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Finding Zen through the lens of Clarence Yeung - Page 3
281.690.4200 WEDNESDAY • JANUARY 10, 2024
Olson named board chair of Lone Star Flight Museum Staff Reports Former Fort Bend Countyarea U.S. congressman and former naval aviator Pete Olson has been named the board chair of the Lone Star Flight Museum, a museum featuring vintage aircraft based on Galveston Island.
Former Fort Bend-area congressman and former naval aviator Pete Olson has been named board chair of the Lone Star Flight Museum in Galveston. Courtesy U.S. Congress via Wikipedia
Olson was unanimously elected to the position by the board in December and officially assumed the role on January 1, according to a museum press release. Olson succeeds Scott Rozzell, who had served on the board for nine years and was instrumental with museum president and CEO and retired lieutenant general Doug Owens, in moving the museum to Galveston from Ellington Field in Houston in 2017 after the museum and many of its historic aircraft were damaged during Hurricane Ike in 2008. Olson served in Texas’s 22 Congressional District, which includes much of Fort Bend County, as a Republican from 2009 to 2021, when he retired, according to his Wikipedia profile. “I am so honored and extremely humbled to have been nominated by Scott and I’m grateful for the support of Doug and our entire board I grew up in Clear Lake Forest and graduated from Clear Lake High School in 1981,” Olso said in the release. “Watching and hearing military and NASA training flights flying overhead from Ellington were part of my daily life, it’s what inspired me to become a U.S. Navy pilot after finishing law school.” Olson graduated from Rice University with a degree in computer science in 1985 and the University of Texas law school in 1988. He then joined the U.S. Navy and earned his Naval Aviator wings in 1991, going on to fly the Lockheed P-3 Orion antisubmarine and surveillance aircraft in missions over the Persian Gulf and the Indian and Pacific oceans. He left the Navy in 1998 and joined the staff of former U.S. Sen. Phil Gramm of Texas, later serving U.S. Sen. John Cornyn before running for the 22nd Congressional District. Since leaving Congress, Olson has remained very active in Fort Bend County civic life, particularly with the Exchange Club of Sugar Land.
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Fort Bend candidates report campaign sign vandalism By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Just a week into the new year, which is also an election year, one of the all-too-frequent scourges of election seasons, vandalism of campaign signs, has emerged in Fort Bend County. Several candidates for local offices in the county have reported that some of their campaign signage in various locations. In Texas, primary elections will be held on March 5, or Super Tuesday. Taral Patel, one of four Democrats vying for the nomination in the race for Precinct 3 Fort Bend Commissioner, said in a press release that he has filed a police report with the Fort Bend Constable’s Office after “multiple campaign signs were violently targeted and slashed to shreds throughout Fort Bend County.”
Patel said his campaign is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in the vandalism. According to a Monday press release from the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office, several other candidates have reported similar vandalism incidents. including Manu Pooparayil, who is running Precinct 3 Constable; Pete Luna, who is running as a Democrat for Sheriff; and Sonny Colunga, also running as Democrat for Sheriff. In the press release, the prosecutor’s office said that those responsible for vandalizing or stealing political campaign signs could face criminal prosecution. These actions do not reflect the character of Fort Bend County,” District Attorney Brian Middleton said in the release. “Destruction of political campaign signs
Precinct 3 Constable candidate Manu Pooparayil posted this image of campaign signs that have been vandalized. Via Manu Pooparayil campaign Facebook page
is an unsophisticated attempt to affect an election and is not likely to affect the outcome at all. Want to do
something meaningful and brave? Vote.” Persons with information regarding these crimes
should contact the Fort Bend County Sheriff ’s Office or the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office.
Missouri City native Elllie Breax, Miss Texas, vies for Miss America crown
Ellie Breaux, Miss Texas, greets some of her hometown fans during a send-off celebration at the Missouri City Community Center last week. The Missouri City native is competing in this year’s Miss America competition. Photo by Ken Fountain
By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Missouri City’s own Ellie Breaux, Miss Texas, is in Orlando this week as she represents the Lone Star State in the 96th Miss America contest. Last week, before she and her family set out for the Sunshine State, her hometown gave her a send-off in style. Dozens of people filled the main hall of the Missouri City Community Center to see Breaux, 23, arrive and excitedly greet her in person. The 23-year-old, a student at the University of North
Texas, won the Miss Texas crown in July of last year. According to a profile on the UNT website, Breaux first became involved in beauty pageants while she was with the North Texas Dancers at that Dallasarea campus, winning the Miss Keller competition in 2020. She followed that by taking the tiltes of Miss Park Cities in 2021 and Miss Tarrant County in 2022. She competed in the Miss Texas three times before earning the title last year. The event began with an official proclamation from Fort Bend County,
read by Sheriff Ed Fagan. Margana Wood of the Miss Texas organization presented Breaux with a “Yellow Rose of Texas” certificate signed by Gov. Greg Abbot. Margana Wood of the Miss Texas organization presented her with a “Yellow Rose of Texas” certificate signed by Gov. Greg Abbott. “We will be with you 110 percent. You’re going to do what you do day to day. Just show them your heart,” said Wood. “In my heart, I know that you would be one heck of an incredible Miss
America, and I hope that they see what we see every day,” said Mark Mitchell, also of the Miss Texas organization. “We’ll be with you in Orlando and we’ll be ready to cheer you on.” The presentations were capped off by Missouri City Mayor Pro Tem and At-large Position 2 Council member Lynn Clouser, who presented an overjoyed Breaux with an official Key to the City. “I’m super grateful for all of the community,” Breaux told the audience. “I’m super-fortunate to serve this great state,” she said, noting that since win-
ning the Miss Texas title she had spent “countless hours” traveling the state making public appearances. Breaux, whose father and uncle are both Houston Police Department officers, has made a special cause of finding ways to bridge the gap between law enforcement personnel and members of the community, which she calls “Cops in the Community.” Flyers for a related program called “Patrol Stories” were available at the event.
