The 12-13-23 Edition of The Fort Bend Star by The Heights Leader and Fort Bend Star

2023

READERS’ CHOICE

Brandani’s Restaurant & Wine Bar - Page 6

281.690.4200 WEDNESDAY • DECEMBER 13, 2023

Former Sugar Land city manager Allen Bogard files Precinct 3 commissioner By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Editor’s note: Look for a round-up of filings in Fort Bend County races in the March primary at FortBendStar.com and next week’s edition. The increasingly crowded field in next year’s race for Fort Bend Precinct 3 Commissioner this week gained a prominent name - Allen Bogard, who served as Sugar Land city manager for nearly two decades. Late last week, Bogard announced that he was filing for the March 5 Democratic Party primary for the seat, which has been held for nearly 30 years by Republican Andy Meyers. Bogard joins at least two other people running in the Democratic primary - Taral Patel, formerly chief of staff to County Judge KP George, and educator Kiran Rao. Meyers, who months ago announced his intention to run again for the seat he’s held since the early 1990s, is being challenged in the Republican primary by Sugar Land businessman Mike Khan. The competition for the race reflects the changes in the precinct’s boundaries after a highly contentious 2021 redistricting vote following the 2020 Census, pushed through by a new Democratic majority on Commissioners Court. Meyers is one of two Republicans left on the court, which had been held by the GOP for decades. The redistricting shifted the boundaries of Precinct 3, which had been centered in the Katy area, toward the Sugar Land, Stafford, Missouri City and Meadows Place area. In an interview with the Fort Bend Star, Bogard, who served as Sugar Land city manager from 2001 to 2020, said his decades of experience in the area of the new boundaries, dealing with infrastructure and other challenges, make him the most qualified candidate for the post. Bogard served as assistant manager before the Sugar Land city council tapped him for the top job upon the departure of previous City Manager David Neeley. Before that, he had held various positions in municipal government in the Texas cities of Dallas, Plano, Keller and Winsboro. Bogard, who was born in Los Angeles, said he grew up in a “transitory family” that moved between that city and Fort Smith, Ark. His father died when he was 7 and his mother later remarried. He describes his family has economically challenged.

Fort Bend / Southwest • Volume 48 • No. 63 • $1.00

FBISD board gives Whitbeck send-off after tumultuous week By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

While there was little new clarity about how the sudden departure of Fort Bend ISD Superintendent Christie Whitbeck came about, the district’s board on Monday did give her the “proper send-off” that was promised at the end of last week’s surprisingly ugly meeting where they accepted what had been presented as a voluntary retirement after just two years and two months at the helm. And even though Monday’s meeting ended with almost uniformly positive and often emotional statements from board members about

Whitbeck’s commitment and contributions to the district during her tenure, there were still signs of the ill feelings that the situation has engendered. On December 4, five board members, a majority, voted to accept the voluntary retirement agreement, with one member voting against and one abstaining. Five members later voted to appoint Beth Martinez, then the deputy superintendent, as the acting superintendent, with two members abstaining. Officially, Whitbeck will remain an employee of the district with the title “superintendent emeritus” to help the board during the transition to

a permanent superintendent, and receive $491,000 in severance, equivalent to a year’s pay. Martinez will receive approximately $100,000 in her new role. And while the agreement was designed to put a positive face on Whitbeck’s surprise departure, especially after the board had earlier this year extended her contract to December 2026 and given her a 2 percent raise, it didn’t take long for comments by board members to reveal a very different story underneath. First, Position 6 member Kristin Davison Malone rhetorically questioned why the move was being made so suddenly, then offered a reason.

With district staffers and board members surrounding them, Dr. Shirley Rose-Giliam, vice-president of the Fort Bend ISD board, presents outgoing Superintendent Christie Whitbeck with a gift at the end of Monday’s meeting. Photo by Ken Fountain

She said it came down to “personality conflicts” between Whitbeck and board president Judy Dae, board secretary and Position 7 member David Hamilton, and “perhaps one other” whom she didn’t name.

Malone said Dae gave Whitbeck an “ultimatum” of either resigning voluntarily or being terminated by a board major-

SEE WHITBECK PAGE 4

“Hanukkah”

See Page 6 - for more photos from the Chanukah menorah lighting event

The menorah at Sugar Land Town Square is seen with one “candle” lit (plus the center candle used to light the others). Photo by Ken Fountain

GHP: Region to see slower, more sustainable job growth in 2023 By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Former Sugar Land City Manager Allen Bogard has filed for the Democratic nomination for Fort Bend Precinct 3 Commissioner. Photo by Ken Fountain

SEE BOGARD PAGE 3

Visit www.FortBendStar.com

Patrick Jankowski, chief economist for the Greater Houston Partnership, told attendees of an event last week that the region will add nearly 60,000 jobs in 2023. Photo by Ken Fountain

