Local track athletes qualify for state - Page 4

The artful presentation combined with delectable tastes made Umami in Sugar Land a hit during a recent visit. Read our food review inside today on Page 8. (Photo by Stefan Modrich)

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As a mother and professional educator, Pari Nazerian was doubly worried about helping her adult daughter secure the technology she needed to continue her remote learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Her daughter, Ava Ashouri, is 19 and a 12th-grade

student in Austin High School’s Adult Transition Services or Life Skills program. She is cognitively disabled and has had nearly 50 surgeries. So when the Texas Education Agency (TEA) opened up a Supplemental Special Education Services (SSES) grant on Jan. 28, Nazerian applied for her daughter seeking a $1,500 account for use toward her daughter’s

education. “I was thinking that she’s totally eligible and she deserves it,” Nazerian said. “I wanted to buy her a laptop because she’s always online and doing her (schoolwork).” An SSES account gives families access to ClassWallet, which allows parents to purchase a device for their child that “the student will directly use and/or interact with to access the curricu-

lum or fill in COVID-based gaps.” But Ashouri hadn’t taken the STAAR Alt-2 test since 2018, placing her outside the scope of the TEA’s query. Matt Montaño, the deputy commissioner of special populations and monitoring at TEA, said eligibility for the test is an indicator of a severe cognitive disability, and

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Missouri City set to vote on charter tweaks By Stefan Modrich

Elkins High School alumnus Fabian Romo (32) dribbles during a 2019 wheelchair basketball game. The Missouri City product's wheelchair basketball career has taken off in recent years as he is playing professionally in Spain and hopes to make the U.S. Paralympic Team this year. (Contributed photo)

Elkins alumnus taking shot at Paralympics By Stefan Modrich SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

On Saturday, voters across Fort Bend County will have the responsibility of electing officials to represent their municipalities and decide upon measures that could change the way their local governments operate. In Missouri City, nine proposed changes to the city’s charter are on the ballot. If approved by voters, those changes would take effect in the following ways: · Proposition A: Clarify that the mayor may not act as chief administrative officer and fulfill the duties of the city manager. · Proposition B: Establish a one-year term for the

SEE CHARTER PAGE 7

No matter how daunting the obstacle, Fabian Romo has never backed away from a chance to shoot his shot. The 24-year-old is giving his latest challenge his all as he remains on the watch list for the U.S. men’s national wheelchair basketball team as it prepares for the upcoming Paralympic Games in Tokyo. Romo, an Elkins High School alumnus and professional wheelchair basketball player in Spain, overcame the amputation of his left leg

Fabian Romo

at 4 years old due to a birth

defect. Amid the uncertainty

of the COVID-19 pandemic, he used the downtime to work on himself and mentor younger collegiate teammates while he awaited the start of his professional career in Europe. Romo said he expects Team USA to hold a select camp at the end of May or June, when the squad will be whittled down to its final 12 roster spots. He plans to wait to get his COVID-19 vaccine when he is back on U.S. soil, though the plans for Paralympics preparation remain fluid. "We were supposed to have our final tryout (with Team USA) last May, but

that got pushed back," Romo said. "So it kind of messed up everybody's plans. I was hoping to come overseas (to play in Spain) and thankfully I did. This was my first time trying to reach out and (try out for a Paralympic Games). It was kind of lucky." Rolling up north Romo caught the attention of University of Texas-Arlington (UTA) coach Doug Garner even before he signed his national letter of intent to play with the Movin’ Mavs in 2015, having attended summer

SEE SHOT PAGE 7

Harvard student from area starts fellowship program By Stefan Modrich SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Stafford product Esat Bayar is proud to be a first-generation college student, but he also recognizes that several of his peers who come from low-income households face some of the same challenges he did in learning to navigate a professional setting and

get the most out of a collegiate experience. The Harvard University senior and graduate of Harmony School of Innovation in Sugar Land decided to mark the occasion of his 22nd birthday on Jan. 11 by fundraising for the Bayar Fellowship, which he said he created to help high school students improve their knowledge of business and personal

finance and basic skills like resume and coverletter writing, preparing for job interviews and networking. Bayar said the fellowship plans to provide up to four recipients with a $220 grant, and each winner will also be assigned a mentor. The application is open until May 30 and recipients should expect to be notified by the end of June.

Bayar

The fellowship is open to high school students

“interested in utilizing business principles to improve your community,” according to the Bayar Fellowship’s website. Additional application requirements process are available at https:// bayarfellowship.wixsite. com/home/apply Applications and/or questions should be sent to BayarFellowship@ Gmail.com.

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PAGE 2 • Wednesday, April 28, 2021

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CAFB names Advocate of the Year Sugar Land recognizes top volunteers By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Child Advocates of Fort Bend (CAFB) named Alexis Jackson as its 2020 Child Advocate of the Year during a recent virtual volunteer celebration, according to a Friday news release from the organization. The organization said Jackson, who has served as a Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) volunteer since 2016, is a lead member of CAFB’s annual Christmas Home Tour and Gala. She was also the first volunteer to join both the FRIENDS Council and the Volun-

Jackson

teer Council, according to CAFB. In addition, CAFB said Jackson has served four children in the organization’s infant/ toddler and Nurtur-

ing Education + Social Triumphs (N.E.S.T.) program, which aims to help children ages 6-13 “build strong foundations in education, health and social interaction through summer programs.” “This advocate has gone above and beyond, and her actions will have long-lasting impact for the children we serve and for our community,” Child Advocates of Fort Bend CEO Ruthanne Mefford said. To see a list of all of the honorees from the celebration, or to learn more information about Child Advocates of Fort Bend and its mission, visit caf b.org.