SEE CROWN PAGE 2
THE STAR
PAGE 2 • Wednesday, January 10, 2024
George Memorial Library to present program on American Revolution on Jan. 13 Community Reports Fort Bend County Libraries will present a history program on “The American Revolution: Henry Knox’s Noble Train of Artillery” on Saturday, January 13, from 2-3 p.m., in Room 2A at George Memorial Library, 1001 Golfview in Richmond. J. Kent McGaughy, Ph.D. a professor of History at Houston Community College, will discuss the American Revolutionary War, with a focus on an expedition led by Henry Knox in which he transported 60 tons of artillery over 300 miles through blizzard-like conditions to the Continental Army in Boston during the winter of 1775-1776. McGaughy received his doctorate degree in U.S. History from the University of Houston. The program is free and open to the public. For more information, see the Fort Bend County OLSON FROM PAGE 1
“It has been an honor and privilege to serve as Chair of the Lone Star Flight Museum’s Board of Directors and I’m proud of the great strides made by the Museum over the last nine years. The museum has become one of the premier aviation history and STEM education facilities in Texas,” Owens said in
Libraries website (www. fortbend.lib.tx.us<http:// www.fortbend.lib.tx.us>), or call George Memorial
Library (281-342-4455) or the library system’s Communications Office (281-633-4734).
Fort Bend County Libraries will present a history program on “The American Revolution: Henry Knox’s Noble Train of Artillery” on January 13. Public domain image via Wikipedia
the release. “The board has chosen an excellent Chair in Pete Olson. With his background in public service, first as a naval aviator and later as a member of Congress for 12 years, Pete has the experience and skill set to accelerate the Museum’s upward trajectory. I look forward to serving with Pete as he assumes his new role.” The Lone Star Flight Museum is a 501c3 aviation museum and STEM learning center with a mission to
celebrate flight and achievements in Texas aviation as well as educate and engage our youth through science, technology, engineering, and math. In addition to the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame, the 130,000-squarefoot museum is home to a flying collection of rare and historic commercial, general aviation and military aircraft. For more information, visit lonestarflight.org or call 346-708-2517.
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CROWN FROM PAGE 1
“My mom spent hours every night not knowing if he was going to come home. My aunt did that as well. I just want people to truly understand the message that I’m trying to get across of unifying our police officers and our community, helping each other conversate and bridge that gap and really just talk,” Breaux told the audience. “I always want people to talk. I think we’ve lost that side of communication when COVID happened,” she said. My goal is to go across the entire country spreading the message of community, helping police officers understand the communities they’re in and vice-versa.” A Miss Texas has not won the Miss America crown since 1975, when the honor went to Shirley Cothran Barret, who coinicidentally also attended UNT, as did Phyllis George, who won the title in 1971. “Hopefully, after 48 years, we can bring the crown home back to Texas,” Breaux said the applause of the audience. This year’s Miss American competition began on January 6 at the Universal Orlando Result. The final competition will be on Sunday, January 14, beginning at 7 p.m. Eastern time (6 p.m. Central).
Missouri City Mayor Pro Tem Lynn Clouser presents Ellie Breaux, Miss Texas, a Key to the City before she sets out for the Miss America pageant. Photos by Ken Fountain
Well-wishers fill the Missouri City Community Center hall to send off hometown girl Ellie Breaux, Miss Texas, as she heads off to the Miss America competition.
Learn more at the official website, missamerica.org. Those interested in watching the competition through online streaming can visit watchmissamerica.com. Breaux is not the only
recent winner of a major beauty contest with Missouri City ties. Last January, Missouri City native R’Bonney Gabriel (another UNT alumnus), was named Miss Universe.
