Convenience Big Store: What to know about the winter freeze, from Texas grid updates to travel info

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Fort Bend Insider

We wish all our readers happy holidays and a new year full of joy and serenity.

This is my last newsletter of the year.

We launched the Fort Bend County newsletter on Aug. 9. I have written approximately 40 introductory entries for it since, and at the end of each one, I ask for feedback.

I owe many gilt-edged thank-you cards for all the story ideas and suggestions that have come my way.

Thank you to Sharon Watson, scoutmaster for Scouts BSA Troop 638G, for telling me about a remarkable young lady who became an Eagle Scout within three years.

A female Eagle Scout is rare because Scouts BSA, previously known as the Boy Scouts of America, only opened to girls in February 2019. Most scouts need five years or more to reach the coveted rank of Eagle; Elizabeth Ratterree did it in three, and that was in the middle of a pandemic.

Tammy Marino reached out about her son Dean, a musically gifted Sugar Land teen who performs regularly at benefit concerts. On Nov. 22, the 16-year-old took part in WhyHunger's Hungerthon 2022 at Sugar Land Town Square.

Vijay Pollod from the Indian community organization Maheshwari Mahasabha of North America (MMNA) told me about a huge, colorful convention in late November that drew participants from all over the world.

Thanks also for story ideas that came from Doug Adolph from the city of Sugar Land, Jacqueline Preston and Vera Nereyda from the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office and Wesley Wittig from the county's district attorney's office.

We wish all our readers happy holidays and a wonderful, prosperous 2023.

May your homes sparkle with laughter, love, and goodwill.

Juhi Varma
Fort Bend reporter
juhi.varma@hcnonline.com

Need to know

Freezing temperatures are coming. Here is everything we need to know about the winter freeze, from Texas grid updates to travel info.

Also, remember to keep an eye on your pets. Texas law makes it illegal for pet owners to leave their animals outside in extreme weather conditions.

Here is information about local warming centers, blankets and coats for those in need ahead of the freeze.

Fort Bend County Animal Services has issued an urgent plea for fosters during the holiday week. "We anticipate our call volume to increase over the next few days and there simply isn't room. We cannot magically make the shelter larger for this cold spell," FBCAS said. Click here for more information.

Shout out

A hat tip to the nonprofit group Attack Poverty for making its Friends of North Rosenberg neighborhood resource center into a warming center tonight.

One last thing ...

This newsletter includes a lot of information about the weather. Winter Storm Uri is still fresh in our memory, but the coming cold spell will not be anywhere near as bad, authorities say. There will be no ice, which means no major road interruptions or dangerous travel conditions. Moreover, ERCOT has promised the grid will have enough capacity to meet demand.