By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Six people from Sugar Land’s volunteer service program were recognized for their service to the city during a virtual city council meeting on April 20. Since 2007, the city annually selects a volunteer from each department who “fosters an atmosphere of community and enhances the delivery of city services by sharing their skills,” according to a news release. Sugar Land’s 2020 volunteers of the year are: • Albon Wu (Parks and Recreation); • Laaiqa Muhammad

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(Animal Services); • Unna Ramanathan (T.E. Harman Center); • Gabriel Rodriguez (Planning and Development Services); • Brenda Frye (Municipal Court); • Ted Lieb (Community Assistance Support Team) According to the city, the six volunteers recognized contributed more than 883 hours of

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Wednesday, April 28, 2021 • PAGE

Here's how we're looking out for you, Fort Bend Parents of school-age children have a lot going on. I’m sometimes too caught up with work to follow along with live tweet threads of Fort Bend ISD board meetings that are going on into the middle of the night, and that’s without having to change diapers or pack lunches or help kids with homework And the adjustments that parents have made, either pulling their kids out of public school and into private school for face-to-face instruction, or opting into hybrid or online-only learning, have all probably been calculations they have made in the best interests of their children’s mental and physical health, even if different approaches were taken from different parents. But a small fraction of those students — less than 2 percent of the stu-

Stefan Modrich

dent population at FBISD (72,000 total enrolled students) and less than 2 percent of the student population at Stafford MSD (3,607 total enrolled students) — face a unique set of challenges. The special needs populations of your local school districts and the departments that serve them have been tested by the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly those with cognitive or developmental disabilities. As soon as I saw a news release from Gov. Greg Abbott about the Texas Education Agency (TEA)

and its $1,500 Supplemental Special Education Services (SSES) grants on Jan. 28, I immediately began reaching out to local parents across various Facebook groups and contacted every special needs advocacy group in our coverage area. Groups like The Arc of Fort Bend were still monitoring the situation, along with school district officials, and I was unable to get any traction on the story. Until one day, nearly two months later, I got a phone call from a woman who told me she saw one of my posts. Her name is Pari Nazerian, and her daughter Ava Ashouri, 19, is severely cognitively disabled. But Ashouri is working to get her diploma and complete Austin High School’s Adult Transition Program. Her only problem was, as I detailed on the top of

our front page this week, was that she was deemed ineligible for the SSES grant because the system query TEA’s application used was limited to students who had taken the test within the last two academic years. If you go to the SSES website’s FAQ page, you will see some questions about additional help and about contacting the organization to appeal a mistakenly rejected application, a direct result of our reporting on the topic. According to TEA data from the 2019-20 school year, 587,987 or 10 percent of the nearly 5.5 million students in Texas public schools have some form of disability, and a single Fort Bend County resident was the reason why they chose to adjust their criteria as other similar responses began to trickle into their system.

So while some may say we’re tooting our own horn, I think it’s important to demonstrate the connection between good journalism and the requisite actions that follow it. I know you may like to read my food reviews and it’s always great to keep up with your local sports teams (you may notice that I made a brief return to my former life as a sportswriter this week with another story about a FBISD alumnus who is also an adult with a different form of special needs), but this is what gets my gears turning. And I hope it’s equally important for you to learn about how these stories come to life. Not only that, but I hope you’ll in turn share them with those who you think would benefit from knowing about these issues and others that are taking place in your neck of the woods. It takes diligent

work and lots of patience and follow-ups and striking out with sources who seem promising at first to make a story come to fruition. I’m thankful to Kari Axtell, the program director at The Arc, for her insight and her advocacy, and to Matt Montaño and Jake Kobersky for a transparent interview and a willingness to admit they made a mistake. As I note in my piece, from a local school district perspective, there is still room for improvement. Administrators like Deena Hill, who oversees special education at FBISD, and others — including the new school board members who you will be choosing come Saturday — will need to continue to hear from you in the community to make those desired changes happen.

Local Kendra Scott store donating some proceeds By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Kendra Scott jewelry enthusiasts can give back to a good cause while purchasing their favorite items this month. The Texas-based jewelry giant, which has a store in Sugar Land at First Colony Mall at 16535 Southwest Fwy. Suite #3000, is hosting a give-back event on April 29 at all seven of its Houston-area stores in support of A Shelter for Cancer Families (ASCF). A news release said 20 percent of in-store sales from 5-7 p.m. April 29, along with online sales using a promotional code

This year's Give Back event is in honor of Erica Nowell, pictured, a nurse from Katy who died of cancer last year. (Contributed photo)

on April 29-30, will go to ASCF. The organization provides housing for fami-

lies seeking cancer care and helps families affected by cancer navigate the treatment process. This month’s event is in honor of Erica Nowell, a nurse from Katy who died of cancer in August 2020. For more information on the promotion, visit ksashelterforcancerfamilies.splashthat.com.

FBISD announces next steps to replace Dupre By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

On Tuesday, Fort Bend ISD announced the next steps in its search for a new superintendent. According to the district, Superintendent Charles Dupre's tenure will end Aug. 31, and last day at work with FBISD is slated for June 10. The timeline approved by FBISD's board of trustees shows that a lone finalist for the position will be announced the week of June 21. Deputy Superintendent Diana Sayavedra will serve as acting superintendent from June 11 until the new superintendent is in place, which is expected to be in August. Sayavedra has also previously served as the Chief Academic Officer in FBISD. Before that, she served as the Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction in Pf lugerville ISD. Sayavedra has also served as the principal of Elkins High School and Sugar Land Middle School in FBISD. “We are confident that Ms. Sayavedra has demonstrated all of the leadership qualities and skills needed to serve

as acting superintendent while the search for a new leader continues,” board president Addie Heyliger said. “Her vast knowledge of the inner workings of the District will be key to the important work that occurs during the summer months to prepare for the next school year."