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Worship Directory FORT BEND COUNTY
METHODIST CHURCH
EPISCOPAL
CHRIST CHURCH SUGAR LAND • 281-980-6888
ALL SAINTS EPISCOPAL CHURCH • 281-499-9602
A United Methodist Community 3300 Austin Parkway • Sugar Land, TX 77479 Rev. Dr. Daniel Irving, Senior Pastor Sunday Schedule 9:30 am Blended Worship 9:30 am Sunday School for all ages 11:00 am Traditional & Contemporary Worship www.christchurchsl.org
605 Dulles Avenue, Stafford, TX 77477 SUNDAY: 10:30 am Worship Holy Eucharist www.allsaints-stafford.org
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH • 281-240-3195 502 Eldridge Rd. -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
Introduce Your Congregation to the Community with a listing in our Worship Directory
Call Anqunette for more information
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CHURCH OF CHRIST
STAFFORD CHURCH OF CHRIST • 281-499-2507 402 Stafford Run Rd. -Stafford, 77477 Stephen Higley, Preacher Sunday Bible Study 9:30 am Sunday Worship 10:30 am Wednesday 7:00 pm www.staffordcoc.com
Scripture of the week
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” - ROMANS 12:12
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Wednesday, January 10, 2024 • PAGE 3
The Reid Feed: Finding Zen through the lens of Clarence Yeung JANET SUE
RYAN LEE
Art and Culture Columnists
By Ryan Lee Reid and Janet Sue Reid Every day, we scroll through our local news and neighborhood groups to stay in the loop of what is going on in our community. As we sifted through the vast number of stories and posts one day last year, we were struck by the breathtakingly beautiful photographs taken in Cullinan Park and Brazos Bend State Park by Clarence Yeung, a Sugar Land-based photographer. We could feel our bodies relax and release serotonin with each stunning photo we viewed of all kinds of birds in their natural habitats but captured in moments we would never see in our daily lives or with the naked eye. Clarence’s photos looked straight out of National Geographic. We had no idea our humble Fort Bend County had this wide range of diversity of wildlife and geography until he stunningly captured it with deftness in both technical skill and artistic composition. Over the past two years, we started following Clarence’s photography because it always brought us a much-needed moment of Zen in our daily
routines. We were not just in awe of how colorful and well-balanced each one of his photos were, just like a painting we would find in a fine arts museum, but also the stories behind them. We read how he finally got a shot of the elusive Orangecheeked Waxbill, “Finally, I got a decent photo of this rare bird in Texas! It took me about 15 hours over five days.” We learned how he captured a majestic eagle as it took him “Three and half hours in the park to catch this bold eagle bringing dinner home just a few minutes before sunset.” We had to meet this patient man behind the lens to learn more about him and his photography. Born and raised in Hong Kong, Clarence was four years old when his mother introduced him to his first camera, and since then his lifelong passion for photography was born. However, Clarence is much more than just a photographer; he is a sort of renaissance man whose philosophy looks for beauty and promotes tranquility in everyday life. “I have three passions in life. My first passion is chess. My second passion is photography. My third passion is math and computers.” Clarence has developed his passions through hard work and persistence into a diverse tapestry of professional careers. Even though his mother bought him an Olympus camera at four years old, his photography education came in 1974 during high school
in Anchorage, Alaska at the hands of Mr. D, Clarence’s high school photography club teacher. As luck would have it Mr. D was also the chess club teacher as well, so he would spend countless afternoons learning both of his crafts and honing his skills. As far as becoming an artist with the camera, Clarence learned that from studying Art Wolfe, the famed nature and cultural photographer who believed that photography should imitate paintings. Clarence was inspired by his show “Travels to the Edge” where Wolfe would go to remote places to take unusual and captivating photos that blended artistic and journalistic styles. In 1977, Clarence moved to Houston to attend the University of Houston. He studied computer science with a minor in math. However, in order to make ends meet he had to make the agonizing decision to pawn his camera. “That feeling is seared into my memory. I was so depressed, I can still feel that feeling all over my body.” The event was so traumatizing, in fact, that Clarence would not take another photograph for another twenty years. After graduating from the University of Houston, Clarence was a project manager at Compaq and various consulting firms. It was during this time that his health made him reconsider his career path. Clarence decided to teach chess full time for a living.