The greater Houston region will see continued job growth in 2024, but at a slower pace than the past couple of years, while the region and the nation as a whole will likely avoid a recession, the Greater Houston Partnership’s chief economist told a group of business and government leaders last week. Patrick Jankowski was the featured speaker at the partnership’s annual “Houston Region Economic Outlook” event, held December 7 in a filled-to-capacity ballroom at the Royal Sonesta hotel in the Uptown area. The partnership serves as the region’s main chamber of commerce. Jankowski, who has been with the partnership since

the 1970s, told the audience made up of business and governmental leaders that the region that he projects the region will add 57,600 jobs in 2024, which he said was a more sustainable growth rate than the huge pace the region has seen since the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic began. As of October, the region has added nearly 200,000 more jobs than it did since before the pandemic, he said. That growth has been a reaction to the huge job losses that occurred, both in the region and across the nation, in the wake of the economic shutdown that occurred in 2020 as a response to the pandemic, Jankowski said. Once

SEE SUSTAINABLE PAGE 3

THE STAR

PAGE 2 • Wednesday, December 13, 2023

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

EXPERIENCED IN TOTAL HOME REPAIRS! Roof Replacement & Repairs Shower, Siding & Additions • Framing • Sheetrock • Painting • Fences • Concrete/Granite • Tile, Brick & Laminate • Tree Service

832-860-1054 Application has been made with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission for a Wine and Malt Beverage Retailer’s Off-Premises BQ Permit by Family Dollar Stores of Texas, LLC d/b/a Family Dollar #32215 to be located at 3403 Texas Parkway, Missouri City, Texas 77489, in Fort Bend County . Officers of said LLC are Peter Barnett (President), Todd Littler (Senior Vice President), John Mitchell, Jr. (Secretary), Jonathan Elder (Vice President – Tax), Harry Spencer (Assistant Secretary)

YOUR

AD H E R E

Application has been made with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission Mixed Beverage OnSite Permit by TownePlace Suites, to be located at 11031 Fountain Lake Dr, Stafford, Fort Bend County, Texas. Officers of said corporation are Kamaldeep Gill: President. REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL Drymalla Construction Company, LLC (CM at Risk) is soliciting Qualifications/Proposals from Subcontractors/Suppliers for the Lamar Consolidated ISD Secondary Campus 7 Water Plant - Bid Package #5. Project consists of a new water plant to serve the new secondary campus 7. Refer to the Project Documents for a full description of scope. Qualifications/Proposals are due at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, December 13, 2023 at the offices of Drymalla Construction Company, LLC, 608 Harbert, Columbus, Texas 78934, via fax 979-732-3663, or email to bid@drymalla. com. NO PHONE BIDS WILL BE ACCEPTED. For information on how to obtain copies of the Request for Qualifications/ Proposal documents call 979-732-5731, or email Justin Kilbride at jkilbride@drymalla.com. Documents are also available online at planroom.drymalla.com.

GARAGE SALE? LET THE COMMUNITY KNOW!

Let the community know in our Community Calendar! Contact: awilliams@txtstreetmedia.com

713-433-6421 14700 Almeda Rd Houston, TX 77053 www.HoustonHumane.org

BOLT

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

713.371.3740

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

“Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.” - PSALM 9:10

Hi there, my name is Bolt! I enjoy treats and relaxing all day! I enjoy treats and relaxing all day! Bolt is such a gentle and handsome boy that is waiting to find his FURever home! ADOPT BOLT!

THE STAR

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

Wednesday, December 13, 2023 • PAGE 3

Fort Bend Hidden Gems: Brandani’s Restaurant & Wine Bar Janet Sue

Ryan Lee

Art and Culture Columnists

By Janet Sue Reid and Ryan Lee Reid

e first stumbled upon Brandani’s Restaurant & Wine Bar when we were renovating our home in Sugar Land in 2021. We temporarily relocated to Sienna in Missouri City and during our many (hungry) drives back and forth, we discovered the unexpected culinary wonders of Brandani’s in Township Square Shopping Center in Missouri City.

I remember the first things we ever ate there. We ordered two of their three-course lunch specials. For appetizers, we had a house salad with avocado ranch dressing and a butternut squash soup. For our entrees, we had the pan roasted chicken breast finished with a cremini mushroom and tarragon sherry cream reduction, Marcona almonds and roasted tomatoes as well as the chicken piccata with capers, tomatoes and lemon butter sauce. For desserts, we had the warm bread pudding with rum sauce and vanilla ice cream as well as their impressive 6-layer chocolate cake. You may be wondering why I remember this meal so vividly even though it was years ago and we have eaten there many times since then. It is because I never expected to have thoughts nor tastes of a supple butternut squash velouté, an elegant tarragon sherry sauce with the sheen of being monter au beurre, or a properly composed lemon butter sauce that coated the back of my spoon with a velvety nappe in a humble family-owned restaurant in Fort Bend. I was instantaneously transported back to my days cooking in Michelin restaurants in New York City. I wondered, who is behind the line here? Ron and Claire Brandani

BOGARD FROM PAGE 1

But, Bogard said, his mother instilled in him an ethic of public service to help people who were in similar circumstances. After graduating from high school in Fort Smith, Bogard went to the University of Texas at Arlington, where he received a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1976. After graduation, he went to work for the city of Dallas in the public works department while pursuing a master’s degree in public administration, which he earned in 1981. Bogard took the job of Sugar Land assistant city manager in 1995. During his tenure in that role and as city manager, the city has grown tremendously and taken on a much denser and economically diverse character. Bogard attributes that to forward-looking members of City Council and staff who

