Alvin, Manvel & Neighboring Communities
March 2020 Volume 3, Issue 3
Shadow Creek Football Team Celebrated by Community at Event _ PAGE 6
A publication of the Alvin Advertiser
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WHAT ’S INS IDE PAGE 6
Cover Story Cover Photo
Shadow Creek Coach leads Sharks in celebration
PAGE 14
STEM Academy takes amusement seriously
PAGE 11
FINS UP!!!!
Alex is catch Barton, so e Frien r / outfie phomor e lder dswo from more od, h o h p o e n s o Dolp hins rs for the to collect in 20 Lady 20
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Chamber Honors Best of Alvin/Manvel
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Hasse Elementary students make Rubik’s Cube art
Larg e INEO Busines so S Ole fins a f the Yea r nd P olym ers
MARCH 2020 . . .
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C O V E R S T O RY
Community recognizes Sharks’ title feat
By Stephen Collins Sports Editor PEARLAND - A packed house gathered in the Shadow Creek High School auditorium Wednesday night to celebrate the football team’s state championship almost two months ago. The event featured the Shark football players, coaches, managers, trainers, band, cheerleaders, dance team, along with the SCHS choir. The accomplishment was lauded by both AISD Superintendent Carol Nelson and board president Earl Humbird, SCHS principal Kelly Hestand and head football coach Brad Butler with recognition also coming from dignitaries such as U.S. House Representative Ed Thompson, community outreach coordinator Amber Murray from congressman Pete Olson’s office, Pearland mayor Tom Reid and Pearland Chamber of Commerce president Carol Artz-Bucek.
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“We’re all so proud of you and we’re here to celebrate you tonight,” Nelson said. “I watched the game from up in the stands and on the sidelines and appreciate all the heart felt prayers and positive acclamations coming from the teammates, the coaching staff, trainers and everyone in between. “You could feel the emotion radiating from the sidelines. When the band played the star spangled banner tonight, that brought me back to that day, because our band also played the star spangled banner before that game. “I remember those last three minutes of the game as you all do. It felt like hours. The entire crowd was on pins and needles. Everyone was wanting to get down on the field and I know everyone watching the game at home was the same way.” “It was just four years ago that we opened the doors of Shadow Creek High School and started making our mark on the Continued on page 8
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Sharks Bring Title Home COMMUNITY . . . Continued from page 6 state,” Hestand said. “I know we keep saying 31-1, but there’s really more than that. We’re weren’t UIL those first two years, but countless hours were spent traveling all over the state (to play games) and some of those kids are here tonight. “Can you believe how far this program has come. It’s truly a Cinderella story.” Thompson, who served previously as a Texas high school football official for over 40 years, said he’s never seen anything like the Sharks’ incredible first two seasons “in all his years of association with Texas high school football.” “I don’t think some people realize what a great accomplishment this is and what this team has done,” Thompson added. “I told Coach Butler tonight that this is beyond what anybody could ever imagine.” The celebration also featured video highlights from the season with Butler joining SC players Jeremiah Harris, Jay`veon Bell and Courtney Brown in thanking the community for their support. “We are extremely thankful for the support, especially during the playoff run,” Butler said. “This championship is really about all of us. We got so many groups and organizations that played a role in helping bring this championship back to Shadow Creek. “I don’t think you will find a coaching staff that’s more in-
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vested in the players than our guys. I also can’t brag on these players enough. A two-year combined record of 31-1. They win the state championship in some else’s backyard. They have put together what a lot of people say is the greatest program start in the history of Texas high school football. The thing that stands out the most about this group is they never backed out of a fight. It didn’t matter how bleak the circumstances were or how hopeless the situation may have looked. They never quit. If they can take that attitude into the rest of their lives, it will serve them well.” “I would like to thank everyone for coming and supporting us right down to our lowest moments, when we were down 24-7 to Foster,” Brown said. “We will also never forget the support you gave us in winning the state championship.” The Sharks delivered a perfect 16-0 season, winning their second straight 10-5A crown and posting playoff victories over Port Arthur Memorial (49-7), Hutto (63-14), Foster (36-31), Manor (59-14)and San Antonio Wagner (45-21) in the state semifinals. Shadow Creek then capped things off by defeating Denton Ryan 28-22 in the Class 5A Division I State Championship on Dec. 20 in Arlington to bring home both the school’s first ever state title and the first football state crown for AISD.
