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Sinclair compromises with community on expansion Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com A virtual town hall meeting Monday to update the Timbergrove community on amendments to a plan that originally called for adding two temporary buildings to Houston ISD’s Sinclair Elementary - while removing 23 mature pine trees from the campus - was attended by more than 80 people, including representatives of both Mayor Sylvester Turner and Houston City Council member Abbie Kamin. Principal Lee Mashburn announced a revision to the school’s
expansion plan, which he described as a “polarizing issue.” Sinclair now plans to install one modular building of eight classrooms and one restroom building before the start of the 2021-22 school year, which Mashburn said will require the removal of 8-12 trees. Mashburn said he had met with faculty and staff before the town hall and received positive feedback about the modification. “I appreciate that HISD has come to the table and is listening to constituents’ concerns – that’s what we had asked of them along with an alternative plan that
would protect the trees,” Kamin said. “Because this new proposal was just announced (Monday), we are still reaching out to residents to see how they feel about it. Neighbors and parents of the school have been so engaged, and it’s important for their voices to be heard.” Sinclair parent Jacki Schaefer described the decision as politically conscious, calling it “one in which everyone ended up getting a little of what they want and a little of what they didn’t.” In January, Mashburn advoSee Sinclair P. 5A
All the Stops
Photo by Adam Zuvanich Sinclair Elementary and Houston ISD, after considering feedback from the community, have amended their expansion plan for the Timbergrove Manor campus.
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INSIDE. Image from ih45northandmore.com Shown is the project area for the North Houston Highway Improvement Project.
TxDOT plan to overhaul I-45 inches forward
Art of this world. The stars of “Meet the Artists” will have their work on display.
By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
Page 7A
Good and good for you. Eating dark chocolate on Valentine’s Day comes with health benefits.
Page 1B
Photo from Twitter U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, foreground, joined Heights community members last Saturday, Feb. 6 as they protested a sevenstory storage facility planned for 730 E. 11th St.
Opposition to storage facility escalates By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
Getting their kicks. Some of the area’s high school soccer teams are faring well this year.
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Heights residents picked up a heavy hitter last weekend in their ongoing fight against a seven-story storage facility planned for the neighborhood. But after the owner of Big Visit Tex Storage reached a comprotheleadernews. mise of sorts with the Houston com to see full statements from Heights Association (HHA), prethe Houston venting the business from setting Heights Association up shop on East 11th Street apand Big Tex Storage pears to be a long shot. developer Bobby U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, Grover. who represents the Heights as part of Texas’ 18th Congressional District, joined about 50 protesters who gathered last Saturday, Feb. 6, near the under-construction property at 730 E. 11th St. They See Big Tex, P. 5A
Love for Luby’s. Local residents are preparing to part ways with an iconic cafeteria chain.
Page 4B
By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
Contributed photo Rickey Polidore Jr., a Houston artist, embraces his 2005 Chevy Silverado on Feb. 3 after it was stolen in the Heights area and recovered by authorities less than 12 hours later.
It already had been a rough start to the year for Rickey Polidore Jr., who lost his father to COVID-19 about a month ago. Then he lost his pickup truck, which was stolen late Feb. 2 in the Heights area, and he thought it was gone for good. Less than 12 hours later, though, Polidore was feeling fortunate. The Houston artist also felt a special connection to his late father.
Rickey Polidore Sr. must have been looking out for his son from above, the younger Polidore said, because his 2005 Chevy Silverado – which contained his father’s death certificate and was in the process of being transformed into an art car – was found mostly unharmed and intact the morning of Feb. 3 near Aldine-Westfield Road. It was spotted by a trooper for the Texas Department of Public Safety, according to the Houston Police Department, and Polidore was reunited with
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THE INDEX. Church....................................................... 4A Classifieds.............................................. 5A Coupons. ................................................. 3B Food/Drink/Art................................... 7A Obituaries.............................................. 4A Opinion. ................................................... 3A Public Information......................... 4B Puzzles...................................................... 3A Sports. ....................................................... 4A
Contributed photo Heights residents gathered on East 11th Street last Saturday, Feb. 6, to protest a Big Tex Storage facility planned for the neighborhood.
A contentious plan to expand Interstate 45 in downtown and north Houston took another step toward coming to fruition Feb. 4, when the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) announced it had completed the environmental impact process for its North Houston Highway Improvement Project (NHHIP). By issuing a “Record of Decision,” TxDOT said it completed a clearance process outlined by the National Environmental Policy Act and is moving to the detailed design phase of the project, which is expected to cost more than $7 billion. Among other changes to the existing roadway, which was built more than 50 years ago, the plan calls for expanded express-lane capacity on I-45 between downtown and Beltway 8 along with re-routing the freeway near downtown, including making it parallel with I-10 on the north side. TxDOT said the purpose of the project is to improve traffic flow, hurricane evacuation routes and stormwater drainage, along with accommodating high-occupancy, electric and self-driving vehicles. But the plan has drawn widespread criticism because it will displace homes and businesses in low-income commu-
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his truck shortly thereafter. “I’m thankful. I feel like a served citizen,” Polidore said. “It was pretty quick.” HPD spokesperson Kese Smith said the truck was reported stolen early Wednesday morning from the 4600 block of Norhill Blvd., where Polidore said he had parked it while visiting a friend nearby. Once he saw it was missing, Polidore said he figured his truck would be pilfered for parts because it See Theft P. 5A
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Page 2A • Saturday, February 13, 2021 • The Leader
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THE TOPICS. The Leader • Saturday, February 13, 2021 • Page 3A
How long before you earn your neighborhood opinion?
T
here was a time a few years back when I used to wince if anyone asked about the train on the Oak Forest Homeowners Association Facebook page. “No, don’t do it,” I (telepathically) told them. “It’s a hornet’s nest.” They were innocuous enough questions. Was the train something that bothered other people with babies? What was the rule about horn blowing? Was there a Quiet Zone for trains in effect along a certain stretch? These queries often triggered a debate between old-timers who thought the train and its noise was just a part and parcel of life here in Oak Forest and some newer residents who questioned its charm. There was also a fair bit of you-moved-here-so-suck-it-up sentiment. I think about the train every time The Leader does a story about things people want to see built and things they don’t, things they want torn down or kept intact. Everybody seems to have an opinion, but often, people want to weigh those opinions differently depending on their own personal litmus test — which often hinges
Betsy Denson
on seniority. Which got me to thinking, how long do you have to live in a place to merit having an opinion? I crowdsourced the question among friends and got answers ranging anywhere from one minute to 75 years. In the not-immediately camp was a local who counseled – “Settle in. Pay attention. Notice and listen. There is always a history you cannot know and should before ranting.” That’s sound advice. But to many, the right to enter public discourse starts the minute you sign
a mortgage contract, or a lease. With that right also must be the recognition that your stake is not the only one in the ground. “Life is change,” one friend observed. “Implying that one person’s perspective is more valid than another’s based on time spent doesn’t seem useful or helpful to me.” Maybe the difference is what you do with your opinions. And that brings me to my favorite notion of all – “Only as long as it takes you to volunteer your time for its benefit.” This doesn’t mean that you must become the president of your neighborhood civic club or give up all your free time to a given cause. But if you complain about the trash and never pick up a fast food wrapper or champion a time-consuming initiative that you don’t have any intention of helping with, your opinion – in my opinion – isn’t as valid. There is also the matter of how you voice your views. Most of us could benefit from a social media etiquette refresher. Pro tip: sarcasm and irony do not translate well online. And personal attacks
The Walls of Montezuma Question: If you start to build a dam and only get halfway through, how much water will it stop? Answer: None. That’s what we, my fellow taxpayers, have on our hands: a half-built dam, or wall (actually it’s not even a wall, but we’ll get to that). Building that barrier along the 1,954-mile border between the U.S. and Mexico -half of it in Texas -- was the cornerstone, so to speak, of Donald Trump’s presidential campaigns. However, the Trump administration completed only 415 miles of border wall by December, with just 30 miles in new areas. Most of the construction replaced older fencing and vehicle barriers, largely from the El Paso area west to California. Nonetheless Trump touted the project in a trip to South Texas during his final days in office. “It’s been tremendously successful, far beyond what anyone thought,” Trump said. “We can’t let the next administration even think about taking it down.” He added: “Nobody’s going to be touching it.” Alas, in his first day in office, President Joe Biden signed an executive action halting the construction. So there the wall stands, or stands still. What do we do now? The Trump administration had awarded $2.8 billion in contracts for barriers covering about a third of the border. Maybe we should just cut our losses. According to Construction Dive, the U.S. will save $2.6 billion by canceling the construction, even after termination costs. Speaking of our money, Trump said time after time, “Mexico will pay for it.” He proposed a toll on all crossings. This would be enough to pay for the wall. The US-Mexico border is the most crossed international boundary in the world, with approximately 350 million legal crossings every year, and more than a billion dollars’ worth of goods crosses the southern border daily. A small toll on each crossing could quickly cover the price tag, which was estimated to be around $21.6 billion. Also, Trump wanted “remittance money.” Upwards of $38 billion in remittances, money sent to Mexico, is taken out of the U.S. economy every year. A15-percent tax on remittances could generate enough revenue to cover the estimated expense of the border wall in just a few years’ time. But there are no toll booths and no tax on remittance and no money from Mexico. This was just another snake oil pitch. Trump told more than 30,000 documented lies in public (30,573 was The Washington Post’s final tally), on Twitter, at rallies and in interviews. If taken as an average, it would come out to 21 lies per day over his four-year term. Well, probably those parts of the wall already built will still be standing there years
