11-25-2020 Edition of the Fort Bend Star by Fort Bend Star

Enjoy fine dining to go from Ghazal - Page 8

The Hightower Hurricanes are among the area's hoops squads earning high marks in preseason rankings. Read more inside today's edition on Page 4. (Photo by Landan Kuhlmann)

WEDNESDAY • NOVEMBER 25, 2020

Fort Bend / Southwest • Volume 44 • No. 14

Visit www.FortBendStar.com

Area man charged in COVID-19 fraud scheme By Stefan Modrich SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

A Richmond resident is among seven alleged parFamily Holiday Package ticipants in a scheme to Call for Details obtain approximately $16 million in forgivable Pay9920 Hwy 90A Suite #D-120 Sugar Land, TX 77478 check Protection Program 832-532-7816 (PPP) loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, acCafé & Bakery cording to a Nov. 17 news release from the U.S. DeNOWOPEN Next to Corelli’s partment Italian of Justice.

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Rifat Bajwa, 51, of Richmond; Mauricio Navia, 41, of Katy; Amir Aqeel, 52, and Pardeep Basra, 51, both of Houston; Mayer Misak, 40, of Cypress; and Richard Reuth, 57, of

Spring were all charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The indictment also charges Aqeel with three counts of money laundering. Federal agents executed 45 seizure warrants in conjunction with the case, according to the Department of Justice. Some of the items seized included a Porsche and a Lamborghini allegedly purchased with illegally obtained funds. “These defendants al-

legedly participated in a scheme to capitalize on the pandemic by filing at least 80 fraudulent PPP applications and enriching themselves by $16 million, spending it on luxury items such as a Porsche and Lamborghini automobiles,” acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s criminal division said in a news release. “The department and our law enforcement partners will continue to aggressively pursue those who would seek to ille-

gally exploit the ongoing national emergency for their own benefit.” The CARES Act is a federal law designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans who are suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The defendants made their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew M. Edison of the U.S. District Court

SEE INDICTMENT PAGE 2

Still running

SED E CLO AY B L L I ID WE W DAY & FR R U H T

Hospital CEOs urge caution during holiday By Stefan Modrich SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Amid an increase in the number of COVID-19 patients requiring hospitalizations in Fort Bend County, area hospital CEOs wrote a letter Nov. 17 urging county residents to exercise caution and limit family gatherings for Thanksgiving, a sentiment shared by County Judge KP George. The letter was signed by Chris Siebenaler, CEO of Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital; Malisha Patel, CEO of Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital and Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital; Joe Freudenberger, CEO of OakBend Medical Center; and Steven Foster, the South Houston market president of St. Luke’s Health System. “Beginning with Thanksgiving, and continuing through the New Year, we must be extra vigilant in our celebrations and our daily activities to protect ourselves and our loved ones from COVID-19,” the panel of medical leaders wrote. “Slowing the spread throughout our community and protecting those who are most vulnerable is the best holiday gift we can give this year.” The reminder of the guidelines and recommendations issued by health experts at the start of the pandemic comes at a time when the cases have increased, according to the county’s COVID-19 data hub. While cases leveled off dra-

SEE GATHERINGS PAGE 6

Freudenberger

Runners take off during last year's The Thankful Ones Turkey Trot 5K run in Richmond. This year's event will still take place as scheduled on Thursday, Nov. 26 despite the COVID-19 pandemic, with plans to socially distance and distribute masks to all participants. (Contributed photo)

Richmond nonproﬁt to hold Thanksgiving race By Stefan Modrich SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

This year’s The Thankful Ones Turkey Trot in Pecan Grove will look different. But founder Matthew Martin is eager to try to make the event safe for all involved as he and his nonprofit strive to aid in the adoption of children whose parents have been afflicted by addiction or substance abuse. Nonprofits large and small across Fort Bend County and beyond have been severely impacted by COVID-19. But the effects of the pandemic have reached far beyond 5K and fun-run races. The third annual Thanks-

Runners smile for the camera as they take part in last year's The Thankful Ones 5K in Pecan Grove. (Contributed photo)

giving Day race is a significant part of the organization’s presence in the community. The cost is $25 per adult and

$5 for children, and this year 100 percent of the proceeds from the event will go to Child Advocates of Fort Bend

(CAFB). The mission of CAFB is to "provide a voice, heal the hurt, and break the cycle of abuse and neglect for children in Fort Bend County." After meeting with other children-oriented nonprofit organizations like CAFB over the summer following a period of shelter-in-place orders in the spring, Martin said he was inspired to take action. He said the first people to report an instance of abuse or neglect often come from the community in which a child interacts: their school, their church or myriad extracurricular activities. “They basically told me that they had never seen their facility as quiet as it had been,” Martin said. “And that

was disturbing because when children are being abused, neglected, sexually or physically (assaulted), most of the time the initial alert comes from someone outside of the home.” He toured a new CAFB call center during the summer. “They basically said their phones didn’t ring from March all the way up through May,” Martin said. Martin added that CAFB started to see an increase in calls “on a limited basis” after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced the second phase of his plan to reopen businesses on May 18.

