Astros' affiliation years in making - Page 5
Mama Le in Richmond quenched our thirst during a recent visit. Read our review on Page 8. (Photo by Stefan Modrich)
WEDNESDAY • MAY 19, 2021 Check out
our daily specials!
Employment shortage hitting area businesses Avenida Brazil Churrascaria Steakhouse is among the local businesses looking to hire. (Photo by Stefan Modrich)
By Stefan Modrich SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
online ordering & Curbside pick-up!
9920 Hwy 90A Suite #D-120 Sugar Land, TX 77478 832-532-7816
Art Camps
Now open for registration
in Sienna, First Colony, Sugar Land Parks & Rec, New Territory & Pearland Parks & Rec.
Visit www.FortBendStar.com
Fort Bend / Southwest • Volume 45 • No. 39
Vanderlei Bernardi has been busy trying to get ahead of the curve like many small business owners in Fort Bend County during the COVID-19 pandemic. But as the local economy begins to bounce back from the slide caused by COVID-19 as
the percentage of vaccinated residents increases and the numbers of new cases and deaths decrease, businesses are struggling to find people who are willing to work. Bernardi, the executive chef and co-owner of
Avenida Brazil Churrascaria Steakhouse, said he’s been looking for 6 months to hire seven new employees to staff his Meadows Place location, including kitchen staff, servers and a bartender. “Business owners are killing themselves working 80 hours a week, 100 hours a week,” Bernardi said. “We’re short people.”
Bernardi said he believes the unemployment benefits available at both the state and federal level have discouraged people from returning to work. Extended unemployment lasts until mid-September – and in Texas, residents have been able to receive up to $900 per week, or nearly $47,000 per year,
SEE SHORTAGE PAGE 7
Formidable Finish
contact
cstapleton@abrakadoodle.com
832.679.3238
Candy Chowdhury REALTOR
Asset Property Realty Buying, Selling, Investment, Rental Properties Full Service Property Management & Leasing Since 2002
281-201-2015
Luxury
Tree Service
• Tree Removal • Landscape Design • Tree Trimming • Mulching • Lot Clearing • Plant Grass • Hauling • Demolition • Stump Removal Free Estimates Insured
Call Omar
832-799-3811
Local church helps pay off medical debt By Stefan Modrich
Clements' Natalie Cao watches her tee shot during the Class 6A girls state golf tournament, which took place May 10-11 in Georgetown. Ciao, who plans to play collegiately at the University of Pennsylvania next year, led local players by tying for eighth place at state. (Contributed photo)
Clements’ Cao enjoys top-10 showing at state By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Nearly 700 Fort Bend County residents no longer have to worry about how to pay off medical debt, thanks to the financial support of a local church. For the second straight year, Crossbridge Church at 1049 Eldridge Rd. in Sugar Land partnered with RIP Medical Debt, a New York-based nonprofit, to purchase and forgive $1.9 million in medical debt for 688 individuals who earn less than twice the federal poverty level, or $26,500. The average amount of
SEE BILLS PAGE 7
Natalie Cao has been playing golf since she was 5 years old. She started to get good much more recently. “The foundation for me really kind of began once I got to high school,” she said. “Once I got there, it begins with having kids my age to play with and making friends through the sport.” Fast forward a few years, and the Clements High School senior will forever be in the record books as one of the 2021
Class 6A girls state tournament that was held May 10-11 at the Legacy Hills
sport at a young age from watching her father play, Ctao said her love for the game only grew. Once she got to Clements as a freshman, it took off. “When I reached high school and started practicing with teammates more, that’s when my scores began to get lower. That’s what really kept me going,” she said. “… As I approach a course, I’ll just say, ‘Let’s see how low we can go and see how much potential I can get from it.’ And if it doesn’t go well, then there’s always the next day to improve on it.”
SEE TOURNEY PAGE 7
Stafford native still recovering from COVID-19 By Stefan Modrich SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Armendariz
season’s best high school golfers in Texas. Cao tied for eighth place in the
Golf Club in Georgetown. After shooting an opening-round 78, she shot a 70 on Day 2 – the day’s second-best score – to finish with a 148. “Coming into this year’s state tournament, I was thinking I could be better and wanted to see how much progress I had made from two years ago,” said Cao, who was competing in her second individual state tournament after finishing 42nd in 2019. “This was also my last high school competitive golf tournament ever, and I really wanted to end on a good note as a senior.” After picking up the
COVID-19 has given Stafford native Mike Augias the fight of his life, but the 51-year-old appears to be beating the odds and making progress on the long road to recovery. Augias’ sister said he tested positive for COVID-19 after July 4 of last year, and he nearly
died from a series of complications that resulted from contracting the coronavirus, including Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare but reversible form of paralysis in which the body’s immune system begins attacking the nerves. He has been unable to work for 10 months, and his family isn’t sure when he’ll be able to return. But his sister, Kathy Hayes, who has helped manage
her brother’s financial affairs from her home in California, said he stood up on his own for the first time last Thursday. She looks forward to him taking his first steps on his own someday. “That will be the first step for him going back to his life,” she said. Recovering mobility after suffering from
SEE RECOVERING PAGE 7
Stafford native Mike Augias is still in the midst of recovering from a bout with COVID-19. (Contributed photo)
JERRY FLOWERS
Real Estate Agent, MBA, CNE, ABE Army Veteran (RET) • 832-702-5241 Jerry@dreamhomesbyjerry.com
4500 Highway 6, Sugar Land, TX 77478