July 4 Section B

The Leader • Saturday, July 4, 2020 • Page 1B

Area teens make own summer jobs

By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com

It is not always easy for younger teens to find summer jobs – and at the present time those normal difficulties are compounded by COVID-19. Some local kids, however, are making their own luck by running their own unique businesses.

One of these is 13-year-old Frank Black Middle School student Ben Griffith, who recently started Lego Mania, a Lego rental service. Customers rent a set from his website (https:// griffithben07.wixsite.com/legomania), keep the set for as long as they need, and then return it so it can be rented again.

The set comes to customers almost new as Griffith sorts the pieces in their original bags.

“I have lots of Lego sets from when I was a kid,” Griffith said. “We always wanted to put them back together, but it was too hard to find all the pieces. I established a Lego sorting system with a little help from my mom. Now, putting the sets back together is a breeze. As soon as the pieces were sorted I set to work building up a starting inventory. After that, I built my website, and Lego Mania was born.”

Another Garden Oaks teen is turning his love of baseball into a money maker. Rising St. Thomas High School junior Landon Croker plays on the school’s baseball team. One of his summer jobs is a mobile baseball camp.

“A friend and I host the camp at any park that the participants want, and we have fun for an hour playing games and reinforcing basic baseball skills depending on the participant’s experience level,” Croker said. “We have a Facebook page called Safe at Home Mobile Baseball Lessons where anyone can find our contact information to schedule lessons.”

Ella Lee Forest resident Kaid Nygren, who will be a junior at St. Pius X High School next year, is also an athlete who is sharing his lacrosse and soccer skills with area kids.

“I give an hour lesson no matter what skill level the player is,” Nygren said. “I promote it on Facebook.”

Natalie Denson, a rising sixth grader at Frank Black, takes lessons from Nygren.

“It’s not boring,” she said. “I had never played before and now I think I might want to play at school.”

Heights resident Lily Jordan will be a freshman next year at Incarnate Word Academy.

Her summer business, Lily’s Summer Services (https://lilyjordan2005.wixsite.com/lilyssummerservices), encompasses a range of services,

Photo by Betsy Denson Frank Black Middle School student Ben Griffith started a Lego rental business this summer. He is one of multiple teenagers from the area who have taken initiative by starting their own businesses.

including math tutoring and swim lessons.

“The way it works is parents contact me through my website and tell me what service they would like me to provide,” Jordan said.

“The website has all my information on it. It has my hours, prices and the different services I provide.”

For all these teens, their parents are helping them plug their endeavors.

“My parents helped me publicize it by posting it on Facebook and having their other Facebook friends post it,” Jordan said. “My parents made me think of my summer jobs. They helped me remind myself that I can help people in more than one way.”

Both Jordan and Griffith say the COVID-19

pandemic has given them more time to devote to their business – and added some layers to the way they work.

“I had intended to start it before coronavirus was widespread, but the additional free time during lockdown gave me the ability to start up faster,” Griffith said. “I have tried a few different approaches to keeping the Lego parts safe as they pass between me and customers, finally deciding the best tactic is to just let the parts sit untouched for a few days between customers.”

Said Jordan: “I would have definitely done this if COVID wasn’t happening but I wouldn’t have as much time. COVID has changed the way I teach young kids how to swim. I always wear a mask during my lessons, which is some-

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Instead, a complete estate plan also allows you to plan for living. Below are 10 tasks that a comprehensive estate plan can help you accomplish.

1. Allows you to determine who gets what.

Through a will or a revocable living trust you can say who gets your property when you pass.

2. Allows you to determine when they get it.

You can also place restrictions on when and how your beneficiaries receive their inheritance. This is especially helpful for children who are minors, have special needs, or are financially irresponsible. It can also help ensure your hard-earned assets stay in the blood line.

3. Allows you to avoid the probate process altogether.

A will does not keep your family out of court. Even a validly executed will must go through the court-supervised probate process. With a revocable living trust, you can save the time, expense, hassle, and delay of probate not only once, but twice for married couples.

4. Allows you to determine who will take care of your kids.

If you have minor children, you can choose who will take care of them should you be unable to do so.

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6. In blended families, allows you to take care of your spouse and your children.

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7. Allows you to determine who will be responsible for making sure your wishes are carried out.

The executor in a will or a successor trustee in a revocable living trust will be responsible for making sure the wishes you leave behind are respected.

8. Allows you to determine who will manage your finances and your medical decisions if you’re alive, but unable to do so.

A durable power of attorney will allow you to designate an agent to make financial decisions for you while alive, and through a medical power of attorney, you can designate a health care agent, too. With a Physician’s Directive, you can communicate what your wishes are regarding technological medical interventions.

9. Allows you to determine who can receive your health care information, even if they aren’t designated to make your medical decisions.

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thing I probably wouldn’t have done if we weren’t experiencing a pandemic. I have luckily had lots of parents contact me about swim lessons. I love helping kids learn to swim.”

For Croker’s baseball camp, the limited other options available this summer were a driver for the idea, and for the camp’s success.