The Crispy Quail with honey, garlic, and chilies on crispy jalapeno polenta is a favorite dish at Brandani’s Restaurant & Wine Bar in Missouri City. Photo by Janet Sue Reid

are husband and wife owners of Brandani’s Restaurant & Wine Bar. They combined their impressive restaurant pedigree to open their own restaurant in March 2015. Their experience includes culinary heavyweights such as Brennan’s of Houston, the Pappas Bros. Restaurant Group, the Original Carrabba’s on Kirby, and … Jean-Georges Vongrichten, the French chef who transformed the New York dining scene, illuminating it with many Michelin stars. This was our “a-ha” moment. We could clearly taste Jean-Georges’s influence in Brandani’s well- composed and refined dishes. Now, we knew who was behind the line. It was Ron Brandani. He was effortlessly transforming Southern American and Italian classics with locally sourced Texan ingredients and French techniques. Ron’s obsession with the food industry started at a young age. When he was 14, he worked as a busboy for a restaurant in Galveston. At 20, he was the youngest food and beverage director for Willow Fork Country Club. It was at Willow Fork he was introduced to a Danish chef who taught him culinary skills and concepts that helped him transition

to Carrabba’s. After a few years at Carrabba’s, Ron moved on to the Icon Hotel, a Jean-Georges establishment. This stint in the hotel industry and the impossible hours made him certain this area of hospitality was not for him. Ron decided to return to Carrabba’s off of Kirby and was the managing partner for the next four years. Then, Ron received a life-changing offer to buy a restaurant space in Missouri City and open his own restaurant in 2015. Never an underachiever, he left Carrabba’s in February and opened Brandani’s in March. According to Ron, however, the restaurant had been a long time coming. “I told my wife three things when we got married. I don’t do laundry, I’m gonna have a boat, and I’m gonna open a restaurant,” he says. Brandani’s menu offers all of the classic hits: salmon, fried chicken, chicken piccata, steaks, crab and burgers. There is something for everyone, and we see this when we dine there. It is not uncommon to see three generations of a family dining together. When we ask Ron how he would describe the cooking style he says, “Really it’s just food that I like to eat.” That’s how Ron devel-

over the years focused heavily on economic development. Some of the accomplishments he touts during his time with the city are the development of the Sugar Land Regional Airport into what he said is one of the premiere executive airports in the country, the development of Sugar Land Town Square, which combines the city’s city hall with a mixed-use residential and commercial center, and the Smart Financial Center entertainment venue. Bogard retired from Sugar Land in 2020, just as the pandemic was hitting. Since then, he has been pursuing his interests of history and genealogy, while also serving on the board of the Gulf Coast Water Authority and the board of the TIRZ (tax increment reinvestment zone) for Sugar Land Town Square. He said he has been looking for new challenges and new ways to serve the public.

Bogard said he considers himself a “moderate Democrat” whose values reflect a wide cross-section of the residents of the new Precinct 3. Bogard said that with his knowledge base of all of the changes in the area in recent years, many of which he presided over during his time in local government, he is best positioned to represent the new Precinct 3. In particular, he said, he believes that he would bring a stronger focus on issues confronting residents of the county’s suburban cities, which make up a heavy concentration of the new district. He believes the county government has focused on the unincorporated areas to the detriment of residents of the cities. Bogard, who has what he called a “blended family,” has six children and six grandchildren in total with his wife, Claire, a municipal financial consultant.

oped and still develops the menu items. His recipes are an accumulation of dishes he would cook over the years at home with Claire, who would give her stamp of approval. Seafood is Brandani’s specialty. Diners eat over 200lbs of fish a week. One of Ron’s favorite creations is the fresh hot smoked salmon topped with a relish of avocado, tomato, red onion, and cilantro poetically atop a bed of mashed potatoes. “It’s whole, fresh, wild caught, and comes fresh from the Gulf,” Ron says with pride. Local, wild, and fresh are the types of ingredients used in all of the menu offerings. These words occur again and again in our interview and are central to the food philosophy of Brandani’s. Ron is on a first-name basis with all his vendors for vegetables, fish, and meat. In fact, he buys almost all of a local farmer’s tomato stock and all the burger patties are Akashi beef and farm raised. Brandani’s wine list has bottles as diverse as the cuisine. Wine is one of Ron’s favorite parts of the business. They offer Napa, French, and Italian varietals with bottles under $50 and others over $750. “I think a lot of people out here want the Mom and Pop stores with a little elevation and

