03-31-21 Edition of the Fort Bend Star

All Texas adults eligible for COVID-19 vaccine - Page 2

Pier 61 Asian Cajun at 12106 Murphy Rd. in Stafford provided a delectable collision of flavors during a recent visit. Read our review on Page 8. (Photo by Stefan Modrich)

WEDNESDAY • MARCH 31, 2021

Visit www.FortBendStar.com

Fort Bend / Southwest • Volume 45 • No. 32

Sugar Land switching water treatment chemicals

By Stefan Modrich SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

We Cook! You Eat! Now offering online ordering & Curbside pick-up!

9920 Hwy 90A Suite #D-120 Sugar Land, TX 77478 832-532-7816

The City of Sugar Land is temporarily changing the disinfectant it uses to treat its water, a process that is expected to run from April 5-May 5 and might change the taste and smell of the water.

The city said on its website it planned to convert the dis-

infectant from chloramine (a combination of chlorine and ammonia) to free chlorine “in order to improve the long-term quality” of its drinking water. The city said it generally uses chloramines because they produce lower levels of disinfectant byproducts, but prolonged use of chloramines can result in the growth and persistence of microorganisms within the pipes of the distribution

system.

“Though harmless when consumed by humans, this organic matter can introduce unwanted taste and odor, and hinder the ability to maintain an adequate disinfectant residual,” the city said on its website. “A temporary conversion to free chlorine, partnered with flushing activities, clears distribution pipes of this organic matter and improves

the quality of your water overall.”

Brian Butscher, the deputy director of Public Works, said in a news release the water will be safe for people and animals to drink, for cooking and bathing, watering their gardens and for all other common uses.

A map provided by the

SEE TREATMENT PAGE 7

Butscher

Young at Heart FBISD board candidates set

for virtual forum

By Stefan Modrich SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Candidates for two seats on the Fort Bend ISD Board of Trustees will discuss themselves and the issues facing the school district in an upcoming forum hosted by the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce.

The virtual forum, featuring the candidates for Positions 2 and 6, will be held at 5:30 p.m. next Wednesday, April 7.

It can be viewed at https://tinyurl.com/2021 FBISwDCandidatesForum.

Early voting is scheduled for April 19-27. Election Day is May 1.

The candidates for Position 2 are Ashish Agrawal, Rehan Ahmed, Judy Dae and Nadeem Naik. Incumbent Grayle James announced her intent to retire and not to run for reelection on Jan. 4.

The candidates for Position 6 include incumbent Addie Heyliger, who serves as board president, and challengers Stephanie Brown, Allison Drew, Rafat Ulain Jilani, Kristen Davison Malone and Edtrina Moss.

Heyliger, a certified technology professional, earned her undergraduate degree in computer science from North Carolina A&T State University and a master’s in business administration from Texas Woman’s University. She succeeded Jason Burdine as board president following Burdine’s loss to Angie Hanah in the November election.

Brown was a member of the FBISD Board Leadership Academy Class of 2019.

Cookie Joe Arthur reacts after completing one of her 100-plus cartwheels for charity Saturday at Cookie Joe's Dancin' School in Sugar Land. Proceeds from the event will go to the Exchange Club of Sugar Land to help with their mission and service projects. (Photo by Stefan Modrich)

Local dance instructor completes cartwheel challenge for charity

By Stefan Modrich SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Cookie Joe Arthur was born to dance.

The Houston native, Sugar Land resident and founder of Cookie Joe’s Dancin’ School started training at age 2 and became a professional dancer at 9.

Even now, at 67 and after grueling rehab and two hip replacements, Arthur may still be in her top form.

With an enthusiastic group of her students

Breaux

cheering her on last Saturday at her Sugar Land studio as others watched while the event was

streamed on Facebook Live, she completed her goal of 100 cartwheels, plus a couple extra to the

her efforts to give back to the community.

The beneficiaries of the ongoing fundraiser are Child Advocates of Fort Bend (CAFB), Texana Center, Hope for Three and Star of Hope Mission.

Paul Barnett, president of the Exchange Club of Sugar Land, said the club has had more than 60 service projects since July, greater than what the group accomplished last year. He said he thought the virtual fundraiser was a

SEE CARTWHEEL PAGE 7

Fort Bend Exchange Club honors child abuse victims

By Stefan Modrich SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

SEE FORUM PAGE 7

Young onlookers cheer on Cookie Joe Arthur. (Photo by Stefan Modrich)

delight of those in attendance. Arthur did all those cartwheels in exchange for pledges to donate to charitable causes.

“I am very blessed that I can do cartwheels,” Arthur said. “For about 10 years, I was not able to.”

Arthur said her goal was to raise $10,000 with the virtual event, which had been planned on a much larger scale prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

She said her involvement with the Exchange Club of Sugar Land, which cohosted the event, has been a source of inspiration for

The Fort Bend Exchange Club (FBEC) honored the thousands of child abuse victims who have been served by Child Advocates of Fort Bend through the dedication of its “awareness field” Monday in Stafford.

The dedication took place at a median near the intersection of Highway 90 and Present Street, at the border of Stafford and

Missouri City, in advance of Child Abuse Prevention Awareness month, which is observed in April.

FBEC members drove 2,274 white wooden stakes clad with blue ribbons into the grass, each to symbolize a child who received services from Child Advocates of Fort Bend (CAFB) in 2020.

