08-19-2020 Edition of the Fort Bend Star

Area leaders help kids get ready for school - Page 6

With a quality and diverse selection, Pho Ben provides a sensory dining experience. Read our review inside today's edition on Page 7. (Photo by Stefan Modrich)

WEDNESDAY • AUGUST 19, 2020

Fort Bend / Southwest • Volume 44 • No. 1

Visit www.FortBendStar.com

Reynolds calls for Richmond monument removal

By Stefan Modrich SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

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State Rep. Ron Reynolds speaks Monday at the Jaybird "Our Heroes" Monument outside Richmond City Hall. He and other activists want it removed. (Photo by Stefan Modrich)

The Jaybird "Our Heroes" Monument has long been the subject of controversy in Fort Bend County and especially amid the social unrest in Houston and across the United States following the May 25 death of George Floyd.

State Rep. Ron Reynolds, along with a group of activists wearing shirts featuring

the famous words of late Georgia Congressman John Lewis -- a reminder of their goal to cause "good trouble" in the pursuit of social change -- delivered an emotional address Monday to the gaggle of reporters and observers who had gathered just steps from Richmond City Hall.

A day removed from the 131st anniversary of one of the bloodiest days in Richmond history, known as the Jaybird-Woodpecker War

between rival Democratic Party factions, Reynolds recounted how the Jaybirds disenfranchised AfricanAmericans in Richmond and Fort Bend County by not allowing them to run for public office or vote in primary elections from 1889-1953.

"We can't romanticize it," Reynolds said. "It was bloody. People died. And what were they fighting for?

SEE MONUMENT PAGE 2

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Jim Narvios addresses event attendees during a dedication ceremony for the “Stafford Stronger” mural to honor late mayor Leonard Scarcella on Friday in Stafford. Located just off Highway 90, the mural took about two weeks and more than 40 hours of work to bring to life. (Photo by Stefan Modrich)

Fort Bend reduces tax rate for 2020

By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

The Fort Bend County Commissioners Court voted Aug. 11 to reduce this year’s property tax rates for area homeowners.

According to a letter from County Judge KP George, residents will see a tax rate of $0.424967 per $100 valuation in 2020, which is down from 2019’s rate of $0.4447 per $100 valuation, after George and the county’s four commissioners approved the

Mural honors late mayor Scarcella, vision for city’s future

By Stefan Modrich SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

The death of Stafford Mayor Leonard Scarcella on June 28 sent shockwaves through the city. The passing of the longest-tenured mayor in the U.S. had a deep resonance with one resident in particular.

Jim Narvios, a law student at Texas Southern University, commissioned a mural that was dedicated Friday in a ceremony attended by several of Scarcella’s

By Landan Kuhlmann

SEE TAX PAGE 8

like down and out at this time, and I’m sure you can relate to how that feels. But we would just stare at these words, and these words came alive in us. And here we are 10 years later dedicating a mural to the beautiful city of Stafford.”

The mural, located at the intersection of Highway 90 and Staffordshire at 2810 South Main Street, took De Leon about 40 hours of labor over a span of two weeks

SEE MURAL PAGE 8

Clements student aids COVID-19 research in NASA internship LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

George

former colleagues on the city council and the school board as well as others in the community.

Though the mural itself was in response to the loss of the city’s leader, the seeds for the artistic partnership were sown nearly a decade ago when Narvios, a philanthropist, cultural historian and art curator, shared an office with artist Zeus De Leon.

“Zeus had the desk next to me,” Narvios said in Pictured is the “Stafford Stronger” mural painted by Zeus De his address to attendees Leon in honor of Leonard Scarcella. (Photo by Stefan Modrich) of the mural’s dedication.

“And one day we woke spirational words on the ‘inspiration’ and ‘perseup and said, ‘Let’s put in- wall with decals.’ … Like vere.’ Mind you, we were

Wesley Yuen has long enjoyed the intricacies of finding solutions where others cannot.

He recently channeled that passion into helping mitigate the effects of COVID-19 for those traveling into space.

“I would say I’m kind

Are you

of a natural problemsolver,” he said.

Yuen, a 16-year-old junior at Clements High School in Sugar Land, recently completed a two-month term as part of the Student Enhancement in Earth and Space Science (SEES) summer internship hosted by the University of Texas at Austin’s Center for Space Research. The program,

#ALLINFORSLTX?

sponsored by NASA’s Texas Space Grant Consortium, selects students each year to spend July through August working side-by-side with NASA research experts and completing a team project to present at the end of the term.

Roughly 60 students are selected for the program most years out of 600 applications sub-

mitted from across the country, and teams are organized around an aerospace or space science theme drawn from NASA’s engineering and scientific research programs.

Because the students did not need to be housed on UT-Austin's campus

SEE INTERNSHIP PAGE 4

Yuen

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THE STAR

PAGE 2 • Wednesday, August 19, 2020

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

City of Sugar Land seeking public comment on hazard mitigation plan From Staff Reports

The City of Sugar Land will hold a virtual public workshop from noon-1 p.m.

Friday to gather resident feedback on the city’s 2020 Hazard Mitigation Plan.

During the session, which Mattison Avenue opened up its newest location in Sugar Land Town Square last week. It is the first of four Houston-area locations set to open. (Photo courtesy of Mattison Avenue Salon and Spa)

Dallas-based salon and spa opens Sugar Land location From Staff Reports

Dallas-based Mattison Avenue Salon Suites & Spa announced Aug. 11 that the company has opened the first of four Houston-area locations at Sugar Land Town Square.

A news release from the company said the 11,000 square-foot site at 2181 Texas Dr. is already home to

25 independent beauty professionals, with the majority of them now open for business. Offering licensed hair stylists, aestheticians, massage therapists, makeup artists and nail technicians, the Sugar Land Town Square site has multiple suite options for customers at the shop.

“We’re thrilled to make our debut in Houston at Sugar Land Town Square,”

Mattison Avenue regional director Sabrina McWaters said. “We’ve had an enthusiastic response to our elevated brand offerings, and our small business owners have been warmly welcomed by the community.”

For more information on Mattison Avenue Salon Suites and Spa, visit its website at mattisonsalonsuites. com/.

DID YOU VOTE?

READERS' CHOICE AWARDS RESULTS ARE IN! 8.26.20

★ MONUMENT FROM PAGE 1 Just like in this country, the Civil War was fought between the Union and the Confederates over slavery.

The battle that took place 131 years ago today was to prevent people like me from serving this county and this country. That's what this battle was about. It was about white supremacy."

Several petitions have circulated online requesting the removal of the monument, including one from Samantha Rodgers and another from Taral Patel, the chief of staff of County Judge KP George. As of Monday, the two petitions had received a combined 3,761 signatures.

In addition, an online survey is available until Friday.

Those interested can voice their opinions on what they believe the fate of the monument should be.

