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SUGAR LAND MISSOURI CITY EDITION
VOLUME 9, ISSUE 6 FEB. 9 MARCH 8, 2022
ONLINE AT
FOSTER HOME HURDLES A decreasing number of foster homes—combined with an increased number of children in need—has resulted in stretched resources across the state and in Fort Bend County.
A GROWING PROBLEM
FLUCTUATING RESOURCES
From 2011 to 2020, Fort Bend County saw a steep decline in its number of foster homes. Ruthanne Me ord, CEO at Child Advocates of Fort Bend, said some of the county’s larger foster homes closed in 2020 due to various reasons. DWINDLING FOSTER HOMES
Children receiving services Number of CPS sta members The number of children receiving services through the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services and the number of Child Protective Services employees assisting them locally has uctuated over the last decade. Fort Bend County
The number of children without placement in the Texas foster care system has risen over the past two years. The average number of days spent in CWOP status rose from 2 days in February 2020 to 18.2 days in August 2021.
500
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When heightened monitoring was fully implemented
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FOSTER HOMES
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29 -56%
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100
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CHILDREN ENTERING DFPS CARE 2011
2020
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75
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622 -13%
NOTE: AUGUST 2021 IS THE MOST RECENT DATA AVAILABLE FOR CHILDREN WITHOUT PLACEMENT, WHILE 2020 IS THE MOST RECENT TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES DATA AVAILABLE. 2011 2014 2012 2015 2017 2013 v2016 2018 2019 2020 0
2020
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SOURCE: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
2011
2020
Foster children without placement rise across Fort Bend County, state BY LAURA AEBI, CHANDLER FRANCE & WESLEY GARDNER
Family and Protective Services. According to DFPS o cials, individ- uals in the state’s foster care system receive a “child without placement” designation, or CWOP, when the state cannot nd a suitable and safe place- ment for that child, requiring the DFPS to provide temporary emergency care
until a placement can be secured. Over the last two years, the state has increasingly relied on unlicensed placements—often motels or o ce buildings—overseen by caseworkers. In October 2019, 32 children were in such placements statewide, accord- ing to DFPS data. By August 2021, that
number had risen to 395 children. Many of these children requir- ing placements have su ered physical abuse, sexual abuse and neglect, according to o cials with Child Advocates of Fort Bend—a nonpro t agency that assists child CONTINUED ON 20
The number of children without placement in the Texas foster care sys- tem has skyrocketed over the last two years, increasing by more than 1,100% since October 2019, according to data provided by the Texas Department of
CANDIDATE Q&A SAMPLE BALLOT PRIMARY ELECTION GUIDE 2022
Sugar Land movesmobility plan forward
Q&Awith Fort Bend ISD’s new superintendent
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IMPACTS
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PEOPLE
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MORNING BREAKDOWN Prep your headphones and co ee!
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Our sports medicine specialists can help keep your body in motion. At Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine at Sugar Land, we know every movement matters. Our board-certified sports medicine specialists offer:
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Student Enterprise Pop-Up The Student Enterprise Pop-Up is to give the general public the opportunity to receive services on a Saturday during non-traditional hours. The Shop, The Grill and The Early Education Lab will be open for services, registration, and other general informational sessions. February 12, 2022 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. James Reese Career and Technical Center
12300 University Blvd Sugar Land, TX 77479
Fort Bend ISD Celebrates Career and Technical EducationMonth Career & Technical Education (CTE) provides students the hands-on experience needed to be successful after high school. Students starting in middle school can explore a variety of careers from engineering and culinary arts to health science and law enforcement. Alongside the students’ coursework, they are exposed to real-world experiences such as guest speakers, job shadowing, internships and more. There are 14 CTE programs of study in FBISD that meet high school graduation endorsement requirements. Each of these programs of study has a career pathway that provides coherent, articulated sequences of rigorous CTE courses. End-of-program industry-recognized certificates and/or licenses are available for most programs of study.
* *The Salon will not be open during the Student Enterprise Pop-Up. The Salon is open Tuesday through Friday by appointment only.
Over 22,000 Students take CTE courses in FBISD each year
FBISD CTE students received 2,848 Certifications in 2021
www.fortbendisd.com/cte | @FBISD_CTE
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SUGAR LAND - MISSOURI CITY EDITION • FEBRUARY 2022
Expertmen’s healthcare inyour neighborhood.
One in 9 men will develop prostate cancer during their lifetime. However, early diagnosis, active monitoring and treatment alternatives, provides options. Schedule an appointment today. StLukesHealth.org
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
THIS ISSUE
ABOUT US
Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched the rst edition of Community Impact Newspaper in 2005 with three full-time employees covering Round Rock and P ugerville, Texas. We have expanded our operations to include hundreds of employees, our own printing operation and over 30 hyperlocal editions across three states. Our circulation is over 2 million residential mailboxes, and it grows each month with new residents and developments.