The figure was an increase from 2019, when

SEE HONORS PAGE 7

The Fort Bend Exchange Club's "awareness" field was dedicated Monday to honor the child abuse victims served by Child Advocates of Fort Bend. (Photo by Stefan Modrich)

JERRY FLOWERS

Real Estate Agent, MBA, CNE, ABE Army Veteran (RET) • 832-702-5241 Jerry@dreamhomesbyjerry.com

4500 Highway 6, Sugar Land, TX 77478

THE STAR

PAGE 2 • Wednesday, March 31, 2021

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

All Texas adults eligible for COVID-19 vaccine

By Stefan Modrich SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

All adults are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in Texas, according to a news release from the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS).

Fort Bend County residents can register for a vaccine at fbchealth.org or call (281) 633-7795. Adults 65 and older do not have to wait in line at indoor locations, according to Fort Bend County Health and Human Services (FBCHHS).

“The recent news that the DSHS has authorized all adults in Texas to receive any available vaccine is a game-changer that will A volunteer assists a community member during a drive-through COVID-19 vaccination help elevate the progress event hosted by Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital earlier this month at Smart being made in our county Financial Centre in Sugar Land. (Photo by Stefan Modrich) toward defeating the coronavirus," Fort Bend County statement. "We are close tered by Fort Bend County. numbers climb higher."

Judge KP George said in a to 210,000 doses adminis- I am excited to see these TDSHS officials said they expect vaccine supplies to increase this week.

Last week's decision came more than a week after the state moved into Phase 1C “Vlada Matytsin has been practicing dentistry for 30 years and has been dealing with of its vaccination rollout back problems for 25 years. ‘I don’t know if Dentistry is to plan, opening up vaccinablame but it definitely doesn’t help. I have been in car tion clinics to people age accidents and I used to ski on the mountains in 50 and older. Healthcare Russia. My neck has a herniated disc (C7) and workers, first respond-

DENTIST CHRONIC BACK PAIN RELIEVED!

it made a really creepy sound when I moved it. As a member of Sugar Land Rotary Club I became acquainted with Dr. Harris. I knew he treated people with chronic pain so I decided to give him a try. He did full spine x-rays and created a customized treatment plan for me.

The treatment plan involved lots of different therapies such as; impulse adjusting, spinal disc decompression, electrical therapy and hot laser therapy. I also saw Dr. Brazzell for pressure wave therapy. The treatment gave me relief, strength and increased the space back in my herniated disc by 18%. My muscles can finally relax and I can continue working with zero pain! I make sure to see them once a month for maintenance so I can stay pain free. I highly recommend them!

Drs. Harris and Brazzell are good Christian men who want to help people.’” - Vlada Matytsin

ers, school employees and people with preexisting medical conditions are among those who already were eligible to receive the vaccine.

“We are closing in on 10 million doses administered in Texas, and we want to keep up the momentum as the vaccine supply increases,” Imelda Garcia, TDSHS associate commissioner for laboratory and infectious disease services and the chair of the Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel, said in a news release. “As eligibility opens up, we are asking providers to continue to prioritize people who are the most at risk of severe disease, hospitalization and death – such as older adults.”

TDSHS is still prioritizing the elderly in its vaccination plan, directing vaccine providers to first accommodate people 80 years old or older when scheduling appointments and immediately moving them to the front of the line even if they show up without an appointment.

TDSHS also said it plans to launch a website to allow people to register for a shot through some public

health providers, and the public can use it to enroll in the Texas Public Health Vaccine Scheduler to identify upcoming vaccine clinics hosted by TDSHS or a participating local health department and to be notified when new clinics and appointments become available.

People can continue to find additional providers though the TDSHS Vaccine Information page at dshs. texas.gov/covidvaccine.

For those who do not have the option to register online, TDSHS will launch a toll-free number to provide assistance making an appointment with a participating provider or to aid in locating another provider that has the vaccine available.

As of Monday, Fort Bend County had administered 92,742 vaccines at its clinics, according to the county’s vaccine hub.

In Texas, 10.6 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered. More than 7 million of those people have received at least one dose and 3.7 million have fully vaccinated, according to TDSHS data.

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Wednesday, March 31, 2021 • PAGE

3

Are the kids alright? Let's be better about asking One thing I’ve observed that has never sat right with me is that decisions deemed to be made in the best interests of children are often made without actually consulting the children who are affected by the outcomes of the choices made by decision makers.

Perhaps it was this natural skepticism of authority I had from a young age that drove me to become a reporter. Then, with age and a modest helping of wisdom, you learn why your parents didn’t let you own any video games or watch television during the summer, and for better or worse, you get to a point where you’ve reached a fundamental understanding of how the world works. The distance between how the world works and how it should

Stefan Modrich

work and the diverging paths we all take to get there is the essence of democracy and a healthy civic culture.

We indeed have a crisis in Fort Bend County, and the rising number of children who have reported as child abuse victims from 2019 to 2020 is something that should concern all of us.

Over the course of several months of reporting on stories of incidents of child abuse, human trafficking and homelessness,

I keep coming back to the moment when I turned on my TV one night and found myself in the thick of the “West Side Story” musical. The songs written by Leonard Bernstein are eerily prescient and definitely not politically correct. But they are not relics of a bygone era, and may have quite a lot to say about our current predicament.

The one I was haunted by in particular was the track “Gee, Officer Krupke,” in which the boys candidly discuss being “psychologically disturbed” as well as their exposure to drugs and domestic violence in a cry for help to a police officer who has little interest in hearing their story beyond waiting for them to finish and asking them to go elsewhere.

We’ve come a long way

since the 1960s, and yet, with so many of the issues of the past remaining a constant in our rapidly changing world and community in 2021, we have so much further still to go.

Thankfully groups like Child Advocates of Fort Bend, the Rainbow Room, Texana Center, Hope for Three and the Fort Bend Exchange Club and Exchange Club of Sugar Land are collaborating with local officials to try to make a difference.