Reynolds, the county's first African-American elected to the Texas House of Representatives in the postReconstruction era, drew a stark contrast between Lewis and H.H. Frost, L.E. Gibson, and J.M. Shamblin, the three Jaybirds memo-

can be accessed at https:// rb.gy/fojtpt, residents will be able to provide feedback on a plan “intended to minimize or eliminate the long-term risk to human life and property” from known hazard spots around the city.

The plan must be up-

dated every five years per guidelines from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), according to the city.

For more information, residents can contact Assistant Fire Chief Patrick Hughes at phughes@sugarlandtx.gov or 281-275-2860.

rialized on the monument.

Reynolds also mentioned his predecessors like former Fort Bend County Sheriff Walter Moses Burton, the first Black person elected as a sheriff in the U.S. "(Lewis) was fighting for voting rights," Reynolds said. "He was fighting so that people who wanted to go vote, they didn't have to pass literacy tests. ... Those are heroes. Those are the people we want to honor."

Philip Bartholomew, the treasurer of the Fort Bend County Young Democrats and a member of the Fort Bend County Historical Commission, said leaving the monument up erases the history of those who were murdered or oppressed during the era of Jim Crow laws.

"To leave this monument up is to erase history," Bartholomew said. "Because it erases the criminal nature of the Jaybirds, who could not claim to fight for freedom or independence, merely power and control. ... It erases how democracy, our form of government, was overthrown right here in our own county."

Juan Perales, a longtime Richmond resident, said merely removing the monu-

ment from the public square is not enough.

"In actuality, when this monument was put together, it was a bid for immortality," Perales said. "Something that I am completely against.

People want to remove it and put it in a museum. I want to carry it a little deeper. I want to destroy it. ... A way to solidify the way people think and bring it to the present."

Reynolds said the advancements in social justice pioneered by African-Americans in Fort Bend County exceeded that of nearly any other place in the South during the Reconstruction era.

But he said it was undone by the violence of Jaybirds who refused to acknowledge emancipation and the integration of African-Americans into society.

"That battle, it eradicated a lot of the progress that was made during Reconstruction," Reynolds said. "Fort Bend was a bastion for the slave trade. That's how we had many of the prosperous property owners that had cotton fields and sugar canes, and that's how Fort Bend really grew in its prominence, on the backs of slaves."

Reynolds echoed the suggestions of the petitionmakers for candidates to replace Frost, Gibson, and Shamblin, saying he stood on the shoulders of Burton, who was also a four-term state senator. Others floated as examples for a new monument included John Terry, Arizona Fleming and Willie Melton, plaintiffs in a 1953 U.S. Supreme Court case that ended the practice of white-only primaries in Fort Bend County.

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THE STAR

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

Wednesday, August 19, 2020 • PAGE

3

Take doses of good news with the bad Positivity is progress for sure. That was one of the comments posted on our website by Amy Morgan, an area reader of the Fort Bend Star. It serves as a reminder about how it’s good take a step back from some of the gloom and doom we have endured for a good part of 2020, which has been marred by the pandemic.

News features and other stories about recent events and happenings can be positive mood changers outside the cold, hard news. That’s not to say it’s not good to stay informed. But take in a balanced dosage of news

Elsa Maxey

as studies have shown that sometimes worries or anxieties may not be necessarily related to jolting news stories themselves, but rather such emotions may be triggered by them.

So living in balance is both good for our mental and physical health, even when it comes to keeping

up with the news.

Hope springs eternal, wrote the poet Alexander Pope. And now more than ever it is apropos. Attitudes about hoping for the best in the face of adversity is a good thing.

These days, media updates at the forefront are about new COVID-19 infection numbers and deaths, the constant reminder of the importance of being “covidient,” a new slang term about following rules and regulations related to the pandemic.

I’m that – covidient – and have also embraced the belief that things will get better, in part because of

it.

Already reports indicate the country’s jobless claims have fallen below 1 million for the first time since the pandemic started, and the activity level here at home seems a bit heightened, too, especially on a Saturday.

Some businesses in Fort Bend have been supported by the Fort Bend County Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant Program, which utilizes funds from the federal CARES Act and provides up to $25,000 to small businesses of this area, and that’s helped out.

We hear that local restaurants are offering more outdoor dining space and the AMC theater on Town Center Boulevard next to the First Colony Mall will reopen its movie screens in Sugar Land on Thursday. The cost of a ticket that day will be 15 cents in commemoration of the first AMC theater that opened in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1920. That’s the amount patrons were charged back then. Reports indicate the AMC theater re-openings will occur in multiple locations throughout Texas. So for this part of the state, in addition to the AMC First

Colony 24 in Sugar Land, the others are AMC Fountains 18 in Stafford and AMC Katy Mills 20.

And if you like the feel of going to movies, it’s worth checking out Walmart’s free drive-in events across the country about to begin. Locations include Richmond, Katy, Pearland and many others throughout the Houston metro area.

Today we’re about the good, the bad and the ever so ugly during these challenging times. But keep reading because good news is in the making, just like so many other accomplishments.

Military support groups help area family say goodbye during COVID-19 pandemic For The Star

Lt. Col. Julian Villarreal, Jr. (retired), a longtime resident of Sugar Land, passed away at the age of 85 on July 31. His children, Kathy Villarreal Huebner, Juli An Villarreal Picka, Vicki Villarreal Bayer, Terry Villarreal, Tracy Villarreal and Jesse Villarreal, along with their mother, Patricia Villarreal, quickly learned that they would likely have to forego some of their plans at Lt. Col. Villarreal’s committal service at the Houston National Cemetery due to COVID-19.

Lt. Col. Villarreal served his country as an U.S. Army Airborne Ranger for nearly 28 years of active duty, including three tours of duty in Vietnam as Director of Technical Operations at the School of the Americas in the Canal Zone and Senior Advisor at Maneuver Area Command. Lt. Col. Villarreal was highly decorated; among his many medals are four Bronze Stars including one with a

Julian Villarreal Jr. as a young soldier. (Contributed photo) Friends and family pay their respects to Lt. Col. Julian Villarreal Jr., a Sugar Land resident who died July 31 at age 85. Military support groups helped his family honor him. (Contributed photo)

“V” device for heroism and valor in combat.

The family was determined to send Lt. Col. Villarreal off with the honors he so deserved. Errol Demasiliere at Settegast Kopf helped his daughter, Kathy, arrange for Southeast Texas Patriot Guard Riders, who accompanied Lt. Col. Villarreal on his “final ride” from the

funeral home to the National Cemetery, and Rene Gonzalez, who played Amazing Grace and Taps.

Two active-duty military members were present to fold and present the flag that draped Lt. Col. Villarreal’s casket. But finding someone to do a gun salute proved to be more difficult.

In desperation, the

Local community center expands distribution efforts

By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

On Tuesday, Catholic Charities’ Mamie George Community Center in Richmond began expanding its community food distribution from one to two days per week.

The center has been serving as one of the Houston Food Bank’s Neighborhood Super Sites since early July, aiming to serve low-income area residents struggling to put food on the table during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Distribution will now

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take place from 4:30-7 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday at 1111 Collins Rd. in Richmond.