SEE RACE PAGE 6

Sugar Land resident helps children's hospital By Stefan Modrich SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Ray Younkin’s musical journey began when he heard his first Bruce Springsteen album at age 7 Almost 34 years later, the Sugar Land resident has become an accomplished performing and recording artist, working as a soloist and with multiple bands. One of those bandmates was Houston’s Anita Kruse, a recurring collaborator who has performed with Younkin several times and was also a former bandmate of his. She sang backup vocals for his live cover of Warren Zevon’s

song “Keep Me In Your Heart” in 2011. The two teamed up again at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March with a series of illustrations called “Purple Lovables,” a portion of the sales of which will benefit their nonprofit Purple Songs Can Fly, which is dedicated to providing a creative musical outlet for children at Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers. Younkin is no stranger to charitable or altruistic work. He served for 12 years as the executive producer for Music Doing Good, a nonprofit dedicated to providing underserved children and communities with musical

opportunities and education that was otherwise absent from their lives. Kruse, a pianist and songwriter, began to doodle on a sketch pad with a purple pen while caring for her elderly mother. “I needed a tangible thing to do that was using my hands,” Kruse said. “I’ve never thought of myself as a visual artist or anything like that. But it was a very positive thing just for me personally.” The drawings began simply as cute faces and baby animals. The child-like art served as a creative outlet

SEE LOVABLES PAGE 6

Ray Younkin (Contributed Photo)

THE STAR

PAGE 2 • Wednesday, November 25, 2020

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

Former Richmond salon employee accused of indecency with child By Stefan Modrich SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Fort Bend County District Attorney Brian Middleton and the Richmond Police Department announced Nov. 19 the arrest and indictment of a Houston man on charges of indecency with a child by sexual contact and failure to comply with a sex offender’s duty to register. Sergio David Chavarria, a registered sex offender and Houston resident, was an employee at the Express Cuts hair salon on 712 South 11th St. in Richmond,

★ INDICTMENT FROM PAGE 1 of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas on Nov. 18. Trial attorneys Louis Manzo and Della Sentilles of the criminal division’s fraud section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rodolfo Ramirez and Kristine Rollinson for the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case. Siddiq Azeemuddin, 41, of Naperville, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, was also named in the indictment, the Justice Department said in a news release. He also faces charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire

the DA’s office said. The investigation began in October and revealed that while working at the salon, Chavarria is alleged to have had sexual contact with a 13-year-old child who was a customer at the time, according to the DA’s office. Chavarria is a registered sex offender, according to Texas Department of Public Safety’s online database. The DA’s office and Richmond PD suspect there may be other children who were victimized by Chavarria, according to the DA’s office. The DA’s office said in a news release it believes Chavarria had worked

fraud and money laundering. Azeemuddin appeared Nov. 17 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Heather K. McShain of the Northern District of Illinois. The indictment alleges the defendants laundered a portion of the fraudulent proceeds by writing checks from companies that received PPP loans issued to fake employees. Those that allegedly received checks included some of the defendants and their relatives, according to the charges. The fake paychecks were then allegedly cashed at Fascare International Inc., which was doing business as Almeda Discount Store at 10150 Almeda Genoa Road in Houston

at Express Cuts since it opened approximately 10 years ago. “Texas law requires all persons to report evidence of child abuse and immi-

gration status should not be a barrier,” Craig Priesmeyer, the assistant district attorney and lead prosecutor on the case, said in a news release. “Protecting our children is the top priority and your immigration status is not at issue here.” Indecency with a child by sexual contact is a seconddegree felony punishable by 2-20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Failure to comply with a sex offender’s duty to register is a third-degree felony with a punishment ranging from 2-10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Chavarria is currently being held at the Fort Bend

County Jail on a $320,000 bond. “We are requesting parents of children who have frequented Express Cuts to speak with their children to determine whether their children had any inappropriate contact with Sergio Chavarria,” Middleton in a news release. “Children who have been sexually abused often have delayed outcries or may be reluctant to talk about being sexually abused. And for those who are seeking to harm children in our county, know that local law enforcement will find you and stop you, and we will most certainly prosecute you.”

Investigators said they want to hear from anyone who may have taken their children to Express Cuts during that time frame, or if they have had any contact with Chavarria. While Chavarria worked in the Richmond area, his exposure and access to children could have occurred anywhere in Fort Bend County or elsewhere, the DA’s office said. Anyone with information about Chavarria is encouraged to contact Richmond PD Detective Andrew Runge at (281) 342-2849 or arunge@richmondtx.gov, or their local law enforcement agency.

