02-10-2021 Edition of the Fort Bend Star

Hightower hoops has unfinished business - Page 4

Boogie's Chicago Style BBQ recently showed why it has found a niche in Missouri City. Read our review inside today's edition on Page 8. (Photo by Stefan Modrich)

WEDNESDAY • FEBRUARY 10, 2021

Visit www.FortBendStar.com

Fort Bend / Southwest • Volume 45 • No. 25

SBA loans available for local businesses

By Stefan Modrich SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

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In a Feb. 4 webinar hosted by representatives of the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce and the Houston office of the Small Business Administration (SBA), they outlined some of the changes from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act signed into law on Dec. 27, 2020.

One of the provisions

of the act resulted in the extension of the debt relief program. If a business owner borrowed money through a microloan, “We are going to be making those payments on your loan for you,” said Tim Jeffcoat, director of the SBA’s Houston office.

He said the SBA’s debt relief program is capped at $9,000 per month for the next three months and is limited to those businesses in good standing that had been paying their loans “all

•

See related story ...................

Page 2

Jeffcoat

along.”

Those who the SBA has

determined qualify as the “hardest-hit” sectors – food service and accommodation, arts, entertainment and recreation and laundry and personal care services – will be eligible for up to five more months with the SBA covering the cost of

their loans with the same parameters as described above.

For the first six months, applicants of newly-approved loans between Feb. 1 and Sept. 30 will also receive payments of principal and interest up to $9,000 per month.

Businesses that were not in operation on Feb. 15, 2020 or that received a Shuttered Venues Grant

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Luby’s lays out timeline for closing

By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

It appears that food from Luby’s, the iconic Texas cafeteria chain, may only be available for a limited time.

When the time does come for the Fort Bend County location’s closure, it’s going to be jarring for Missouri City resident Kenneth Terrell, who has been making weekly trips to the cafeteria-style restaurant’s Stafford location for about 20 years.

“It’s a shame, because it’s one of the-dining places that’s reasonably priced and that the family can enjoy,” he said Saturday before grabbing a couple of LuAnn Platters for himself and his wife. “You’ve got a lot of fast food, but that’s all it is – fast food.”

According to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) last week, Luby’s said it is “expected that most restaurant operations would cease operations under our ownership by the end of fiscal (year) 2021” in August. The Houston-based restaurant

SEE LUBY'S PAGE 6

Luby's might only be available for a limited time after last week's SEC filing.

(Photo by Stefan Modrich)

Sugar Land couple Nathan, left, and Lara McClurkin dance at Sugar Land Town Square. The couple met at Houston First Baptist Church in 2009 and have been married since May 2013. (Photo courtesy of Kyle Stewart)

Local romances showcase appreciation of multiculturalism

•

By Stefan Modrich SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Against all odds, the love story of Missouri City’s Chad and Ellen Bishop is an example of Fort Bend County’s growing fondness for diversity.

“It just blows my mind that so many people just didn't like us as a couple,” Ellen said.

“People were always like, ‘Y’all aren’t gonna make it,’ or, ‘Y’all aren't gonna make it more than a couple of months.’”

Chad and Ellen, who are

See related story ...................

Page 5

Clint, right, and Liza Mendonca of Stafford met in 2014 and have been married since July 2017. (Contributed photo)

both teachers and used to be Fort Bend ISD colleagues, are among the local couples who shared their love stories ahead of Valentine’s Day on Sunday.

The two are closing in on their 27th anniversary and have three children. While their path to becoming high

school sweethearts may not have been the smoothest one, the Bishops both are glad to be along for the ride.

It began in late April 1990 at Westbury Christian School, when Chad, then a junior, and Ellen, a freshman, met after school. Ellen and a friend were waiting for their parents to pick them up after cheerleading practice and Chad had been disciplined with corporal punishment for talking back to

SEE ROMANCE PAGE 6

Elkins grad using engineering to promote equality

By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

As a kid, Maverick Thigpen said he was always tinkering and trying to figure out how things worked.

But it wasn’t until the suggestion of his high school pre-calculus teacher that his interest in STEM was piqued.

Now the college student from Missouri City is combining his rela-

tively newfound love of engineering and STEM – an academic discipline that stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics – with his fight for social progress.

Thigpen, a 2017 graduate of Elkins High School, is a senior at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Prescott, Arizona campus who is finishing up a degree in aerospace engineering. He aspires to impact the world beyond Embry-

Riddle and even beyond his objective of working at NASA. “My primary goal is to help more Black engineers graduate and be successful in the workforce, to create a more diverse workplace in STEM to where Black people are represented to the same rate we are in the national average,” he said.

About 13 percent of the United States population is Black, but that ethnic group represents only about 9

Thigpen

gineering jobs, according to a 2018 study from the Pew Research Center. At Embry-Riddle’s Prescott campus, Thigpen said only about 2 percent of the student population is Black – which is why he’s trying to help impact change.

He is the president of the Prescott campus’ National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), which promotes

percent of all STEM jobs and 5 percent of STEM en-

SEE STUDENT PAGE 6

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PAGE 2 • Wednesday,

THE STAR

February 10, 2021

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

PPP money still available: Why has it failed businesses?

Editor’s note: Jonathan McElvy is the CEO of McElvy Partners, a company that includes the Fort Bend Star.

Jonathan McElvy

There is plenty of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) money still available after Congress passed the second iteration of the stimulus plan last December. But in a report issued by the Small Business Administration, the money set aside to rescue small business has barely been touched – a glaring indictment on the program and the way it has been administered to devastated businesses.

After three weeks of PPP being open (Jan. 11-31), less than $73 billion of the available $285 billion had been

approved for small business across the nation – an embarrassing 25 percent. That’s in stark contrast to the first round of PPP in 2020 when, after 14 days, businesses snatched up $349 billion and Congress was forced to allocate another $310 billion to the program.

Why the demand is lower, especially when there is PPP money still available, has ma-

ny answers, and some of them are not the fault of government or businesses. For starters, the criteria for receiving the potentially forgiven loans changed.

In the first round, businesses with less than 500 employees were allowed to apply; that has changed to businesses with under 300 employees now.

Another major change required businesses to show a 25-percent decrease in revenue in any one quarter of 2020 compared to 2019. Many businesses had steep declines, but maybe not that steep.

The Interim Final Rule released by the SBA can offer all the changes in the qualifications for this round of PPP, but none can answer why needy businesses have shunned this second round of stimulus.

In fact, there are a number of problems, and the most glaring is the way Congress attempted to help minorityowned business have better access to capital.

With PPP money still available, minority loans lag Congress said and did all the right things when negotiating the second round of PPP. From data after the first round, politicians and their

advisors realized they needed to do more to get money in the hands of minority-owned businesses that missed out on the first round.

In large part, the conversation centered around a report from the New York Fed citing 41 percent of Black-owned businesses that closed during the early months of the pandemic.

But as is the case with many well-intentioned programs, those who developed the second PPP completely missed the mark on helping minorityowned businesses. Consider what government did: Set aside the first two days of funding for small lenders like community development financial institutions and fintechs, which were more likely to have minority customers Set aside $15 billion for minority-owned businesses.