HIGHLIGHTS FROMTHISMONTH
FROMAMY: As we head into election season, we’ve curated an election guide full of useful information for the upcoming primaries—from introducing who will be on the ballot to a list of voting sites throughout Fort Bend County. We hope our Primary Election Guide (Page 12) is informative as people consider voting in their local and state elections. Amy Martinez, GENERALMANAGER
Community Impact Newspaper teams include general managers, editors, reporters, graphic designers, sales account executives and sales support, all immersed and invested in the communities they serve. Our mission is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team. Our core values are Faith, Passion, Quality, Innovation and Integrity.
FROMLAURA: In the past few years, the number of foster homes in Fort Bend County has dropped dramatically. In light of that, our front-page story this month is on our overwhelmed foster care system and what you can do to help. Laura Aebi, EDITOR
Our purpose is to be a light for our readers, customers, partners and each other.
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SUGAR LAND MISSOURI CITY EDITION • FEBRUARY 2022
IMPACTS
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Businesses that have recently opened or are coming soon, relocating or expanding
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technology to project Mayweather’s image during the workout. 832-777-7544. www.mayweather. t 5 Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids opened a location at 9612 Hwy. 6, Ste. 140, Missouri City, on Dec. 18. The children’s hair salon o ers wash, cut and styling services and features children-centric o erings, such as video games, tele- vision, specially themed chairs, bal- loons and lollipops. 832-937-9600. www.sharkeyscutsforkidsmissouricity.com 6 Naka Ramen, which held its grand opening Dec. 14 at 4899 Hwy. 6, Ste. 102- B, Missouri City, o ers a variety of popular ramen dishes. Dishes include tonkatsu, shoyu and miso, as well as a spicy naka ramen dish that incorporates kelp and pork bone broth, chashu pork, ajitama egg, corn, Japanese sh cake and scallions. The ramen restaurant also o ers other popular Japanese dishes. 832-694-3900. 7 Madison Reed is slated to open one of its color bars in late spring or early summer at 16535 Southwest Freeway, Ste. 2003, Sugar Land. The American brand of hair care and hair color products o ers color bars to customers, which include a free personalized color consul- tation along with the option to take a hair color home or schedule an appointment. www.madison-reed.com 8 The third-largest U.S. pizza chain, Little Caesars , will soon be bringing a new location to Sugar Land at the corner of West Bellfort Avenue and Hwy. 6. The store was hiring as of early February but www.nakaramenbar.com COMING SOON
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NOWOPEN 1 Posh Wear , a clothing boutique fea- turing Pakistani and Indian clothing with formal, casual and semiformal options, opened Dec. 31 in Woodbridge Shopping Center at 11575 S. Hwy. 6, Sugar Land. The store was opened by Saira Zafar with all clothes sourced directly from Pakistan. The store also o ers Pakistani and Indian jewelry. Posh Wear plans to o er American clothes within two months. As of press time, Posh Wear did not have a website. 346-434-5555
2 Dave’s Hot Chicken opened a loca- tion at 6324 S. Hwy. 6, Missouri City, in mid-January. The franchise o ers chicken tenders and sandwiches at multiple heat levels, including no spice, lite mild, mild, medium, hot, extra hot and reaper—as well as mac and cheese, french fries and kale slaw. 832-987-4799. www.daveshotchicken.com 3 Morelia Gourmet Paletas, the gourmet Mexican popsicle shop known for fresh ingredients and an extensive menu, opened Jan. 28. At its two-day opening event Jan. 28-29, Morelia gave away more
than 1,000 paletas per day at its new Sugar Land Town Square location at 16155 City Walk, Sugar Land. The Sugar Land opening marks its 11th store in the U.S. and rst location in Sugar Land. 832-532-7513. www.paletasmorelia.com 4 Mayweather Boxing + Fitness opened its Richmond location Jan. 22 at 22377 Bellaire Blvd., Richmond. The gym utilizes methods developed throughout Floyd Mayweather’s 21-year undefeat- ed boxing career and combines boxing, strength training and cardio conditioning. Classes use state-of-the-art smart screen
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
COMPILED BY LAURA AEBI & HUNTER MARROW
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Sharkey's Cuts for Kids
Naka Ramen
COURTESY SHARKEY'S CUTS FOR KIDS
HUNTER MARROW COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