SUSTAINABLE FROM PAGE 1

people felt safe to leave their homes again, he said, they began spending at a rapid rate, boosting the economy and the number of jobs, but also the increased inflation that the country has struggled with since. “We’re definitely slowing down. But we’re slowing down from a pace that we could not sustain,” Jankowski said. “We need to catch our breath.” Jankowski said one of the main drivers of the slowdown is the Federal Reserve’s campaign of raising interest rates in an effort to combat the current inflation, the worst the country has seen since the 1970s. That translates to decreased business activity as the cost of borrowing increases. Also, banks are tightening their lending standards, which makes it harder for businesses to make capital investments,

are not too into the [restaurant] chains.” One of our favorite dishes is the crispy quail with honey, garlic, and chilies on crispy jalapeno polenta. It is light, crispy, and juicy. The honey adds a sweet kick to the dish, while the crispy polenta enhances all the nuanced layers as a perfect carrier of flavors and textures. Another go-to dish is the coffee crusted prime New York strip steak with a decadent espresso demi-glace, truffled brussel sprouts, and steak fries. The steak has the perfect char without losing any tenderness inside, while the demi-glace coats every bite with intent on delighting every taste bud. A few weeks ago, we tried a braised short rib, a seasonal selection. It was tender, succulent, and packed with flavor. Whenever we order their signature fried chicken which is impressively not greasy, we order a side of their delicious tarragon brandy sauce as a gravy. Since we take dessert very seriously, we must discuss their Bailey Irish Cream Cheesecake. It is offered as a seasonal New Year’s item. If you ever see it on the menu, order it. We warn you though, it is so good that it may ruin all other cheesecakes for you.

For thoughtfully elevated food with the comfort and community of a family-owned restaurant, Fort Benders are lucky to have this hidden gem. Brandani’s front and back of the house work in harmony to satisfy their diners. “It’s an orchestra, all the people that get this place running and successful,” Ron says. He and Claire deliver a gastronomical experience in concert with Bacchus, expertly conducting a symphony of flavors in Missouri City that is not to be missed. To discover this Fort Bend Hidden Gem, visit brandanis.com. Brandani’s Restaurant & Wine Bar 3340 FM 1092 Rd., Ste. 160 Missouri City, TX 77459 (832) 987-1313 If you would like to recommend a local hidden gem to be featured in the Fort Bend Star, please email: CulinaryCowgirl@ReidFeed.com

he said. Retailers and other businesses are “destocking” their inventories, which they had built up during the pandemic recovery in order to meet the huge new demand from consumers, he said. Government spending is also beginning to slacken, which also is contributing to the slowdown, he said. Jankowski said that unlike other economic forecasters, he expects the Federal Reserve to maintain relatively high interest rates in 2024, as it tries to fulfill its dual mandate of maintaining maximum employment and low inflation, which it sets as a target of 2 percent of “core price index”. While there will be slower growth in 2024, Jankowski said he does not expect the economy to go into recession. A recession is defined by two successive quarters of reduced economic output. In its report, the partnership notes that factors outside the

Federal Reserve’s control, such as geopolitical concerns, could trigger a recession. According to the partnership’s forecast, there will be job growth in nearly all economic sectors, including the energy and manufacturing sectors, both mainstays of the regional economy. There will be losses in the construction, finance and insurance, information, and real estate sectors, according to the forecast. Jankowski said that the slower rate of growth he expects will be good for the Houston region in the long term, likening it to the difference between short and long-distance races. “It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon,” he said. “Here in Houston, we’re in it for the long run.”

Janet Sue Reid, “The Culinary Cowgirl”, and Ryan Lee Reid, “The Piano Cowboy”, are artists and creators. They transform space and time to move and heal people through art. They live in Sugar Land with their children. Find their full bios and contact them through ReidFeed.com.

Find the partnership’s full Houston Region Economic Outlook at houston.org.

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PAGE 4 • Wednesday, December 13, 2023

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EDITORIAL Land of the free, home of the knaves tion, but this is a new one: the establishment charging the customer for using a credit card. In this case, 2 percent.

Lynn Ashby Columnist

By Lynn Ashby ASHBY2@COMCAST.NET

HE RESTAURANT – “Here’s your check, Sir,” says the waitress pushing one of those small, black boxes towards me. She’s probably already filled out the tip at 100 percent. As usual I only glance at the tab which is $77 for a cheeseburger and three vodkas. The list gives the meal, tax, clean fork etc. Then I spot: Non-cash Fee (2 percent). “What’s that?” I ask. “That’s the charge if you pay by credit card,” she replies. OK, I know that card companies charge an establishment a small amount for each transacWHITBECK FROM PAGE 1 ity, shortly after the successful passage of the district’s voterapproved tax rate election in November. That success came on the heels of the passage of the district’s record $1.26 billion bond referendum in May. In her own remarks, Whitbeck said she had been “blindsided” by the news that members of the board were moving to oust her, and that she had never done anything “illegal, immoral, or improper” and never would. That prompted Position 5 trustee Sonya Jones, an educator and the newest member of the board, to tell Whitbeck

Welcome to the wonderful world of junk fees. Remember awhile back you and I discussed tip fatigue, when restaurants among others use those little black boxes to nudge you into paying a tip no matter how bad the food, service and roach count is. Now we have the sly and even unlawful way of adding a hidden cost to your transaction. For example, my bank statement lists a Maintenance Fee: $2 a month. I guess this charge went to the janitor and a/c repairman who maintained my bank and the guard who maintained my money. Some stores or on-line shopping companies now charge a restocking fee when you return an item. The coffee pot you ordered produces crude oil and you return it but have to pay for the pleasure. Here is my monthly bill from Disable Cable. It is a full page-and-a-half long. The equipment and service is all I want. That comes to

