02-03-2021 Edition of the Fort Bend Star

Museums partner for Black history exhibit - Page 7

Sugar Land's Singapore Cafe showed why it is a hidden gem during a recent visit. Read our review inside today's edition on Page 8. (Photo by Stefan Modrich)

WEDNESDAY • FEBRUARY 3, 2021

Visit www.FortBendStar.com

Fort Bend / Southwest • Volume 45 • No. 24

Recycling could be tossed out in Rosenberg

By Stefan Modrich SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

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The city of Rosenberg’s recycling program, operated by Republic Services, could be suspended due to residents’ continued inclusion of non-recyclable materials, which contaminates the loads of recycled materials and forces them to be disposed of in a landfill, city officials said in a Jan. 29 news release.

Rigo Calzoncin, the city’s

executive director of public services, said during a Jan. 26 city council workshop meeting that Republic Services told the city its losses were “substantial enough to warrant a full review of the recycling services currently being provided by all residential customers.”

The city said in its news release that it is “once again in jeopardy of losing its recycling privileges” with Republic Services and is asking Rosenberg residents to complete an

Calzoncin

online survey about their recycling use.

The survey will remain open until noon Friday, Feb. 12, and can be accessed on Rosenberg’s social media pages, the website at rosenbergtx.gov/recycling or by the link: https:// w w w. s u r v e y m o n k e y. com/r/RosenbergRec yclingSurvey.

A list of questions submitted to David Aguilar, the municipal manager of Republic Services, was not answered by press time.

Rosenberg is in the fourth year of a 5-year

contract with Republic Services that expires Sept.

30, 2022. As of Oct. 1, 2020, the residential rates for polycarts, which store recyclables, are $17.76 per month and $17.03 per month for residents ages 65 and older.

Aguilar said during the Jan. 26 meeting that the city suspended recycling in April due to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic,

SEE RECYCLING PAGE 6

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County receives new shipment of COVID vaccine

By Stefan Modrich SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Clements High School senior Amy Zhou is photographed during a 2020 Junior Classical League event at Clear Lake High School. Zhou was recently selected as one of 40 finalists in the Regeneron Science Talent Search 2021. (Contributed photo)

Clements senior named finalist in national science competition

By Landan Kuhlmann

After its COVID-19 vaccine preregistration system reached capacity and closed Jan. 21, the online tool Fort Bend County Health and Human Services (FBCHHS) uses to facilitate vaccination appointments reopened Tuesday, County Judge KP George said during a news conference. George also said the county received a shipment of 12,000 vaccines Monday.

In addition, the county has partnered with Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital to administer 16,000 vaccines at a drive-through

SEE VACCINE PAGE 6

George

LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Ever since she was young, Clements High School senior Amy Zhou said she has had a curious mind.

That curiosity recently led to her selection as an elite scholar in a national science competition.

Zhou was selected Jan. 21 as one of 40 finalists in Regeneron Science Talent Search 2021, an annual science and math competi-

tion for high school seniors around the United States.

This year’s contest included nearly 1,800 submissions, and the finalists were selected based on their projects’ “scientific rigor and their potential to become world-changing scientists and leaders,” according to Regeneron.

“Even since elementary school I’ve been taking part in science competitions, then I started taking on the research portion in high school,” she said. “I’ve just

always had a passion for solving problems.”

Zhou said she got the idea for the project during The Research Science Institute, an annual sixweek international summer program for high school students typically hosted at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), that she took virtually over the summer. According to the Center for Excellence of Education’s website, students participate in a week of “intensive” STEM classes

before undertaking an individual research project during the program.

For her project, which carried over into the fall and start of school, Zhou studied entropy, or behavior of amorphous materials at very low temperatures.

Such materials look like solids but act as liquids, such as glass.

According to Regeneron, Zhou’s work clarified what happens to the molecular organization of such materials above absolute zero

(about minus-460 degrees Fahrenheit).

“This year’s finalists represent many of our nation’s most promising young scientists who, even during a global pandemic, are using their ingenuity, resourcefulness and STEM skills to work toward a better future,” Regeneron President and Chief Scientific Officer George Yancopoulos said in a news release. “I can only

SEE FINALIST PAGE 6

Local film revisits Challenger shuttle explosion

By Stefan Modrich SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Nathan VonMinden has never been to space. He was just 3 years old on Jan. 28, 1989, when the U.S. space shuttle Challenger exploded a minute into its launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

But the 2005 graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University — who

describes himself as a rocket scientist turned filmmaker — said he’s long been fascinated with America’s ambitions to explore the depths of the unknown beyond our atmosphere.

“I have a degree in aerospace engineering and I've always loved space travel and our endeavors in space,” VonMinden said.

“I really enjoyed being a part of that and knowing it and learning about it and

Kelley Talasek, left, and producer/actor Erika Waldorf film an interview scene used for “The Challenger Disaster” in Rosenberg.

(Contributed photo)

all that.”

In 2019, the longtime resident of Richmond and Sugar Land released “The Challenger Disaster,” along with actor Jason

SEE CHALLENGER PAGE 6

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PAGE 2 • Wednesday,

THE STAR

February 3, 2021

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FBCL names winners of photography competition

By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Fort Bend County Libraries on Monday announced the winners of their “Bridging Differences” photography contest that was aimed at promoting community unity.

All of the entries will be on display in a virtual gallery on the Fort Bend County Libraries’ website (fortbend.lib. tx.us) through the end of

March.

Cap Van Nguyen’s “Circle of Love,” taken at a post office in Fort Bend County, took home the top prize.

“Each mailbox in this photo could be a person, a family regardless of color of the skin, gender, or ethnic origin,” Nguyen said in a news release.

Don Golden won second place for “Pepper and Salt,” a photo that was taken outside a coffee shop in Richmond and

From left, the winners for Fort Bend County Libraries' "Bridging Differences" photo contest were: Don Golden's "Pepper and Salt," Cap Van Nguyen's "Circle of Love," and Kaitlyn Brown's "The Common Threat." (Photos courtesy of FBCL)

featuring two men enjoying their cigars together while relaxing at a table on the sidewalk.