Here’s why the second round of the PPP has been wholly inadequate: It made absolutely no sense to segregate the money for minority businesses. Why would Congress create two pots of money except to throw lipservice at the issue?

The period when minority businesses were allowed to “go ahead” of all potential borrowers was the first two days of the program. Problem is, most businesses (and banks) didn’t know what information they needed to get the loan (that was rolled out slowly, again). So in those two days, most businesses were scrambling for organizational documents or missing tax returns, and they couldn’t take advantage of it, even if they wanted to.

The reason minorityowned businesses did not

get money in the first round of PPP had nothing to do with available cash. (Why hasn’t anyone mentioned that the SBA didn’t even loan out the full amount of the first PPP? One month after the first PPP was re-funded, there was still $120 billion that had gone unclaimed.) No, the reason is because many minority-owned businesses had numerous issues with banks and the requirements needed for the loans. Whether it was an institutional distrust, not enough resources to have all the proper documentation, a fear of debt, or incomplete tax returns, Congress and its financial advisors completely overlooked some of the most important issues keeping minority-owned businesses from getting the money.

Here are the hard facts, as presented by the SBA: Of the first $73 billion claimed in the second round of PPP, only $165 million had been loaned by microlenders, CDFIs and fintechs. That is what the SBA numbers say, and it means, literally, just 1 percent of the $15 billion has currently gone to lenders specifically designed to help minority-owned businesses. It doesn’t mean other lenders didn’t help these business owners, but it shows how poorly this was developed.

Congress should have set aside money to help minorityowned businesses skip some of the hard demands, an issue that will be addressed in a future McElvy Partners article.

The SBA fix was broken Along with the largest issue of not helping minorities, there have been other problems with this second round. Even though there is PPP money

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still available, the SBA’s new system of approving loans had a major glitch that was supposed to be fixed weeks ago.

For some businesses that received the first round of PPP, if that first loan had not been forgiven, then SBA denied the second application, even though Congress was clear that the first PPP forgiveness should not matter, so long as businesses agreed to use up that money.

The paperwork is too much Many businesses that received the first round of PPP were met with enormous applications for forgiveness from their banks, sending them scrambling for documents they didn’t have at hand.

What Congress, the SBA and banks may have missed is that small businesses (the ones designed to benefit from PPP because they were so devastated by the shut-down) do not have full-time accounting staffs. Many of them use their banks and credit card receipts to create financials. Their payroll records aren’t that of Fortune 500 companies with entire floors designed to keep perfect records for stock holders.

No, when the good souls in D.C. began requiring enormous document dumps to get forgiveness, a number of small businesses decided going through this again wasn’t worth the trouble. The smallest business owners would rather take unemployment and hope to find something new once the pandemic ends.

While there is hope the SBA and banks figure out how to get more money to desperate small businesses, the reality is the encumbrances of the first round, the mound of forgiveness documents (sometimes spanning 20 pages) and the utter lack of understanding for the reasons minority-owned businesses did not get loans the first time has led to a failure of this second stimulus plan.

And that’s too bad, because many small businesses will close and, once the world reopens, there won’t be offices for the unemployed to fill.

THE STAR

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

Wednesday, February 10, 2021 • PAGE

3

Valentine’s Day a chance to appreciate role models Until recently, I’d never thought of Valentine’s Day as a particularly family-oriented holiday. Nor, frankly, had I given it much consideration at all beyond the sugar-high I received after exchanging boxes of “conversation hearts” in elementary school.

In my eyes, it had for years carried with it a stigma of being tacky, superficial and a “made-for-Hallmark” vibe that I’ve always found offputting.

Now, I’m not a parent nor am I married, so I may not have been fair with my prior characterization of Valentine’s Day. I recently did enter into a long-distance relationship with someone in another major Texas city, and in the most 2020 fashion, I used a dating app to meet her. So my relative inexperience is probably laughably cute and hopelessly naive to

Stefan Modrich

some of you.

And perhaps it’s taken the eight months or so since I met my girlfriend, some of which was spent as friends.

Once it became clear that we were more than that, much of the time we spent dating had an air of uncertainty overhanging it as I finalized preparing to accept the job offer that moved me to Houston and landed me with the Fort Bend Star from the Rio Grande Valley and a few months later, for her to move to her new situation which has allowed for more

frequent visits.

I consider myself fortunate to have parents who themselves have been married nearly 27 years, like the Missouri City couple I interviewed who had children aged 17, 20, and 26, very similar to the age difference between me and my siblings at 21, 23, and 24. I’m a few weeks from turning 26, though mentally I’ve considered myself an old soul for a while.

And I’m equally grateful for my grandparents and for so many wonderful aunts and uncles on both sides of my family who have all demonstrated their own enduring love for their spouses in their own ways.

Even if those people in your life aren’t related to you by blood (I have more than one “tía” who has adopted me as her “sobrino”) I know we can find them somewhere if we

look closely enough I’ve heard it over and over again from the couples I’ve spoken to and from the couples in my life, that they’ve always had an innate ability to understand each other and be there for each other when the chips were down.

I have even more respect for those who are balancing raising young children or guiding young adults into the next phase of their lives in an era of unprecedented economic uncertainty and an ongoing public health crisis.

Not to toot my own horn, but I think my ability to listen and understand has allowed me to be both a good friend and a good partner in a relationship, and that’s one of the skills that I think has been learned more by observation than anything else. My dad never sat me down and told me why I

needed to listen to others.

I simply watched him do it.

I may not exactly be a relationship guru as a result, but I am wholly transparent about my shortcomings and never overpromise with advice. I think it’s why my closest friends and I trust each other with sharing the important developments in our respective romantic relationships.

One of the husbands I spoke with for my story about local couples asked me a fascinating question, and it was essentially this – Had I ever watched my parents interact with their in-laws? I certainly have, and I think I was endeared with how sweet my dad’s parents were with my mom and how my mom’s mother and my dad are eager to playfully tease one another.

I’m sure my siblings and my other relatives would have

much more to say about this.

I’m no armchair psychologist, but I do feel it is healthy to have this level of selfawareness and the guts to be vulnerable to those whose respect and love you cherish above all others.

So it’s no surprise to me that many of my relatives will be in the midst of celebrating their second or third or even fourth decade of Valentine’s Days together in a few days. For those who are celebrating their first together, as my girlfriend and I are about to, or for those who have been recently married, you’re just as important. In fact, I think it’s even more crucial that you take the time this weekend to not only show your appreciation for your spouse or your partner but to find a way to pay homage to all those who helped them become the person you fell in love with.

John Legend to make 2021 tour stop at Smart Financial Centre

By Stefan Modrich SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

One of the most recognizable voices in the American pop and R&B music scenes is coming to Sugar Land after postponing his 2020 “Bigger Love” tour due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

John Legend, an 11-time Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and musician, was originally slated to perform at Smart Financial Centre Aug. 13, 2020, and is now scheduled to hold a concert there on Aug. 12 of this year.

