Greatwood Monthly_June 2026_1-16

GREATWOOD

Relentlessly pushing health and care forward.

At Memorial Hermann, we believe finish lines don’t exist. For our patients and the health of our community, our work is never done. Each milestone inspires us to look ahead—to relentlessly improve care, innovate for the future and to see that the medicine of tomorrow is even better than today. It is our promise to not only advance health but to personalize care, for you and for generations to come.

Advancing health. Personalizing care.

PUBLISHER

STEVE STRICKBINE Steve@texaslocalmedia.com

MANAGING EDITOR

ALICIA VENTER aventer@texaslocalmedia.com

ADVERTISING

STEFANIE BARTLETT sbartlett@texaslocalmedia.com

ADVERTISING

RUBY SEBESTA rsebesta@texaslocalmedia.com

DESIGN

CINDY MOLINARI cmolinari@texaslocalmedia.com

TO ADVERTISE

Interested in advertising in one of our special magazines? Call 281-342-4474 and ask for Stefanie Bartlett or Ruby Sebesta. We’ll be happy to send rates and deadline information to you.

PHOTO & ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS

We are looking for story ideas and enjoy publishing your articles in the Greatwood Monthly. If you have an story idea or photo to publish please send your information to aventner@texaslocalmedia.com with “Greatwood Monthly” in the subject line.

©2026 Greatwood Monthly. All Rights Reserved. Greatwood Monthly is a publication of the Fort Bend Herald. Our publishing headquarters is 1902 S. Fourth Street, Rosenberg Texas 77471.

Richmond City Commission receives update on Circle Oak development

The Richmond City Commission received an update on the Circle Oak Development from George Foundation CEO Roger Adamson during a recent meeting.

The 293-acre development is located northeast and southeast of the IH 69/ U.S. 59 and FM 762 intersection in Richmond and includes Rabbs Bayou running through the property.

The development features approximately 8000 square feet of visible freeway frontage and is planned with the same architectural amenities to include masonry on both sides of the freeway to create a unified and attractive corridor.

Development south of IH 69/ US 59 includes The Ryon Apartment complex on 13 acres, Kelsey Seybold on a 4-acre tract with a new 3-story medical office building, and a national warehouse. Plans for the

remaining acreage include a mix of big box and neighborhood retail, restaurants, office space, medical facilities and a high-density residential development.

On the north side of IH 69/ US 59, the area surrounding HEB-Richmond Market, known as Circle Oak Crossing, is envisioned as a mixeduse, walkable destination with unique stores and restaurants.

Mr. Adamson shared that the HEB-Richmond Market recorded 2.8 million visits in 2025, ranking it as HEB’s top-performing property in Fort Bend County.

Mr. Adamson also noted that the historic red-roofed barn, a sentinel of the 1800s ranching history of the George Ranch, will remain incorporated into the development in some capacity so it continues to be visible along the corridor and preserve a connection to the area’s rich history.

RED DOOR RUN RAISES FUNDS FOR A GOOD CAUSE

BY SCOTT REESE WILLEY swilley@texaslocalmedia.com

At this time in Fort Bend County, youngsters taken from intolerable home situations by authorities have few options when it comes to spending the night.

They can stay at the Child Protective Services during the day but if they have to stay over night they

may have to spend a night or two in a motel if their extended family or a foster family cannot take them in.

Isaiah 117 House hopes to change that in the near future.

Isaiah House leadership wants to have a house in Fort Bend County for foster children.

They’re raising the funds as fast as they can.

Last month, Fort Bend County Isaiah House 117

held its first-ever Red Door Run. Proceeds will go toward the building fund for a Isaiah House in Fort Bend County. Each Isaiah 117 House is identifiable by its bright red entry door.

The fundraiser took place at Seabourne Creek Nature Park in Rosenberg.

Seventy-five participants took part in the chiptimed race/walk.

Adults could run or walk the 5-mile route and

Participants young and old ran or walked the chip-timed course to raise money for the construction of an Isaiah 117 House in Fort

“LEARN TO DO RIGHT; SEEK JUSTICE. DEFEND THE OPPRESSED.TAKE UP THE CAUSE OF THE FATHERLESS; PLEAD THE CASE OF THE WIDOW.”

— ISAIAH 1:17

children could opt to walk or run the 1-mile route.

Everyone had smiles on their faces, especially organizers and volunteers who were excited to have so many participants take part in the first-ever fundraiser.

“We are super excited to see so many people show up for our first-ever Red Door Run,” said Christy Sevier, regional coordinator for Isaiah 117 House in South Texas. “We hope this becomes a regular thing. We couldn’t do it without the support of the community.”

When children are removed from their homes out of concern for their safety, they are usually brought to a child welfare services office to await

placement. This wait can be a few hours to several days. These children often have nothing with them and are scared, lonely, hungry, and in dirty clothing.

