12-15-2021 Edition of the Fort Bend Star

Local rep weighs in on state redistricting battle - Page 2

WEDNESDAY • DECEMBER 15, 2021

Book your Holiday Party With Us 281.240.3060 • 12821 SOUTHWEST FWY

LasHaciendasGrill.com

Three votes separate tight District A runoff

By Matt deGrood MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

The race for the District A seat on the Missouri City council stands on a knife’s edge.

As of Monday morning, a three-vote margin is all that separates Monica Riley and Reginald Pearson in the contest to claim the open seat. Riley led with 391 votes between Harris and Fort Bend County voters, or about 50.1 percent of the vote, compared to Pearson’s 388 votes, or 49.8 percent, according to incomplete and unofficial results.

Pearson on Tuesday said the results were not final, and he was awaiting more details before making a decision on what his next steps might be.

Riley, meanwhile, said Missouri City had announced her as the winner.

Representatives with the Fort Bend County elections office said they had counted all of the votes, including one late mail arrival, but declined to elaborate on what might happen before the results become official.

The two candidates advanced to the runoff after finishing above Bruce Zaborowski in the Nov. 2 general election. They are running to replace councilmember Cheryl Sterling, who opted not to run for reelection, as the representative for District A – a district that includes much of northeast Missouri City, including parts in Harris County.

Pearson is a corporate food buyer who was previously appointed to the District A seat on council in 2018, and has served as a commissioner on the planning and zoning commission as well as on several other committees and on his local homeowners’ association board. Riley is a 39-year Missouri City resident and radio station manager.

Riley

Health experts brace for possible omicron surge

By Matt deGrood MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

The new omicron variant of the coronavirus has arrived in Fort Bend County.

Fort Bend County Health and Human Services this week confirmed

three people had tested positive for the variant,

becoming the first known cases in the county.

While the announcement might have caused some consternation among county residents, health experts for weeks have expected the fastgrowing variant would soon reach Fort Bend County, and they say

they’ve been doing what they can to gather data about the latest wave of the pandemic.

“This was expected,” said Dr. Wesley Long, a doctor studying infectious diseases for Houston Methodist Hospital. “Given how this has spread in African and Europe, we

expected with Houston being such an international city, it would be here this week.”

The World Health Organization in November named the omicron variant as a variant of

SEE OMICRON PAGE 7

Beyond repair

After more than 30 years in Stafford, businessman Steve Martin said he is moving his businesses to Houston amidst concerns related to maintenance and infrastructure within the city. (Photo by Matt deGrood)

Lack of maintenance worries Stafford businesses, residents

By Matt deGrood MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Steve Martin looks out from his office onto a mostly empty warehouse near Murphy Road.

In just a few short days, Martin and his assortment of construction-related businesses will leave Stafford for greener pastures in Houston, after calling the Fort Bend County community home for more than 30 years.

Martin had hoped it wouldn’t come to this, he said. But after witnessing the lack of planning and financial troubles in Stafford, Martin felt he had no other option, he said.

A lack of funding for deferred maintenance means

Martin drives through streets with major potholes and fears flooding during storms on a regular basis, he said.

“Stafford is going to have to put a tax on property,” Martin concluded in an interview last week. “They’ve built a whole city of warehouses. And you can’t maintain a city with no money coming in.”

Elected leaders in Stafford have long pointed to the fact that the city has no property taxes as a point of pride.

Ever since then-Mayor Leonard Scarcella eliminated the tax in 1995, the city has generated revenue primarily through sales tax, permits and other fees, contrary to the vast majority of Texas cities.

The measure has helped draw many major businesses to town over the years.

But in recent months, some businesses like Martin’s and residents have begun to criticize the city’s financial well-being, arguing city leaders accounted for the lack of property tax revenues by not spending on basic maintenance of city streets and infrastructure.

Current Mayor Cecil Willis this week dismissed most criticism of the city’s finances, arguing it’s being stirred by people who want to run Steve Martin's warehouse in Stafford will be cleared out in a few days as he makes the move to Houston. (Photo by Matt deGrood) for office.

“This is a well-organized group,” he said. “We’ve been talk. So far, no one has re- into a surplus, and audited financial reports coming in getting emails, and I’ve sent sponded. It’s political.”

The city during Wilthem information and said I’d be more than happy to sit lis’ tenure has turned a with them (one-on-one) and multi-million budget deficit SEE MAINTENANCE PAGE 7

Event aims to bridge gap between police, community

By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Pearson

Visit www.FortBendStar.com

Fort Bend / Southwest • Volume 46 • No. 17

Fort Bend County Sheriff Eric Fagan addresses community members during a police meet-and-greet at the Stafford Civic Center last Saturday. (Photo by Landan Kuhlmann)

When Missouri City resident Monica Rawlins' teenage son leaves home at night, she just hopes he makes it back safely.

Key to ensuring that happens is knowing how to communicate with police officers, she said. And that's part of the reason she attended a meet-and-greet with Fort Bend County law enforcement agencies over the weekend.

Highly publicized inci-

dents of police brutality, such as the 2020 murder of Houston native George Floyd by a police officer in Minnesota, have driven home a growing sense of mistrust between police departments and some of the communities they serve.

And it's that mentality that local leaders were hoping to penetrate with Saturday's event.

“One of my biggest fears as a Black woman and single mother is him being pulled over and him having that proper communication he needs to stay alive when he

leaves that traffic stop, or when he’s outside playing basketball,” Rawlins said.

“My thing for him is to make it home – that was one of the motivating things in coming.

I want to make sure my teenage son comes home.”

Rawlins was one of at least a dozen or so county residents who attended the inaugural police meet-andgreet event at the Stafford Civic Center last Saturday, hosted by the NAACP Missouri City and Vicinity

SEE POLICE PAGE 7

JERRY FLOWERS

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

4500 Highway 6, Sugar Land, TX 77478

THE STAR

PAGE 2 • Wednesday, December 15, 2021

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

Legal battle over state redistricting draws in local representative

By Matt deGrood MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

C&M SPECIALIST

HONDA & ACURA CAR REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE CARE

Call Craig or Mark Today 281.498.6364 • Over 100 Years Combined Experience • Averaging 20%-30% Saving Over Dealership Prices

• Genuine Honda Parts • Factory Trained Technicians

OIL & FILTER CHANGE

C&M-SPECIALIST-INC 12999 Murphy Road #D2 (Behind Subway)

with 30K, 60K or 90K major service

HOURS: MON-FRI

SAT. & SUN.