Lynn Ashby Columnist
from now, like a steel Stonehenge, with guided tours. Oh, as to whether it is even a wall, a report from the Congressional Research Service said, the sections pose “a formidable barrier, but it is not the high, thick masonry structure that most dictionaries term a ‘wall’.” The wall, or whatever you want to call it, is not the only fiasco Texas has endured. Remember the SSC? That was the Superconducting Super Collider. It was a particle accelerator complex – whatever that is – that began construction in the vicinity of Waxahachie. The SSC was one huge underground ring. Its planned circumference was 54.1 miles. In 1987, Congress was told the project could be completed for $4.4 billion. But later the General Accounting Office reported a $630 million overrun in the first $1.25 billion construction budget. The estimated total cost grew to $8.4 billion. The Department of Energy’s Inspector General cited $500,000 in questionable expenses over three years, including $12,000 for Christmas parties, $25,000 for catered lunches, and $21,000 for the purchase and maintenance of office plants. The report also found hazy, incomplete documentation for $203 million in project spending, or 40 percent of the money spent up to that point. After $2 billion had been spent ($400 million by the state of Texas, the rest by the Department of Energy), and after only 14 miles of tunnel were bored, the project was cancelled in 1993. The feds deeded the main site to its home, Ellis County. It was sold and resold several times. By another sale in 2012 the place had become prime spots for thieves and drug parties. In 2013 it was sold again. The SSC was not Texas’ first financial fiasco. Have you taken an ocean cruise out of Port Dallas? Probably not, it’s for trains and trucks, but making the Trinity River navigable from the Gulf of Mexico to Dallas has long been a dream in Big D. They attempted dredging, obtaining federal aid and everything else to get boats to the Cotton Bowl. However, the boats were impeded by snags, sandbars, low water. In1854 a boat from the Gulf reached 40 miles below Dallas. In 1868 a boat finally reached Dallas from Galveston. Unfortunately, the voyage took a year and four days. In 1893 the H. A. Harvey, Jr. arrived. That trip took a mere two months and 10 days. In 1973 voters in the Metroplex were asked
to approve a tax to finance opening the Trinity River to the Gulf. It was rejected it by a margin of two to one. Next time you drive on I-10 east to Louisiana, notice that huge, high bridge over the Trinity. That’s to let the QE II pass under it to Dallas. In 2015, UT Chancellor William (Bye-bye bin Laden) McRaven abruptly announced that the UT System was buying 332 acres of choice land between the Texas Medical Center and the main UH campus, for about $450 million. With growing opposition in Houston, questions about financing and the mysterious purpose of the project, quoth McRaven: “Nevermore.” He tossed in the trowel. That leaves the Keystone XL Pipeline from Canada to Port Arthur. It was supposed to create 11,000 jobs, but those were temporary construction jobs. They only need 45 permanent jobs. Nevertheless, Keystone is on hold. Ashby’s wall is at ashby2@comcast.net
always go over like a lead balloon. Also, if you’re brave enough to share your thoughts in a public forum, prepare to zip up your thick skin. “I think you get to have an opinion, but you have to be ready when others aren’t too happy about it and let you know in very colorful ways,” said one. The notion of a tenured opinion is one that I’ve considered more deeply the longer I stick around. I moved here in my early 30s with a husband and no kids. Shockingly, when I had children, I developed opinions about the speeders in my neighborhood, followed by the lack of familyfriendly affordable restaurants, then schools. Likewise, I have heard older residents complain about children taking over said restaurants, trendy establishments taking the place of old favorites and rising property taxes. As another friend observes — “I think you get feelings about a hood and it varies as the hood changes, and as you change and as your family changes with schools and the community as well.”
THE READER. Sinclair’s Pine Trees
Dear Editor: I’m very relieved that HISD reconsidered and scaled back its oversized temporary expansion plan for Sinclair Elementary. Although not a perfect solution, the revised plan allows the project to move forward as scheduled and strikes a balance between providing additional classroom space for zoned students and preserving trees on campus. However, parent concern over Sinclair’s oldest portable buildings remains unaddressed. The nearly 40 year old classrooms are in constant disrepair, and will remain in use under the revised project plan. During this week’s announcement of the revised project plan, HISD committed to a comprehensive needs assessment of the buildings but no plans beyond the needs assessment were outlined. At a prior meeting, HISD construction services officials suggested that portable renovation could be accomplished through work orders. However, HISD has $4.7 BILLION in deferred maintenance needs and transportable building renovation is dead last on the district’s work order priority list. It would be incredibly foolish to rely on future maintenance to make up for this project’s shortcomings. Decision makers should take this opportunity to get it right and request additional funds needed to renovate the 40-year-old portables. Those of us who experienced the anxiety of kinder enrollment in recent years are eager to create space for zoned families, as you suggested in your opinion piece. I fervently support Sinclair expansion to welcome our zoned community, but there are major capacity constraints that this project cannot address. A major capacity increase beyond this project’s scope would overwhelm the campus’s cafeteria and shared spaces and must be deferred to the next bond. The HISD Board approved $3M for Sinclair portables in February 2020. The item “Approval of The 2019–2020 Midyear Budget Amendment,” also included $7,300,000 for a facilities assessment, the first step towards getting a
A Heights resident of 17 years who wrote of her annoyance about people who use the Heights to describe areas that aren’t the Heights said, “I’ve lived here long enough to officially be a grumpy Heights person.” I relate to that and not just because I think the Heights appropriation is getting way out of hand. It’s been 17 years for me as well. From the minute we moved into our house, I was interested in the area around it. There were things I liked and things I did not. Some of the things I still don’t like – the perennially underutilized corner of West 43rd Street and Rosslyn Road, for instance – are things I can’t do anything about. So I grouse, too. Who knows? Maybe in the next two decades someone will finally come along and revitalize the retail strip. Add a breakfast place. Or a new shop or two. But if they call the development Oak Heights, mark my words, I am going to raise a complete ruckus on Facebook 5.0. Email betsy@theleadernews.com
Email us your letters: news@theleadernews.com bond on the ballot. Several of us from Sinclair spoke at the February 2020 board meeting in favor of the facilities assessment. Community expectations for HISD are high, yet support for school bonds is low. This has to change if we want excellent public schools. Several audits over the past 10 years document extensive problems with HISD bond programs and construction projects, and outline remedies based on industry best practice. HISD must demonstrate and publicize to voters how these recommendations are being adopted. I’m anxious for the release of the latest facilities assessment report. I’ll be looking to see whether HISD incorporated enrollment projections and improved its process for assigning a Facilities Condition Index (FCI) to each school, as recommended in the recent Legislative Budget Board audit. Taxpayers are buying an expensive project for Sinclair that sacrifices quality for expediency. Absent in this reactive process is a cohesive long-term plan. Disjointed, stopgap projects, such as Sinclair’s expansion, have been HISD’s default solution for years. We must continue to advocate for a comprehensive long-term plan for our area public schools. HISD has not kept up with growth in the Greater Heights and Garden Oaks/Oak Forest communities. School zones have remained largely unchanged. Magnet programs, meant to attract students to under-enrolled or under-performing schools, add additional layers of complexity and constraints to our schools’ ability to accommodate zoned enrollment. HISD has been a holding pattern for too long, struggling to stave off state takeover and find its cadence. This slow pace of progress is damaging our beloved neighborhood schools. The status quo is unsustainable and change is desperately needed. I hope that with fresh data from the 2020 Census and the $7.3 million Facilities Assessment, HISD will be well positioned to apply recommended changes to the next bond program. And when they do, our community better get to the polls to support it. Allison Newport
the leader Puzzlers. Answers found in this week’s Classified section
SUDOKU
aCrOss
1. A sleeveless garment 5. Cold vegetable dish 10. Believed to bring good luck 12. Shittah tree 14. Hotel heiress 16. Of I 18. Diego, Francisco, Anselmo 19. __ King Cole, musician 20. Passover ceremony 22. ___ fi: space genre 23. Yearned 25. Desperate 26. Corded fabric 27. London radio station 28. Digital audiotape 30. Licenses TV stations 31. Employs 33. Food bar 35. Bigeye shad genus 37. Hog fats 38. Spoke 40. Moss capsule stalk 41. Openwork fabric 42. Chit 44. Holds for use 45. Ed Murrow’s
home 48. Egyptian god of life 50. Shaped into a sphere 52. Golfing stand 53. Red Sea straits 55. Swiss river 56. Hostelry 57. Indicates position 58. Inoculation 63. Slip by 65. Apple smartphone 66. Sheep cries 67. Affirmatives
dOwn
1. An inferior dog 2. 4th Caliph of Islam 3. Foot (Latin) 4. Relating to a people 5. Added sodium chloride 6. Perform something 7. Vientiane is the capital 8. Blemished 9. Roman 501 10. Keep up 11. Operator 13. Arbitrarily punished
15. 007’s creator 17. Gets up 18. Used to be United __ 21. Optical phenomenon of light waves 23. People supported broadcasting 24. Tap gently 27. With no brim or bill 29. Bulrushes 32. Educational test 34. Overweight 35. Musical composition 36. A religious recluse 39. Alt. of Tao 40. Heavyhearted 43. Brit. suspenders 44. Bodily structure protrusion 46. Sesame 47. 1/100 yen 49. About navy 51. Dali language 54. Celery cabbage 59. Winter time in Chicago 60. Annual percentage yield 61. Definite article 62. Operating system for 65 across 64. Pound (abbr.)