Isaiah 117 House provides a comforting home where these children instead can be brought to wait — a place that is safe with friendly and loving volunteers who provide clean clothes, smiles, toys, and snuggly blankets. This space allows children to receive the comfort and care they need while child welfare staff can do the necessary paperwork and identify a good placement.

Isaiah 117 House has a three-fold mission, Sevier told participants Saturday.

“We seek to reduce trauma for

Top quality with rigorous testing for durability, performance, and safety, guaranteeing a superior ride every time.

COOL AIR, COOL PRICE NEW SYSTEM

children on removal day while awaiting transition into foster placement, as well as lighten the load for their case workers, and ease the transition for foster families,” she explained.

“Right now, in Fort Bend County, if a child is removed from a home, they are taken back to our CPS office, and often times it’s with just the shirt on their back, no belongings, and they go and they wait while their case worker does the hard job of finding foster placement or kinship placement for them. And it’s a very scary and traumatic day and if they have to stay overnight they may have to go to a hotel to sleep and then the search for foster placement begins the next day.”

But having an Isaiah 117 in Fort Bend County will change all that, she explained.

“When we open our Isaiah 117 House in Fort Bend County, the way that will look different is the case worker will get to take them to the Isaiah 117 House and we’re going to welcome them home that day. Volunteers with open arms will offer them food, offer them new clothes and all the things that they will need to make their foster transition easier. And if it does become an overnight situation, they will get to stay right there in the Isaiah 117 House in a warm, safe environment and get a

peaceful night’s sleep.”

She said Isaiah 117 House leadership is presently looking for a piece of land in Fort Bend County where the house will be built. She said the land needs to be at least half an acre to one acre. Ideally, she said, the land will be donated for the good cause.

Once the property is secured, a Houston homebuilder has pledged to help out with the building of the house, she said.

She thanked those who participated in Saturday’s fundraiser, but told them they could continue to support the worthwhile cause through volunteerism.

“Thank you for running today, but we have lots of volunteer opportunities, lots of ways you can help us open our red door here,” she said. “So keep us in your prayers that God will open doors and that we will be able to open our Red Door here (in Fort Bend County).”

Presently, Isaiah 117 House has 41 homes in 13 states.

On Friday evening, an Isaiah 117 House was opened in Brazoria County.

Sevier said she hopes the next Isaiah 117 House is opened in Fort Bend County.

The George Foundation Board of Trustees

The George Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Joe R. Zimmerman as its newest Trustee.

Zimmerman will serve a 10-year term on the Foundation’s five-member Board of Trustees, succeeding Dr. Jim Condrey, who recently concluded a distinguished decade of service.

Mr. Zimmerman brings a wealth of leadership experience and a deep commitment to the Fort Bend County community. He currently serves as a Senior Consultant with Turner & Townsend Heery, where he provides project and program management expertise across a wide range of industries. His professional background spans homebuilding, land development, consulting engineering, and municipal utility operations. Notably, his career includes

international experience as Program Manager for a major infrastructure project in Tripoli, Libya.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Mr. Zimmerman

is well known locally for his public service.

He served as Mayor of Sugar Land from 2016 to 2025, following four years as a City Council member. During his tenure, he led the city through several major challenges, including natural disasters and periods of significant growth, demonstrating steady leadership and a strong commitment to community resilience.

The George Foundation’s Board of Trustees is composed of five Fort Bend residents and community leaders who guide the Foundation’s mission and stewardship. Founded in 1945, the Foundation leverages its resources to create a positive impact in Fort Bend County. Through strategic grantmaking, the Foundation supports nonprofit organizations in serving our com-

munity in the areas of Education, Health & Wellness, Human Needs, Affordable Housing, and Community Enhancement.

Since its inception, the Foundation has invested more than $330 million to strengthen the community and expand opportunities for its residents. In addition to its grantmaking efforts, The George Foundation awards approximately $1.7 million in scholarships annually to local students pursuing higher education.

“We are excited to bring Joe’s leadership, local perspective, and diverse skill set and experience to the Board of Trustees to continue the pursuit of Albert and Mamie George’s vision,” said Board Chair Steve Ewbank.

DRAWS HUNDREDS TO ROSENBERG Butterfly Celebration

More than 400 people joined Fort Bend County Master Gardeners last month to participate in the 2026 Butterfly Celebration.

Perfect, cool weather in the Demonstration Gardens on Band Road in Rosenberg followed a very rainy Friday. "It was a perfect day for the Master Gardeners to show the community many forms of gardening," said Shelly Beck, Butterfly Celebration co-chair. "Master Gardeners answered questions and offered suggestions for their visitors."