Little Caesars o cials declined to provide an exact opening date. www.littlecaesars.com 9 A new franchise location for Petbar , the upscale grooming spa and boutique, is coming to Sugar Land at 4720 Sweet- water Blvd., Sugar Land, in March. Petbar o ers professional grooming, full-ser- vice washing, self-service washing and monthly memberships for full services washes in an open concept that allows clients to see their pets at all times. www.petbarinc.com 10 Victoria’s Secret , the American lingerie, clothing and beauty retailer, will soon be coming to the Brazos Town Center at FM 762 and Hwy. 59 in Rosenberg. The chain signed a lease for 5,276 square feet and will open its doors in late 2022. 713-234-7115 www.victoriassecret.com 11 Fort Bend Town Center Phase 2 will be welcoming James Avery and MOD Piz- za. James Avery has leased 2,800 square feet of retail space at the development’s location at the intersection of Hwy. 6 and Fort Bend Tollway, Missouri City, while MOD Pizza has leased 2,602 square feet of retail space. The two retail spaces will be located in the development’s Tract 5, which is located adjacent to Hwy. 6. Fort Bend Town Center Phase 2 broke ground Aug. 5 and will be complete in late 2023. www.newquest.com/property/fort-bend- town-center 12 The Signorelli Co. announced that Austin Point , a 4,700-acre mas- ter-planned community, will be coming to the intersection of Grand Parkway and Fort Bend Parkway. Expected to break ground in the second quarter of this year, the Austin Point master plan forecasts over
14,000 single-family homes and 15 million square feet of multifamily, o ce, medical, retail and hospitality covering price points from the $270,000s to $600,000s. www.signorellicompany.com RELOCATIONS 13 Brightway , The McCready Agency , a Sugar Land location for the national insurance agency, relocated to a new location at 54 Sugar Creek Center Blvd., Ste. 200, Sugar Land. The insurance agency o cially relocated Jan. 5 from its old location at 3527 Hwy. 6, Ste. 270, Sugar Land. 832-532-8179. www.brightwaydi erence.com CLOSINGS 14 Tuesday Morning , the U.S. o -price retailer of home and lifestyle goods, closed one of its locations in Sugar Land. The retailer closed its First Colony Com- mons store, 15237 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land, at the beginning of February. The closure comes as Tuesday Morning continues its recovery e orts after ling for bankruptcy in May 2020 caused by extended store closures due to the pandemic. The chain, which operated over 700 locations in 2018, was down to 489 stores by November, the com- pany announced in an investor report. www.tuesdaymorning.com 15 Abercrombie & Fitch closed its First Colony Mall location, at 16535 Southwest Freeway, Ste. 40, Sugar Land, on Jan. 16. The company, founded in 1892, is known for jeans, shoes, tops and outerwear. In scal year 2020, the brand closed 137 stores. www.abercrombie.com
Department of Wonder will open at Sugar Land Town Square in early 2022.
COURTESY DEPARTMENT OF WONDER
FEATURED IMPACT COMING SOON A new entertainment concept that combines interactive theater with emerging technologies is coming soon 10,000-square-foot venue that will look to stage an immersive, mixed- reality fantasy, is slated to open in early 2022, according to a Dec. 8 announcement. According to the brand’s website, guests will wield a lantern as they pass through a series of interactive rooms. To bring the concept to life, a team of storytellers, technologists, designers and producers will look to produce new forms of digital and interactive entertainment, according to the announcement. That team includes Academy Award-winning director Brandon Oldenburg, Emmy Award- winning director Limbert Fabian, Kyle Clark, Taylor Williams and Rickey Crum. “Department of Wonder is the to Sugar Land Town Square. Department of Wonder , a culmination of all the things we love to create when building imaginative worlds at large scale,” Fabian said. “It’s a cinematic experience that casts the audience as the leading stars.” Department of Wonder will serve as an anchor at the 32-acre Sugar Land Town
Square, and its opening will coincide with the completion of streetscape improvements to the pedestrian- friendly district, which is in the midst of a set of upgrades to retail tenancy, event programming and the physical environment, according to the release. Lionstone Investments, Rebees and Planned Community Developers are directing the evolution. “We’re converting a very prominent retail space vacated by a struggling national retailer into a state-of-the-art entertainment experience that’s equal parts revolutionary and fun,” said Matt Ragan, director of retail programming and operations for Dallas-based real estate company Rebees. “It’s a major move in our recasting of Sugar Land Town Square into a hub of innovation and creative commerce within the broader metroplex.” www.deptofwonder.com
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SUGAR LAND MISSOURI CITY EDITION • FEBRUARY 2022
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
TRANSPORTATIONUPDATES Sugar Land’smobility plan progresses
COMPILED BY HUNTER MARROW
ONGOING PROJECTS
ALOOKFORWARD In 2022 and early 2023, the city of Sugar Land will continue to work with Tra c Engineers Inc., a transportation planning and tra c engineering contractor, in Phase 2 of creating its mobility master plan.