WORD SCRAMBLE
Page 4A • Saturday, February 13, 2021 • The Leader
Local book, tours reveal hidden Houston By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com
Dana DuTerroil grew up in the Heights and then returned to the neighborhood after a number of years spent in New Orleans. Living in New Orleans with its distinctive sense of place, DuTerroil found it easy to play tour guide there for friends and family. She wanted to do the same in Houston. “Houston can feel so massive,� DuTerroil said. “I wanted to help people find their own version of Houston.� Now, with friend and Houston transplant Joni Fincham, DuTerroil runs a company called Trip Chandler, which offers tours of Houston to visitors and locals. The name is a play on a ship’s chandler, who was a personal shopper for captain and crew in past times. The two also collaborated on a new book, “111 Places in Houston That You Must Not Miss,� published in October
2020 and already scheduled for a reprint. Local photographer Daniel Jackson took the pictures for the book. DuTerroil said Emons Verlag, the book’s publisher in Cologne, Germany, has a collection of U.S. city guidebooks — all with 111 places to visit. The number 11 is good luck in the German city. “They only hire local authors,� DuTerroil said. “We love writing and research, so it was a good fit.� They started working on the book in 2018. DuTerroil said she and Fincham did not have a hard time coming up with places to recommend. “We did it separately and compared notes,� DuTerroil said. “We were on the same page.� Their backgrounds as transplant and native were also helpful in getting a wellrounded picture of Houston. DuTerroil said there were a lot of great spots that didn’t make the book, such as restaurants
and bars. “We had to put limits on them because so many other guides focus on that,� DuTerroil said. “We tried to find other places that people might not know about.� One of these is certainly the book’s “most unusual bathroom,� another request from the publisher. The authors found Houston’s bathroom at the 1940 Air Terminal Museum. “The docent started talking about (the bathroom) and we knew we had been given a gift,� DuTerroil said. “When the cast of the movie “Giant� was traveling to Marfa they landed in Houston. They gave Liz Taylor her own powder room to freshen up. The chaise lounge they put in there for her is still there.� Heights picks include Casa Ramirez Folk Art Gallery on West 19th Street and Doug’s Barber Shop on East 11th Street. “Part of the movie ‘Rush-
more’ was filmed in that barbershop,� DuTerroil said. “People don’t know that the director Wes Anderson is from Houston.� Barbershop owner Doug Dreher died in 2020, as did Casa Ramirez founder Macario Ramirez, but DuTerroil said they were both aware of their inclusion in the city guide. The tour business started out with do-it-yourself personalized guides that DuTerroil and Fincham would put together for clients. Later, when they realized people wanted a tour guide, they got certified by the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau and began to shepherd school groups, journalists and senior citizens around the city. DuTerroil said they enjoy putting together theme tours, like their popular mural tours and in December 2019 for a wedding party largely from Asia — a Christmas-themed tour of the city’s light displays.
Photo by Kuhl Linscomb From left to right, Joni Fincham, Dana DuTerroil and Daniel Jackson pose for a picture at a book signing for “111 Places in Houston That You Must Not Miss.�
There is also an Arts and Brewery option. “We like to pair things together,� she said. Because of COVID-19, they haven’t done any tours in person lately but recently did a Zoom mural tour and lecture for South Texas College of Law students. “We’ve built the business to react to whatever comes our
way,� DuTerroil said. “We’re going to see how things look this spring.� For now, they are updating the book for its reprint. “We’ve enjoyed telling stories about the things that are hidden in plain sight,� she said. Visit https://www.tripchandler.com/ for more information.
PPP money still available: Why has it failed businesses? 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 many 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
Jonathan McElvy Publisher
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 conversa-
tion 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 minority-owned 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: 1. It made absolutely no sense to segregate the money for minority businesses. Why would Congress create two pots of money except to throw lip-service at the issue? 2. The period when minority businesses were allowed to “go aheadâ€? 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. 3. 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 minorityowned 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
ones designed to benefit from PPP because they were so devastated by the shutdown) 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. Email jonathan@mcelvypartners.com
owners, but it shows how poorly this was developed. Congress should have set aside money to help minority-owned 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 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
LHN hoops teams ranked among elite in TAPPS By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
It’s been quite the year for athletics at Lutheran High North. On the heels of the football team’s first playoff win in more than a decade in the fall, the school’s basketball teams are both in the process of closing out strong regular seasons and stand ranked among the TAPPS elite. The LHN boys team had a pair of wins last week to widen its lead in TAPPS 3A District 7, led by star guard Marvin Robinson Jr. He scored 59 points in a 104-44 win over Spring
Providence Classical on Feb. 4, his fifth game this season with at least 30 points. The Lions (12-5, 8-1 district), who moved up to eighth in the latest Texas Association of Basketball Coaches rankings for TAPPS 3A, were scheduled for a Tuesday night rematch against Providence Classical and are inching closer to the school’s first district title since 2006. The Lady Lions were idle last week and took a six-game winning streak into last Friday’s game against Covenant Christian. Led by one of the state’s leading scorers in Dalanna Carter, LHN maintained its
standing atop TAPPS 3A in the TABC’s most recent rankings.
leased a statement Feb. 4 criticizing the issuance of a Record of Decision. The group said it will continue to “fight against� the plan, which it said will not solve traffic congestion problems or make traveling on the highway any safer. The expansion project will displace hundreds of homes and businesses along the planned route, including in communities such as Independence Heights and Near Northside, according to TxDOT’s environmental impact statement. “We are not surprised by
TxDOT’s insistence on moving forward with their version of the (NHHIP), despite their continued failure to address any of the concerns raised by the City of Houston, Harris County, or the overwhelming number of community members who weighed in on the (Final Environmental Impact Statement),� Stop TxDOT I-45 said. “Issuing the Record of Decision in the face of mounting issues over the project is just one more example of TxDOT’s unwillingness to operate transparently or earn community trust.�
Public schools The Heights boys continued their winning streak last week by beating Lamar on Feb. 2 and Houston Math, Science and Tech on Feb. 5. Sir Roberts led three Bulldogs in double figures against Lamar with 24 points while adding nine rebounds. Kendric Rhymes and Chris Smith each had 18 points against Houston Math, Science and Tech as Heights (13-3, 9-1) won its fifth straight contest. Booker T. Washington split a pair of games last week, beating Mickey Leland College
I-45, from P. 1A nities of color, and because of its high cost at a time when the city is taking steps to expand alternate modes of transportation and reduce its reliance on gasoline-powered automobiles. “TxDOT is committed to continuing to meet with stakeholders and accepting public input as it proceeds through future project development phases,� Eliza Paul, the Houston District Engineer for TxDOT, said in a news release. An advocacy group called Stop TxDOT I-45, which is opposed to the project, re-
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Preparatory 86-81 on Feb. 6 after losing to district-leading Yates 103-87 on Feb. 2. Kenneth Lewis had 46 points and 10 rebounds for the Eagles (14-9, 11-3) against Mickey Leland, while Darius Potts scored 20 points to go along with six rebounds against Yates. Elbert Reed and Caleb Calestine each added 14 points against the Lions.
Waltrip had a pair of losses last week, falling 79-63 to Northside on Feb. 5 and dropping a 58-51 decision to Sharpstown on Feb. 6. That left the Rams at 8-9 overall and 5-7 in District 23-5A. Scarborough is still in search of its first win after losing to Wheatley 63-62 on Feb. 2, dropping to 0-16. The Heights Lady Bulldogs
continued to roll through District 18-6A with a 51-36 win over Bellaire. It was the 13th consecutive win for Heights (22-4, 12-0), which has clinched its second straight district title and is ranked 14th in the latest TABC poll for Class 6A. The Waltrip Lady Rams defeated Houston Austin 49-26 on Feb. 6, improving to 6-8.