"Children loved learning about pollinators, chasing giant bubbles, and having their faces painted," said Beck. "The Master Gardener Youth Activities team helped children make coffee filter flowers and butterfly rings – all while teaching about butterflies and bees and their importance in our world."

"The Scavenger Hunt had two different searches – one for readers and one for non-readers," said Beck. The children had fun and really liked the prizes at the end of the hunt.

A new activity for children was chalk-coloring butterfly outlines on the sidewalk. "We had some great little artists!," Beck said.

"Dividing Lilies and educating visitors on true lilies versus all other lilies was a lot of fun," she added. Using lilies, Master Gardeners demonstrated how to increase plants in a garden or share their plants with others via division.

Master Gardeners provided information on Rainwater Harvesting and DIY Drip Irrigation. The presentation concluded with a drawing for a Rain Barrel. The lucky winner was Vic Moena.

Beekeepers brought hives for visitors to see how the bees work and to smell the honey. Several people took advantage of the big bee statue photo op, too.

Indoors, Master Gardeners were showing caterpillars, chrysalises, and emerging butterflies. There were several other insects and butterflies on display in resin and on boards. EarthKind Landscaping was also a big topic.

Master Gardeners put together seed packets to give to visitors who could select their preferred variety, and were also given a free packet of zinnia seeds. Master Gardener Sue Yoder said the community enjoyed the opportunity to take home free seed packets and free "pass-along plants" grown and donated by the Master Gardener group. At the pass-along plants booth, visitors were able to select up to three of the available plants for free.

A new addition to the Demonstra-

tion Gardens is the Tree Trail. All the trees planted were selected because they will do well growing in Fort Bend County. Stacey Earley, Tree Team chair, said "Tree Bingo was a runaway hit. We gave away six trees, and countless stickers for Bingo."

While there weren't formal tours of the Tree Trail, Master Gardener Larry Fleming spent the morning on the trail answering questions and sharing information about trees so that raffle winners could pick the right tree to take home.

Native milkweed is so important to Monarchs and several Master Gardeners grew milkweed for the Butterfly Celebration. "Master Gardeners shared information on why we should grow native milkweed and gave each family a native milkweed to take home," said Beck. Milkweed was also available for purchase. Master Gardener Nancy Schoepf, who co-chaired the milkweed project with Master Gardener Mary Parkhouse,

said they gave away or sold approximately 450 milkweed plants to the public. "The public was truly excited to go home with both purchased and free milkweed," said Schoepf. "I even sent two milkweed caterpillars home with the plants."

Monarch Ambassadors carried 5-foot kites or wore Monarch butterfly costumes to add a special touch to the event.

Beck said, "Master Gardeners, as always, were friendly and well-prepared to answer questions and explain in-depth facts about butterflies and other pollinators, as well as the plants that attract them. While our Butterfly Garden and Backyard Pollinator Gardens focused entirely on pollinators, all the gardens include

pollinator plants. Many visitors were surprised to learn our Demonstration Gardens are open to the public seven days a week during daylight hours. Wednesday mornings are workdays in the demonstrations gardens for MGs who are always willing to talk and share information with visitors."

The gardens are located on four acres at 1402 Band Road in Rosenberg, starting behind the Bud O'Shieles Community Center building. They're right next to the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds.

The celebration ended with the release of newly hatched butterflies. One special release was a butterfly sitting on a six-year-old’s finger before heading off to the Butterfly Garden.

Libraries’ annual summer reading challenge underway

Open to kids, teens, and adults, The 2026 Summer Reading Challenge is one way Fort Bend County Libraries infuses the ‘literacy ecosystem’

Among the array of pressing topics analyzed in Fort Bend households, concerns about literacy rates and general reading skills are at the forefront of more current daily discussions.

According to the organizations Literacy Texas and the National Center for Education Statistics, Texas has the fourth-lowest literacy rate at 81%, with 19.0% of adults lacking basic prose literacy skills. The state also ranks fourth lowest in the number of libraries, with 3.2 per 100,000 residents.

Evidenced by its free collection of supportive programs and services, reading and literacy support has always been prioritized at Fort Bend County Libraries.

Thus the need for the library system’s annual Summer Reading Challenge is in the spotlight.

“Unearth a Story” is the theme for the 2026 Summer Reading Challenge, which is divided into categories: youth, middle school, and young adult/ adult, with prizes varying with each group. There is no cost to register online or in person at any of the libraries in the system.

Online registration for the 2026 Summer Reading Challenge begins on Monday, May 25, and continues through August.

That’s right, you can start the challenge anytime during the summer months!

The challenge runs from June 1 through August 31. To complete the challenge, participants must log their summer reading hours or the books they read completely at any of the 11 county libraries or online at fortbend.beanstack.org.