Nearly one in four people living in Richmond and Rosenberg lives in poverty – the highest poverty level in Fort Bend County – according to a news release from Catholic Charities. Since beginning operations in July, the center has served more than 70,000 area residents.

“The need for food is off the charts,” Mamie George Executive Director Gladys Brumfield-James said. “In just the last five months, we

distributed nearly twice as much food as we did during all of the last fiscal year.”

Families and individuals in need of food assistance should report to the community center no earlier than 4 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. They must register in advance through the Houston Food Bank’s system by texting 94502 with the letters HFBNSS, and choose just one day per week to attend.

For information on the effort, visit Catholic Charities’ website at Cat hol icC ha r it ies.org/ COVIDFoodDistribution.

Ob

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itu a ry

RONNIE LINN GAINES OCTOBER 23, 1967.

A very special person left us suddenly on Tuesday, August 4, 2020. Ronnie Linn Gaines, a resident of Stafford, Texas, was born in 1967 in Houston, and was proud to be a 7th generation Texan.. The son of Marsha Phifer Gaines and John Alvin Gaines, he was raised in the community of Fresno and attended Blue Ridge Elementary School, and then went on to Quail Valley Jr. High, and Dulles High School.

His academic life blossomed when he enrolled in WCJC Sugar Land during its early days. He served as class President and began to enjoy the benefits of his learning by joining the staff of the Fort Bend-Southwest Star on the ground floor of their new TV station. Ronnie was the “jack of all trades” under the guidance of the late

E

AUGUST 4, 2020

Bev Carter, as he launched his newly acquired media skills. He worked in almost every area it takes to produce a TV event. This experience continued to benefit him as he went on to HBU in Southwest Houston, majoring in mass media and psychology.

He graduated in 1996. It was there that he further developed his skills in writing and editing that served him well in his later endeavors.

Ronnie was predeceased

by his grandparents Howard and Lanelle Phifer and William Houston and Faye Gaines; also by his father John Alvin Gaines, and his brother Howard Watt Gaines. He is survived by his mother Marsha Phifer Gaines, sister Shelly Gaines Schroeder, his niece and nephew Kayte and Jason, and their children, as well as a host of aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Those who knew Ronnie will remember him as a very kind and generous person, always eager to please and to help others. He will be missed greatly in his circle.

A service of worship and praise for Ronnie’s life will be scheduled at a future time.

Condolence messages may be written for the Gaines family at www.garmanycarden.com.

✢ ✢ ✢ ✢ ✢ ✢ ✢ ✢ ✢ ✢ ✢ ✢ ✢ ✢ ✢ ✢ ✢ ✢ ✢ ✢ ✢ ✢ ✢ ✢ ✢

family contacted Hector Giron of the Houston Chapter of Team RWB, an organization committed to enriching the lives of America’s veterans by connecting them to their community through physical and social activity.

Giron connected the family with Robert Harris of the VFW Houston Honor Guard, the designated

VFW Honor Guard for the Houston National Cemetery.

“Our organization is honored and committed to providing a memorable service that honors fallen veterans,” Harris said.

On Wednesday, Aug. 12, Lt. Col. Villarreal was laid to rest with the full military honors his family planned for him with the help of these individuals and organizations – dedicated to providing a dignified sendoff for their comrades,

even in a pandemic.

“My family has such heartfelt gratitude and respect for Southeast Texas Freedom Riders, Team RWB, the VFW Houston Honor Guard, and Rene Gonzalez,” Kathy Villarreal Huebner said. “These amazing veterans volunteer their time – not for any special recognition, but to see that every veteran gets the send-off they deserve.

They may be retired, but their mission is far from completed.”

In light of the COVID-19 outbreak

and the cancellation of several community gatherings, please check with each organization for updated information about the status of their events.

BAPTIST CHURCH

HERITAGE BAPTIST CHURCH • 281-403-4994 2223 FM1092 • Missouri City, TX 77459 John Strader , Senior Pastor Sunday Bible Study 9:30 am Sunday Worship 10:45 am 6:00 pm Wednesday 7:00 pm AWANA/Youth www.hbctx.org METHODIST CHURCH

CHRIST CHURCH SUGAR LAND • 281-980-6888 A United Methodist Community 3300 Austin Parkway • Sugar Land, TX 77479 Sunday Worship in the Sanctuary Simple Service / Prayer & Communion: 8 am Contemporary: 9:15 am / Traditional: 10:30 am Modern: 10:30 am Sunday School for all ages available at 9:15 www.christchurchsl.org EPISCOPAL

ALL SAINTS EPISCOPAL CHURCH • 281-499-9602 605 Dulles Avenue, Stafford, TX 77477 SUNDAY: 10:15 am Worship Rite Two www.allsaintsstafford.org

CHURCH OF CHRIST

STAFFORD CHURCH OF CHRIST • 281-499-2507 402 Stafford Run Rd. -Stafford, 77477 SUNDAY: Bible Study: 9:30 a.m.

Worship: 10:30 a.m.

Afternoon Worship 5:00 p.m.

WEDNESDAY : Bible Study 7:00 p.m. www.staffordchurchofchrist.org LUTHERAN CHURCH

FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH, LCMS 281-242-7729 800 Brooks St., Sugar Land Sunday: 8:00 am Traditional Worship 9:15 am Sunday School 10:30 am Contemporary Worship (Nursery Available) 4:00 pm Spirit of Life Worship PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH • 281-240-3195 502 Eldridge Road, Sugar Land, TX 77478 Reverend Dr. Fred Seay, Pastor Sunday Worship In Person 11:00 am / Nursery Available Worship Online on YouTube www.fpcsl.org

Scripture of the week 31 “For no one is cast off by the Lord forever.” 32 “Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.”

- Lamentations 3:31-32

THE STAR

PAGE 4 • Wednesday, August 19, 2020

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

Child Advocates of Fort Bend going virtual for annual soiree

By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Child Advocates of Fort Bend’s annual “Transforming Lives” summer soiree

✢ ✢ ✢ ✢ ✢ ✢ ✢ ✢ In Loving Memory of

Mavis Louise Lindsay April 10 - 1921 August 22, 2008

ASK THE EXPERT

Q:

A:

Sister Lindsay went to be with her Savior and Lord Jesus Christ on 8/22/2008.

We have not stopped loving you. You are forever in our thoughts and prayers. Each year that passes will not diminish our love for you.

Sadly missed by your family, friends and all those you cared for and held so close to your heart.

✢ ✢ ✢ ✢ ✢ ✢ ✢ ✢

line auction to raise funds launched Aug. 7 and will run until the event. Interested parties can view the silent auction and bid online at CAFB2020.givesmart.com.

There will also be a live auc-

will be held online this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event will be streamed on the nonprofit’s website, at cafb.org/events/ gala, from 7-8 p.m. Saturday.

The organization’s on-

Can untreated hearing loss be linked to depression?