I was grateful for the opportunity to meet Cookie Joe Arthur of Cookie Joe’s Dancin’ School and her feat of finishing 100 cartwheels in support of several nonprofit orga-

nizations in Fort Bend County.

And then, I did something novel. I asked some of Cookie Joe’s students who were at the event what it meant to them to be a part of the dancing school and the example she set with her fundraiser.

AJ Routhier, a sixthgrader, said he’s been in Cookie Joe’s Dancin’ School for eight years “My favorite thing about the school is the dancing and the community, the at-home feel,” Routhier said.

Alex Carlo, a fifth-grader, said she was in her fifth year with the school.

Echoing a theme from last week’s column, em-

powering young men and women like this is crucial.

After all, who would know better what children are experiencing than other children?

“Not only did we dance, but we helped organizations that will need more money during this time,” Carlo said. “People need help, and there’s a lot of bad things in the world, and we’re just trying to fix them.”

Carlo is right, and so is her young-at-heart dance instructor. There are too many children in Fort Bend County who need help and support, and perhaps we should start by listening to them and asking what we can do better.

George Ranch Park hosting Easter egg hunt

By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Fort Bend County residents looking for a family-friendly Easter activity can take part in an annual egg hunt at George Ranch Historical Park this weekend.

The park will host its annual Easter egg hunt on Saturday at 10215 FM 762 in Richmond. Children 3 years of age and younger will begin at 10:30 a.m., while kids ages 4-12 will begin their hunt at 12:30 p.m., according to a news release from the park.

Residents can purchase

E E E E

general admission tickets in advance at georgeranch.org or by calling 281-343-0218.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and $10 for children ages 4-12. The

event is free for children 3 and younger.

Participants are encouraged to bring a blanket and lunch to picnic in the park after the Easter egg hunt.

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E E E E

JUDY FAY CLIPSON REESE AUGUST 9, 1942

Judy Fay Clipson Reese, 78, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 26, 2021.

Judy was born into a rice farming family in Eagle Lake, Texas on August 9, 1942. After graduation from Eagle Lake High School in 1960, she went on to earn her Library Science degree from Sam Houston State Teachers College. She was an amazing librarian and used her skills in the elementary, middle school, high school and public libraries. Twenty-six of those years were spent at Lantern Lane Elementary School, where she read to, directed and guided over 15,000 young students with her passion for reading.

She was also passionate about her family. She loved her husband of 56 years, Ted Reese, dearly. They were high school sweethearts and constant companions. Her enthusiasm and love for family were evident to all who knew her. She never missed

E

MARCH 26, 2021

an event that her husband, children and grandchildren were involved in, and she was their ultimate cheerleader.

Judy also loved to travel, Ted always by her side. Her family had many fun adventures together where wonderful memories and pictures were made.

Judy was an amazing cook and hostess. Being surrounded by family and friends brought her so much pleasure. For 15 years, she was an avid member of her neighborhood bunco group, and enjoyed her time with the ladies of Chriesman Way. She had a deep faith in Christ, and was very

involved in her church. She loved Jesus and strived to live a life honoring Him. Throughout her life she modeled how to be kind, encouraging and resourceful.

She leaves a straong legacy that lives on in the lives she touched.

Judy is survived by her husband of 56 years, Ted Reese, of Missouri City; daughter and son-in-law, Denise and Chris Clark of Cypress; son and daughter-in-law, Wes and Eileen Reese of Hoboken, New Jersey; granddaughters Sarah Clark, Alissa Clark and Isla Reese; sister, Dianne Causey of Eagle Lake and numerous extended family members.

Funeral services will be held at The Settergast-Kopf Funeral Home in Sugar Land, Texas on Wednesday, March 31, 2021.

Visitation is from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM and the service is from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Burial will follow at Lakeside Cemetery in Eagle Lake. All are welcome.

Worship Directory FORT BEND COUNT Y

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

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

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FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH • 281-240-3195

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

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Scripture of the week

“Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, spouting malicious accusations.”

- Psalm 27:12

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THE STAR

PAGE 4 • Wednesday, March 31, 2021

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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, April 8, 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

CITY OF MISSOURI CITY Purchasing Division/Public Works 1522 Texas Parkway Missouri City, Texas 77489 (281) 403-8970 Jonathan.harris@missouricitytx.gov LEGAL NOTICE THIS IS A MANDATED PUBLICATION OF THE LEGAL NOTICE

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AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SUGAR LAND, TEXAS AMENDING ORDINANCE 2207 WHICH IMPLEMENTED CERTAIN EMERGENCY POWERS UNDER A DECLARED STATE OF DISASTER BY EXTENDING THE SUSPENSION OF CERTAIN ORDINANCES RELATED TO TEMPORARY OUTDOOR DINING AREAS AT RESTAURANTS. Said ordinance is available in the Office of City Secretary, City of Sugar Land, 2700 Town Center Boulevard North, Suite 122, Sugar Land, Texas, (281) 275-2730, and may be examined between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

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NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 2207 WHICH IMPLEMENTED CERTAIN EMERGENCY POWERS UNDER A DECLARED STATE OF DISASTER BY EXTENDING THE SUSPENSION OF CERTAIN ORDINANCES RELATED TO TEMPORARY OUTDOOR DINING AREAS AT RESTAURANTS. The City of Sugar Land City Council on March 16, 2021 adopted on first consideration City of Sugar Land Ordinance No. 2227:

