10-19-22 Edition of The Fort Bend Star

Missouri City narrows manager search to two

By Matt deGrood MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

The search for who will become Missouri City’s fourth full-time city manager in three years, and its third un der the current mayor’s term, has narrowed to two candidates.

Angel Jones, the for mer city manager of Portsmouth, Virginia, and James Palenick, the former city manager of Middletown, Ohio, are the finalists for the city manager position that has been vacant since the Missouri City council in May opted to fire City Manager Charles “Tink” Jackson, according to Rachelle Dickerson, the communications manag er for Missouri City.

Mayor Robin Elack att did not respond to repeated requests for comment about the two finalists as of Monday afternoon.

He specifically did not respond to questions asking him if he’d con sidered waiting until af ter November to name a new city manager; why residents should have confidence the new est city manager would bring stability to the position; and a question seeking more informa tion about how the coun cil decided who would be the finalists.

The city manager spot has been something of a revolving door in Mis souri City over the last few years.

The council in May opted to fire Jackson less than five months after his tenure began. The move came after an investigation into alle gations about Jackson’s hiring and firing prac tices with the city.

A whistleblower al leged that Jackson fired

Habitat for Humanity raising $600K for new development

By Matt deGrood MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Bend

The

Humanity

at the site, according to officials with the organi zation.

plans

but must first raise about $600,000 to pay for infra structure improvements

Plans to build a new low-income housing de velopment have been in the works for several years, starting when the George Foundation donated the land and continuing until the city of Richmond approved plats for the project over

the summer, said Jessica Holland, director of de velopment for Fort Bend Habitat for Humanity.

“Now, more than ever, the cost of everything is ridiculous,” she said. “In flation is bad and wages haven’t raised. And now you have companies on

Growing in leaps

$1.4 million project set to begin at Cullinan Park

By Matt deGrood MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Crews will soon begin work on a $1.4 million construction project at Cullinan Park that will expand the park’s park ing, extend the entryway and add more than 1.2 miles of new trails, ac cording to the Cullinan Park Conservancy.

Sugar Land’s city coun cil recently accepted more than $1.2 million in donations for the second phase of construction at the park, according to a press release from the city. That, com bined with a $200,000 grant from Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, will fund the construc tion of new concrete and decomposed gran ite trails, along with 30 head-in parking spaces and a small lot with 45 new parking spaces, ac

cording to the release.

“The Cullinan Park im provements have truly been a demonstration of a great partnership among multiple agencies,” said Joe Chesser, Sugar Land’s director of parks and recreation. “Staff of the city of Sugar Land are excited to work with the conservancy on this second phase of Cullinan Park improvements.”

Current plans have construction on the second phase of im provements tentatively set to finish sometime in April 2023, according to the Cullinan Park Con servancy.

Cullinan Park is a 754-acre park that the city of Sugar Land an nexed in 2016 after reaching an interlocal agreement with Houston and a memorandum of understanding with the Cullinan Park Conser

vancy, said Doug Adolph, a spokesperson for the city. Under the terms of those agreements, Sugar Land will provide park security, maintenance and operations and man agement of design and construction projects, Adolph said.

The conservancy,

then, will provide fun draising for capital improvements, Adolph said.

Sugar Land first began soliciting bids for the sec ond phase of construction in July, according to the conservancy. But infla tion and a rising cost of construction materials

increased the estimated cost of the project, and three foundations helped the conservancy raise funding for the improve ments, according to the conservancy.

“We are so thankful for the George Founda tion, the Fred and Mabel R Parks Foundation and the Wortham Founda tion for their steadfast support of Cullinan Park,” said Robbin Mal let, conservancy board president. “This project would not be happening without them.”

Ever since the city an nexed the park in 2016, the conservancy has donated more than $2.7 million for park improve ments, according to a city news release.