Sugar Land City Council unani- mously authorized a contract with Houston-based Tra c Engineers Inc. that will move the city forward into the second phase of its ongoing e orts to craft a mobility master plan. With the approval of its nearly $208,000 contract at a Jan. 18 City Council meeting, TEI, which has worked with the city for more than a year to complete Phase 1 of the mobil- ity plan, will look to perform several roles over the next several months and beyond, according to city documents. TEI and the city will continue to tackle the mobility master plan, which provides a framework for the city of Sugar Land that focuses on moving people and goods; provides residents, visitors and tourists with multiple transportation options to choose from; provides citywide guidance for all modes of transportation; and creates a separate planning process to focus on speci c areas and programs. The newmaster plan will also combine existing mobility plans. “What we’re doing is taking our
existing mobility plans—the PedBike Master Plan, the Master Thoroughfare Plan, and Comprehensive Mobility Plan—and integrating them into one plan that is going to focus on all of those modes,” said Monique Johnson, the city’s transportation and mobility innovation manager, at the meeting. During Phase 2, besides providing a framework for the city to implement the goals set in the mobility plan, TEI will complete the city’s Trans- formative Mobility Network, a map identifying the priority corridors over the next decade—including major roadways, arterials and local routes the city maintains and manages, Johnson said. TEI completed a draft of that network during the rst phase of the project and will work alongside Sugar Land stakeholders, such as the citizen Mobility Task Force, the Texas Department of Transportation, Union Paci c Railroad Corp. and the public. As part of Phase 2, TEI will continue to help manage stakeholder engage- ment sessions through April, a late summer Mobility Summit public event
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ALL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE WAS UPDATED AS OF JAN. 27. NEWS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE OR OTHER LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS? EMAIL US AT SLMNEWS COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM. Hwy. 59 landscape development A contractor is continuing a land- scape enhancement project along an 8.3-mile section of Hwy. 59 from Brazos Canyon Drive to Wright Road, Texas Department of Transportation o cials con rmed. Enhancements include removing and replacing dead vegetation. The new plants will be native, hardy and maintenance-friend- ly. The new landscape is designed to mitigate noise pollution, Sugar Land o cials said. Cities like Sugar Land are partnering with TxDOT’s Green Ribbon Program for the updates. The city pays for the design and maintenance, while TxDOT pays for the installation. Timeline: November 2021-June 2022 Cost: $1.1 million (estimated) Funding source: TxDOT Green Ribbon program
Jan. 18, 2022: TEI professional services contract approved for $207,815
February-April 2022: TEI and the city of Sugar Land meet with stakeholders
Summer 2022: Mobility Summit public event
Fall 2022: Joint Planning and Zoning Commission-City Council workshop
Late 2022: Draft plan ready for public comment
Early 2023: Mobility Master Plan adoption process
SOURCE: CITY OF SUGAR LAND COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
and a fall workshop. By late 2022, the goal is to have a draft plan ready for public comment, she said.
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SUGAR LAND MISSOURI CITY EDITION • FEBRUARY 2022
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
CITY& SCHOOL
News fromMissouri City, Sugar Land & Fort Bend ISD
QUOTEOFNOTE “THE EXHIBITWILL PROVIDE USWITH AN ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STUDENTS.” CHASSIDY OLAINU ALADE, FBISD’S COMMUNITY AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR NUMBER TOKNOW The cost of the design contract for the second phase of the Sugar Land 95 project, including an outdoor learning environment and revitalized cemetery at the original site $170,000 MEETING HIGHLIGHTS SUGAR LAND On Jan. 18, Sugar Land City Council approved purchasing two Pierce Custom Impel Pumper Fire Engines. The $1.57 million in funding will come from Sugar Land’s 2019 GO Bond, replacing two 2003 Crimson Pumpers. O cials said they will not receive the trucks for about 18 months due to supply chain issues. FORTBEND ISD Five districts, including Fort Bend ISD, has received a $20,000 technology donation and new blue light screen lters. UnitedHealthcare donated the funds, while Eyesafe—which makes products to protect against blue light from digital devices—donated the lters, per the announcement. SUGAR LAND Fort Bend County Levee Improvement District No. 2 agreed to plant 66 native trees and remove 40 trees in poor condition at First Colony Park during its Ditch A widening project. The project will be funded by a $72,000 donation from LID No. 2, which was approved at a Feb. 1 meeting. Sugar Land City Council will meet at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 15 at 2700 Town Center Blvd. N., Sugar Land. Meetings are livestreamed and in MEETINGSWE COVER Missouri City City Council will meet at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 21 at 1522 Texas Parkway, Missouri City. Meetings are livestreamed and in person. 281-403-8500. www.missouricitytx.gov Fort Bend ISD board of trustees will meet at 6 p.m. Feb. 14 at 16431 Lexington Blvd., Sugar Land. Meetings are livestreamed and in person. 281-275-2900. www.sugarlandtx.gov
FBISD to open Sugar Land 95 exhibit this spring
BY HUNTER MARROW
FORTBEND ISD An educational exhibit detailing the story of the Sugar Land 95 is slated to open this spring through Fort Bend ISD, according to an announcement at the district’s Jan. 10 meeting. The exhibit will serve as the rst phase of the district’s Sugar Land 95 Memorialization Project, designed to honor and memorialize 95 individuals who are believed to be con- victs who died at the Bullhead Convict Labor Camp during Texas’ convict labor leasing program, which was established after the Civil War and is seen as an extension of slavery. The James Reese Career and Technical Center, where the exhibit will be displayed, is located at the site where the remains of those individuals were found in 2018 when the career and technical education center was being built. Two museum-quality exhibits will be on display at the Reese Center, including one case highlighting the history of convict leasing as it existed in Texas, said Chassidy Olainu-Alade, the district’s community and civic engage- ment coordinator. The other case focuses primarily on the discovery, scienti c research and forensics conducted by researchers to provide an accurate account of what occurred
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The exhibit, when opened, will serve as the rst phase of the district’s Sugar Land 95 Memorialization Project.