7:30am - 5:45pm • CLOSED

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is suing Texas over its congressional redistricting plans, and a local Fort Bend County representative received a mention in the lawsuit.

In an interview with the Fort Bend Star last week, State Rep. Jacey Jetton blasted the DOJ’s efforts to stop the state’s redistricting plans, and said he was proud of the work he did on the House redistricting committee.

Jetton represents House District 26, which previously included Sugar Land, but will now include Richmond and part of Rosenberg.

“I think the lawsuit is meritless,” he said. “The maps we are moving forward with were the result

THE IMPOSSIBLE MADE POSSIBLE Mike Lyons’ left leg was crushed in a construction accident back in 1994. “I was told it was a useless mass of flesh and that I should amputate. I didn’t want to amputate and had to fight to keep my leg. Many surgeries later I endured a great deal of pain. A few years later I was in an auto accident that hyperextended my thumbs. My pastor recommended I go see Dr. Harris at Sugar Land Health Center. Dr. Harris and Dr. Brazzell are different doctors.

They wanted to know everything that was wrong and prescribed a plan to treat my whole body, even my left leg that other doctors said was impossible to help. I began to gain feeling back and an increase in my range of motion in my thumbs and leg. Today I don’t walk with a limp and I can even do a real squat! I’m a forensic scientist, I never take for granted what I cannot prove. What Dr. Harris and Dr. Brazzell do is really quite incredible!”

- Mike Lyons

LYONS21STAR

Jetton

of an open and lengthy process. It’s hard to point anywhere and say anything was done with the intention of disenfranchising.”

The Republican-controlled Texas Legislature recently completed redrawing the state’s congressional districts in a special session. The new maps will have to survive several ongoing court challenges before going into effect, but will otherwise begin in 2022.

Redistricting takes place every 10 years in Texas to apportion federal and state legislative districts based on population numbers generated via the census.

Because the process in Texas is explicitly partisan, the new congressional maps tend to generate controversy, with attorneys in the DOJ’s lawsuit asserting

the state disenfranchised Latino and Black voters in drawing the new maps.

“Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act requires that state voting laws- including laws that draw electoral maps- provide eligible voters with an equal opportunity to participate in the democratic process and elect representatives of their choosing,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a news release.

The DOJ’s complaint mentioned the Fort Bend County representative because he authored an amendment during the process that changed the congressional districts in Bexar County, despite the fact that the county’s delegation had already agreed to a plan for that area.

“The house approved the amendment over the objection of most of the Bexar County delegation and established the final configuration of District 118,” the complaint asserts.

Jetton, meanwhile, argued his actions came as part of his role on the House’s redistricting committee, and that the committee made decisions transparently.

“The main factor in our decisions were equal population distribution,” Jetton said. “The next factor was

preserving communities of interest, and ensuring we adhered to the Voting Rights Act.” From there, it’s also reasonable to consider partisan interests, Jetton said. In fact, political interests could be considered communities of interest, Jetton said.

President Joe Biden’s administration almost had to intercede in Texas’ redistricting efforts because of political expectations that they do so, said Brandon Rottinghaus, a professor of political science at the University of Houston.

But it’s not clear whether or not the legal challenges will actually change any of the congressional district boundaries, given recent court decisions giving more benefit of the doubt to those drawing boundaries, Rottinghaus said.

“There’ve been a lot of claims about districts being discriminatory, but nothing will undo the entirety of the lines,” Rottinghaus said. “The plaintiffs are looking for a series of small battles in a great war. They’re hoping to win a few, but they’re not going to win the war.”

In order to change any of the district boundaries, plaintiffs would need to prove intentional discrimination, a bar that is tough to clear, Rottinghaus said.

3 Generations of Quality Service, Integrity & Honesty

Autos foreign & domestic Vehicle + RV detailing

Family Owned and Operated in Fort Bend County

Since 1951

Now

Then Charlton’s Garage & Station & Auto Sales in Stafford, Texas, 1951-1970.

Owned by E.C. Charlton.

Current garage at Staffordshire & Fifth St. Stafford, Texas.

Still the Same Great Service!

281-499-1126 • Staffordshire Rd at 5th Street Stafford, TX 77477 • www.Charltonsbodyrepair.com Monday – Friday, 7am-6pm

Those were the days - Charlton’s Body Repair - 01-31-18- 3colx3”

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

VISIT THESE LOCAL BUSINESSES & SPREAD THE HOLIDAY CHEER

Hearing noises in the attic? it’s probably not Santa

Merry Christmas from all of us at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Mention this ad and receive

$50 off of $250 or more

can not be combined with any other offers or special pricing 1118 E Hwy 90A, Richmond, TX www.integrated-pest.com

RMPL 13459 • www.BenFranklinPlumberHouston.com

281-342-3086

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Peter Haselow President • Family Business • 281.561.8400 • www.aquariushomeservice.com

THE STAR

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

Wednesday, December 15, 2021 • PAGE

3

Keep an eye out for news about omicron After almost two years of pandemic life, it had finally started to seem like we were returning to something resembling normalcy.

No one is much talking about shutting down businesses again and, after a scary encounter with the delta variant, cases were on a downward trend.

But really since the beginning, the coronavirus pandemic has been such a strange and surreal experience. Despite the fact that close to 800,000 Americans have died since March 2020, it’s sometimes easy to feel like it’s something happening elsewhere if you’ve been lucky enough to not have a friend or loved one succumb to the virus.

And so it’s been for me.

There’s still so much we don’t yet know about the latest omicron variant of COVID-19. It might spread

Matt deGrood MANAGING EDITOR

more quickly, and be more vaccine resistant, but it might also be less severe.

Or perhaps not.

The flurry of headlines and relative lack of information might seem stressful, frustrating and befuddling as we try to decipher information and make the best decisions for ourselves and our families around the holiday season.

