05-12-21 Edition of the Fort Bend Star

Local students recognized in singing competition - Page 2

Bar Kada in Missouri City featured some eclectic Happy Hour specials to satisfy the taste buds during a recent visit. Read our review inside on Page 8. (Photo by Stefan Modrich)

WEDNESDAY • MAY 12, 2021 Check out

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County commissioners, Judge spar over COVID-19 budget vote

By Stefan Modrich SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

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Despite outcries from Fort Bend County Judge KP George and calls to action from local nonprofit leaders, the Fort Bend County Commissioners Court voted 4-1 May 4 to approve the county’s allocation of more than $157 million in state and local COVID-19 relief funds

apportioned from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (APRA).

The funds are to be split between 2021 and 2022, according to the budget, which is a draft dated April 29 and was the most recent version of the document available per George’s communications director Tami Frazier.

George posted a statement on Facebook last Wednesday in response

to the vote, calling it a “haphazardly constructed plan” and “without an iota of community involvement.”

Precinct 2 Commissioner Grady Prestage, who represents Missouri City and Stafford, made a motion to implement a preliminary budget recommendation, which was seconded by Precinct 4 Commissioner Ken DeMerchant of Sugar Land.

Emails to Prestage, DeMerchant, George, and Precinct 1 Commissioner Vincent Morales of Rosenberg sent Monday with questions about what will be done to ensure community involvement and participation in future discussions about the budget, as well as whether or not the Commissioners Court

SEE VOTE PAGE 7

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Area officials at odds over legislation

By Stefan Modrich SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Fort Bend County Judge KP George cited the silence of Greater Houston Partnership (GHP) on what he called “voter suppression” bills “reminiscent of Jim Crow era tactics” — Texas House Bill 6 and Senate Bill 7 — in the Texas Legislature as the reason the county will not become a dues-paying member of the organization.

The Texas House passed Senate Bill 7 last Friday, which would limit some voting expansions utilized during the COVID-19 pandemic such as drive-through voting.

“At a time in our country when we should all come together, these restrictive laws needlessly and unfairly make it more difficult for people to vote,” George wrote in a Facebook post last Thursday.

“It’s simple: Cutting voting hours makes it harder to vote.

Ending drive-through voting makes it harder to vote. Allowing partisan actors to film voters casting their ballot makes it harder to vote.”

George echoed the sentiments of his Democratic

Sienna Crossing Elementary School fifth grade teacher Sarah Sutar reacts Friday, May 7 immediately after being named Texas Teachers of Tomorrow's 2021 Teacher of the Year. Sutar won the award out of more than 500 nominations from school districts around the state. (Photo by Landan Kuhlmann)

Local teacher surprised with state education honor

By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

When Sienna Crossing Elementary principal Rachel Rosier e-mailed Sarah Sutar to wear a nice dress last Friday, Sutar believed it to just be in preparation for yearbook photos or a video recognizing teachers for various accomplishments during the year.

The real occasion, however, brought out an uncontrollable flood of emotions.

“All of a sudden there were announcements, and they were preparing to say something, but it still

“I was shaking inside – I just felt so thankful in that second. I just had a million emotions and feelings that came out as happy tears.”

The reason for her happiness was that education nonprofit organization Texas Teachers of Tomorrow (TTT) presented Sutar with a $5,000 check on May 7 as the organization’s 2021 Teacher of the Year.

Since 2016, Texas Teachers of Tomorrow has given the award to an educator Sarah Sutar (center) accepts a $5,000 check from Texas nominated by a district Teachers of Tomorrow's Dave Saba, left, and Sienna Crossing official or school administrator. principal Rachel Rosier. (Photo by Landan Kuhlmann) For the 2020-2021 school didn’t click to me. When who teaches fifth grade year, Sutar was chosen out the door popped open, I math and science at Sienna of more than 500 statewide was in shock,” said Sutar, Crossing in Missouri City. nominations as a finalist

before online voting determined the winner. The nominations were from more than 7,000 first-year teachers who are part of the TTT network around the state.

“We are so proud of Sarah and the work she does with her students,” Texas Teachers of Tomorrow Chief Development Officer Dave Saba said. “We work every day to ensure every child has a great teacher and Sarah is truly a great teacher. It takes great support to create great teachers and we know that the Fort Bend ISD team

SEE HONOR PAGE 7

County officials encourage residents to prepare for hurricane season

By Stefan Modrich SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

SEE LEGISLATION PAGE 7 With temperatures steadily increasing as the summer approaches, county officials are asking residents to remain vigilant as another active hurricane season is expected to make its way to the Texas Gulf Coast in the coming months.

Fort Bend County Judge KP George and other local

officials announced on May 7 in Stafford that the county would utilize 10 billboards — provided by Clear Channel Outdoor at no cost to the county, George said — in various locations with a 2021 countdown clock to mark the start of this year’s hurricane season, which begins June 1.

“It is very important for our citizens to prepare, just in case,” George said. “If you need to evacuate, if you need to do anything in rela-

County Judge KP George, center, addresses the media May 7 during a press conference in Stafford.

(Contributed photo)

tion to addressing a major storm.”

George and local officials said they will follow guidance from the National Weather Service (NWS). The organization

SEE HURRICANE PAGE 7

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THE STAR

PAGE 2 • Wednesday, May 12, 2021

Fort Bend Christian Academy to host shadow play for community

By Landan Kuhlmann

Local students honored during Sugar Land singing competition

By Landan Kuhlmann

LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

A local private school is preparing to host a show aimed at demonstrating the benefits of sign language to the hearing-impaired community.