$51. No problem, but the list grows. Regulatory Cost Recovery: $1.24. State Cost Recovery Charge: $1.45. I seem to have two layers of recovery, although just what I am recovering from isn’t spelled out. No, wait. Washington gets into the act with Federal Universal Service Fund: $2.49. There are also a Public Education and Government Fee. I have absolutely no idea what they are. The list goes on and on. I have to pay extra for each TV remote. Does anyone watch TV without a remote? What’s a Franchise Fee? It’s $8.91. My $51 monthly charge from Disable Cable for the month is $300.36! Some of the charges are supposedly for taxes, although I have read the extras only sound like a government tax when in actuality they go to the cable company. There is no way to find out. Most of us pay our taxes, although reluctantly. Remember this nation went to war and won its independence with the battle cry: “No taxation without representation.” When the war was over we got our taxation but

today I’m not sure about my representation. And we pay them in sneaky ways. Texas likes to boast that we have no personal income tax. True, but our Legislature passed a two-year, $248 billion state budget. Guess where that money came from? Some of it came from my TV remotes. I just ordered a Christmas gift on-line. There was state tax (6.24 percent), a city tax (1 percent) and – get this – a special district tax (1 percent). Maybe if I was simply given a single bill each year for all the taxes I pay, I would have a clearer picture of the situation. There is an expression, “Nibbled to death by ducks.” I feel nibbled. Occasionally I go out and have fun. I like to watch witch burnings. So I take a Chariots On Fire car to and from my destination. When I got home this last time there was the usual detailed email receipt. Going out had a trip fare of $10.69. But hold on. There is also a Booking Fee of $3.03 and a Waiting Fee of 19 cents. Waiting Fee? I was standing on the curb, waving my hands when he arrived. A Texas Regulatory Recovery

Fee added 13 cents. With a $3 tip, my $10.68 bill ballooned to $17.04. Coming back home to the very same place cost $9.45. No, make that $17.91.

that the board had tried to protect her reputation by keeping matters out of the public eye, because if they become known Whitbeck “would never work in education again.” Since then, some board members have traded barbs about the situation both in media interviews and on social media. At Monday’s meeting, the boardroom was filled to capacity with an overflow audience filling the chairs of the lobby at the district building. Many in the audience were Fort Bend ISD teachers and staff members, along with several parents and community members. During the public comment

portion of the meeting, most of the speakers, including several teachers, lauded Whitbeck and expressed shock at the way her departure was coming about. Sugar Land Mayor Joe Zimmerman said he had the utmost respect for Whitbeck’s ethical standards. Many of the teachers said that Whitbeck had been the only superintendent who they had ever met, and that she had made them feel that they were truly heard for the first time in many years in the district. Some said they would be making their dissatisfaction with the board known during the next board elections in May. After the board listened to some routine presentations

from staff members, they went into an executive session that lasted well over an hour. During that time, Whitbeck spoke briefly to reporters outside the boardroom. While not taking questions, she said she could offer some information about what led up to the situation. She reiterated that she has done nothing wrong that would merit her being fired for cause. But she discussed a clause in her employment contract with the district that says that a superintendent can be dismissed for not establishing a good “rapport” with the board, which she said she has always tried to do. The clause effectively makes her an at-

will employee, she said. She said she has yet to have a discussion with the board about why the move to remove her began. “I love this district. I love the kids, I love the community,” she said, adding that she was recruited to Fort Bend ISD from Bryan ISD, where she had also been superintendent. “I don’t regret coming back, because I truly do love them.” When the board came out of executive session, they voted on a couple of routine matters before the promised send-off began. Martinez, the incoming acting superintendent, read an emotional statement on

services to be provided up front rather than when you actually pay the bill, like when you check out of the hotel. In addition, the bill would allow the Federal Trade Commission and the FCC to issue and enforce the new rules. Biden noted that the hidden charges are particularly aimed at the elderly who are targets of the retirement advising industry. They can add hidden costs of up to 20 percent. The Biden administration also pointed out the surcharges you pay on loans, new cars, rent, air travel, event tickets and hotel rooms. The last time I stayed at a Galveston hotel my bill included a resort fee. I think the Gulf breeze and the waves were free. That’s nothing compared to the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas which charges a one-time resort fee of $132 -- nearly as much as the $159 rate for one night in a king room at the hotel in January. As for the added charge at the restaurant for using a credit card, I paid cash.

Now let’s get to the big bux for junk fees, like credit cards. In 2019, the major credit card companies charged over $14 billion in punitive late fees. That was just a starter. A 2022 study by Consumer Reports found that Americans spend nearly $65 billion on junk fees each year. This figure includes fees for overdrafts, late payments, convenience services and account maintenance. That two bucks I am charged for maintenance adds up. But customers are getting surly. That same survey found that 73 percent of Americans feel that junk fees are unfair, and 64 percent feel that they are hidden from consumers. Fortunately, President Biden, having brought peace to the Middle East and gas to10 cents a gallon while taking 10 years off his age, moved to solve the junk fee scam. He recently signed the Junk Fee Prevention Act. It requires the full price of

Ashby hides fees at ashby2@comcast.net behalf of the district’s executive board praising Whitbeck for her commitment to the district’s performance and its culture, which prompted a standing ovation by that team and the rest of the remaining members of the audience. That was followed by statements by the board members, all of whom praised her for her hard work and commitment to the district. Whitbeck herself said she was proud of her accomplishments, and most proud that voters in the two recent elections had shown their own commitment to the district and public education in a time when it is facing tremendous challenges.

