Hello Fort Bend County! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: First woman fire chief, Sesame Street Live, and family program: wild animals + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.
Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill: If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
A milestone appointment: The City of Katy named firefighter Dana Massey its new fire chief, the department’s first woman leader, following Kenneth Parker’s retirement, with a focus on guiding growth as Katy expands -- see Katy’s new fire chief.
Youth on the world stage: Two Royal ISD Boys & Girls Clubs members escorted players at Houston’s FIFA World Cup opening match between Germany and Curacao. Houston will host seven matches through July 4 -- meet the youth escorts.
Community celebration highlights: Katy marked Juneteenth with a Woodsland Park parade and festival, drawing several hundred people, featuring author Demeca Burton and a book on scholarships, with Dr. Ralph Brock as grand marshal -- see the Juneteenth parade photos.
Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.*
The bill all retirees should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half -- this free comparison tool makes it easy.*
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02 — From our sponsor Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC billIf your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Buttons, cider, repeat: Need a close-to-home win this week? Cidercade Houston packs 275+ classic and modern games set to free play, Bishop Cider’s on-tap flavors, and pizza when the button mashing gets serious. A zero-fuss weeknight escape from Fort Bend that works for kids or competitive friends.
Local bloom boost: Family-operated since 1950, Terra Flora is the Rosenberg standby for everything from last-minute save-the-day bouquets to porch-brightening plants and thoughtful gift baskets. Swing by this week, tell them your vibe, then let the pros translate it into flowers that actually look like you meant to plan ahead.
Tiny town, big exhale: Let the littles (1-7) roam a kid-sized town with play ponies, a treehouse, and a construction yard while you sip coffee in the parents lounge, because The Little Bergs Playtown in Rosenberg was built for imaginative energy burn and a breather for you.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
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Home insurance premiums jumped 12% last year alone: That's on top of years of increases that have outpaced inflation. Before you blindly renew with your current insurer, a free comparison tool matches your home with top-rated insurers so you can see quotes side by side, in about two minutes. Some homeowners find hundreds in savings, and if you don't find a better policy, you stay put knowing you checked. *See your options →
Buy one window treatment this summer, get the second 50% off: “My fourth order over 8 years. Product reliability, consistency to values & warranty kept me returning!” See what keeps customers coming back to 3 Day Blinds. Book your free consultation and enjoy summer savings on blinds, shades, and drapery. *Claim your summer savings →
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Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar Fun for the famOur favorite upcoming kid and family-friendly events. All events are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🦁 Family Program: Wild Animals! @ Sugar Land Branch Library | Wednesday (6/24) at 3:00 PM – Swap the streaming safari for the real deal as Wild Things Zoofari turns Sugar Land Branch Library into a mini menagerie. Hands-on, kid-hypnotizing, and actually educational, it is free for families, all ages welcome. Seating is limited, tickets are released an hour prior.
🐜 Insect Hike @ Seabourne Creek Nature Park (Rosenberg) | Thursday (6/25) at 9:00 AM – If you've been waiting for a sign to appreciate the loudest neighbors, this free insect hike at Seabourne Creek Nature Park is it. Entomologists lead a cicada-themed wander, all ages welcome, muddy shoes likely, and Texas Master Naturalists can help wrangle iNaturalist. Rain cancels, obviously.
🎪 Sesame Street Live! Elmo's Got The Moves @ Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land | Thursday (6/25) at 6:00 PM – Think you still remember all the words to Sunny Days? Elmo's Got the Moves brings Elmo and friends to the stage for singing, dancing, and pure nostalgia, while the little ones laugh, learn, and wiggle it out. Heartwarming, loud, and the right kind of chaos.
🎬 Sensory Friendly Screening @ AMC First Colony 24 (Sugar Land) | Saturday (6/27) at 10:00 AM – Trade the usual theater chaos for a sensory-friendly screening at AMC First Colony in Sugar Land. Lights stay up a touch, volume stays gentle, and movement is fine, so everyone can relax. Think blockbuster vibes without the sonic boom, the shushing, or the side-eye.
👑 Tiara’s Into Crowns Workshop @ Fort Bend County Libraries - George Memorial Library (Richmond) | Saturday (6/27) at 1:30 PM – Whether her superpower is side-eye or straight A’s, this empowering workshop for girls 8 to 18 builds self-love, self-worth, and self-awareness through interactive activities. At Tiaras Into Crowns, think confidence training with creativity, real talk, and zero pageant vibes, just solid life skills.
🧁 Family Fun! Create Your Own Cupcake @ Painting with a Twist (Sugar Land) | Saturday (6/27) at 2:30 PM – Let the kids paint their sugar rush without the frosting at a 90-minute, instructor-led, BYOB art session made for ages 6-12. No drop-offs, and littles under 6 need a grown-up’s help. You supervise, sip what you brought, and call it culture.
🦖 School-Age Program: Dinosaur Party @ George Memorial Library (Richmond) | Tuesday (6/30) at 2:00 PM – An interactive kids concert with Andyroo and the Andyrooniverse where your herd will flap tiny T. rex arms, sprint like velociraptors, and bop like happy hatchlings. Translation, they dance, you sip coffee, and everyone sleeps well. Consider it cardio disguised as parenting.
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — From our sponsor Heads up for pet parentsTogether with our sponsor Lemonade. Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving. As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Pet Insurance. It was too late for me, but you could save thousands on your next vet bill with *Lemonade. |
07 — The Fort Bend County report Weather forecastToday — High: 95°F — Low: 73°F — Precip: 0%
Mostly sunny. High near 95, with temperatures falling to around 92 in the afternoon. Heat index values as high as 102. South wind around 5 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 73. South wind 0 to 5 mph.
Tomorrow — High: 94°F — Low: 76°F — Precip: 0%
Sunny, with a high near 94. South wind 0 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 76. This house is wildThis Mediterranean stunner in Fulshear Run pairs grand stone curb appeal with a stucco exterior, arched entryways, and a circular driveway on an oversized lot with no rear neighbors. Soaring ceilings, a sweeping staircase, designer finishes, and a chef’s kitchen set the tone, while a media room, bar room, flex space, and resort-style pool deliver serious wow factor.
Take a peek inside → |
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