Yes, The National Council on the Aging (NCOA) conducted a study that showed that older Terry Snook people with untreated hearing AuD, FAAA loss reported more sadness and depression, worry and anxiety, emotional turmoil and insecurity, and less social activity. Seniors that have hearing loss and use hearing aids reported benefits such as better relationships with their families, greater independence and security, improved mental health, and an increase in positive feelings about themselves. One of the big factors related to these results is the occurrence of social isolation that often results from hearing loss. Non-hearing aid users were less likely to participate in activities. People with untreated hearing loss may often ask people to repeat themselves or totally withdraw from a conversation due to their inability to communicate. This often leads to individuals with hearing loss withdrawing from their family and friends. Hearing devices can help improve these communication challenges and help hearing impaired seniors lead a more active life.

As Helen Keller said: “Blindness Separates You from Things, Deafness Separates You from People.” With all of the advances in hearing aid technology this is an exciting time in our success of treating hearing loss, so don’t let untreated hearing loss affect your quality of life!

Advanced Hearing Center www.advancedhearingcentertx.com 1223 Lake Pointe Parkway Sugar Land, Texas 77479

281-491-0200

THANK YOU FOR READING

tion the night of the event.

“We are hard at work on the evening program and are very excited about the opportunity that this will provide for us to reach an even larger audience,”

★ INTERNSHIP FROM PAGE 1 due to COVID-19, Center for Space Research director of programs Margaret Baguio said 300 students were chosen this year from more than 600 applicants.

“The internship provides an outlet for the excitement many students feel about Earth and space science,” UT-Austin’s Center for Space Research said in a news release. “Interns are offered a unique opportunity to work with professional scientists and engineers at the cutting edge of NASA science, experience being part of a science team, and explore STEM career options firsthand.”

Yuen was part of the “COVID-19 Space Exploration for a Better World” team, which worked 2-4 hours per day via Zoom with NASA subject matter expert Kaye Ebelt on their research.

It was aimed at mitigating the risk of COVID-19 spread for astronauts coming to and from NASA’s International Space Station.

The group conducted research on how to best sanitize spacecraft

CAFB Development Director Lisa Moore said in a news release. “…We hope to build far greater awareness of the tragedy of child abuse and raise even more support because now is such a criti-

cal time.”

For more information or to watch the mission program and live auction, go to cafb.org/events/gala or contact Moore at lmoore@ cafb.org.

and assess viral health risks while using Python technology to predict vulnerable areas that can help track viruses, create space laws and future protocols for any virus. Yuen and his team also used microgravity to study the spread of COVID-19 and brainstorm a potential vaccine, and designed a model of a spacecraft with social distancing capabilities using computer-aided design software and 3D printers.

“It's pretty hard to transport sanitation materials to the space station. … We had to find a way to track the best ways to utilize the materials that they have,” said Yuen, who noted the project came together after talking with retired NASA Chief of Space Flight Training Frank Hughes.

“Pathogens behave differently in space due to a lack of gravity and don’t settle down like they do on Earth – so that’s a pretty huge problem (with COVID-19).”

Yuen said he has long harbored a passion for anything involving rockets, spaceships or aerospace. During his time at Clements, he has participated on the

school’s robotics team and is well-versed in the mechanical aspect of engineering. But this past summer was his first foray into the world of pathogen research, and he said the experience was eye-opening in many ways.

From learning how to work with a team to finding alternative ways of solving problems, he called it a great experience. And though he does not foresee pathogen research in his future – Yuen plans to major in either aerospace engineering or mechanical engineering after high school – he said the experience allowed him to recognize how many perspectives can become one vision, especially when working to provide real-world solutions.

Ultimately, Yuen said the internship helped him expand his horizons on problem solving, while combining his love of aerospace and desire to help those in his field fight COVID-19 – or any virus – the best they know how.

“We were tasked with solving a problem. … I enjoy solving them,” he said.

“And one of the big ones right now is COVID-19. So I wanted to help.”

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If you have a local business story that may be of interest feel free to email us at editor@FortBendStar.com We love to hear from you. Also, don’t forget to read The Fort Bend Star or visit www.fortbendstar.com

The Fort Bend Business Journal H February 2020

13

THE STAR

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

Wednesday, August 19 , 2020 • PAGE

5

Fort Bend begins countywide PPE kit distribution

By Stefan Modrich SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Last Friday, Fort Bend County began distributing free personal protective equipment, including masks, wipes, hand soap and sanitizer, with an event at the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds in Rosenberg.

The county will also give away PPE in three other locations: on Friday at the Pinnacle Senior Center in Southwest Houston, on Aug. 28 at the Cinco Ranch Library Branch in Katy, and Sept.

4 at the Four Corners Center in Sugar Land.

George said the county would be issuing more than 100,000 kits for residents. The kits feature two bottles of hand sanitizer, two bottles of soap, 50 facemasks and wipes.

The facilities at all four precincts will be open between 8 a.m.-2 p.m., or while supplies last. Separately, the county said it would be adding a new COVID-19 testing site at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Rosenberg.

“Fort Bend County will contin-

ue to do everything in our power to fight COVID-19,” George said.

“We must embrace personal responsibility. … It’s all very basic.

Washing your hands, keeping a safe distance and when you are in public, wearing a mask, wearing gloves, protecting yourself, protecting the people around you and protecting the people who are dependent on you.”

County Emergency Management Coordinator Mark Flathouse said during last Wednesday’s news conference that the Department of Home-

C L A SSI FIED

er handwashing techniques — washing with soap for 20 seconds, and using alcoholbased hand sanitizer in the event running water is not readily available.

In addition, he provided a reminder to county residents of the correct technique for wearing a mask or face covering.

“The mask goes over the bridge of your nose and underneath your chin, and forms a complete seal,” Temple said. The county’s coronavirus data hub reported 395 additional cases on

land Security and Emergency Management is coordinating the PPE distribution with local officials in each of the county’s four precincts. He added the key to slowing the spread of the coronavirus is “prevention and protection.”

Graig Temple, chief of the county’s Emergency Medical Services, said brochures with safety tips and instructions for using the health and hygiene resources included in the kit are in both English and Spanish.

Temple also addressed prop-

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Monday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases among county residents to 12,623 as of Tuesday. In total, at least 130 people have died of COVID-19, and 5,034 have recovered in Fort Bend.

“We don’t have enough data to support it, but I think things are moving in the right direction,” George said. “That’s all I can say at this point. Things are settling, but we don’t have enough data to say that we are doing extremely good. Even at this point, we have to be cautious.”

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LEGALS NOTICE TO BIDDERS CITY-WIDE STREET SWEEPING SERVICES The City of Sugar Land seeks bids for performing all work required for the following project in the City: BID NO. 2020-23: CITY-WIDE STREET SWEEPING SERVICES BIDDER’S NAME, ADDRESS, AND DUE DATE Specifications and bidding documents may be obtained by registering with Public Purchase www.publicpurchase.com.