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PRINCIPAL IT DEVELOPER – Global Solutions Delivery (GSD) for ChampionX USA, at its facility in Sugar Land, TX. Provides IT solutions to business partners and clients around the world, focusing on Enterprise Application Integration (EAI) architecture, design and development of ChampionX A2A (application to application) and B2B (business to business) integrations. Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Management Information Systems or Mathematics and ten (10) years of post-bachelor’s progressive experience in all of the following: technical design and application development; formal development methodology. The experience must include at least 3 years with the following technologies and tools: Hands on work using the Seeburger BIS platforms including production support, development and roll out; Prior experience with integration platforms merger/consolidation and carveout; Integration architecture, design, and development of SAP and non-SAP interfaces, SAP ABAP development including debug of code to address issues; Using SOA designs and implementations, Production support and issues resolution; Creating technical specification design documents, and Interface design & configuration objects and deliverables review, working with different EDI standards X12, EDIFACT. Expertise in SAP XI/PI adapters IDOC, RFC, JDBC, SOAP, File, HTTP, FTP, MAIL and PROXY; Experience in Seeburger Process Designer, BICMD, Frontend and Message Tracking Portal; Experience in B2B implementation and support projects; SAP ALE/ IDOC configuration including Partner profiles setup, IDOC monitoring and issue resolution; Experience with SQL database queries and data analysis; Scrum/Agile methodology; Experience with job scheduling tools similar to UC4 or any other similar scheduling applications. 25% Travel Required. Apply at https://www.championx.com/ careers/, Req. R00113172. Must have legal authority to work in the US. EOE.

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CITY OF MISSOURI CITY Purchasing Division/Public Works 1522 Texas Parkway Missouri City, Texas 77489 (281) 403-8970 Jonathan.harris@missouricitytx.gov LEGAL NOTICE THIS IS A MANDATED PUBLICATION OF THE LEGAL NOTICE ******* RFQ 21-316 Mobility Master Plan and ITS Master Plan Due April 16 @ 2:00 PM CST******* 21-316 RFQ for Mobility Master Plan and ITS Master Plan Commodity Code: 925-17, 925-38, 925-93, 961-41 Responses must be sealed, marked on the outside of the delivery envelope with the RFQ name and number as listed above, and the date of opening. Responses must be delivered to the attention of: City of Missouri City Attn: Purchasing Office/Public Works –RFQ No. 21-316 Mobility Master Plan and ITS Master Plan 1522 Texas Parkway Missouri City, Texas 77489 Prior to the acceptance deadline. Responses marked improperly and therefore misdirected may be disqualified. Until final award of the contract, the City reserves the right to reject any or all responses, to waive irregularities or technicalities, to re-advertise, or proceed to do the work otherwise when in the best interests of the City. No bid may be withdrawn during the 60 days following the bid opening date.

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Wednesday, March 31, 2021 • PAGE

5

@FtBendAthletics:

Local basketball players earn all-state honors

By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Following standout years on the basketball court, several of the area’s top high school players have earned a spot on one of the state’s most prestigious lists.

Nya Threatt of the Dulles Lady Vikings (Class 6A), the Hightower Hurricanes’ Bryce Griggs (5A) and Z’Corrian Haynes of Stafford (4A) were recently named to the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches’ All-State teams in their respective classifications.

Threatt is coming off a season in which she led District 20-6A in scoring with 19.7 points per game along with 4.4 rebounds and 5.0 steals for the Lady Vikings, leading them to a 24-1 record and the program’s first regional semifinal playoff appearance since 2009. She was also a first-team alldistrict selection as well as the 20-6A Most Valuable Player.

Griggs continued his ascension on the Greater Houston scene with his third straight selection to the 5A boys all-state team.

He averaged 22.6 points and 5.0 assists per game for the Hurricanes, who won their first outright district championship in more than a decade before falling in the area round of the playoffs.

It was the latest accolade for Griggs, who is also a finalist for the 2021 Guy V. Lewis award – given annually to the Greater Houston

The Travis Lady Tigers softball team poses for a photo in the dugout. They won two district games last week. (Photo from Travis Softball Twitter)

Kowalewski powers Lady Tigers to district victories

By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Stafford's Z'Corrian Haynes (at right in top photo), Dulles' Nya Threatt (bottom left) and Hightower's Bryce Griggs were recently named to the TABC All-State teams in their respective classifications. (Photos by Landan Kuhlmann)

boys basketball player of the year – for a second straight season.

Haynes was a key piece of a Stafford team that went

19-6 last season. The Spartans won the District 25-4A title and reached the Region IV-4A semifinals before falling to Somerset.

Skeeters introduce coaching staff for 2021

By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

The Sugar Land Skeeters’ coaching staff for their first season as a Houston Astros affiliate was announced Monday by the organization.

Managing the Skeeters this year will be Mickey Storey, who had managed the Astros’ previous Triple-A affiliate, the Round Rock Express, for the last two seasons. Joining him in Sugar Land will be pitching coach Erick Abreu, hitting coach Ben Rosenthal, development coach Sean Connole, strength coach Hazael Wessin and athletic trainers John Gregorich and A.J. Smith.

Storey, 35, is a former pitcher who appeared in

a total of 26 MLB games over two seasons with the Astros and Toronto Blue Jays. He has been with the Astros’ organization in various coaching roles since 2016, according to a news release from the Skeeters. Former Astros players Gary Gaetti and Pete Incaviglia managed the Skeeters during their time as an independent minor league franchise from 2012-21, with Incaviglia having served in that role since 2018.

Abreu is set to begin his first season as the pitching coach for the Astros’ Triple-A affiliate.

He previously worked as a pitching coach for Class A Quad Cities (2019-20), Short-Season Tri-City (2018), Rookie League Greeneville (2017), the GCL Astros (2016) and the DSL Astros (2014-15).

Connole is in his second season with the Astros organization and his first as the development coach for their Triple-A affiliate, while Gregorich is entering his eighth season with the Astros and his third with the team’s TripleA club. Wessin is in his seventh season with the Astros and second as the Triple-A strength coach, while Smith is in his first season with the organization’s highest affiliate.