CHURCH D I R E CTO RY
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The Leader • Saturday, February 13, 2021 • Page 5A
Theft, from P. 1A
Big Tex, from P. 1A
is a popular model. So he said he was pleasantly surprised to find that only a stereo speaker and amplifier were missing. The steering column also had been damaged and the ignition was ripped out, which enabled the thief or thieves to hotwire it, Smith said. Smith said it is not uncommon for stolen vehicles to be recovered, even in such a short period of time, because sometimes they are stolen and used to commit a subsequent crime, then abandoned after the fact. “There’s nothing in the report to indicate that (happened in this case),� Smith said. Polidore said he has “no idea� who stole his truck or why, but he suspects a quirk in how it operates may have helped him get it back. He said the gasoline gauge is broken and stuck on empty, so he suspects the person or people who stole it might have thought the truck was about to run out of gas. Now Polidore, who said he writes art curriculum for Houston ISD, will continue transforming the truck into an art car. He already has done some work to the interior. He wants to go retro with it, making it look like a 1968 Chevy on the outside with a 1970s-themed interior. Once that happens, the truck figures to have a better backstory than Polidore’s two other art cars. He also hopes it will be less attractive to car thieves. “Finally, when I’m ready to turn it into an art car, it gets stolen. Now I’m going to make sure to turn it into an art car so it’ll be a theft deterrent,� Polidore said with a laugh. “I’ve never had someone steal my art cars before, so I think the best way to keep this one is to start welding on it.�
carried handmade signs, chanted and expressed their opposition to Big Tex Storage, which is in the process of building a self-storage facility at the former site of a historic theater and church that was demolished in December. “I was glad to join Heights residents protesting to preserve the historic culture and architecture in the Heights neighborhood,� Jackson Lee wrote on Twitter. “We will move forward with our fight against the development of an eyesore building on the main thoroughfare in the Heights that was forced upon local residents with no input and complete disregard for the Heights’ history and culture.� Jackson Lee told her fellow protesters she would reach out to the developer and “see what could be worked out,� but it’s a local property matter that may be out of her hands as a federal lawmaker. Property owner Bobby Grover of Grover Ventures had met earlier in the week with the HHA, an organization that serves both residents and businesses in the neighborhood, and the HHA said in a statement Wednesday that Grover committed to tailoring the facility to make it more compatible with the character of the neighborhood. But the HHA said Grover was unwilling to budge on his plan to make the storage facility seven stories in height. The HHA said it left the meeting with “varied levels of comfort� with other aspects
of the project, such as Grover’s plan to reduce the amount of metal siding compared to other Big Tex Storage facilities in Houston, to locate parking in the back of the facility, provide privacy for backdoor neighbors and leave the adjacent alley intact, to mitigate flooding risks, traffic volume and sound and light pollution, to address safety and crime concerns and to make the facility pedestrian and cyclist friendly. The HHA said Grover also expressed an interest in enlisting a local muralist to create artwork on the property. “We let him know our preference is for him to build a shorter building that would be more in scale with our neighborhood, but unfortunately that is not possible due to the number of units required,â€? the HHA said. â€œâ€Ś While he is not making any concessions on the size of his building, we feel like we were able to establish a middle ground on certain aspects of the design.â€? Houston does not have zoning laws, and the property is outside of the Heights’ city-designated historic districts, meaning developments there are not required to adhere to the design standards of a historic district. Margaret Wallace Brown, the director of Houston’s Planning & Development Department, said earlier this month that the property owner had followed all the city’s rules for development and nearly completed the permitting process. She added, “There is
nothing that will stop him unless he decides not to do this.� Grover indicated he intends to move forward with the development in a statement provided to The Leader on Tuesday. But opponents of the project – including the nearly 5,000 community members who have signed an online petition called “Stop Big Tex Storage� – have at least gotten his attention. “I understand the concerns of those who showed up and signed the online petition and I remain committed to becoming a responsible and positive business for the Heights,� Grover said. Two of the petitioners, Heights residents Fred Lindner and Viula Torgerson, said they oppose the Big Tex Storage development because it is not compatible with the scale of surrounding buildings and does not fit with the pedestrian-friendly aesthetic of the neighborhood. The city plans to add bicycle lanes to that stretch of 11th Street while reducing the number of vehicular lanes from four to either three or two, depending on the intersection. Grover said Big Tex Storage will comply with the city’s transitoriented development rules and a “good number� of its pedestrianfriendly guidelines. Still, Torgerson characterized the planned facility as a “giant, corrugated, windowless bunker.� Big Storage has existing locations in Montrose, River Oaks and Garden Oaks, with the lat-
ter self-storage facility located at 3480 Ella Blvd. “The petition should be seen by Bobby Grover as a de facto boycott of his business,� Torgerson said. “That’s 5,000 immediate stakeholders, people who live around that location that refuse to use his business. And he can’t even hope to pull people from other parts of the community. If you look around, within a 5-minute drive, there’s 16 other storage units available. He’s not offering anything so special. You don’t get a free cocktail and concierge services to move your stuff in.� Even if the Heights is stuck with a Big Tex Storage facility, the outcry of neighborhood residents could have a tangible effect. Jackson Lee said city leaders should consider adopting a compatibility or quality-of-life ordinance that would provide neighborhoods with increased protections from unwanted developments, adding that zoning “may be something we have to look at.� Torgerson said demonstrations such as last Saturday’s could end up having a similar impact. “One of the important things about this protest and this process, even if he builds what he’s trying to build, other businessmen like him that don’t live in this community, don’t spend time in this community, don’t care about this community, they know, ‘If I try to do this in the Heights, they’re going to give me a really hard time,’ � she said.
Sinclair, from P. 1A cated for two new modular buildings because of projections that Sinclair’s enrollment, now at 589, would top 700 by the 2025-26 school year. At this week’s meeting, Mashburn said the one new building would address the campus’ capacity needs for the foreseeable future while maintaining the open play area with soccer and baseball fields at 6410 Grovewood Ln. He said the timeline would still allow the HISD facilities team to implement the project in time for the 2021-22 school year. And he stressed
that acceptance of the new building would not preclude Sinclair from being considered as part of any future HISD bond projects. Mashburn said there would be a notification on the school’s website at least 24 hours before the trees are removed. Mashburn said the existing temporary buildings on campus, which are more than 30 years old, will be updated as needed and utilized in the upcoming year, perhaps as science or writing labs. The principal also said there will still be a need for
a stormwater retention area, but that it would not be a retention pond that would hold standing water long term. Schaefer said she wonders what will happen to the rest of the money allocated for the project, which was earmarked at more than $3 million. Mashburn did not provide an estimated cost for the revised plan. “I continue to wonder about these oldest buildings the ones that are so decrepit and unsafe that the principal and district all agreed we needed to offset some of them,� Schaefer said. “The
ones that continue to drain maintenance time and money from HISD and other campuses. How can we so easily turn around and accept them as a continued part of campus?� Miles Sasser, president of the Timbergrove Manor Civic Club, said the compromise was a positive in that additional feedback was taken and the original plan changed when community input was considered. Sasser said he was a little surprised the previously expressed need for two new buildings, which was de-
scribed as urgent last month, could so easily be adjusted to one. And he questions how COVID-19 might change the school landscape. “My company is still virtual until at least summer and I know of other companies that will be partially or mostly remote next year,� he said. “I wonder if people’s changing work patterns will change where they decide to live. If people are only committed to drive to work one or two times a week, will more of them decide to move to the suburbs?� Sasser knows more high-
density development is coming to the area but feels the hampered pace caused by the pandemic will give the school more time to evaluate and plan for the long term. Sinclair parent Traci Riley said there will be wins in other Houston school communities because of the neighborhood advocacy on this issue. “HISD cannot continue to operate in silos and our area elected officials are taking notice,� Riley said. “Decisions that have a multi-generational impact should be made together.�
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The Leader • Saturday, February 13, 2021 • Page 7A
Art Valet: Stars of docuseries to have artwork on display Mitch Cohen Art Columnist
Fourteen Houston artists will feature their work in a group exhibit titled “Meet Houston’s Artists” from 6-8:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13 at Sabine Street Studios, 1907 Sabine St. The exhibit will remain on view through April 24. The artists were all part of a docuseries filmed during the pandemic and broadcast live in the latter part of 2020. The docuseries was narrated, directed and produced by artist MoNique LeRoux. She interviewed the 13 (LeRoux is the 14th) multi-level career
artists who continued to create their art in the turmoil that was 2020. In each episode, the artists express what they went through, how they coped and adjusted to a very changed world. There are tours of art spaces and studios and live painting. Without being prompted, during the interviews, each artist was asked, “What do you think the world needs more of in this time?” The overall response and immediate consensus across the artists, who had never before met one another, was, “Empathy.” Without having the opportunity to meet in person, I gathered just by LeRoux’s former careers and drive to produce the docuseries, she is a person that has drive and a lot
Contributed photo Artists from “Meet Houston’s Artists” will display their work.