Fort Bend Christian Academy will host a shadow play entitled “The Taste of Sunrise,” at Sugar Land Towne Center, 15958 City Walk, at 7 p.m. on May 22. FBCA’s Theatre and American Sign Language departments collaborated on the play, which centers around the life of a young deaf boy named Tuc

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Luke Dibble performs a scene as part of "The Taste of Sunrise. (Contributed photo)

who struggles to find his voice according to the school.

“His journey leads him to discover sign language,

which opens our character’s eyes to his true identity and opens our audience’s eyes to the history of Deaf culture and the beauty of American Sign Language,” the school said in a news release.

Admission to the performance is free, and all community members are welcomed to attend.

For more information on the show, visit fortbendchristian.org/ the-taste-of-sunrise.

For more information about Fine Arts at FBCA, community members can visit fortbendchristian.org/arts.

The Sugar Land Arts and Cultural Foundation launched a virtual teen talent competition aimed at showcasing musical talent in Sugar Land earlier this year, and recently named the first of what will be six finalists to perform in the competition’s finale in June.

Sugar Land’s Cultural Arts Foundation Youth board opened the “Student Spotlights of the Month” competition in March to high school students who attend Sugar Land area schools. Interested students submit a three-minute video online at slacf.org showcasing their talents, where a panel of judges from the SLCAF board select two winners from the entries for March, April and May to advance to

Jonsson

Krouch

the final round and a chance at $450 in June.

Dulles High School senior Marco Jonsson and George Ranch High School senior Cameron Krouch were the March winners, according to a news release from the organization.

Jonsson, a violinist with the Dulles symphony orchestra, played a piece from a previous audition, while Krouch performed a selection from “Kiss of the Spider Woman.”

Winners of the April portion of the competition will be announced soon, and videos can now be submitted for the May portion of the competition.

During the final competition in June, SLACF said fellow students, family, friends and the community will be able to vote for the winner online.

For more information, about the Sugar Land Cultural Arts Foundation visit us online at slcaf.org.

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Wednesday, May 12, 2021 • PAGE

3

Missouri City has some soul-searching to do How much money is Missouri City going to spend to fire its city managers?

“This is a true embarrassment to Missouri City, no matter how you shake it,” Missouri City-based real estate agent Noel Pinnock wrote on Facebook. “The shakeup is costing taxpayers who already don’t have a homestead exemption and very few places to shop almost $1,000,000 in direct and indirect costs.”

Anthony Snipes got $213,200 in his payout last year, and Odis Jones, who was terminated by the city council on April 26, may get more than $250,000, according to an estimate from City Attorney E. Joyce Iyamu, factoring in Jones’ full benefits and compensation package and the portions of it that would be eligible in the event he is relieved of his duties.

While supporters of Mayor Robin Elackatt, former Mayor Yolanda Ford, At-Large Position 2 Councilwoman Lynn Clouser and former Councilman

Stefan Modrich

Chris Preston will all have a different justification for the behavior of their preferred candidates and may stick up for Snipes or Jones or compare the two men, it’s not clear to me that there’s anything to be impressed about by this whole ordeal.

And as I was reading some of the feedback I saw from Missouri City residents about the decision to part ways with Jones, it makes me wonder just how much more of this residents are willing to put up with.

Could this all have been avoided? I certainly believe so, and not merely through the benefit of hindsight. We had years of evidence prior to Snipes and Jones arriving in Missouri City, and

any search firm worth its salt would have been able to suss out these key details in very little time.

What makes this predicament with Snipes and Jones so cringe-worthy is the numerous signs that both men gave to the public and to city leaders that they weren’t up for the job, and voters need to do a better job of vetting the candidates for public office who in turn determine the makeup of the inner workings of their city government.

According to a 2015 report from Austin television station KVUE, Snipes resigned as assistant city manager in May 2015 after an investigation found Snipes organized a training for Austin city employees in which presenters made comments that members felt were degrading toward women in the “Women Leading in Local Government” training session.

A report from the Austin Chronicle suggested Snipes’ training session

Massarini, Villareal help catapult Travis Tigers to bi-district sweep

By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

A big weekend from two of the Travis Tigers' baseball stars helped them to be one of just two high school baseball teams to stave off the end of their season. After taking down Katy Taylor by a score of 8-2 on May 7, the Tigers completed a bi-district sweep of the Mustangs with a 5-3 win on May 8 to advance to the Class 6A area round for the fifth consecutive season.

Nick Massarini drove in two runs in Game 1 on May 7, while Mason Muchaw had a homer and two RBIs of his own. Max Villareal also pounded out two hits and two RBIs, and Michael Gallegos had a two-hit night.

Massarini and Villareal each had two hits in Game 2, as did Micah Dean, Zach Nelson and Lathan Buzard to lead a 13-hit attack.

Travis (25-4-1) will take on Jersey Village (17-15-1) in the area round beginning Friday as they look to make their first regional quarterfinal appearance since 2017.

Elsewhere in Class 6A action, Elkins had its season come to an end after being swept by Katy Tompkins by scores of 14-3 on May 7 and 12-2 on May 8, ending the season with a 15-12-1 record.

The Clements Rangers were also swept, losing to the Katy Tigers 5-2 on May 7 and 13-1 on May 8. Clements finished the 2021 campaign with a 14-18 record.

Ridge Point was unable to hold a 6-4 lead against Katy Cinco Ranch in the seventh inning on May, dropping a 76 decision to end their season at 20-9.