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PAGE 4 • Wednesday, April 28, 2021

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Sugar Land city council formalizes Astros’ acquisition of Skeeters club By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

The Sugar Land City Council last week approved the Houston Astros’ acquisition of the Sugar Land Skeeters, the former independent baseball team that will serve as the Astros’ Triple-A affiliate beginning this season. The acquisition agreement included the Astros and City of Sugar Land partnering on a lease extension, keeping the Skeeters at Constellation Field through at least the 2045 season, according to a news release from the Skeeters. The Zlotnik family, which has owned the Skeeters franchise since its inception in 2012, will maintain minority ownership as partners with the Astros. "Tonight’s city council ap-

A Sugar Land Skeeters player swings during a 2020 Constellation Energy League game. Sugar Land's city council formalized the Astros' acquisition of the franchise last week. (Photo by Landan Kuhlmann)

proval is the culmination of a decade-long journey to bring affiliated baseball to Sugar Land for the long-term," Kev-

in Zlotnik said. “…The next chapter of baseball in Sugar Land will surely be its best and we look forward to see-

ing everyone at Constellation Field this summer." It was announced in November that the Astros had acquired the Skeeters, and the Astros subsequently began renovations at Constellation Field. The Skeeters’ inaugural affiliated season will begin May 6 with a road series against the Albuquerque Isotopes. Sugar Land’s home opener is set for May 20 against the El Paso Chihuahuas. “Our affiliation with the Astros is very unique and provides many new and exciting opportunities for our community,” Sugar Land Mayor Joe Zimmerman said. “Our residents identified Major League Baseball as something we wanted to achieve a decade ago to grow entertainment and tourism, and we delivered on their request.”

Anthem singers needed for 2021 home games By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

The Sugar Land Skeeters are looking for volunteers to sing the national anthem before home games this season. Applications for tryouts, which will take place from 4-7 p.m. May 5 at Constellation Field, are due by May 1, according to the Skeeters’ website.

No music or lyrical sheets will be allowed at the tryout and all auditions will be performed a cappella, though instrumental performances will be accepted. Applications can be found and downloaded at milb.com/sugar-land/ events/anthem-tryouts, and completed applications can be emailed to Sallie Farris at sweir@ sugarlandskeeters.com.

Photo from Facebook

Power pitchers lead area baseball teams By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Walker Holzhausen pitched a no-hitter for Travis High School in its 4-0 win against Ridge Point on April 19, helping the Tigers overtake the Panthers for first place in District 20-6A. Travis (21-4-1, 10-1 district) then beat Clements 14-0 on April 20 for its ninth straight win heading into this Tuesday’s matchup against Elkins. After Elkins beat Clements 4-1 on April 19, the Knights (14-9-2, 8-4) dropped their final two games of the week despite strong performances from junior Adam Wade. Wade allowed one run in 6 2/3 innings pitched while striking out 11 batters in a 1-0 loss to Dulles on April 21, then had a double in a 4-0 loss to Ridge Point on April 23. J.J. Kennett pitched a complete-game shutout for the Panthers (18-8, 7-3), who had a rough week otherwise. In addition to the loss against Travis, Ridge Point also lost 3-2 against George Ranch on April 20

and 3-0 against Clements on April 24. Clements’ win was buoyed by Ben Couture, who pitched a shutout. The Rangers (13-16, 6-8) also enjoyed a walk-off win against Austin, prevailing 6-5 on April 23, to bounce back from two losses earlier in the week. It was the young guns driving the bus for Austin in a 14-4 win over the Bush Broncos on April 20. Freshman Logan Witt had a season-high four hits and five RBIs for Austin (13-11, 4-5 district), while sophomore Tyler Do had a career-high four hits of his own to go along with three RBIs. Bryceson Williams threw a complete game against Bush, allowing no earned runs while striking out 10 hitters. Dantonio Hackworth had a double and two stolen bases for the Broncos (619-1, 0-11) in the loss. Bush was looking for its first district win entering Tuesday’s scheduled game against Ridge Point. Ross Reichardt pitched a shutout for Kempner in District 24-5A action last week

Ariel Kowalewski went 3 for 4 with a double. Freshman Kori Vasquez led the Kempner Lady Cougars with three hits in their 15-0 win over Willowridge, while Erin Casilang, Lauren Hatch and Samantha Decker had two hits apiece. Hatch and Decker each smacked a double and a triple for Kempner (15-13, 9-8), while Hatch had four RBIs and Decker drove in two runs. Bailey Gray had four hits for the Hightower Lady Hurricanes in a 17-1 win over Willowridge on April 22 as Hightower improved to 6-12 overall and 5-11 in District 24-5A. Dulles players celebrate after scoring a run earlier this season. The Vikings were one of several teams to get strong pitching performances last week. (Photo from Twitter)

as the Cougars (16-10, 11-3) shut down the Hightower Hurricanes in a 7-0 win on April 19. In the area’s Class 4A action, Landon Lampley had two RBIs for Stafford as the Spartans lost an 8-5 decision to Bay City on April 20, dropping them to 7-10-

1 overall and 3-4 in district play. Softball The Travis Lady Tigers clinched the District 206A title with a 3-2 win over Ridge Point on April 19. Rachel Ybarra struck out eight hitters in the circle for Travis (11-2, 11-2), while

Last Week’s Scores BASEBALL April 19 District 20-6A Elkins 4, Clements 1 Travis 4, Ridge Point 0 April 20 District 20-6A Austin 14, Bush 4 Travis 14, Clements 0 Dulles 1, Elkins 0 George Ranch 3, Ridge Point 2 District 24-5A Kempner 7, Hightower 0

Angleton 14, Marshall 4 Richmond Foster 25, Willowridge 1 District 25-4A Bay City 8, Stafford 5 April 23 District 20-6A Clements 6, Austin 5 Ridge Point 4, Elkins 0 District 24-5A Kempner 12, Hightower 1 April 24 District 20-6A Clements 3, Ridge Point 0 Austin 8, Dulles 4 SOFTBALL April 19 District 20-6A Clements 16, Bush 5 Travis 3, Ridge Point 2 George Ranch 6, Dulles 3 April 20 District 20-6A Ridge Point 19, Bush 0 District 24-5A Kempner 15, Willowridge 0 District 25-4A Columbia 17, Stafford 1 April 22 District 24-5A Hightower 17, Willowridge 1 Fulshear 19, Marshall 0 April 24 District 20-6A Ridge Point 11, Elkins 1

