participated in a virtual panel discussion for domestic violence alongside Lisa Nichols hosted by Bank Of America.

She has been featured on ESPN, USA Today, and Living in Fear: Chronicles I and II, which won an Emmy, and regularly appears on local media outlets from South Carolina to Texas.

Greenlee recently emceed the women’s empowerment rally that hosted over 10,000 Houstonians and appeared on ABC News with the CEO of the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

Greenlee is also preparing for an autobiography film, “Sabrina,” which is based on her life. The film will be released by BRON Studios.

“My mom has always put everyone before herself and sacrificed things unimaginable,” DeAndre Hopkins said in a statement regarding the film. “Now it’s time for people to see her true value and learn that giving up is not an option.”

Sabrina Greenlee/Instagram | Sabrina Greenlee with her son DeAndre Hopkins during the February 2023 fundraising event Sip, Shop, & Give Back at Blue Nile, which was a collaboration with Blue Nile, her son and S.M.O.O.O.T.H., Inc.

Sabrina Greenlee/Instagram | S.M.O.O.O.T.H. founder and CEO Sabrina Greenlee thanked Houston’s 97.9 The Box and the Madd Hatta Morning Show in 2019 for the time given to share the nonprofit’s efforts and goals over the radio waves.

Sabrina Greenlee/Instagram | In February 2023, Sabrina Greenlee’s nonprofit S.M.O.O.O.T.H. partnered with another NFL mother and domestic violence survivor, Annie Apple, to host Super Bowl LVII SoftLife Fest in Arizona. The SoftLife Fest is intended for women who’ve survived hard times and are ready to embrace the power of gentleness and self-love.

AU GU ST

George Ranch High School incoming sophomore Addison Omar competed in the Endeavor Games at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond. Omar won six medals at the event and qualified for the national meet the following month in Alabama.

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Fort Bend couple purchases historic hotel on Gulf coast

by BRANDON NORVELL | bnorvell@fbherald.com

Coated with salt air under a summer sun lies a small coastal town called Port Lavaca. Engulfed with history, lies the remains of what used to be the Navidad Hotel. A building with bright blue walls that resembles the marina that it looks out upon.

One Rosenberg couple decided to grab their tool belts and restore what was formerly a hotel. Lesa and Jeff Junek, residents of the Richmond/Rosenberg area, have had their hands full after purchasing the property.

Port Lavaca, known for saltwater fishing, was founded in 1840 due to the aftermath of the Linville raid. Later on, the town became known for its export of shrimp.

The property built in 1908 has since served as a hotel and an apartment complex. The property is a current work in progress, within its online listing the former hotel is stated to need roofing repairs. The price of the property was listed at $165,000 when the Junek family decided to make their purchase.

“Most people buy a sports car, we bought a hotel,” said Lesa. “I joke about it being a midlife crisis, but we are in our 50s if we are going to do something, now is the time to do it.”

The couple never saw themselves going on a path of property restoration projects; however, with time, effort, and sweat, they are taking it one step at a time.

“It all started as a joke, when I saw it listed I thought it was interesting and I joked with my daughter and son-in-law and said ‘If I bought this place, would y’all rent it for me?’ I did not mean it, they were looking for a place to live at the time,” said Jeff.

The building is an older building that has been abandoned for three years. The Juneks have worked on clearing out the previous collection of trash and furniture while envisioning the restoration of the property.

“We can see potential in the building, we like the whole historical vibe of the building, but you have to have vision. It is very very run down, it has been abandoned for three years, and even before that time, a lot had taken place in there that was not geared towards taking care of it,” said Lesa.

If the walls could talk, the history of the property would contain stories, but based on the architecture, the Juneks found pieces of history.

“Jeff started digging into it and found the original interior brick under the drywall. There is original wood flooring underneath the vinyl, and the original wood ceilings have been covered by drywall,” said Lesa.

The process of restoration is lengthy and difficult, and depending on the conditions of the build, it could need various steps. The couple plans on keeping as much history within the building while updating the plumbing and electrical so they can turn it into studio apartments.

“We are trying to restore as much of it as possible, starting this month with the foundation. We have got to get the foundation done before we can do anything else. We have done the cleanup, and we’ll have to get the roof redone,” said Jeff, “We are having to put more sweat equity into this than we had planned, but overall Lesa is really the researcher, so she is finding all the historical photos and deciding what we need to do to maintain the historical essence, and I am just herding cats trying to get the right subcontractors.”

The Juneks have already had their first potential resident visit the property.