In Class 5A, the Kempner Cougars swept through their bi-district series with wins of 3-1 on May 7 and 16-2 on May 8 against Houston Northside.

The Cougars (20-11) will take on Port Neches-Groves (18-14-1) beginning Friday in their first area round playoff appearance since 2016.

Softball The Ridge Point Lady Panthers and Travis Lady Tigers both had strong regular seasons, and have not let up as postseason play begins. After both being down in their initial bi-district series, both have now won four straight as the good times continue to roll.

Travis once again made it through on the strength of a powerful offense, sweeping Cy-Fair by scores of 8-7 in Game 1 and 11-6 in Game 2. Ariel Kowalewski was again the catalyst in Game 1’s comeback win, smashing a two-run double in the sixth inning to erase a 3-1 deficit.

Then in Game 2, Kowalewski had her third homer of the postseason while Rachel Ybarra had her second of

the playoffs to pace the Lady Tigers. Kennedy Clark also threw out a runner attempting to steal to seal the Game 2 victory.

Travis (16-3) will take on defending Class 6A champion Katy (18-2-2) in the next round.

Ridge Point had two comeback wins to advance.

In Game 1, the Lady Panthers used a seven-run sixth inning to quickly turn a 4-3

deficit into a 10-4 lead. Ridge Point overcame a 3-0 deficit late to tie the game, then scratched out enough offense for a 6-3 win in nine innings to advance to the regional quarterfinals.

The Lady Panthers (24-9) will face Cy Creek (20-3) in the next round.

To see this week's playoff schedule, go to fortbendstar. com

trafficked in misogynistic stereotypes, including that women were supposedly less likely to read agenda items and act on emotions rather than facts.

As for Jones, after three years as the city manager in Hutto, a town northwest of Austin, he resigned from his post in December 2019.

In December 2020, the Hutto City Council voted to nullify a $412,000 separation agreement with Jones. Just a few days later, Jones sued the city, two of its council members and the current city manager in federal district court, according to Austin TV station KXAN. According to a Texas Western District Court official, the case is still pending.

“We were warned by multiple cities to not hire him,” resident Angie Miller Korger wrote on Facebook.

“It’s on us but we are paying for the mistakes of other administrations. It’s an embarrassment when friends in nearby towns

send me links to other cities because ours is such a mess.”

On top of this, on May 1, Missouri City voters approved proposals to amend the city’s charter to allow for three-year terms for councilmembers and the mayor, while also limiting the number of consecutive years one can serve in those positions to 12 years, with a two-year break.

Officials and anyone who cares about the healthy functioning of the Missouri City government should take a long, hard look in the mirror, and ask themselves if this is a path they want to continue to go down.

If Ford and Preston have any ambition to continue their political careers, it would be wise for them to remain engaged in the dayto-day happenings of the council and to pay attention to the consequences they have wrought through the precedent they have set for Elackatt and his

new council majority.

And for newcomers like Elackatt and Clouser, it will be crucial for them not to alienate At-Large Position 1 Councilwoman Vashaundra Edwards and District A Councilwoman Cheryl Sterling and the constituents who make up their supporters. A divided government can be a positive when it is a check on the runaway ambitions of a faction that is eager to use its newfound power.

But it is also important for those in the majority to extend an olive branch to begin consensus-building and move beyond partisan bickering. Voters in Missouri City need to make sure they aren’t shy about expressing their concerns about the leadership ability and decision making of the city’s elected officials. Those officials in turn need to be more careful and thorough when the time comes to appoint Jones’ successor to help the city to begin to regain the trust of its residents.

Marshall girls headline local finishers at state track meet

By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

The Marshall Lady Buffalos are on top of the Class 5A track and field world once again, as they headlined finishers at the UIL state track meet in Austin last weekend.

Marshall’s girls team were co-champions of Class 5A last weekend on the

strength of Tairah Johnson, Cesley Williams and their relay teams. It is the second straight year in which the Lady Buffalos won at least a share of the team title, as they tied with Lancaster in accruing 46 total points.

Johnson was the Class 5A champion in the girls 100-meter hurdles with a time of 13.77 seconds, while Williams won the state title in the girls 400 after finish-

ing in 54.07 seconds. The Buffalos girls 400-meter relay team of Shanice Walker, Cesley Williams, Jania Williams and Johnson was the Class 5A champion after running a 46.34 in Austin on Friday.

Desirae Roberts finished fourth in the girls 300 hurdles in a time of 43.75 For the full local results of last weekend's UIL state meet, visit fortbendstar.com

ASK THE EXPERT

Q: A:

Can a repair facility save me from paying my deductible?

An honest repair shop will always say “no” to saving deductibles. Your insurance policy is a contract between you and your insurance Chuck Charlton carrier. It basically says that if you have a collision loss, you are responsible for the first portion of repairs (your deductible) and the insurance company will pay the rest. If the final repair cost is less, you’re still responsible for the predetermined deductible amount. Any reduction should correctly go back to the insurance company. There are legitimate ways to reduce your cost. An appearance allowance (credit towards your deductible usually for minor cosmetic repairs not completed) is one way but must be consulted with your insurance company. Be wary of the repair shop that offers to save you your deductible. Are they completing all repairs or is your safety being jeopardized with an inadequate repair?

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We typically set goals for health and fitness, investing, saving for retirement, career advancements, and our children’s education. Most of us set goals and make plans for travel and Margie Connolly, Attorney vacations. (2020 excepted.)

But studies show that fewer than half of us set goals for our potential legal issues, such as estate planning or preparing for disability due to accident or injury, or guardianship for our children if something should happen to us.