The Travis Lady Tigers have had a strong start to the district softball season, and one of their lynchpins was on fire last week to make sure they continued their winning streak.

Ariel Kowalewski tallied nine hits in two games last week for the Lady Tigers.

She had a season-high five hits and nine RBIs in the Travis’ 19-1 win over Elkins on March 23, hitting for the cycle and slugging her second grand slam of the season. Kowalewski followed that up with four hits and five RBIs in the Lady Tigers’ 13-3 win over Ridge Point on March 26.

Kennedy Clark also had a strong game against Elkins with three hits and four RBIs, while pitcher Rachel Ybarra struck out seven batters over six innings.

The Lady Tigers (6-1, 6-1 district) were slated to play Austin at 6 p.m. Tuesday and looked to extend their four-game winning streak.

Madison Leviton homered for Elkins in the loss against Travis.

Lauren Hatch hit a double and triple for Kempner in a 7-3 win over Hightower on March 23 – her sixth multi-hit effort of the season – while Gabriella Gonzalez struck out six hitters in a complete game. Kirsten Williams also had a seasonhigh five hits for the Lady Cougars in a 22-2 win over Willowridge on March 26.

Alexa Semeyn, Jade Uresti, Malyn Simmons, and Nohea Anderson all had four combined hits for Ridge Point in wins over Alvin (109) and Clear Creek (9-8) on March 25, while Simmons added six combined RBIs in the two contests.

Angela Leal struck out 10 hitters for Austin in a 53 win over Dulles on March 23.

Baseball Ridge Point defeated Dulles 10-0 on March 23 and George Ranch 2-1 on March 26. Brandon Nelson and Zach Ellis each had

A Kempner softball player warms up. (Photo from Kempner Softball Twitter)

RBIs for the Panthers (15-5, 4-0), who were scheduled for a Tuesday night battle against Elkins.

Austin went undefeated last week, in large part due to the performance of Harrison Golden. Golden had four hits in the Bulldogs’ 166 win over Bush on March 26, then followed it up with four RBIs in a 13-3 win over Katy Seven Lakes on March 27.

Joseph Binder was strong for the Elkins Knights, who beat Clements 4-3 on March 23 and Dulles 5-2 on March 26 to improve to 10-5-1 overall and 4-0 in district play. Binder had two hits including a homer against Clements, then smacked a double and a triple against Dulles. Jaydn Whitsitt went 4 for 4 with two RBIs against Dulles.

Kaleb Roberts had two hits and two RBIs for the Stafford Spartans in their 10-9 loss against Bay City on March 27, while Leo Ibarra also drove in two runs.

Anthony Marino had four RBIs for the Kempner Cougars in a 21-1 victory over Rosenberg Terry on March 26.

Pedro Medina and Andrew Medina each had two RBIs for the Bush Broncos in a March 26 loss to Austin, while Nathan Bravo and Steven Olvera had two hits apiece for Willowridge in a loss to Lamar Consolidated on March 26.

Last Week’s Scores BASEBALL March 23 District 20-6A Ridge Point 10, Dulles 0 Elkins 4, Clements 3

Travis 12, Bush 2 Austin 7, George Ranch 2 District 24-5A Fulshear 9, Kempner 3 Lamar Consolidated 9, Hightower 3 Angleton 15, Willowridge 0 March 26 District 20-6A Elkins 5, Dulles 2 Travis 13, Clements 1 Ridge Point 2, George Ranch 1 Austin 16, Bush 6 District 24-5A Kempner 21, Rosenberg Terry 1 Richmond Foster 15, Marshall 0 Lamar Consolidated 14, Willowridge 3 Fulshear 12, Hightower 1 District 25-4A Bay City 10, Stafford 9 March 27 District 24-5A Rosenberg Terry 6, Kempner 5 Fulshear 14, Hightower 2 Lamar Consolidated 16, Willowridge 0 Richmond Foster 11, Marshall 0 SOFTBALL March 23 District 20-6A Ridge Point 19, Bush 0 Travis 19, Elkins 1 Austin 5, Dulles 2 District 24-5A Kempner 7, Hightower 3 Angleton 15, Marshall 0 March 25 District 20-6A Travis 19, Elkins 1 Non-district Ridge Point 10, Alvin 9 Ridge Point 9, Clear Creek 8 Pearland Dawson 8, Elkins 0 March 26 District 20-6A Travis 13, Ridge Point 3 Austin 4, Elkins 3 District 24-5A Kempner 22, Willowridge 2 District 25-4A Columbia 17, Stafford 0 March 27 District 24-5A Hightower 18, Willowridge 7 Angleton 17, Kempner 1 Non-district Pearland 19, Elkins 1

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EMAIL YOUR NEWS OR PRESS RELEASE TO EDITOR@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

THE STAR

PAGE 6 • Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Lady Panthers on prowl for first state appearance

A Helping Hand from

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By Landan Kuhlmann

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LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

What to Do About Panic Attacks

Panic attacks are sudden periods of extreme fear that lead to severe reactions in the body when there is no true danger or harm. It may appear that the person is losing control or even having a heart attack. Panic attacks always occur “out of the blue” and may have some or all of the following symptoms: feelings of impending danger, fast heart beat, sweating, fast breathing, chills, hot flashes, nausea, headache, stomach cramps, a fainting feeling, and trouble swallowing.

Counseling is the preferred method of management.

There are a few medications that may help manage symptoms. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRIs) are classes of antidepressants that are FDA approved to help treat panic disorders. SSRIs include fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft). Venlafaxine hydrochloride (Effexor XR) are SNRIs that are FDA-approved to help treat panic disorders.