The Shadow Creek cheerleaders and mascot pose for a photo just moments from the football team’s state championship celebration at the SCHS Auditorium. (Photo by Michael Edmonds)
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ACC Softball
Fins Up!!! Story and Photos by Prentice C. James
More photos on page 12
The aroma of freshly cut grass, blue skies and budding flowers, and the sound of birds singing beautiful melodies are all signs of the arrival of spring. Not to be left out of all of these spring indicators are the sounds of bats cracking and gloves popping – the unmistaken arrival of one of America’s favorite pastimes, softball. Softball has a way of bringing everyone together and the Alvin Community College Lady Dolphins softball team is no exception. Each season, area fans and family members unite to cheer on the hometown team. With a roster stocked full of Texas talent, including former Brazoria County prep stars hailing from area schools, ACC’s softball team looks to rebound from last season. This rebound got off to a blazing start as the Dolphins secured its first win of the season with an opening day 9-1 blitzing of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. If opening day is any indication, expect the Lady Dolphins to make a statement between the chalk lines this season. Second-year head coach Jerri Torres-Farmer looks to a promising 2020 season for the Alvin Community College softball squad.
Starting pitcher Ashley Gonzales whips a strike across the plate during a dominate opening day performance.
Taylor Gonzalez, a former Pearland Oiler, smashes a pitch over the left field wall for a three-run homer on opening day. MARCH 2020 . . .
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Led by a new crop of recruits including former Manvel softball standout Briana Garcia, center, the Dolphins hope to rebound from a 2019 campaign that saw the team finish 13-34.
Photo by Prentice C. James
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ACC Dolphin players are all smiles following an impressive 9-1 opening day win over the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
Photos by Prentice C. James
Shortstop Faith Aluiso, a former Brazosport Exporter multi-sport athlete, catches an infield pop fly on opening day. This year’s ACC Dolphins roster has a distinct area flavor boasting several former Brazoria County prep athletes. MARCH 2020 . . .
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STEM Academy
STEM Academy takes amusement seriously Story & Photo by Alex Wukman Some Rodeo Palms Junior High School’s STEM Academy students recently got into the carnival business. The
students designed and built models of proposed carnival rides with the help of the
elementary school students at the Alvin ISD WINGS Academy. The junior high school students were tasked with developing prototypes of the rides from scratch, with the only guidance being a survey sent to WINGS Academy’s first and second grade students. The survey asked the elementary school students about their likes and dislikes to help determine the themes for the various rides. The most popular themes were
Pokémon, Disney and Harry Potter. Once the surveys were returned, the junior high students began to create the ride. They used an engineering construction kit and worked in small groups, four or five students per team, to create all aspects of the ride experience. The rides had to meet some basic requirements — they had to be activated with the push of a button and run for 90 seconds before shutting down. The rides also had to have a few basic safety features — each one had to make some noise before it started and stopped. When it came time to fabricate the rides the
students took on the roles of programmer, designer, builder, graphic designer and writer. When the models were completed, the junior high students were asked to sell the rides to the younger students. The Rodeo Palms students had to create displays and presentations to attract the elementary school children. The goal of the exercise being to mimic the experience of an actual carnival. Despite all of the hard work and out of the box thinking required, the project impressed some of the students. My favorite part of this project was the problem solving,” said Arhan Ahuja, a Rodeo Palms sixth grader.