“The old owner left all this stuff in there, and there was so much to clean out. One of the things that was left was all these beds and when we first walked through it, I saw all these footprints across

the bedspread. I told my family ‘Those are raccoon footprints’ and everyone saw and said ‘Sure they are, whatever’. A month later we come in to do some work, and I walk up the stairs into one of the rooms, and I look in the bathroom and this huge raccoon is taking up the whole bottom of the shower,” said Lesa.

The raccoon has not since returned; however, the couple did take steps to protect the property from unwanted guests. “We closed up the windows, because there was a lot of broken ones, but by the time we open, I am sure the raccoon will have another place to live, but we have not seen him since,” said Lesa.

This is not the first property the couple owns out in the area.

“We also own land out there in Port Lavaca, so we knew we liked the area. We were thinking about when Jeff retires someday, maybe we spend more time out there since we have some land at Magnolia Beach, it is just down the road from Port Lavaca,” said Lesa.

Jeff and Lesa have been married for 32 years, and have been in the Richmond-Rosenberg area for the past 30 years. When he is not working on restoring the property, Jeff works in IT.

“I have been working in IT for 30 years,” said Jeff, “I have got another 10 years before I retire, and this project is not a substitute for my work.” Lesa is a retired home school teacher.

“I am a certified teacher, I homeschooled our five kids all the way through and I am a grandmother now,” said Lesa.

While Home & Garden TV (HGTV) lead many to believe these types of restoration projects are easy, Jeff and Lesa know they have a big restoration project ahead of them, but they plan to take it one nail at a time.

Photo Courtesy Of Port Lavaca Wave | Lesa and Jeff Junek stand proudly in front of their newly purchased property, a former hotel.

‘Small Room Humongous Value’ Fort Bend County District Clerk’s office opens historical documents room to the public

story and photo by SCOTT REESE WILLEY | swilley@fbherald.com

Historical researcher Barbara Crump-Jones knows well the value of looking through historical records that are posted online. She’s always searching for historical records regarding her hometown of Kendleton, Civil Rights icon Willie Melton and the prison convict leasing program better known now as the Sugar Land 95.

Jones finds a lot of information online. But she also looks forward to handling historical documents, seeing the actual printed page.

“There’s nothing like holding the actual document in your hand,” she said. So Jones was ecstatic when Fort Bend County District Clerk Beverley Walker and her staff opened the recently completed historical documents room to the public.

“This is a momentous, significant and what some would say is a very auspicious occasion, because we are about to open a room that is very small...but it’s value is humongous,” Walker told civic leaders and public servants who attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony on the third floor of the Fort Bend County Justice Center in Richmond.

“Remember, the District Clerk is one of the oldest positions in county government. We were around at the founding of the Republic of Texas.”

She said the historical document room includes criminal and civil cases that go back to 1838 — before Texas was even a state.

“Those of you who love history like I do, you will remember that Texas became a state in December 1845,” she said. “So we have records going back to the Republic.”

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Walker thanked her predecessor, Annie Rebecca Elliott, who started the process of preserving historical documents when she served as district clerk.

“We both realized the importance of preserving these documents and making them available to the public,” Walker said.

Walker also thanked Fort Bend County commissioners, who allocated $2.6 million toward the preservation of the records. A Dallas preservation company performed the task of preserving the documents, many of which had to be “de-acified.” Many historical documents have acid in them, which damages the paper, Walker ex-

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Historical researcher Barbara Crump-Jones, who was born and raised in Kendleton, leafs through one of the many bound volumes of court records available to the public in the recently opened historical documents room on the third floor of the Fort Bend County Justice Center. County Commissioners allocated $2.6 million to the preservation of the historical records kept by the District Clerk.

plained. Some of the documents were crumbling, she added.

The preservation firm also inserted the individual pages in plastic, see-through sleeves and the entire case files in fireproof, water-proof binders. The small room is located next to the district clerk’s office.

One of the deputy clerks must accompany visitors to the room. Once inside, visitors will find thousands of historical cases, including the grand jury minutes that involve criminal fornication, property sales that allowed buyers to pay off the land over a 12-month period, and instances in which slaveowners who moved to Texas filed petitions to keep their slaves.

It goes without saying that the documents room includes plenty of cases related to the infamous Bluejays-Woodpecker War. CrumpJones said historical records are invaluable to researchers and the complaints and the testimony of those times give researchers today a glimpse into the stories of those eras and a comprehensive understanding of the past.

“As a historian, I am intrigued by the methods used to resolve disputes and conflicts in court to resolve disputes,” Crump-Jones said. “Many individuals, regardless of their race or literacy level, spoke in the era’s vernacular. I love seeing how they spoke, what they spoke about and things of that nature. It gives you view of the time of those people.”