As a probate attorney, I have seen families struggle emotionally and financially when one of their members passes away or suffers a debilitating illness or tragic accident. The emotional struggle can be devastating, but the financial and legal struggles do not need to be. Proper planning can make difficult times somewhat easier for our families when legal documents such as wills, powers of attorney, guardianship designations, and in some cases, trusts, are in place.

Attorneys cannot ease the emotional pain of loss or illness, but can ease the stress and financial burden families face, by helping create estate planning documents that address their specific needs.

Reach out to your trusted legal professional to learn more.

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Worship Directory FORT BEND COUNT Y

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

502 Eldridge Road, Sugar Land, TX 77478 Reverend Dr. Fred Seay, Pastor Sunday Worship In Person 11:00 am / Nursery Available Worship Online on YouTube www.fpcsl.org

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Scripture of the week

“Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father.”

- Leviticus 19:3

PAGE 4 • Wednesday, May 12, 2021

THE STAR

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

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OakBend garners awards for patient care and safety

From Staff Reports

By Landan Kuhlmann

OakBend Medical Center recently won multiple awards for its patient care and safety. (Photo from Facebook)

to a news release.

“We have worked hard to make sure that our patients are taken care of in a

safe, efficient environment,” OakBend CEO Joe Freudenberger said in a news release.

5

Memorial Hermann offering COVID-19 walk-in appointments across Houston

LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

A local healthcare facility recently received multiple national and statewide awards for its quality of patient care and safety measures.

On May 3, OakBend Medical Center’s campuses at 22003 Southwest Fwy. and 1705 Jackson St. in Richmond were given ‘A’ grades for achieving the highest national standards in patient safety in the Spring 2021 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades.

The assessment from LeapFrog, an independent national watchdog organization, assigns grades from A-F to hospitals across the country based on their performance in preventing medical errors, infections, and other harms according to a news release from OakBend. The grade uses up to 27 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign grades to more than 2,600 U.S. acute-care hospitals twice per year.

“We pride ourselves on creating a safe environment for patients as well as staff and physicians,” OakBend administrator Marilyn Phillips said.

A few days earlier on April 30, OakBend achieved four of out five stars in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updated quality rating system.

The overall star rating for hospitals summarizes quality information and measures across areas of care such as safety of care, re-admission, patient experience, effectiveness and timeliness of care, and efficient use of medical imaging according

Wednesday, May 12, 2021 • PAGE

The Memorial Hermann Medical Group (MHMG) is now offering free walkin COVID-19 vaccinations to community members across Greater Houston, according to a May 3 news release from the hospital system.

First- and second-dose walk-ins are now being accepted at select Memorial Hermann hospitals and clinics for individuals 16 years of age and older across the region, includ-

I CAME IN FOR ONE THING AND THEY HELPED ME WITH SO MUCH MORE “My wife calls me a ‘human forklift’ for all the wear & tear I’ve accumulated over the years in the Oil Field Industry.

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ing the MHMG Physicians at Sugar Creek clinic at 14023 Southwest Fwy. in Sugar Land. Eligible community members can come in during the clinic’s operating hours from 8 a.m – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m.

– noon on Saturdays to receive the vaccine.

A parent or legal representative must accompany 16and 17-year-olds to their vaccination appointments, the hospital system said.

The type of vaccine administered may vary by location, and Memorial Hermann locations administering the Moderna vaccine will only vaccinate individuals 18 years of age and older.

For up-to-date location information, details and directions visit the hospital system’s COVID-19 Vaccine Walk-In Clinics webpage or call the Memorial Hermann COVID-19 Vaccine Helpline at 833-772-2864.

ASK THE EXPERT

Q: A:

How common is Hearing Loss?

Hearing loss currently affects more than 36 million Americans.

Although hearing problems are commonly associated with the normal aging process, more than half of the people with Terry Snook hearing loss are younger than 65 years old. With AuD, FAAA the increased use of personal music players and earbuds, the number of Americans experiencing hearing loss at a younger age is growing.

Most Americans consider hearing loss a condition that is simply associated with aging and don’t know how to recognize the condition or who is qualified to diagnose and treat the condition. The Audiologists at Advanced Hearing Center have Doctoral Degrees in Audiology and specialize in evaluating, diagnosing, and treating people with hearing and balance problems. In an effort to raise awareness about the incidence and available treatments of hearing loss, Advanced Hearing Center is celebrating Better Hearing Month this May. Hearing loss can be caused by exposure to loud noises, ear infections, trauma, ear disease, illnesses, certain medications, and deterioration due to normal aging. Due to all of the factors that can affect someone’s hearing, this May we are encouraging people to get a hearing evaluation and to monitor their noise exposure. It is important to be cautious about the noise exposure you are subjected to and to use noise protection as often as possible to protect your hearing. Let’s celebrate Better Hearing Month this May and spread the word about the importance of taking care of your hearing!

Advanced Hearing Center www.advancedhearingcentertx.com

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PAGE 6 • Wednesday, May 12, 2021

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Officers of said corporation is YOLONDA HENRY, OWNER.

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Notice of award of contract shall be given by the City within one hundred and twenty (120) days fol-lowing the date of proposals.

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LEGALS REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS EMS MEDICAL DIRECTOR SERVICES The City of Sugar Land seeks qualifications for performing all work required for the following projects in the City: RFQ 2021-17: EMS MEDICAL DIRECTOR SERVICES Plans, specifications, and bidding documents may be obtained by registering at Public Purchase www.publicpurchase.com.