– a check-cashing company Azeemuddin owned, according to the justice department. According to documents The Fort Bend Star obtained from the Texas Comptroller’s office and the Texas Secretary of State, Azeemuddin is listed as the president and director of Fascare International, which lists a Richmond address — 21119 Prairie Green Court — and a phone number with a Chicago area code (630). The company incorporated on Feb. 6, 2014, according to the Texas Secretary of State. The indictment alleges that more than 1,100 fake paychecks totaling more than $3 million in fraudu-

lent PPP loan proceeds were cashed at Azeemuddin’s business. “Some fraudsters create the most complicated schemes to steal money from the taxpayer,” U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick of the Southern District of Texas said in a news release. “Just imagine how productive they could be if they put their creativity and effort into noble and useful work. With the great work of so many partner agencies, we will bring to justice those who steal from the treasury.” The indictment further alleges the defendants conspired to submit more than 80 fraudulent PPP loan applications by falsifying the number of

employees and the average monthly payroll expenses of the applicant businesses. In support of these fraudulent loan applications, they allegedly conspired to submit, and did submit, fraudulent bank records and/or fake federal tax forms, according to the charges. Some of the PPP loan applications were allegedly submitted on behalf of companies the defendants controlled. “These defendants are alleged to have defrauded a program intended to assist hardworking Americans who have been unfairly impacted as a result of this unprecedented and challenging health crisis,” Special Agent in Charge Mark B. Dawson

of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Houston said in a news release. “HSI remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to bring every asset to bear against anyone who seeks to take advantage of the pandemic to deliberately harm and deceive others for their own profit.” Other loan applications were submitted on behalf of entities that third-parties allegedly owned, according to the indictment. Several of the defendants allegedly received large kickbacks in exchange for the applications, according to the charges. The Department of Homeland Security requests that the public contact it with any further information regarding this ongoing investigation at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE. Anyone with general information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ ncdf-disaster-complaintform.

Chavarria

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PAGE 4 • Wednesday, November 25, 2020

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

'Tis the season to be wary, different and grateful In Fort Bend County as in many other places, gatherings during the holidays is a time to reconnect with family and friends. This week’s sacred American tradition, Thanksgiving, will have been non-traditional for many. But we’ll still be connecting. Ever had a Zoom Thanksgiving? I’m not sure how we’ll handle passing the gravy or whether we will, but I will be in one of those, and the gathering will probably run over 40 minutes. But not to fear, the 40-minute, free-meetings time limit on Zoom for

Elsa Maxey

Thanksgiving Day has been generously extended by the tech company as a thank you to its customers, like the many nonprofit and service organizations in Fort Bend availing themselves of the service that has helped keep them operational.

So, for those without a Zoom paid account, their loved ones – near and far not getting together this year – can celebrate as a group over the internet without their time being cut short. What’s even better is that the participant limit on the free Zoom account, typically used for meetings, is 100 guests. Why, this Thanksgiving may turn out to be one of the largest family and friends’ gatherings for a virtual and informal hangout! Health experts told us: Expect festivities to look very different this year.

They saw many traditional events along the lines of Sugar Land’s Red, White and Boom Fourth of July go virtual as did other national celebrations during the year. So, we’re prepared for “different” for what’s left of 2020, the mostly bad-news year. One thing is for sure this Thanksgiving. In our own non-virtual settings, we will probably have fewer people gathering, especially inside homes because of the pandemic and its expected case rise in the making. Some will have probably taken their traditional dinners outdoors,

like my friend, Mary, over at Lake Pointe Parkway in Sugar Land. She’s hosting family members outdoors overlooking a beautiful lake in her backyard in what otherwise could seem a repressive time. She even bought new patio furniture expansive enough to celebrate more safely because of its generous design. Like so many of us, Mary is focusing on extra precautions in line with CDC guidelines, but her family’s Thanksgiving observance really can't be described as a bummer, subdued or even low key. How can that be with turkey, sides, pie

and even laughter? The occasion, however, changed from a traditional gathering to a different kind where she may not have seen all her loved ones at one time. But what she did see as did the rest of us are indications of the many dedicated front-line workers, first responders, the essential workers still on the job, even as we paused for the holiday. They are the backbone of the community, an essential piece, working for all of us. And for this, we are grateful on Thanksgiving and every day.

@FtBendAthletics:

Area squads take state rankings into new hoops season By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

The 2019-20 campaign was a strong one for Fort Bend County basketball teams, with two boys squads – Hightower in Class 5A and Stafford in Class 4A – reaching the UIL state tournament before it was shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But they aren’t the only teams with notable hype entering the 2020-21 season, with four of the area’s teams garnering preseason top-25 rankings from the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches. Hightower’s boys team leads the way, beginning its season ranked second in 5A heading into its scheduled season opener against Shadow Creek on Dec. 1 The Hurricanes are coming off one of the winningest seasons in school history and return one of the area’s most electrifying talents in Bryce Griggs. Griggs, who has nine Division I college offers from schools such as Kansas, Texas and Memphis, averaged nearly 25 points per game last season on his

Ridge Point's Raven Adams brings the ball up the court during a 2020 game against Elkins. Adams and the Lady Panthers started this season with a 2-3 record. (File photo by Landan Kuhlmann)

Hightower guard Bryce Griggs, left, tries to get past a Crosby defender during a Region III-5A quarterﬁnal game last season. The Hurricanes begin their 2020-21 season Dec. 1 (File photo by Landan Kuhlmann)

way to both all-district and all-state selections. The junior point guard stepped it up even more in the postseason, averaging nearly 30 points per contest before the pandemic cut the season short. The Stafford Spartans are also coming off one of the best seasons in recent history, returning to the state tournament for the first time in nearly a decade. Heading into their