SLHF announces 2023 president and new board members

The Sugar Land Heritage Foundation announces the recently elected president for 2023 and the addition of three new board members.

“We have such a unique history in Sugar Land, with its beginnings

as the site chosen by Stephen F. Austin for his personal settlement, through the reconstruction era and the many years as a company town based on the philosophy of welfare capitalism,” said the foundation’s new board president Carolyn Gilligan, on why she serves on the Sugar Land Heritage Foundation board.

“It is important to preserve this history for future generations.”

The foundation thanked retiring Board President Roy Cordes for his invaluable contribution as president and for his continued support as a member of the board.

New members elected to the board include:

James Amaro, Owner, Amaro Law Firm. Amaro’s family emigrated to Sugar Land in 1918 after fleeing the civil war in Mexico. Many of Amaro’s family, going back to his grandparents, worked at Imperial Sugar and are buried at the historical San Isidro Cemetery in Sugar Land. The family also has a long history with Saint Theresa’s Catholic Church in Sugar Land.

“I have a strong connection to what I call home,” Amaro said of Sugar Land.

Madeleine Garcia, Executive Director of the Fort Bend History Association. Garcia grew up in Sugar Land, and is all history all the time. She serves on the Fort Bend County Historical Commission, the Richmond Historic Commission, and is an active member of the Texas Association of Museums.

“Preserving history is important to me,” she said. “And I’ve worked to preserve the history of each place I’ve lived.”

Kristin Lytle, Director, Broker Associate, Hometown America, Inc. Lytle is also involved with Friends of Old Sugar Land and the Sugar Land Art Museum. When asked why she supports the Sugar Land Heritage Foundation, she said: “I wanted to preserve history to build our community for the future.”

Returning board members include Betty Anhaiser, Douglas Brinkley, Ramon Gomez, Taylor Landin, Paul Lock, Michael Madden, Claire Rogers, David Smith, Beth Wolf, and Bridget Yeung.

1 ½ teaspoons white sugar

1 clove garlic, crushed

1 teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

5 ounces goat cheese, crumbled

3 ounces arugula, chopped

2 green onions, sliced

Corn Salad

INGREDIENTS

¼ cup white sugar

6 ears fresh corn, shucked (a 16-ounce package of frozen corn can be substituted for fresh corn)

2 Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced

1 red bell pepper, minced

1 bunch green onions, thinly sliced

½ cup sour cream

⅓ cup mayonnaise

¼ cup fresh basil leaves, cut into very thin strips

¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese

2 tablespoons cider vinegar

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

DIRECTIONS

1Fill a bowl with ice water. Stir sugar into a large pot filled with water; bring to a boil. Add corn; cook until kernels are softened, about 2 minutes. Drain and transfer corn to ice water until cooled; drain. Cut kernels from the cob with a sharp knife.

2Combine corn, Roma tomatoes, red bell pepper, and green onions in a bowl. Stir sour cream, mayonnaise, basil, Parmesan cheese, and cider vinegar together in a bowl until dressing is smooth; season with salt and pepper. Fold dressing into corn mixture. Chill in the refrigerator until flavors combine, 8 hours to overnight.

Crab Salad

INGREDIENTS

1 pound imitation crabmeat, flaked

½ cup finely chopped celery, or more to taste

½ cup reduced-fat ranch dressings

⅓ cup mayonnaise

1 tablespoon white sugar, or to taste

1 teaspoon minced fresh parsley

DIRECTIONS

Gently mix crabmeat, celery, ranch, mayonnaise, sugar, and parsley in a salad bowl until thoroughly combined. Refrigerate, stirring occasionally, for 8 hours to overnight. Stir again just before serving.

Herb ‘n Honey Cucumber Tomato Salad

INGREDIENTS

3 cucumbers, peeled and sliced

2 large ripe tomatoes, sliced (cherry

tomatoes can serve as a substitute)

2 green onions, sliced thin

8 leaves fresh basil, chopped

½ cup crumbled feta cheese

½ cup seasoned rice wine vinegar

½ cup honey

DIRECTIONS

Layer cucumbers, tomatoes, green onions, and basil in a bowl; top with feta cheese. Drizzle rice wine vinegar over the surface; top with honey.