Sealed submittals, one (1) original, three (3) copies, and one (1) electronic copy on flash drive, shall be delivered to the City of Sugar Land, Office of the City Secretary, 2700 Town Center Boulevard North, Suite 122, Sugar Land, Texas, 77479, on or before 2:00 p.m. on June 3, 2021, at which time only names of the firms will be read. Submittals received after the opening date and time will not be consid-ered.

Questions regarding this submittal must be received on or before 3:00 p.m., Monday, May 20, 2021. Please post all questions on Public Purchase www.publicpurchase.com.

Notice of award of contract shall be given by the City within one hundred and twenty (120) days fol-lowing the date of submittals.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS DEVELOPMENT CODE AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 2, ZONING REGULATIONS FOR THE HILL AREA RESIDENTIAL (HR-1) DISTRICT Planning and Zoning Commission Public Hearings: 6:30 p.m., May 27, 2021, City of Sugar Land City Council Chamber, 2700 Town Center Boulevard North, hosted via live stream at http://www.sugarlandtx.gov/1238/SLTV-16Live-Video or https://www.youtube.com/sugarlandtxgov/live and Sugar Land Comcast subscribers can also tune-in on Channel 16 to hear all persons interested in a public hearing for proposed amendments to Chapter 2 Zoning Regulations of the Development Code related to The Hill Area Residential (HR-1) district. The amendments address new construction and additions on the topics of maximum building width and size, maximum height, entry features, exterior building finishes, and tree preservation.

Learn more about the draft changes by visiting the project webpage at www. sugarlandtx.gov/TheHill, or by contacting the City of Sugar Land Planning Department by email at longrangeplanning@sugarlandtx.gov or phone (281) 275-2218. The agenda items for this meeting will be available on the City website at www.sugarlandtx.gov/ under “Meeting Agendas” Planning and Zoning Commission no later than Friday, May 21, 2020. Request details or provide feedback on the proposed Development Code amendment online at www.sugarlandtx.gov/PublicHearingComment.

As of the date of this publication (May 12, 2020) the Centers for Disease Control recommends social-distancing and the avoidance of large and small gatherings in public spaces in order to limit the spread of COVID-19. As a result, the City of Sugar Land has elected to conduct this meeting online.

Members of the public wishing to view the meeting live may do so at the links above. Members of the public desiring to make comments during the public hearings may submit their written comments to the Office of City Secretary (citysec@sugarlandtx.gov). Comments should reference the hearing in the subject line, must be received by 3:00 p.m., Thursday, May 27, 2020, then will be read into the record during the public hearing. Members of the public desiring to make their comments during the published date and time of the public hearings must e-mail (citysec@sugarlandtx.gov) or call ((281) 2752730) the Office of the City Secretary by 3:00 p.m., Thursday, May 27, 2020 to register and receive instructions for direct participation during the hearings.

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

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS CHANGE IN ZONING FROM STANDARD SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (R-1) TO ZERO LOT LINE SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (R-1Z) ZONING FOR FOR SUGAR MILL SECTION 7 (MISTY LAKE), GRANTS LAKE PATIO HOMES (THE ENCLAVE AT GRANTS LAKE), AND CHIMNEYSTONE SECTIONS 1, 2, AND 3

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Questions regarding this proposal must be received by Wednesday, May 26, 2021 on or before 3:00 P.M. Please contact Charlotte Starks with HUB International at Charlotte.starks@hubinternational.com.

281-217-5799

HEALTH & MEDICAL

Application has been made with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission for a Wine and Beer Retailer’s Permit by Sakae Investment Inc. dba Mochi Sushi , to be located at 5854 New Territory Blvd. , Sugar Land , Fort Bend , Texas 77479.

Director Kallie Zou and Tai Hong Cheng

Sealed proposals, one (1) original, (1) copy, and one (1) complete electronic copy (thumb drive only) 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, and one (1) complete electronic copy (thumb drive only) shall be delivered to HUB International, Attn: Charlotte Starks, 10000 North Central Expressway, Suite #1200, Dallas, TX 75321., on or before 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 22, 2021, at which time the names of the firms submitting sealed proposals will be read. Proposals received after the opening date and time will not be considered.

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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.

Plans, specifications, and bidding documents may be obtained by registering at Public Purchase www.publicpurchase.com or by contacting Charlotte Starks with HUB International at Char-lotte. starks@hubinternational.com

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Your publisher has agreed to participate in this program and run these ads as a service to the Southeastern Advertising Publishers Association.

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REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS HEALTH AND WELFARE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS The City of Sugar Land seeks proposals for performing all work required for the following project in the City:

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Planning & Zoning Commission Public Hearing 6:30 p.m., May 27, 2021, City of Sugar Land City Council Chamber, 2700 Town Center Boulevard North, hosted via live stream at http://www.sugarlandtx.gov/1238/ SLTV-16-Live-Video or https://www.youtube. com/sugarlandtxgov/live, and Sugar Land Comcast Subscribers can also tune-in on Channel 16 to hear all persons interested in the proposed change in zoning for Sugar Mill Section 7 (commonly known as Misty Lake), Grants Lake Patio Homes (commonly known as The Enclave at Grants Lake), and Chimneystone Sections 1, 2, and 3.

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The agenda item for this meeting will be placed on the City of Sugar Land website at www. sugarlandtx.gov under “Meeting Agendas” Planning & Zoning Commission no later than Friday, May 21, 2021. Request details or provide feedback on the proposed change in Zoning online at www.sugarlandtx.gov/ PublicHearingComment or contact City of Sugar Land Planning Department at (281) 275-2218.