Kaitlyn Brown’s “The Common Threat,” taken at her home in Fort Bend County and featuring a medical mask and two hands, won third place.

“While communities

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were divided, there was one thing everyone had in common: COVID-19,” Brown said. “This provoked many emotions, many in which people across oceans would feel.

Fear. Anger. Abandonment. Hope. Hope is what lifts the burdens of the world off one’s shoulders.

Hope is the light at the bottom of the dark abyss of fear. Hope is what everyone wears under the mask. Hope conquers fear, and brings all differences together.”

The contest, during which amateur photographers entered original photos portraying the

culture, nature, people and places of Fort Bend, featured 36 submissions.

Winning photos were determined by a panel of judges, who made their determinations based on relationship to the contest theme, composition, focus, lighting, emotional impact and creativity.

Area students' artwork advances in rodeo art contest

By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

More than a dozen Fort Bend ISD students recently had their artwork selected to advance in the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s annual art show, according to a news release from the district.

Each student’s piece will be considered for the Grand Champion and

Reserve Grand Champion honors and will also be put up for auction.

A list of recognized FBISD students and their selected artwork is below Best of Show Naoki Hotta (Austin Parkway Elementary) – “Oh, my horse is upside down!”

Hyewon Park (First Colony Middle School) – “Do you like it?”

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Mia Casipe (Elkins) – “Struggle” Jaydan Kisinger (Elkins) – “Through the Years” Gold Medal Catherine Shin (Colony Meadows Elementary) – “Best Friends” April Massie (First Colony Middle School) – “Just a moment” Christian Ruma (Austin) – “Bullseye” Madeline Irvin (Clements) – “An Afternoon

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Wednesday, February 3, 2021 • PAGE

3

How to maximize life’s fleeting moments Stephen Sondheim once said, “Opportunity is not a lengthy visitor.”

One of the most prolific musical composers and lyricists on Broadway, Sondheim knew a thing or two about capitalizing on the blessings afforded to him, one of which was being mentored by Oscar Hammerstein, a genre-defining and towering figure in American culture.

The man behind the iconic West Side Story lyrics, like many artists, also had his share of failures, including unfinished projects and shows that tanked before they had 10 nights on stage.

I’m reminded of the post-World War II era — which I suspect many of you reading this likely consider the golden age of American entertainment — for an oddly specific reason (and that reason is mainly the concept of

Stefan Modrich

paying with cash) and the cascading domino effect that one decision has upon another.

Last week, I was visiting a recently-opened restaurant in Stafford. You’ll be able to read my review of the place in an upcoming edition. The restaurant was so new that there were still empty boxes belonging to fancy stainless steel kitchen appliances visible behind the counter, and there was no menu. This soon presented a dilemma for me, as I rarely carry cash, and as my server informed me, they did not

have their computer and credit card reader up and running.

However, I was told not to worry, and that I could come back and pay any time. I insisted that I would run to the ATM as soon as I completed my meal, and when I returned, the server laughed, telling me, “You don’t have to worry about that, man.”

I had the restaurant to myself when I ate, so I was pleased to see that there were multiple cars and several customers inside when I came back to pay the bill.

A couple of days later, on my commute home from the office, I was stopped at a red light along a Highway 59 frontage road.

A man emerged into my field of view and began cleaning my windshield. I fumbled around to find my wallet and pulled out the remaining cash along with

a cup full of change that I had accumulated, and rolled my window down to hand it to him.

The light turned green, so I didn’t have time for a conversation.

But I did have time to hear him say this: Thank you. You’re the only one that’s helped me.

Whether that’s true or not, I will almost certainly never know. Does that ultimately matter, however, if my intent was to aid someone who appeared to be in need? Had I not decided to eat at the Stafford restaurant, it would have been very unlikely that I would have ever gone to get cash, dramatically reducing the chances I would have been able to give anything of substance to the man I met at the frontage road.

In a remarkable coincidence, or perhaps it was a product of fate, I listened to a podcast over

the weekend in which I learned about George Herbert, a 17th-century English poet and musician.

As Izaak Walton tells it in a biographical account of Herbert’s life, Herbert was walking on his way to one of his performances in Salisbury, England, when he came upon a man whose horse had fallen due to fatigue from carrying a heavy load.

Herbert helped the man and his horse back on their feet, leaving him some money and a friendly reminder to “be merciful to his beast.”

His musical colleagues gasped and scoffed at the sight of Herbert, who was splattered with mud and dirt from his chance encounter after trying his best to be a good Samaritan.

As Walton recalls it: "That the thought of what (Herbert) had done would

prove music to him at midnight; and that the omission of it would have upbraided and made discord in his conscience, whensoever he should pass by that place: ‘For if I be bound to pray for all that are in distress, I am sure that I am bound, so far as it is in my power, to practice what I pray for.

And though I do not wish for the like occasion every day, yet let me tell you, I would not willingly pass one day of my life without comforting a sad soul, or showing mercy; and I praise God for this occasion. And now let’s tune our instruments.’"

Opportunities to reveal our true character are fleeting. We are obligated not to squander them, and should revel at every chance we get to make our own “music at midnight” in our own lives.

FBJSL accepting applications for SBA to discuss changes to PPP annual educational scholarships program during chamber webinar

By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

The Fort Bend Junior Service League (FBJSL) is accepting applications for its annual educational scholarships aimed at helping Fort Bend County women pursue higher education.

Through March 1, the organization will be accepting applications for four volunteer scholarships that will be given to graduating high school seniors as well as its New Beginnings Scholarship. Each volunteer scholarship is worth $1,000,

while the New Beginnings Scholarship is worth $2,000.

To qualify for the volunteer scholarship, Fort Bend high school seniors must have completed at least 100 hours of volunteer service during high school

while maintaining a minimum GPA of 2.5, and have plans to attend an accredited two- or four-year college or university. The New Beginnings Scholarship is aimed at women in need who “has had a break or interruption in her education and who is returning to school, desiring to improve her career opportunities by furthering her education,” according to a news release from FBJSL. Interested applicants can learn more about these scholarships and get a copy of the applications on the FBJSL’s website at fbjsl. org/scholarship-programs/.

From Staff Reports

There may be changes coming to the Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses, and the local chamber of commerce will host a session to update business owners on what that means later this week.

The Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce’s Business and Professional Division will host a virtual Zoom webinar with SBA Houston District Director Tim Jeffcoat this Thursday

from 11 a.m. to noon regarding a second round of potential PPP loans.

During the session, Jeffcoat will summarize the changes to the program and the impact on small businesses through the following topics: • Changes to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) • Second Draw PPP for small businesses who have exhausted their initial loan • Impact eligibility for initial PPP loans • The loan forgiveness

process • Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL Program) • Venue Grant program • SBA loan programs The webinar is free for any interested resident to attend, and community members can join by going to zoom.us/webinar/ r eg i ster/ W N _ hu Jv 6j bRQ8OwlMR89XoYCA. Details of upcoming events can be found at FortBendChamber.com or contact Paige Talbott at 281-566-2152 or paige@fortbendcc.org.

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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

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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

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CHURCH OF CHRIST

STAFFORD CHURCH OF CHRIST • 281-499-2507 402 Stafford Run Rd. -Stafford, 77477 SUNDAY: Worship: 10:30 a.m. www.staffordchurchofchrist.org LUTHERAN CHURCH

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Scripture of the week

“For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

- Jeremiah 29:11

THE STAR

PAGE 4 • Wednesday, February 3, 2021

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AREA STANDINGS (Through Monday)

@FtBendAthletics:

Lady Vikings clinch 20-6A title

By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

A historic basketball season for the Dulles Lady Vikings isn’t done yet, but last weekend they accomplished their first goal in the road to potentially winning a state championship.

The Lady Vikings beat Elkins 81-29 last Saturday to cap off a 21-0 regular season, in the process clinching the school’s first district championship since the 2008-09 season.

Nya Threatt, who finished the season as District 20-6A’s second-leading scorer, poured in 26 points to go along with five steals in Saturday’s contest for the Lady Vikings, who have won 26 consecutive regularseason games dating back to last season. Peyton Overton (15 points, 9 rebounds, 6 steals) and Dai Dai Powell (14 points, 5 rebounds, 8 steals) also helped power Dulles.

Brianna Richardson was again dominant for the Stafford Lady Spartans in

District 20-6A (Girls) Dulles George Ranch Ridge Point Travis Elkins Clements Austin Bush

By Landan Kuhlmann

If Ridge Point senior guard Aleighyah Fontenot sees her coach having the bounces not go his way, she always knows a surefire way to turn the tide.

“Since her freshman year, she’ll come up to me, she’ll just pat me and on the shoulder and say, ‘It’s OK, Vitek.

Things are going to be OK,’ ” said Michael Vitek, Ridge Point’s girls basketball coach. “… I could tell a million stories about her and her personality.”

Vitek said Fontenot’s persona, along with her skill on the court, have been key this season as the Lady Panthers aim to build on last season, when they made their first appearance in a regional tournament.

“She just has this different personality,” Vitek said.

Fontenot said her journey on the court began at 6 years old when her parents, who have both coached and played the sport, took her to a basketball tryout. As an even younger kid, Fontenot said she had always taken to volleyball more than basketball.

She had until that day, at least.

“I went and had a lot of fun, so I thought, ‘OK, I really want to play basketball now.’ I loved the environment around it,” she said. “… Ev-

12-0 10-2 8-2 6-6 4-9 3-8 2-9 2-11

District 24-5A (Boys) The Dulles Lady Vikings celebrate on the court following their 81-29 victory over the Elkins Lady Knights last Saturday to clinch the District 20-6A title. (Photo from Twitter)

their Jan. 26 win over Bay City. Richardson scored 23 rebounds and grabbed 16 rebounds for her 12th double-double of the season.

She also had 24 points and 12 rebounds in Saturday’s win over Columbia, while Jazzlyn Nixon added 14 points and 12 rebounds.

In Hightower’s win over Terry on Jan. 27, Jada Grigsby paced the Lady Hurricanes with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while A’Leah Franklin had 15 points.

Jada Holiday (12 points)

and Madeline Rhea (11 points) led the Elkins Lady Knights in their win over Clements on Jan. 27.

Boys The Hightower Hurricanes took down Foster on Jan. 26 and Kempner on Friday to remain undefeated in District 24-5A play. Bryce Griggs led Hightower with 24 points to go along with five rebounds and seven assists in the Hurricanes’ overtime win against Foster on Jan. 26. Tyrone Baker also posted his 12th doubledouble of the season with 22

points and 16 rebounds as Hightower (15-2, 14-0) beat Foster for the second time this season, inching closer to its first district title since the 2008-09 season.

Kempner’s Bryan Etumnu had a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds in the loss against Hightower, while Jacob Broussard scored 21 points.

David Ogunleye had 13 points and 11 rebounds for Austin in their Jan. 27 loss to George Ranch, while K.C. Udolisa grabbed seven rebounds.

Fontenot holding down fort for Lady Panthers LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

District 20-6A (Boys) Team District Record Travis 9-1 Elkins 8-1 Ridge Point 8-2 George Ranch 5-6 Bush 4-5 Clements 3-7 Austin 2-8 Dulles 0-9

eryone was so friendly, and I wanted to play because I knew I would have fun.”

Now a senior at Ridge Point and in her fourth varsity season, that same exuberance and passion she started soaking up at age 6 shines through both on game day and beyond, invigorating the program on a daily basis according to Vitek. It’s even spurred a lighthearted backand-forth between Vitek and his star.

“In practice, she always gives me a hard time,” he said with a laugh. “She’s known for saying things like, ‘You gotta take that 10 down to a 2.’ Then I’ll always steal her one-liners and say them over and over until she’s like, “OK, that’s enough.’ " In turn, the two have developed a trust factor that has been crucial amidst an unusual 2020-21 campaign.

In addition to dealing with COVID-19 scheduling complications that have caused cancellations of multiple recent district games, the Lady Panthers have dealt with injuries to those like star guard Raven Adams early in the season. Through it all, Fontenot has held down the fort. Entering this week, she was leading District 20-6A in scoring with 23.5 points per game – a mark that also ranked seventh in the state, according to MaxPreps. After leading Class 6A with 135 made 3-point goals

last season, Fontenot is top 20 in the classification again this year, with her trademark goggles always visible for Ridge Point’s resident sniper.