Sealed bids in triplicate, one (1) original and two (2) copies, shall be delivered to the City of Sugar Land, Office of the City Secretary, 2700 Town Center Boulevard North, Suite 122, Sugar Land, Texas, 77479, on or before 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 27, 2020, at which time bids will be publicly opened and read. Bids received after the opening date and time will not be considered For questions regarding this bid, please post on Public Purchase www.publicpurchase.com no later than 3:00 p.m. Thursday, August 20, 2020.

The City will award the contract and give notice of award within sixty (60) calendar days after the opening date and time.

LEGALS NOTICE TO BIDDERS FLOOD CONTROL IMPROVEMENTS – DAM III OYSTER CREEK AT LEXINGTON The City of Sugar Land seeks bids for furnishing all labor, material, and equipment, and performing all work required for the following project in the City: CIP PROJECT NAME:

FLOOD CONTROL IMPROVEMENTS – DAM III OYSTER CREEK AT LEXINGTON CIP PROJECT NUMBER: CDR2103 LOCATION OF WORK:

OYSTER CREEK AND LEXINGTON BOULE-VARD, SUGAR LAND, TX 77478

Plans, specifications, and bidding documents may be obtained from www. civcastusa.com. Details for the teleconference call-in information will be provided to all plan holders the day before the pre-bid and bid dates. It will be each bidder’s responsibility to ensure they receive the call-in details prior to the pre-bid and bid opening.

Sealed bids in triplicate, one (1) original and two (2) copies, shall be delivered to the City of Sugar Land, Office of the City Secretary, 2700 Town Center Boulevard North, Suite 122, Sugar Land, Texas, 77479, on or before 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 10, 2020, at which time bids will be publicly opened and read via teleconference.

Bids received after the opening date and time will not be considered.

A non-mandatory pre-bid meeting for all interested parties will be held via teleconference at 9:00 AM on Thursday, August 27, 2020.

LEGAL NOTICE Original application has been made with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission for a WINE & BEER RETAILERS PERMIT with FOOD and BEVERAGE CERTIFICATE by Corleone’s Food Group, LLC, a Texas Liability Company d/b/a Drake’s Burgers and Shakes, located around 6560 Greatwood Parkway, Ste #100, Sugar Land, Texas 77479. Officers of said company are Kevin Rios, President/ Secretary/ Manager and Mario Rios, Vice President/Manager

Questions regarding this bid must be received on www.civcastusa.com

by September 4, 2020 on or before 5:00 PM. Contact with any personnel of the City other than as authorized in this Invitation to Bid, regarding this Invitation to Bid, may be grounds for elimination from the selection process.

The City does not assume responsibility for not receiving questions from the Bidder or the Bidders’ receipt of any answers, addenda, or amendment.

THE SELECTED BIDDER(S) WILL BE REQUIRED TO ENTER INTO THE CITY OF SUGAR LAND STANDARD CONTRACT FOR CIVIL ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AND PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN THE MINIMUM INSURANCE COVERAGES REQUIRED UNDER THE CONTRACT. THE CONTRACT IS AVAILABLE AS AN ATTACHMENT TO THIS ITB. The City Council will award the contract as provided in the Invitation to Bid, and will be contingent upon City Council’s adoption of FY21 Budget in September 2020. The City of Sugar Land will give notice of the contract award within sixty (60) calendar days after the opening date and time.

As of the date of this publication (August 19, 2020), the City of Sugar Land will limit meetings to City of Sugar Land staff and essential personnel in order to limit the spread of COVID-19, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

As a result, the City of Sugar Land has elected to conduct this meeting online. Members of the public wishing to view the meeting live may do so at the links referenced above. Members of the public desiring to make comments during the public hearing may submit their written comments to the Office of City Secretary (citysec@sugarlandtx.gov). Comments should reference the hearing in the subject line, must be received by 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 1, 2020, then will be read into the record during the public hearing. Members of the public desiring to make their comments during the published date and time of the public hearing must e-mail (citysec@sugarlandtx.gov) or call ((281) 275-2730) the Office of the City Secretary by 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 1, 2020 to register and receive instructions for participation remotely during the hearing. Should the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and/or an appropriate prevailing authority, revise restrictions related to social distancing and the avoidance of large and small gatherings in public spaces prior to 72 hours of the date of the public hearings, the City of Sugar Land will provide notice to the public on the City Council meeting agenda at www.sugarlandtx.gov under “Meeting Agendas.”

This budget will raise more total property taxes than last year’s budget by $1,901,447 or 3.66%, and of that amount, $395,179 is tax revenue to be raised from new property added to the tax roll this year.

The proposed budget may be inspected by appointment only in the Office of the City Secretary, City of Sugar Land City Hall, 2700 Town Center Boulevard North, Sugar Land, Texas, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday; please call 281-275-2730 to schedule an appointment. The budget is available at www.sugarlandtx.gov/budget.

The Sugar Land City Council encourages all City of Sugar Land taxpayers to review the proposed budget and participate in the public hearing. You may also provide written comments or input, visit www.sugarlandtx.gov/ PublicHearingComment for feedback or information.

As of the date of this publication (August 19, 2020), the City of Sugar Land will limit meetings to City of Sugar Land staff and essential personnel in order to limit the spread of COVID-19, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As a result, the City of Sugar Land has elected to conduct this meeting online. Members of the public wishing to view the meeting live may do so at the links referenced above. Members of the public desiring to make comments during the public hearing may submit their written comments to the Office of City Secretary (citysec@sugarlandtx. gov). Comments should reference the hearing in the subject line, must be received by 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 1, 2020, then will be read into the record during the public hearing. Members of the public desiring to make their comments during the published date and time of the public hearing must e-mail (citysec@sugarlandtx.gov) or call ((281) 275- 2730) the Office of the City Secretary by 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 1, 2020 to register and receive instructions for participation remotely during the hearing.

Should the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and/or an appropriate prevailing authority, revise restrictions related to social distancing and the avoidance of large and small gatherings in public spaces prior to 72 hours of the date of the public hearings, the City of Sugar Land will provide notice to the public on the City Council meeting agenda at www.sugarlandtx.gov under “Meeting Agendas.”

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Details of and feedback on proposed Reinvestment Zone No. 2020-01 may be obtained/provided by contacting the City of Sugar Land Economic Development Department located at 2700 Town Center Boulevard North, Sugar Land, Texas, 77479 by telephone at 281-2752229 or online at www.sugarlandtx.gov/ PublicHearingComment.

The City of Sugar Land will hold a public hearing hosted via live stream at http://www.sugarlandtx.gov/1238/SLTV-16-Live-Video or https://www. youtube.com/sugarlandtxgov/live -Sugar Land Comcast subscribers can also tune-in on Channel 16. Public Hearing 6:00 p.m. City Council Meeting September 1, 2020, City of Sugar Land City Council Chamber, 2700 Town Center Boulevard North to hear all persons interested in the proposed Fiscal Year 2021 budget.

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NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING REINVESTMENT ZONE NO. 2020-01 LOCATED IN SUGAR LAND, TEXAS AT 500 INDUSTRIAL BOULEVARD, SUGAR LAND, TEXAS City Council Public Hearing 6:00 p.m.