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ALL SAINTS EPISCOPAL CHURCH • 281-499-9602 605 Dulles Avenue, Stafford, TX 77477 SUNDAY: 10:15 am Worship Rite Two www.allsaintsstafford.org

season opener against Fulshear on Saturday afternoon, the Spartans held down the No. 4 ranking in 4A. Stafford is coming off a season in which it won 32 games under coach David Montano, the most recorded wins in school history. Returning from last year’s squad are seniors Xavier Iyalla, Daylan Presley, Tyran Blaze and Chris Pickaree, along with juniors

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Scripture of the week

“Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.’” - Mark 10:27

Z’Corrian Hayes and Quavious Lilly, so the Spartans look to have plenty of firepower for another deep run. Fresh off a 31-win season that landed them in the regional quarterfinals, the Travis Tigers are also getting some love in the preseason polls. Despite graduating eight seniors from last year’s team, the TABC ranked them 25th in Class 6A to begin the season, led by returners Mekhi McIntyre, Cameron Crockett, Cameron Oliver and Joe Cadette. After posting their best win total since the 201516 season last year, the Tigers were 2-1 on the season heading into Monday’s matchup with Cy-Fair, with a Nov. 14 win against Bridgeland and Nov. 17 loss to Cypress Creek followed by Friday's win against Strake Jesuit.. On the girls’ side, the Hightower Lady Hurricanes are the lone area school ranked by the TABC to begin the year, sitting at 13th in 5A after a 31-7 season that ended with a regional

semifinal loss to Cedar Creek. Despite losing their top three scorers in Destini Lombard (LSU), Zariah Johnson (Virginia) and Tae’lor Purvus (Houston) to graduation, the Lady Hurricanes still return five players from last season, including starters Shontel Miles and Jada Grigsby. However, it has been freshman Madison Bob providing the biggest punch early on, leading the team in both points (11) and rebounds (6.5) per game through two contests. Other notable action Elsewhere around the area, the Ridge Point boys were off to a 2-0 start heading into Friday’s action against Marshall. The Panthers have won at least 24 games each of the past three seasons, including a school-record 25 wins last season before a bi-district playoff loss to Katy Tompkins. The Elkins Knights are also 2-0 in the early going. Elkins has been one of the most consistent area teams in recent seasons, winning at least 20 games in nine of the past 10 seasons and making seven consecutive playoff appearances.

Sophomore Chris Jackson is leading the way with 20.5 points per game through two contests, while Shane Bell is averaging 16 points and eight rebounds. Dulles is also 3-0 entering Monday's game against Fulshear, with wins over Kemper, Willowridge and Spring Woods. On the girls side, the Dulles Lady Vikings have won their first five games of the 2020-21 season as they look to build on back-to-back area round appearances. Junior Nya Threatt is leading the way with nearly 20 points and six rebounds per contest. Coming off a school-record 28 wins and first-ever regional semifinal berth last season, the Ridge Point Lady Panthers have stumbled out of the gate a bit, with a 2-3 record heading into Monday’s game against Klein Oak. But Ridge Point has won two of its last three games, led by returning post Aleighyah Fontenot (24.7 points per game) and point guard Raven Adams (13.7 points, 4.7 assists), who is committed to Texas State. The Clements Lady Rangers are off to a 2-1 start, already matching their win total from 2019-20.

Sugar Land Skeeters confirm Astros affiliate reports with announcement By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

The Sugar Land Skeeters announced Friday that they are the Houston Astros’ newest minor league affiliate, confirming multiple news reports from earlier in the week that they would be the local major league organization’s Triple-A affiliate beginning next year. According to a news release from the Skeeters, the organization is the first independent league baseball team to ever become the Triple-A affiliate of an MLB team. The Skeeters will begin play in the Pacific Coast League for the 2021 season. “This is a historic day for our city and community, being able to bring Triple-A baseball to Sugar Land and Fort Bend County,” Skeeters President Christopher Hill said in the release. “To be welcomed into the Astros family and get the

chance to continue to showcase our beautiful ballpark and provide our fans with a first-class baseball experience is something we cherish.” The Skeeters have played in the independent Atlantic League since the team’s inception in 2012, winning league titles in 2016 and 2018. Sugar Land also reached the championship series in 2014 and 2019. The Skeeters said they will join Corpus Christi (Double-A) and Fayetteville (Single-A) as the Astros’ minor league affili-

ates, with the Astros holding majority ownership stakes in all affiliates. The Skeeters’ shift comes amidst a changing landscape in minor league baseball, with MLB-affiliated leagues cancelling their 2020 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic and many MLB teams expected to streamline their farm systems heading into the 2021 season. The Skeeters broke from the Atlantic League earlier this year to host their own four-team league at Constellation Field.

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Wednesday, November 25, 2020 • PAGE

Richmond welcomes new economic development director By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

The City of Richmond announced Nov. 18 that Jerry Jones has been hired as the city’s newest director of economic development. He brings more than 12 years of experience with workforce devel-

opment, neighborhood revitalization and regional outreach, according to a news release from the city. “The city of Richmond as well as the Greater Fort Bend County area is experiencing rapid growth, which means this is a great opportunity to assist our small businesses with expansion and continued progress,” Jones said.