I won’t pretend to be a medical expert myself.

But if there’s one thing I’d ask readers, it’s to urge you all to keep an eye on what’s happening. And remember that, for all the

headlines about omicron, the delta variant itself never went away.

It took a good friend’s scary encounter with the virus this weekend to remind me of that fact. As much as conditions have improved since the height of the pandemic, none of that matters to someone who has lost a loved one to the virus. And things could change in an instant.

In conversations with medical experts last week, I learned that we likely will never be fully rid of the scourge that is COVID-19. Instead, the best we can hope for is that one day it will reach the point of being endemic.

That is, it will follow seasonal patterns like cold or flu seasons. Many will get sick, some seriously so, but our immunity through vaccines and experience with the virus will keep it from overwhelming our

hospital systems as it has during the surges we’ve seen through the pandemic.

Doctors aren’t yet sure how close we are to that point, or when we might be able to say the pandemic is over.

Muddling our way through the pandemic to this point has been mostly a system of trial and error. Some efforts have worked better than others. This is typically how science works, most of it happening outside of the public eye – experimenting and testing hypotheses in hopes of learning some-

thing.

The experience can be extremely frustrating.

We’re now mere weeks away from visiting families and driving across the state and nation to attend holiday functions, and we might soon have another coronavirus surge to contend with.

The Fort Bend Star has no place telling you how to balance those things. And even the health experts we spoke to this week said people should consider their risk tolerance and the latest information about the omicron variant when deciding what to do about

the holidays.

We think there may be no better advice.

In coming days, we’ll learn more of the specifics about omicron. Likely, we will see more cases pop up across the region and in Fort Bend County.

As that happens, it’s critical for each of us to keep an eye on the latest news and use it to make informed decisions about the health and safety of our families. As isolating as the pandemic has seemed at times, it’s together that we will make our way through this, to whatever comes next.

New Sugar Land utility, solid waste rates to take effect Jan. 1

By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Sugar Land residents will begin to see new utility and solid waste rates within the next few weeks.

According to a news release from the city of Sugar Land, utility rate increases of about $10 per month for residential customers will go into effect on New Year’s Day. City council in September approved the increased rates.

Residents with 10,000 gallons of water usage and a winter average of 6,000

gallons will pay about $10 more per month, the city said, while residents with 5,000 gallons of water usage and a winter average of 3,000 will pay about $7 more each month.

Also beginning New Year’s Day, the city said residential solid waste

costs will rise to about $20 per month – a 24 cent increase, according to the news release.

“The city recently conducted a utility rate study that showed rates were not generating enough to support the ongoing needs of the system, and an increase was needed to support upcoming revenue bonds,” the city said.

For more information on winter averages, community members can visit sugarlandtx.gov/WastewaterCap. To find out more about the increased utility and solid waste costs, go online to sugarlandtx.gov/2022Rates.

Worship Directory FORT BEND COUNT Y

BAPTIST CHURCH

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

CHURCH OF CHRIST

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

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

CHRIST CHURCH SUGAR LAND • 281-980-6888

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH • 281-240-3195

A United Methodist Community 3300 Austin Parkway • Sugar Land, TX 77479 Sunday Schedule 8:30 am Blended Worship 9:30 am Sunday School for all ages 10:30 am Traditional & Contemporary Worship 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

EPISCOPAL

ALL SAINTS EPISCOPAL CHURCH • 281-499-9602 605 Dulles Avenue, Stafford, TX 77477 SUNDAY: 10:30 am Worship Holy Eucharist www.allsaints-stafford.org

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

Scripture of the week “If my people who are called by My name humble themselves, and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

FortBendStar • FortBendstar.com

- 2 CHRONICLES 7:14

January 15-16 • Ft Bend County Fairgrounds

Those who are interested must email Jsazma@fortbendstar.com

PAGE 4 • Wednesday, December 15, 2021

THE STAR

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

CHRONIC BACK PAIN NEVER TAKES A DAY OFF

PRIORITIZE YOUR HEALTH. GET PERSONALIZED CARE FOR YOUR SPINE. If working from home is causing chronic back or neck pain, we can help. The affiliated spine specialists at Memorial Hermann Mischer Neurosciences can diagnose the cause of your spine pain and tailor a treatment plan to improve your pain management and quality of life.

And with our enhanced safety measures in place, you can meet with us in person with peace of mind or schedule a telehealth appointment. Either way, our team is here to help put you on a pain-free path.

memorialhermann.org/spine

Advancing health. Personalizing care.

THE STAR

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

Wednesday, December 15, 2021 • PAGE

5

Elkins boys take home FBISD Tournament title

By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

The Elkins Knights boys’ basketball team is no stranger to recent success, having made the playoffs in eight consecutive campaigns and won at least 20 games in each year of that stretch.

The Knights have wasted no time this season in working to continue that winning tradition, adding a tournament title to their mantle last week. Elkins was the champion of the Fort Bend ISD tournament at Hopson Fieldhouse, going 5-0 in the tournament from Dec. 9-11.

Junior guard Chris Johnson had 20 points, 11 assists and five rebounds in a 75-51 victory over Klein Cain on Dec. 9, while Ashton McKenzie had 18 points and Jackson Fields grabbed a season-high 17

rebounds. Johnson had another double-double with 27 points and 10 rebounds in a 77-49 win over Booker T. Washington on Dec. 10, and Fields also had a double-double of his own with 12 points and 14 rebounds. McKenzie and Jae’Coby Osborne paced the Knights with 16 points in their 77-58 win over Hightower later that day.

Johnson was also named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player after averaging nearly 18 points, eight assists and six rebounds in five games for the Knights (12-4), who will be back in action Friday against George Ranch in their District 20-6A opener.

The Hurricanes (9-6) went 3-1 at the tournament, with Friday’s loss to the Knights serving as their lone blemish. Aaron Williams led all scorers with 13 points in the first game of a Dec. 9 double-

tournament on Dec. 9, while Brian Anunne had 14 rebounds to go along with eight blocked shots.

The Elkins boys basketball team celebrates after winning the Fort Bend ISD Tournament at Hopson Fieldouse last week.