Clarence is also a chess master. He has several state and national chess titles. In fact, some of his fondest memories are with his daughter at the chess tournaments, so it was not long before Yeung was booked solid with students and started coaching chess at the high schools around Houston. After coaching chess for a few years, Clarence began teaching high school math and science, which then led him to start tutoring high school math and science full time. It was around this time twenty years ago that he bought a camera again. He realized that he could finally overcome the trauma of having to sell the camera he loved so much to attend college. There was nothing stopping him anymore from pursuing his passion for photography. During the COVID pandemic, Clarence was drawn to a larger mission with his photography. He wanted to spread beauty and serenity through his art. “During COVID, the politics became so polarized, everywhere people were arguing and debating,” he said. “People’s mental health has been negatively affected by the isolation and constant use of social media. I wanted to do something that would bring a smile to people’s faces and help them calm their minds.” That’s when Clarence got the idea to start posting the pictures he took of nature online and share them with the world. Photography came natu-
rally to Clarence. However, he was not John James Audubon. It was the birds and ornithology that he had to learn a lot about. Clarence needed to know what they look like, what they sound like, and where they live. The time it takes to learn about all the different species he wants to photograph is not work for him. “If you love what you do then it’s not work, it’s fun. You have to be passionate about whatever it is you do, it’s the most important thing.” It is the combination of passion and a quest for tranquility that has Clarence waking up hours before sunrise, driving to one of Fort Bend’s many public parks, and patiently waiting for the sunrise with his Nikon Z9 camera in hand. What is great about Clarence is his mindset. No matter how the day goes, he always sees the bright side. “When I go to the park, 70 percent of the reason is to take in the beauty and walk around, the other 30 percent is for the photography. So even if I don’t find a bird I consider the journey a success. If I do find a bird then that’s just icing on the cake. Either way I’m happy to be around so much beauty!” Clarence says being around nature helps him calm down, as well as the friendships he has found with the other nature photographers that visit the parks. Clarence won first place in the Cullinan Park Photo Contest in 2022 in the Eagle/Osprey category for his photo “Live Another
Day” (the large center photo in this week’s photo montage). One of the judges was actually right behind him as he took the award-winning shot. The judge was awestruck by the rarity of the moment Clarence captured. Clarence is always sharing his photography online, even the shots he does not enter into competitions. In fact, Clarence was once hired to take portrait of a family in Sugar Land. When he went to the client’s house, he found the wife was painting one of his photos he had posted online by complete happenstance. Even though they did not know each other beforehand, she used the photo on her Christmas cards that year and gifted him the painting she completed for Christmas. It was a special and memorable moment for Clarence. That is exactly the kind of impact that Clarence was hoping to have in his community, spreading his brand of beauty and serenity. When we asked about his philosophy of life, he took a moment and replied, “Have the courage to do the things you can. Have the serenity to accept the things you cannot change. Have the wisdom to know the difference,” quoting the well-known Serenity Prayer. As lovers of beauty, tranquility, and art, we hope Clarence’s photography will also bring you a moment of Zen and calm in your day. To contact Clarence Yeung, email him at clarenceyeung@yahoo.com or call him at (281) 798-3412.
Sugar Land-based photographer Clarence Yeung brings a lifelong love of photography and sense of serenity to his nature photos taken around Fort Bend County. Nature photography by Clarence Yeung. Group photo by Cameron Stawicki (L to R: Ryan Lee Reid, Clarence Yeung, Janet Sue Reid). Photo montage by Janet Sue Reid
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Welcome to the world Free "Fruit Trees" class offered on Jan. 20 Community Reports Fort Bend County Master Gardeners invites people planning on shopping at its annual fruit sale on February 10 to attend a free class on January 20. The 90-minute “Fruit Trees” class will begin at 9 a.m. at 1330 Band Road in Rosenberg. Attendees will learn about fruit trees, including semi-tropical, which are suitable for and thrive in Fort Bend County. Topics will include when and how to plant the trees, common problems and their resolutions. The class will be taught by Richmond Master Gardener Arti
Bansal and Stafford Master Gardener Angela Chan. Bansai has been a Master Gardener since 2021 and Chan since 2019. This is the first in a sixclass series called “Grow Your Own” offered by Fort Bend County Master Gardeners and Texas A&M AgriLife to help home gardeners create a productive and edible garden. Other in-person classes in the free series include: “Creating Healthy Garden Soil” on February 17, “Warm Season Vegetables & Herbs” on March 23, “Vegetable Pest and Disease Management” on April 20, “Growing Plants from Seeds/Cuttings” on May 4,
and “Cool Season Vegetables and Herbs” on Aug. 3. Learn more about the series at fortbend.agrilife. org/grow-your-own. For information, contact Brandy Rader at 281-342-3034 or brandy.rader@ag.tamu.edu. The Feb. 10 spring fruit tree sale will be in Barn H at the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds. Go to fbmg.org/events/springfruit-tree-sale for more information. To register for the class, visit fortbend.agrilife.org/ grow-your-own/grow-yourown. Registration is due two days prior to class.