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Hasse Elem. students make Rubik’s Cube art By Rachel Moore
Special to The Advertiser
Students at Hasse Elementary were recently able to combine art, math and puzzle solving to create mosaic portraits using Rubik’s
cubes. The story of how the ubiquitous 1980’s toy wound up in the hands of Hasse Elementary students begins with fifth grade math teacher
Jennifer Zamora. This year Zamora decided to become a “Rubik’s cube ambassador” and incorporate the world famous puzzle into her curriculum. She thought that solving the puzzle would provide an interesting an innovative way to teach students geometry and problem solving. Ambassadors spread the word about the educational opportunitites of the world famous puzzle. As part of her ambassadorial duties, Zamora offered the cubes to art teacher, Lynette LeCompte. Zamora suggested that LeCompte have her art students take “the Rubik’s cube challenge.” The challenge requires students to use 100 cubes to make a representation of
the Mona Lisa. LeCompte’s students were so excited by the challenge that they finished the picture in less than a week. LeCompte then challenged the students to make a portrait of Vincent van Gogh. The latest challenge had the students make portrait of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to celebrate Black History Month. The portrait required 225 cubes, some students were so motivated to complete the picture that they opted to work on the project instead of eat lunch with their classmates or play at recess. After seeing how students enjoyed the various projects, Zamora and LeCompte are looking at ways to expand the use of Rubik’s cubes in Hasse Elementary. The two teachers are planning on writing a
grant proposal to purchase more cubes for the school. The Rubik’s cube art projects came around just as Hasse Elementary and Alvin ISD are gearing up for Youth Art Month, which is observed the entire month of March. Youth Art Month helps promote the importance of art and art education. The goal of Youth Art Month is to emphasize the value of participating in art for all children. Throughout the month of March, Hasse Elementary will host various activities designed to make art a part of students’ daily lives. Students will dress in certain colors on certain days, or come to school dressed like a famous artist. On March 5, students will celebrate Big Art Day from 6-7 p.m. in the Hasse Café.
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Chamber honors the best of Alvin/Manvel By Brenda Groves
Lifetime Achievement Award, Small Business of the Year and The Alvin-Manvel Area Large Business of the Year. Chamber of commerce held Chris Vaughn was its annual awards banquet introduced as the new Friday evening, issuing the chairman of the board and 2019 awards for Ambassador after holding a live auction of the Year, Outstanding presented by James Patterson Leader, Citizen of the Year, of Patterson Auctioneering the awards were then presented to honorary members. Those awarded are as follows: Terry Droege of TDEC, INC was named the 2019 Outstanding o tr as C Leader of the Joel Councilman d an t) ef Year; Lindsey Alvin City (l n th Alice Sloa e im et if L Vaughn of RE/ presented bo the (right) with MAX American Nelva Urick ward. Dream was Achievement A named the 2019 Ambassador Volunteer of the Year, of the Year; Lorilyn Wynn of Special to The Advertiser
Texas Advantage Community Bank was named the 2019 Volunteer of the Year; both Alice Sloan and Nelva Urick were awarded the Lifetime Achievement award; Ruth Deitz was named the 2019 Citizen of the Year; Jody Droege of TDEC, INC. presented the 2019 Small Business of the Year award to Patco Hardware and Lumber with owner Jack Pizzitola receiving the award for the company. “The passion and dedication from this business is unparalleled,” Droege, stated, “Customer service is a top priority.” “They’ve strived to keep the hometown feel in the way they do business, treat others and in the products they provide.” “They are involved in the community.” Droege added, “Terry and I do business with Patco, and they
are always eager to help us find just what we need.” State Representative Ed Thompson presented the Large Business of the Year award to INEOS Olefins and Polymers, who employ more than a thousand people between direct hire and onsite contractors on their 2400 acre site. At least 25% of their employment comes from the Alvin and Manvel area. Over the next 5 years of work and growth, they’ll have 3,000 employees and contractors on site daily, while putting nearly 2 billion in capital investments at the plant. Thompson added,” INEOS invests in their team and processes to improve every day. They lead proactively and partner with our education to build a strong workforce and future.”