(Photo from Twitter) header, a 55-53 win over Houston Lamar, while Caleb Douglas had 13 rebounds. Williams had 16 points to lead five Hurricanes in double digits during an 84-43 victory over Austin in their second game of the day.

Tylon Harris led the Austin Bulldogs (9-5) with 14 points and nine re-

bounds in a 48-36 win over Lamar to start the FBISD

Girls Freshman Andrea Sturdivant and the Austin Lady Bulldogs have continued their hot start, going 2-0 last week to run their overall record to 16-4 – the program’s best 20-game start in more than a decade. Sturdivant had 26 points and five rebounds for Austin in a 65-48 win over District 20-6A rival Dulles on Dec. 8, while Gabby Johnson (17 points, 13 rebounds) and India Jackson (16 points, 16 re-

bounds) were also strong.

Nya Threatt paced the Lady Vikings in the Dec. 8 matchup with 14 points and five steals. Alia Diop had 10 points and nine rebounds, while Dai Dai Powell scored 13 points and grabbed six rebounds.

Threatt also had 20 points for Dulles (12-5) in its 7064 win over George Ranch last Saturday.

Sophomore Madison Bob had her first doubledouble of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Hightower Lady Hurricanes in their 45-42 loss to Fulshear last Friday, which dropped their season record to 12-7.

Constellation signs naming rights extension for Skeeters' home park

By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

The name that has adorned the baseball stadium for the Sugar Land Skeeters will continue to do so for more years to come after a recent agreement.

Constellation, a Maryland-based energy company, and the Houston Astros announced earlier this month that an agreement had been reached for the long-term extension of the naming rights for Constellation Field, the home ballpark for the Skeeters, who are the Astros’ Triple-A minor league affiliate.

“Constellation has been a great supporter of baseball and the Sugar Land community since the stadium was built in 2012 and we are excited to be able to announce our continued partnership,” Creighton Kahoalii, the Astros’ senior vice president of affiliate business operations, said in a news release.

Constellation spokesperson David Snyder declined to disclose the financial details or length of the extension, but said negotiations began in the summer of 2019 as the original agreement was set to expire. Skeeters General Manager Tyler Stamm and spokesperson Ryan Posner

both declined further comment for this story.

Constellation has held naming rights to the Skeeters’ 7,700-seat ballpark since its inception in 2012.

The deal was delayed due to needing to navigate some “complexities” such as the transfer of ownership and affiliation movement when the Skeeters became an Astros affiliate last year, according to Snyder, but ultimately got done.

“Negotiations were always positive, we always planned to extend our relationship, and the Skeeters always wanted us back,” he said.

THERE’S A

BETTER APPROACH TO CANCER CARE in Sugar Land

At Houston Methodist Cancer Center, we treat every aspect of your cancer. Leading oncologists work with our specialists across disciplines to minimize cancer’s effects on major organs. One comprehensive team — dedicated to your individual care — uses the latest research, treatments and technology to stop your cancer. From infusion and clinical trials to surgery and reconstruction, our innovative care is available in Sugar Land.

That’s the difference between practicing medicine and leading it.

The Woodlands

Willowbrook

West Houston-Katy

281.274.7500 houstonmethodist.org/cancer-sl

Baytown Texas Medical Center

Sugar Land

Clear Lake

THE STAR

PAGE 6 • Wednesday, December 15, 2021

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

HIRELOCAL • SHOPLOCAL • EATLOCAL Funbo Professional Door Services

Texas

Doggie Daycare

Boarding – Daycare – Baths

New Installation & Repair

Tree Trimming & removal • landscape design • professional planTing

• Cage Free Daycare • Private Outdoor Park • Overnight Boarding

Safe - Clean - Fun

Residential & Commercial Home Improvements 24/7 Service

Five Stars on Google & Yelp Check us out and get ½ off on your first visit

832-236-3154 or 346-313-6569

1100 FM 1092 (Murphy Rd.) Missouri City Tx 77459

281-331-6307 www.TexasDoggieDaycare.com

www.FunboPro.com

Free

at home consultation for landscaping design. ($99 Value)

www.hhpstx.com | 832•641•8600

Locally owned and operated for over 25 years

TRACY WALKER,

BOOKKEEPING : TAX PLANNING & PREPARATION : PAYROLL

(281) 712-4989

WHEN IT COMES TO THE NUMBERS

T2BOOKSANDTAX.COM

Agent ChFC, CLU, CASL, CPCU

Free estimates

832-768-1897

YOU CAN COUNT ON US!

15510 Lexington Blvd., Ste. P Sugar Land, Texas 77478-4173 Bus. 281-265-0711 • Toll 888-850-8491 Fax 281-466-4260 • Cell 281-380-7786 Tracy@agentwalker.com

Install, repair, sell all makes/models of garage doors & openers

alliancegaragedoorstx.com

residential/commercial

Mary Kay® products offer you so many ways to enhance your beauty and well-being.

Contact me today for all your holiday gifting needs!!!

CMB HEALTHCARE, INC. Pediatric Private Duty Nursing 4434 Bluebonnet Dr., Ste 133 Stafford, Texas 77477

Lana Wilson, Independent Beauty Consultant www.marykay.com/lwilson4 281.703.2383

Phone: 281-818-7965 Fax: 281-936-0299 After Hours: 832-888-6272

Roseline A. Ogbeifo

cmbhealthcare@gmail.com

281-498-3410 • 11720 Wilcrest Dr. HTX. 77099 Deion Whorton Sr.

HIRELOCAL

CEO/Founder

77 Sugar Creek Center Blvd.

Ste # 697

Jeff Borkovich Commercial Sales Agent “MAKE IT HAPPEN” JeffBorkovich@AggieNetwork.com (713) 817-5521 HoustonRestaurantSpace.com

Sugar Land, TX 77478 Bus. 281-937-4086 deion.whorton@pcsrcm.com www.pcsrcm.com

Helping healthcare professionals in private practice stay private and profitable.

Not all Things That Can Be Counted; COUNT, And Not all Thngs That Count; CAN BE COUNTED!

C LASSIFIED LASSIFIED CTRANE ON SALE!

p.p.