Mexican Bean Salad

INGREDIENTS

1 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed & drained

1 (15 oz) can kidney beans, rinsed & drained

1 (15 oz) can cannellini beans, rinsed & drained

1 green bell pepper, chopped

1 red bell pepper, chopped

1 (10 oz) package frozen corn kernels, thawed

1 red onion, diced

½ cup olive oil

½ cup red wine vinegar

¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 clove garlic, crushed

2 tablespoons white sugar

1 tablespoon salt

1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin

1 ½ teaspoons ground black pepper

½ teaspoon chili powder, or to taste

1 dash hot pepper sauce, or to taste

DIRECTIONS

1Combine beans, bell peppers, corn, and red onion in a large bowl.

2Whisk olive oil, vinegar, cilantro, lime juice, lemon juice, garlic, sugar, salt, cumin, and black pepper together in a small bowl. Season with chili powder and hot sauce.

3Pour dressing over bean mixture and toss well. Refrigerate until chilled, about

1 hour. Serve cold.

Quinoa Beet Salad

INGREDIENTS

½ pound beets, peeled and sliced

2 cups water

1 cup red quinoa

½ cup olive oil

½ cup red wine vinegar

DIRECTIONS

1Place a steamer insert into a saucepan and fill with water to just below the bottom of the steamer; cover pan and bring water to a boil. Add beets, cover pan, and steam until just tender, 7 to 10 minutes. Set aside.

2Place 2 cups water and quinoa in a saucepan; bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until quinoa is tender and liquid has been absorbed, about 15 minutes.

3Meanwhile, whisk olive oil, red wine vinegar, sugar, garlic, salt, and black pepper together in a large bowl.

4Remove quinoa from heat, then immediately add 1/2 of the vinegar dressing while fluffing quinoa with a fork; reserve remaining dressing. Cover and refrigerate quinoa until cool, at least 1 hour.

5Stir goats cheese, arugula, green onions, beets, and remaining dressing into cooled quinoa mixture. Toss lightly before serving.

Spinach and Strawberry Salad

INGREDIENTS

2 bunches spinach, rinsed and torn into bite-size pieces

4 cups sliced strawberries

½ cup vegetable oil

½ cup white sugar

¼ cup white wine vinegar

2 tablespoons sesame seeds

1 tablespoon poppy seeds

¼ teaspoon paprika

DIRECTIONS

1Toss together spinach and strawberries in a large bowl.

2Whisk oil, sugar, vinegar, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, and paprika together in a medium bowl. Pour over the spinach and strawberries, and toss to coat.

Continued on page 20

2023 Fort Bend County Fair entertainment lineup released

The Fort Bend County Fair and Rodeo Association announced the six musical acts to entertain and energize the community this fall during the Fort Bend County Fair and Rodeo running Sept. 29 - Oct. 8.

The fair’s most notable acts include famous country star Tracy Byrd and Grammy-winning swing band Asleep at the Wheel. Byrd, who performs on Oct. 7, has released numerous award-nominated albums throughout his two-decade career. Some of his No. 1 hits include “Holdin’ Heaven,” “Watermelon Crawl,” and “The Keeper of the Stars.” Asleep at the Wheel was formed in 1970 and has won 10 Grammys throughout an illustrious career. Popular songs include “The Letter That Johnny Walker Read,” “Choo Choo Ch’Boogie,” and “Route 66.”

Jennifer Williams, president of the Fort Bend County Fair Association, and Barbara Robertson, spokesperson for the Fort Bend County Fair, spoke excitedly about the 2023 lineup.“Here at the Fort Bend County Fair, with the artists we bring, you can truly enjoy a lot of different types of music,” Robertson said. “I think our board really worked hard to bring a lot of different artists where people will find who they like.”

Houston-born and raised country artist Josh Ward will open the 10-day festivities on Sept. 29. Ward makes his second appearance at the fair since 2012 and has had seven consecutive No. 1 hit singles in Texas, including “Together,” “Change My Mind,” and “Broken Heart.”

Local favorites, the Josh Abbott Band, will play on Sept. 30. The Lubbock-based band has sold more than 300,000 albums and is best known for their songs “Settle Me Down,” “Oh, Tonight,” and “She’s Like Texas.”

Grammy-nominated La Energía Norteña will grace the stage on Oct. 1. The Dallas-based group, known for its Norteño and Regional Mexican music, has gained a significant following since its formation in 2010. The band is best known for their songs “Me Dejé Llevar,”

“Hasta El Último Día,” and “Tú No Eres Nada.” Oklahoma-based Southall rounds out the lineup and will perform on Oct. 6. Notable songs include “Why” and “Clean Slate.”

Tickets are now on sale at fortbendcountyfair.com.