COURTESY FORT BEND ISD
on the property, she said. Guided tours by reservation will be available once the exhibit is open, though an opening date is not yet set due to the pandemic, Olainu-Alade said. The second phase of the project—an outdoor learning environment and revitalized cemetery at the original site— will be home to a memorial site where visitors can come and learn, Olainu-Alade said. That phase was approved through a $170,000 design contract by FBISD Nov. 15. The contractor for phase two, Boston-based nonpro t MASS Design Group, will be in FBISD as early as March for a 10-week community engagement process.
Sugar LandTown Squareunveilsmurals
FBISDapproves 2022 23 calendar
BY HUNTER MARROW
BY HUNTER MARROW
SUGARLAND The 1.4 million- square-foot mixed-use development at the intersection of Hwy. 59 and Hwy. 6 known as Sugar Land Town Square now has two newmural series. Located in the district’s Lone Star Garage, the rst mural, titled “Sugar Rush,” pays homage to the area’s sugary roots, depicting a spice rack stacked with candy jars, according to a Jan. 11 announcement. The muralist, Anat Ronen, designed the piece, which spans three panels. Joining Ronen are artists who
FORTBEND ISD With instruction days set to begin Aug. 10 and end May 25, 2023, the Fort Bend ISD board of trustees approved the 2022-23 school calendar. At its Jan. 24 meeting, o cials approved the 175-school day calen- dar, which maintains a traditional structure, including a weeklong Thanksgiving break, a two-week winter break and a weeklong spring break. The rst semester ends before winter break, and the school year ends before Memorial Day.
Two newmural series can be seen at Sugar Land Town Square.
COURTESY MICHAEL ANTHONY
helped create a second seven-mural series in the Texas Garage, including Mark Deleon, Luisa Duarte, Tatiana Escallon, Veronica Ibarguengoitia, Vanessa Rojas and Carrie Swim. That series was curated by Sugar Land- based nonpro t Art Museum TX, according to the announcement.
Fort Bend ISDnames newsta
superintendent and Kwabena Mensah as chief of schools. “One of the priorities the board and I set when I began my tenure as superintendent a little over 100 days ago was to complete leadership organizational adjustments that ensure the district operates as e ciently, productively and e ectively as possible for the bene t of students, sta and taxpayers,” Whitbeck said. Johnson comes to the new position having already been with the district since 2011, having previously served as executive director of talent experience, according to a Jan. 24 news release. Martinez worked as chief academic o cer; chief of sta and strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation; principal; assistant principal and teacher during her 30 years at the district.
BY HUNTER MARROW
FORT BEND ISD Two executive leadership team posi- tions at Fort Bend ISD have been lled. Glenda Johnson was tapped as the district’s new chief of human resources at a Jan. 24 meeting, while Beth Martinez was named deputy superintendent. Johnson succeeds Gwen Touchet, who left the position in August, while Martinez’s new role serves as a reassignment designed to allow her to oversee all academic and campus programming, Superintendent Christie Whitbeck said. The two enter their new roles on an executive leadership team that recently named Steve Bassett as its other deputy
person. 281-634-1000. www.fortbendisd.com
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SUGAR LAND MISSOURI CITY EDITION • FEBRUARY 2022
2022 P R I M A R Y E L E C T I O N G U I D E GUIDE Candidates and information for the March primaries
D A T E S T O K N O W Feb. 14 First day of early voting
W H E R E T O V O T E
March 1 Primary election day March 1 Last day to receive ballot by mail (or March 3 if carrier envelope is postmarked by 7 p.m. at location of election)
Voters in Fort Bend County can vote at any of the county’s polling centers during both the early voting period and on election day. A list of polling locations are published at www.fortbendcountytx.gov.
Feb. 18 Last day to apply for ballot by mail (received, not postmarked) Feb. 25 Last day of early voting
SOURCES: SECRETARY OF STATE, FORT BEND COUNTY COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
S A M P L E B A L L O T
R Republican
D Democrat
*Incumbent
Voters can vote in the Republican or Democratic primary, but not both. Only candidates in contested primary elections are listed below.