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Evelyn Torres has spent a decade molding the Ridge Point High School girls soccer team into a perennial playoff contender in the Houston region, earning a playoff berth every season she’s been at the helm.

One thing that has always eluded her squads, however, is an appearance in the UIL state tournament. And after COVID-19 deprived the Lady Panthers of a shot at making that leap last season, this season has been all about unfinished business.

“We felt like we were shortchanged last year because of COVID-19. We just never got to return (to the field),” Torres said Monday. “We’ve called it the ‘unfinished’ season this year, and we’re focused on finishing it.”

The Lady Panthers (21-1) opened the Class 6A playoffs March 25 with a 3-0 win against Katy Cinco Ranch.

They were scheduled to square off against the Cy-Fair Bobcats in the second round at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

The ultimate goal for the Lady Panthers is a state championship, and heading into Tuesday’s playoff, they needed six more wins to attain it. Four wins would provide a state-tournament berth for Ridge Point, which is fourth in the nation in the latest USA Today/United Soccer Coaches rankings for girls teams that are in season.

“They’ve continued the fight and continued the tradition of picking up where we left off,” Torres said. “It’s encouraging as a coach that they’re motivated to work whether we’d been able to achieve them or were shortchanged.”

Under Torres’ guidance, the Lady Panthers have made

Ridge Point's Reagan Main takes a corner kick during a District 20-6A match against Elkins on March 6. (Photo by Bob Calbert)

it at least to the area round in each of their previous eight postseasons. They have made to at least the regional quarterfinals on six occasions and were in the Region III-5A final in 2015.

Ridge Point has been the class of its district in nearly every season under Torres, winning the last three District 20-6A championships and taking six district titles in the last seven seasons across all classifications. The Lady Panthers have not lost a district tilt since Feb. 12, 2018 – giving them a 33-match district winning streak.

But they’re hungry for more.

“We all want the same thing and we’ve all put our mind to it,” senior forward Cameryn Parsons said.

It hasn’t been all smooth sailing this season, however.

After an 8-0 win over Austin on Feb. 19 to improve to 15-0, the Lady Panthers were quarantined for two weeks under COVID-19 protocols. Torres said there were also some in-

dividual players who missed time during the season as a result of the coronavirus.

But it hasn’t seemed to faze them. Ridge Point had won six of seven games since its brief hiatus entering Tuesday, outscoring opponents 36-2 in the process and pitching six shutouts.

“It really shows our bond as a team to stay together and how much we care,” senior Reagan Main said.

Those such as Main, Chayse Corfman, goalkeeper C.J. Hellinger and leading scorer Haven Terry are part of a 12-member senior class on this year’s squad, which Torres said she has leaned on heavily to utilize their experience and pass it on to the underclassmen.

“Up until (last) Thursday’s match, many of our freshman and sophomore class had not been in any sort of playoff situation,” she said. “So we’re looking heavy to our senior class, and I definitely relied on them a lot for their leadership.”

She also called senior Kai-

ley Barger the “team mom” of the group. “(Kailey) always brings the spirit,” she said.

Players said those bonds have paid off and are a huge part in the team’s success on the field. Seniors such as Main and Corfman are fouryear players for Torres, and many of them have played together both at Ridge Point and youth leagues.

Main said her younger sister Zoey – a sophomore and the Lady Panthers’ secondleading scorer during the regular season – has been around the team for years and also plays club soccer with several of her Ridge Point teammates.

“There’s so many connections that we’re all bonded in so many different ways – so we’re able to have fun with each other in the locker room and on the bus,” Main said.

“Then when we get on the field, there’s this joint focus that we have (because of it).”

Mix that combination together, and so far it’s been the recipe for a nearly perfect season. Ridge Point’s only loss this year was a 2-1 defeat against Kingwood in a pre-playoff practice game on March 23.

“Something I harp on my girls about all the time is not making excuses. We have to take a hold of the cards that we’re dealt and deal with those challenges as they come along,” Torres said. “It’s about not making excuses for what we’ve had to take on this year.”

As the Lady Panthers trudge on in hopes of winning that first state title, it’s full speed ahead. And they certainly are not lacking in self-confidence.

“I think we’re all pretty aware that we’re a good team and that we can (make it to state),” Parsons said. “It’s definitely possible for us.”

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Cookie Joe Arthur, 67, celebrates after completing her goal of 100 cartwheels during the "Cartwheelathon" for charity that she hosted Saturday at Cookie Joe's Dancin' School in Sugar Land. (Photo by Stefan Modrich)

Wednesday, March 31, 2021 • PAGE

7

SUGAR LAND WATER TREATMENT

★ CARTWHEEL FROM PAGE 1 “neat idea” to give back to organizations that have been trying to stay afloat amid the pandemic.

“I know Cookie’s tough, she’s in good shape,” Barnett said. “But she’s 67 years old.”

CAFB CEO Ruthanne Medford said the proceeds of the event would directly support her Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program and Children's Advocacy Center (CAC).

“This is a great opportunity for Child Advocates of Fort Bend to receive support from Cookie Joe,” Medford said.

“She, of course, has a huge passion for children.”

CASA works within the foster care system to recruit, train and deploy community volunteers, with the goal of providing a guardian who can give them a voice in court.

CAC deals with children’s emotional trauma caused by sexual and physical abuse and seeks to help children heal through therapy and other mental health services.

Kate Johnson-Patagoc is the director of specialized services at Texana Center in Sugar Land, which provides aid for

★ HONORS FROM PAGE 1 2,168 Fort Bend County children were recorded as victims of abuse.