500 DWI • Theft

Drug • Assaults Divorce • Child Support

Attorney D’Angelo M. Lowe 7322 Southwest Frwy., Ste. 1065, Houston, TX 77074

832-953-LOWE (5693)

XR 16 SYSTEM

LIMITED TIME! CALL NOW!!

A DS

ACE TILE House Painters Plus CLASSIFIED♠ ADS THAT Carpet GET• RESULTS CALL US Remodeling • Ceramic ction Satisfanteed Guara

14 yrs. exp.

281-642-1992

FOR SALE

www.criticalairac.com TACLA021957E (Licensed & Insured)

FOR SALE Smith Corona electric typewriter.

Call 281-690-4200

2-Drawer Side Table Solid wood 24” wide • 24” tall 17” deep Best Offer

Call 281-690-4200

MNB ENTERPRISES LLC • DBA CRITICAL AIR

FOR SALE

Time Clock for Sale Amano PIX75 atomic time clock. Includes spare ribbon and some timecards.

Call Lisa at

Attention Active Duty & Mil‐ itary Veterans! Begin a new career and earn your Degree at CTI! Online Computer & Medical training available for Veterans & Families! To learn more, call 833-970-3466

FINANCIAL

Over $10K in debt? Be debt free in 24-48 months. Pay a fraction of what you owe. A+ BBB rated.

Call National Debt Relief 866-949-0934.

Stroke and Cardiovascular disease are leading causes of death, according to the American Heart Association.

Screenings can provide peace of mind or early detection! Contact Life Line Screening to schedule your screening. Special offer - 5 screenings for just $149. Call 1-866-563-3640

MISCELLANEOUS SAVE BIG on HOME INSUR‐ ANCE! Compare 20 A-rated insurances companies. Get a quote within minutes. Average savings of $444/year!

Call 855-993-0514!

(M-F 8am-8pm Central)

281-898-0154

Eddie Allum

AIR CONDITIONING • HEATING

281-492-3450

346-306-3627

www.myACandHEAT.com

$30 OFF

FB Group: Elite

any repair

cannot be combined with any offer TACLB019260E

Check it out!

FOR SALE

Mike Schofield

281-217-5799

Cable Price Increase Again? Switch To DIRECTV & Save + get a $100 visa gift card! Get More Channels For Less Money. Restrictions apply. Call Now! 866-507-1326

EXPIRES SOON: Switch to DISH + get a 2 YEAR PRICE LOCK!! Plus get Free Premium Channels for 3 mos.

Attention: Oxygen Users! Free Installation (up to 6 Gain freedom with a Portable rooms)! 866-393-1134 Oxygen Concentrator! No Cross country Moving, more heavy tanks and refills! Long distance Moving ComGuaranteed Lowest Prices! pany, out of state move $799 Call the Oxygen Concentra- Long Distance Movers. Get Free quote on your Long distor Store: 844-866-4793 tance move. 1-844-452-1706 BATHROOM RENOVA‐ Call Empire Today® to TIONS. EASY, ONE DAY up- schedule a FREE in-home esdates! We specialize in safe timate on Carpeting & Floorbathing. Grab bars, no slip ing.

Call Today! flooring & seated showers. 1-855-404-2366 Call for a free in-home con- BATH & SHOWER UP‐ sultation: 877-661-6587 DATES in as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No VIAGRA and CIALIS payments for 18 months!

USERS! 50 Pills SPECIAL Lifetime warranty & profes$99.00 FREE Shipping! 100% sional installs. Senior & Miliguaranteed. CALL NOW! tary Discounts available.

877-266-9827 Call: 833-566-0676

Looking to Hire?

PLACE YOUR AD HERE

281-690-4200

Call this paper to place your ad in millions of homes.

HEALTH & MEDICAL

• Laminate Wood Flooring • Granite Slab Countertops

Call TODAY for FREE ESTIMATE

Exterior - Interior Painting / Sheetrock / Granite / Roofs / Pressure Wash Carpentry / Tile Work / Bath Remodeling Hardiplank Siding / Floors / HVAC Plumbing / Electrical

Regional Classified Ads

DISH Network. $59.99 for 190 Channels! Blazing Fast Internet, $19.99/mo. (where available.) Switch & Get a FREE $100 Visa Gift Card.

FREE Voice Remote. FREE HD DVR. FREE Streaming on ALL Devices. Call today!

1-855-419-7188

• Wood Flooring • Tile & grout cleaning & sealing ATMarble 281-690-4200

Free Estimates

Elite Construction

281-690-4200

ARE YOU BEHIND $10k OR MORE ON YOUR TAXES? Stop wage & bank levies, liens & audits, unfiled tax returns, payroll issues, & resolve tax debt FAST. Call 844606-1554 (Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-5pm PST)

♠

Frank Garza, owner

Gary Garbs - Owner ggelite4u@gmail.com

Call 281-468-4250 anytime

Bond & Insu ed red

Interior/Exterior Painting Hardie Plank Siding • Pressure Washing Roofing • Remodeling • Carpentry Fence/Fence Repair

• Great Prices • Rebates!

• Financing • Warranties

Misdemeanors

EDUCATION / INSTRUCTION

CLASSIFIED ADS THAT GET RESULTS CALL US AT 281-690-4200

HOME IMPROVEMENT

MATH/COMPUTER TUTOR Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, word processing, spreadsheet, graphics. Bill Stewart. BSEE 281-3411582.>+

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.

281-690-4206 jsazma@fortbendstar.com

A DS

SERVICES

$

Contact John Sazma to participate in this special section

LEGALS TRAIN ONLINE TO DO MED‐ ICAL BILLING! Become a Medical Office Professional online at CTI! Get Trained, Certified & ready to work in months! Call 866-717-8606 Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off Entire Purchase.

10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-888-927-8649 LONG DISTANCE MOVING: Call today for a FREE QUOTE from America’s Most Trusted Interstate Movers. Let us take the stress out of moving! Call now to speak to one of our Quality Relocation Specialists: 855-632-1769 Never clean your gutters again! Get Gutter Guards installed to protect your home!