Use It or Lose It: there’s an expiration date on a young boy’s voice Audition for the Fort Bend Boys Choir

by TIANA MORTIMER, FBBCTX Executive Director

So many activities … so little time. That is often a parent’s lament when choosing activities for their children. Can we fit in swimming or baseball when we already have music lessons and soccer?

Here is a helpful hint, especially when it comes to boys – keep the music lessons. And if that young boy loves to sing? Schedule an audition with the Fort Bend Boys Choir now.

Did you know there is an expiration date on a young boy’s voice?

Admittedly, boys can sing anywhere, anytime. However, the unchanged treble voice of a young boy, you know, the one that is high and pure and sounds like an angel — that voice comes with an expiration date. You will not know exactly when it will change, but that change is inevitable. Hormones slowly take over, the voice starts to crack and deepen and that lovely, unchanged singing voice is gone forever.

There are many lost opportunities for vocally talented boys when parents overlook choir activities or put them off for something else.

The Fort Bend Boys Choir of Texas, a nonprofit boy choir organization, has been making a difference, one boy at a time for 42 years. They are holding auditions by special appointment throughout the summer for young boys with an unchanged voice. The good news is that no experience is required.

Boys from all over the Greater Houston area, not just Fort Bend, can reap the benefits of a unique music education not found anywhere else. The fall 2023 season kicks off Aug. 17, meeting every Thursday evening at the First United Methodist Church-Missouri City. To audition, boys should be around eight years old or going into the third grade when school starts. For boys ages six and seven, the Fort Bend Boys Choir offers Music Magic, an eightweek music enrichment program and no auditions are required. This class meets on Tuesdays starting in October.

Don’t let a young boy’s voice go unheard! Schedule an audition today.

Contact the Fort Bend Boys Choir office at 281-240-3800 or visit fbbctx.org/auditions/ for additional details.

A summer concert with Second Street Brass

Second Street Brass will perform a selection of light-hearted tunes in Fort Bend on Aug. 12.

From 2-3 p.m. in the meeting room of the George Memorial Library at 1001 Golfview Drive in Richmond, Second Street Brass will

Continued on page 22

Tracy Byrd

Josh Abbot Band

Josh Ward

Southhall

Asleep at the Wheel

La Energia Nortenia

Stacked Tomato and Burrata

INGREDIENTS

1 vine-ripened tomato, cored and cut into 1/2-inch slices

flaked sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

¼ cup burrata cheese, or more to taste

1 tablespoon torn fresh basil leaves, or to taste

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

DIRECTIONS

Place a tomato slice on a plate; season with sea salt and black pepper. Spread burrata cheese over tomato slice and top with torn basil leaves. Drizzle with olive oil. Top with another tomato slice. Repeat cheese and tomato layering process with remaining slices, finishing with a tomato slice.

NOTE: Mozzarella cheese can be substituted for the burrata cheese, and the balsamic vinegar can be drizzled between the layers.

1Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir ground beef in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain and discard grease. Stir in chili beans, French-style dressing, and seasoning mix. Fill the empty dressing bottle ⅔ full of water and add to the skillet. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 15 minutes.

2Crush the bag of chips, open the bag, and toss crushed chips into a large bowl. Add lettuce, cheese, and tomatoes. Pour meat mixture into the bowl; mix well. Top with salsa and sour cream.

Watermelon Salad

INGREDIENTS

¾ cup halved, thinly sliced red onion

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

1 ½ quarts seeded, cubed watermelon

¾ cup crumbled feta cheese

½ cup pitted black olive halves

1 cup chopped fresh mint

2 tablespoons olive oil

DIRECTIONS

Tiger Salad

INGREDIENTS

½ English cucumber

1 ¼ teaspoons salt, divided

3 large green onions, white and tender green parts only

1 large green bell pepper

1 large red bell pepper

2 tablespoons unseasoned rice vinegar

1 ½ tablespoons toasted sesame oil

¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

2 cups chopped fresh cilantro, leaves & stems

DIRECTIONS

Taco Salad

INGREDIENTS

1 pound lean ground beef

1 (16 ounce) can chili beans

1 (16 ounce) bottle French dressing

1 (1.25 ounce) package taco seasoning mix

1 (14.5 ounce) package tortilla chips

1 head iceberg lettuce, shredded

2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

1 cup chopped tomatoes

½ cup prepared salsa

4 tablespoons sour cream

DIRECTIONS

1Cut cucumber in half lengthwise and gently scrape out seeds with a spoon. Cut each half crosswise into 2-inch pieces. Cut each piece lengthwise into thin, uniform strips and transfer to a bowl. Toss cucumber with 1 teaspoon salt and let stand 15 minutes.