As of the date of this publication (May 12, 2021) the Centers for Disease Control recommends social-distancing and the avoidance of large and small gatherings in public spaces in order to limit the spread of COVID-19. As a result, the City of Sugar Land has elected to conduct this meeting online. Members of the public wishing to view the meeting live may do so at the links above. Members of the public desiring to make comments during the public hearing may submit their written comments to the Office of City Secretary (citysec@sugarlandtx. gov). Comments should reference the hearing in the subject line, must be received by 3:00 p.m., Thursday, May 27, 2021, then will be read into the record during the public hearing. Members of the public desiring to make their comments during the published date and time of the public hearing must e-mail (citysec@sugarlandtx.gov) or call ((281) 275-2730) the Office of the City Secretary by 3:00 p.m., Thursday, May 27, 2021 to register and receive instructions for direct participation during the hearing.

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

THE STAR

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Wednesday, May 12, 2021 • PAGE

★ HONOR FROM PAGE 1 provides amazing support so that all new teachers can succeed.”

Each year, teachers are nominated by colleagues and principals for the title.

Sienna Crossing principal Rachel Rosier said that despite being a first-year teacher during the COVID-19 pandemic, Sutar immediately connected to her fifth grade students and was an easy choice to nominate. “(Sarah’s) compassion and kind heart have allowed students to see that academics are very important, but so is kindness, learning how to persevere, and being okay with doing things differently if it doesn't work the first time,” she said. “This year for educators and students has been quite the roller coaster, but together we have benefitted in truly realizing that we must work together to be successful. That is a lifelong lesson Sarah has modeled for her students the entire year.”

Changing course The award was the latest in a winding journey for the 25-year-old Sutar, who did not originally set out to become an educator after graduating from FBISD’s Austin High School in 2013. When beginning her undergraduate work at the University of Houston-Downtown, she was a business major.

★ VOTE FROM PAGE 1 will amend the budget nonprofit organizations will have the opportunity to apply for future funding were not answered by press time.

Precinct 3 Commissioner Andy Meyers of Katy said the vote was an “initial approval” that could change upon receiving guidance from the U.S. Department of the Treasury “in a couple of weeks” and that there could be further changes to the budget after that.

“If you got left out, there’s still a possibility that things will be modified,” Meyers said. “This is a moving target for us, to say the least. So we’ll do our best to make certain we’ll allocate the money as fairly as we can.”

No other commissioners offered comments, aside from Prestage prompting George to call for a vote, saying “there’s no more debate.”

Four leaders of local nonprofit organizations — Ruthanne Medford of Child Advocates of Fort Bend (CAFB) Shannan Stavinoha of Parks Youth Ranch (PYR), Ilene Harper of Family Life and Community Resource Center (FLCRC) and Aaron Groff of Abigail’s Place — ad-

★ LEGISLATION FROM PAGE 1 colleagues Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, both of whom announced on May 5 they had canceled their State of the County/ City addresses that were originally set to be hosted by GHP. On April 5, George appeared at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston alongside Hidalgo and other Democratic leaders who denounced the legislation.

Both bills are related to election integrity and security and supporters say their aim is to prevent voter fraud by increasing penalties for those who are caught com-

★ HURRICANE FROM PAGE 1 launched National Hurricane Preparedness Week, which began Sunday and runs through Saturday.

NWS suggests families should take stock of their emergency plans, including having a list of contacts, securing, important documents and creating a list of essential supplies such as food, water, and medicine.

Determining your risk and if you are in a flood-prone area, fortifying windows or doors in your home and formulating a written plan are other key steps to safely navigating hurricane season, according to NWS. George emphasized the

Sarah Sutar instructs her students on an assignment during class last Friday, May 7. (Photo by Landan Kuhlmann)

Near the end of her undergrad, however, she felt pulled a different direction – one that her mother had gone before her.

“I told her I wanted to go into education...I was around a lot of youngsters in my family all the time – I’m the one they call for babysitting, help and all of that,” she said. “Being around kids has just always been in me – I love being around them and just teaching.”

She was further driven af-

ter taking part in Houston’s Housing, Entrepreneurship And Readiness Training (H.E.A.R.T.) Program, which works with college students and adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

“Just seeing those moments of “oh my gosh, I understand,” I told myself that this was my path,” she said. “Just knowing I was helping other individuals grow means so much to me. That whole experience made me realize I wanted

dressed county officials prior to the vote during the public comments period.

The pattern for all of these organizations has been a familiar one to those involved with service and charity groups throughout the pandemic: a spike in demand for services, coupled with a decrease in donations and revenue sources.

“One of the things I would like the commissioner’s court to do is really look at the different collaborations that are happening,” Stavinoha said Monday. “There’s already groups of us working together. (They’re asking) ‘how can we fix this? How can we solve this?’ That’s what we’re doing.”

Several nonprofit leaders expressed optimism for future funding and the opportunity to be included in future discussions, noting that while $20 million has been allocated to nonprofit partnerships in the budget, $20,802,889 of the total budget remains unencumbered. They also emphasized that they do not want to see other nonprofits lose out on the money they have been earmarked.

“I think our commissioners are going to be receptive to those changes,” Stavinoha said. “My intent is to be part of the

conversation. We’ve struggled financially throughout the pandemic, as have a lot of people.”

Medford estimated the work of CAFB, which operates on a $5 million budget, saves the county between $1 million to $2 million annually by providing “essential services” advocating for children who have been abused and neglected at no cost to the affected families. She said the organization served 3,500 children and families in 2020.

