June 27 Section A

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Fun New Clothes

Inside Today: Big news about the Dian Street Villas • Page 3B

for Summer! Masks & Hand Sanitizer Available

Flower & Gift Shop

MICHAEL SILVA

michael@happenhouston.com

713-725-8748 cell

Covering the Heights, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest & the neighborhoods of North Houston

10570 NW Frwy ❖ 713-680-2350

Saturday, June 27, 2020 • Vol. 65 • No. 26

ABOUT US 2020 North Loop West Suite 220 (713) 686-8494 news@theleadernews.com www.theleadernews.com Facebook/FromTheLeader

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PHYLLIS A. OESER ATTORNEY AT LAW

Reader’s Choice for

Local businesses on board with mask mandate By Adam Zuvanich

azuvanich@theleadernews.com

Gary Mosley is not a doctor. He just pretends to be one when he’s at one of his restaurants. The Heights resident and owner of the Creek Group, which operates four bar-andgrill concepts in the area, is trying to take a lighthearted approach to a serious issue facing Houston and the rest of the world. COVID-19 has

infected about 9 million people across the globe and led to about 500,000 deaths, and the number of local cases has spiked recently as most businesses in Texas have been open for nearly two months. In an attempt to curb that trend and keep the Houston area’s hospitals from becoming overwhelmed by severe cases of the contagious upper-respiratory disease, Harris County Judge Lina Hidal-

go issued an executive order last week requiring all businesses in the city and county to force their employees, customers and other visitors to wear masks that cover their mouths and noses while on commercial properties. The order took effect Monday. “We all wanted to be a doctor at some point in our lives, so let’s just enjoy it,” Mosley said. See Mask P. 4A

Photo by Betsy Denson Charlotte Hendley looks at items at Darlene’s Flower & Gift Shop, wearing one of the masks the store is selling.

Tears for Sears

By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com

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INSIDE.

Photo by Jonathan McElvy Customers walk into the Sears department store at 4000 N. Shepherd Dr., which plans to close soon. The Garden Oaks store, one of two remaining Sears locations in the Houston area, opened in 1949.

Longstanding Sears store on Shepherd set to close By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com Mask order. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo has ordered all businesses to require masks.

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For good pho. Zarah Parker reviews a local Vietnamese restaurant.

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Dad could lose track of time while checking out the selection of tools, while Mom might shop for clothes or household appliances. The department store has had plenty of attractions for kids as well, such as cheap toys, sweet candy, fresh popcorn and wintertime visits with Santa Claus. If the family vehicle needed a new set of tires, Sears was the place to go for that, too. The Sears at 4000 North Shepherd Dr. has been a one-stop shop for generations of families from the Heights, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest and other area neighborhoods since opening its doors in 1949. But the store lights will soon go out, with yellow signs on and near the entrance saying Sears is having a “Store Closing Sale.” News of the upcoming closing, posted Monday on theleadernews.com, prompted a flood of nostalgic comments on The Leader’s website and Facebook page. Rita Burton said she shopped there for years while living in the area, because Sears had most evSee Sears P. 4A

Reason to dance. A Fred Astaire dance studio is coming to the area.

Photo by Adam Zuvanich The original sign for the Sears in Garden Oaks greets passersby on North Shepherd Drive.

Following last week’s announcement that HISD will not move forward with an 11-month academic calendar for the 2020-2021 year – and Governor Greg Abbott’s affirmation that in-person school could commence – Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan sent an e-mail to HISD parents with an update on plans which she said will not be finalized until midJuly. However, a draft document that was posted in the staging portion Morath of the TEA website – by mistake according to the TEA – provides more information, as well as guidelines that are heavy on recommendations and light on requirements. The HISD email stated that due to the continLathan ued rise in Houston’s COVID-19 cases, the situation remains fluid. “During his presentation, the commissioner emphasized that the Texas Education Agency (TEA) is working with Gov. Greg Abbott’s medical advisors to establish public health guidance for school districts,” Lathan said. “In the meantime, HISD has formed its own Communicable Diseases Plan Task Force — which is made up of health experts, parents, students, staff, and community members — to help determine guidelines and protocols to resume operations at the campus and administrative levels.” The same three options as previously communicated are on the table for the 2020-2021 year: Classes could resume in person; Classes could continue to take place entirely online; or Classes could be held as a combination of in-person and virtual instruction. See TEA P. 5A

Dock diving a passion for dogs, owners By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com

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THE INDEX. Church....................................................... 5A Classifieds.............................................. 6A Coupons. ................................................. 8A Food/Drink/Art................................... 9A Obituaries.............................................. 5A Opinion. ................................................... 3A Public Information......................... 4B Puzzles...................................................... 3A

TEA to provide final guidance to schools by mid-July

Contributed photo Both of Jo Dunham’s dogs have taken to the sport, but Goose is especially skilled at dock diving.

Garden Oaks resident Jo Dunham hasn’t always been a dog person, but she’s making up for lost time – with both a hobby and a business that revolves around her dogs. “I did have a Sheltie growing up and two yorkies as an adult, but I’ve had (Golden Retrievers) ever since my son Jaxon was small,” Dunham said. She credits Golden Frisco – “the best dog ever” – who died tragically at 4 years old to really

make her fall in love. As Frisco could do tricks with just minimal training at home, when Dunham got her next dog, Goose, she enlisted a professional trainer based in St. Louis. And because Goose learned how to swim while he was away, Dunham wanted to put in a pool for him when he got back. Jaxon, who attends Frank Black Middle School, approved. Everyone enjoyed the new pool, especially Goose, which got Dunham’s wheels spinning again. She began to explore

the sport of dock diving, and coincidentally discovered that Goose’s trainer, John Gassner, had helped to invent the sport. There is even an association for the sport. North America Diving Dogs (NADD) is recognized by the American Kennel Club, although dogs without a pedigree can compete. “It’s such a welcoming sport,” Dunham said. “You don’t have to be a registered dog. I’ve seen three-legged dogs do it.” See Dock Diving P. 8A


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