Ticketmaster customers who purchased tickets for the original 2020 show

date through the Ticketmaster website or at the Smart Financial Centre box office will have their tickets honored for the upcoming show, the venue’s website said. Tickets currently range from $53.50-$153.50.

For more information, those interested can email sfcinfo@theambassadors. com, send a message to the

venue’s Facebook page or call 281-207-6278.

Live music venues in Fort Bend County have been dormant throughout the pandemic. But Smart Financial Centre has 13 other events on its calendar between April 15-Nov. 14.

On Feb. 3, Smart Financial Centre announced The Millennium Tour 2021 had

Son accused of shooting father in Richmond

By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

A Richmond man has been arrested and accused of fatally shooting his father early last Thursday morning, according to police.

The Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office said 20-year-old Micha Osei has been charged with murder in the shooting of 58-year-old Emmanuel Osei.

“My prayers are with this family. Please put them in your prayers,” Sheriff Eric Fagan said during a Thursday press briefing.

FBCSO said deputies responded to a home in the 7800 block of Ravens Point Drive in Richmond around 6:30

Micha Osei

E E E E

a.m. Thursday to find Emmanuel Osei inside his house with gunshot wounds to the face, back and leg. He was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Shortly after the shooting, police said a tow truck driver spot-

ted Micha Osei near the McDonald’s restaurant off the Grand Parkway and West Bellfort Boulevard, where he was arrested. The weapon allegedly used in the shooting was later found in a neighbor’s yard, according to FBCSO. Police said it was un-

ponements still listed along with a to-be-determined makeup date.

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RAMIRO RODRIGUEZ JANUARY 16, 1950

Ramiro Rodriguez (71), of Sugar Land Texas passed away on February 04, 2021 after a 72 day fight against COVID-19. He was born on January 16, 1950, in Mercedes, Texas, to Rafael and Lucila “Lucy” Rios Rodriguez. Ramiro grew up in El Campo, Texas, where he attended school and graduated in 1969. After graduation, he worked for I-C Manufacturing Company in El Campo servicing the building and the equipment. In the early 1970s, he moved his family to Sugar Land and worked for Pitney-Bowes as a copier technician. He soon became a supervisor and lecturer at training seminars at their Connecticut headquarters. Ramiro then went to work as an insurance agent for Farmers Insurance and the insurance business became one of his passions.

He eventually opened an independent agency, Rodriguez Insurance. Ramiro was a man of many talents; he had a knack for computer science and taught himself to fix any computer problem he encountered. He was

known what led up to the shooting, though FBCSO said its Crisis Intervention Team had previously responded to the home several times for calls related to suspected family violence.

been postponed until further notice, one of three different shows with post-

E

FEBRUARY 04, 2021

an outstanding handyman, excelling in carpentry, flooring, plumbing, and electrical. He also spent many years volunteering his time working with the Sugar Land police department’s Community Assistance Support Team (CAST). He cherished his family: his wife, his sons, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, brothers, sister, and in-laws. He loved to join his family in football, basketball, disc golf, kickball, biking, or any other sport/ game being played.

Ramiro is survived by his wife, Gracie Flores Rodriguez; his son,

Rob Rodriguez; daughters-in-law, Jamie Rodriguez and Lisa Rodriguez: grandchildren Chloe Rodriguez, Cole Rodriguez, Zachary Rodriguez, Abigail Rodriguez, and Maya Rodriguez, all from Sugar Land, Texas; his brothers Abel Rodriguez (Lydia) from El Campo, Texas, and Robert Rodriguez (Beth) from Houston, as well as his sister Irma Rocha (Victor) from El Campo; Mother in law, Rosa Flores.

Also surviving are his many nieces and nephews that loved him dearly.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his son Greg.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 10th at The Settegast-Kopf Co. @ Sugar Creek in Sugar Land, Texas from 6-8pm.

A celebration of life service will be held on Thursday, February 11th at River Pointe Church (Richmond campus) at 2:00pm. Casual dress.

The family requests that strict social distancing guidelines are followed.

In addition, masks are required at both the visitation and celebration of life service.

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Scripture of the week

“Who among you by worrying can add a single moment to your life?”

- Matthew 6:27

THE STAR

PAGE 4 • Wednesday, February 10, 2021

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

@FtBendAthletics:

‘Hungry’ Hurricanes rolling toward postseason

By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

The Hightower Hurricanes have unfinished business.

“There’s been the motivation since the summer, just to come back (and finish it),” senior guard Aaron Bland said.

“We know what we could’ve done last year – but didn’t have the chance to – and what we can do this year.”

What the Hurricanes (15-2) hope to do this year is win a boys basketball state championship in Class 5A, after clinching their first outright district championship since the 2008-09 season. Hightower reached the UIL state tournament in San Antonio last season – but did not even get a chance to play in its scheduled state semifinal after the tournament was scrapped due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“At first I really thought it was a joke or something when (head coach Stephen Woods) called us into his room,” Bland said, noting the call came just hours before the scheduled tipoff against top-ranked Lancaster. “Then I saw the emotion on his face, on the assistant coaches’ and players’ faces, and I knew it probably

Hightower guard Aaron Bland prepares to shoot a free throw during practice on Saturday. The Hurricanes take on Angleton this week in search of a perfect district season and also look to make another deep playoff run. (Photo by Landan Kuhlmann)

wasn’t going to happen. That was a really sad feeling.”

Hightower is no stranger to playoff success, having now made the playoffs in five of Woods’ six seasons and making three regional tournament appearances. But entering the 2020-21 season, some may have doubted whether the Hurricanes could reach the level of last year’s team.

Woods and his staff had to acclimate a bevy of new faces

after the graduation of seven seniors from last year’s team, which had ushered in three straight playoff berths and one of the most successful runs in the school’s 22-year history.

“We had to start building… that unity to play together so we could start peaking in February or March,” he said. “So far, we’ve done that.”

So far, the plan has worked to near perfection as the Hur-

AREA STANDINGS (Through Monday) District 20-6A (Boys)

Team Travis Elkins Ridge Point George Ranch Bush Clements Austin Dulles

District Record 10-1 8-1 8-3 6-6 4-5 4-8 3-9 0-10

District 20-6A (Girls)

Dulles George Ranch Ridge Point Travis Elkins Clements Austin Bush

ricanes are in search of their first undefeated district campaign in more than a decade in this week’s regular-season finale against Angleton. But though he has preached the “unfinished business” mantra after reaching the school’s first state tournament since 2011 last season, Woods knows there is a fine line between it being motivation or an anvil that could hold the team back.

“Last year was last year,” Woods said. “We can’t go back and make that year up.”

New faces, similar results Helping the Hurricanes keep winning has been a host of fresh faces taking on

expanded roles. After playing in just 20 of Hightower’s 38 games last season, Bland has started all 17 contests this season.

“We’ve asked a lot more of him this year – and he’s really stepped up to that challenge,” Woods said.