A Louisiana native, Jones previously served as the director of economic development for the Baton Rouge North Economic Development District and CEO of the Lake Charles North Redevelopment Authority, according to the City of Richmond. He was also previously a city councilman in Alexandria, Louisiana.

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See us online www.FortBendStar.com

Houston resident Anita Kruse collaborated with Sugar Land’s Ray Younkin at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March with a series of illustrations called “Purple Lovables,” which will beneﬁt their nonproﬁt Purple Songs Can Fly. (Contributed photo)

Not long after that pivotal discussion, the two launched the Purple Lovables website, which showcases a variety of

products, including T-shirts, leggings, coffee mugs, hairbands, pillows and face masks.

“Anita’s drawings embody happiness, joy and instill feelings of kindness at a time when people need an uplifting reminder that good in the world does exist,” Younkin said. “The timing was right to transfer these whimsical lovables to something tangible people could wear or use in their home as a constant reminder of better and brighter days.” Purple Songs Can Fly is responsible for providing the first known recording studio on a pediatric cancer floor where songwriters like Younkin and Kruse work with children and their siblings to write and record their own songs. “Children diagnosed with cancer face great obstacles but do so with grace and a spirit of resiliency,” Kruse said. “It is these children and their siblings that inspire me, even in the darkest of days, and remind me that hope always exists.”

increased from between 3 to 4 percent to approximately 10 percent at local testing centers and hospitals over the past month. The peak of this latest spike was 210 cases on Nov. 12, the highest figure since Aug. 23, when 606 confirmed cases were reported. As of Nov. 20, 17,457 patients recovered of the 19,095 confirmed cases in Fort Bend County and 276 had died due to COVID-19. The county has issued 78,171 tests. The county’s Department of Health and Human Services began reporting antibody and antigen testing on Oct. 1, and as of Nov.

20, there were 929 positive antibody tests and 1,241 an-

tigen tests. Antigen tests look for pieces of proteins that make up the virus to determine if someone has an active infection, while serology — the study of blood diagnostics and the response of the immune system to pathogens — looks for antibodies against the virus in the blood to determine if one was previously infected, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. The hospital executives urged residents to continue practicing social distancing and wearing masks. They advised holding any gatherings outdoors and “limiting

holiday gatherings and protecting those who may be at high risk such as the elderly or friends/family members with pre-existing conditions or weakened immune systems.” Additionally, they recommended in-person celebrations be limited to individuals already residing within a household and to “reach out virtually to other friends and family members.” The area’s hospital leaders also said if county residents must travel that they should adhere to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention protocols. George shared a copy of the

letter in a Nov. 19 Facebook post, while also encouraging residents to continue to get tested for the coronavirus as well as obtain a flu shot and keep taking cues from local health officials. “Fort Bend hospitals are preparing for the alarming COVID-19 trends in our community,” George wrote. “Like you I am hopeful about the vaccine efficacy news, but we are months away from widely available distribution. “We are Texans. We overcome struggles of every kind and emerge stronger and more resilient. Let us use all the tools at our disposal to fight COVID-19.”

gious, but when you do things like lock down people and say essentially, ‘Don’t leave your house except to go to the store,’ there’s alternative repercussions that in my opinion weren’t thought out. If (abuses are) happening in a household and the kids have nowhere to go, the situation’s probably not improving.” Martin founded The Thankful Ones in 2015 after he adopted Everly Frances, then 6 years old, due to her parents’ struggle with addiction, according to Martin. Everly is Martin’s cousin, and he said his wife and three biological children welcomed Everly with open arms. Everly’s parents were addicted to meth and heroin, Martin said, and that “she was not being taken care of like a 4- or 5-year-old should be.”

“We were constantly worried about her,” he added, “knowing that something could happen to her at any time, because her parents were drug addicts.” He and his wife found the legal and financial hurdles of adoption were a burden and relied on a support system from family to help them through the process, which was the inspiration for Martin’s initiative to launch The Thankful Ones. He aims to help prospective foster parents or adopters navigate the court system and to lower the barriers for potential parents by raising awareness of the obstacles. “These situations aren’t as uncommon as you would think,” Martin said. “From a percentage level, I would hope it’s pretty low. But increasingly, people were

telling us stories that were similar to ours. So we saw there was a systemic need to start something and try to give back somehow.” Eagle Disinfection Group, where Martin is the director of sales, will provide 400 masks just in case they are needed for the Turkey Trot. But he expects many participants to bring their own masks as well. The company is a distributor for Puradigm, a startup company aiming to try to increase workplace safety and the safety of indoor environments with its purification technology. Independent testing at the University of Florida’s Biosafety Level 3 lab demonstrated an ability to eliminate up to 99.99 percent of the coronavirus from stainless steel surfaces. “My goal was not to shut this event down because I didn’t want the pandemic or the virus to shut it down,” Martin said. “There’s no rule to my knowledge that we can’t. People know about it. No one said we can’t.” Nonetheless, Martin understands the fear and skepticism some may have about spreading the coronavirus, even for an outdoor event. “We are expecting a bit of a decrease (in participation) this year that’s going to be attributed to what’s going on,” Martin said. The Thankful Ones have seen a slight decrease in terms of the dollar amount given from its donor base, but