Marshall, Hightower lead area track teams in regional meet By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Though neither brought home a team title, both the Marshall and Hightower High School track and field teams had no shortage of state qualifiers when they competed at the Region III meet on April 23-24. Marshall’s boys team finished second with 63 points, while the girls team also finished second with 89 points. Individually, the Buffalos

swept the Class 5A 300-meter hurdles, with Desirae Roberts taking the girls crown in 44.84 seconds, while Chris Brinkley was the boys winner with a time of 37.59. The top two finishers in each regional event advance to the UIL state meet scheduled for May 7-8 in Austin. Marshall and Hightower combined to qualify eight individuals and three relay teams. Marshall’s prominence in the hurdles continued later

in the regional meet, with Arveyon Davis punching his ticket to Austin with a second-place finish in the boys 110 hurdles in 14.30 seconds. Tairah Johnson was the Region III champion in the girls 100 hurdles after running a 13.73 in the final. Cesley Williams also qualified for Austin after winning the girls 400 in 54.90 seconds. Hightower's girls 1,600-meter relay team of Brittney Green, Both of Marshall’s 800 Cynai Christopher, Jaiden Itson and Ciara Douglas was the relay teams are headed to Region III-6A champion. (Photo from Hightower Track Twitter) the state meet after secondplace finishes. The boys team of JaCorey McAd- Region III champion in the ams, Jaquez White, Gerard 200 with a time of 24.49 as Holmes and Jonathan How- well as in the long jump ard ran a 1:26.47, while the with a final leap of 19 feet, girls team of Shanice Walker, 2 inches. She also anchored Johnson, Theresa Green- the Lady Hurricanes’ 1,600 White and Roberts finished relay team, which was the in 1:40.67. regional champion after runCynai Christopher and ning a 3:46.81. Jaiden Itson anchored the Itson won the 800 in a Hightower girls team, which time of 2:13.30 and finished finished fourth over the second in the 400 at 55.35. weekend with 59 points, She also ran the lead leg of with each qualifying for the 1,600 relay. the state meet in multiple Hightower’s Dajon events. Christopher was the Debose qualified for state in “I had chronic back pain, & I was in line

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the 5A boys 400 with a time of 48.45. He placed third in the regional meet but earned a wild-card berth to state by having one of the eight best times among third-place regional finishers. Additional results Ridge Point freshman Karson Gordon secured a spot in the state meet with a secondplace finish in the Class 6A boys triple jump with a final jump of 47 feet, 4.5 inches. Clements’ Felipe Medrano snagged a wild-card berth to Austin with a time of 38.27 seconds in the 6A boys 300 hurdles. Bush’s girls 1,600 relay team of Christina Pleasant, Raylen Russell, Demeri Duplechain and Rachel Joseph was the second-place finisher in the 6A regional meet with a time 1:38.51. Elkins’ girls 1,600 relay team of Faith Holman, Courtney Wilmington, Taylor Jackson and Mfoniso Andrew qualified as a wild card with a time of 3:45.25 in the finals.

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Wednesday, April 28, 2021 • PAGE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING TO DISCUSS BUDGET AND PROPOSED TAX RATE The Fort Bend Independent School District will hold a public meeting at 5:30 PM, May 10, 2021 in the Board Room of the Administration Building, 16431 Lexington Blvd., Sugar Land, Texas. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the school district's budget that will determine the tax rate that will be adopted. Public participation in the discussion is invited. The tax rate that is ultimately adopted at this meeting or at a separate meeting at a later date may not exceed the proposed rate shown below unless the district publishes a revised notice containing the same information and comparisons set out below and holds another public meeting to discuss the revised notice. Maintenance Tax

$0.9802/$100 (proposed rate for maintenance and operations)

School Debt Service Tax Approved by Local Voters

$0.2900/$100 (proposed rate to pay bonded indebtedness)

Comparison of Proposed Budget with Last Year's Budget The applicable percentage increase or decrease (or difference) in the amount budgeted in the preceding fiscal year and the amount budgeted for the fiscal year that begins during the current tax year is indicated for each of the following expenditure categories.

FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Maintenance and operations

Community Calendar

5.81 % increase

Debt Service

6.16 % increase

Total expenditures

5.86 % increase

Total Appraised Value and Total Taxable Value (as calculated under Section 26.04, Tax Code)

NEW EVENTS ON PAGE 8

Preceding Tax Year

Current Tax Year

Total appraised value* of all property

$45,943,014,033

$50,181,170,483

Total appraised value* of new property**

$1,709,720,628

$1,592,438,621

Total taxable value*** of all property

$45,366,866,648

$47,205,001,748

Total taxable value*** of new property**

$1,055,421,143

$1,021,997,565

*Appraised value is the amount shown on the appraisal roll and defined by Section 1.04(8), Tax Code. ** "New property" is defined by Section 26.012(17), Tax Code. *** "Taxable value" is defined by Section 1.04(10), Tax Code.

Bonded Indebtedness Total amount of outstanding and unpaid bonded indebtedness* $1,213,298,385 *Outstanding principal.

Comparison of Proposed Rates with Last Year's Rates Maintenance & Operations

Interest & Sinking Fund*

Total

Local Revenue Per Student

State Revenue Per Student

Last Year's Rate

$0.9502

$0.2900*

$1.2402

$7,254

$3,018

Rate to Maintain Same Level of Maintenance & Operations Revenue & Pay Debt Service

$1.0969

$0.2989*

$1.3958

$7,421

$3,465

Proposed Rate

$0.9802

$0.2900*

$1.2702

$7,645

$3,559

*The Interest & Sinking Fund tax revenue is used to pay for bonded indebtedness on construction, equipment, or both. The bonds, and the tax rate necessary to pay those bonds, were approved by the voters of this district.

Comparison of Proposed Levy with Last Year's Levy on Average Residence Last Year

This Year

Average Market Value of Residences

$293,879

$303,344

Average Taxable Value of Residences

$238,967

$248,053

Last Year's Rate Versus Proposed Rate per $100 Value

$1.2402

$1.2702

Taxes Due on Average Residence

$2,963.67

$3,150.77

Increase (Decrease) in Taxes

$187.10

Under state law, the dollar amount of school taxes imposed on the residence homestead of a person 65 years of age or older or of the surviving spouse of such a person, if the surviving spouse was 55 years of age or older when the person died, may not be increased above the amount paid in the first year after the person turned 65, regardless of changes in tax rate or property value. Notice of Voter-Approval Rate: The highest tax rate the district can adopt before requiring voter approval at an election is $1.2402. This election will be automatically held if the district adopts a rate in excess of the voter-approval rate of $1.2402.