September 1, 2020, City of Sugar Land, 2700 Town Center Blvd. North, hosted via live stream at http://www.sugarlandtx. gov/1238/SLTV-16-Live-Video or https:// www.youtube.com/sugarlandtxgov/live, and Sugar Land Comcast Subscribers can also tune-in on Channel 16 to hear all persons interested in the designation of Reinvestment Zone No. 2020-01 for a 19.961 acre tract of land located in Sugar Land, Texas at 500 Industrial Boulevard, Sugar Land, Texas.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING (REVISED) FISCAL YEAR 2021 PROPOSED BUDGET

THE FOLLOWING ADS HAVE NOT BEEN SCREENED BY THE SOUTHEASTERN ADVERTISING PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION (SAPA); Therefore, any discrepancies thereof shall not be the responsibility of the aforementioned association.

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PAGE 6 • Wednesday, August 19, 2020

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

Census follow-up underway in Fort Bend

By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Some Fort Bend County residents may soon see census workers come knocking on their doors.

The county said Mon-

day that the United States Census Bureau has begun its “nonresponse follow-up” operation in which census workers will visit households that have not yet responded to the 2020 census. Nearly 71 percent of households in

Fort Bend County have responded as of Aug. 13, according to a news release from the county.

According to the county, about $15,000 in taxpayer dollars for each person counted will come back to Fort Bend in the form of fed-

eral funding for public education, health care, transportation and social services. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the deadline to respond has been shortened by a month to Sept. 30.

“It is now even more critical to encourage

Missouri City, Sugar Land hold back-to-school supplies drives

By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

The office of State Rep. Ron Reynolds and the American Caribbean Chamber of Commerce (ACCC) partnered to host a curbside school supplies drive for area residents last Friday outside Reynolds’ District 27 office in Missouri City as many local families brace for the start of an unprecedented school year and the prospect of virtual learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Saturday, the Aga Khan Council for the Southwest United States hosted its own school supply drive at the Ismaili Jamatkhana and Center in Sugar Land.

Officials in both cities said they recognized the need to provide support during a difficult transition period for many.

“We’re so grateful for all the community volunteers,” Reynolds said.

“People are struggling — with COVID-19, record unemployment, families having to stretch dollars. The $600 that’s been cut from their enhanced unemployment weekly benefits, that’s gone. So families have less money and disposable income, and so we’re here to stretch it. We’re here to help people with groceries, with necessities to help them during this tough time.”

In Sugar Land, a collaborative drive-through event between i-CERV, the Fort Bend Interfaith Community and Fort Bend ISD began to collect needed school supplies for FBISD’s students and their families as they prepare for their first day of school (virtually) on Aug. 17.

“The Ismaili Center has always stepped forward to help the residents of Fort Bend County (with drives like this),” Sugar Land city council member Jennifer Lane said. “The overall goal is to get back in school (as soon as possible).

“School supplies are definitely going to be needed, and kids love to have those things. It gets them excited about going back to school, and it’s important to have other things on hand other than just technology.”

All items collected during the drive will be donated to FBISD’s Collaborative Communities Department and Shared Dreams program. FBISD’s Shared Dreams program provides short-term assistance – toiletries, clothes, etc. – to registered FBISD students whose needs

A volunteer hands out a backpack during a "Mega Back 2 School" event last Friday in Missouri City. (Photo by Stefan Modrich)

have been determined by their campus nurse with assistance from campus staff. The Collaborative Communities program works with the community on partnerships for the benefit of the district’s students.

In Missouri City, the ACCC and Reynolds’ office also provided masks and gloves and haircut vouchers to drive-up recipients.

The line to enter the parking lot off of Texas Parkway was backed up several blocks, and filled with dozens of cars ahead of them waiting in the lot with trunks open for volunteers to load supplies.

“They were in line when we came here at (8 a.m.), they were here at (7 a.m.),” Reynolds said. “So many people have been waiting for hours. And we started on time, but many people have been waiting since 8 a.m.

“We’re just doing our part to help give back,” Reynolds added. “I believe that to whom much is given, much is required, and as state representative, even though this is a part of my legislative responsibility, as a public servant, this is what I should be doing during this time.”

Reynolds encouraged constituents to continue utilizing the free COVID-19 testing site at Christ Temple of Deliverance Church, which opened Monday and runs through Saturday from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. daily.

Also last Friday, Fort Bend County Judge KP George and other county officials held a PPE giveaway at the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds in Rosenberg.

Constance Jones, director of outreach at ACCC and state officer of the Texas Coalition Black Caucus, said co-sponsorship will be crucial for future community events designed to help prevent the spread of the new coronavirus. Among them will be a curbside health fair at a to-be-determined Houston Community College campus.

Jones said she was impressed by both the

A Helping Hand

volunteer and constituent turnout on a workday.

It was the only day the Houston Food Bank, which has distribution partnerships with several local food pantries in Fort Bend County and the entire Greater Houston area, was available.

“We’re not complaining, we’re very thankful,” Jones said. “We need some more manpower, and they’re coming aboard.”

Anthony Indelicato, FBISD’s Chief of Staff and Collaborative Communities, said Sugar Land has also collaborated with the Houston Food Bank.

“We make sure that we kind of fill in the gaps for things they need – whether it be toiletries, food or other things,” Indelicato said. “In spring during the pandemic we partnered with the Houston Food Bank, and that’s been really helpful for a lot of our families. This drive could help out hundreds, if not thousands of families.”

RJ Baptiste, the president of the ACCC, seconded Jones’ and Indelicato’s comments on the significance of sponsorship and support from local businesses and service organizations in their respective communities.

“We won’t sleep,” Baptiste said. “We won’t sleep until our community is taken care of.”

Landan Kuhlmann contributed to this story.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON TAX RATE The Fort Bend County Municipal Utility District No. 24 will hold a public hearing on a proposed tax rate for the tax year 2020 on Thursday, September 3rd, 2020 at 12:00 p.m. by teleconference. The telephone number is 1-888-2045984 and the access code is 2868263. Your individual taxes may increase at a greater or lesser rate, or even decrease, depending on the tax rate that is adopted and on the change in the taxable value of your property in relation to the change in taxable value of all other property. The change in the taxable value of your property in relation to the change in the taxable value of all other property determines the distribution of the tax burden among all property owners.

FOR the proposal: Robert Atkinson, Barbara Rozell, Robby McGinnis, Deborah Depinet, Brandyn Cottingham AGAINST the proposal: None PRESENT and not voting: None ABSENT: None The following table compares taxes on an average residence homestead in this taxing unit last year to taxes proposed on the average residence homestead this year.

3740 Cartwright Road (@ FM 1092)

(281) 499-4555

Living with Celiac Disease

Celiac Disease is a digestive disorder characterized by a sensitivity to a protein commonly found in wheat, rye, and barley.