not the number of donations made, he said. While there is a virtual run option available, Martin said his supporters have shown a willingness to participate in person. The event has grown from around 100 people in its first year and showed steady growth with the number of registrants each year. But he said he expects about 200 participants this year. “I feel like us moving forward with it is going to get us more recognition and awareness for our mission and for the children in the county,” Martin said. “Now if there’s an outbreak and the county shuts everything down, I won’t be happy, but at least we took it as far as we could, we kept getting the word out and kept doing what we do.” He said he often fields questions about pets and strollers and scooters from parents and prospective runners. They are all welcome, he said, as long as the competitive runners are able to safely start at the front. The 5K race begins at 8 a.m., immediately followed by the 1-mile race. Registration and same-day signup begins at 7 a.m. The race will be held at 2438 Windmill Dr. in Richmond, and participants are asked to park in the Randall’s parking lot at 1890 FM 359. To donate or become a sponsor of The Thankful Ones, visit https://www.thethankfulones.org/sponsors/. For further inquiries, contact Martin at 832-489-8085 or matthew@thethankfulones. org.

★ LOVABLES FROM PAGE 1 and a distraction from the stresses of the outside world. Kruse’s mother, upon seeing the drawing, smiled and said, “She is so lovable.” And thus, the first Purple Lovable was born. Kruse’s knack for the sketches began to resonate with her friends and her community of followers on social media. So she reached out to Younkin, a jack-of-all trades who is a professional graphic designer and a former competitive gymnast, diver and cheerleader. He is also trained in the Israeli martial arts discipline of Krav Maga. Younkin said he immediately recognized the potential for Kruse’s drawings to become something special. “There were so many possibilities,” Youkin said. “It was too much fun not to try it.”

★ GATHERINGS FROM PAGE 1 matically in September and October after a summer surge of 3,034 confirmed positive tests spanning from June 28-July 28, according to the SouthEast Texas Regional Advisory Council (SETRAC), a second wave of cases has begun to spread across the U.S., with El Paso and Lubbock being among the hardest-hit cities affected by this latest surge. During a 30-day span from Oct. 20-Nov. 20, the county has seen 1,846 new cases, and the positivity rate has also

★ RACE FROM PAGE 1 If, for example, a teacher reported to the state’s hotline that a student may have exhibited signs of abuse or neglect, the call is routed at the county level and then to the local level, or Fort Bend County and then to CAFB, Martin said. “They (CAFB) are the first line of defense for abused and neglected children in Fort Bend County,” Martin said. And to Martin, lockdowns

Sales of "Purple Lovables" will go toward providing a creative musical outlet for children at Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers. (Contributed photo)

have presented a series of unintended consequences to The Thankful Ones and other child advocacy groups whose mission is to protect vulnerable children. “(I knew that) things were happening to children but no one was there to look out for them when they’re in bad situations,” Martin said. “Children were essentially, in my opinion, being overly neglected by society during this time. I understand the implications for the virus and it being conta-

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Local food drives ramp up across county By Stefan Modrich SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

The weekend before Thanksgiving is among the busiest time of year for nonprofit and charitable organizations, particularly food pantries and food banks. That hasn’t changed during the COVID-19 pandemic, even though groups like Quincy Collins’ Families Helping Families Houston (FHF) have been forced to adapt their distribution methods. The backbone of that adaptation is volunteers, approximately 75 of whom assisted in Saturday morning’s drivethrough food distribution event at Smart Financial Centre in Sugar Land. One Richmond couple, Randy Balla and Ritu Balla, has been volunteering for each of the last three years with FHF. They said they are neighbors of Collins. Ritu said she met Collins through a local parentteacher organization, and ever since, she has brought her two daughters along to volunteer at several events. She said it is important to teach them the value of service. “We bring our kids every year and they’re part of it,” Ritu said. “And they learn to give back. It’s hard work, behind-the-scenes kind of stuff. COVID-19 makes it a lot harder. But it’s worth doing because there are so many families in need, so we have to keep doing it, and serving them.” The Fort Bend ISD Police Department and Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Department also had several officers volunteering with food distribution or working to direct traffic. Collins was busy coordinating the arrival of truckloads of food and supplies, directing and receiving feedback from some of the volunteers who were present. At around 8 a.m., Collins tasked a group of helpers with finding a truck to obtain 50 additional turkeys from a nearby H-E-B, giving them a total supply