Fund Balances The following estimated balances will remain at the end of the current fiscal year and are not encumbered with or by a corresponding debt obligation, less estimated funds necessary for operating the district before receipt of the first state aid payment. Maintenance and Operations Fund Balance(s)

$208,154,571

Interest & Sinking Fund Balance(s)

$27,439,920

A school district may not increase the district's maintenance and operations tax rate to create a surplus in maintenance and operations tax revenue for the purpose of paying the district's debt service.

When increased expenditure of money by a school district is necessary to respond to a disaster that has impacted the school district, and the governor has requested federal disaster assistance for the area in which the district is located, a voter-approval tax rate election is not required to approve the tax rate adopted by the school district for the year following the year in which the disaster occurs. Texas Property Tax Code 26.08(a-1).

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PAGE 6 • Wednesday, April 28, 2021

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PERSONALS

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NOTICE TO BIDDERS NOTICE TO BIDDERS 2020 WATER PLANT REHABILITATIONS WATER METER REPLACEMENT PROGRAM CLASSIFIED ADS THAT GET RESULTS CALL US The City of Sugar Land seeks bids for furnishing all The City of Sugar Land seeks bids for performing AT 281-690-4200 labor, material, and equipment, and performing all work all work required for the following project in the City: required for the following project in the City: BID NO. 2021-18: WATER METER REPLACEMENT PROGRAM BIDDER’S NAME, ADDRESS, AND DUE DATE

GARAGE SALE? LET THE COMMUNITY KNOW!

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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, May 13, 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 For questions regarding this bid, please post on Public Purchase www.publicpurchase.com no later than 3:00 p.m. Thursday, May 6, 2021. The City will award the contract and give notice of award within sixty (60) calendar days after the opening date and time.

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713-234-7789 13817 Southwest Fwy, Sugar Land. Tracy Walker’s State Farm Agency is looking for an OUTSTANDING SALES AND SERVICE PERSON with sales and service experience and preferably licensed in Texas with a Property and Casualty license and a Life and Health license. We are looking for someone to specialize in our commercial sales department. You must be dependable, coachable, intelligent, caring, ethical and produce raving fans of the clients that work with you. We have an Amazing team in place and are looking for someone just as amazing to fit in with our “thriving for excellence” culture. If you are outstanding, self-motivated, determined, caring, achiever, and experienced- we would love to chat with you. Please send your resume to tracy@agentwalker.com. This is a salaried position with commission and bonus. Salary is based on experience and performance. We do have a 401K plan, health insurance and Paid time off. You will have your own office within the agency. Our office is located at 15510 Lexington Blvd Ste P Sugar Land, TX 77478

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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, Sugar Land, Texas, 77479, on or be-fore 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 13, 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 via teleconference at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 6, 2021. Questions regarding this bid must be received by May 7, 2021 on or before 5:00 PM. All questions must be submitted via www. civcastusa.com. 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.

Sanitary Sewer Cleaning and CCTV Inspection for the Orchard Lake Estates, Old Orchard, Chelsea Harbour and Oak Lake Court Subdivisions (the “Work”). Sealed, competitive bids will be received no later than 10:00 A.M., May 13, 2021 in the District Office located at 10347 Clodine Road, Richmond, Texas 77407. Specifications and bidding documents for the project are available at the following locations: Civcast USA Civcastusa.com (281) 376-4577 In general, the work consists of cleaning and CCTV inspection of sanitary sewers in the Orchard Lake Estates, Old Orchard, Chelsea Harbour and Oak Lake Court Subdivisions. Pipe diameters range from 6 to 12 inches. A non-mandatory Pre-Bid Conference Call will be held on

Thursday, May 6, 2021, at 2:00 P.M. Prospective bidders shall Kitchen help.

contact Mr. Hector Pena, P.E. at hpena@ardurra.com for details on how to join the pre-bid conference call. Owner will be bound by the terms of this invitation only to the extent funds, from whatever source, are available. All bids must be accompanied by proposal guaranty in the form of a Certified or Cashier’s Check, or Bidders Bond drawn to the order of Fort Bend County MUD No. 25, and in the minimum amount of five percent (5%) of the total amount of the bid. No proposal may be withdrawn for a period of ninety (90) days after receipt of bids except with the approval of Owner. Owner reserves the right to reject any or all bids or to accept any bid from any responsible person which will be most advantageous to it and result in the best and most economical completion of the Work. The successful bidder will be required to provide a Performance Bond and Payment Bond in full amount of the contract. Leonela Ruvalcaba, Executive General Manager, Owner

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

FOR SALE

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SR. SAP COMMERCIAL DEVELOPER for ChampionX in Sugar Land, TX. Utilizes SAP technology, business processes and opportunities in the context of the technical and business requirements. Bachelor’s degree, or foreign equivalent, in Computer Science, Management Information Systems, or Engineering and five (5) years of post-bachelor’s progressive experience in all of the following: SAP ECC SD focused on Order-to-Cash processes in the oilfield services industry; SAP pricing and VERTEX TAX system interfaces and troubleshooting the TAX issues; Working with integration platforms and developing interfaces to external systems including EDI platforms such as ADP, OpenInvoice, Ariba, etc.; and some experience in the following: Five full cycle of SAP projects and integration experience with other SAP ECC Modules such as MM, FI, WM, PP, Basis, Security, BI, etc; Spinoff and acquisitions projects; Global SAP projects; Working with external auditors; Argentina government electronic invoice process and Brazil Nota fiscal invoice process; VISTEX implementation and support; preferred in VISTEX certification; SAP and Seeburger / TIBCO integration and shooting;and Looking fortrouble Servers Sales order credit card process & integration with Paymetrics; Scrum/Agile methodologies. Travel Required: Estimated 20%, once a month. Apply at https:// www.championx.com/careers/, Req. R00113628. Must have legal authority to work in the US. EOE.

6201 Bonhomme, Ste. 110, S. Hou. , TX 77036

FOR SALE

THE FOLLOWING ADS HAVE NOT BEEN SCREENED BY THE SOUTHEASTERN ADVERTISING PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION (SAPA); Therefore, any discrepancies thereof shall not be the responsibility of the aforementioned association. Your publisher has agreed to participate in this program and run these ads as a service to the Southeastern Advertising Publishers Association.