The protein is called gluten. When a person with the disease eats a gluten containing food, an immune response is triggered which causes inflammation and potential damage to the intestines. The damage may cause nutrient malabsorption, in which the body is unable to process important nutrients from the diet. Symptoms of the disorder can include bloating, diarrhea, and anemia.

Dietary supplements available over-the-counter can help correct nutrient deficiencies. To correct anemia and support healthy red blood cells, vitamin B9 (folic acid) may be beneficial.

A calcium acetate supplement such as PhosLo may also be needed to help maintain strong bones. Iron is necessary to carry oxygen throughout all parts of the body. If iron deficiency is found to be a problem, an iron supplement such as Feosol may be used.

Last Year $1.26000/$100 Adopted

Tax Rate

Difference in rates per $100 of value

Average appraised value General exemptions available (excluding senior citizen’s or disabled person’s exemptions) Average taxable value Tax on average residence homestead Annual increase/decrease in taxes if proposed tax rate is adopted (+/-)

This Year $1.26000/$100 Proposed

$0.00000 0.00%

Percentage increase/decrease in rates (+/-) $197,191

$207,277

$0.00

$0.00

$197,191

$207,277

$2,484.62

$2,611.70 $127.08

and percentage of increase (+/-)

5.11%

NOTICE OF TAXPAYERS’ RIGHT TO ELECTION TO REDUCE TAX RATE If the district adopts a combined debt service, operation, and maintenance, and contract tax rate that would result in the taxes on the average residence homestead increasing by more than 8 percent, the qualified voters of the district by petition may require that an election be held to determine whether to reduce the operation and maintenance tax rate to the voter-approval tax rate under section 49.23603, Water Code.

Water District Notice of Public Hearing on Tax Rate The Sienna Plantation Levee Improvement District of Fort Bend County, Texas will hold a public hearing on a proposed tax rate for the tax year 2020 on Wednesday, September 2, 2020 at 11:30 a.m., by teleconference at +1 210-728-6937, Conference ID: 680 122 324# or videoconference using Microsoft Teams Meeting Link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetupjoin/19%3ameeting_YjNjNDkzOWUtNjhkMi00ODQwLWI3NDAtMjhlMmMxMmI4YmQ0%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%222 8286709-72ad-469a-8b35-dc43eee3d2a2%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%220f15b619-c457-4e89-b87e-3777f017c873%22%7d Your individual taxes may increase at a greater or lesser rate, or even decrease, depending on the tax rate that is adopted and on the change in the taxable value of your property in relation to the change in taxable value of all other property. The change in the taxable value of your property in relation to the change in the taxable value of all other property determines the distribution of the tax burden among all property owners.

FOR the proposal:

K. Beckman & J.P. Richardson, T. Jones & G. Yarborough

AGAINST the proposal:

(none)

PRESENT and not voting:

(none)

ABSENT:

S. Nowak

The following table compares taxes on an average residence homestead in this taxing unit last year to taxes proposed on the average residence homestead this year.

Last Year

from

Ed’s Pharmacy

count, we ensure Fort Bend, one of the fastest growing counties in the state, has the funding it needs for the next 10 years.”

To respond to the census, residents can go online to www.My2020Census.gov.

friends and neighbors to respond right away,” County Judge KP George said in a news release.

“Everyone in Fort Bend counts towards funding for schools, roads, and hospitals in our communities. With a complete

Total tax rate (per $100 of value) Difference in rates per $100 of value Percentage increase in rates Average appraised value General exemptions available (excluding senior citizen’s or disabled person’s exemptions) Average taxable value Tax on average residence homestead Annual increase in taxes if Proposed tax rate is adopted And percentage of increase

$

0.450 /$100 Adopted $377,732

This Year $ $0.000 /$100 0.0000%

$ 0 $377,732 $ 1,699.79

0.450 /$100 Proposed $379,988

$ 0 $379,988 $1,709.95 $10.16 0.5977%

NOTICE OF TAXPAYERS’ RIGHT TO ELECTION TO REDUCE TAX RATE If the district adopts a combined debt service, operation and maintenance, and contract tax rate that would result in the taxes on the average residence homestead increasing by more than eight percent, the qualified voters of the district by petition may require that an election be held to determine whether to reduce the operation and maintenance tax rate to the voter-approval tax rate under Section 49.23603, Water Code.

The 86th Texas Legislature modified the manner in which the voter-approval tax rate is calculated to limit the rate of growth of property taxes in the state.

Questions regarding this notice can be directed to the tax office at (281) 499-1223.

THE STAR

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

Wednesday, August 19, 2020 • PAGE

Review: Variety, quality makes Pho Ben sure bet, ‘sensory experience’

By Stefan Modrich SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

I must make an important disclosure up front — Vietnamese cuisine has long been featured on my personal foodie bucket list, but I am nothing if not an amateur when it comes to this delightful corner of the culinary world.

I’ve tried pulled pork Bánh mì (sandwiches) and Gà Xào L n (chicken curry). And at Pho Ben in Sugar Land, I discovered the multilayered wonder that is the Vermicelli bowl. (More on that in a bit.)

But any Vietnamese food aficionado will advise you to open your mind and all of your senses to a style of cooking that adheres to a few simple rules, like combining textures, flavors and aromatics, as well as wellknown polar opposites like sweet and sour sauces.

There are usually a few different strategies for approaching trying out a food scene that is new or unfamiliar to you. You can do your homework ahead of time, or ask the servers to help you narrow down the hundreds of items in front of you. A list of helpful Vietnamese words and significant mealtimes and dishes is on the wall, for dine-in customers.

Or, like me, you can try both, and then throw in a wild card order that might appear at first glance to clash with your main dish — the Guava Blast cham-

A vermicelli bowl from Pho Ben. (Photo by Stefan Modrich)

oyada ($4).

If you’re a veteran of the Houston foodie scene, seeing this Mexican specialty frozen drink alongside a bowl of noodles and egg rolls likely didn’t faze you. For years, it’s become a regular item in Vietnamese restaurants in Fort Bend County and beyond, in addition to the classic selection of teas and juices: Matcha Frappe, Frosty Mango, and Salted Lemonade.

For sweets and refreshing beverages alone, it is worth a trip to Pho Ben. But I came for lunch, and that was where I found myself looking at a vermicelli bowl ($8.60) with some of the best egg rolls I’ve ever eaten, sitting atop a bed of fresh lettuce, cilantro, cucumber, crushed roasted peanuts, pickled shredded carrots and daikon radish.

These pork-filled, rice paperwrapped bundles of goodness,

known as cha giò, are light but firm on the outside and warm and soft on the inside. They were flavorful and hearty.

What impressed me most was the blend of the greens and vegetables, with the peanut oil and cilantro meshing together in between bites of egg rolls that gives the meal a feeling of definition and harmony that is a true sensory experience.