Easy installation, affordable, and will last a lifetime! Call now for a FREE QUOTE 888-381-1343

Original Application has been made for a Mixed Beverage Permit, Food and Beverage Certificate, and Late Hours Certificate by BMB Dining Services (Stafford), Inc. dba Bombshells at 12815 Southwest Freeway, Stafford, TX 77477. Officer of said corporation is Travis Reese Director.

Application has been made with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission for Winery (G) Permit by Wine Vibes LLC dba Waters Edge Winery located at 9018 Sienna Crossing Drive, Suite 100, Missouri City, TX 77459 in Fort Bend County. Officers of said Limited Liability Company are: Phelicia Colvin, Member Sherifat Lawal, Member Tamesha Hampton, Member

GARAGE SALE?

LET THE COMMUNITY KNOW! 281.690.4206

THE STAR

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

Wednesday, December 15, 2021 • PAGE

7

Visit Sugar Land’s Holiday Lights at Constellation Field Stefan Modrich

REPORTER

One of Fort Bend County’s biggest holiday spectacles is the Sugar Land Holiday Lights event.

The eighth edition of the annual event began Nov. 19 and runs through Jan. 9.

I had the opportunity last Thursday to head out to Constellation Field, 1 Stadium Drive, where I got to experience the festivities for the first time.

Holiday Lights features a variety of vendors selling goods and apparel that might make for good lastminute stocking stuffers, as well as a carnival with games and rides and concession stands. You can also roast marshmallows to make s’mores at fire pits located within a bar in right-center field.

The home of the Sugar Land Skeeters, who completed their first season as the Houston Astros’ Triple A affiliate this year, now features a large orange and navy blue Astros logo gleaming from the batter’s eye in center field.

The 3 million lights cover nearly every inch of the ballpark, and it is

★ OMICRON FROM PAGE 1 concern, following it being identified in Botswana and South Africa earlier in the month, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Since then, the variant has spread and cases have popped up in several major American cities.

But much about the specifics of the variant, such as its severity and ability to overcome vaccines, remains unknown, Long said.

“I can say that the data coming out of Africa and Europe suggests omicron is more transmissible than delta,” Long said. “But they have different vaccines than we do and different rates of vaccination.

So, we’ll need to see how it behaves in the U.S. But for the most part, experts believe this will be more transmissible than delta.

And delta itself was very transmissible.”

As of December, the delta variant of coronavirus was still the dominant strain of COVID-19 across the region, Long said.

Case numbers in hospitals have been trending down in recent weeks, but earlier this year, the delta variant caused a surge of COVID-19 cases in southern states over the summer, with hospital admissions going above 100,000 per week in early September, according to a Washington Post article.

Because the omicron variant was identified so recently, health experts are still awaiting a bevy of data

★ MAINTENANCE FROM PAGE 1 January will show Stafford is headed in the right direction, Willis said.

Willis’ assurances, however, have done little to dim the rising number of critics in the city, leading some like Martin to consider leaving town.

Joe Longoria, for instance, is a longtime Stafford resident who’s reached out to council several times over the years to report drainage problems in his neighborhood of Vaccaro Manor, he said.

“Status quo is the strategy, nothing changing and nothing being planned to address our continuing drainage issues,” Longoria said. “Now we are told there is no money to address this problem. That does not matter, because when they did have money they did not direct it to alleviate the problem. Now, their excuse is that it is not in the budget.”

The city’s latest budget allocates no money to drainage or street problems.

“This continues to be a concerted effort to undermine the quality of life of the citizens of Stafford,” Longoria said.

Martin, meanwhile, criti-

One of Fort Bend County’s biggest holiday spectacles is the Sugar Land Holiday Lights event. The eighth edition of the annual event, which features 3 million lights and a variety of vendors and carnival rides, is open through Jan. 9. (Photo by Stefan Modrich)

See Fortbendstar.com for related video Visitors walk along the Constellation Field concourse Dec. 9 at the Sugar Land Holiday Lights event. The eighth edition of the annual event, which features 3 million lights and a variety of vendors and carnival rides, began Nov. 19 and runs through Jan. 9. (Photo by Stefan Modrich)

a jaw-dropping display from almost every angle.

There are also eight different themed sections of the park, including “Texas Town” with a general store, cacti and Old Westernstyle buildings.

Arianne and Mark Newcomer of the Meyerland neighborhood of Houston brought their five children — ranging from 13 months on patient mortality, hospital admission rates and vaccine tests before drawing wide conclusions about how much of a problem the latest variant might cause moving forward, Long said.

“I think most experts believe the vaccine will still be effective, and it is still the best defense against COVID-19,” Long said.

“And it’s important to remember delta is still the predominant strain in the area.”

Thus far, Houston Methodist has seen about nine cases across its system that have been admitted since earlier this month, Long said. The nine cases were dispersed across the Houston metro region, and show the variant has spread in the community, he said.

All three people in Fort Bend County who tested positive were vaccinated with two doses, hadn’t received a booster shot and had mild symptoms, according to a news release.

None of the positive cases had traveled in the 14 days before symptoms began.

“Get tested, if eligible, get vaccinated and make sure to get your booster shot,” County Judge KP George said. “The vaccine is our best defense against COVID.” County health officials said they knew mutations of the virus would occur through the pandemic, according to the news release.

Experts do not yet know exactly what the full effect of the variant in the county might be, according to the news release. cized the city’s praise of zero city property taxes as a cheap political ploy that has harmed the city in the long run.

“I remember back in 2008, the city leaders prided themselves on the fact that they didn’t owe money to anyone,” Martin said. “Well, that’s because they never spent any money.”

Some Stafford political candidates have estimated the city needs about $36 million in public works projects.

Willis argued the list wasn’t so extensive.

to 7 years old — with them to Holiday Lights, which has become something of a tradition for the Newcomer family for the last four years. “(The kids) love to see the (playground on the outfield concourse),” Arianne said. “They love the (Center Field Cinema) movie nights, and they love visiting Santa.”

★ POLICE FROM PAGE 1 Branch. Personnel from law enforcement agencies in Richmond, Sugar Land, Missouri City, Fulshear and other municipalities were in attendance.