“I just focus on what I need to do, and don’t pay attention to anything else,” she said. “I know that’s stuff I can’t control.”

Part of her development, she attributed to a tournament several years ago where her mom – her coach at the time – didn't have her on the court in a close game. That moment, she said, was a turning point.

“That drove me to work harder when I was younger, and to work on my craft so I can be out there on the court in those moments,” she said.

Bull by the horns Following back-to-back district titles, Ridge Point is locked into 20-6A’s third playoff spot at 12-5 overall and 8-2 in district play this season. In those 10 district games, Fontenot has averaged 23 points, including 38 points against Travis on Dec. 8 and 36 against Austin on Dec. 18. Vitek called his team the “most dangerous” three-seed in the state, and knows that much of that has to do with Fontenot’s ability to unite her teammates in the common goal of winning a state championship.

“She took the bull by the horns (in the first part of district play) and really lead us – whatever she had to do to

make sure we’re in the spot that we are,” Vitek said. “I know when we step on the floor that if she’s in there, we’ve got a chance.”

While Adams has since returned and Dala Allen has been a strong contributor, the team still goes as Fontenot does as it looks to build on last year’s deep playoff run despite losing seven seniors.

“I knew my team needed me, and that if we wanted to be as good as we were, I needed to do more,” said Fontenot, who is committed to play at Southern University in Baton Rouge. “I knew I had to step my game up.”

Whether it’s being the first one in the gym getting up shots or maturing into a vocal leader, he said Fontenot has grown into the leadership role – and knows the dynamic will be much different next year.

But until that time, Fontenot will enjoy the time with her coach and her teammates the only way she knows how – full of that sense of encouragement, optimism and exuberance she’s been soaking up since that fateful tryout.

Though in hindsight, Vitek said another factor might have been in play with the choice she’s made – and the Lady Panthers are glad she did.

“She’s kind of good,” he jokingly quipped. “That helps, too.”

Hightower Foster Angleton Marshall Terry Fulshear Kempner Lamar Consolidated Willowridge

14-0 10-2 9-3 6-6 6-8 5-8 3-10 3-10 2-11

District 24-5A (Girls) Foster Lamar Consolidated Fulshear Angleton Hightower Kempner Willowridge Terry Marshall

14-0 13-2 10-5 8-6 7-8 5-9 2-10 2-11 0-10

La Marque Stafford Brazosport Columbia Sweeny Needville Bay City Brazosport Sweeny Stafford La Marque Columbia Needville Bay City

District 25-4A (Boys)

District 25-4A (Girls)

9-0 7-1 7-3 4-6 3-6 2-7 0-9 10-0 9-2 6-3 6-5 4-7 1-10 1-10

LAST WEEK'S SCORES Boys Jan. 26 Hightower 70, Foster 65 (OT) Marshall 76, Willowridge 62 Jan. 27 Stafford 82, Bay City 41 George Ranch 64, Austin 44 Jan. 28 Kempner 55, Willowridge 42 Jan. 29 Hightower 70, Kempner 52 Jan. 30 Stafford 76, Columbia 38 Travis 45, Clements 35 Ridge Point 61, George Ranch 50

Girls Jan. 26 Stafford 54, Bay City 25 Jan. 27 Hightower 71, Terry 38 Travis 51, Bush 33 Elkins 45, Clements 35 Jan. 28 La Marque 42, Stafford 29 Foster 76, Kempner 15 Jan. 29 Kempner 36, Hightower 33 Foster 74, Willowridge 12 Jan. 30 Stafford 45, Columbia 42 Dulles 81, Elkins 29 Bush 50, Austin 25

Formerly known as the Fort Bend Newcomers Guide, the Fort Bend Star Guide is a twice a year product that serves as a guide to everyday living in our unique community. Where to go, places to see, things to do and services that are available in Sugar Land, Missouri City, Richmond, Rosenberg, Stafford, and Fort Bend County.

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REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS EMERGENCY DEBRIS REMOVAL SERVICES The City of Sugar Land seeks proposals for performing all work required for the following project in the City: RFP 2021-13: EMERGENCY DEBRIS REMOVAL SERVICES LOCATION OF WORK: SUGAR LAND, TX 77479 Plans, specifications, and bidding documents may be obtained by registering at Public Purchase www.publicpurchase.com.

Sealed proposals, one (1) original, five (5) copies, and one (1) electronic copy on flash drive 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 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 18, 2021, at which time the names of the firms submitting sealed proposals will be read. Proposals received after the opening date and time will not be considered.

Questions regarding this proposal must be received by Monday, February 8, 2021 on or before 12:00 P.M. Please post all questions on Public Purchase www.publicpurchase.com.

The City will award the contract and give notice of award within 180 calendar days after the opening date and time.

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SEEKING EMPLOYMENT We're hiring detailed oriented Cleaning Technicians Please call 281.238.5762 or email Resume to sugarland@youvegotmaids.com YOU'VE GOT MAIDS OF SUGAR LAND

NOTICE TO BIDDERS POLICE DEPARTMENT SITE SECURITY FENCING 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: POLICE DEPARTMENT SITE SECURITY FENCING CIP PROJECT NUMBER: CMU2102 LOCATION OF WORK: POLICE DEPARTMENT AND MUNICIPAL COURTS BUILDING, 1200 HWY 6 SOUTH, SUGAR LAND, TX 77479 Plans, specifications, and bidding documents may be obtained by from CivCast www.civcastusa.com Sealed bids 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, February 18, 2021 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 at 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, February 9, 2021, Police Department and Municipal Courts Building, 1200 Hwy 6 South, Sugar Land, Texas 77479.

Questions regarding this bid must be submitted online to www. civcastusa.com on or before 3:00 p.m., Thursday, February 11, 2021.

The City Council will award the contract as provided in the Invitation to Bid. The City of Sugar Land will give notice of the contract award within sixty (60) calendar days after the opening date and time.

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Sealed proposals, one (1) original, five (5) copies, and one (1) electronic copy on flash drive 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 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 18, 2021, at which time the names of the firms submitting sealed proposals will be read. Proposals received after the opening date and time will not be considered.