2Meanwhile, cut green onions and bell peppers into thin, uniform strips, about 2 inches long.

3Transfer cucumber to a fine-mesh sieve, rinse, and drain well. Whisk together vinegar, sesame oil, crushed red pepper, and remaining ¼ teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Add cucumber, green onions, bell peppers, and cilantro, and toss well.

1Place the onion slices in a small bowl with the lime juice. The acid of the lime will mellow the flavor of the raw onion. Let stand for 10 minutes.

2In a large bowl, combine the watermelon cubes, feta cheese, black olives, onions with the lime juice, and mint. Drizzle olive oil over it all, and toss to blend.

Avocado Green Goddess Dressing

INGREDIENTS

1 avocado, peeled and pitted

1 cup mayonnaise

5 anchovy filets, rinsed and chopped

2 tablespoons chopped green onion

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 clove garlic, chopped salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

Combine avocado, mayonnaise, anchovy, green onion, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper in a blender; process until smooth. Transfer to a jar with a lid and chill for 24 hours before serving.

Balsamic Vinaigrette

INGREDIENTS

½ cup extra virgin olive oil

½ cup white balsamic vinegar

1 clove crushed garlic

1 teaspoon ground mustard

1 pinch salt

ground black pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, white balsamic vinegar, garlic, and mustard powder. Season to taste with salt and black pepper. Stir in minced fresh herbs if desired.

Caesar Dressing

INGREDIENTS

1 ½ cups olive oil

1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

¼ cup lemon juice

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

2 tablespoons anchovy paste

½ teaspoon mustard powder

4 cloves garlic, crushed

3 tablespoons sour cream

½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS

In a food processor or blender, combine olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, anchovy paste, mustard, garlic, sour cream, and Parmesan cheese. Process until smooth. Pour into a glass container, seal, and refrigerate until ready to use.

Cucumber Dressing

INGREDIENTS

1 cup plain yogurt

½ cucumber, peeled and finely chopped

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

1 clove garlic, minced

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon ground white pepper

DIRECTIONS

In a blender, combine the yogurt, cucumber, lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper. Blend until smooth and refrigerate until chilled.

Ranch Dressing

INGREDIENTS

1 cup mayonnaise

½ cup sour cream

½ teaspoon dried chives

½ teaspoon dried parsley

½ teaspoon dried dill weed

¼ teaspoon garlic powder

¼ teaspoon onion powder

⅛ teaspoon salt

⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper

DIRECTIONS

Whisk mayonnaise, sour cream, chives, parsley, dill, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper together in a large bowl until well-combined. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving.

Thousand Island Dressing

INGREDIENTS

3 eggs

¼ cup Worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon white sugar

¼ cup white vinegar

1 pinch ground cloves

1 quart mayonnaise

¾ cup sweet pickle relish

½ cup chopped black olives

½ cup diced red bell pepper

DIRECTIONS

1Place eggs in a saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring water to a boil and immediately remove from heat. Cover and let eggs stand in hot water for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from hot water, cool, peel, and chop. 2In a medium bowl, whisk together chopped eggs, Worcestershire sauce, sugar, vinegar, cloves, mayonnaise, relish, olives, and red pepper until evenly combined. Chill and serve spooned over fresh greens. Store in the refrigerator.

entertain the audience with songs from popular movies themes and folk songs to jazz classics and traditional hymns put to modern adaptations. The summer concert performance is free and open to the public.

In addition to the Second Street Brass’ summer concert, the University Branch Library in Sugar Land will present a variety of free children’s programs, book clubs, and special programs for people of all ages each month. All programs are free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.fortbend.lib.tx.us.

CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS:

Pleases note that the library is unable to accommodate daycares and school groups at these activities.

Mother Goose Time

When: Mondays, 10:30-11 a.m.

What: Provides caregiver/infant multisensory 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. Mother Goose Time is intended for pre-walking infants from age 1 month to 12 months. This activity will not take place on Aug. 7.

Toddler Time

When: Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 10:30-11 a.m.

What: Offers caregiver/child activities, stories and songs for older babies, from 1 to 3 years of age. This activity will not take place Aug. 1, 2, 8 and 9.

Preschool Story Time

When: Thursdays, 10:30-11:15 a.m.

What: Presents stories, movies, and age-appropriate craft activities for children 3 to 6 years of age. This activity will not take place Aug. 3 and 4.

YOUNG ADULT PROGRAMS:

Intended for teens entering grades 9-12

Young Adult Advisory Council

This program does not meet in the summer. It will resume in the fall.