NAACP Chapter president Linda Coleman said the goal of Saturday’s gathering was to break down walls between communities and law enforcement as well as to celebrate the positive contributions of police in the county.

Law enforcement officials gave a short presentation followed by a question-and-answer session that was open to the audience.

“For the last year or so, there’s been a lot of turmoil and questions about policing – we here in Fort Bend feel as though we’re really blessed, because we have not had unfortunate incidents such as what’s been seen and heard around the United States,” she said. “We believe that is so because our police departments and the sheriff’s office believe in community policing – it’s what they put in policy and in practice.”

Missouri City Police Department Lt. Jazton Heard echoed the sentiment, adding that police work needs to involve residents as much as possible and that events such as Saturday’s are a step in that direction.

“It’s very easy to focus on the negative things and things that police can do better,” Heard said. “But it’s also important for us to realize what law enforcement organizations are doing correctly, so we can know exactly what direction we need to be headed and what really good policing looks like.”

Vital importance Fulshear police chief Kenny Seymour referenced an incident from 2013, when he said community policing helped them solve a case involving assault of an elderly Black man that was called a “knockout” assault - part of a social media trend at the time in which people attempted to render unconscious an un-

Mohammed Omar and Whitney Omar, a Sugar Land couple, said it was their first time attending Sugar Land’s Holiday Lights, but that they had also been to the Festival of Lights at Moody Gardens in Galveston and Houston Zoo Lights events earlier this winter with their 1-year-old and 3-year-old children. suspecting person with a single punch while another person filmed it and acted as a lookout.

As a result of tips from the community, Seymour said he and two other officers were able to track down the assailant, who was eventually convicted.

But such solutions can only occur, he said, with the community’s help – thus making law enforcement’s relationships with their patrol areas that much more vital.

“When I got into law enforcement more than 30 years ago, it was an ‘us vs. them’ mentality," Seymour said. "If you didn’t wear a uniform, you were a ‘them.’

That’s not the way anymore. That’s not what is working now. What works is the relationship we have with our community – what works is the things we’re doing and the programs we’re putting in place.”

Heard made specific note of the police department's own homeowners association program, in which he said officers go around to all of their city’s homeowners associations to engage with citizens as to what problems are persisting or what issues need to be solved.

“We try to do the best we can, but we have to start with what our communities need and want – because every one of them wants or needs something different and sees law enforcement a little differently,” he said.

“These engagements allow us to go all around our city to talk about what’s important to you.”

A good start Residents brought up multiple questions during Saturday’s meeting, regarding topics such as bias, gun laws and how law enforcement can better de-escalate mental health situations when they arise.

And it is those types of tough questions, Rawlins said, which can go a long

“We like this one because it’s less crowded,” Whitney said.

As of Dec. 9, the Skeeters are 4,000 tickets ahead of the organization’s pace from last year’s event, which was the best-attended version of the event in its history, according to Skeeters media relations director Ryan Posner.

Photo-ops with Santa are still available for $30 through Dec. 23. Santa is placed behind a protective plexiglass designed to

look like a snow globe as a precaution due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

General admission tickets are $18 for adults and $16 for children ages 4-12, seniors and military members. Admission is free for children 3 and under.

The Holiday Lights website features a calendar with special celebrations and discounted events.

For more information, visit sugarlandholidaylights.com or call 281-240-4487.

way in helping officers to become more self-aware of their own perceived biases, thus becoming better versed in dealing with a variety of people and situations. “(The officers) did a good job of addressing the bias question," Rawlins said. "I think what (another meeting attendee) was getting at is she believes there was some (racial) bias, and you can’t really teach someone not to be biased – because we all have biases at some point. But I think making them aware of the biases was important. This was an excellent program, and I hope they do it again.”

Seymour said law enforcement agencies in Fort

Bend County are working to address issues as they come up – including how to interact with residents suffering from mental health issues as well as potential biases.

He said police wanted residents to walk away from the meeting knowing they are committed to community policing and rectifying problems that may arise when they respond to calls.

“We’re not without fault, and it’s our job to make sure that you are taken care of,” Seymour said. “It doesn’t matter how I feel – because if you don’t think you’re safe, then that’s what matters. And we have to listen to that.”

713-433-6421

14700 Almeda Rd. Houston, TX 77053 www.HoustonHumane.org

3-year-old Abby is full of puppy love!

The pup, who is a Schnauzer mix, was found outside a gas station without a microchip, according to Houston Humane Society volunteers.

Volunteers said Abby is the biggest hugger and loves affection!

She also does well with kids.

Abby is heartworm-positive, but shelter volunteers don’t want you to deter from that, as HHS can sponsor her treatment!

Abby has been adopted! Thank you KPRC for helping our #PetProject pups get adopted!

Want the BEST DEAL for your Cable and Internet?

CHART YOUR COURSE TO A

BRIGHTER FUTURE College is affordable, let us show you how. Learn more about payment plans, scholarships, loans and more at wcjc.edu

WINTER MINI TERM BEGINS DECEMBER 20

No Deposit!

Call Us Today for a Quick Quote!

SPRING TERM BEGINS JANUARY 18

844-560-9986

THE STAR

PAGE 8 • Wednesday, December 15, 2021

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

Review: KB’s Hot Chicken now sizzling in Sugar Land

By Stefan Modrich SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Nashville-style hot chicken has exploded onto the scene in the Houston area, and particularly in Fort Bend County.

I’m naturally skeptical of trends that come and go, especially when the market becomes saturated with options that seem indistinguishable.

KB’s Hot Chicken in Sugar Land, which opened in May, broke from this mold and provided me with a memorable and delicious experience that made me feel like I was sitting in on one of the area’s best-kept secrets.

The restaurant features Halal-style meats and hot chicken prepared at six different spice levels: southern, mild, medium, hot, extra hot and blazing. If you’re brave enough, you can even ask for the “nuclear” option, an off-menu spice level that is a step up from the “blazing” version.

The hot chicken from KB’s takes between 15-20 minutes to prepare fresh, something the restaurant takes pride in.