Crews completed con struction on the first phase of improvements

Questions abound about Sugar Land animal shelter future

By Matt deGrood MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Sugar Land is work ing with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to determine whether anyone acted criminally in connec tion to an investigation into unauthorized euth anizations at the city’s animal shelter, but city

leaders have yet to make long-term deci sions on the shelter’s future, according to Doug Adolph, a spokes person for the city.

City leaders are still mulling all options for the shelter moving for ward, including the possibility of shifting funding to a regional shelter and partnering with a nonprofit or

ganization to oversee operations, Adolph said.

“This type of partner ship would allow the city to have an agree ment with another entity to perform the shelter operations, but the city would maintain the animal control op erations,” Adolph said.

In the more than three weeks since Sug ar Land city officials

first announced an investigation into unau thorized euthanizations at the shelter found more than 38 dogs and cats were killed without following proper pro cedure, residents have raised questions about how that could have happened and what might change moving forward.

Claudine Vass is a

Park goers look out from the observation deck at Cullinan Park in Sugar Land. Work is set to begin soon on more than $1 million in improvements to the Sugar Land park. (Staff file photo)

Richmond resident and the founder and presi

Pictured is the green herring, one of the many species of birds seen at Cullinan Park. (Staff file photo)

Cross Creek Ranch hosting art, home show Saturday

Local art and wellappointed model homes will be on display during the Cross Creek Art Mar ket & Home Tour, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct.

22, at the Cross Creek Welcome Center, 6450 Cross Creek Bend Lane.

Art lovers can browse and purchase original creations by artists and artisans from the First Saturday Arts Market and The Market at Saw yer Yards. Paintings,

ceramics, woodwork, jewelry and other items will be available.

More than fifteen model homes — many of them brand new — will be open for touring.

The day also includes music, Giant Art pho to opportunities, face

painters, balloon artists, caricature artists and more. Food will be avail able for purchase from Tasty Caribbean, Mes quite Wood Fired Pizza and Uncle Louie G's Italian Ice. Italian Maid Café, lo cated within Cross Creek Ranch, will have food, wine and beer for sale during the event.

The celebration of art and architecture has be come an annual event at the Fulshear masterplanned community. Artists always enjoy par ticipating, said Mitch Cohen, founder and co ordinator of the First Saturday Arts Market in the Heights and The Market at Sawyer Yards.

“They tell me it’s every thing from the beautiful location and surround ings to the customers visiting combined,” Co hen said. “They create a vibe that is just fun. I agree with the art ists! Everyone — from the staff at Cross Creek Ranch and Italian Maid Café to the high school students that volunteer — is just super nice and friendly. Those are all the best ingredients for a fun day — especially at an art market.”

The art market has begun attracting art ists from outside the Houston area, including brothers David and John Mercado who are coming from Austin to showcase

paintings.

Houston-area partici pants include Grammy’s Cookie Jar, Joan Ver Steeg Mosaics, Tiffany’s Tiny Flower Truck, The Yankee Woodturner, Texas Made by Laurence, Papermolas, Quick N Ezee Indian Food, TAP Estry Art by Gerardo Saenz, Aimee’s Hand crafts, The Botanical Journey, ShoSho’s Kitch en, Poca Ance, Crystal Wreden Art, Spotted Gecko Studio, Tiffany Nesbit, Mindful Art by Eugenia Algaze Garcia, Shiondoba, Jo Edwards, Teresita Gil Art, KOLOR IZED by eva Konopka, Modern Artifacts, Delton Gerdes, Michael Vollmer, Penny Rae Robinson Im

ages, Splash Fine Art, tic Jewelry Designs, Cam mie’s Handmade Soap and The Hanging Pen dant.

“The art market is more than a fun day out,” said Rob Bamford, Senior Vice President, General Manager of Cross Creek Ranch. “It’s a great op portunity to be inspired by the local artists and the unique décor of our builder’s gorgeous model homes. We look forward to seeing everyone who comes out.”

Learn more at www. crosscreektexas.com/ ArtMarket.