YA Game Day: Cards Games

When: Thursday, Aug. 3, 3-4 p.m. in Meeting Room 2.

What: Teens are invited to participate in an afternoon of playing Cards Against Humanity, Family Edition, in which players fill in the blanks on black playing cards, with outrageous words and phrases from white playing cards, resulting in hilarious combinations. Players then vote on their favorite responses.

ADULT PROGRAMS

Craft Squad: Cardboard-Loom Weaving

When: Friday, Aug. 4, 2-4 p.m. in Meeting Room 1.

What: People who enjoy crafts are invited to join the Craft Squad, where they can make new crafty friends, learn a new craft or two, and

share tips, tricks, and resources with fellow crafters. In August, the featured craft demonstration shows how to make “Cardboard-Loom Weaving.” In this beginner-level craft, learn how to transform simple cardboard strips in to a loom, then create unique, woven pieces of art. This program is for adults and older teens only. Registration is required.

University Branch Book Club

When: Wednesday, Aug 9., 6 p.m. in Meeting Room 2.

What: The book to be discussed is The Last Thing He Told Me, a novel written by Laura Dave. This book club meets on the second Wednesday of every month. New members invited to attend.

Craft Squad Social

When: Fridays, Aug. 11,18 and 25, 2-4 p.m. in Meeting Room 1.

What: At weekly Craft Squad Socials, crafters can bring their own craft and materials to work on while networking with other crafters. The Craft Squad Social is suitable for adults and older teens only.

Culinary Book Club

When: Wednesday, Aug. 16; 1:30 p.m. in Meeting Room 1.

What: This month, the theme is “Favorite Chefs.” The Culinary Book Club meets on the third Wednesday of every month, and different cooking genres are explored each month. Cooking enthusiasts of all ages and experience levels are invited to join.

Tabletop Society: Bring Your Own Book

When: Thursday, Aug. 24, 3:30-5:30 pm, Meeting Room 1.

What: The Tabletop Society is a board-gaming club for adults, college students, and teens. Each month will feature a different game, so players can try out new games for free before making an investment in their own copy. In August, the featured game is Bring Your Own Book, a game of borrowed phrases, where players search through books for text to fulfill card prompts. The most fitting and funniest answers win the round. Participants who arrive after the game has begun are welcome to observe the game or play something different. The group meets on the fourth Thursday of every month, and new members are encouraged to attend.

Art at the Museum

Brandon Norvell | Brenda Bowman and Susan Salter pose for a photo in front of their art work at the Fort Bend Museum. The Museum’s popup art gallery will be on display until September.

Lions Club spotlights

2023-2024 scholarship winners

The Lamar Consolidated ISD 2023-2024 Scholarship recipients — Amanda Rodriquez from Terry attending UT Austin and Alfredo Enrique from George Ranch attending TSTC Fort Bend — were recognized and honored recently at the Lions Club meeting at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. The families of the students were also present.

Lions are involved in community service and extend the mission of service every day in local communities, in all corners of the globe. Their services are broad covering sight, health, youth, elderly, the environment and disaster relief. The Lions Club international network has grown to include more than 200 countries and geographic areas.

For information regarding the Rosenberg Lions Club scholarship program, contact Lion Scholarship Chair, Vickie Lynn Tonn at vickietonn@yahoo.com.

Interview practicum preps TSTC students for job hunt

Students sat down nervously across a table from coaches prepped to ask them questions. At the start of a 30-minute timer, the interviews began.

More than 40 Texas State Technical College students worked on their interview skills over two days at a recent interview practicum held at TSTC’s Fort Bend County campus.

The days were split into two sessions each, with students rotating between interview coaches three times.

“I’ve received a lot of positive feedback,” said Isaiah Albright, an Electrical Lineworker and Management Technology student working toward his associate degree. “Speaking for everyone here, we were all nervous starting, but now it really feels like I’m being prepared for an actual interview.”

Each of the students brought with them resumes that they had prepared with the help of TSTC Career Services representatives. While some students were interviewed in pairs due to the large number of them, each practice interview was treated as much like a real one as possible.

The coaches, a mix of TSTC staff and faculty in addition to industry representatives, asked broad questions about whatever industry the students are training for.

One of the coaches on the second day was Sarah Woods. She is a student in the HVAC Technology program working toward a certificate of completion and an associate degree. After being interviewed on day one, she volunteered to do the interviewing on day two. With a background working in the HVAC industry, she felt a need to help other students prepare to enter the workforce.