Kelli Metzenthin, president of FBEC, said the goal of Houston-area exchange clubs is to “create more and more awareness so that parents and adults can be aware of the issue and know that most children don’t report (abuse).”

★ FORUM FROM PAGE 1 Drew previously served on the school board and lost her Position 5 seat to Denetta Williams in the November election.

Jilani is a licensed specialist in school psychology at Specialized Assessment & Consulting, a Houston-

children with behavioral health issues and intellectual and developmental disabilities, including those who are on the Autism spectrum.

She said Texana’s Children’s Center for Autism is the area of specialization that the organization stands to benefit from the most when it comes to Arthur’s fundraising initiative.

“I think that was the thing that spoke to Cookie Joe,” Johnson-Patagoc said.

While the pandemic has led to strict safety protocols and limited capacity, Arthur said she’s been impressed with the dedication of the students and families who have continued to support her business.

“I think it’s because of our commitment to the community,” Arthur said.

“We are building children’s character and self-esteem as well as their ability to dance.”

Though the cartwheel challenge is complete, the fundraiser continues. Arthur said she hopes residents will “share their blessings.”

Donations can be made by texting “cartwheel” to 41444 or visiting cookiecartwheel.org.

The map above depicts the area to be affected by Sugar Land's temporary conversion from chloramines to free chlorine to treat its water. (Photo from City of Sugar Land website)

city of affected areas nearly covered the entire city limits, starting just west of Dulles Avenue and stretching as far as Highway 6 and Voss Road.

Residents as far north as Bellfort Boulevard and as far south as University Boulevard also will likely be affected.

Riverpark, Greatwood and New Territory are not included in the notice and will not have their water converted because they have independent water systems and already use free chlorine.

Sugar Land switched from free chlorine to chloramine in its main water system when it began treating surface water in 2013, the city said in a news release. The city plans to switch back to chloramines after May 5

“Some residents may notice taste and odor changes and a slight discoloration to the water, primarily during the transition period,” Butscher said. “However, noticeable water quality changes associated with conversions are normally short-lived and are not public health risks.”

People and businesses that normally take special precautions to remove chloramines from tap water, such as dialysis centers, medical facilities and aquatic pet owners, should confirm whether pretreatment adjustments to their water are necessary during the temporary switch from chloramines to free chlorine.

An email to city spokesperson Doug Adolph asking for further details — including when residents should expect to notice a change to the taste

and smell of their water and why the independent Riverpark, Greatwood, and New Territory systems have opted to use free chlorine already — was not answered by press time.

The city said it would “implement directional flushing combined with routine water quality monitoring to maintain the highest water quality for customers during the conversion.”

According to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), free chlorine conversion is a common practice.

A list of frequently asked questions and answers pertaining to the city’s water treatment is available at http://www.sugarlandtx.gov/ Faq.aspx?QID=1256.

★ TREATMENT FROM PAGE 1

Metzenthin added the school closings that occurred as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic made reporting abuse cases more difficult because teachers and counselors are usually the first to alert parents that their child may be showing physical or psychological signs of abuse.

Metzenthin said the organization partners with local law enforcement and Fort Bend County District

Attorney Brian Middleton’s office in an effort to prevent child abuse.

Middleton, Stafford Mayor Cecil Willis and Missouri City Mayor Robin Elackatt were among those present for the ceremony.

FBEC also fundraises for CAFB, the Fort Bend Rainbow Room in Rosenberg and Parks Youth Ranch in Richmond to find shelter and aid for children who have been subject to abuse,

neglect or related trauma.

The Rainbow Room, Metzenthin said, is a crucial component of the supply chain for nonprofit organizations battling child abuse, accepting donations of food, clothing, toys and other essential items for minors who have been placed in the care of Child Protective Services, CAFB or a youth shelter.

“Sometimes CPS will pick up children in the mid-

dle of the night and they’ll literally have nothing with them,” Metzenthin said.

“Whether it’s a change of underwear, a clean pair of socks, a pillow — or if it’s a baby, diapers or formula.”

Fort Bend residents looking to help alleviate those who have suffered from child abuse can volunteer to become a court-appointed advocate through CAFB, or volunteer through Parks Youth Ranch, as well as

donating money, food or other supplies.

Metzenthin also encouraged county residents to get involved in service organizations like the exchange clubs by going to w w w.nationalexchangeclub.org to find their local chapter.

“We do that through community involvement,” Metzenthin said. “We can always use more volunteers.”

based school staffing agency.

Malone is the vice president of finance at CME Printing, Inc. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and finance from Texas A&M. Moss is the CEO of The Ambulatory Care Specialty Group. She received a doctoral degree in nurs-

ing education from Texas Woman's University as well as bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing administration from Drexel University.

Among the Position 2 candidates, Agrawal holds an MBA from Texas A&M and an engineering degree from the Manipal Institute of Technology in India. He

serves as a strategy and operations executive for AI Applications at IBM and has several years of experience as a consultant.

Ahmed graduated from the University of Houston with a degree in business administration and a concentration in computer science. His platform involves providing

opportunities for veterans to transition into careers in information technology.

Dae received her master’s degree in computer science from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and is an IBM-certified data scientist. She also has her own real estate business.

Naik is an internet talk show host who lists com-

munity outreach programs and improving the district’s gifted and talented student programs among his top priorities.

Christopher Breaux of Whitley Penn LLP will moderate the forum. For more information about it, contact Juliette Nessmith at 281-566-2161 or juliette@fortbendcc.org.