“We got the idea because most large-scale baseball camps were being cancelled so we wanted to create a more personal experience that we could safely manage with COVID going around,” he said. “We may have tried to do this (anyway), although we feel that it might not be as popular due to bigger, more well-known camps being open. We have a lot of returning kids that keep wanting more and more lessons.”

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Page 2B • Saturday, July 4, 2020 • The Leader

BUSINESS BRIEFS:

Lovebug’s Playground opens in Pinemont Pavillion

By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com

Dana Hale thought of having an indoor play space for children 6 years and younger after having her first child and realizing she didn’t have anywhere to take her that just catered to infants, toddlers and preschoolers. “I wanted a space where parents and caregivers could relax while watching their children and not have to worry about their safety,� Hale said. “Everything in Lovebug’s Playground was designed to create a soft, safe and clean space for young children to play. We have a playset, foam pieces for climbing, sliding and building, trampolines, imaginative play equipment, race cars, a roller coaster and much more.�

Hale had already implemented several safety procedures pre-COVID-19 since the area is for young children, including sanitizers, a slobber basket for toys that have been put in a child’s mouth, deep cleaning every evening and cleaning every two hours.

Now during the pandemic, the playground will close between 1-2 p.m. for another deep clean, adults will wear masks, and temperature checks will be administered upon arrival. “I’m also only allowing 20 percent capacity at the moment,� Hale said. “And, families can reserve the whole facility if they wish. I’ll have gloves, masks, wipes, and more available for parents/ caregivers who need it. This way parents, too, can wipe down equipment if they would like, as you would at a gym.

I’ve spaced the tables and chairs 6 feet apart, too, in the eating area. And, all the (nutfree) snacks and drinks I’m selling are individually packaged.�

Lovebug’s Playground opened Wednesday at 965 Pinemont Dr. #600 in the same center as Ploughman’s Deli and Marchese’s Kitchen.

Contact the business at lovebugsplayground@gmail.com or visit lovebugsplayground.

Contributed photo Tanoholics Anonymous will have a brick-and-mortar location soon next to MytiBurger.

com. The playground is also on Facebook and Instagram.

Brick and mortar for Tanoholics Anonymous, Feathers + Thorns Jenni Ferrell has been offering sunless airbrush tanning, sunless products and candles through Tanoholics Anonymous as well as handmade jewelry under her Feathers + Thorns moniker. Now, both businesses will have a brickand-mortar location at 2107 W. 43rd St. The plans now are for a soft opening in late July. Complimentary beverages, including soda, wine and coffee, will be available. The phone number is 832-303-0327.

Online coding classes for kids by FlameGrower Heights resident Edward Ferguson, who owns FlameGrower Marketing, is the father of three children under 12, so he understands the need to keep kids engaged over the summer.

Ferguson is launching online coding classes for elementary and early middle school children starting July 7. The virtual classes are small and offer individualized instruction. They will meet one time a week for four weeks. The three levels are: Scratch (Jr) 1 at 11 a.m. (ages 6-8), Scratch 2 at 9 a.m. (ages 7-10) and Roblox at 1 p.m. (ages 8-12). “Since children are stuck at home, as a result of COVID-19, many people are still not attending camps but there still is a need for children to cre-

Contributed photo Lovebug’s Playground is taking extra precautions because of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to owner Dana Hale.

atively express themselves,�

Ferguson said. “Additionally, since it looks like computers will be taking a much larger presence in education than previous years, it’s good to keep our youth engaged with a fun educational alternative to watching videos and playing games.�

Visit https://courses. thewebpagesite.com for more information.

Virtual music lessons Oak Forest Elementary School music teacher Tim McBreen is offering a 50 percent discount off of July/August virtual music lessons. “I teach a wide range of instruments with nearly 10 years of experience teaching,� McBreen said. “If you are not interested in music lessons, you may donate them to anyone in need.�

Ages and instruments include kindergarten through fifth grade for beginner-intermediate piano and grades 3-7 for beginner-intermediate flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, French horn, trumpet, trombone, euphonium/baritone, tuba and percussion/drums.

Contact McBreen at mcbreenenterprises@gmail.com or 281-900-5922.

Swim at Pengu Pengu Swim School’s Swim

Academy provides higher-level, competitive swimmers the opportunity to continue training and working on their skills all year long.

Pengu’s Swim Academy members benefit from an hourlong training session utilizing the entire pool, independent of other instructional classes.

The instructor to swimmer ratio is one to eight - with instructors giving in-water, hands-on assistance - to allow for individualized attention to each swimmer’s technique and training. Swimmers are spread out among five lanes to ensure social distancing. The price of Swim Academy is the same as Pengu’s perpetual group lessons, $78 per month.

For those already part of Pengu’s Swim Academy, Pengu offers Fit by Swim. Fit by Swim was created to give year-round swimmers an extra workout boost. Swimmers who want to participate in additional workouts (without adding a new booking) each week may do so by using Pengu’s Fit by Swim program to book a “drop-in� lesson for $10 per class.

For more information, visit https://www.penguswimschool.com.

Urban Movement closes Urban Movement, a fitness facility offering group classes and camps, has closed at 1718A W. 23rd St.