Learn about Cross Creek Ranch at https:// www.crosscreektexas. com.

For The Star

Happening 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. this Saturday, Oct. 22, the Cross Creek Ranch Art Market & Home Tour in Fort Bend County features a variety of artisan gift items and fun for the entire family. (Contributed photo)

Mitch Cohen

Being

of

ten means long hours of work for little to no pay. But perhaps most frustratingly, oftentimes optics rule the day – you al ways run the risk of taking the fall for someone else’s bad decision.

Despite how frequently frustrating the job might be, there’s a reason not too many of us get to add the title “pub lic servant” to our resume. Namely, it’s a position of hon or, one that demands those that hold it to act with dignity and transparency, even when they might not be treated sim ilarly in return.

None of the above is new information. We’ve spoken out on the characteristics of the best elected leaders, along with the importance of trans

parency in previous editorials we’ve written.

But all of it bears repeating, along with a request to read ers in Missouri City to pay attention to what’s happening in city government in coming weeks.

Soon, it seems Missouri City’s council will name the fourth full-time city manager to lead the Fort Bend County community in just three years.

The position has been something of a revolving door in recent years, with the council most recently voting to terminate Charles “Tink” Jackson after an investigation into his hiring and firing prac tices with the city.

Our front-page story this week details more informa

leaders to

tion about the finalists being eyed for the position.

Regardless of who becomes the manager, what happens between now and that deci sion will say much more about the quality of leadership on city council than it will about anything else.

Missouri City leaders have talked the talk in recent years when it comes to finding a leader to stabilize the city. They want to find someone who can bring stability to the position after years of quick turnover, they’ve said. They want to end politics in city hall, they’ve said.

Not long after Jackson took over in Missouri City, he sat down for an interview with the Star to talk about all the

changes he was making in his early day. He talked excitedly about the city’s opportunities moving forward and sounded as if he planned to be there for the long haul.

The honeymoon was short-lived, with the council moving to fire Jackson just a few weeks after the article came out.

Only one thing will truly change perceptions in Mis souri City, and that’s stable leadership and transparency moving forward.

Both in the case of Jack son’s ouster and in the two finalists for the job today, the council might be acting in ev eryone’s best interest.

But it’s hard to know that when city leaders decline to

the

explain their reasoning, and city attorneys are loathe to re lease public information.

The best public relations team money can buy simply can’t buy you positive me dia coverage quite like good news.

We here at the Fort Bend Star cover the highs and lows of life in Fort Bend County. Like flipping a coin, some times that might look like a focus on bad news.

But we’re just as eager to cover the positives in a com munity.

A stable and transparent Missouri City would be an accomplishment we could all celebrate.

Let’s all work together to make it happen.

Travis outlasts Austin, hot on trail of playoff spot

5) in the loss, throwing for a season-high 459 yards and five touch downs. Daniel Oloso had 11 catches for 257 yards and three touchdowns for the Bulldogs, while Thu suan Gibbs (72 yards, two touchdowns), and Mason Cress (six catches, 92 yards) were also strong.

It has been an uneven season for the Travis Ti gers, but prevailing in a back-and-forth affair last weekend might be the one to kick-start a late season playoff push.

Last Friday, the Tigers outlasted Austin, 57-43, at Mercer Stadium to im prove to 3-5 and 3-3 in District 20-6A competi tion. They currently sit just behind Clements (34, 3-2) for the fourth and final playoff spot follow ing the Rangers’ loss to Ridge Point.

Dru Sissom spear headed the Tigers’ offensive attack against Austin, completing 18 of 26 passes for 260 yards and three touchdowns without an interception.

Running back Carmelo Ratliff rushed for a sea son-high 156 yards and a touchdown, while receiv er Robert Sims III (131 yards and a touchdown) eclipsed the century mark for the first time this sea son. Jayden McCoy led Travis’ defensive effort with two interceptions and five passes defended.