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A volunteer loads oranges into the bed of a truck Saturday in the parking lot of the Smart Financial Centre in Sugar Land for a Thanksgiving turkey and food distribution put on by Families Helping Families Houston. (Photo by Stefan Modrich)

of 400 turkeys to deliver to those in need. A line of cars began to stretch from the entrance to the parking lot along Lexington Boulevard down to Aberfeldy Street as early as 7:45 a.m. Some drive-up attendees said they showed up at 7 a.m., and waited two hours or more for the food distribution that began shortly before 9 a.m. At 8:30 a.m., Collins had the group form a sociallydistanced circle in the parking lot that was the staging area for the food pick-up, and said a prayer over the loudspeaker of a Fort Bend County Constable squad car, and offered works of thanks and encouragement for the volunteers and those who were in line to receive the food. “If we can help put food on someone’s table, and give them one less thing to worry about, then we’ve done our job,” Collins said in his address to volunteers. At 8:56 a.m., a yellow Toyota sedan pulled up, the first vehicle in line, and volunteers began stocking flour, cooking oil, canned goods, chicken and turkeys inside cardboard boxes that had been placed in the trunks and pickup truck beds in an assembly line fashion. “I like the setup this year, too,” Randy said. “I like this. Typically they would box (the food) at H-E-B or at a school, and we would go deliver it. So (Collins) would have trucks everywhere and everyone comes and

has a station. It seems like it’s going pretty good, too.” Collins said he considered doing pop-up deliveries within various Fort Bend County cities to ensure the entire inventory of food went to use, but decided on utilizing the logistical infrastructure and volunteers already on hand at Smart Financial Centre to feed the additional crowd that turned out beyond the 200 families who had registered online. “What we were planning to do was have 200 families show up (in their cars),” Collins said. “And then to go in a truck and deliver (the rest of the food) into the inner cities. But because we had an overflow, the 100 families that we were going to (serve) in the inner city, we’re going to just stay here (and serve them).” Some volunteers who were working closely with Collins to organize the food giveaway said the group could build off of the success of the partnership with Smart Financial Centre and potentially do a similar event next year at Houston’s NRG Stadium, scaled up to feed 10,000 families. Also on Saturday, the Missouri City Police Department and Fire Department held their 12th annual Operation Thanksgiving collection drive at the city’s Public Safety Headquarters, inviting the public to help fill 11 squad cars and two fire trucks full of food for Bethel Ministry and the Fort Bend Women’s Shelter.

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Extras: Upgrade your plan offering on items like dentures, eyeglasses, hearing support and more

You have from October 15 to December 7 to choose your Medicare coverage for 2021! Choose your Medicare plan today.

Call to get your Visa Flex Card! 1-844-986-0048 (TTY: 711) 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week Visit WellCareforTX.com to find a virtual or local event.

Cosmetic procedures are not covered under this benefit. Benefits may vary by region. WellCare Health Plans, Inc., is an HMO, PPO, PFFS plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in our plans depends on contract renewal. For accommodations of persons with special needs at meetings, call 1-877-699-3552 TTY 711. There is no obligation to enroll. Out-of-network/non-contracted providers are under no obligation to treat WellCare members, except in emergency situations. Please call our customer service number or see your Evidence of Coverage for more information, including the cost-sharing that applies to out-of-network services. Y0070_WCM_60959E_FINAL3_M CMS Accepted 09212020 NA1WCMADV60959E_BASE ©WellCare 2020

PAGE 8 • Wednesday, November 25, 2020

THE STAR

See us online www.FortBendStar.com

Review: Ghazal India Cafe deserves your Sunday best By Stefan Modrich

Pictured is the Lamb Vindaloo from Ghazal India Cafe in Stafford. (Photo by Stefan Modrich)

SMODRICH@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

My dad has had — and maintains to this day — the somewhat idiosyncratic tendency, in my view, to insist upon our family using dishes and silverware for any takeout order or pizza delivery, no matter how fast or casual the food order. Perhaps it was a way of reminding my siblings and I that mealtimes were something sacred and to be treated with a baseline level of decorum and respect, even for more laidback dinners paired with a movie in the living room. Part of me still considers it a clever way to create more chores for us to do, but I digress. All of this is to say that I believe these things are not mere niceties. If you think this is a stretch, I’d invite you to recall your last trip to the H-EB wine aisle and tell me how much time you spent looking at the label art on each bottle.

So this brings me to Ghazal India Café in Stafford. I’ll stipulate up front that I enjoyed my to-go meal immensely on the merits. But gourmet Indian food, especially Lamb Vindaloo ($11.99), is not meant to be enjoyed in a plastic bowl, and its accompanying rice and vegetable samosas ($3.50) were not intended for Styrofoam packaging. Vindaloo is one of my favorite Indian dishes. The tender lamb shoulder is seasoned with an armada of spices like cumin, coriander and paprika, marinated in wine vinegar and slow-cooked with onions and garlic. I have been to Indian restaurants around the world that run the gamut of Zagat reviews, from hole-in-the-wall to swanky spots fit for special occasions we used to cel-

COMMUNITY

ebrate in person. I know it’s not the fault of Ghazal, which is open only for pickup or delivery, that they feel their ornate dining rooms aren’t large enough spaces to safely socially distance. They’ve pivoted with a utilitarian approach that they likely feel is the safest bet for their customers. But it’s yet another shame of this pandemic and a clear economic hit to a business that would normally rent out a banquet hall capable of accommodating 300 people. But I hope that people who are browsing through their delivery apps and taking home Tandoori Chicken ($10.99) and Goat Biryani ($8.99) don’t get the wrong idea about this place. I’m not saying you need to dust off your finest china set for every to-go order, but by making a little bit of extra effort, you can apply some of the same principles you would to plate and present your own cooking, and you might find it tastes a little bit better.