“I feel like I’m contributing and helping provide a more realistic response for what employers want,” Woods said. “I really try to help them (the students) think outside the box.”

With most of the students in attendance being close to graduation, it was a good opportunity for them to prepare before having to job hunt.

Kent Weed, a Career Services representative, said sharpening interview skills is key to obtaining a good job.

“We try to encourage students to let us help them be prepared for interviews,” Weed said. “Even outside of this event, we do one-on-one interviews with those who are close to graduating. If they are driving on the way to (an interview), we tell them they can call and we’ll ask them questions to help calm them and feel more prepared.”

Registration for TSTC’s fall semester is underway. For more information, go to tstc.edu.

University of Houston Football Camp

George Ranch High School’s Deion Drinkard attended camp at the University of Houston, getting instruction from Cougars’ quarterbacks coaches Trey Holtz and Mike Burchett, pictured above with Drinkard at TDECU Field.

Fort Bend Master Gardeners education center earns award

story by NICK IRENE | nirene@fbherald.com

The Fort Bend Master Gardeners earned first-place honors from the state for their Vegetable Garden Enhancement Project. The thrilling news was announced during its annual luncheon at The Range in Rosenberg in late June. Louie McDaniel, the Texas Master Gardener Volunteer Ambassador, presented the Search for Excellence Award to the Fort Bend chapter in the Teaching Site category. Carol Gaas, President of Fort Bend Master Gardeners, was grateful to the state organization for the honor privilege.

“We very much appreciate that we had the opportunity to create this garden because it impacts the citizens of the Fort Bend County area with all of the fresh produce we produce to give to our local food banks,” Gaas said. “It was a culmination of efforts by different master gardeners to make this happen and the citizens who have supported us through our fundraising efforts to create the garden.”

The garden comprises 17 cedar planters growing over 30 varieties of vegetables, an herb garden, a native plants garden, and a 625-squarefoot pavilion complete with a 1,625-gallon rainwater irrigation system. The gardeners cultivate tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants, peppers, and other fresh produce. Gaas encourages the community to visit the education center on Band Road to witness the garden firsthand.

“We don’t want to be the best-kept secret,” Gaas said. “We want people to come out and see this, learn from what we are planting, and try it themselves in their backyards.”

For more information, please visit fbmg.org.

Texas Master Naturalist training class opening

Become a member of the Coastal Prairie Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalist program by enrolling in the Fall 2023 training class on Aug. 19 from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. The Coastal

Prairie Chapter covers Fort Bend, Waller and Wharton counties. The Fall 2023 training class will begin with an in-person meeting on Aug. 19, with the other classes being held Tuesday evenings via Zoom and field sessions taking place on Saturdays. The program lasts approximately 13 weeks with about 14 sessions. The course fee will be due when the candidate’s application is approved.

To register online visit txmn.org/coastal.

Living Sustainably Club: Design for Abundance: Permaculture Basics

The Fort Bend County Libraries’ Living Sustainably Club will meet 6-7 p.m. on Aug. 21 to discuss permaculture.

Suzanne Bonefas from the Association for Regenerative Culture, will share the basic elements and ethics of permaculture, a system for developing agricultural ecosystems that are intended to be sustainable and self-sufficient. An approach to agriculture that adopts elements seen in natural ecosystems, permaculture explores the relationship that exists between humans, plants, animals, and the Earth. Learn how the concepts of permaculture can be applied to various aspects of life, as well as to growing food.

The Living Sustainably Club meetings are live-streamed through Webex. Registration required. Call 281-633-4726.

SFree Fall Garden TipsT

On Aug. 26 at the George Memorial Library, library staff will provide an overview of fall vegetable gardening. Hear about when to plant vegetables, such as lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and broccoli. The discussion will be held from 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. in Room 2A. For more information visit www.fortbend.lib.tx.us.

COMPLEX NEUROLOGICAL CONDITIONS Treated in Sugar Land

At Houston Methodist Neuroscience & Spine Center at Sugar Land, our physicians collaborate across specialties to diagnose and treat common to complex neurological disorders. With innovative and advanced treatment options, we provide personalized comprehensive care — close to home.

Our team of physicians treats a variety of conditions, including:

• Alzheimer’s disease and memory disorders

• Aneurysms

• Brain tumors

• Multiple sclerosis

• Neuropathy

SCAN HERE

• Parkinson’s disease and tremors

• Sleep disorders

• Spinal disorders

• Stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA)

TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT

To schedule an appointment, scan the QR code, visit houstonmethodist.org/neuro-sl or call 281.274.7979