CIP PROJECT NAME: 2020 Water Plant Rehabilitations CIP PROJECT NUMBER: WA2004 LOCATION OF WORK: River Park Water Plant – 6303 Sandy Ridge Ln, Sugar Land, TX 77479 First Colony Water Plant – 1922 Willow Lakes Dr, Sugar Land, TX 77479 Thompson Chapel Water Plant – 238 Darby Trails Dr, Sugar Land, TX 77479 Homeward Way Water Plant – 5505 Homeward Way, Sugar Land, TX 77479 New Territory Water Plant – 4403 Mesa Crossing Ln, Sugar Land, TX 77479 Greatwood West Water Plant – 6550 Greatwood Pkwy, Sugar Land, TX 77479 Greatwood East Water Plant – 8802 Greatwood Pkwy, Sugar Land, TX 77479

Specifications and bidding documents may be obtained by registering with Public Purchase www.publicpurchase.com.

Call 650-988-8371

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ORDINANCE NO. O-21-16 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MISSOURI CITY, TEXAS, ESTABLISHING THE ZONING CLASSIFICATION FOR 75.58 ACRES OF LAND AS PD PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT NO. 108; DESCRIBING SAID 75.58 ACRES OF LAND; REGULATING AND RESTRICTING THE DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF PROPERTY WITHIN SUCH PD PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT; AMENDING THE ZONING DISTRICT MAP OF THE CITY OF MISSOURI CITY; PROVIDING FOR AN AMENDMENT TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN; PROVIDING FOR REPEAL; PROVIDING A PENALTY; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND CONTAINING OTHER PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE SUBJECT. I, Maria Jackson, City Secretary of the City of Missouri City, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the caption of said Ordinance No. O-21-16 approved on second and final reading by the City Council at its regular meeting held on April 19, 2021, as the same appears in the records of my office. /s/ Maria Jackson City Secretary

CITY OF MISSOURI CITY 21-331 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. 21-331 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, April 28, 2021 • PAGE

Elkins High School alumnus Fabian Romo has competed with Team USA's U-23 wheelchair basketball team, and recently took part in a Team USA selection camp. (Contributed photo)

★ SHOT FROM PAGE 1 camps at the school. “He transitioned very quickly from the junior game to the college game,” Garner said. “He brought out the best of everybody who was on the court with him.” Garner was particularly impressed with Romo’s ability to master maneuvering a wheelchair in a high-intensity sport like basketball, because Romo uses a prosthetic leg to get around and did not have to depend on using a wheelchair until he was introduced to the sport as a freshman in high school, where he was a standout with the TIRR Memorial Hermann Hotwheels travel team in Houston. “It’s like the first time you feel free from your disability, in a way,” Romo said. “Because everyone in the sport is the same as you, everyone has their own basketball chair, everyone has that same ability to go out there and compete.” Romo shot 45 percent from 3-point range during his career and was one of the leaders of the 2017 UTA team that won a national title. He was a senior on last year’s team that had gone undefeated up until its championship tournament was canceled due to COVID-19. That same year, he was also called up to play for Team USA’s U-23 wheelchair basketball team. “He made some great skill improvements and consistency in shooting,” Garner said. “He became a leader on the floor for the team. You always need one or two guys

★ GRANT FROM PAGE 1 a prerequisite for eligibility for the grant. STAAR Alt-2 is open to grades 3-12 students, and students in grades K-2 may be eligible if they are in an educational setting that meets TEA’s criteria, like being in a specialized program for more than half of their school day or have one of the following primary disabilities: · Autism · Auditory Impairment · Intellectual Disability · Orthopedic Impairment · Other Health Impairment · Speech Impairment · Traumatic Brain Injury · Visual Impairment A TEA official said Ashouri’s appeal helped the organization realize it needed to expand its query as far back as the 2015-16 school year to capture a larger pool of applicants. Pursuant to federal law,

★ CHARTER FROM PAGE 1 mayor pro tempore position. · Proposition C: Clarify that the city manager must obtain the city council’s advice and consent to appoint, suspend or remove all or any one of the city’s department directors. · Proposition D: Require that, if a contract is entered into for the employment of the city manager, the compensation of the city manager shall be set forth in such contract which must be voted on by a majority vote of the city council. · Proposition E: Extend the term of office for the mayor, district councilmembers, and councilmember-at-large positions from two to three

that are going to help bring everything together, and that’s really what he did. He understood that by playing his best, he gave some of the other players opportunities to play their best.” In that sense, Romo was like another coach on the floor for the Movin’ Mavs, Garner said. “He wasn’t afraid to speak up respectfully and he wasn’t afraid to push his teammates to be better themselves,” Garner said. Waiting game Romo completed his undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering last May, but his graduation ceremony was canceled because of the pandemic. “I didn’t know what I was going to do after graduating,” Romo said. “No one really knew what was going to happen (when the pandemic hit).” Romo, a native Spanish speaker, said he was thankful to Team USA Paralympic veterans who he reached out to for support. One of those players was a Spanish player and Spanish speaker who played collegiately in Alabama. He and Romo both had an opportunity to appear on a Spanish-language podcast about adaptive sports and wheelchair basketball in the U.S. While the U.S. is a top destination for prospective wheelchair basketball players looking to earn a scholarship and play concurrently with their desired field of study, it lacks a professional league, which is why players like Romo end up in Spain, France, Germany or Turkey.