@ F O RT B E N D S TA R

FIND LOCAL NEWS

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HIRELOCAL • SHOPLOCAL • EATLOCAL

THE STAR

PAGE 8 • Wednesday, March 31, 2021

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

Review: Cultures collide at Pier 61 Asian Cajun

By Stefan Modrich

· Kick'in Frog Legs ($5.99) · Gator Bites ($7.99) Had I had room for dessert, I would have gone straight for the Fried Cheesecake Wonton ($5.99), which is three pieces of cheesecake served with mango dipping sauce and a scoop of ice cream.

Another one for the sweet tooth in your life: the Tempura Fried Ice Cream ($5.99) is served with chocolate or strawberry syrup.

The Crawfish Etouffee from Pier 61 Asian Cajun in Stafford is seasoned with lemon and cayenne pepper.

(Photo by Stefan Modrich)

SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

The latest stop on the Fort Bend County Crawfish Season express didn’t leave much room for error with the high expectations it set from the moment I looked at the menu.

Pier 61 Asian Cajun billed itself as “Southwest Houston’s hottest seafood spot,” and I can confirm the Stafford restaurant is worthy of the boast.

The recent Viet Cajun phenomenon is one of the best and most Houstonian of traditions that stems from the Louisiana heritage of Cajun cuisine.

I had the Crawfish Etouffee ($8 for a bowl, $5 for a cup), which is typically served as a soup, as it was for me. Etouffees are thicker than a gumbo and usually include a single meat or fish, while a gumbo will feature a mix of shrimp, andouille sausage and chicken, for example.

The crawfish tails made a beautiful, buttery stew with steamed rice, seasoned with lemon and cayenne pepper. This is comfort food in its purest

form, and I wouldn’t have changed a thing about it.

My lunch companion had the Pineapple Fried Rice ($12.99), a heaping mound of rice that was larger than she had expected, though she was happy to have plenty to take home.

If you’re craving something a bit heavier, the Fried Crawfish Platter ($10.99) comes with a choice of several sides.

Among them are hush puppies, French fries, sweet potato fries, coleslaw and garlic bread.

There’s also a Family Combo ($22.99) with three pieces of catfish, six pieces each of shrimp and oyster and the same choice of sides Here are some appetizers that are on my radar for my next visit to Pier 61.

They should be on yours, too: · Wonton Crab Puffs ($7.50)

COMMUNITY

CALENDAR

Pier 61 Asian Cajun Address: 12106 Murphy Rd., Stafford Dining Options: Dine-in, curbside pickup, delivery via DoorDash, Grubhub, Seamless, Uber Eats Hours: 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday-Sunday Entrée prices: $7.99$12.99 Kid-friendly: Yes Senior discount: No Alcohol: No Healthy options: None Star of the show: Crawfish Etouffee

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.

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.

APRIL 8 FT. BEND/HARRIS RETIRED EDUCATORS ZOOM MEETING Ft. Bend/Harris Retired Educators next zoom meeting is Thursday morning, April 8th, at 10:00-noon. Program: Learn about the candidates running for Fort Bend I.S.D. School Board. Paid members will receive an emailed zoom invitation a week prior to the meeting. Further information for any retired educator, email cmduvall@aol.com.

APRIL 15 LAMBDA SIGMA CHAPTER OF DKG VIRTUAL MEETING APRIL 15TH Local chapter, Lambda Sigma of Delta Kappa Gamma, a professional society of leading women educators will conduct a zoom meeting Thursday, April 15th, at 5 p.m. (social time, 4:30). Program: Find Your Happy Place, Chair Yoga. Educators who are interested in learning more about DKG, contact dkglsnews2020@gmail.com APRIL 17 EXCHANGE CLUB OF SUGAR LAND’S 34TH SPAGHETTI FUNDRAISER will be held VIRTUALLY on Saturday, April 17, 2021, at 6:00 PM www.facebook.com/ sugarlandmorningexchange TEXT NOODLE TO 71777 to donate or buy Raffle tickets.

SILENT AUCTION www.32auctions.com/ Spaghetti2021. Www.ECSL.org

Honored to be your choice for life insurance.

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

ONGOING SUGAR LAND AMERICAN LEGION. American Legion Freeman Post 942 meets the fourth Thursday of every month at the Post facility, 311 Ulrich, Sugar Land, Texas, at 7:00 PM. All veterans are welcome. Post hall is available for rental for events. Call 713-553-5370 if interested.

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, 281-5751145 or mike@reichekfinancial.com We would love to have you join us and see what we are all about!

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 YearEnd Giving. Register now, or learn more about exciting events: www.hopeforthree. org/events

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.

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 281-2403195 EXCHANGE EXCHANGE, AmericaÕ s Service Club, always welcomes guests and is in search

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

14090 S.W. Freeway Suite #200 Sugar Land, TX

(Direct)

(Main) • KenWoodPC.com

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.

Alief MEDICAL SALES

SHORT TERM WHEELCHAIR RENTALS AVAILABLE

Buy a pair of COMPRESSION TRAVEL SOCKS and get the 2nd pair

11851-A Wilcrest Houston, TX 77031 Phone 281-530-3232 • www.AliefMedicalSales.com

20% OFF

“Magic Donuts melt in your mouth” Store Hours Monday - Sunday: 4:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Tel: 281-242-1881 907 Eldridge Rd. Sugar Land, TX 77478

11555 West Airport, Meadows Place, Texas, 77477 • 281-277-3367

Daily SpecialS! Open 7 DayS a week

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

CONTACT JOHN SAZMA FOR DETAILS

281-690-4206 | JSAZMA@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Dine-In Open!

TAKE-OUT & CATERING

AVAILABLE

18 years

family owned and operated LUNCH SPECIALS HOME MADE TAMALES & TORTILLAS MARGARITA’S TO-GO!

SOUTHWEST FREEWAY 281.240.3060 12821 LasHaciendasGrill.com