Senior quarterback Jamal Franklin led the way for Austin (2-5, 0-

Elsewhere in the county, the Hightower Hurricanes have now won three straight games fol lowing a 50-0 blowout of George Ranch last week end, improving to 5-2 and 4-1 in District 20-6A.

Junior running back Jer emy Payne hasn’t missed a beat since coming back from a preseason injury, running for 140 yards and four touchdowns on just seven carries – his second straight game of more than 100 yards.

Khaleb Davis hauled in four passes for 72 yards and a touchdown for the Hurricanes, while Zion Kearney had a 78-yard touchdown grab.

Julius Carter had five catches for 73 yards for George Ranch (4-4, 4-2) in the loss.

Bush nabbed its first win of the season last week, beating Elkins 130. Sincere Thompson had 112 yards rushing for the Broncos (1-6, 1-4), while Allen Aldridge III ran for two touchdowns.

Elon Conley had 50 yards rushing for Elkins, which dropped to 2-5 overall and 1-4 in District 20-6A.

On the Class 5A ledger, the Marshall Buf falos have won five in a row following a 24-0 win over Nederland last week. It was the Mar shall defense carrying the load in this one as the Buffalos nabbed four in terceptions, with William Mitchell and Donovan Jackson each return ing one for a touchdown. Jordon Davis also threw a touchdown pass to Ja’Kayden Ferguson.

In Class 4A action, Iowa Colony snapped a four-game losing streak with a 35-34 win over Navasota last Friday to improve to 2-5 and 1-2 in District 12-4A play.

Sophomore quarterback Kamal Henry threw for 159 yards and a touch down for the Pioneers, adding 95 yards and two touchdowns rushing. Ja cody Miles also ran for two scores of his own.

This week’s schedule

Thursday

Hightower vs. Elkins, 7 p.m., Freedom Field Willowridge vs. Mar shall, 7 p.m., Mercer Stadium

Terry vs. Magnolia West, 7 p.m., Traylor Sta diu

Friday Bush vs. Clements, 7 p.m., Mercer Stadium

Fulshear vs. Kempner, 7 p.m., Traylor Stadium Needville at Bay City, 7 p.m.

Stafford at Navasota, 7 p.m.

Saturday Dulles vs. George Ranch, 11 a.m., Mercer Stadium Lamar Consolidated vs. Randle, 2 p.m., Traylor Stadium Ridge Point vs. Austin, 6 p.m., Mercer Stadium

Last week’s scores Travis 57, Austin 43 Marshall 24, Nederland 0 Randle 34, Montgom ery 28 Bush 13, Elkins 0 Ridge Point 69, Cle ments 13 Hightower 50, George Ranch 0

Landan Kuhlmann

Travis' Dru Sissom

Austin

weekend. (Photo from Twitter)

PSYCHIC

LEGALS

An application has been made with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission for a MIXED BEVERAGE by dba: MoCity Grill, DBLT ENTERPRISES LLC to be located at 3760 CARTWRIGHT RD. MISSOURI CITY, TEXAS 77459

OWNER: Carla Butler

CITY OF MISSOURI CITY

NOTICE OF MEETING

Olympia Parkway, north of the Dry Creek Village residential subdivision, east of the Parks Edge residential subdivision, and west of the Fort Bend Parkway.

SITE LEGAL DESCRIPTION: PD No. 96 can be described as being a 107.36 acre tract of land situated in the D Bright League Survey, A-113 and the H. Shropshire Survey, A-313, in Fort Bend County, Texas being a portion of a called 110.884 acre tract of land conveyed to M.V. McCarthy by Substitute Trustee’s Deed recorded in Clerk’s File No. 201105494 and the remainder of a called 156.5236 acre tract of land conveyed to Olympia Estates II Associates Limited by Warranty Deed with Vendor’s Lien as recorded in Clerk’s file no. 2003019906 both of the Fort Bend County Official Public Records of Real Property; and being all of Olympia Estates Northeast Reserves, a subdivision of 8.481 acres out of the H. Shropshire Survey, A-313, instrument number 20190130 filed and recorded into the Fort Bend County, Texas Official

in 2019, according to the city. That first phase in cluded a new restroom, a 1/3-mile trail around White Lake, a boardwalk,

Wall Street buying up developments to turn a profit.”