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RFP 2021-12: EMERGENCY DEBRIS MONITORING SERVICES LOCATION OF WORK: SUGAR LAND, TX 77479 Plans, specifications, and bidding documents may be obtained by registering at Public Purchase www.publicpurchase.com.

Questions regarding this proposal must be received by Monday, February 8, 2021 on or before 12:00 P.M. Please post all questions on Public Purchase www.publicpurchase.com.

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LEGALS Notice is hereby given application is being made to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission by Ana J Lazo for Beer and Wine Permit doing business as Pupuseria Y Restaurante Lazo #2 to be located at 2292 Farm-To-Market Rd 2234, Stafford, Fort Bend,TX 77477 Manager Jose A Medrano.

NOTICE TO BIDDERS IH 69 FRONTAGE ROAD AT SH 6 TRIPLE LEFT 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: IH 69 FRONTAGE ROAD AT SH 6 TRIPLE LEFT CIP PROJECT NUMBER: TR1702 LOCATION OF WORK: IH 69 Northbound Frontage Road at SH 6 Plans, specifications, and bidding documents may be obtained from Civcast USA www.civcastusa.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, Sugar Land, Texas, 77479, on or before 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 18, 2021, 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 February 11, 2021 at 10:00 am. The pre-bid meeting will be held virtually, with a link added to CivCast.

Questions regarding this bid must be received by Friday, February 12, 2021 by 5 pm. Please contact Brian Castille with Cobb-Fendley at BCastille@cobbfendley.com or 713-485-8234.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING SPECIAL EXCEPTION REQUEST FROM THE REAR YARD SETBACK REQUIREMENT IN THE RESTRICTED SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (R-1R) ZONING DISTRICT FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 602 CHEVY CHASE CIRCLE Zoning Board of Adjustment Public Hearing VICINITY MAP: 5:00 p.m., February 17, 2021, City of Sugar Land City Council Chamber, 2700 Town Center Boulevard North, hosted via live stream at http://www.sugarlandtx.gov/1238/SLTV16-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 proposed Special Exception to the Rear Yard Setback for 602 Chevy Chase Circle, Lot 1, Block 9, Sugar Creek Section One, in the Restricted Single-Family Residential (R-1R) District.

The agenda item for this meeting will be placed on the City of Sugar Land website at www.sugarlandtx.gov under “Meeting Agendas” Zoning Board of Adjustment no later than Friday, February 12, 2021. Request details or provide feedback on the proposed Special Exception online at www.sugarlandtx. gov/PublicHearingComment or contact City of Sugar Land Planning Department at (281) 275-2218.

As of the date of this publication (February 3, 2020) the Centers for Disease Control recommends social-distancing and the avoidance of large and small gatherings in public spaces in order to limit the spread of COVID-19. 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 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., Wednesday, February 17, 2021, 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., Wednesday, February 17, 2021 to register and receive instructions for direct participation during the hearing.

Should the Centers for Disease Control, and/or the prevailing appropriate authority, lift the 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 Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting agenda at www.sugarlandtx.gov under “Meeting Agendas.”

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PAGE 6 • Wednesday, February 3, 2021

★ CHALLENGER FROM PAGE 1 Sweatt of Richmond and Erika Waldorf, one of the film’s producers who also played the role of Christa McAuliffe. A director’s cut of the film is now available to buy or rent on Amazon Prime.

VonMinden said the Challenger disaster is a “case study on ethics and decision making and management.”

“It always kind of stuck in my head and haunted me for a long time,” VonMinden said. “I started really getting serious about writing something like this.

How would you turn it into a movie structurally? How would you go about, you know, making a story like that come alive?”

One of his inspirations to bring the story to life was the movie “12 Angry Men,” a 1957 legal drama directed by Sidney Lumet about the murder trial of an accused teenager.

“The Challenger Disaster” is not so much a movie about space as the people involved in the decisionmaking process involved with the launch.

“The main characters are the engineers who try to stop the launch,” VonMinden said. “And so that's where ‘12 Angry Men’ sort of inspired me to think about it. In that regard, I was considered a human drama more than a, you know, space movie, you know, like ‘Apollo 13,’ because it's about, you know, fighting language and trying to communicate in a hostile environment.”

One of those engineers was played by Sweatt, whose character worked at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala-

★ FINALIST FROM PAGE 1 hope that their STS experience further inspires them to take on and help solve the biggest challenges facing mankind – from climate change to disease and future pandemics.”

Such a characterization of her project, Zhou said, was mind-blowing. She said she just wanted to explore a common question in the science world, and it wound up leading to an honor she never envisioned.

“I never expected to be called – honestly I was just trying to keep my mind off the competition. I had just gone down to the kitchen to get a snack when I got the call,” she remembered with

Fort Bend resident Nathan VonMinden (center, wearing black coat) and others discuss logistics during production of "The Challenger Disaster," which revisits the 1989 explosion of the U.S. space shuttle Challenger. (Contributed photo)

bama. “(The engineers) decided that they think there's going to be a problem with the launch,” Sweatt said.

“And so they put all their arguments together and they contacted them to set up a conference call between (the Marshall Space Flight Center and the Kennedy Center) and those guys. And I'm one of the main engineers that's going to be making the decision on whether or not it's going to launch.”

Sweatt, who grew up in Richmond, said he had always been a fan of the NASA space program and used to visit the Johnson Space Center in Houston when he was a kid. He’s been involved in the local theater scene for almost

his entire life, starting out at the old Queen Theater in Rosenberg.

He said he still remembers being a Lamar High School student when he and his classmates in his French language course were among the millions tuned in in classrooms across America set to watch the Challenger launch.

The film was shot primarily at San Antonio’s Brooks Air Force base, and the site of what used to be the Imperial Theater in Rosenberg. A Houston law office was also used for some scenes.

“There were a lot of great people in the film and people that were local that had hands on it,” Sweatt said.

“You know, that was really

nice. And I think I've been in like 15 films, but this one was the one I enjoyed the most because of the story and because it was based on the true story of what happened behind the scenes the night before the explosion that just really hit home.”

The film also stars Dean Cain and Les Miles, current coach of the Kansas Jayhawks football team, who was most famous for his successful run as the coach at Louisiana State University.