Riley Naylor was the first baby born at St. Luke’s Health-Sugar Land in 2024. Mom, Maryia Vasileuk, and Dad, Zach Naylor, welcomed the 7-pound, 11-ounce Riley to the world at 3:11 p.m. on January 3. All are doing well. Courtesy St. Luke’s Hospital-Sugar Land
Fort Bend libraries offer crafting programs for adults Fort Bend County Libraries presents a variety of craft-themed programs for adults every month to introduce people to new hobbies and activities, and to give current crafters inspiration and new ideas. The schedule of activities in January is as follows: Mamie George Branch Library, 320 Dulles Ave, Stafford * Craft Squad Social Fridays, January 12, 19, and 26, 2-4 p.m., Meeting Room 1. At weekly Craft Squad Socials, crafters can bring their own craft and materials to work on while networking with other crafters. The Craft Squad Social is suitable for adults and older teens ONLY. Sugar Land Branch Library, 550 Eldridge * “Bring Your Own Craft” Club (BYOC) - Fridays, January 12 and 26, 2-3 p.m., Conference Room. People of all experience levels - from beginners to advanced - who enjoy any type of crafting are invited to attend to get other crafters’ perspectives, critiques, and suggestions. Chat and network with other crafters who enjoy anything from art and needlework to woodwork and much more! Missouri City Branch Library, 1530 Texas Parkway * Crafty Creators: CoffeeFilter Peonies - Wednesday, January 10, 7-8 p.m., Meeting Room. In this crafting group, a different craft project or art medium will be demonstrated each month. Everyone attending will have an opportunity to
participate! The featured craft project for January is “Coffee-Filter Peonies.” Learn how to use simple coffee filters and wire to create beautiful flowers. Materials are made possible by the Friends of the Missouri City Branch Library. Registration required. Sienna Branch Library, 8411 Sienna Springs Blvd, Missouri City * Sienna Art Club: TicTac-Toe Board - Wednesday, January 10, 3-5 p.m. This monthly program is for people who enjoy all kinds of crafts. The featured demonstration in January is a “Tic-Tac-Toe Board,” made with wood and paint. Materials for the demonstration are provided courtesy of the Friends of the Sienna Branch Library. People of all ages and experience levels - from beginners to advanced - who enjoy any types of crafts are invited to attend. Bring a craft project and share experiences with others who are thinking about taking up a new hobby. Those attending this program should bring their own supplies for their craft. This club meets on the 2nd Wednesday of every month. Registration required. * Craft Circle - Friday, January 19, 2-4 p.m. In this monthly craft club, which will meet on the 3rd Friday of every month, craft enthusiasts of all experience levels - from beginners to advanced - who enjoy any type of crafting are invited to attend to get other crafters’ perspectives, critiques, and suggestions. Chat and network with other crafters
who enjoy anything from art and needlework to woodwork and much more! Those attending should bring their projects and their own crafting supplies. Samples of the library’s instructional books, magazines, and websites on various crafts will be available. Crafters are invited to come and go as time permits. * Adult Craft: Perpetual Calendar - Wednesday, January 24, 10:30 a.m.noon, Conference Room 2A. Learn how to make a perpetual wood-block calendar for the new year. Materials are provided courtesy of the Friends of the Sienna Branch Library. Registration required. * How to Start Your Own Etsy Business - Tuesday, January 30, 2-3 p.m., Computer Lab. Learn how to set up an online store on Etsy. com, a virtual marketplace for handmade and vintage goods. Hear about common errors to avoid and get tips for keeping the shop going. Participants may choose to attend either session. Registration required.
for fabric, removeable vinyl for wall art, or permanent vinyl for cups/paper crafts). Registration required. First Colony Branch Library, 2121 Austin Parkway, Sugar Land * Cricut Basics - Saturday, January 20, 2-3:30 p.m., Meeting Room. In this introductory adult craft class, learn how to use the Cricut, an electronic cutting machine that can cut all sorts of designs from materials like paper, vinyl, cardstock, and more! Registration required. * Crafty Stitches Thursday, January 25, 11
Mission Bend Branch Library, 8421 Addicks Clodine Road * Intro to Cricut & Vinyl Monday, January 29, 6 p.m., Computer Lab. In this introductory adult craft class, learn how to use the Cricut, an electronic cutting machine that can cut all sorts of designs from materials like paper, vinyl, cardstock, and more! To follow along with the demonstration, participants should bring their own vinyl that is appropriate for the user’s intended purpose (Heat-Transfer Vinyl HTV
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a.m., Conference Room. Needlework enthusiasts are invited to attend this come-and-go share group to share tips, get ideas and inspiration, and enjoy the camaraderie of fellow needlecrafters. People of all experience levels - from beginners to advanced - who enjoy any type of needle crafting can get other crafters’ perspectives, critiques, and suggestions. Chat with other needle crafters while knitting, crocheting, or sharing other needlework hobbies! Those attending should bring their project and materials. Meets on the
4th Thursday of the month. Materials for these programs are sponsored by the Friends of the Library organizations that support each library. The activities are free and open to the public. Registration is required for some of the programs. To register online at the library’s website (www.fortbend.lib.tx.us), click on “Classes & Events,” select the branch library, and find the program on the date indicated. For more information, call the library system’s Communications Office (281-633-4734).
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Wednesday, January 10, 2024 • PAGE 5
EDITORIAL Musk be a great school LYNN ASHBY Columnist
By Lynn Ashby ASHBY2@COMCAST.NET
W
anted: Students to attend a brand-new educational institution founded by a genius who is already the richest person on earth but wants to become even richer: Elon Musk! Yes, you Mr./Mrs./ Miss/Whatever, can attend this brilliantly conceived school in Austin, No, not The University of Texas or Austin Community College but something better.