Also energizing the program have been newcomers such as Westbury Christian transfer Aaron Williams and senior Tyrone Baker, a 6-foot-10 forward and University of Georgia commit who moved to Texas from Florida after averaging nearly 21 points and 10 rebounds for Riverdale High School last season.

The offense is still triggered by junior guard Bryce Griggs (23.9 points per game), but Woods also called Griggs’ fellow guard Zack Guidry an unsung hero and the “glue” of the team despite being in his first varsity season.

“We wanted to have the returners use that experience we went through last year to help the new guys get through those playoffs this year,” Woods said. “We believed we had the talent to win district outright, though we knew that (Richmond) Foster was going to be a good challenge for us. But we stayed focused and stayed with the process, stayed hungry and humble.”

Last season’s experience has certainly resonated with those such as Bland and junior guard Jacory Chatman.

“We completely remember that we couldn’t play

last year, and we’re trying to get back there again,” Chatman said. “It would mean a lot to the city and everyone, because we haven’t had a state championship come here.”

The key to finishing business on the court would appear to be the Hurricanes’ defense, which has come into its own down the stretch of the regular season. Though much of the attention remains on its high-powered offense – which leads District 24-5A at nearly 84 points per game – Hightower has stifled its opponents with increased frequency as the season has gone on.

In eight games since the calendar flipped to 2021, the Hurricanes are allowing 55.2 points per game.

“We just need to play defense like we have been,” said Baker, the team’s leading rebounder and shot blocker. “It’s been really good, so once we get that perfected we can make a deep run.”

Woods said his team is meshing at just the right time. Hightower has won 14 consecutive games since a Dec. 1 loss to Shadow Creek and has its eyes set on completing an objective it was not allowed the chance to last season.

“We have a family atmosphere over here, and they all believe that they’re a part of that,” Woods said. “That’s why we’ve been successful.”

13-0 11-2 8-3 6-7 5-9 4-9 3-10 2-12

District 24-5A (Boys) Hightower Foster Angleton Marshall Terry Fulshear Kempner Lamar Consolidated Willowridge Foster Lamar Consolidated Fulshear Angleton Hightower Kempner Willowridge Terry Marshall

14-0 12-2 10-4 6-6 7-8 5-9 3-11 3-11 2-11 District 24-5A (Girls)

15-0 14-2 11-5 8-7 8-8 7-9 2-11 2-12 0-13

District 25-4A (Boys)

La Marque Stafford Brazosport Columbia Sweeny Needville Bay City

11-0 10-1 8-4 4-7 3-8 2-9 1-10

District 25-4A (Girls)

Brazosport Sweeny Stafford La Marque Columbia Needville Bay City

12-0 10-2 7-5 6-6 4-8 2-10 1-11

LAST WEEK'S SCORES Boys Feb. 2 Stafford 74, Brazosport 42 Feb. 3 Travis 69, Ridge Point 66 (OT) Clements 64, Austin 56 Feb. 4 Kempner 55, Willowridge 42 Feb. 5 Stafford 70, Needville 26 Angleton 61, Kempner 40 Feb. 6 George Ranch 54, Clements 35 Austin 55, Dulles 42

Girls Feb. 2 Brazosport 57, Stafford 49 Feb. 3 Dulles 44, Travis 24 Clements 43, Austin 32 George Ranch 58, Bush 22 Elkins def. Ridge Point, by forfeit Feb. 4 Brazosport 53, Stafford 33 Feb. 5 Stafford 52, Columbia 36 Hightower 76, Marshall 20

Bush's Tyler Smith prepares to drive to the basket during a Jan. 23 game against Elkins at Hopson Field House in Missouri City. (Photo by Landan Kuhlmann)

Stafford boys keep district title hopes alive

By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

The Stafford boys basketball team has been hungry for both another district championship and a return to the state tournament.

The Spartans’ efforts to accomplish the first goal stayed alive after convincing wins against Brazosport and Needville last week that highlighted area’s standout performances.

Glenn Bishop scored 24 points for the Spartans in their Feb. 5 win over Needville, their fifth straight victory since a loss to district-leading La

Marque on Jan. 22. The Spartans and Cougars were scheduled for a rematch to determine the district champion at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Cameron Oliver led the Travis Tigers in an overtime win against Ridge Point on Feb. 3 with 20 points and seven rebounds, while Cameron Crockett had a doubledouble with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Mekhi Mcintyre also had a strong night with 19 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

Jack Reiner had 15 points for the Austin Bulldogs in their Feb. 3 loss to Clements, while David Ogunleye had 10 points and nine rebounds in a

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Feb. 6 Stafford 45, Columbia 42 Dulles 81, Elkins 29 Bush 50, Austin 25 Playoff Schedule Girls Class 6A Bi-District Thursday Travis vs. Tompkins, 5 p.m. (Merrell Center) Ridge Point vs. Seven Lakes, 7 p.m. (Merrell Center) Dulles vs. Katy, 7 p.m.

(Hopson Field House)

win over Dulles on Saturday.

Girls Three Kempner Lady Cougars reached double figures in their Feb. 4 win over Marshall. Abrielle Grissett led the way with 16 points, while Olivia Okusanya recorded her second double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Grissett also led with 12 points in a Feb. 2 win over Willowridge, while Okusanya grabbed 11 rebounds.

Dai Dai Powell had 11 points and seven rebounds for the Dulles Lady Vikings in their win over Travis to finish a perfect regular season at 22-0.

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Wednesday, February 10, 2021 • PAGE

5

Sugar Land launches ‘Love Thy Neighbor’ initiative

By Stefan Modrich SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, the city of Sugar Land wants to see its residents get to know their neighbors.

The “Love Thy Neighbor” initiative was shared across the city’s social media channels on Feb. 1 and “aims to empower residents to build tighter and safer communities,” according to a Facebook post from the city. Using one of two printable templates provided by the city, residents are asked leave a friendly note and their contact information at their neighbor’s doorstep or front door.

Jessica Young, the city’s assistant director of communications and community engagement, said the COVID-19 pan-

demic has caused the social silos where some residents retreat to become “even deeper.”

Young acknowledged that meeting new people during a time of such high anxiety and stress can be awkward, and the city’s hope is to put less of a burden on residents by facilitating initial contact that could lead to lasting friendships or connections.

“Overall, the city of Sugar Land is always trying to do three things on our social platforms, and that is educate, engage, and empower our residents,” Young said.

“Anytime we can get our residents to feel connected and to feel a sense of pride around our city and the services that we offer and the community that we live in, then that’s always going to resonate really well with them.”

Pictured is the flyer for the city of Sugar Land's "Love Thy Neighbor" initiative, which began Feb. 1 in the spirit of Valentine's Day. (Photo from Facebook)

Young said the reception has been good thus far, but that it’s only the beginning of what she and the city hope will be a recurring campaign to engender goodwill and strengthen bonds across Sugar Land’s various communities.

In addition, Young said residents can nominate neighbors who have “gone above and beyond” and share their stories by sending an email to hoa@sugarlandtx.gov for a chance to be recognized on the city’s social media channels.