“If we didn’t do those, someone else would have to do that at a cost to taxpayers,” Medford said Monday. “We really want the commissioners to recognize the value that we serve for the citizens of Fort Bend County and to be able to participate in the process of seeing if there’s opportunities to apply for the additional funding.”

She said CAFB did receive a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) of $464,200 in April 2020 and will continue to seek alternative revenue sources.

“We have to have a diverse portfolio of funding,” Medford said. “Because if one thing falls (through), we have to see if we can make it up with something

else.”

Groff, who is also the Mayor of Fulshear, said that because one of the ARPA’s main goals is to fund affordable housing, which is the main mission of Abigail’s Place, that he remains bullish on the organization’s chances to secure future funding.

Among the points of contention George identified with the budget were spending $7 million of the APRA funding on a courthouse extension. During the meeting, he said based on the “little guidance the county has received” thus far, that such projects unrelated to COVID-19 relief would not likely be eligible for the funding Under the category of “Special Purchases/CIP” $1 million was set aside for “first responders technology,” $2 million for EMS vehicles and equipment, $61,000 for Justice Center audio visual equipment,

mitting voter fraud or voter intimidation. HB 6 allows poll watchers to observe elections and “call to the attention of an election official any observed or suspected irregularity or violation of the law in the conduct of the election.”

Republican Rep. Jacey Jetton of Sugar Land, who represents House District 26, is one of the joint authors of HB 6.

“House Bill 6 does not impact your ability to vote, but instead protects your vote from theft and fraud,” Jetton said in a statement. “The Elections Committee heard testimony from the Attorney General’s Office stating the primary victims of ballot harvesting and voter assistance fraud are the elderly, mem-

bers of minority communities, and those who live in low-income areas. This is completely unacceptable. House Bill 6 increases protections for vulnerable communities by implementing common sense election reforms.”

Mike Reichek of Sugar Land wrote on Facebook in defense of the legislation, adding that conservatives are “not interested in making it harder to vote.”

“Conservatives are determined to make it harder to cheat,” Reichek said. “Everyone, regardless of viewpoint or

affiliation should be on board with that.”

Marilyn Hartley of Missouri City supported George’s stance, saying she thought George’s views reflected that Fort Bend County was “proud, strong, diverse, thriving, and caring.”

Citing a goal of stopping paid ballot harvesting and voter assistance fraud, both bills received broad Republican support in both chambers, including from Rep. Phil Stephenson of House District 85, a mostly rural district that includes much of Richmond

importance of having an insurance check-up with a local agent to make sure families take inventory of their valuables and that they are covered for potential losses or damages, something that he said was an issue for several area families in the aftermath of Winter Storm Uri. George also encouraged residents to check on their neighbors, particularly the elderly and disabled, to find out how to best assist them in the event of a major storm.

For additional information, residents can visit the Fort Bend County Office of Emergency Management (FBCOEM) website at https://fbcoem.org/ or call 281-342-6185.

to do something bigger and impact a lot more kids.”

Conquering obstacles Sutar later received her Masters of Education from UH’s main campus in 2020, and enrolled in TTT. She was hired at Sienna Crossing in August 2020 as part of a Texas COVID-19 waiver that allowed school districts to employ Alternative Certification Program (ACP) candidates who had not completed their tests.

So in addition to battling standard challenges

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that come with being a first-year teacher, such as acclimating to school surroundings and connecting with students, Sutar also had to study for and pass three exams to be "standard certified" per Texas Teachers of Tomorrow’s guidelines – all while dealing with the challenges of the pandemic. She is working on completing a fourth and final certification test this summer.

“It was a hard year, but it was also an experience

7

filled with a lot of blessings.

I feel like I have so much support, that it turned into a blessing and made me realize that if I can conquer this, I can conquer anything,” she said. “It was a tough year, but it really opened my eyes to things I thought I couldn’t do but I was able to.”

But the best part of the job, Sutar said, goes beyond the award. She still lives close to FBISD’s Walker Station Elementary – which she attended as a child – and said she consistently recalls times from her youth in efforts to connect with her students more easily at Sienna Crossing.

It was the main reason she wanted to return to FBISD, and will continue to teach there as long as they will have her.

“I wanted to give back to the community that raised me. It felt good teaching in a district where I had them teaching me. I got to be part of a cycle – one that started with me as a little kid in FBISD and seeing the student perspective, then got the chance to become a teacher and gain that perspective,” she said. “…I feel like being a young teacher, I can still have those flashbacks and share them with my kids so they can see that relationship. Feeling that connection and that cycle is great – now I get to see that side and relate to them better.”

and $742,600 for a District Clerk “digitalization project”. Of the $5 million in this category, $1,196,400 has been left unencumbered.

Groff and his peers view this unallocated money as a window of opportunity.

He said he respected the court’s efforts to come up with a plan in just a few days, and that funding for his low-income housing initiative aligns with one of the key goals of the ARPA. He’s partnering with Attack Poverty and HomeAid Houston to build four new housing units in Richmond, which he said is just “a few thousand dollars short” of being completely funded.

Groff said he hopes to break ground on the project sometime this summer.

“Which of these (nonprofit) projects can be really catalytic in addressing some of the countywide needs?” Groff said Monday. “I am optimistic that the additional funds will get leveraged.”

In addition, each of the county’s four precincts received $2 million and the County Judge’s office received $3 million for undefined “projects” for 2021.

George disputed that the county had the Treasury Department’s “complete guidance” on how the county could spend ARPA funds.