The hope is that crews in early 2023 will begin construction on the first home in the Hope on the Brazos subdivision, Hol land said.

Once complete, the subdivision will include 15 new homes on 12,000 square foot lots, she said.

Administrators with the nonprofit organization

H MANAGER FROM

city employees in order to install his preferred candidates in those po sitions, and provided in terview questions ahead of time to people he wanted to hire, accord ing to documents the Star received through a public information re quest.

Attorneys for the city

an overlook and two trailheads, among other improvements, according to the city.

Members of the con servancy are now raising money for a proposed third phase of park im

hope to build some where between three to five homes per year un til reaching the 15-home capacity, she said.

Interested parties will then apply to move into the homes, she said. The organization will hold the mortgage and have residents reach 30- or 40-year agreements to pay for the home at 0 percent interest, Holland said.

A mortgage might range between $450 to $750 depending on the market value of the

sought to withhold a copy of that whistle blower complaint by fil ing an appeal with the Texas Attorney Gen eral’s Office, but state officials eventually sided with the Star and required the city to re lease the document to the public.

Before Jackson’s hir ing, however, Missouri City also paid almost $1 million in severance

provements, according to the conservancy. That $1.5 million project would construct a learn, explore and play area for chil dren, according to a news release.

house, she said.

Administrators with Fort Bend Habitat for Humanity have found that many of those they’ve built homes for before have a history of paying rent on time, but just can’t qualify for a mortgage, even if it would be less expensive than the cost of rent, she said.

“We’ve found those people can use that ex tra money on important things like food, educa tion and childcare,” she said.

payments to Jackson’s two predecessors, An thony Snipes and Odis Jones, who were fired by the city council in February 2020 and May 2021, respectively.

Both Angel Jones and Palenick appear before Missouri City after re cent controversy in their last cities.

Attorneys represent ing Angel Jones this week threatened to file

dent of Fort Bend Pets Alive – a nonprofit or ganization dedicated to turning more county animal shelters into nokill shelters.

Vass in a conversation with the Star last week said it was a matter of Sugar Land needing the will to change opera tions moving forward.

Some residents for years have questioned Sugar Land’s animal shelter, arguing the way city leaders calculate its save rate make it sound better than it really is.

The shelter, for in stance, regularly lists its save rate as 95 percent and higher, according to documents provided to the Star. But that’s because the calcula tions don’t include those animals that are eutha nized, according to the

The nonprofit group is not the only organiza tion in Fort Bend County to announce new lowincome housing plans in recent months.

State and local leaders last month gathered in Richmond to celebrate the opening of a $17.6 million apartment com plex meant to replace some of the low-income housing lost during 2017’s Hurricane Har vey.

The Huntington at Richmond - a $17.6 mil lion project funded

a lawsuit against the city of Portsmouth, with Jones alleging she was wrongly fired and “major crimes involv ing public corruption” involving several city leaders, according to an article released Monday in the Virginian-Pilot.

Angel Jones was fired in May with a 4-3 vote from the Portsmouth city council, according to the story.

documents.

Adolph told the Star the city would review monthly save rate cal culations to see if an error exists, and fix it if it does.

The city has al ready fired five people in connection to the investigation into unau thorized euthanizations, Adolph said.

City administrators are also reviewing all policies and procedures to determine what to change, Adolph said.

One possibility might be shifting toward a re gional approach moving forward, Adolph said. Staff initially presented this possibility to the city’s animal advisory board in April, Adolph said.

Elected leaders thus far have rejected re quests to seek a no-kill designation for the shel ter.

through federal disaster recovery grants - will provide about 76 percent of its 140 apartments to low-to-moderate income residents, according to officials with the Texas General Land Office.