of energy. This shows in the videos, which are on YouTube. LeRoux is a Texas native with French Creole heritage born in the small town of
Lufkin. LeRoux is also a military veteran, former police officer and former firefighter. The latter is the career in which her fascination with fire
and chemistry grew that gave birth to the unique combination of mixed media, abstract expression and the use of fire. After many years of searching for fulfillment within self and life, LeRoux found herself at a crossroads -- to continue the pursuit of a life of predictability or pursue her life’s dream, to be an artist. In 2016, LeRoux boxed up her last uniform and moved to Houston to pursue her passion. Her art career was born and MoNique LeRoux Art was established. LeRoux has directed, written, produced, edited and starred in her art films as well as this most recent art film project, the Meet Houston’s Artists Docuseries. LeRoux is a resident artist at Art Machine Gallery in Houston, located at Sawyer
Yards in the Silos. In addition to LeRoux, the artists included in the docuseries and Saturday’s reception include Miri Teresa, Thaddaeus Arvie, Elena Sandovici, Lauren Luna, Rodney D. Butler, Hugo Perez, Amy Cummins, Flux the Artist, Lex Simone, Brandi Untz, Gene Barron, Amy Malkan and Teresa L. Staley. I know many of these talented artists and am certain this will be a not-to-miss event. For more information, visit https://www.lerouxart.com/ meethoustonsartists. Cohen is an artist and founder of the First Saturday Arts Market and the Market at Sawyer Yards. Find him at ArtValet.com for additional highlights and artist’s stories.
Review: Revival Market an enjoyable one-stop shop Zarah Parker Managing Editor
Revival Market is the type of place that makes me wish I lived in the Heights. Having grown up just a neighborhood over, I feel envious that the Heights is now full of cool neighborhood spots that are laidback in atmosphere, but still use quality ingredients in their food. Even though the food costs more than a pretty penny. Revival is unique in that it’s a self-seating café and craft butcher shop. Over the last week I experienced a little bit of everything it offered, beginning with all-day breakfast. The buttermilk biscuit sandwich came with bacon and scrambled eggs. For the side I could choose breakfast potatoes or fresh fruit. I went with the former. The space is set up with a small couch and chair area on one side, perfect for sitting and sipping on coffee. The other side of the café features tall and regular-sized tables. The décor features nods to
the butcher shop, with mounted stuffed animal heads. The wait wasn’t long for my breakfast and coffee, which is called “The New Orleans” on the menu. It was made with espresso, chicory and milk. Chicory is a plant in the dandelion family and gave the drink an earthy, wood tinge that lightened up my morning. The biscuit was square and a dark golden brown. Inside the bacon was extra crispy and eggs were just right. The biscuit is aptly named because the buttery flakes of the bread was delicious with the eggs and bacon. The breakfast potatoes were lightly crispy on the outside but soft on the inside and sprinkled with seasoning. I’m a huge breakfast potato fan (or potato fan in general) and I loved how these turned out. When I stopped by during lunch time on another day, I got another kind of sandwich. The Garlic & Herb Chicken Sandwich comes with chicken breast, roasted tomatoes, red romaine and garlic aioli on sourdough bread. On the side I ordered the broccoli salad, which is charred broccoli with red onion, almonds, chili and
Photo by Zarah Parker The Garlic & Herb Chicken Sandwich with Broccoli Salad is among the lunch options at Revival Market, 550 Heights Blvd.
Photo by Zarah Parker Pictured above is the Buttermilk Biscuit Sandwich with a side of breakfast potatoes from Revival Market.
lime. The sourdough on the sandwich was toasted, which was a nice touch. The sandwich was straightforward, but what kicks it into a higher level is the garlic aioli. While there was a tad too much on mine — it got everywhere — that garlic flavor made the sandwich. The broccoli salad was my favorite side. I thought the combination of the vegetable with spice and lime made me experience broccoli in a new way. I also ended up grabbing
lemons and peppers, a link of Texas sausage and a piece of pig leg that my dad asked for so he could use it to flavor beans at home. The meat cooked wonderfully. I enjoyed the quality of both the steak and the sausage. The marinade had really soaked into the steak and gave it a great taste, especially of garlic, which I love smothering my steak with. I’ll definitely be back at revival, whether it be for breakfast, lunch, fresh meat or just a coffee.
another specialty coffee — the Honey Lavender, which is made with espresso, local honey, lavender bitters and milk. The person who made the drink did a great job of balancing the ingredients, but the lavender was the most prominent, which I liked. My lunch was to-go, and it held up well in its containers and was still warm when I got home to try it out. I couldn’t visit Revival Market with perusing the butcher shop offerings. I left with a steak that was packaged in a marinade of herbs, garlic,
Revival Market Address: 550 Heights Blvd. Hours: 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday Pricing: $12.50-16.75 Kid-friendly: Yes Alcohol: Sparkling Wine Healthy options: Yes Star of the show: Garlic & Herb Chicken Sandwich Follow us on social media @ FromTheLeader
FOOD BRIEFS:
Last-minute Valentine’s Day ideas New bar rolls into Heights By Zarah Parker
By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com
zarah@theleadernews.com
Over Valentine’s Day weekend, numerous restaurants are offering something special, even with a last-minute reservation. La Lucha, 1801 N. Shepherd Dr., will have a special selection of dishes this weekend, including Poor Man’s Plateau, which consists of marinated crab fingers, crab and shrimp campechana, smoked redfish dip, shrimp cocktail, a dozen oysters and Cajun caviar. Or patrons can order the Crawfish Ravioli, Grilled Maine Lobster or 8-ounce prime filet. To make a reservation, call the restaurant at 713-955-4765. Mutiny Wine Room, 1124 Usener St., has a special Valentine’s Day Wine Dinner that will be available Friday through Sunday. Mutiny will offer a special three-course prix fixe wine pairing dinner that also includes a wine flight for two in its tasting room. Mutiny is also offering a “Champagne & Dessert Take-Away Package” to enjoy at home. Call or email info@mutinywineroom.com for reservations and takeout orders. Urban Eats, 3414 Washington Ave., is celebrating the holiday Friday and Saturday from 5-9 p.m. with a menu available for dine-in and to-go. The dinner, which is $75, includes an appetizer, two entrees, a bottle of wine and a dessert. The vegan restaurant Verdine, 449 W. 19th St., is having a “Weekend of Love” with a new Valentine’s special each day. On Friday, Verdine is offering two dinner specials, including Tempeh Piccata with fresh fettuccini and stuffed delicata squash with truffle risotto. On Saturday, the restaurant will
The newly opened Kanpai Club in the Heights might just be the kind of cocktail bar “where everyone knows your name.” Kanpai, which means “cheers” in Japanese, is the sister concept and next-door neighbor to Hando, which specializes in hand-rolled sushi. Family Meal Group is the team behind both concepts at 518 W. 11th St. Kanpai was designed to be both its own bar and to be overflow space for guests at Hando. “The idea for Kanpai Club as a companion bar to Hando came shortly after dining rooms were closed due to the pandemic,” Family Meal Group partner Jason Andaya said. “With the belief that dining rooms would reopen under new distancing guidelines, we felt like we would eventually need to have a space that could double as a waiting area and an after-dinner spot to continue an evening out.” The décor at Kanpai was chosen to create a unique space that was reminiscent of back-alley bars in Japan. Another way they brought Japanese features to the space was by implementing the element of a brick-toned Japanese roof inside that runs along the length of the bar. The space, which shares a door with Hando, is about 400 square feet and sits 10 people at the bar. Kanpai serves an array of cocktails, such as the Lazy Suze made with Hornitos Plata, Suze, apricot, coconut cream, lime, walnut and a spice blend served in a kitschy coconut glass, along with sake, beer and wine. The bar also serves small plates and late-
Photo by Cyriaque Milhau Shorties & Grits is among the Valentine’s Day weekend offerings from Urban Eats, located at 3414 Washington Ave.
only be serving a three-course prix fixe dinner menu, available for dine-in with a reservation and to-go. On Sunday, Verdine has put together two Valentine’s-inspired brunch items, including Nutella-stuffed French toast and strawberry jam-filled doughnuts. Field & Tides, 705 E. 11th St., has weekend dinner specials, including Duck Ragu, Chilean Sea Bass and an 8-ounce tenderloin. AL Quick Stop coming to Heights The Revive Development at 518 W. 11th St. is gaining a new tenant with AL Quick Stop, according to CultureMap. Its first location in the Hyde Park area operated as both a restaurant and convenience store. The second location in the Heights will just operate as a restaurant serving Mediterranean food. New restaurant on 19th? Construction for Moonshine Deck, to be located at 1239 W. 19th St., appears to be nearing
completion. The space is a kitchen and bar, and Moonshine Deck’s Facebook page indicated last fall that it was in the process of hiring employees and would be opening soon. A Facebook message seeking comment was not returned. Crawfish season Mudbugs are officially in season and local restaurants are in supply. Three Creek Group concepts - Cedar Creek Bar & Grill at 1034 W. 20th St., Onion Creek Coffee House, Bar & Lounge at 3106 White Oak Dr. and Cactus Cove Bar & Grill at 3333 W. 11th St. - have announced having three crawfish flavors available, including traditional Cajun, French style with butter, garlic and herbs, and Vietnamese style. They are $10 per pound or $45 for 5 pounds. BB’s Tex-Orleans, which has locations at 1737 W. 34th St. and 2701 White Oak Dr., is among the other local restaurants serving fresh crawfish.