Pho Ben Address: 3613 Hwy 6, Sugar Land Hours: 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m. daily Entrée prices: $7-$10.25 Kid-friendly: Yes Senior discount: No Healthy options: Several vegetarian dishes Star of the show: Vermicelli bowl

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THE STAR

PAGE 8 • Wednesday, August 19, 2020

★ MURAL FROM PAGE 1 to complete because of rain delays.

“This is what I’ve been doing since I was 14 or 15 years old, “ De Leon said.

“And I’m 37 now. There’s never been something else that I’ve done (for a living). I’ve done murals all over (Stafford) and in different cities. … We were baking out here, too.

It was like 101 degrees.”

The wall of the Shiloh Travel & Tours building faces east, in order to have the sunset as a back-

years. He was instrumental in creating a municipal school district, the first of its kind in Texas, and famously abolished property taxes in 1995. He worked with Union Pacific Railroad and the Texas Department of Transportation to install three underpasses in Stafford and was a charter member of the Gulf Coast Rail District.

Several city council members, including Alice Chen and Mayor Pro Tempore Wen Guerra, praised Narvios’ efforts to unite the city. Chen recalled Scarcella’s open-

drop. It features Stafford’s triangular tower monuments along Highway 59 as bookends, and in bold, white letters, spells out the city’s name, with the word “Stronger” in gold letters underneath.

“The city is facing a lot of uncertainty, but I believe that through the concept of ‘Stafford Stronger,’ we can speak things into existence,” Narvios said. “There’s life and death in the power of the tongue, and art is a beautiful conduit to that.”

Scarcella was elected mayor of Stafford in 1969 and held the title for 51

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

door approach and said his vision and foresight helped Stafford evolve into an economically and culturally diverse city.

“I miss him so much,” Chen said. “He was my mentor. … I treasure all of these moments that I learned from him. We are so lucky, and I was lucky to know him. I look at this (mural) and it gives me motivation. It gives me hope. It gives me peace and harmony.”

Guerra said the mural “represents a generation” and that Stafford’s future is promising with the ascent of community

leaders like Narvios.

“I’m a Yuppie,” Guerra said. “The Yuppies followed the Baby Boomers.

(Narvios) is a millennial. That is the future of America. That is what is coming up the pipeline to be the next mayor, councilman, representatives, and senators. … This (mural) is an illustration of the heart of this new generation, and (Narvios) is a fabric of this generation.”

For more stories about the community like this one, follow us on social media @FortBendStar

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★ TAX FROM PAGE 1 rate last week.

However, George went on to say the relief is still not enough as homeowners’ appraisal values they received on Jan. 1 were prior to the economic and financial toll that the COVID-19 pandemic has taken on the community.

In order to further help residents, George said appraisal values should revert to 2019 levels.

“The power to revert property appraisals to their 2019 levels lies solely in the hands of our statewide elected officials like Gov. (Greg) Abbott and Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar,” George said in the letter. “Unfortunately, Gov. Abbott indicated he would not call any kind of special session for tax relief, hamstringing the ability of our state legislators to act.”

The county has set up an online portal for residents to look at detailed tax rate information for all taxing units in Fort Bend.

To see the information for their specific area, residents can go to fortbendcountytx. g o v/g o v e r n m e n t / d e p a r t m e n t s/f i n a n cia l-ad ministration/ tax-assessor-collector/ tax-rate-information.

“I encourage you to do your research and analyze exactly where your tax dollars are going to demand that other taxing entities … lower their tax rates in recognition of the financial hardship families are going through right now,” George said.

Deadline is noon every Friday. Limit entries to 40 words and answer the “5 Ws” Who, What, When, Where, and Why. Email to editor@fortbendstar.com or mail to: Fort Bend Star, 3944 Bluebonnet Drive, Stafford, Texas 77477.

FOR NON-PROFIT EVENTS

In light of the COVID-19 outbreak and the cancellation of several community gatherings, please check with each organization for updated information about the status of their events.

FORT BEND-HARRIS RETIRED EDUCATORS SEPTEMBER 13TH ZOOM MEETING Fort Bend-Harris Retired Educators are Zooming! Monthly virtual meetings will be held by Ft. Bend Harris-Retired Educators for the remaining of 2020. Only paid members will be invited by email and sent a password for each of the upcoming monthly meetings. If you have not yet joined, please send your check for $45 made out to FBHRE to Cathy Duvall, Treasurer. $35 is sent to Austin for state dues and $10 goes to our local unit. Cathy Duvall, 7131 Trailbrook Dr., Sugar Land, TX 77479; email cmduvall@aol.com. The September 10th, Thursday meeting will be zoomed at 10 a.m.

Speaker will be from the Ft. Bend SheriffÕ s Office explaining YANA. Dallas Mullins with AMBA will explain member benefits. Looking forward to SEEING everyone.

ALBION HURRICANES FC AHFC has multiple campuses in and around Houston, including Sugar Land. The club invites all interested players from ages of 7-18 to contact the campus director about team placement. Interested players should pre-register before coming out. Visit albionhurricanes.org/afhcstaff for contact information.

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

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SIENNA CRAFT/SEWING GROUP Sienna Craft/Sewing group. Meets every Tuesday from 10-noon at Sawmill Clubhouse in Sienna Plantation. We sew, crochet, knit, needlepoint, etc. contact Livia Erich at 281-543-3524 or liviaerich@yahoo.com for additional information.

DAV CHAPTER 233 MONTHLY MEETING The second Tuesday of every month at the United Way Fort Bend Center, 12300 Parc Crest Dr., Stafford, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. For more information, call 281-222-4888.

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.

BECOME A FOSTER GRANDPARENT Volunteers are needed to be a role model, mentor and friend to children with exceptional needs in the community. Training, mileage reimbursement, tax-free monthly stipend if eligible. Call today to help change the world, one child at a time in Rosenberg. For more information, call 281-344-3515.

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WHILE WE’RE WAITING SUPPORT GROUP For Bereaved Parents - grieving the loss of a child at any age. Meets the third Thursday of every month, 7 p.m., at the First Colony Church of Christ, 2140 First Colony Blvd., Sugar Land. For more information, call 281413-2484.

AMERICAN LEGION 271 MEETING We meet the first Thursday of every month at the Post Hall, 4520 Hwy. 36 in Rosenberg.

A covered dish meal is served to members at 6:30 p.m. followed by meetings at 7:30 p.m.

For more information, call 281-341-9966.

AMERICAN LEGION 294 MEETING Meets the first Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Old Hickory Inn BBQ, 3334 FM 1092, just north of Highway 6 in Missouri City. For more information, please call 713376-7295.

ALZHEIMER’S CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP Caregivers of patients with AlzheimerÕ s disease or other related dementias are invited to attend the first Thursday of each month, 7-8:30 p.m. at St. JohnÕ s United Methodist Church, 400 Jackson St. in Richmond, across from the historic Fort Bend County Courthouse. Free and open to the public. For more information, call 713-314-1313 or 1-800-272-3900.

4-H, FOOD & NUTRITION Fort Bend 4-H is looking for input from the community on how it can better serve the public. To learn more about 4-H projects, join 4-H at 7 p.m.

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