You will want to know all about this school. Elon Musk, whose worth is estimated at $254.22 billion, has donated $100 million (he calls it “Thursday’s allowance”) to establish a primary and secondary school based
on STEM. (That’s “science, technology, engineering, and mathematics” for you liberal arts majors.) We will initially enroll 50 students who will be selected after a thorough assessment, which means what model of Tesla you own. Eventually the school will expand to be a full university and will seek accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. We plan to file an IRS application for tax-exempt status. Hey, Elon doesn’t like to pay taxes, which is one reason he moved from California to Texas. We don’t yet know what the tuition will be, but financial support will be provided to those who need it, but forget about any student loan forgiveness. The school plans to serve local students and will also offer remote learning through “distance education technologies.” If the founder’s Space X works out, the distance may be the moon. We don’t yet have a campus, although Elon is eyeing a central location in Austin that has a big tower and several buildings suitable for classes. It has been noted that this location may already be used for a school, but as Elon
likes to say, “Everything has a price.” Nor have we decided on a name for our new school. Perhaps Musk University or, since this title is now available, Twitter Tech. Elon suggested X School but this might lead to jokes about the school being “X-rated.” Any school in Texas has to have a football team with a catchy name. We rejected Muskrats in favor of the Musketeers. We are currently in the process of hiring an executive director as well as teaching and administrative staff. Several of the applicants are available since their tenures at Trump University were abolished by the New York State attorney general. For our president, a former head of Harvard has just sent us her resume. Also, Texas A&M’s entire faculty is inquiring about jobs with us. The school isn’t Elon’s first foray into the world of education. He also founded Ad Astra (which in Latin means “to the stars”), a highly exclusive school system his children and others attend on the SpaceX campus. It is now known as the Astra Nova School. No one knows what that means. We assume Elon’s children will attend the new school in Austin, but we
are not sure which children since Elon has been married three times, twice to the same woman, and has seven children by them. More about the school: The driver’s ed program was to be using only Teslas, but that plan is on hold since Tesla is recalling more than 2 million vehicles due to safety concerns. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ordered the recall after a number of collisions killed at least 17 people. Father’s Day will not be observed since Elon has become estranged from his father, whom he has described as “a terrible human being… Almost every evil thing you could possibly think of, he has done.” For you budding scientists, our space program is just for you. You may be drafted to be a volunteer as an astronaut on one of Space X’s Pretty Sure It Works moon shots. Or you could be a rocket catcher. Now we must consider Elon’s favorite subject: money. Our business school will offer courses like no other college. Elon has spoken out against a proposed “billionaires’ tax.” He has also protested against government subsidies and tax incentives for U.S. businesses.
However, over the years, Elon’s companies — Tesla Motors, SpaceX, and SolarCity — have received billions of dollars from government loans, contracts, tax credits, and subsidies. According to a Los Angeles Times investigation, Elon’s companies had received an estimated $4.9 billion in government support by 2015, and they’ve gotten more since: a $653 million contract with the U.S. Air Force, a $2.89 billion contract with NASA, and more. It wasn’t just funds from the feds. In 2016, New York State put $750 million towards Elon’s planned solarpanel plant in Buffalo, plus tax incentives. And, Texans, you did your part. SpaceX received $15 million in economic development subsidies from Texas. State and local officials granted Elon his additional requests as well: they changed laws to close a public beach during launches, and provided legal protection from noise complaints. You’ll be taught all of this in Hypocrisy 101. Prospective students, you may be asking where you will live. We’ve got news. Elon is building his own city. Yes, our leader has purchased
thousands of acres of farmland between Austin and Bastrop where he is planning on building a “utopia.” There his staff (and no doubt students) can both live and work in new homes. They will be offered under a lease-tobuy setup with rents as low as $800 for two and three bedrooms -- the average rent in Bastrop County is around $2,295 a month – and if you are fired or leave, you would have to move within 30 days. There are plans to build 110 homes, and a number of modular homes are already in place, as is a pool, an outdoor sports facility and a gym. An application has been made to environmental authorities to discharge 142,500 gallons of treated wastewater into the Colorado River every day. So, prospective students, if your dream is to be worth more than Oklahoma’s GDP ($252.6 billion), enroll at our school. Your SAT doesn’t matter. If you can pass, catch, dribble or shoot a threepointer from mid-court, then you are welcomed. Eat your heart out, Aggies, Longhorns and Coogs. Go Musketeers! Ashby isn’t a billionaire at ashby2@compact.net