Contributed photo Pictured are some of the cocktails available at Kanpai Club, which recently opened at 518 W. 11th St. in the Heights.
night snacks such as curry fries, spicy edamame and chicken karaage. Kanpai, which is cashless, operates 4 p.m.–midnight Sunday through Thursday and 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Friday and Satur-
day. Happy hour is from 4-6 p.m. daily. The late-night menu is available from 10 p.m.–midnight Sunday through Thursday and 11 p.m.-2 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
Page 8A • Saturday, February 13, 2021 • The Leader
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The Leader • Saturday, February 13, 2021 • Page 1B
Give your Valentine dark chocolate
Preferred Health
By Betsy Denson
DIRECTORY
betsy@theleadernews.com
According to the National Retail Federation, American shoppers plan to spend $2.4 billion on candy this Valentine’s Day. That includes 58 million pounds of chocolate. If you really want to drill down, Ferrero Rocher chocolates and Reese’s Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups are trending on Amazon with Godiva and Hershey Kisses hot on their heels. Everything in moderation is probably the sage advice when it comes to candy, but in the realm of healthy chocolate, there are some clear winners. Registered dietitian Catherine Kruppa, who owns Houston-based Advice for Eating, said you should look for dark chocolate that is at least 60 percent cocoa. Cocoa is the plant from which chocolate is made. Kruppa said the higher percentage indicates the chocolate has more flavonoids, which are antioxidants. “Antioxidants protect our cells, but flavonoids may also play a role in reducing inflammation and aid in preventing cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer,” she said. “Research also shows the dark chocolate may help alleviate depressive symptoms.” Kruppa said the recommended “dose” is approximately 1-2 ounces or about 30-60 grams. “Indulge in anything more than that, and you may be consuming too many calories,” she said. Kruppa said she likes to indulge in a small piece of dark chocolate after dinner. A few of her favorite brands include Lindt Excellence 70 percent dark chocolate, Hu Simple Dark Chocolate, and Raaka Unroasted Dark Chocolate, which is 100 percent cocoa. Other healthy options include chocolate-covered banana slices or strawberries, or adding dark chocolate chips to smoothies, protein balls and even as a topping for oatmeal. “You can also use cacao powder to make hot chocolate on a cold day,” Kruppa said. Here are some easy recipes if you want to take a swing at making sweets for your sweet. Homemade Melt-In-YourMouth Dark Chocolate (from Allrecipes.com)
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Stock photo Along with being a show of affection, giving the gift of dark chocolate for Valentine’s Day also comes with health benefits.
Ingredients • ½ cup coconut oil • ½ cup cocoa powder • 3 tablespoons honey • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract Directions: Gently melt coconut oil in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir cocoa powder, honey and vanilla extract into melted oil until well blended. Pour mixture into a candy mold or pliable tray. Refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour. Dark Chocolate Hot Cocoa (from Allreceipes.com) Ingredients • 1 cup whole milk • 1?½ teaspoons brown sugar, or to taste • 2 ounces dark chocolate, or to taste • 1 tablespoon heavy whipping cream, or more to taste • 1 pinch ground cinnamon, or more to taste Directions: Heat milk in a saucepan over medium heat until just before boiling, 3 to 4 minutes. Add
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Stock photo Drinking hot cocoa made with dark chocolate can provide health benefits in addition to being satisfying and warming on a cold day.
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HHA continues to host blood donation events antibody tests. For more information about donating blood at the Heights Fire Station, email HHA executive director Emily Guyre at emily@houstonheights.org.
By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
The Houston Heights Association (HHA) is asking community members to share their love by giving blood during the month of Valentine’s Day. After hosting a blood donation event on Wednesday at the Historic Heights Fire Station, located at 107 W. 12th St., the HHA has two more blood drives scheduled during February. The next event is Thursday, Feb. 18, followed by another blood drive a week later on Feb. 25. Both upcoming events will be held from 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m., with three donation slots available every 15 minutes. Online registration is required. Those who wish to donate blood can sign up for a slot at https://www. commitforlife.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/329145 for Feb. 18 and at https://www.commitforlife.org/donor/schedules/ drive_schedule/331610 for Feb. 25. The HHA began hosting blood drives last May and has become a hub of sorts for the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center, which provides blood for 140 hospitals in 26 counties
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Contributed photo The Houston Heights Association’s next scheduled blood drive at the Historic Heights Fire Station is Feb. 18, followed by another event on Feb. 25.
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Page 2B • Saturday, February 13, 2021 • The Leader
Is collagen supplement a cure-all? By Shana Tatum, RD, LD
case that results translate across gender lines. Also limited in research is the benefit of collagen for osteoporosis. The Journal of Functional Foods reported that in lab studies, collagen peptides increased osteoblasts, cells that are responsible for building bone. These have been small trials
www.shanatatumrd.com
Likely you have walked the grocery store aisle and seen a row of collagen supplements or seen some social media ad that shouts, “Add me to your smoothie!” Collagen is a major body constituent that comprises approximately 30 percent of the body’s protein as connective tissue, blood vessels, skin, ligaments and muscles. It is made from the amino acids glycine, proline, hydroxyproline and arginine. The body naturally makes collagen. As we age, the ability to synthesize protein declines and our needs increase. We may also have less ability to absorb nutrients important for collagen production like we once did. This is one good reason to evaluate your daily protein intake. Lifestyle factors such as smoking, high-sugar diets and excessive sun exposure can be additional reasons that collagen integrity can deteriorate. Different names for collagen exist such as collagen peptides, hydrolyzed collagen and collagen hydrolysate. Unhydrolyzed collagen is gelatin. There are many types of collagen in the body. Below are the three main types we consider as related to supplementation, all categorized as peptides. • Type I – seen in the thin matrix cover of bone and teeth and provides for skin elasticity, found in marine sources of collagen. • Type II – seen mostly in cartilage, discs of the spine and in the eyes, found in bone broth. • Type III – seen in the finely branching fibers in connective tissue, muscles and vessels, intestinal lining found in bovine collagen peptides. Supplemented collagen does not go directly to building bone or improving wrinkles; it tells the body to increase production of collagen because it recognizes it is
Tatum
incomplete, not a full-length protein. Peptides are short units of proteins. Including adequate dietary protein intake from chicken, fish and eggs as well as dark leafy greens is a great way to be sure you support collagen formation. The need to include vitamin C, copper and zinc for synthesis of collagen in the body is also important. Foods like strawberries, kiwi, red, yellow and green bell peppers, tomatoes, shellfish and pumpkin seeds are all sources of these necessary vitamins and minerals. Unfortunately, the research on collagen supplementation is lacking and when we find it, oftentimes it has been funded by companies eager to sell their products. We can find studies that point to its benefit for bone and joint health, osteoarthritis and skin health. According to the Journal of Medicinal Food, a reduction in cellulite was seen in a small study of women age 24-50 with moderate cellulite. This study showed that collagen may affect dermal density and skin elasticity. Collagen has also been advertised to be beneficial for maintaining muscle mass. This was a small study of 53 older men with sarcopenia by the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. It demonstrated that when combined with resistance training, improved muscle mass was seen. It’s not always the
and highlights that further research could prove beneficial. If you decide to supplement with collagen peptides, be aware that heavy metals can often be found in these supplements. In animals, bone and connective tissue is often a place (along with fat cells) that heavy metals are
deposited. Look for organic and grass-fed sources if this is your choice. Take caution, though. If you don’t pay attention to a balanced diet rich in nonstarchy vegetables, lower glycemic fruits, healthy monounsaturated fats and plant or animal proteins, and you live a sedentary life without ade-
quate sleep, don’t expect collagen to improve your health. It’s easy to get caught up on the latest health craze and pop a pill or powder to fix imbalances. The human body is smarter than that. Biochemistry always finds a workaround. Treat your body well with real food and it will love you back.