The business’ plan is to remain active with its web-based training platform, UMOVE Online (www.umoveonline. com). There are more than 75 videos and more are on the way. It is $99 for the year. “We’ll also remain involved in the local community by way of our participation in the annual Texas Winter (Parkour) Jam and maybe even some Monthly Jams,� said a company email. “When the time is right, we’ll explore restarting outdoor classes at places like Discovery Green and collaborating with other students, parents, schools and neighborhoods.�

Locally owned Third Coast pest control Oak Forest resident Chris Seideman heads up Third Coast Pest Control. “We are experts in the pest control field that you can trust,� he said. “With over 12 years of experience, there is not a scenario that we have not come across. Third Coast Home and Commercial Services has a proven process that combines low-impact conventional practices of pest control treatments with a

method known as Integrated Pest Management (IPM).�

St. Rose annual festival goes virtual Because of COVID-19 concerns, St. Rose of Lima Catholic Community cancelled its in-person festival, originally scheduled on May 3, but is now working toward a virtual festival to be held Aug. 16.

There will be customizable festival boxes, with dinners, drinks, festival T-shirts, etc. as well as an online auction.

Anyone with ideas or the ability to support the event can contact Emily Garcia at egarcia@stroselima.org.

SmartVault signs at M-K-T SmartVault, a company that provides cloud-based document storage solutions, recently signed a lease for 8,500 square feet of office space at the M-K-T adaptive reuse complex in the Heights.

According to Connect Texas, the company will relocate from its current space at 720 N. Post Oak Rd. to the complex at 600 N. Shepherd Dr. this coming fall. The company offers online document storage, secure file sharing and more.

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The Leader • Saturday, July 4, 2020 • Page 3B

A rule of ‘thumb’ County to provide $30 million on nail trimming in grants for small businesses outdoors.

Dear Tabby, How often should we be trimming our dog’s toenails? They’re getting a little long and we can hear them scraping on the floor.

Is it time?

Time for a Toenail Trim in Timbergrove Dear Time for a Toenail Trim, Good question! There are several factors at play when determining how and how often to trim your dog’s nails, but a general guideline is, when you can hear your dog’s claws on hard floors, then it’s time for a “pawdicure.”

Stay on top of toenail care There are many reasons to stay on top of your dog’s nails.

For instance, long nails can make it more difficult to grip hard floors when walking (especially for senior pets), so this can result in painful falls and less confidence when navigating the house. Also, long nails can get hung on carpet fibers and such, resulting in torn off nails (ouch!). Another issue is that, if left unattended, a dog’s nails can grow so long that they curl under and embed into the paw pad, requiring an expensive vet visit and possibly surgery to repair.

Keeping toenails in tip top shape So, how do you make sure that your dog’s nails stay comfortably short? You have a couple of options: you can either attempt to carefully trim your dog’s nails at home (which might require special tools and a YouTube video for instructions), or you can head to your vet’s office or a groomer to have your pet’s nails professionally trimmed. This service typically costs between $10 and $25, but many people feel as though it’s completely worth the expense.

From Staff Reports

The Harris County Commissioners Court on Tuesday unanimously approved a $30 million grant program to assist small businesses that have been negatively impacted by the economic downturn associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Small Business Recovery Fund is designed to help businesses with 30 employees or fewer that were unable to obtain financial assistance from other COVID-19 re-

lief programs, including the county’s $10 million program in March. Using money from the federal CARES Act, the new fund will provide grants of up to $25,000 to help eligible businesses cover payroll costs, rent, accounts payable and other operating expenses.

“The need in our region is immense, but we will support as many of our vulnerable businesses as possible, fairly and transparently, so that the thousands of families who rely on small businesses continue

to have the ability to pay their rent, feed their families, and make ends meet,” Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis said in a news release from the county.

The relief program will launch at 8 a.m. July 13 and remain open through July 22.

The county said Tuesday that more details about eligibility requirements and how to access the assistance application online and over the phone would be announced in the coming days.

Do you have a question for Tabby? Email her at deartabby questions@gmail.com.

Pet of the Week

Every foot is different Every breed of dog’s feet vary slightly. Some dogs have longer toes, which seem to have faster-growing and longer nails (think: greyhounds), while some dogs have short, stubby mitts on their feet (like labs), which tend to require less nail maintenance. Another factor to consider is how active and on what surfaces your dog spends most of their time.

Very active dogs, who often run on pavement can file their own nails down but less active pooches sometimes need more routine nail trimming.

Also, dogs who spend most of their time indoors don’t typically wear down their nails like a dog who spends a lot of time

Meet John Paul Jones-Tucker (Yes, it’s a mouthful)! John Paul Jones-Tucker is a 2-year-old yellow lab mix with the dreamiest eyes you ever did see! J.P.J.T. (for short) loves to fetch and cuddle and has been known to be a late sleeper. J.P.J.T. might do best in a home without children but would love other pets to play with. To learn more about this handsome gent, visit www.k-9angelsrescue.org.

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Page 4B • Saturday, July 4, 2020 • The Leader

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