She said residents are welcome to connect with the city on social media

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THANK YOU FOR READING LEGALS NOTICE TO BIDDERS IH 69 FRONTAGE ROAD AT SH 6 TRIPLE LEFT The City of Sugar Land seeks bids for furnishing all labor, material, and equipment, and performing all work required for the following project in the City: CIP PROJECT NAME: IH 69 FRONTAGE ROAD AT SH 6 TRIPLE LEFT CIP PROJECT NUMBER: TR1702 LOCATION OF WORK: IH 69 Northbound Frontage Road at SH 6 Plans, specifications, and bidding documents may be obtained from Civcast USA www.civcastusa.com.

Sealed bids in triplicate, one (1) original and two (2) copies, shall be delivered to the City of Sugar Land, Office of the City Secretary, 2700 Town Center Boulevard North, Sugar Land, Texas, 77479, on or before 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 18, 2021, at which time bids will be publicly opened and read via teleconference. Bids received after the opening date and time will not be considered.

A non-mandatory pre-bid meeting for all interested parties will be held February 11, 2021 at 10:00 am. The pre-bid meeting will be held virtually, with a link added to CivCast.

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as well.

The city has already begun receiving submissions, Young said.

The city plans to extend the initiative beyond February and Young said the city’s social media team will share stories submitted by residents throughout the year.

Separately, the city used its social media platforms to invite the public to recall when they met their spouses and significant others, several of whom did so on Facebook.

“Sugar Land has been the backdrop of so many cute, adorable love stories,” Young said. “Especially in times like this, we really like to share the positivity and the love and connection we have in this town.”

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We are seeking 25% or greater MWBE, SEB and SBA-8A participation. Certifications from the following agencies are approved

by Fort Bend ISD: Port of Houston Authority SBE Certification, Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) SBE Certification, City of Houston SBE Certification and Small Business A-SBA-8A. Drymalla Construction will be accepting bids for this project until 1:30, Monday, February 22, 2021 via email at bids@drymalla.com, or by fax 979-732-3663. Direct all questions regarding this project to Larry Bookout no later than February 15, 2021 at 10:00 am either by phone at 979-7325731 or email at lbookout@ drymalla.com.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING PROPOSED CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CAR WASH FACILITY (QUICK QUACK COMPANY) ON APPROXIMATELY 0.86 ACRES LOCATED AT THE INTERSECTION OF US 90A AND UNIVERSITY BLVD City Council Public Hearing 5:30 p.m., VICINITY MAP: March 02, 2021, City of Sugar Land City Council Chamber, 2700 Town Center Boulevard North, hosted via live stream at http://www. sugarlandtx.gov/1238/SLTV-16-Live-Video or https://www.youtube.com/sugarlandtxgov/live, and Sugar Land Comcast Subscribers can also tune-in on Channel 16, to hear all persons interested in the proposed Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for the establishment of Quick Quack Car Wash, a car wash facility classified in the Land Use Matrix as Auto Repair and Services, Minor, which requires a Conditional Use Permit in the General Business (B-2) District.

The agenda item for this meeting will be placed on the City of Sugar Land website at www. sugarlandtx.gov under “Meeting Agendas” City Council no later than Friday, February 26, 2021.

Request details or provide feedback on the proposed Conditional Use Permit on online at www.sugarlandtx.gov/PublicHearingComment or contact City of Sugar Land Planning Department at (281) 275-2218.

As of the date of this publication (February 10, 2021) the Centers for Disease Control recommends socialdistancing and the avoidance of large and small gatherings in public spaces in order to limit the spread of COVID-19. As a result, the City of Sugar Land has elected to conduct this meeting online. Members of the public wishing to view the meeting live may do so at the links above. Members of the public desiring to make comments during the public hearing may submit their written comments to the Office of City Secretary (citysec@sugarlandtx.gov). Comments should reference the hearing in the subject line, must be received by 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 02, 2021, then will be read into the record during the public hearing. Members of the public desiring to make their comments during the published date and time of the public hearing must e-mail (citysec@sugarlandtx.gov) or call ((281) 275-2730) the Office of the City Secretary by 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 02, 2021 to register and receive instructions for direct participation during the hearing.

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Should the Centers for Disease Control, and/or the prevailing appropriate authority, lift the restrictions related to social-distancing and the avoidance of large and small gatherings in public spaces prior to 72 hours of the date of the public hearings, the City of Sugar Land will provide notice to the public on the City Council meeting agenda at www.sugarlandtx.gov under “Meeting Agendas.”

THE STAR

PAGE 6 • Wednesday, February 10, 2021

★ ROMANCE FROM PAGE 1 a teacher.

“I was sitting in the hallway with my friend, and we were talking,” Ellen said. “It was when we were about done with practice and I remember Chad coming down the stairs and he didn't look so happy.”

Ellen and Chad hit it off from there, and began dating just weeks after that fateful run-in.

Chad said he knew very early on that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Ellen.

When Chad’s parents moved to Phoenix in the summer of 1992, a year after he graduated high school, Chad realized he had to get his life in order if he wanted to maintain his relationship with Ellen.

Six weeks after Ellen graduated high school in 1993, Chad proposed to her at the duck ponds near the old Transco Tower in Houston, the site of which is near the Galleria and the Waterwall.

After Ellen accepted and the pair was engaged, Chad decided to move to Phoenix. He got a job in Arizona working an overnight shift for an insurance company.

It wasn’t easy for the Bishops, especially in the days before the Internet was used for everyday communication, if it was available at all. They were dependent on long-distance phone calls, which were quite expensive. But Chad found a loophole that made him look forward to his daily lunch breaks and ensured he and Ellen could keep in touch during their time apart, using his calling card on weekends.

“I made friends with the switchboard operator,” Chad said. “I would go eat my lunch

★ LOANS FROM PAGE 1 (SVG) are not eligible for loans from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

The SVG falls under the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) category, which allows the SBA to set aside $15 billion for live entertainment venue opera-

in the room where the operator was so Ellen would call the 1800 number and the operator would switch her over to me on an extension.”

In 1994, they were married at First Baptist Church of Bellaire.

“Just two weeks (after we met), we were ‘going together,’” Chad said. “Who would have thought that getting paddled at school would have led me to find the love of my life?

Ellen said her parents loved Chad, but there were cultural clashes with her Filipino family in the beginning of their marriage that were a source of frustration at times.

“In American culture, the bride’s family pays for everything (in a wedding),” Ellen said. “But in my culture, the groom’s family does. So I had to explain to my parents, ‘This is how things work.’”

Despite some of the initial differences, Ellen’s parents were so endeared to their new son-in-law that they called all of the hotels nearby where the Bishops were staying on their honeymoon so they could hang out with the newlyweds.

Chad described himself as very independent, but over time he grew to understand the importance of cultural differences like the use of honorifics instead of first names for older relatives.

“I tell my students all the time that I’m half-Asian,” Chad said. “My better half. You get a few snickers, and it’s kind of a dad joke. But the reality is I have my white family and my Filipino family and they both accept me as just another member of the family now. I don’t think I could have ever imagined blending in with different cultures would be to my

tors, theatrical producers, talent representatives, movie theaters, museums and performing arts organizations that have suffered a 25 percent reduction in revenue.