Women’s Health Directory Directory of Local Female Health Service Professionals Dr. Stephanie Fulton Dr. Fulton is certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Her practice consists of obstetrics, gynecology, and cosmetic procedures such as laser hair removal. She is a graduate of the University of Texas and completed residency at St. Vincent’s Medical Center where she was a Chief Resident. Dr. Fulton volunteers as part of the health team ministry of her church. 1740 W. 27 St. Suite 301 • Houston, TX 77008 713-880-2727 www.fultonobgyn.com
Dr. Attiya S. Khan Dr. Khan focuses on the prevention of heart disease through early diagnosis and provides the latest interventional techniques to treat coronary and peripheral vascular diseases. She is one of the few female interventional cardiologists in Houston available to perform emergency angioplasties and stents for patients who are experiencing a heart attack. 1631 North Loop West, Ste. 220 • Houston TX 77008 713-365-0786 www.nwcardiology.net
Dr. Becky J. Fredrickson Board Certified Ophthalmologist. Dr. Fredrickson has been practicing ophthalmology for over 12 years. She routinely sees patients for diabetes, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and ocular infections. She specializes in surgical procedures including cataract, eyelid lifts, eyelid cysts, Botox and Juvederm, and pterygia. 1415 N. Loop, Ste 400 • 427 W. 20th St. Ste 100 Houston, TX 77008 713-668-6828 • www.houstoneye.com
Dr. Jaclyn Harrison, M.D. Board Certified Internal Medicine Dr. Jaclyn Harrison, a board certified internal medicine physician, has opened a new primary care/internal medicine practice, White Oak Medical Associates in the Heights. She believes patients deserve their doctor’s focused attention, personalized care, and is devoted to compassionate, effective treatment for her patients. 1900 North Loop W, Suite 580 • Houston, TX 77018 713-714-5376 Whiteoakmedicalassociates.com
The Leader • Saturday, February 13, 2021 • Page 3B
Tips for slowing Private-school soccer squads down fast eaters running over competition coming, he might feel inclined to gobble it down quickly. If you feed your dog at the same time every day, he’ll come to recognize the pattern and might slow down his eating. Dear Tabby, Our dog eats his food so fast! He gobbles it up so fast that sometimes he even throws it right back up. What can we do to slow down our fast eater? Wolfing down food in Woodland Heights Dear Wolfing down food, There can be a number of reasons why your dog is “wolfing” down his food. Sometimes, dogs who have known food insecurity in the past are very eager and aggressive eaters. Or, if you have another dog in the house, the added pressure to get their fair share can cause dogs to eat too quickly. And then some dogs just eat fast -- for no other rhyme or reason. No matter what is the cause of your dog’s fast eating, there are a few simple things that you can do to slow him down a bit.
Feed smaller meals more often If you’re only feeding your dog once a day, he might be getting too hungry, causing him to eat too quickly. Try instead to feed him two to three smaller meals a day and see if this helps him to slow down. Try different feeding setup You can buy special bowls that make it impossible to gobble down food, or you can try a do-it-yourself hack. For instance, if he has a non-tipping bowl, try turning it upside down and putting his kibble in the outer ring of the bowl. This will cause him to work hard to get to each piece of
kibble and he might even have to chase the bowl around the floor a little. Both of these activities might look frustrating to you, but if you think about how dogs eat in the wild (chasing down their food and then methodically picking meat off of bones), this is exactly how he’s built to eat. Did you know? CAP (Citizens for Animal Protection) is hosting a special at its on-site clinic. Throughout February, when you bring two pets to the Cornelius Clinic for vaccinations at the same time, you’ll get $10 off the second pet’s vaccines. The Cornelius Clinic provides affordable vaccination and other basic pet wellness services, by appointments only, with curbside service. To schedule an appointment, call 281-600-8500. Do you have a question for Tabby? Email her at deartabbyquestions@gmail.com.
Pet of the Week
Meet Comet
Meet Comet. This 7-monthold retriever mix has lots of energy (as most pups his age do!) and is ready for a family to call his very own. Comet is working hard on his house manners and loves to be around other dogs and people. He is very playful and catching on to walking on a leash like a champ. He’s not a fan of cats, however, so Comet would prefer not to live with any. Go to www.cap4pets.org to learn more about this superstar of a pet and other adoptable animals.
Build his confidence If a dog doesn’t feel confident due to a traumatic past or living in a home with other animals, try feeding him in a quiet, safe location free from the hustle and bustle of the house. You can also try feeding him in his crate to help him feel extra “safe.” Feed on regular schedule If your dog never quite knows when his next meal is
By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
As they reach the middle of the 2021 campaign, several of the area’s high school soccer teams are proving once again they are forces to be reckoned with in the private-school ranks. The St. Thomas boys team improved to 11-6-1 with a 6-1 victory over Concordia Lutheran on Monday. Pablo Tager and Santiago Labarthe each had two goals as the Eagles snapped a two-game losing streak ahead of Tuesday night’s district game against The Village School. Meanwhile, the Lutheran High North Lions defeated Northland Christian 4-2 on Monday night to clinch a district championship. St. Pius X fell to Monsignor Kelly on Feb. 2, before losing to The Village School on penalty kicks a day later. However, the Panthers rebounded to beat Concordia Lutheran 3-2 on senior night Feb. 5, improving to 4-6-2 on the season. In public school action, the Heights Bulldogs shut out Westbury 3-0 on Feb. 3 for their third consecutive victory. Esdras Hernandez found the back of the net twice for the Bulldogs (5-1), while Carlos Tamayo added a goal of his own as Heights got its fourth shutout of the season. Waltrip dropped both matches last week, losing 4-2 to Sharpstown on Feb. 3 and then falling in a Feb. 6 match against Milby on penalty kicks. That left the Rams at 2-4-1 overall and 2-2 in District 235A.
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It’s the change of the season! Finally, we are getting some relief from the heat. With the temperature change, it is a must to have your battery checked to avoid being surprised by a dead battery.
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On the public school side, the Scarborough Lady Spartans have won four consecutive matches – including two by forfeit – and are 4-1 on the season. Following a forfeit win against Wheatley on Feb. 2, the Lady Spartans defeated Furr 3-1 in overtime Feb. 5. Leading goal scorers Katherine Alvarado and Imelda Loredo (five goals each) both put one home against Furr, as did Kemberlin Mazariegos.
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Girls Coming off last year’s 13-3 season and subsequent playoff appearance, the St. Pius X Lady Panthers are proving to be one of TAPPS Division I, District 4’s premier teams once again. SPX beat The Village School 4-0 on Feb.4 and Monsignor Kelly 4-0 on Monday to run its winning streak to three games. The Lady Panthers are now 14-2 on the season.
Buy a dozen donuts, get a kolache free.
With $100 purchase you will receive a FREE Crystal Bead while supplies last. Offer good thru 2-20-21.
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THE PUBLIC. The Leader • Saturday, February 13, 2021 • Page 4B
Luby’s lovers prepare to part ways with cafeteria chain By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com
Wallace Fuller has walked a tray down the line at Luby’s for what seems like forever. “At least, that’s what it feels like,” Fuller said. “I’ve been coming to Luby’s for at least 30 years. I like the food. I like the people.” Fuller and other lovers of Luby’s might not be walking through the cafeteria line much longer. According to a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing 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. Upon hearing the iconic Texas cafeteria chain is preparing to close, Fuller said he felt the same sense of sadness
he had all last year, when he watched other longtime joints shutter. “I hate to have to watch it close, and I wish more people appreciated its simple offerings,” Fuller said. “But on the bright side, I’ve got to say I’m glad that Luby’s has been around as long as it has.” The Houston-based restaurant chain was founded in San Antonio in 1947, and has an Oak Forest location at 11250 Northwest Fwy. In September of last year, Luby’s, which also includes Fuddruckers restaurants under its cooperate umbrella, announced plans for liquidation and dissolution, but left the option open that the company could be sold and continue operations. But according to the SEC filing, “liquidation is imminent.”
The fate of the Oak Forest Luby’s is uncertain, according to a manager there. “When I read that Luby’s might close a few months ago, I didn’t really believe it,” said Kelly Rodgers, an Oak Forest resident. “I figured it was a big cooperation and would find a way to survive.” Kelly, along with her husband, Leonard, enjoy Luby’s for lunch often because it’s not as crowded as other area restaurants. While they haven’t been able to visit much in the last year due to the pandemic, they try to make it out at least once a month. “The roast beef has always been my favorite, though Leonard used to say he only came here for the Jell-O,” Kelly said. Leonard joked that it’s harder to watch a place like
Photo by Zarah Parker Luby’s, the Texas cafeteria chain with an Oak Forest-area location at 11250 Northwest Fwy., has set a timeline for ceasing operations.