The connections he made with the podcast helped Spanish scouts see his game tape, and the disappointment of missing out on celebrating his graduation was followed by a reason for hope: Romo received a call from a Spanish Wheelchair Basketball League team — Iberconsa Amfiv — in Vigo, Spain with an offer to play professionally overseas. While he waited for several months to have his visa approved, Romo took full advantage of Garner’s offer to continue training at UTA. “I was able to practice with the young guys there and help them out in any way that I could,” Romo said. “They helped me out and kept me in shape with practices every morning. It’s something I didn’t have to do, but it’s something I wanted to do.” Tokyo dreaming Fabian’s parents, Arturo and Sylvia Romo — who have lived in Missouri City since 1997 — said they were proud of their son’s determination to fight for a roster spot from the time he arrived in Arlington. Sylvia said she saw her son’s competitive fire start when he was competing against able-bodied kids as a young swimmer, when his prosthetic limb drew eyes from his fellow swimmers and spectators across the pool. It was the ultimate equalizer, Arturo said, “because everyone jumps off the pool with one leg.” Though Fabian acknowledged he was a latecomer to wheelchair basketball, he said he was grateful for the

Montaño said students are eligible for SSES funding even if they turn 22 during the school year. The Individuals with Disabilities Education (IDEA) Act, signed into law by President George H.W. Bush in 1990, gives students with disabilities a right to an education until the age of 21. “We did make that adjustment on our queries after we received a couple of pieces of feedback and we wanted to troubleshoot them,” Montaño said. “We want to take a deeper dive because everything we’re hearing from (these families) makes sense to us that we’d be qualified, but why is it not making sense with our data set?” At minimum, Montaño expects the application to be open until June 30, but it may be open longer depending on how long it takes for the 18,000 grants to be accounted for. Some nonprofit advocacy years. · Proposition F: Provide that a person is limited to 12 consecutive years on the city council before the person is required to sit out for a period of two years before holding another position on the city council. · Proposition G: Extend the time the city manager can transfer or request to transfer unencumbered appropriations from 60 days to 90 days after the end of the fiscal year. · Proposition H: Clarify that the requirement of the city council to receive and consider bids for the sale of bonds applies to competitive sales only. · Proposition I: Change the appointment date of charter review commissioners from July to January. In Richmond, Tres Dale

Fabian Romo, foreground, puts up a shot during a UT-Arlington wheelchair basketball practice in 2018. (Photo from Facebook)

support of his parents and three older siblings. Arturo and Fabian’s grandfather drove 1,500 miles from Missouri City to Toronto to see Fabian compete at a U-23 tournament, beaming with pride as “The Star Spangled Banner” played before the start of each game with Fabian sporting the letters “U-S-A” on his chest. Coming from a working-class background as a contractor installing drywall

on the South Side of Chicago, Arturo said having the chance to travel as a family to Fabian’s games and to live stream his son’s matches against Spain’s top competition on the other side of the world has been a joy for him. “To be a part of the Team USA family, it was awesome,” Arturo said. “To hear the national anthem, and to see my kid there, wow.” And for Sylvia, it was a double blessing to watch her

son succeed academically and athletically. “We are proud anyway,” Sylvia said. “But this made us extra proud.” The youngest Romo said he’s excited to be living out his dreams and hopes he can earn a chance to do so on his sport’s biggest stage. “My family helped me and supported me along the way,” Romo said. “I wouldn’t have been able to be here if it wasn’t for them.”

groups like The Arc of Fort Bend can assist families who are seeking SSES funding for their child. Kari Axtell, The Arc’s program director, helped Nazerian with the appeal process because her daughter is a member of The Arc, and on March 31, TEA contacted Axtell to inform them Ashouri was in fact eligible. Axtell said it was important for parents to know they have a right to an appeal and that they can check with advocacy groups like The Arc and research the criteria set by TEA so they can prepare to put their best foot forward on the application, and that sometimes parents can get discouraged and not follow up after being denied. “If a parent applied for and was denied an SSES grant for a reason they believe is improper, they should first ask the TEA why their grant was denied,” Axtell wrote in

an email. “Depending on the denial reason, the parent may consider requesting to appeal the TEA's denial of the SSES grant. If a Fort Bend County parent believes their SSES grant was wrongfully denied by the TEA, they may reach out to The Arc of Fort Bend County to see if their particular issue is one we can advocate for. We always encourage people to inform and advocate for themselves with the entity in charge first - in this case, the TEA.” Montaño said it's important for nonprofit groups like The Arc to assist with appeals in other cases, where, for example, a simple data entry error on a child’s TEA ID number by a parent could derail an application, but added that TEA needs to also be vigilant to work with parents to ensure these mistakes can be quickly corrected. TEA’s Education Service Centers (ESCs) also can assist

families in multiple languages with the applications, he said. He also said the Adult Transition Services programs can vary greatly based on the size of a school district and the population of students with disabilities and the career options available to them. Fort Bend ISD has 1,200 eligible students, Stafford MSD has 60, and Lamar Consolidated ISD has 527, Montaño said. “(School districts) are required to design that program based on the unique needs of the student but also the posthigh school opportunities that community has,” Montaño said. “It’s very dependent on what the students need.” There’s still room for further improvement with the current SSES grant system in the eyes of some local school officials. Deena Hill, FBISD’s executive director of student

support services, said several children were excluded because there are some students who have special needs but may not require a specialized program or attention throughout the school day. “I think that’s kind of weird that they based the grant on placement,” Hill said. “There’s students with high needs that could benefit from those monies like kids with autism that may not be cognitively disabled and they’re served in the general education setting, and they would not be eligible for this grant. It’s unfortunate, I think there was a missed opportunity there from TEA, because we have a great deal of kids that are like that.” Impacted families can contact The Arc of Fort Bend via email at info@arcoffortbend. org or by phone at 281-4945959. Contact the TEA at ssesinfo@tea.texas.gov or 1855-773-3839.

Davis is challenging Position 1 Commissioner Terry R. Gaul, and Carlos A. Garcia is running against Position 3 Commissioner Carl A. Drozd. Rosenberg voters will be tasked with selecting three representatives on the city council, including the mayor, and councilors for at-large positions 1 and 2. Rosenberg City Council members serve one-year terms. Running for Rosenberg mayor are Kevin Raines, the incumbent city council member in Position 2, and former mayor Cynthia McConathy. The candidates for atlarge Position 1 are L. Jay Edenmeyer, Rudy Cuellar, Tim Krugh and Alice S. Jozwiak. Former city councilman

Richard Olson, who lost his District 4 seat to Marc A. Morales in November, is in the running to fill Raines’

at-large Position 2 spot, along with former council member Amanda J. Barta, Alicia Casias and Henva B.

Medlow.