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TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR AN AIR QUALITY STANDARD PERMIT FOR PERMANENT ROCK AND CONCRETE CRUSHERS PROPOSED AIR QUALITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 174419 APPLICATION. Jilpit Llc, 1020 West Loop N, Houston, TX 77055-7255 has applied to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for an Air Quality Standard Permit, Registration Number 174419, which would authorize construction of a permanent rock and concrete crusher. The facility is proposed to be located at the following driving directions: from the intersection of Texas Highway 6 and Farm to Market Road 521, go south on Farm to Market Road 521 for approximately 3.8 miles and turn right onto the site, Juliff, Fort Bend County, Texas 77583. This link to an electronic map of the site or facility’s general location is provided as a public courtesy and not part of the application or notice. For exact location, refer to application. https://gisweb.tceq. texas.gov/LocationMapper/?marker=-95.479555,29.453962&level=13. This application was submitted to the TCEQ on October 25, 2023. The executive director has determined the application was technically complete on 11/24/2023. PUBLIC COMMENT. Written public comments about this application may be submitted at any time during the public comment period. You may submit public comments either in writing to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Office of the Chief Clerk, MC-105, P.O. Box 13087, Austin, Texas 78711-3087, or electronically at www14.tceq.texas.gov/epic/eComment/. Please be aware that any contact information you provide, including your name, phone number, email address and physical address will become part of the agency’s public record. The deadline to submit public comments is 30 days after newspaper notice is published. RESPONSE TO COMMENTS. A written response to all relevant comments will be prepared by the executive director after the comment period closes. The response, along with the executive director’s decision on the application, will be mailed to everyone who submitted public comments and requested to be added to the mailing list. The response to comments will be posted in the permit file for viewing. The executive director shall approve or deny the application not later than 30 days after the end of the public comment period, considering all comments received within the comment period, and base this decision on whether the application meets the requirements of the standard permit. CENTRAL/REGIONAL OFFICE. The application will be available for viewing and copying at the TCEQ Central Office and the TCEQ Houston Regional Office, located at 5425 Polk St Ste H, Houston, Texas 77023-1452, during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, beginning the first day of publication of this notice. INFORMATION. For more information about this permit application or the permitting process, please call the Public Education Program toll free at 1-800-687-4040. Si desea información en Español, puede llamar al 1-800-687-4040. Further information may also be obtained from Jilpit Llc, 1020 West Loop N, Houston, TX 77055-7255, or by calling Mr. Tyler Williams, Project Manger at (832) 715-3398. Notice Issuance Date: November 30, 2023
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FOR NON-PROFIT EVENTS
ONGOING BOYS CAN SING WITH THE AWARD-WINNING AND EMMYNOMINATED FORT BEND BOYS CHOIR!
Do you know a boy who loves music and singing? If so, encourage him to audition for the Fort Bend Boys Choir of Texas! No previous singing experience is necessary and boys should be around eight years of age or older with an unchanged voice. Boys have a limited time to sing in the unchanged, treble voice so it is important to take advantage NOW! At this time, auditions are by special appointment at the First United Methodist Church Missouri City, 3900 Lexington Blvd., Missouri City, TX. Visit the Fort Bend Boys Choir’s Audition page at https://fbbctx.org/auditions/ or call (281) 240-3800 for more details. Make the holiday season brighter for you and the boys in your life … check out the award-winning and Emmy nominated Fort Bend Boys Choir today as they celebrate this season’s theme: Singing Boys are Nothing but Treble!
SAVE THE DATE JANUARY 27, 2024 FELICIA SMITH JIGSAW PUZZLE COMPETITION
Register now for the family fun Hope For Three Autism Advocates, Felicia Smith Jigsaw Puzzle Competition. This exciting event is on January 27, 2024, at Fort Bend Christian Academy, North Campus Gymnasium, 1250 7th., Sugar Land 77478. Teams of four, young and seasoned, have two hours to complete a 250-500-1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle. Awards immediately follow, and bragging rights are guaranteed! Check-in is at 9 am, and the timed competition is from 10 am to noon. The event is one way the local nonprofit raises awareness and funds for families with autistic children and loved ones. Register your team ($160) now. To volunteer, serve as a sponsor, or for autism resources, visit www.hopeforthree.org
AMERICAN LEGION POST 942 311 Ulrich Street, Sugar Land meets the fourth Tuesday of each Month at 7:00 pm. All Veterans are welcome.
LOVING FRIENDS IS A GROUP OF WOMEN AND MEN WHO ARE WIDOWS AND WIDOWERS THAT MEET MONTHLY FOR LUNCH, FRIENDSHIP, AND SOCIALIZATION Lunches. are planned for the fourth Tuesday of the month at various local restaurants. Please contact Bobbie Tomlin at {281} 967-0718 For more information about us and to learn about this month’s planned lunch. We hope to meet you soon.
QUAIL VALLEY GARDEN CLUB The Quail Valley Garden Club is very busy, not only with meetings, but with some fun “stuff” for our members and the community. Please find our fall schedule of events that the QVGC will be involved with this fall leading up to the holidays.
ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE GRAND PARKWAY BAPTIST CHURCH In conjunction with the Literacy Council of Fort Bend Bend County, GPBC offers ESL classes on Tuesday nights 6-8:30 from August 22, 2023 through May 21, 2024. We are located at 12000 FM 1464 Richmond. Our students speak several languages and encompass many faiths. All are welcome. For more information call 281-277-2200 and ask for ESL information. You may also email ESL@grandparkway.org
FBJSL IS ACCEPTING CAF GRANT APPLICATIONS
ALIEF AARP CHAPTER 3264 Meets the first Thursday of every month at 10:00 a.m. at Salvation Army Church, 7920 Cook Road, Houston, TX 77072. Educational Program/Entertainment at each meeting. Bus Trips every month. Seniors 50 and above invited. Call 281-785-7372 for more information.