Luby’s close because it made him feel old, rather than missing the place itself. The couple, who are both in their early 80s, have been in the neighborhood for decades and have seen how it has changed throughout the years. “I don’t mind the changes,” Leonard said. “I’m not one of those old folks who can’t handle it, but I don’t like it when staples to the area close. It makes me feel like it’ll be my turn next.” Kelly was of a different opinion. She said she has a harder time accepting changes, and Luby’s would be hard to lose. “What is that saying? ‘All good things must end’ or something like that?” Kelly said. “This must be one of those things. Luby’s will be missed if it’s gone for good.”
HPD investigating gas station shooting Music series at Marmion Park starts Saturday By Zarah Parker
By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
Houston police are looking into an area shooting that left a man hospitalized last weekend. The victim, 22-year-old Juan Soto, was taken to a hospital in stable condition, according to the Houston Police
Department. HPD said Soto was sitting in his car at the Fuel Expo Super Mark gas station at 857 W. Tidwell Rd. just before 9 p.m. last Saturday, Feb. 6 when an unknown black male came up to him, pulled out a gun and fired multiple shots toward the car during an altercation. One shot struck Soto in the left
shoulder, police said, before he managed to drive away and call 9-1-1. Anyone with information in this case is urged to contact HPD’s Major Assaults & Family Violence division at 713308-8800 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477.
What locals are doing this Valentine’s Day By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com
Even though there’s a multitude of area couples who try to avoid Valentine’s Day crowds at restaurants by celebrating the holiday of love before or after Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day is still a day of packed restaurants. Or it was. This year, with a pandemic hanging over the holiday and limited capacity at restaurants, some plans are sure to have been flipped. But not for everyone. “No change here. My husband and I have always celebrated Valentine’s the night before at a restaurant,” Oak Forest resident Rosie Davis said. “On Valentine’s we cook a nice meal at home.” Davis said the Valentine’s Day dinner at home has become a family event. “It gets pretty fancy,” she said. “My parents love it, especially my dad. I’m one of five girls and when we were little he would buy an ice cream cake on Valentine’s for us. Then we grew up. Now he gets to celebrate Valentine’s with us again.”
Liz Christensen, another Oak Forest resident, is also keeping things the same this year. “My husband is the cook in our family and he makes sushi every Valentine’s Day,” Christensen said. Some other local residents said they still planned to celebrate the holiday like they normally would, but are changing up when they do it. One is celebrating during breakfast on Saturday, and another said they were going to wait until Monday night. Some area residents plan to have a date night in to keep it both simple and safe. Heights resident Rebecca Fredric and her husband celebrate the night before at a nice restaurant. She said they both consider themselves foodies and use Valentine’s Day as an excuse to spend more money than they normally do. “This year, we thought it would be better to stay in just in case the restaurants got crowded,” Fredric said. “But we still wanted great food. I’m not the best cook, so we’re going to do one of those to-go packages from a
local restaurant. We haven’t decided from where yet, but I’m excited to see how it will change the experience.” The experience that Fredric mentioned is the dim-lit atmosphere restaurants have during dinner on Valentine’s that promotes “romance.” She said she’s not sure her dining room will give the same vibe, but she isn’t too worried about it. “I really only get excited about Valentine’s Day because of the food,” Fredric said. Trisha Layne, on the other hand, is bummed that she’s had to change plans from eating out to eating in. “The 13th is my anniversary, so we’ve always celebrated it with Valentine’s Day,” Layne said. “I love the day of love, and I know that some people don’t care about it, but I love the idea there’s a day dedicated to giving someone you love a box of candy and a teddy bear.” Instead of going out this weekend, Layne and her husband are cooking at home and celebrating with their kids.
CORRECTION: The name and date of an upcoming free webinar hosted by Solak Legal were incorrect in last week’s edition. The “Wills v. Trusts” webinar will be held at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24. Email jennifer@solaklegal.com to register. The Leader regrets the error.
zarah@theleadernews.com
The Houston Heights Association (HHA) and Greenwood King Properties are bringing an outdoor concert series to Marmion Park, 1800 Heights Blvd. The series, called “Music @ Marmion,” will begin Saturday in celebration of Mardi Gras. From 3-5 p.m., Bayou Roux will be playing music for anyone who stops by the park. “The HHA is focused on community engagement, and we want to take advantage of our Marmion Park property by scheduling an outdoor, socially distanced concert,” said Emily Guyre, the executive director of the HHA.
Greenwood King Properties, which is located at 1801 Heights Blvd., is the underwriter of the event, which means they help with the expenses. “Greenwood King wanted to try more organic marketing and we thought a music series would be a great way to get in front of our neighbors and clients,” Theresa Hill of Greenwood King said. “When the Houston Heights Association asked if we wanted to partner with them, we jumped at the chance.” The series has been a group effort, with both the HHA and Greenwood King being involved with selecting a theme, choosing bands, marketing the event and the logistics.
“Our preliminary plans with the HHA is to have a Spring Concert Series in February, March and April and a Fall Concert Series in August, September and October,” Hill said. Details on the next concert in the series are still in the works. Guyre said attendees need to know that social distancing rules will apply and they would like for people to wear masks. Attendees can bring lawn chairs or blankets as well as their own snacks and beverages. “The Music @ Marmion concert series are free, and it is an absolute requirement that everyone have fun,” Guyre said.
Police Reports • Feb. 2 - Feb. 7 FEB. 2
Assault 8 PM 19500 BLOCK DUNBAR Assault 7 PM 1000 BLOCK ASHLAND Assault 11 PM 700 BLOCK N LOOP Theft 11 PM 4600 BLOCK NORHILL
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FEB. 3
Theft 11 PM 4000 BLOCK NORHILL Theft 11 PM 400 BLOCK NORTHWOOD Theft 3 PM 200 BLOCK W 20TH Assault 8 PM 1100 BLOCK NICHOLSON Assault 1 PM 400 BLOCK LINK Theft 2 PM 00 BLOCK CROSSTIMBERS Other 6 PM 1900 BLOCK E CROSSTIMBERS Other 10 AM 1800 BLOCK SANDMAN
FEB. 4
Theft 8 PM 1200 BLOCK NORTHWOOD Theft 12 AM 500 BLOCK YALE Theft 10 AM 1000 BLOCK VINCENT Theft 9 AM 300 BLOCK W 19TH Robbery 11 AM 2100 BLOCK YALE Assault 8 AM 1900 BLOCK HEIGHTS BLVD Other 7 PM 200 BLOCK W 20TH Theft 5 PM 1000 BLOCK W 20TH Other 7 AM 1800 BLOCK AIRLINE
713-694-4867
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BLACK GOLD GUNS & AMMO Licensed FFL/Class III Dealer Assault 7 AM 1800 BLOCK AIRLINE Robbery 11 PM 800 BLOCK WAKEFIELD Theft 12 PM 700 BLOCK TABOR Arrest 2 PM 4400 BLOCK YALE
FEB. 5
Theft 10 PM 1000 BLOCK OMAR Theft 6 AM 500 BLOCK W 27TH Assault 8 AM 900 BLOCK HEIGHTS BLVD Theft 4 AM 1400 BLOCK NORTHWOOD
FEB. 6
Robbery 9 AM 200 BLOCK W 20TH Theft 1 PM 100 BLOCK N LOOP Other 9 AM 1600 BLOCK AIRLINE Vandalism 2 AM 4000 BLOCK N SHEPHERD Arrest 2 AM 3900 BLOCK AIRLINE Theft 9 PM 300 BLOCK CROSS-
TIMBERS Burglary 4 PM 500 BLOCK W CROSSTIMBERS Theft 1 AM 700 BLOCK W 26TH Theft 4 AM 1200 BLOCK E 32ND Vandalism 4 AM 2800 BLOCK AIRLINE
FEB. 7
Theft 12 AM 100 BLOCK W 20TH Theft 8 AM 3300 BLOCK DELHI Assault 2 AM 1300 BLOCK ENID Assault 4 PM 4200 BLOCK E CROSSTIMBERS Theft 2 PM 1300 BLOCK CROSSTIMBERS Burglary 2 AM 4800 BLOCK ELI Theft 8 AM 100 BLOCK YALE Vandalism 12 AM 700 BLOCK N LOOP Reports are provided by SpotCrime.com based on data from the Houston Police Department.
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Change Your Oil. Change a Life. Get Two FREE Oil Changes on any one vehicle when you Donate $35* to Car Pros For Kids
Join us this February and help make a difference in an abused child’s life. When you make a minimum donation of $ 35.00* to Child Advocates through the Car Pros For Kids program, you’ll receive two free oil changes on any one vehicle.* Car Pros For Kids was founded 28 years ago by Byron Rusk, Owner of RMS Auto Care & Collision and Master Car Care and Collision. It’s a Life Changing Gift. 100% of Your Donation Goes to Child Advocates.
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Come In, Call 713-862-6630 or Book On-line at www.mastercarcarehouston.com