And for $12, you’ll get a chicken sandwich, or “sando” that is so massive it is served atop a rustic wooden board with a ser-

Dutch Bros. Coffee, 11557 S. State Hwy. 6, is set to open in Sugar Land next summer. (Photo from Facebook)

Nibbles & Sips:

Dutch Bros. Coffee coming to Sugar Land

By Stefan Modrich SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Shown is the Nashville-style hot chicken sandwich and mac and cheese from KB’s Hot Chicken in Sugar Land. (Photo by Stefan Modrich)

rated knife plunged into the top of the bun with a pickle, a side (mac and cheese was my choice, but you can also have a creamy coleslaw, vinegar coleslaw, fries, or potato salad) and a fountain drink.

The seasoned and breaded chicken breast is topped with a vinegar-dressed coleslaw, pickles, and the Southern classic “comeback sauce,” the fragrant and punchy combination of mayonnaise, ketchup, hot sauce and Worcestershire sauce.

I ordered the chicken at

CHEAP TRASH HAULING FAST

I BUY JUNK CARS

Home/Business • FREE ESTIMATES

WE WILL BEAT ANY PRICE

20% Off

With Ad #1 Cheapest Trash Hauling / Demolition Co. in TX! If You’ve Got It, We’ll Haul It. 7 Days Same Day Service • In Your Area

AAACheapTrashHauling.com Insured

713-235-0560

YO COMPRO CARROS VIEJOS

No Title, No Problem!

Payment Up To $600 Call Selvin

Non-Profit Event?

832-878-2551

the “hot” spice level, which was plenty of heat for my palate. I got mine on a buttered bun, but you can also get it on Texas Toast.

The chicken has a light and crispy breading and was cooked evenly, producing a mouth-wateringly good pairing of texture and flavor.

You’ll want to make sure you have several napkins handy if you order from KB’s, and if you’re game for one of the options on the spicier end of the spectrum, getting an iced tea or a soda ($3.50) or a milkshake ($7) to neutralize the heat of the chicken is a smart decision.

If you’re a fan of wings or chicken tenders, you can get three jumbo whole wings with comeback sauce ($13) and fries and the

Let the community know in our Community Calendar!

Contact: jsazma@fortbendstar.com

“bird’s nest,” which features chopped chicken tenders, vinegar coleslaw and comeback sauce with pickles nestled atop a bed of fries.

KB’s also has several brisket sandwiches starting at $12, and slices of pecan pie ($4.50) and brownies ($4.50 each).

KB’s Hot Chicken

Address: 636 S. State Highway 6 Ste. 500, Sugar Land Dining Options: Dinein, takeout, delivery via DoorDash, GrubHub and UberEats Hours: 11 am.-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday 11.a.m.-10 p.m. FridaySaturday Entree prices: $9-$12 Kid-friendly: Yes Senior discount: No Alcohol: No Healthy options: None Star of the show: The Sando Rating:

COMMUNITY

CALENDAR

An Oregon-based coffee chain is expanding its reach across Fort Bend County.

Dutch Bros. Coffee, 11557 S. State Highway 6, is set to open in Sugar Land next summer, according to a filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR).

Construction is scheduled to begin March 31 and end July 31 on the 950-square foot space at an estimated cost of $650,000.

The quick-serve coffee shop is known for its drivethrough service and also features a walk-up order window for its cold brews and cocomo, or coconut mocha, one of the establishment’s most popular menu items.

The company had previously filed to open a Missouri City franchise planned for late September of next year and Rosenberg in June.

For more information, call 214-842-1588.

Brett’s BBQ Shop relocating in Katy

A Katy barbecue purveyor serving oak-smoked Central Texas-style brisket and sausages in Fort Bend County is moving across town late next year.

Brett’s BBQ Shop, 606 S. Mason Road, will move to the new Boardwalk Crossings development at 25220 Kingsland Blvd. Ste. 1, according to a TLDR filing.

The 4,858-square foot restaurant and meat market will begin construction April 4. Completion is scheduled for Dec. 2 at an estimated cost of $450,000.

For more information, email Jacqueline@BrettsBBQShop.com.

Shipley Do-Nuts adding Rosenberg location A popular Houstonbased doughnut shop and bakery is growing in Fort Bend County.

Shipley Do-Nuts, 27905 Southwest Freeway, is expected to open in Rosenberg next spring. The chain began construction on a new location on Nov. 18, according to a TDLR filing, and completion on the $333,740 project is scheduled for May 18.

For more information, call 281-236-3681.

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.

ONGOING LITERACY COUNCIL OF FORT BEND COUNTY We enhance lives and strengthen communities by teaching adults to read.

We need your help. Literacy Council is actively recruiting Volunteer Tutors to provide instruction for English as a Second Language (ESL) Levels 0-5, three hours a week.

For more information, call 281-240-8181 or visit our website www.ftbendliteracy.org JAM WITH SAM Join Sam Grice and his friends every Tuesday Night at 6:30 pm at First Presbyterian Church, 502 Eldridge Road, Sugar Land, Texas. The group plays folk, country, bluegrass, religious and patriotic songs. Call Sam at 832-428-3165 or the church office at 281-240-3195 for more information.

THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY FOR MEN Sugar Land First United Methodist Church, 431 Eldridge Road offers a Thursday Morning Bible Study For Men. This group is ongoing and uses a variety of studies throughout the year. The breakfast, coffee and donuts are

free. Join us any time! Thursdays, 6:30-7:30 am in Wesley Hall. Call the church office at 281-491-6041 or Mike Schofield at 281-2175799 for more information.

meets at 9:30 am every Sunday at First Presbyterian of Sugar Land (502 Eldridge Rd.). For more information call 281-2403195

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.

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

GIVE A GIFT OF HOPE Give a Gift of Hope one-time or monthly.

Your help provides access to therapies and services children with autism might otherwise go without. Please consider Hope For Three in your Estate, Planned, or YearEnd Giving. Register now, or learn more about exciting events: www.hopeforthree. org/events 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

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

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

(Direct)

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.

(Main) • KenWoodPC.com

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

Dine-In Open!

TAKE-OUT & CATERING

AVAILABLE

18 years

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

SOUTHWEST FREEWAY 281.240.3060 12821 LasHaciendasGrill.com

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

Daily SpecialS! Open 7 DayS a week