“I got to text my husband, ‘Driving to the airport, guess who I’m picking up?’” Waldorf said.

“Not only did (Miles) do really well being thrown into a pretty decent-sized role, he was such a genuinely,

a laugh. “I was like, ‘I don’t know anyone from Washington, D.C., who could this be?’ ” But according to Clements physics teacher Vijay Shah – who had Zhou as a student her junior year – it came as no surprise given the passion he had seen her display for the project in and outside the classroom.

“It’s extremely difficult for students to get the full experience with physics in just a classroom setting, and research environments tend to be very fast-paced and complex, and possibly even overwhelming, especially during summer programs,” he said. “It takes a true desire to learn and to confront the unknown by tackling an original research problem,

and a lot of motivation to persevere with it.”

It takes a village Zhou said she couldn’t have pursued her passion alone. Even after leaving the Research Science Institute, she said Shah was a guiding force in the project, helping her study and look over the project in the fall prior to submitting it to Regeneron’s competition last November.

“He’s always been so supportive of my extracurricular activities,” said Zhou, who is co-president of Clements’ Science National Honor Society and the director of operations for its Math National Honor Society.

Shah, however, said the passion was natural for Zhou – no easy task given the other options which students have to occupy their time – and that he jumped at the opportunity to help her pursue her curiosity.

“By helping students through their research projects however possible – even if it is just a little bit – using

my prior experiences, I hope to make their STEM experience more enjoyable while helping them enhance their skills to ensure that they will excel with their research in college,” he said.

It appears as though it has certainly helped Zhou, who said she wants to be a become a professor in either applied mathematics or physics after school. She has been accepted into MIT, but is still deliberating other options.

One thing she knows, however, is that she has a drive for helping others find their own passions just as Shah and others have done for her.

“There’s just something so rewarding to me about being able to share my passions with other people and helping others find their own personal ambitions in the science field,” she said.

The 40 Regeneron finalists will participate in a virtual competition from March 10-17, vying for more than $1.8 million in awards.

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★ RECYCLING FROM PAGE 1 but the amount of “downgraded” recycling that was contaminated and no longer recyclable grew dramatically throughout 2020, according to data Aguilar presented to the council.

The peak percentage of contaminated recycling tonnage occurred in May, at 80 percent, and the peak mass of the contaminated material was in Septem-

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really great guy. He and wife stayed on set with us and they were really down to earth.”

VonMinden said he understood NASA may not have wanted to be involved in the project because those involved in the launch failure may still be embarrassed about what happened to the Challenger. But he said engineers and experts across the aerospace community appreciated what he set out to accomplish with his film.

“I did a lot of research from the actual court transcripts or the hearing transcripts where these engineers laid out their story,” VonMinden said. “So we went straight to it. It's all for public consumption.

You know, like anybody could have written this thing at any point in time because you can go on NASA's website and find these transcripts of the Rogers Commission where they investigated everything.

And you get to know the players and the engineers and the people in management. It wasn't easy, but it was possible, and that's what we're discovering.”

Waldorf said the chemistry between her and Sweatt and VonMinden has developed over the last decade that the three have been friends and colleagues.

She played Christa McAuliffe, one of the seven crew members killed in the explosion.

“It was very nerve wracking because you can receive a lot of criticism for portraying somebody of that caliber,” Waldorf said.

“And I was just so hoping that I would do it justice.

That was all I could do. I watched interviews and studied it as much as I

could to just try and be the best that I could.”

In the fall of 1986, a middle school in Fort Bend Houston was named after McAuliffe, one of 11,000 teachers who applied to be part of the space program.

Waldorf said she hopes the film will raise awareness among younger people who have no memory of the Challenger aside from what they may have learned in school.

“I'd say nine times out of 10, if not nine-and-a-half times out of 10, people do not know that there were men who tried to stop the launch and basically carried that guilt with them to the grave, you know, for years and years,” Waldorf said. “It just haunted them because they knew.”

VonMinden said his hope is for every viewer to discover a sense of emotional resonance through a connection to the characters involved in “The Challenger Disaster.”

“I want everyone to watch it and find themselves in the film,” VonMinden said. “You can see a character that reminds you of you or someone you know or some experience you've had, and hopefully it'll help you think about it, ‘What I do, where do I really land on something like this?’

It's easy in hindsight to judge history. We're trying to make it real and present. That's where you'll get something out of this movie. And then also, enjoying learning about history and seeing Americans who stood up for what was right and didn't let a cover-up happen and how they did a hard thing in their lives. It is a hard thing for the right reason, and that's its own reward.”

Amy Zhou gives a presentation for a research project in summer 2018 at Texas State University. (Contributed photo)

They will also have an opportunity to interact with leading scientists and display their projects to the public during a virtual event on March 14. Each finalist will receive at least $25,000,

while awards for the top 10 will range from $40,000$250,000. For a complete list of this year’s finalists, visit societyforscience.org/ regeneron-sts/2021-f inalists/.

ber, at 202.84 tons. Any load that is contaminated by more than 30 percent is enough to render the entire load a waste, he said.

“Now we’re faced with this, getting rid of recycling, because people have been putting it off and have been cavalier about it,” Rosenberg Mayor Will Benton said during the Jan. 26 meeting. “Let’s not take this too casually.”

Aguilar said Republic’s new proposal is to pick

up recycling and garbage with the same truck, adding, “When this comes up in 2022, we can address it again.”

The cost to Republic to transport the extra recycling to landfills is about $150 per ton, he said.

Rosenberg City Council member Marc Morales of District 4 said it was important to improve residents’ education about recycling and waste management and to continue emphasiz-

ing its bilingual outreach.

“We are different socioeconomically than Sugar Land,” Morales said. “We need to focus on those people who need to be aware that their trash will not be picked up, especially those with no lids.”

For questions about recycling or the survey, the city said residents can call Rosenberg Customer Service at 832-595-3400 or visit rosenbergtx.gov/recycling.

of Tuesday, Memorial Hermann’s registration site said all appointments had been filled.

The Smart Financial Centre COVID-19 testing site has been closed since Jan. 30, according to FBCHHS’s Facebook page.