@ F O RT B E N D S TA R @ F T B E N D AT H L E T I C S F O R T B E N D S TA R . C O M

For questions, call us at 281-690-4200 or email to : Jsazma@fortbendstar.com

THE STAR

PAGE 8 • Wednesday, April 28, 2021

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

Review: Sushi an art form at Umami Tekkamaki ($2 extra) is a sushi roll with raw tuna. It was easily recognizable because of its pink center, and stacked was Lincoln Logs (uniform wooden pieces that could be used to assemble log cabins that I played with as a child because Fortnite was not an option for me). Last but not least, the nigiri ($2 extra) is finger food at its most delicate and delicious. Four raw cuts of Spanish Bluefin Tuna, Scottish Salmon, Japanese Hachmi and Bincho Maguro will make your taste buds dance.

By Stefan Modrich SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Do you ever go somewhere with the mundane expectation of having a good time, only to leave with a sense of accomplishment at a remarkable self-discovery, or at the very least, relief at having not embarrassed yourself? I’m still not sure if it was the former or the latter, but I was too embarrassed to ask for a fork to enjoy my lunch at Umami Japanese Restaurant in Sugar Land last week, and so like a toddler free of his or her training wheels on their bicycle for the first time, I was on my own and had to make the best of it without making a mockery of my motor skills — much to the chagrin of my girlfriend and her best efforts to property educate me on the use of chopsticks. Utensil choice aside, I felt like my trip to Umami was a distinct experience. While I can’t exactly vouch for what a “Viva Las Vegas feel with a Hollywood twist” is supposed to look like, as the restaurant describes it, I did like the urban, modern exposed brick and metallic dragon

Umami Japanese Restaurant

Umami Japanese Restaurant in Sugar Land is an upscale blend of traditional and modern Japanese cuisine. (Photo by Stefan Modrich)

sculpture adorning the ceiling. The sleek bar and comfy booths were also nice touches. Central to Umami’s claim as the best sushi joint in town is the quality of its fish. The restaurant said it never uses Yellowfin tuna and only uses Spanish Bluefin tuna, one of the most expensive va-

rieties in the world. It is “one of the most hunted species on the planet,” according to Outside Magazine. I’ve always subscribed to the old adage, “You get what you pay for.” And while Umami may be expensive, I thought the lunch menu — helpfully labeled “Decisions”

— was a fun and simple way to sample a broad spectrum of the choices available for $16, allowing you to choose from appetizers, starters and entrees. Before that, though, I started with a pot of Kyoto Cherry Rose Tea ($5) with an organic green tea base. It was mild and sweet, and

COMMUNITY

CALENDAR

according to the menu, only mildly caffeinated. I started with a hearty side of Brussels sprouts ($2) that were roasted and garnished with scallions and crushed almonds. The Brussels sprouts were easy enough for this rookie chopsticks user to handle, but the smaller bits were not.

Address: 18921 University Blvd. #900, Sugar Land Dining Options: Curbside pick-up, delivery via Doordash, Grubhub, Seamless Hours: 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., 5-9:30 p.m. daily Entrée prices: $9$11.95 Kid-friendly: Yes Senior discount: No Alcohol: No Healthy options: Yes Star of the show: Nigiri

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. MAY 1 LAMBDA SIGMA CHAPTER OF DKG VIRTUAL MEETING MAY 1ST Local chapter, Lambda Sigma of Delta Kappa Gamma, a professional society of leading women educators will conduct a garden party themed zoom meeting Saturday morning at 10:00, May 1st, to celebrate the DKG Founders. Annual dues need to be mailed to the chapter treasurer. Educators who are interested in learning more about DKG, contact dkglsnews2020@gmail.com AMERICAN LEGION FREEMAN POST 942 CRAWFISH BOIL American Legion Freeman Post 942 will be hosting a Crawfish Boil Saturday, May 1, 2021 at the Legion Hall, 311 Ulrich, Sugar Land, The event will be held from 1-6 PM. Plates of one pound of crawfish with Corn and potatoes will be offered for $10.00. Also for $5.00 you may obtain Two hot dogs, a soft drink and chips. All proceeds go to the American Legion Charities. PAPER SHREDDING EVENT Missouri City Green and the City of Missouri City will host a paper shredding event from 9am to 12pm at the Public Safety Headquarters, 3849 Cartwright Rd 77459. Limit 2 boxes per household of confidential documents only-no newspapers, magazines, catalogs or flyers. This free event is for residences only, no businesses. Donations are welcome to fund future recycling events. For more information, visit www.missouricitygreen.org. MAY 3 10TH ANNUAL POT OF GOLD GOLF CLASSIC @ Sweetwater Country Club. find more information at www.fbrr.org/golf MAY 4 - JUNE 1 COME TO THE GARDENS St. Catherine of Sienna Episcopal Church, 4747 Sienna Parkway, Missouri City will

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

meet in the sanctuary on May 4, 11, 25 and June 1 at 8:30 a.m. Ð 9 a.m. Come and join this four week reﬂection on the 4 Biblical Gardens with time for prayer and meditation. For additional information contact melinda@ siennachurch.org or call 281-778-2046. MAY 8 2021 MODELMANIA PLASTIC MODEL SHOW AND CONTEST. Sponsor - Houston IPMS May 8th 2021 from 9am to 5pm Stafford Centre 10505 Cash Road, Stafford, Texas General Admission - Adults $5; Children 6-16 $2, Model Contest - Door Prizes - Vendors - Displays Family Fun! MAY 13 FT. BEND/HARRIS RETIRED EDUCATORS ZOOM MEETING Ft. Bend/Harris Retired Educators next zoom meeting is Thursday morning, May 13th, at 10:00-noon. Program: Brian McCauley will share information about the historical site, San Felipe de Austin located in San Felipe, Austin County, TX, followed by Chair Yoga. Paid members will receive an emailed zoom invitation a week prior to the meeting. Further information for any retired educator, email cmduvall@aol.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. GIVE A GIFT OF HOPE Give a Gift of Hope one-time or monthly. Your help provides access to therapies and services EXPERIENCE COUNTS! 35+ YEARS SERVING FORT BEND COUNTY 281-243-2344 281.243.2300

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 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.

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