Attorney general R Eva Guzman R Louie Gohmert R George P. Bush
R Rufus Lopez D Michael Lange D Jay Kleberg D Jinny Suh D Sandragrace Martinez Commissioner of agriculture R Carey A. Counsil R James White R Sid Miller* D Ed Ireson D Susan Hays Railroad commissioner R Tom Slocum Jr. R Dawayne Tipton R Wayne Christian* R Sarah Stogner R Marvin “Sarge” Summers Supreme Court justice, Place 9 R Evan Young* R David J. Schenck Court of Criminal Appeals judge, Place 5
R Gary Catalan R Annie Rebecca Elliott Fort Bend County clerk D Toni V. Smith D Steve Okohora Fort Bend County treasurer D Qaisar Q. Imam D Albert Tibbs D Johnson Thomas Fort Bend County Precinct 2 R Melissa M. Wilson D Geneane R. Hughes D Larry Blackmon D Grady Prestage* Fort Bend County Precinct 4 commissioner D Ken R. DeMerchant* D Neeta Sane D Dexter L. McCoy D Travis Lemos commissioner R Eric Ramirez
STATEWIDE
LOCAL U.S. House of Representatives, District 22 R Troy E. Nehls* R Gregory Jonathan Thorne Texas House, District 26 D Lawrence “Skully” Allen Jr. D Daniel Lee Texas House, District 27
Governor R Danny Harrison R Kandy Kaye Horn
R Ken Paxton* D Joe Jaworski D S. “T-Bone” Raynor
R Don Hu nes R Greg Abbott* R Allen B. West R Rick Perry** R Paul Belew R Chad Prather D Joy Diaz
D Lee Merritt D Mike Fields D Rochelle Mercedes Garza Comptroller of public accounts
D Rodrigo Carreon D Ron Reynolds* Texas House, District 28 R Gary Gates* R Robert Boettcher Fort Bend County judge
D Beto O’Rourke D Rich Wakeland D Inocencio (Inno) Barrientez D Michael Cooper Lieutenant governor R Dan Patrick*
R Mark V. Goloby R Glenn Hegar* D Tim Mahoney
D Angel Luis Vega D Janet T. Dudding Commissioner of the General Land O ce R Weston Martinez R Jon Spiers R Victor Avila R Dawn Buckingham R Don W. Minton
R Todd M. Bullis R Aaron Sorrells R Trayce Bradford R Zach Vance R Daniel Miller D Mike Collier D Carla Brailey D Michelle Beckley
R Trever Nehls R Max Alalibo I D KP George* D Ferrel Bonner Fort Bend County district clerk R Martin John
R Tim Westley R Ben Armenta
R Scott Walker* R Clint Morgan
** CANDIDATE IS NOT FORMER GOV. RICK PERRY
Board Certified Gastroenterologist Gregory L. Shannon, MD
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
COMPILED BY HUNTER MARROW
P O L L I N G L O C A T I O N S
10 Lost Creek Conference Center 3703 Lost Creek Blvd. 11 Maryam Islamic Center 504 Sartartia Road 12 Museum of Natural Science 13016 University Blvd. 13 James Reese Career and Technical Center 12300 University Blvd. 14 River Park Recreation Center 5875 Summit Creek Drive 15 Sartartia Middle School 8125 Homeward Way 16 Sugar Lakes Clubhouse 930 Sugar Lakes Drive 17 Sugar Land Branch Library 550 Eldridge Road 18 Sugar Land Church of God 1715 Eldridge Road 19 Sugar Land City Hall
28 Lexington Creek Elementary 2335 Dulles Ave. 29 Missouri City Baptist Church 16816 Quail Park Drive 30 Missouri City Parks and Recreation 2701 Cypress Point Drive 31 Missouri City Visitors Center 1522 Texas Parkway 32 Quail Valley Elementary 3500 Quail Village Drive 33 Quail Valley Fund O ce 3603 Glenn Lakes Lane 34 Ridge Point High School 500 Waters Lake Blvd. 35 Sienna Annex 5855 Sienna Springs Way
2700 Town Center Blvd. N. 20 Townewest Towne Hall 10322 Old Towne Lane 21 University Branch Library 14010 University Blvd. MISSOURI CITY 22 Chasewood Clubhouse 7622 Chasewood Drive 23 Elkins High School 7007 Knights Court 24 Hightower High School 3333 Hurricane Lane 25 Hunters Glen Elementary 695 Independence Blvd. 26 Lake Olympia Club House 180 Island Blvd. 27 Lantern Lane Elementary 3323 Mission Valley Drive
SUGAR LAND 1 Clements High School 4200 Elkins Road 2 Commonwealth Clubhouse 4330 Knightsbridge Blvd. 3 Four Corners Community Center 15700 Old Richmond Road 4 Garcia Middle School 18550 Old Richmond Road 5 Greatwood Golf Club 6767 Greatwood Parkway 6 Imperial Park Recreation Center 234 Matlage Way 7 Jacks Conference Center 3232 Austin Parkway 8 Kempner High School 14777 Voss Road