The average median household income in Fort Bend County was about $100,189 in 2020, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. But about 7.4 percent of the county’s 858,527 res idents live in poverty, or about 63,530 residents, according to the U.S.

Palenick, meanwhile, left Middletown in March after he and the council agreed they had differing visions for the city, according to a Cin cinnati Enquirer article.

Palenick had taken the Ohio job in July 2020, but has worked in city administration for eight cities, according to the article. Palenick was fired as city manager in three cities, including

“We have discussed the no-kill designation multiple times in the past with the animal advisory board, but the recommendation has been to not adopt the designation,” Adolph said.

In the interim, the city has temporarily reas signed staff from other offices to work along side the six existing members of animal ser vices to staff the shelter until administrators can hire new employ ees, Adolph said. The city is recruiting and interviewing for seven positions, Adolph said.

The city is also using a veterinarian staff ing agency to keep two technicians at the shelter each day and an other agency to provide between two and three kennel technicians each day, Adolph said.

Census Bureau.

A report from the web site, Affordable Housing Online, shows that there are about 29 affordable apartment properties in Fort Bend County with a combined 3,421 units.

But about half of all Fort Bend County fami lies are renting homes as opposed to buying them, Holland said. And a high percentage of residents are spending more than 50 percent of their in come on housing, she said.

Bay City, Michigan in 2002; Rio Rancho, New Mexico in 2006; and Castonia, North Caro lina in 2011, according to the article.

Sedrick Cole, Mis souri City’s former IT manager, has been serv ing as interim city man ager while the council has advanced through a search for a full-time re placement.

H SUBDIVISION FROM

H PARK FROM

The project will expand the park’s parking, extend the entryway and add more than 1.2 miles of new trails. (Contributed rendering)

Review: Nobody leaves Corelli's hungry

By Matt deGrood MDEGROOD@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

I’m not sure how I’d missed Corelli’s Italian Café before last week.

That stretch of road, near the intersection of State Highway 6 and Williams Trace Boulevard, has long been home to some of my favorite restaurants in Fort Bend County. You could almost throw a dart and hit some place great.

But before calling a lastminute audible because Italian food sounded espe cially good, I’d never visited this Sugar Land staple for tasty eats before.

Like so many of the res taurants along the highway there, the interior of Corelli’s looks far different than the nondescript look of the restaurant signage among nondescript strip mall.

Perhaps authentic Ital ian restaurant is too far, but Corelli’s certainly felt cozy inside, with several tables filled with hungry lunch time diners, all in sight of the kitchen. In addition to watching some of the food preparation, I could also see a bar area and some outdoor dining spots, but neither were open when I was there for lunch.

Of all the places I’ve visited for a food review, Corelli’s lunchtime menu might offer the most bang for the buck. Almost ev erything sounded good to me (lemon, pepper, mush rooms, what more could one want?)

After anguishing over what to order for a few min utes, I settled on the penne maschile, which seems like a Corelli’s unique invention.

The pasta featured grilled chicken, broccoli and onions atop a bed of penne pasta in a garlic cream sauce.

Everything was good, but the secret star of the show was the cream sauce. Something about its flavors was addicting and I wanted more and more of it.

Pro tip: if you find your

self at Corelli’s and have ordered the same thing, try dipping garlic bread into whatever sauce is leftover at the end. Honestly, I didn’t even wait until the end, choosing instead to dip the bread regularly into the sauce.

The serving that arrived at my table also didn’t look like what I imagine when I think of lunchtime serv ings. There was more than enough pasta to fill the hun griest of stomachs and then some.

And just in case there isn’t, employees brought bread with each meal as well as a cup of garlic sticks

at the beginning.

No one leaves Corelli’s hungry, at least in my expe rience.

There’s no doubt an abun dance of great food options across Fort Bend County. But a new arrival can’t go wrong sampling the likes of Corelli’s and its neighbors.