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Wednesday, December 13, 2023 • PAGE 5

Fort Bend ISD must engage with the entire community By Regina Gardner, Recording Secretary, Fort Bend Houston Super Neighborhood Editor’s note: This guest column is provided by officers of the Fort Bend Houston Super Neighborhood, including Regina Gardner, Willie Rainwater and Gloria Ballenger. This piece does not necessarily reflect the views of the Fort Bend Star or its staff. The Fort Bend Star welcomes opinion articles on matters of interest to Fort Bend County residents. Publication is at the discretion of the editor.

“

We The People…” are the very first words in the preamble of the U. S. Constitution, for one central reason. It highlights an essential part of the American system of government that requires “action” on the part of “The People” as a fundamental feature to hold “the system” accountable and make it function properly.

Reflecting on the history of its Willowridge High School feeder pattern, the Fort Bend Houston community is motivated to work tirelessly to revitalize the social structures that once made it a viable, child-centered, healthy place to live and raise a family. With schools that historically fared well academically, producing some of the world’s greatest high school, college, and professional athletes, a world-class high school marching band and developing world-renown professionals in other fields, the community was once a burgeoning utopia for young families looking for a better life. But over the years the community experienced substantial decline in economic development, social cohesion, and overall local school performance. However, within the last few years, community members have come together to reorganize their local civic organization, called the Fort

Bend Houston Super Neighborhood, which encompasses a coalition of civic organizations that advocate to improve the quality of life for local citizens. The Super Neighborhood was a program established by former Houston Mayor Lee Brown to help organize communities for more effective collaboration with their city government and other local entities. A group of Fort Bend Houston community members have worked diligently to breathe new life into this organization and tackle one of the most detrimental community-killers on the rise today: failing community schools. We know that the last 2030 years of poor quality public education in our community has had a significant impact on the Fort Bend Houston community, including economic development, workforce development, and crime rates. There is a well-documented correlation between education and crime. Individuals who do not receive a quality education are more likely to engage in criminal activity. This is due to a variety of factors, including limited job opportunities and lower income potential. We also know that high-quality schools can have a profoundly positive impact on local communities. By providing quality education, fostering social skills, and encouraging community engagement, high-quality schools can play a significant role in revitalizing communities and reducing crime rates in local areas. Safety and crime reduction is a big concern for “urban/ suburban areas” like Fort Bend Houston, and to address this issue, we must be able to change the trajectory of the schools in our area. High-quality schools also play a crucial role in preparing students to participate in civic life. Students who receive a quality education are more likely to vote and volunteer in their communities, according to a report from the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement. In order to revitalize our community and produce enough human capital

to maintain quality living standards, it is imperative that our students are just as prepared to participate in civic life as any other student, from any other community. So, by using a plan that encompasses reliable, evidenced-based interventions that have been proven to work in elementary schools in the U.S. and around the world, but only sparingly used in American public schools because of political gridlock, community members have stepped forward to join in collaboration with Fort Bend ISD leaders to use this plan as a template for school improvement and positive community change. Community members understand that if students master both academic and behavioral learning during their early years, our families and our communities will lose significantly less of our youth to low-end jobs, drug abuse, and crime. For far too long local school districts with exclusionary agendas have kept parents and community members “occupied” and/or distracted by having them serve on meaningless “committees” in which the outcomes have already been pre-determined by the school district. School districts are notorious for using these tactics to put forth the illusion that they are “collaborating” with the community, when this is absolutely not the case. The results of these deceptive tactics are plain to see when the data from specific schools in lower socioeconomic communities have shown the same repeated failure over the last 20-30 years. Experts have expressed various views on our society’s inability to solve big societal problems, like the decline in Pk-12 educational quality. Here are some key points that often come up: Political Polarization: Many experts point to increasing political polarization as a major obstacle to problemsolving. The divide between Democrats and Republicans on major issues has widened, leading to gridlock in Congress

Willowridge High School, which has a storied history of achievement, is located within economically challenged Fort Bend Houston. Community members are working to revitalize the social structures that once made the area a viable, child-centered, healthy place to live and raise a family. Photo by 2C2K Photography, via Wikimedia Commons

and making it difficult to pass significant legislation. Short-term Focus: Some experts argue that politicians often focus on short-term gains to win the next election, rather than tackling long-term problems. This can lead to a lack of progress on issues that require sustained attention and effort. Inequality: Economic and social inequality is seen as both a major problem in itself and a barrier to solving other problems. We must ask ourselves if “inequality” has been a major factor in the decline of Fort Bend Houston schools over the years. Does the Fort Bend ISD school board allow “unequal” access to power and resources that keeps lower socio-economic neighborhoods in a conundrum they can’t escape? Systemic Issues: Some experts argue that many of the problems we face are systemic in nature, meaning they are deeply ingrained in our social, economic, and political systems. If these problems are deeply ingrained within our local FBISD school board and school system, then that means, in all likelihood, it will take “radical” change to correct them. Lack of Trust in Institutions: There’s a growing lack