According to the Week 6 vaccine allocation plan from the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS), the county received 5,850 vaccines, all of which are first doses.

Other facilities that received vaccine doses were a pair of Fort Bend Family Heath Center AccessHealth locations at 307 Texas Pkwy. Suite #100 in Missouri City and 10435 Greenbough Dr. Suite #300 in Stafford, receiving 100 doses each.

Jester IV, a psychiatric facility of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice at the Richmond prison at 4 Jester Rd. was allocated 200 doses.

FBCHHS had shut down its registration system last week because the county had enough residents who have signed up to use the

nearly 6,000 vaccines it received from the state’s previous distribution.

George said “as of now” the county was vaccinating 1,400 people per day.

As of Tuesday, the county had administered 4,647 vaccines, the same number the county had administered as of Jan. 27. During a Fort Bend County Commissioners Court meeting Jan. 26, Dr. Jacqueline Minter of FBCHHS said a portion of the vaccines provided were the Moderna vaccine, and “a larger portion” were of the Pfizer version. Both vaccines require two doses.

George said plans are underway to open vaccination sites in all four of the county’s precincts and the county expects to receive weekly shipments of additional vaccine doses Mark Flathouse, the county’s emergency management coordinator, said the county hopes to open additional sites within the next two weeks.

Minter did not speak at Tuesday’s news conference.

Rita Obey, the spokesperson for FBCHHS, said residents should take notes of changes to the registration process.

Previously, she said residents were told to expect a call to schedule a vaccination appointment. “(Applicants) will receive a message that will say in the coming weeks they will receive an email where you can schedule your appointment,” Obey said.

As of Tuesday, the county had also administered 123,605 COVID-19 tests.

Residents can schedule a testing appointment here.

There have been 442 deaths among county residents as a result of COVID-19 and 35,470 people have recovered from the disease caused by the coronavirus.

“We are doing everything possible to bring these vaccines as quickly as possible to our citizens,” George said.

“Please be patient.”

The county said residents can call its vaccination hotline at (832) 471-1373 for more information about COVID-19 or the vaccine.

THE STAR

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

Wednesday, February 3, 2021 • PAGE

7

Area museums partner for Black History Month exhibit

By Stefan Modrich SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

The Rosenberg Railroad Museum and The Black Cowboy Museum have partnered to showcase the “Pullman Porter Exhibit,” which opens Friday and runs through May 31.

The opening of the event coincides with February, which is observed in the U.S. as Black History Month.

Cecilia Abad, the curator for the Rosenberg Railroad Museum, said the exhibit chronicles the increasing participation of African Americans in the labor force due to the westward expansion of railroad tracks from the East Coast to places like Chicago and later to the Southwest and Western U.S., including Texas following the Civil War and the late 1800s.

“I think it’s a very important story that isn’t always told,” Abad said.

The Pullman Porters were unionized employees who attended to railroad passengers, serving a function similar to that of hotel maids or bellhops.

George Pullman, the American engineer and industrialist whose Pullman Company manufactured railroad cars, offered jobs to formerly enslaved African Americans at low wages.

Abad said Pullman’s “negative stereotypes” and “racist attitudes” had a lot do with the subpar treatment the Pullman Porters

Abad

received, though at the time, their situation had markedly improved from when they had been enslaved.

Many benefitted from the opportunity to work and earn a living, Abad said, boosted by the opportunity to get an education by attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). That led the push for the porters to unionize and become the first African-American workers to unionize.

“It did open the doors for the Black middle class to grow during the 20th Century,” Abad said. “So that was the upside of it.”

In addition, Abad said African-American intellectuals began to tell the middle- and working-class African Americans that they needed to demand they be treated with equality and to demand their rights were respected.

One of the downsides was the disruption of an innovative and uniquely Texan piece of American culture, known as the Black cowboys.

Larry Callies, founder of The Black Cowboy Museum, said white ranchers and cattle herders were known as “cowhands,” and African Americans were labeled “cowboys” by white people using what he said was intended to be a derogatory and demeaning term. Even the task of actually driving and steering the cattle to Kansas between the 1930s to the 1950s was considered to be beneath what a majority-white population considered to be “respectable people” at the time, Callies said, and so the task was left to African Americans The laying of railroad tracks from Kansas to Houston and Galveston was

The Rosenberg Railroad Museum, shown here, will host a Black History Month exhibit from Friday through May 31. (Photo from Facebook)

detrimental to the economic prospects of many Black cowboys.

According to Texas Almanac, a project of the Texas State Historical Association, a cattle drive would cover about 10-15 miles a day and the journey to western Kansas could take anywhere between 25 and 100 days.

In 1871, 700,000 cattle were driven to Kansas alone, according to Texas Almanac.

“A lot of cowboys lost their jobs because the railroads took their business,” Callies said, adding that instead of making the trip to Kansas, “the cowboys would just drive the cattle to the railroad tracks.”

Callies’ father and grand-

father and several of his uncles were both Black cowboys, and they regularly shepherded cattle from as far south as El Campo up to Houston, occasionally going up so far north that they closed in on the Canadian border.

He said it’s important for visitors to remember and honor the legacy of the Black cowboys, and that they paved the way to popularize the American notion of a cowboy in popular culture, when the term was reclaimed by white cowboys.

“You know how they say, ‘Black Lives Matter?’” Callies said. “Back in 1800, cowboys’ lives didn’t matter.

People never talked about Black cowboys, but they were the ones that started it.

They tried to erase it from history. What they did was very important, because people were starving. They didn’t want to just eat pigs.

They wanted beef.”

What to know if you go: Rosenberg Railroad Museum, 1921 Avenue F, Rosenberg Open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 1 p.m.-4 p.m.

Sunday Admission: $7.50 for adults, $6 for senior citizens (55+), military, first responders, $5 for children ages 2-14 and free for children under 2

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GARAGE SALE? Let the community know with an ad in the Star!

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281-690-4206

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THE STAR

PAGE 8 • Wednesday, February 3, 2021

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

Review: Sugar Land's Singapore Cafe is a hidden gem

By Stefan Modrich SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Highway 6 can feel like a brick-and-mortar maze of retail shops and indistinct chain restaurants at times.