Corelli's Italian Cafe

Address: 3229 State Highway 6, Sugar Land Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 11

a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Satur day

Entrée prices: $10.89$24.59

Kid-friendly: Yes

Alcohol: No Senior discount: No Healthy options: In salata Anna ($9.49)

Star of the show: Penne maschile ($13.99)

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Nibbles & Sips: Mahesh’s Kitchen hosting Diwali celebration Oct. 22

By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

A Sugar Land Town Square favorite is prepar ing to host a celebration in commemoration of Diwali new next week.

On Oct. 22, Mahesh’s Kitchen will host a Diwali Dandiya celebration from 6:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. in the plaza at Sugar Land Town Square. Diwali, known as the Festival of Lights, is the commemoration of the Hindu New Year. The holiday will be celebrated from Oct. 22-26.

During the celebration, there will be performanc es by Punjabi Dohl and Bhangara, live music by Kiran Nayak, face paint ing, activities, food and more, according to the restaurant. There will also be a prize for those “donning the best dress and busting out their best moves.”

Local biergarten raising funds for breast cancer research

A Missouri City biergar ten is using the month of October to raise aware ness and funds for breast cancer during Breast Can

cer Awareness Month. This Wednesday and the following Wednesday, Texas Biergarten in Mis souri City will donate all proceeds from its Wednes day bingo directly to MD Anderson’s Boot Walk Campaign.

The campaign is an annual fundraiser that pro vides support for patient programs, research, pre vention and education at MD Anderson, according to the healthcare provider.

Missouri City brew ing company hosting fun run next month

Next month, Tex as Leaguer Brewing Company in Missouri City will host Missouri City’s annual 5K Beer Run at the brewery, located at 13503 Pike Rd.

There will be a “Little Leaguer” kids run begin ning at 10:30 a.m., and the regular 5K trail run will start at 11 a.m. Tickets are $25 for the kids run, and $40 for the 5K trail run.

For more informa tion or to register for the event, visit the event page at txleaguer. square.site/product/ missouri-city-s-5k-beerrun-at-texas-leaguer.

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, 14100 Southwest Frwy. Ste 230, Sugar Land, TX 77478

FOR NON-PROFIT EVENTS

ONGOING FT. BEND ACCORDION CLUB

Meets on the 4th Sunday of every month from 2:pm - 4:pm at: CHRIST CHURCH SUGAR LAND (in the Chapel) 3300 Austin Parkway, Sugar Land, TX 77479 FREE and Open to the Public! We welcome everybody! If you play accordion, beginners to professional and would like to play Call, Text or email: Vince Ramos Cell: 281204-7716 vincer.music@gmail.com

PROPEL SOCCER ACADEMY

Fall recreational teams practice with a Propel Soccer Coach every Monday and Wednesday. Practice Time: between 5:30-8:00 Weekend Games! Season: September 7th- November 13th Who: 6-12 year oldsWhere: Practices- Sienna. Games at Hickory Slough Sportsplex in Pearland. When: Practices Monday and Wednesdays Games will be Saturday mornings before noon (U8-U10) or Sunday afternoons before 6pm (U12). Practice Time: between 5:30-8:00 For more information, please email us at info@ propelsocceracademy.com!

FORT BEND JUNIOR SERVICE LEAGUE RECRUITING NEW MEMBERS FOR 2022-2023 YEAR

To join, the membership application can be accessed at https://www.fbjsl.org/join/how-to-become-a-member/.

FBJSL will also be hosting multiple virtual and in-person recruitment events over the summer where potential new members can learn more about the League. Information regarding attending these events is available at www. fbjsl.org or on the FBJSL Facebook page at www. facebook.com/FortBendJuniorServiceLeague/.