of trust in institutions, including the government, the media, and the scientific community. This can undermine efforts to address societal problems, as solutions often require collective action and trust in the information provided by these institutions. With regard to the lack of trust in institutions, for example local school districts, school boards often adopt very condescending, “us vs. you” attitudes towards parents and community members.This behavior highlights their failure to realize that “We the people…” are the most critical part of the equation in terms of the property taxes we pay, the trustees we put in office, and the accountability we have every right to demand in terms of (1) competent local government, (2) well performing schools, and (3) crime reduction and safety. To this point, under the leadership of the Dr. Christie Whitbeck, the outgoing Fort Bend ISD superintendent, the district has done an outstanding job engaging with the parents and community members of the Fort Bend Houston community over the last year to develop a genuine partnership based on transparency and mutual respect

between district professionals and community professionals alike. This collaborative team has worked very hard to assuage any “us vs. them” posturing during their deliberations and our community members have high expectations that the continuity of this style of engagement will continue even now that Dr. Whitbeck is no longer the superintendent. In the words of the U.S. Constitution, “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, ensure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” This powerful statement underscores the critical part local citizens play in shaping their communities. It is a reminder that the responsibility of ensuring a prosperous and peaceful society lies in our hands. As we look forward to the future of the Fort Bend Houston community, we are left to wonder: Will our school district do its due diligence to uphold this principle of “We the People,” or will it simply sustain the status quo? Only time will tell.

The hard part of living easy Mark Garay Columnist

By Mark Garay MARKGARAY426@GMAIL.COM

“I might as well go up and talk to a wall / ‘Cause all the words are having no effect at all / It’s a funny thing, am I all alone?/ Something has to happen to change the direction” - Missing Persons, “Words” I had it all planned out. It was to be the day before ending two months’ worth of daily cancer treatments. Head to the clinic on Richmond Ave in Houston at 2 p.m. and come straight home for a well-earned spot in my recliner and a big glass of celebratory wine. At 4 p.m., I had to be prepared for an important phone call with a company rep over changing insurance plans and what my options were. It was to be a leisurely day comparatively, with minimal worry and even less energy required. Maybe a quick trip to the market, if possible. But as is often the case, and I’m sure you know what I’m talking about, everything ultimately went south. This time it was due to the technology designed to make our lives easier, more reliable and convenient. Ultimately I screwed myself in the name of progress. More on that later. I could easily try to impress you with all the numbers and data out there. But to do so

would be redundant and obvious. I’ll use myself as an example: In my younger years, I had to bring the newspaper in from outside in order to get my news. I had to speak on a centrally located home phone with numbered dials and a psychotic system of electrical cords. If I wanted to withdraw money, I had to go to the bank. If I had to pay a bill, I wrote a check. If I wanted Asian food, I had to drive to Wang Fung’s to pick up the phone order Id made after searching through a huge book. If I wanted to play a video game, I headed to the closest mall. If I wanted to call my buds, I had their numbers memorized. If not, I consulted my address book. If I wanted to see a movie, I looked up the showtimes and locations in the newspaper. If I cared about the weather, I caught the local evening news. If I needed to mail my auntie LaLa, I had to find a stamp and an envelope. If I needed high cultural or elementary school instruction, I caught PBS. If I needed specific music, I went to Tower Records. If I needed to express my political opinion, I did it in person with friends, over a cold brew and fatty foods. If I needed to find my way, I unfolded a map that never folded properly again. And if I needed to know the exact time, I called P-O-P C-O-R-N. Do I really NEED to point out how much our phones OWN us now? The morning began with unanticipated bad JuJu. The keys to my car rental went missing. Plans that day included sev-

eral separate stops to take care of routine errands. But I had to get the cancer clinic. My first inclination was to call the company for a spare key. I called, and there was no answer. I tried again about 10 minutes later. Again, no response. In all, four times I tried to reach them. Four times, nothing. I bit the bullet and called an Uber. $63 later, I arrived at the rental office in Sugar Land after a two-way trip to and from Houston. I was advised that they had no duplicate keys because “everything is electronic now”. Not to worry. The pimply-faced 19-year-old handed me a handwritten referral, a man he said would make a copy of the key within an hour. When I asked how much more this would cost, he said $20. Fine with me. It was my fault the keys were misplaced in the first place. I got home and immediately called. The company on the other end was a contractor. She said they don’t make replacement keys and wondered out loud what I was talking about. When I asked, she estimated a new key to cost around $200. Let’s put a pin in that. She offered to tow the car back to the place on Highway 6 from my enclosed parking garage. I tossed the dice by assuring her the structure was tall enough to accommodate any tow truck. The truck showed up 90 minutes later. It did indeed fit. Score one for me. After spending 20 minutes helping the driver secure the load, I casually asked how much this tow was going to cost. “Probably around $300,” he said. “What? Why? It’s less than 2 miles away” He checked his

