Men For Change scholarships award area seniors -- Page 2
Ridge Point's Reagan Gray finished among Texas' top 15 golfers at the state championships. Read the story of her journey to this point inside today's edition on Page 8.
WEDNESDAY • MAY 22, 2019
Fort Bend / Southwest • Volume 43 • No. 40
Visit www.FortBendStar.com
Jack’s Pub Kermally, Mansoor battle for Sugar Land council
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Two longtime Sugar Land residents who were neckand-neck May 4 are still vying to replace the outgoing Bridget Yeung for Position 2 on Sugar Land’s city council. First-time candidates Naushad Kermally and Nabila
Mansoor will square off in a June 8 runoff election to replace Yeung, who did not seek re-election because she reached her term limit. Kermally was the leading vote-getter in the election that end May 4, having been listed on 39.2 percent (1,634) of ballots, while Mansoor received 34.2 percent (1,428) of the votes.
Early voting for the runoff will take place May 28–June 4 at various locations around Fort Bend County. For more information on the election and voting locations, visit fortbendcountytx.gov/. Here is a rundown of the candidates:
SEE COUNCIL, PAGE 6
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WILL BE CLOSED ON MONDAY, MAY 27TH IN OBSERVANCE OF MEMORIAL DAY.
Sugar Land preps for Memorial Day event From Staff Reports
The city of Sugar Land will host its annual Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 27, at Sugar Land Memorial Park at 15300 University Blvd. to commemorate service members who died in active military service. The program theme is "Remembering our Heroes and The Sacrifice of Service Members." Admission is free and open to the public. Monday’s celebration begins at 10 a.m. with a patriotic concert featuring Lone Star Symphonic Band, followed by a formal tribute at 11 a.m. with words of remembrance by local dignitaries. A representative from the American Legion will also discuss the organization's centennial celebration and mission. The program will continue the community tradition of acknowledging the names of veterans engraved inside the walls of the Remembrance Tower at Sugar Land Memorial Park. Patriotic music tributes will be performed by guest vocalists, Houston Commemorative Air Force will perform a military flyover and there will be a 21-gun salute. The ceremony will close at noon with a traditional flag observance led by a local Boy Scout troop. Attendees will be able to visit with a number of orga-
SEE CELEBRATION, PAGE 4
Quail Valley Elementary teacher Tiffany Hale embraces her husband Jon Hale. Last month, Jon surprised his wife at the school after returning home earlier than expected from his nearly seven month deployment in the Middle East. (Photo from Fort Bend Independent School District)
Quail Valley Elementary teacher gets welcome surprise By Donna Hill FOR THE FORT BEND STAR
Military deployments are not easy for any family. The adjustments and challenges are many and ongoing. For a Quail Valley Elementary School teacher, a military deployment came full circle to her classroom after nearly seven months of operating as a single parent. Air Traffic Control Petty Officer 2nd Class Jon Hale, a nine-year Navy veteran, came back two weeks early from a deployment in the Middle East. When he got home in late April he surprised his wife, Tiffany Hale, with a visit to her first-grade class. “We went out into the hallways and suddenly there were these red, white and blue decorations, and at the very end of the hallway, I see my students from class coming around the corner holding a sign, and within seconds all the pieces came together,”
Tiffany said. “I saw my husband coming around the corner, too, and I ran down the hallway and that first hug, I instantly just started crying in utter disbelief. The first hug was unbelievable.” Jon’s visit home was just as special for the couple’s two young daughters, Mallory and Avery, who had not seen their father since last fall. Their only contact with him since September was through a video reading program called United Through Reading (UTR) in which American military members record themselves readings children’s books or stories that are sent to loved ones back home. According to the UTR website, the program “eases the stress of separation for the service member, spouse, and child, and builds family bonds and resiliency.” It’s like a virtual story time for military families. “My girls were always asking, ‘I want to see Daddy!’ and I would put in the CD and
get the book and we would all read together - even though he was far away,” Tiffany said. Home and away The Hales, who were high school sweethearts, married in 2005 and became a military couple early on. Jon enlisted in the Navy and Tiffany received a teaching degree from Texas State University. She became a military wife after graduation and moved with her new husband to bases in Virginia, Maryland and San Diego. While in San Diego, in January 2018, Jon received orders to go overseas for a world tour aboard an aircraft carrier in the Middle East. Tiffany was pregnant with their second child, so they decided it was best to temporarily move the young family Tiffany and Jon Hale, shown here with daughters Mallory and to Katy to live with Tiffany’s Avery. (Contributed photo) parents while he was deployed. it was a definite ‘yes,’ ” Tif- child care, and the kids would “We are a very close fami- fany said. “It was a great way ly, and they love my husband, to save money and not have SEE SURPRISE, PAGE 6 and when I called and asked, to worry about paying for
Financial literacy workshop broadens minds, attitudes By Theresa D. McClellan FOR THE FORT BEND STAR
Willowridge junior Sofia Molina (kneeling) with (from left) Terence Hayden, Brittney Golden, fellow student Mario Clark, Blake Simon, and Kennon Gilliard (Contributed photo)
When 17-year-old Willowridge High School junior Sofia Molina decided to spend her Saturday in school making up for time lost with sick days, she received more than she bargained for by participating in an all-day financial literacy program organized by G&G Wealth Enterprises. The fledgling entrepreneurial student, visual artist and rapper won a door prize allowing her to get a free set of business cards. She also received a free book and met Blake Simon, motiva-
tional speaker and author of “The Transition: High School to College,” and she gained insight on the importance of networking and accessing financial aid to pursue her dreams. “I learned that financial aid is not that hard if you are talented and have a bright young mind, like me,” Molina said. “And I learned that business isn’t just a by yourself thing. It’s a team effort and every part of the team is very important. I noticed every person speaking on the different subjects was important. Now I’m an actor, produce music and do photography and whatever is needed for my visual arts business to be around. I want to grow and help oth-
ers as well.” Molina was among about 25 students and adults to attend Willowridge’s first Financial Literacy Workshop last Saturday. It was organized by 2005 graduate and business owner Brittney Golden and her business partner and fiancé, Kennon Gilliard. The workshop offered eight breakout sessions from local experts on budgeting and debt reduction, investing, revitalizing credit, real estate, financial planning and funding a business. The day also featured a children’s corner with workshops and specific messages for middle
SEE WORKSHOP, PAGE 5