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 Tuesday evenings at 6:30 for a casual evening of music. We play a variety of music including bluegrass, country, gospel and some western. We

request acoustic instruments only please. We welcome both participants and music lovers who enjoy listening to good live music. There’s no charge and we welcome beginners and gladly offer gentle assistance. We meet at First Presbyterian Church, 502 Eldridge Rd, Sugar Land. Please call Sam at 832-428-3165 for further 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 281-217-5799 for more information.

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 281240-3195

EXCHANGE

EXCHANGE, America’s Service Club, always welcomes guests and is in search of new members! Various Fort Bend clubs exist and can accommodate early morning (7 a.m.), noon and evening meeting time desires. For more info, contact Mike Reichek, Regional Vice President, 281-575-1145 or mike@reichekfinancial.com We would love to have you join us and see what we are all about!

MISSOURI CITY AARP CHAPTER 3801 Meets the second Monday of every month at 11:30 a.m., at 2701 Cypress Point Dr., Missouri City Rec Center. Lunch, education, and entertainment. All seniors over

50 invited. For more information, call 713-859-5920 or 281-499-3345.

GEORGE RANCH PUMPKIN PATCH

We are excited to announce that the Great Pumpkin Round Up will be returning to the George Ranch Historical Park, starting October 15 - November 26. This will be the perfect place for families and visitors of all ages to take an unforgettable fall photo or selfie surrounded by pumpkins that climb structures and cascade to the ground in elaborate designs.

ST. LAURENCE BAZAAR

Look for the tents at St. Laurence Catholic Church, 3100 Sweetwater Blvd, Sugar Land, on Saturday, October 15 (5-10pm) and Sunday, October 16 (10am-5pm). Expect delicious international foods, games, activities, rides, bingo, live music and a raffle. Entrance is free, buy tickets at the door. https://www.stlaurence.org/parishbazaar

FORT BEND VOICES FOR CHILDREN BREAKFAST

Child Advocates of Fort Bend held its 12th annual Voices for Children Breakfast on Thursday, September 22, 2022 from 7:00 am until 8:30 am. Exchange Club of Missouri City was the Breakfast sponsor. To learn more about Child Advocates of Fort Bend, go to www. cafb.org or attend a Sip & Stroll to meet their staff and learn more about the work that they do. The next Sip & Stroll will be held on Tuesday, October 25 from 5:30 until 7pm. To reserve your spot, contact Suzanne Slavin at sslavin@cafb.org.

The penne maschile - shown here with a side of garlic bread - was far from the only highlight during a recent visit that proved Corelli's can fill even the hungriest stomachs (Photo by Matt deGrood)

Mahesh's Kitchen will host a Diwali celebration at Sugar Land Town Square on Oct. 22. (Photo from Facebook)

Thank You! to everyone who contributed to this year’s

SENI R

Expo

Thanks to the Com munity! My name is John Sazma the General Man ager of the Fort Bend Star and Fort Bend Business Journal. I want to thank all that attended the Fort Bend Star 6th An nual Senior Expo this past Wednesday October 12th. I also thank the wonder ful sponsors and vendors.I look forward to next Octo ber Expo. I want to thank all those vendors that donated towards the water, donuts, etc.

Our Thanks to these vendors

Starbucks Omar the Store Man ager and his staff do nated the coffee and set up for the Expo. the cof fee station was a great success. Go visit Omar and his helpful staff at: 1321 FM 1092 Missouri City, TX 77459

Outback Steakhouse Amanada the G.M. of the Stafford location Thank you for your dona tion. Go visit Amanda and her staff: 12559 Southwest Fwy. Stafford, TX 77477.

Jimmy John's Kelly, the G.M. in Staf ford. Lunch was not do nated but she provided a wonderful boxed lunch of almost 600. WOW! And helped pass out the lunches. Go visit Kelly and her staff: 3623 S. Main St. Stafford, TX 77477

Star Cinema Thank You to Star Cinema for their dona tion of movie tickets for this year's Senior Expo. I always enjoy watching a movie at your theatre. I recommend everyone to go visit. 4811 Hwy 6 Missouri City, TX 77459