itinerary. “Oh,” he said, surprised. “Because I’m taking it to the airport.” “Why is it going to the airport?” “Oh, I wouldn’t worry,” he assured me. “It says here the rental company has already paid for it.” “Does it say anything about the ‘company’ passing on that cost to me by billing my credit card?” All this because of a key. That was enough for me. It was after 9 p.m. I retired for the evening. The next day, since I no longer had a rental vehicle, I once again had to call an Uber. Surely today has got to be better than yesterday. The man who drove me home was very kind. We discussed his origins in Vietnam, how he earned a college degree in Australia, and how he, his wife and child settling in Fort Bend County. So engrossing was the conversation that I never noticed how my iPhone fell out of my backpack. And even though I specifically checked the seat as I always do, the phone had apparently ended up on the floor. Upon realizing that it was missing, I had to make a choice: run downstairs to catch Mr. Uber, or submit to an intestinal requirement. I chose the latter. Now, I still remember what I would have done in the world where I grew up. Called the company, talked to a rep and made sure the driver got my phone number to arrange a reunion. But now, who am I supposed to call? Uber? I had no phone. After 30 minutes of intense cranial analysis, I remembered

that I had an iPad. I couldn’t make a phone call, but I could text my son for help, which is what I did and what he did. Twenty minutes later, he said he’d made contact with the driver, and that the guy would deliver my phone back to me. Cool. Hours later, I started getting worried. My son sent me the driver’s info. I texted my new friend and he assured me he was on his way. Finally, he indicated he’d arrived. I ran downstairs out of my condominium building. He was nowhere in sight. I waited for 15 minutes. I then ran upstairs again to retrieve my iPad so I could find out where he was. I ran back downstairs only to realize on the street that my iPad wasn’t getting WiFi. Still no sign of the Uber driver. So I climbed up to the third floor again. He’d texted to tell me he was in front of City Hall. “I’ll be right there,” I texted back. I bolted out the door. I was again outside my building when I realized the Sugar Land City Hall has TWO fronts. Which front? Dear Lord, I gotta go upstairs to ask him through my iPad which side of City Hall he meant. It was shorter to do that, I decided, than it was to search the City Hall grounds like some kind of heathen. It was less time and required less energy. I went back upstairs to find a text telling me that he had to leave. I felt totally defeated. Like, the opposite of triumphant. Mine was suddenly a reality stew filled with angst, anger, despair and a wisp of self-loathing. It all bubbled and coalesced into a dark unfortunate energy-draining

casserole. I suppose I can text this guy to arrange delivery. Maybe I can get my boy to call him tomorrow. I’m going to bed. Then a miracle. The driver reached out to me. He advised me that he had left my phone at a nearby Starbuck’s. It was at the counter. I sprinted out of my home, made it downstairs for the sixth time, and hastily found traction. Then, like a glowing beacon, I saw him, standing outside the cafe doors, looking around and smoking a cigarette. It was my Uber driver. He escorted me inside, asked the cashier and handed me my phone. “I didn’t want to just leave it here”, he said. “Just to be cautious.” I hugged him, shook his hand and walked him to my home, where I gave him a $30 tip for helping me so loyally. Two days. Two devices. Two crises. One solution. I won’t belittle how much the digital age has advanced our comforts and convenience. I won’t deny that technology has helped us all. But for a guy like me and many other Texas GenXers, being on the margins of one revolution to another has been a hard gun to powder. And for all the practice we get using apps and games and online banking and Internet dating, it should be no surprise how lost we are when we lose it. Two days later, I got a phone message from the rental company. They wanted to know where their car was. I’ve yet to get a bill. Garay can be reached at MarkGaray426@gmail.com

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Chanukah menorah lighting event Photos by Ken Fountain Chabad of Sugar Land hosted a celebration of the first night of Chanukah (also spelled “Hanukkah”) at Sugar Land Town Square on Thursday, December 7, the first night of the eight-day holiday. The holiday, known as the Festival of Lights, commemorates the rededication of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem by the Macabees after their victory over the Syrians. Rabbi Ari Feigenson of Chabad of Sugar Land provides opening remarks during the menorah-lighting event at Sugar Land Town Square.

Aaron Steinberg, a teacher at Chabad of Sugar Land, reads Pslam 122, which asks for “the Peace of Jerusalem,” during the event. Sugar Land District 3 Council member Stewart Jacobson offers remarks during the event.

Sugar Land District 3 Council member Stewart Jacobson lights the central candle in the menorah at Sugar Land Town Square

Teenage students pass a flame from candle to candle during the event.

Schoolchildren participate in the menorah-lighting event

Children excitedly wait for gelt, or chocolate coins,” to be dropped.

THE STAR

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

Wednesday, December 13, 2023 • PAGE 7

Deadline is noon every Friday. Limit entries to the “5 Ws” Who, What, When, Where, and Why. Email to awilliams@txstreetmedia.com

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.

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

Have a Non Profit? Need to get it out there?

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

EXPERIENCE COUNTS! 35+ YEARS SERVING FORT BEND COUNTY

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.

Put here in our community calendar!

• F O R T B E N D S TA R . C O M •

713-371-3740

Santa THE STAR

PAGE 8 • Wednesday, December 13, 2023

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

Audition for the Award-Winning & Emmy Nominated Fort Bend Boys Choir of Texas Audition throughout winter break. Scan the QR Code for info, visit fbbctx.org or call 281-240-3800 Happy Holidays from the choirboys!

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DECEMBER 2023

HANUKKAH ENDS

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