9 Kroger Riverstone 18861 University Blvd.
V O T E R T U R N O U T
2018 Republican primaries
2018Democratic primaries
Turnout
Registered voters
Turnout
Registered voters
U.S. House of Representatives, District 22
U.S. House of Representatives, District 22
32,490
320,436
20,370
320,436
Texas House, District 26
Texas House, District 26
6,844
106,477
12,392
106,477
Texas House, District 28 7,184 Fort Bend County judge
Texas House, District 28 11,701 Fort Bend County judge
130,681
130,681
35,620
413,671
31,584
413,671
Long Meadow 7101 W. Grand Parkway S., Ste.180 Richmond, TX 77407
Because wrapping your kids in bubble wrap isn’t
Sugar Land 16312 Southwest Freeway Sugar Land, TX 77479
Sienna 8720 Highway 6, Ste. 400 Missouri City, TX 77459
an option. Open 9am – 9pm, 7 days a week
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SUGAR LAND MISSOURI CITY EDITION • FEBRUARY 2022
GET YOUR HEART BACK
TO WHAT MAKES IT REALLY BEAT
Staying on top of your heart health has never been more important. If you are at high risk for heart disease or are experiencing new or worsening symptoms, it’s time to see your doctor. At Memorial Hermann, our network of affiliated cardiologists offers proactive assessments and personalized plans to help keep risk factors in check. HEART ISSUES SHOULDN’T WAIT. SEE YOUR DOCTOR.
memorialhermann.org/heart
Advancing health. Personalizing care.
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Paid Advertisement
FEBRUARY IS AMERICAN HEART MONTH HEART FAILURE: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW NOW
Over 6 million American adults suffer from heart failure, and that number is expected to grow to 8 million by 2030 according to the American Heart Association. What is heart failure? What causes it? How can it be managed? And is there a linkage between COVID-19 and heart failure? Interventional cardiologist Ankit Mehra, MD, answers these and other frequently asked questions about heart failure. Dr. Mehra is an assistant professor of interventional cardiology at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston and is affiliated withMemorial Hermann Health System. He sees patients at the Center for Advanced Cardiology at Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital. What is heart failure? The main function of the heart is to supply blood to every organ of our body. Heart failure means that the heart is not pumping enough blood to satisfy the body’s demand, due to reduced pump function or increased stiffness of heart muscle. Depending on the cause, it can develop acutely (suddenly) or gradually over a period of weeks, months or years. Is heart failure the same as heart attack? Heart attack is different from heart failure, but a heart attack can lead to heart failure. The heart itself is a muscle requiring its own blood supply. A blockage or impairment of blood f low to the heart muscle (coronary artery disease) can lead to a heart attack. As a consequence, the heart muscle can be damaged, which can lead to poor pumping action of the heart, or heart failure. What are the symptoms? Initial symptoms might be as vague as increased heart rate and/or fatigue, weakness and tiredness. Individuals may experience swelling of the legs and ankles or shortness of breath on exertion. Advanced- stage patients may be unable to lie f lat at night, due to a buildup of f luid in the lungs. These symptoms can result from a gradual worsening of underlying health problems, such as type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure, some of which don’t cause symptoms. That’s why it’s important to understand your risk factors and monitor your overall health with the help of your primary care physician. What are the causes? The main cause of heart failure is underlying coronary artery disease. Heart attack, as discussed earlier, can also
cause heart failure, as can other heart conditions, including heart rhythm and valve disorders, and some congenital (present at birth) heart diseases. Some medications and viruses can cause heart failure. And underlying health conditions, like hypertension (high blood pressure), high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes and obesity, can also lead to heart failure. How is it diagnosed? Your physician will perform a physical examination, examining your legs and lungs for f luid retention or buildup, and will listen to your heart for the presence of an irregular heartbeat, a valve issue or blockage. Based on the physical examination, your physician might order bloodwork and/or additional tests, including a stress test, echocardiogram (an ultrasound of the heart, used to measure the pump action of the heart and the thickness of the heart muscle, and to detect the presence of a leaky valve), coronary angiography, a cardiac CT, cardiac MRI and, in rare instances, a cardiac biopsy. How can I prevent getting heart failure? To prevent heart failure, you should be aggressive in screening for cardiovascular risk factors and control them, especially if you have a family history of heart failure. For individuals who have been diagnosed with heart failure, even early-stage heart failure, the goal is to prevent the worsening of symptoms and hospitalizations. Weigh yourself daily, as sudden weight gain could indicate a buildup of f luid in your system. Follow your doctor’s salt intake advice, limit your alcohol consumption, take your prescribed medications and get regular exercise. Is there a link between COVID-19 and heart failure? So far, we have limited data on the COVID-19 virus. But we have seen people coming in with heart attacks and blood clots in the lungs, even one month post recovery from this infection. A clot in the lung can cause right-sided heart failure. And the virus itself can affect the heart muscle, causing weakness of t he hea r t musc le , ca l led cardiomyopathy. Whether that’s temporary or permanent is yet to be determined. What treatments are available for heart failure at Memorial Hermann Sugar Land? The Center for Advanced Cardiology at Memorial Hermann
Sugar Land is very well equipped to diagnose and treat patients with heart failure. We offer all of the aforementioned diagnostic tests and advanced t reatment s , including minimally invasive and invasive procedures, like cardiac catheter i zat ion, pacemaker, implantable cardiac defibrillators and thrombolytic therapies for pa t i ent s w i t h pu lmona r y embolism (clot in lungs).