EXPERIENCE COUNTS! 35+ YEARS SERVING FORT BEND COUNTY 14090 S.W. Freeway Suite #200
281-243-2344 (Direct) Sugar Land, TX 281.243.2300 (Main) • KenWoodPC.com
SUGAR LAND ROTARY CLUB Sugar Land Rotary Club, the nation’s oldest community service organization, wants you to be its guest at a meeting that could turn out to be the best fit for getting involved with a local, non-political, humanitarian service organization with a global presence to satisfy your passion. We’re on a quest for new members! Call or email Dean Clark, 469-850-2424, dean7351@gmail. com. We’re a friendly group that meets once a week for lunch.
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: 281-204-7716 vincer.music@gmail.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.
GIVE A GIFT OF HOPE Give a Gift of Hope one-time or monthly. Your help provides access to therapies and services children with autism might otherwise go without. Please consider Hope For Three in your Estate, Planned, or Year-End Giving. Register now, or learn more about exciting events: www.hopeforthree.org/events
DVD-BASED ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS WITH NO HOMEWORK REQUIRED Weekly class designed to help you understand and appreciate the Bible by giving you a better sense of the land and culture from which it sprang. The class meets at 9:30 am every Sunday at First Presbyterian of Sugar Land (502 Eldridge Rd.). For more information call 281-240-3195
EXCHANGE
We provide grants of up to $5,000.00 to charitable causes serving Fort Bend County with requests to fund a critical need, pilot a program, or expand a significant service to the community. If your agency or organization is interested in applying for a CAF grant, please visit the Request Support page of the FBJSL website (www. fbjsl.org/request-support). All applications should be submitted via e-mail to brccom@fbjsl.com
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!
THE SANCTUARY FOSTER CARE SERVICES
MISSOURI CITY AARP CHAPTER 3801
We are a child placing agency that provides wrap around care support for foster children and foster families. We provide free therapy services, 24 hr. crisis intervention, respite/alternative care services and community-based support. For more info, www.sanctuaryfostercare.org
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.
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THE STAR
PAGE 8 • Wednesday, January 10, 2024
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FBISD's Rodeo Art Show set for Jan. 13 On January 13, from 8 a.m.-4 p.m., the Fort Bend ISD’s Fine Arts Department will hold its annual Rodeo Art Show at Sullivan Elementary School, 17828 Winding Waters Lane, Sugar Land. Held in conjunction with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the event will feature hundreds of pieces of artwork submitted by students of all grade levels from throughout the district. The Houston Rodeo’s School Art Program supports approximately 130 different school districts, including private and parochial schools, in the Houston area, according to its website. Judged by a local team of professional artists, finalists will advance to NRG Stadium where their work will be evaluated by professional judges from the rodeo. High school students have the opportunity to win scholarships. For more information, visit The Fort Bend ISD’s Fine Arts Department will hold its annual Rodeo Art Show at Sullivan Elementary School on January 13. File photo by Ken Fountain fortbendisd.com.
Fort Bend libraries to close in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday
Fort Bend libraries offer programs for seniors on Jan. 19 Community Reports Fort Bend County Libraries will host two programs in January for senior citizens, their family members, or those nearing retirement age. Both programs will take place on Friday, January 19. The University Branch Library (14010 University Blvd in Sugar Land) will present “Senior Living Options & Their Cost” from 10:30 a.m.-noon, in Meeting Room 1. Liz McNeel, a senior real-estate specialist and certified senior-housing professional, will be joined by
Community Reports All branches of Fort Bend County Libraries will be closed on Monday, January 15, in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. Regular library hours will resume on Tuesday, January 16. FBCL’s online library is always open at www.fortbend.lib.tx.us for searching the catalog, renewing books or placing holds, downloading e-books or music, streaming movies, or using the research databases. For additional information, contact the library system’s Communications Office at 281-633-4734.
about costs, how and when to enroll, and deadlines. Atkinson will also share pros and cons of the different options, and well as things individuals should know in order to avoid potential mistakes. The programs are free and open to the public. For more information, see the Fort Bend County Libraries website (www.fortbend. lib.tx.us) or call the University Branch Library (281-633-5100), the Missouri City Branch Library (281633-2100), or the library system’s Communications Office (281-633-4734).
a panel of experts who will explore various senior-living options with different levels of care. Hear about the approximate costs that one can anticipate for the different options. The Missouri City Branch Library (1530 Texas Parkway) will present an introductory program, “Medicare 101,” from 23 p.m., in the Conference Room. Melissa Atkinson will provide a basic introduction to Medicare. Learn about the different parts of Medicare, including MediGap, and what each one covers. Hear
• F O R T B E N D S TA R.C O M •
Expertise Matters When You Need
BACK AND NECK CARE
Specialists Serving Fort Bend County and Surrounding Areas
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If you suffer from back and neck pain, you have options when it comes to treatment. At Houston Methodist Neuroscience & Spine Center at Sugar Land, we offer comprehensive spine care ranging from nonsurgical and minimally invasive options to highly complex spine surgery. Whether you are experiencing everyday discomfort or severe pain from a significant condition or injury, our spine specialists provide advanced, personalized care — so you can get back to your active life.
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To schedule an appointment, scan the QR code, visit houstonmethodist.org/neuro-sl or call 281.205.4662.
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