He said he wanted the process to mirror that of the county’s rental assistance and small business grant programs, which gave residents and entities an opportunity to apply for the funding.

“I honestly don’t think our commissioners’ court should decide which nonprofits should get money and which ones don’t get it,” George said during the May 4 meeting. “Based on their merit, it should be distributed. I believe every nonprofit, including the listed ones (in the budget) and those who we heard here today, they all help and support and protect our children and our citizens on a daily basis. Our office works with them on a daily basis. It is not fair.”

However, George said his decision to vote against the budget was not a vote against the nonprofits that were included in the budget.

“They are our partners,” George said. “My decision is not against them. I always felt I wanted to be fair, and I will stand for that every single day.”

and Rosenberg, and portions of Missouri City and Sugar Land.

Republican Senator Lois Kolkhorst is listed as one of the authors of SB 7. She represents Senate District 18, which includes Richmond and Rosenberg and part of Sugar Land.

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Bella is your typical loveable lab. She is a senior dog at 12-yearsold, but she still has so much love to give! She is gentle and great with kids too, making her a wonderful family dog!

THE STAR

PAGE 8 • Wednesday, May 12, 2021

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Review: Bar Kada offers tasty Asian eats, options for nightlife The Korean Paratha Tacos, Shrimp Chips, and Adobo’d Kwek Kwek from Bar Kada in Missouri City are just a few of the restaurant’s eclectic Happy Hour specials.

(Photo by Stefan Modrich)

I started things off with Adobo’d Kwek Kwek ($5), hard-boiled quail eggs brined with an adobo soup broth. They are then battered and fried and served on skewers with a dusting of cayenne pepper and a dish of sweet chili dipping sauce.

While much smaller than chicken or duck eggs, quail eggs are richer in nutrients and have a thick, creamy yolk.

Along with your appetizer, your server will ask if you’d like a basket of crispy shrimp chips sprinkled with Sriracha dust on the house.

Refills are $1.50. They are very similar in texture to chicharrones, the chips made from fried and dried pork rinds.

As I have learned in my various taco treks across Fort Bend County, outstanding tacos can take many forms. Bar Kada’s Korean Paratha Tacos ($12 or $10 for the lunch special) are the latest example.

A buttery paratha roll plays the role of tortilla, and between it was three absolutely delectable choices of meat. The Dak (chicken)

By Stefan Modrich SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Opening a bar during a global pandemic is a bold bet, but Bar Kada in Missouri City is making the calculation that the best days will be ahead in a postCOVID-19 reality.

The name comes from the Tagalog word “barkada,” a nod to the Filipino word for a group of friends, and the Spanish barcada, which means a boatload.

Bar Kada is a sports bar with more than 30 television screens, several arcade games and a patio with a life-size chess set. While these activities, aside from watching sports on TV, have been mostly dormant during the pandemic, they show promise as selling points for people to gather en masse in the not-so-distant future.

All of that stipulated, I was thrilled by what I found out during my visit to Bar Kada. One of the most important lessons I learned was that being adventurous almost always pays off.

Bulgogi is topped with a sweet and tangy Brussels sprout coleslaw and a spicy mayo drizzle. The Beef Bulgogi was adorned with fresh chopped onions and cilantro and a splash of smoky Asian sauce. The Spicy Dweji (pork) Bulgogi is accompanied by sweet pickled cucumbers, carrots, cilantro drizzle and a Sriracha glaze.

If you’re planning to partake, I can’t recommend the Peach Jelly Sake highly enough. It was my first time ever consuming the Japanese beverage, which is made from fermented rice.

This particular version had a layer of jelly atop the liquid itself, which made it a fun and relatively novel experience. It was sweet but not overpowering, and made for a great pairing with everything I ordered.

Bar Kada also sells its Viet Cajun Crawfish for $4.99 per pound, and you can monitor its Facebook page for updates on availability.

C&M SPECIALIST

HONDA & ACURA

Bar Kada

Address: 9009 Sienna Crossing Dr., Missouri City Dining Options: Dinein, curbside pick-up Hours: 11 a.m.-12 a.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-2 a.m. FridaySaturday Entrée prices: $10-$14 Kid-friendly: Yes Senior discount: No Alcohol: Yes Healthy options: Yes Star of the show: Korean Paratha Tacos

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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 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.

MAY 22 2021 IMPACT A HERO 10K, 5K + KIDS K Constellation Field, Sugar Land at 7:30 AM Tickets online raceroster.com/events/2021 SUGAR CREEK BACKYARD GARDEN TOUR 10am-4pm Celebrate spring and visit 6 Sugar Creek backyard gardens in Sugar Land for only $20. Tickets available at the Guard House at the Sugar Creek Blvd subdivision entrance (checks only) and at individual homes the day of the event.

The Club is a nonprofit and proceeds help fund community beautification projects, a community produce garden and

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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

2 scholarships for horticulture graduate students. Rain or shine, itÕ s on!

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 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 281-2403195 EXPERIENCE COUNTS! 35+ YEARS SERVING FORT BEND COUNTY 281-243-2344 281.243.2300

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

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, 281575-1145 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 713-859-5920 or 281-499-3345.

BECOME A FOSTER GRANDPARENT Volunteers are needed to be a role model, mentor and friend to children with exceptional needs in the community.

Training, mileage reimbursement, taxfree 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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“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

31ST ANNUAL PAR FORE PETS GOLF TOURNAMENT MAY 18 2021 REGISTER NOW QUAIL VALLEY CLUB 2880 LA QUINTA DR. MISSOURI CITY, TX 77459

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

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