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Delicious Treats Just Down The Street C
Corey’s Kitchen
orey’s Kitchen has become a familiar name, and taste, on the lips of many in the Alvin/Manvel and surrounding communities. Corey Scopel grew up in Manvel and his culinary skills have only sharpened as he has paired traditional food favorites with unique flavors and combinations. Corey first began serving food out of his iconic yellow food truck that can usually be found at Scopel Square at 319 W. Willis in Alvin. Well, good news travels fast and so has word of the good flavors rising up from Corey’s Kitchen, which has given opportunity to open a restaurant location at 20709 Morris Ave. (Hwy. 6) in Manvel. A rebel in the kitchen, Corey is cooking up juicy chicken breast topped with Dijon infused brown sauce or maybe you’re more in the mood for a four-cheese artichoke stuffed chicken breast served with loaded mashed potatoes and green beans. Corey’s Kitchen can flip out burgers like you’ve never seen, starting with handmade certified Angus beef patties served with onion rings or crisped to perfection crinkly cut fries. Appetizers like Chicken wings, homemade pizza bites and Italian Queso fries are a must with many more entrees and wraps to try. They have daily specials such as Meatloaf Monday along with everyday lunch specials. Try their new Healthy Menu Items or weekly specials. If you call them they will come and Corey’s Elite Catering Company will provide excellent food and service whether you’re having burgers and fries or rib-eyes and bowties, they guarantee you won’t be disappointed. PS. Each table has a family conversation box, deposit your cell phones in the box and allow your family time to talk.
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Froberg’s Farm
roberg’s Farm and Country Store has become a household name to the residents of Alvin, Manvel and the surrounding areas. In fact, people from all over the state, nation and world have made the pilgrimage for strawberry picking season, where families can pick their own deliciously sweet strawberries. Four generations of Frobergs have cultivated the concept of seed, time and harvest, and the end result is a place where any one can experience home-grown vegetables and fruits. Their farm has grown to include farm-raised chickens with no hormones or antibiotics. The Froberg’s store now includes a full-time bakery and snack bar with homemade pies, candies, cookies, cake balls, kettle corn, tamales, jellies, preserves and much more. Over the years, they have created a family-friendly environment, which includes a large safe play area called Berry Fun Land, a Mining Sluice, Bee Coaster, Duck Races, Friendly Fire and Corn Cannon. Year round events include “Winter Fest,” “Strawberry Picking,” “Blackberry Picking,” and “Fall Festival.” Now’s the season to order your own pies and confectionary goodies to compliment your holiday table. Let Froberg’s Farm do the baking for you, just relax and enjoy. Make gift giving unique and a memorable experience with Froberg’s Gift Baskets of assorted sizes. Visit frobergsfarm.com for event days/times and weather permitting.
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Italiano’s
he moment you walk in the door you are greeted with the aroma of garlic, olive oil and steaming tomatoes from homemade marinara sauce! Awww! Now that’s Italian! Italiano’s that is! A true family restaurant, Italiano’s is owned by Al and Susie Sadiku. Susie’s grandfather began the family legacy with a pizzeria in Brooklyn in 1967 and today her family offers the same delicious Italian dishes passed down through generations. Located on Broadway St. in Pearland Italiano’s lovingly creates tasty, from scratch, dishes and desserts that folks have come to know as Little Italy in their own back yard. Once you take a bite of their complimentary homemade garlic rolls, your taste buds will come alive and you’ll know you are in for a wonderful meal. But the Sadiku family believes you can serve up high quality food at a low cost. So delicious affordable meals, flavorful desserts served up with a steaming cup of gourmet coffee is always on the menu. What more could you ask? Why even their service is top notch no matter the time of day. Servers are prompt, professional, helpful and courteous. Italiano’s also offers full catering services for any occasion. You don’t have to speak Italian to experience great Italian food so come by today.
MARCH 2020 . . .
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