During the first two weeks of the program, grants shall only be awarded to eligible entities that have faced a revenue loss of 90 percent

own persona.”

Bonding over the beautiful game Stafford’s Clint and Liza Mendonca will be the first to admit they weren’t planning on becoming famous with their footwork when they became acquainted at a jazz dance class in 2014.

The classes were held at St. Vincent DePaul, a Catholic church both Clint and Liza attended in Houston, and they immediately clicked and became friends.

“He was the only one who thought it was as stupid as I did,” Liza said. “Everyone else was taking it way too seriously, but he was able to have fun with it and I was like, ‘He gets it.’”

Just when Clint and Liza were getting better, the dance classes paused, but fortunately for the two of them, their budding friendship continued.

“Neither of us learned how to dance well from those classes,” Clint said. “But we still consider them a success.”

The Mendoncas have been

together for more than six years and married for more than three, having tied the knot in July 2017.

Clint is a banker and Liza is the counselor at Stafford Middle School.

“Our relationship is deeply rooted in our faith,” Clint said.

“We love and support each other, and we look for opportunities to support our church and local communities like they have supported us.

They are both children of immigrants — Clint’s family hails from Karachi, Pakistan, and Liza’s family is from Mexico — and both bonded over their shared love of soccer.

For what would eventually become known as their first date in 2014, Clint used his season tickets to take Liza to see a Houston Dynamo game at BBVA Stadium. They also got to attend a news conference with recent Dynamo signee and international star DaMarcus Beasley of the U.S. Men’s National Team.

Liza said attending the game was the “coolest thing ever,”

but as she wrote in her recollection of that fateful day on her wedding announcement, channeling the words of Mrs. Potts from Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast,” it wasn’t until after the news conference that the two began to realize they were something more than friends.

“There was a spark, something that wasn't there before,” Liza wrote. “The rest is now history.”

Stirring the melting pot Lara and Nathan McClurkin of Sugar Land met at Houston First Baptist Church in 2009.

The two developed a friendship over their shared passion for mission work and traveled together to eastern Asia on a mission.

After beginning her career as a special education teacher, Lara now works at Houston First Baptist as a special-needs family ministry education assistant. Nathan is a structural engineer at Parker Drilling, a Houston-based oil extraction company.

The McClurkins have called Sugar Land home for the last six-plus years, and the city they came to know a decade ago when they began dating has changed quite a bit. The now-closed Sabai Thai restaurant in Town Square where they had their first date in April 2011 and the Ben & Jerry’s location they used to frequent have been replaced by Jupiter Pizza & Waffles and Japaneiro’s, which the couple said is their go-to spot for anniversary and birthday celebrations.

Nathan proposed to Lara on a bench in November 2012 at Oyster Creek Park, and later the couple shot their engagement photos there and at Town Square. The McClurkins were married in May 2013 and lived

or greater. In the following two weeks, funding will open up to businesses that have lost 70 percent of their revenue.

In addition, $2 billion has been set aside for entities that have no more than 50 full-time employees.

Jeffcoat said he hosts two weekly webinars specifically for entertainment and performing arts venues that would fall within the scope of the SVG. “The grants are kind of like (PPP) loans,” Jeffcoat

said. “But they’re broader than PPP because (the grants) do include the typical expenses to keep that kind of business running, utilities, paying for your personnel, those day-to-day expenses.”

Jeffcoat said prospective applicants for the SVG need to do three things: · Analyze your revenue to see if you qualify · Assess whether or not you have 50 or fewer fulltime employees · Create an account on

www.sam.gov/SAM/ “(Applying for a grant) will take up to 10 days or maybe even two weeks,” Jeffcoat said. “You don’t want to be at the last minute applying for this grant and then you don’t have a SAM account and then the money will go to someone else.”

To contact the SBA’s Houston district office, Jeffcoat said small business owners can call 713-7736500, email Houston@ sba.gov or contact the or-

ganization on Twitter @ SBA_Houston.

Jeffcoat also said Fort Bend County’s local Small Business Development Center (SBDC), which is one of several that make up the Texas Gulf Coast Network of SBDCs, is one of the many resources available for small business owners.

The SBDC is located at the University of Houston’s Bauer College at 117 Lane Dr., Suite 29 in Rosenberg.

Those interested can call the SBDC at 281-499-9787.

“It’s been a very pleasant experience, the food has always been good – it’s just always been a comfortable place,” he said.

Luby’s, which also includes Fuddruckers restaurants under its corporate umbrella, previously announced a plan of liquidation and dissolution in September but left open the possibility that the company could be sold and Luby’s restaurants could remain open. But according to the recent SEC filing, “liquidation is imminent.”

The filing also revealed that Christopher Pappas

resigned as president and CEO effective Jan. 27, with John Garilli of Winthrop Capital Advisors taking over that role in an interim basis.

When asked about impending plans for the Stafford location, a manager there referred all questions to the Luby’s corporate offices.

Terrell is going to keep a close eye on the local restaurant, knowing it may only be open for a few more months.

He expressed an appreciation for the service it has provided to him and his family during its time

in the community, and doesn’t know if its true purpose can be replaced by whatever takes its place.

He said he has even gotten to know some of the previous longtime staff over the years due to his weekly trips. It’s been a place for all comers, he said.

“You don’t find many cafeteria settings anymore....

It’s only Luby’s,” he said.

“If they go out of business, there won’t be any in our area to speak of that have this same quality of food for that price that a family can enjoy.”

hand dryers not recognizing black hands, algorithms hiding black faces and even facial recognition software falsely identifying black people as perpetrators.”

As an incoming freshman in 2017, Thigpen said he was feeling out of place coming from a mostly Black high school at Elkins – until he was approached by the school’s Black Student Alli-

ance and later the NSBE. Now, he’s using that experience to keep others from feeling that sense of exclusion. Through his work with the NSBE, Thigpen said he works to ease incoming freshmen’s transitions from high school by helping to write student resumes and serving as a mentor to members who need one.

“I immediately felt more accepted. And I feel my presence there as an engineer helps other Black folks in STEM feel they can do it, too,” he said. “… Whenever someone is struggling I reach out to try to give them an extra hand.”

more people see those that are different from themselves, the more accepting they are,” he said. “As we become a more technologically advanced species, we need to do something about this to prevent Black people from suffering disproportionately to the rest of the population.”

And though he said he has long had an interest in social justice, Thigpen said his family and their future is one of the biggest reasons for his fight.

“I’ve got to watch out for my cousins, my brother, my parents, grandparents and everyone else like me,” he said. “I’ve got to try and make the world work for them as we grow older.”

That fight, he said, is one that will continue even after he graduates this year. Upon entering the workforce, he said he hopes to become part of NASA’s Artemis lunar exploration project while helping create a more diverse and accepting environment of developmental technology.