Fortunately, there are a few places one can count on to transport you into a totally different environment, like the movies where a character pulls out a book from a stack of them on a shelf and reveals a passage into a secret room.

Singapore Cafe in Sugar Land is one such place. It’s difficult to pinpoint a dish as distinctly Singaporean.

But given Singapore’s history of colonization by the British Empire and invasion and occupation by Japan during World War II, along with its proximity to Thailand, India and other South Asian nations whose cuisines have caught on and become very popular in America, it’s easy to see some of the influences that have shaped Singapore Cafe.

The first place to start is with Roti Canai ($4.50), an Indian-influenced flatbread served with a curry that is reminiscent of a chicken broth for dipping. You get

two of them in one serving, and though they’re large enough to split one order with another person, I’d recommend getting your own order The mango is one of the staples of subtropical, humid climates across South Asia, and it is no different in neighboring Malaysia, from where the Mango Chicken dish I ordered ($12.95 as an entree, $7.95 as a lunch special) originates.

My theory from trying this dish, and other Asian dishes, developed back when I had the chance to review two local Vietnamese restaurants, and it is this: The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Whereas in many American dishes, the meat or protein is the clear centerpiece, I observed an interesting difference in the dynamic of my meal. The main textural difference was the buttery softness of the chicken, which was sliced into tiny pieces and deliberately meant to be a part of the fabric of strips of mangoes, green peppers and onions soaked in a sweet and sour sauce and white rice.

To wrap it all up, I was presented with a chocolate fortune cookie — a major

Pictured is the mango chicken from Singapore Cafe in Sugar Land during a recent visit. (Photo by Stefan Modrich)

game-changer that caught me off guard in the kindest and most satisfied way — when I walked up to the counter to pay the bill.

I must apologize to Forrest Gump, because Singapore Cafe is not unpredictable, like, say, a box of chocolate fortune cookies. In this

case, I do know what I’m going to get — a decent meal served by a courteous staff at a very reasonable price.

Singapore Cafe

Address: 3149 Highway 6,

COMMUNITY

Sugar Land Dining Options: Dine-in, takeout, delivery via Caviar, DoorDash, Grubhub, UberEats, Seamless Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Monday, Wednesday-Sunday (closed Tuesdays) Entrée prices: $10.75-

$14.95 Kid-friendly: Yes Senior discount: No Alcohol: No Healthy options: Vegetarian, gluten free options available Star of the show: Mango chicken

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

CALENDAR

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.

FEBRUARY 10 MERRY MINISTRIES BIBLE STUDY Merry Ministries Bible Study will be celebrating ValentineÕ s Day by looking at a beautiful love story from the book of Ruth in the Old Testament. Tosha CaSandra, will be the special musical guest. The lesson will be taught by Lauran Helms, coordinator for Merry Ministries. The event will be Wednesday, February 10, at 9:30 a.m. in the sanctuary of First United Methodist Church, 431 Eldridge Road, Sugar Land. There is no cost for the class. Masks and social distancing are part of our Covid-19 protocol for all attendees. If you cannot come in person, you can join us virtually as our lessons are broadcast on Merry Ministries YouTube Live and on Merry Ministries Facebook LIVE. For more information, go to merryministries.com FEBRUARY 11 FT. BEND/HARRIS RETIRED EDUCATORS ZOOM MEETING Ft. Bend/Harris Retired Educators next zoom meeting is Thursday morning, February 11th, at 10:00. Program: Eating Smart and Being Active presented by Krystal Wilcox with the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (TAMU and the Fort Bend Extension Service). We look forward to all our members

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joining us. Paid members will receive their zoom invitation a week prior to the meeting.

For further information email cmduvall@aol. com.

MARCH 5 MOVIES IN WESSENDORFF PARK Richmond is bringing back the monthly Free outdoor movies, beginning with National Treasure at Wessendorff Park, 500 Preston St. beginning March 5. The free outdoor film screening is organized by the city of Richmond and will be held in Wessendorff Park with plenty of room for distancing and kids to run. As in past years, Rotary Club of Richmond will supply free popcorn and the city will provide water. Families are encouraged to bring their own chairs and blankets.

ONGOING GIVE A GIFT OF HOPE Give a Gift of Hope one-time or monthly. Your help provides access to therapies and services children with autism might otherwise go without. Please consider Hope For Three in your Estate, Planned, or Year-End Giving.

Register now, or learn more about exciting events: www.hopeforthree.org/events VIRTUAL The Temple Experience featuring Dr. Temple Grandin Ð February 20, 2021 Tickets, spectacular sponsorships and creative underwriting opportunities available.

AMERICAN LEGION MEETINGS. Will be the fourth Tuesday of every month at the Raymond Freeman Post 0942, 311 Ulrich, 7:00 pm, Sugar Land, Texas.

LISA N SIMS, AGENT Monday - Friday 9 - 6 Saturday 10 - 2 After hours by appointment

11647 S Highway 6 Sugar Land, TX 77498 Toll Free: 281-201-2448 lisa@agentlisasims.com

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DVD-BASED ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS WITH NO HOMEWORK REQUIRED Weekly class designed to help you understand and appreciate the Bible by giving you a better sense of the land and culture from which it sprang. The class meets at 9:30 am every Sunday at First Presbyterian of Sugar Land (502 Eldridge Rd.). For more information call 281-240-3195 EXCHANGE EXCHANGE, AmericaÕ s Service Club, always welcomes guests and is in search of new members! Various Fort Bend clubs exist and can accommodate early morning (7 a.m.), noon and evening meeting time desires. For more info, contact Mike Reichek, Regional Vice President, 281-575-1145 or mike@reichekfinancial.com We would love to have you join us and see what we are all about!

MISSOURI CITY AARP CHAPTER 3801 Meets the second Monday of every month at 11:30 a.m., at 2701 Cypress Point Dr., Missouri City Rec Center. Lunch, education, and entertainment. All seniors over 50 invited. For more information, call 713-8595920 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.

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, email maw0500@gmail. com.

EXPERIENCE COUNTS! 35+ YEARS SERVING FORT BEND COUNTY 281-243-2344 281.243.2300

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Mike Schofield 281-217-5799

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