Even if you agree, don’t just take my word for it. I’m curious to know how many other people take pride in food presentation, even when it’s showing off something you didn’t make yourself. If you think I’m being a snob, follow me on Twitter @StefanJModrich and let me know, or email me smodrich@fortbendstar.com.

Ghazal India Cafe

Address: 435 Farm To Market Road 1092, Stafford Dining Options: Curbside pickup, Delivery via Doordash, Grubhub, and Uber Eats Hours: 11 a.m.-8:45 p.m. Monday-Saturday Entrée prices: $6.99$15.99 Kid-friendly: Yes Senior discount: No Healthy options: Mushroom Onion Theeyal ($7.99) Star of the show: Lamb Vindaloo ($11.99)

Deadline is noon every Friday. Limit entries to 40 words and answer the “5 Ws” Who, What, When, Where, and Why. Email to editor@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. NOVEMBER 26 THE THANKFUL ONES TURKEY TROT 8 a.m. The Thankful Ones Turkey Trot is set to take place at the Pecan Grove Plantation at 2438 Windmill Drive in Richmond on Thanksgiving Day. Registration begins at 7 a.m. for same-day sign-up, and the 5K race begins at 8 a.m. Parking is available at the nearby Randall's, located at 1890 Farm to Market Road 359. The Thankful Ones is a non-profit organization that provides financial support to the families in the process of adopting a child of parents who have suffered from addiction or substance abuse. For more information or to register, visit www.thethankfulones.org/events NOVEMBER 30 QUICK QUACK CAR WASH DON’T DRIVE DIRTY Quick Quack Car Wash located at 19311 West Bellfort Blvd., Richmond 77407 is celebrating their new location on Monday, November 30th, from 3:00 pm Ð 6:00pm. Get to know your neighbors, receive an autism duckie and stop by for a FREE car wash; donations welcome. The event benefits local nonprofit Hope For Three Autism Advocates. Join Quick Quack in making a difference, and donÕ t drive dirty! Learn more at www.dontdrivedirty.com. For autism resources, visit www.hopeforthree.org DECEMBER 9 SUGAR LAND ROTARY CLUB TEACHER OF THE YEAR LUNCH 12 p.m. The Sugar Land Rotary Club is pleased to announce its Fort Bend ISD Teacher of the Year Lunch at Sugar Creek Country Club and on Zoom. Please visit Sugar Land RotaryÕ s website for the Zoom link. Prospective members and guests are invited to attend, the cost is $20 for lunch. DECEMBER 10 FT. BEND/HARRIS RETIRED EDUCATORS ZOOM MEETING Ft. Bend/Harris Retired Educators next zoom meeting is Thursday morning, December 10th, at 10:00. Our program will be a Christmas music performance sung by the Sugar Land Christ United Methodist Church Choir. Games and fellowship will follow

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virtually. If you want, wear something festive to celebrate the holiday season. We look forward to all our members joining us. Paid members will receive their zoom invitation a week prior to the meeting. For further information email cmduvall@aol.com. JANUARY 23, 2021 SAVE THE DATE FELICIA SMITH JIGSAW PUZZLE COMPETITION ItÕ s back! The family-fun entertaining, challenging and fun jigsaw puzzle competition is slated for January 23, 2021. Presenting Sponsor, LearningRx Sugar Land preps for the 4th Annual Felicia Smith Jigsaw Puzzle Competition. Puzzle fanatics or first-time puzzlers, ages 10 and up, rally together to raise autism awareness until all the pieces fit. Awards and bragging rights guaranteed! Join sponsors OCuSOFT, Inc., Fort Bend Teen Service League and Robert Ò PoppyÓ Lampkin for this virtual affair! To learn more or to register your team ($125) now, visit www.hopeforthree.org/events. Limited availability. ONGOING FORT BEND SENIORS MEALS ON WHEELS SECRET SANTA The Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels is hosting a Secret Santa for Seniors Program. Gifts can be dropped off Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at 1330 Band Road in Rosenberg no later than Dec. 4th. For those interested in volunteering to deliver meal and gifts to our home-bound seniors, please contact iloveseniors@fortbendseniors.org. If you are dropping off a large amount of gifts or need to change your drop-off time, please call 281.633.7049 or email leah@fortbendseniors. org. CIRCLE OF HOPE CHANGE A CHILD’S FUTURE For nearly a decade, local nonprofit Hope For Three Autism Advocates has provided local families with the gift Hope. The organizations gift-giving program, Circle of Hope can change a childÕ s future. Supporters select a monthly amount to give so families have access to lifechanging therapies and treatments children with autism might otherwise go without.

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Double your impact on Giving Tuesday, 12/1 at 7am on Facebook. Simply make a donation early and your contribution can be matched. Continue on to Double the Donation! Check to see if your employer will match your gift. Give where you live, www.hopeforthree.org/ corporate-matching-gift-programs 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 9:45 am every Sunday at First Presbyterian of Sugar Land (502 Eldridge Rd.). For more information call 281-240-3195 EXCHANGE EXCHANGE, America’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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