“Just by my presence it would be another reminder that, ‘Hey, there are people out there who aren’t white who are using this technology’,” he said. “…I personally have no desire to be an astronaut, but I really want to help those who want to become one.

“It’s about sharing personal experiences and, sometimes, just being a face that says, ‘Hey, I made it despite everything society has against us,’ ” Thigpen added. “And you can, too.”

Ellen, right, and Chad Bishop of Missouri City met in April 1990 and were married in 1994. (Contributed photo)

★ LUBY'S FROM PAGE 1

713-433-6421

chain, which was founded in San Antonio in 1947, has a Fort Bend County location at 10575 W. Airport Blvd. in Stafford.

Trips to the restaurant have long been a staple for Terrell no matter the occasion. From a family outing to a solitary meal, a friend gathering or a business meeting – Luby’s has been Old Reliable.

Ultimately, he said no one experience stands out from his trips there.

The consistency of Luby’s speaks for itself in his eyes.

14700 Almeda Rd. Houston, TX 77053 www.HoustonHumane.org

★ STUDENT FROM PAGE 1

Riri says, "I have been in and out of the shelter due to my rotten luck. I am hoping my luck changes around and I find a family who will love me forever. I am not a big fan of dogs but I am easygoing with the hoomans.

I would love a comfy spot to take my afternoon naps and a nice cozy blanket to lay down on to get my belly rubs."

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WHAT IS A MEDICAL POWER OF ATTORNEY?

A Medical Power of Attorney (MPOA) is a document signed by a competent adult, giving an agent, (a trusted person), the authority to make health care and Margie Connolly, Attorney medical decisions when the principal (you) is not able to make such decisions. A MPOA makes it clear to health care professionals whom you wish to make health care decisions for you. The need for the MPOA has become increasingly vivid during the current Covid-19 crisis.

Your agent CANNOT make medical decisions for you unless you cannot make decisions for yourself. And, when you are able to make decisions for yourself again, the agent no longer has that authority.

The MPOA is different from a living will or Directive to Physicians, which tells your doctor the kinds of extreme medical procedures you want or do not want, in the event of irreversible and incurable, terminal condition.

Both documents are recommended for assuring that your wishes for your medical treatment are carried out. Please consult a qualified attorney for more information.

Margie Connolly, Attorney mmconnollylaw@gmail.com www.mmconnollylaw.com

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See us online www.FortBendStar.com

the development of workers “who will one day solve the problems that contribute to systemic racial biases,” according to the school.

“Black people are severely underrepresented in the STEM industry, leading to a variety of problems,” Thigpen said. “These can be

ASK THE EXPERT

Q: A:

Should a repair facility provide me with a loaner vehicle?

A high-quality shop will not provide a loaner, but will offer Chuck Charlton to arrange a rental vehicle if you require one. The cost is $25-$35 per day and there is usually no out-of-pocket expense if the cost of the rental remains within the amount stated in your insurance policy. The policy does not pay for additional insurance coverage offered by the rental company. If the repair shop offers you a loaner and can be absorbed in this cost, they have to recover it somewhere. Are they cutting corners on your repair or charging for work not performed? Beware of the “free loaner”.

May God Bless our Men and Women in the Military

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Worlds collide Even though he was always fascinated with objects’ foundations and workings, Thigpen said his engineering interest was first piqued when he took part in NASA’s Houston Aerospace Scholars internship in 2016 at the suggestion of his high school pre-calculus teacher.

Then as the years progressed and he was drawn to Embry-Riddle, he said he soon discovered he could use his newfound interest for a greater impact – especially after reading news stories about the aforementioned issues with Black people and technological mishaps.

“It’s just always seemed so wrong to me that people are treated differently based on the color of our skin, where we’re born, or small things like the dialect we speak. I’ve found that the

in Houston for a short time before buying a house in Sugar Land.

“We’ve definitely put down roots here,” Nathan, a Sugar Land native, said.

Nathan described his relationship with Lara as an adventurous one. Nathan’s mother is from the Philippines and Lara grew up in Saudi Arabia and traveled around the world because of her father’s job at Saudi Aramco. Both Lara and Nathan’s parents have since settled in Sugar Land and are only 10 minutes away.

They have a 5-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son and are grateful for the opportunity to “travel the world” with them in the absence of the opportunity to embark on actual long-distance travel because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Like their parents did for them, the McClurkins said their children are very much “exposed” to different cultures by perusing through the rich cultural tapestry that is their neighborhood and through trips to 99 Ranch Market in Katy.

“We’re big foodies and we love going to all the hole-inthe-wall places for the most authentic version of everything,” Lara said. “We really like going to bubble tea places as well.”

While raising two young children during a pandemic is a daunting task, Lara and Nathan feel grateful to have each other's backs and to have the support of their families as well.

“They say opposites attract but we’re very similar,” Lara said. “We’re very much always on the same team and understand each other when no one else does.”

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Local nursing school helps county administer COVID-19 vaccines From Staff Reports

Representatives from a local college nursing school recently donated their time to help Fort Bend County administer COVID-19 vaccines to its residents.

During the county’s vaccination events earlier this month at the Rosenberg Annex Clinic and the Smart Financial Centre in Sugar Land, students, faculty, staff and alumni from the University of Houston’s College of Nursing – which is housed at UHSugar Land – took part in the efforts. Among their contributions were initial assessments, signing in clients, helping with organizing supplies, providing health education about the vaccine and administering the vaccines,

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according to a news release from the school.

“It is an honor to serve and care for our public.

Students enjoy working with nursing colleagues through Fort Bend Health & Human Services and Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital,” UH College of Nursing professor and founding dean Kathryn Tart said. “I am extremely proud of our students.”

The school said it changed its curriculum for the spring semester specifically to prepare

A UH Nursing School volunteer administers a COVID-19 vaccine recently at Smart Financial Centre in Sugar Land. (Contributed photo)

students to help administer COVID-19 vaccines, teaching basics of taking vital signs, donning and doffing personal protective equipment and administering the intermuscular injections.

“This is the role of nurses and nursing,” Tart said. “We are committed.”

ASK THE EXPERT

Q: A:

I have just been diagnosed with a hearing loss; do I need to get hearing aids now or can I wait until my hearing is really bad?

Obtaining hearing aids is a very personal decision and only you can decide when you are ready to pursue amplification.

Terry Snook Several of our patients have AuD, FAAA commented that the only regret they have is they wished they had obtained their hearing devices sooner.

Research has indicated that getting amplification sooner instead of later is beneficial to a patient with a hearing loss. Sensory deprivation is real and even though your hearing loss may not be severe, you do get used to hearing things differently. The longer you wait the more difficult it is for you to acclimate to hearing sounds you have gotten used to not hearing. Dr. Frank Lin and Dr. Susan Resnick recently published a study in “The Archives of Neurology” in 2011 that revealed that hearing loss is related to dementia. When hearing loss is present, more cognitive resources are dedicated to auditory processing. This can diminish the cognitive reserve available to other cognitive processes and lead to an earlier onset of dementia.