In the February 2026 report, “Child Reading Literacy and the Role of Public Libraries: A Review of Secondary Sources,” the Institute of Museum and Library Services found, among other key points, that “[p]ublic libraries play an important and multifaceted role in the literacy ecosystem […] acting as resource hubs that offer reading literacy materials for children and caregivers, as direct service providers of programs like summer reading, and as conveners of other community organizations devoted to improving children’s reading literacy.”

Fort Bend County Libraries has been infusing the local literacy ecosystem for decades. Just last month, the system was recognized and honored by Fort Bend County Judge Daniel Wong, who emphasized that Fort Bend County Libraries’ “mission to bring people, information, and ideas together remains the cornerstone of our progress, fostering a diverse community where minds are

expanded, and lives are enriched.”

Beyond serving as a reference and independent learning center, Fort Bend County Libraries also functions as an educational introduction for preschool-aged children by continuously enhancing preschool programs, book collections, audiovisual materials, educational toys, and story kits. Notably, initiatives such as the Summer Reading Challenge also significantly aid Fort Bend County Libraries’ efforts to encourage and foster literacy development and growth.

The 2026 Summer Reading Challenge is open to everyone, regardless of their county of residence, making it one of the easiest and most beneficial ways to add free and wholesome recreation to summertime enjoyment. Coinciding with the threemonth-long reading challenge are complementary library activities for youth and young adults taking place throughout the library system. These activities are listed online at www.fortbendlibraries.gov in the events calendar.

YOUTH

The Youth Summer Reading Challenge | Ages: Newborn-grade 5

Younger children (newborn to grade 5) are encouraged to read or listen to as many books as they can, and they will earn rewards based on the total number of books they read or have read to them. For the first five books read, the child will receive a bookmark. The rewards continue with a color-on door hanger for 10 books, a color-on tote bag for 15 books, and a reading trophy for the first 20 books read. For every 20 books read, the participant’s name will also be written on a cut-out shape of a dinosaur to be displayed in that branch library. Drawings for puppets will take place weekly. The names of readers who complete the goal of reading 20 books or more will be entered into a

drawing for gift cards donated by the Friends of the Library organizations. One winner from each library location will be selected in a drawing that will take place in early September.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

The Middle School Summer Reading Challenge | Grades 6 - 8

Exciting free activities are planned, while area readers in grades 6-8 participate in the Middle School Summer Reading Challenge by logging online the time they spend reading. Upon completion of 10 hours (600 minutes) of reading, readers will receive a mystery prize. After completing 20 hours (1200 minutes) of reading, they will receive a trophy. The names of participants who complete 20 or more hours of reading will be entered into a drawing for a $25-gift card (donated by the Friends of the Library) that will be awarded to one lucky reader at each branch library, in a drawing that will take place in early September.

TEEN/ADULT

The Teen/Adult Summer Reading Challenge | High School & Adults

Young adult and adult participants will also log their reading time, aiming for 1,000 minutes to complete the challenge. The completion prize, while supplies last, is a “Libraries are Life” notepad, which can be picked up at any Fort Bend County library. In addition, the names of participants who log at least 1,000 minutes of reading time will be entered into a drawing for a Libraries are Life Note Organizer that will be awarded to one reader at each branch library in a drawing that will take place at the end of August.

An ultimate grand prize will be awarded to one reader from throughout the library system. Participants in the Teen/Adult Summer Reading Challenge who complete the program by logging

1,000 minutes of reading time will be entered into a drawing for a 32GB Fire HD 8 tablet, which will be awarded to one winner in the library system at the end of August.

HOW TO REGISTER

Register at any Fort Bend County library or online at www.fortbendlibraries.gov by clicking on the “SRC

Business

Sign-Up” image, which will become available on May 25. Once the online registration form is completed, readers will have a personal online page to record their books and reading time.

Participants may also register and log their books and reading time by downloading the free Beanstack Tracker app from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Reading

Neighborhood Business Directory

rewards can be redeemed beginning Monday, June 1.

The last day to pick up awards is August 31. All prizes can be picked up at the Adult Reference Desk at any Fort Bend County Libraries branch.

The Summer Reading Challenge is sponsored by Fort Bend County Libraries, the Friends of the Library organizations that support the county

library system, and by the Collaborative Summer Library Program, a consortium of states working together to provide high-quality children’s summer-reading program materials for public libraries.

For more information, call the branch library nearest you or the library system’s Communications Office (281-633-4734).

THEIR ADVANCED TREATMENTS BEAT MY CANCER

From diagnosis to treatment to recovery, your dedicated Houston Methodist cancer center team uses leading research, cutting-edge technology and the latest treatments to create a personalized care plan for you. At eight cancer center locations throughout the Greater Houston area, you’ll find the cancer expertise to help you feel whole again.

That’s the difference between practicing medicine and leading it. For you.

houstonmethodist.org/cancer 713.790.2700