Ankit Mehra, MD Interventional Cardiologist
For patients with advanced heart failure for whom these therapies have proven ineffective, we work closely with the Center for Advanced Heart Failure at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center, which offers advanced treatments, including left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) and heart transplant. These patients can be transported by Memorial Hermann Life Flight® air ambulance. If needed, the heart failure team at Memorial Hermann-TMC can f ly to Memorial Hermann Sugar Land to perform emergent procedures, like extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), which can help stabilize patients with acute heart failure. Are there any new advancements on the horizon at Memorial Hermann to treat heart failure? Yes, Memorial Hermann is involved in numerous multicenter clinical trials for the management of heart failure and heart failure symptoms. One exciting study underway is looking at remote monitoring of people with heart failure, to identify the buildup of f luid in patients at home and adjust their medication to prevent worsening of symptoms and reduce hospitalization. There is also exciting research underway in the area of minimally invasive valve repair, specifically right-sided valve repair to prevent right-sided heart failure, which is more difficult to treat than left-sided. If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of heart attack, seek immediate emergency medical attention. If you believe you are at risk for—or are experiencing symptoms of—heart failure, talk to your primary care physician or a cardiologist right away. Early diagnosis and treatment can extend and improve your quality of life.
To learn more, or to schedule an appointment with a Memorial Hermann affiliated physician, visit memorialhermann.org/heart
Advancing health. Personalizing care.
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SUGAR LAND MISSOURI CITY EDITION • FEBRUARY 2022
CANDIDATE INFO
Get to know the candidates running in the election
Incumbent Republican U.S. House of Representatives, District 22
Republican Texas House, District 28
TROY E. NEHLS
GARY GATES
Occupation: Congressman Relevant experience: Congressman Troy Nehls is currently serving in his rst term in Congress as the U.S. Representative for Texas’
Occupation: businessman/representative Relevant experience: I am a businessman who has served one session in the Legislature, and my voting record was right in line with the people of this conservative district. 713-899-7870 www.gatesfortexas.com
22nd Congressional District. www.nehlsforcongress.com
GREGORY JONATHAN THORNE
ROB BOETTCHER
Occupation: CPA and small-business owner Relevant experience: husband, father and Christian advocating for a balanced budget, individual liberty and an embargo on China 832-307-2323 www.gjt2022.com
Occupation: senior engineer Relevant experience: senior engineer in the energy industry, an Eagle Scout, a former precinct chair and serves on the Sugar Land Zoning Board 832-499-8447 www.robboettcher.com
Democratic Texas House, District 26
Republican Fort Bend County judge
LAWRENCE “SKULLY” ALLEN JR
TREVER NEHLS
Occupation: retired educator Relevant experience: It has been my honor to serve as an elected o cial to serve on the Texas State Board of Education for the past 18 years. 832-535-3269 www.lallenjr26.com
Candidate did not respond by press time.
DANIEL LEE
MAX ALALIBO IBIFRISOLAM
Occupation: family, civil, criminal defense attorney Relevant experience: I’ve spent the last 14 years protecting fami- lies in and out of court. I’m an award-winning family, civil, criminal defense attorney, that has common sense strategies and solutions. 832-632-4639 www.danielleefortexas.com
Occupation: company president and CEO Relevant experience: 30 years in community relations, private entrepreneur and 10 years in health care delivery www.max-alalibo4fortbendcountyjudge.com
Democratic Fort Bend County judge
Democratic Texas House, District 27
RODRIGO CARREON
KP GEORGE
Occupation: county judge Relevant experience: I am the current Fort Bend County judge and director of emergency management in Fort Bend [County]. Since taking o ce, we have worked tirelessly to make our county government more engaging. 979-217-2818 www.kpgeorge.com
Candidate did not respond by press time.
RON REYNOLDS
FERREL BONNER
Occupation: state representative Relevant experience: has served as representative for House District 27 for 6 terms (12 years) 832-721-2667 www.ronaldreynolds.org
Occupation: president/owner PABULUM Consulting Relevant experience: I look forward to serving Fort Bend [Coun- ty] with my experience as a veteran, emergency management professional, Democratic Party leader and as a longtime leader in
the community. 346-899-6838 www.ferrelforftbend.com
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
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