At Advanced Hearing Center we recommend and enjoy assisting our patients obtain better hearing. We recommend you gather as much information as you can, maybe schedule an appointment, or call us with any questions or concerns you may have.

WHAT NUMEROUS DOCTORS SAID WAS IMPOSSIBLE “What numerous doctors said was impossible, Drs. Harris & Brazzell made possible! My left ankle & leg were crushed in a construction accident. I had to fight to keep my leg from amputation. I was told my foot would be useless. My pastor told me about SLHC. When I met with the docs they treated my whole body, including my foot. Now I don’t walk with a limp, I can squat again & I’m hopeful to start hiking soon. I’m a forensic scientist. I take nothing for granted that I cannot prove. What Drs. Harris & Brazzell do is really quite incredible!”

- Mike Lyons

Advanced Hearing Center

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Review: Boogie’s Chicago Style BBQ finds niche

By Stefan Modrich SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

I have not shied away from mentioning my Chicago and Midwestern roots, and they will continue to influence my perceptions and thoughts as I do my best to convince you I have the bona fides of a respectable food critic.

So if you’d like to express any residual anger at me for Whataburger being bought

by Chicago’s BDT Capital Partners in 2019 or anything else you need to get off your chest, feel free to do so, take a deep breath, and come back and read this when you’re ready.

I know we here in Texas have the objectively, scientifically-tested proof that our barbecue is superior to anyone else’s. And I wholeheartedly agree. But you can look no further than Boogie’s Chicago Style BBQ on Texas Parkway in Missouri City for proof that the palate of the Fort Bend County barbecue connoisseur is just as welcoming of imports from other parts of the U.S. as it is of grilled

meats from Asia or the Middle East.

Lamont “Boogie” Waits opened his first location in Houston in 2002, but shuttered it in 2017 to concentrate on the Missouri City location.

“Chicago-style” barbecue has a lot more in common with the Gulf Coast and the South than you might imagine, and a lot of that has to do with the success of its Black entrepreneurs — Harold’s Chicken Shack perhaps being the most famous example.

At Boogie’s you’ll find Boudin Balls ($6 for five), as well as the full-length version of the Cajun sausage found mainly in Louisiana Creole cooking ($4.50).

I happened to visit Boogie’s on “Jumbo Turkey Leg Thursday” which helped simplify my decision. I did not grow up eating turkey legs like many of you may have at state fairs or at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, and I have not yet been to the famous Turkey Leg Hut in Houston (I promise it will happen soon), so I had little in the way of reference points.

But I have to say I was im-

derthal. (Alas, I might have failed in that quest.)

I went into Boogie’s expecting nothing more than a short-lived lift of Chicagoan nostalgia and came out feeling excited to explore what else this Missouri City mainstay has to offer.

Boogie’s Chicago Style BBQ

Pictured is the Jumbo Turkey Leg from Boogie’s Chicago Style BBQ in Missouri City during a recent visit. (Photo by Stefan Modrich)

pressed from the moment the smell of the smoked turkey leg began to waft from the bag and lingered so tantalizingly in my car on the way back to the office.

It was light on sauce, but the juicy, tender meat did

most of the heavy lifting as far as flavor was concerned.

I was ill-equipped to consume this monstrosity with nothing but my hands and a plastic fork, and went through several napkins and paper towels. There are

COMMUNITY

few things I dislike more than wasting food, and I regret not being able to recover some of the perfectly good chunks between the bones, but I also wanted to strike a balance of not wanting to look like a Nean-

Address: 1767 Texas Pkwy., Missouri City Dining Options: Dinein, takeout, curbside pickup, delivery via DoorDash, Favor, Grubhub, and Uber Eats Hours: 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, closed Sunday and Monday Entrée prices: $11$18.25 Kid-friendly: Yes Senior discount: No Alcohol: No Healthy options: None Star of the show: Jumbo Turkey Leg

Deadline is noon every Friday. Limit entries to 40 words and answer the “5 Ws” Who, What, When, Where, and Why. Email to jsazma@fortbendstar.com or mail to: Fort Bend Star, 3944 Bluebonnet Drive, Stafford, Texas 77477.

CALENDAR

FOR NON-PROFIT EVENTS

In light of the COVID-19 outbreak and the cancellation of several community gatherings, please check with each organization for updated information about the status of their events.

FEBRUARY 10 MERRY MINISTRIES BIBLE STUDY Merry Ministries Bible Study will be celebrating ValentineÕ s Day by looking at a beautiful love story from the book of Ruth in the Old Testament. Tosha CaSandra, will be the special musical guest. The lesson will be taught by Lauran Helms, coordinator for Merry Ministries. The event will be Wednesday, February 10, at 9:30 a.m. in the sanctuary of First United Methodist Church, 431 Eldridge Road, Sugar Land. There is no cost for the class. Masks and social distancing are part of our Covid-19 protocol for all attendees. If you cannot come in person, you can join us virtually as our lessons are broadcast on Merry Ministries YouTube Live and on Merry Ministries Facebook LIVE. For more information, go to merryministries.com FEBRUARY 11 FT. BEND/HARRIS RETIRED EDUCATORS ZOOM MEETING Ft. Bend/Harris Retired Educators next zoom meeting is Thursday morning, February 11th, at 10:00. Program: Eating Smart and Being Active presented by Krystal Wilcox with the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (TAMU and the Fort Bend Extension Service). We look forward to all our members

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joining us. Paid members will receive their zoom invitation a week prior to the meeting.

For further information email cmduvall@aol. com.

MARCH 5 MOVIES IN WESSENDORFF PARK Richmond is bringing back the monthly Free outdoor movies, beginning with National Treasure at Wessendorff Park, 500 Preston St. beginning March 5. The free outdoor film screening is organized by the city of Richmond and will be held in Wessendorff Park with plenty of room for distancing and kids to run. As in past years, Rotary Club of Richmond will supply free popcorn and the city will provide water. Families are encouraged to bring their own chairs and blankets.

ONGOING 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 VIRTUAL The Temple Experience featuring Dr. Temple Grandin Ð February 20, 2021 Tickets, spectacular sponsorships and creative underwriting opportunities available.

AMERICAN LEGION MEETINGS. Will be the fourth Tuesday of every month at the Raymond Freeman Post 0942, 311 Ulrich, 7:00 pm, Sugar Land, Texas.

LISA N SIMS, AGENT Monday - Friday 9 - 6 Saturday 10 - 2 After hours by appointment

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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 EXCHANGE EXCHANGE, AmericaÕ 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!

MISSOURI CITY AARP CHAPTER 3801 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 713-8595920 or 281-499-3345.

BECOME A FOSTER GRANDPARENT Volunteers are needed to be a role model, mentor and friend to children with exceptional needs in the community. Training, mileage reimbursement, tax-free monthly stipend if eligible. Call today to help change the world, one child at a time in Rosenberg. For more information, call 281-344-3515.

DAV CHAPTER 233 MONTHLY MEETING The second Tuesday of every month at the United Way Fort Bend Center, 12300 Parc Crest Dr., Stafford, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. For more information, email maw0500@gmail. com.

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