August 1 Section A

Inside Today: The ballot for our Readers’ Choice Awards • Page 4B

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Drunk driving suspected in fatal crash

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com Impaired driving is suspected in a Monday car crash that killed an Oak Forest woman just down the street from her home on Cheshire Lane.

The Houston Police Department announced

Tuesday that Esvin Crispin Aguilar, 28, has been charged with intoxication manslaughter in connection with the crash at the intersection of West 43rd Street and Cheshire Lane.

HPD said the victim, identified as 46-year-old Karen Yager of Oak Forest by the Harris County Institute of

Forensic Sciences, was pronounced dead at the scene.

In comments posted to The Leader website, friends and relatives of Yager described her as a talented, kind-hearted artist. One friend said she was “the nicest person one could ever know.”

“She had a God-given

Aguilar

Signal saga

talent for art, painting and drawing, and now this talent is silenced and will never be seen in our lifetimes,” wrote her uncle, David Green. “A warm, loving and kind soul who will be missed greatly by all of us who knew (her) and loved See Crash P. 4A

State awards tax credits to contentious housing project

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

Jason Knebel (713)232-9712

jasonk@greenwoodking.com GREENWOOD KING

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INSIDE.

Dine and chill. A laid-back atmosphere and good food makes Live Oak Grill a solid choice.

Page 7A

Photo by Adam Zuvanich A worker for Traffic Systems Construction, a subcontractor for a Texas Department of Transportation project along Hempstead Road, prepares to work on the traffic signals Tuesday at the intersection of Hempstead and Pinemont Drive.

Traffic light switch drags on at Northwest Houston intersection

Old made new. Heights artist Dana Caldera is bringing new life to discarded materials.

Page 7A

No rest. State Rep. Anna Eastman is still serving constituents despite a recent loss in a Democratic primary runoff.

Page 8A

Shining a light. Heights graphic designer Dalia Rihani is using her passion to bring attention to local businesses.

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com Lisa Chaney has spent months alerting the City of Houston and Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) about a potentially dangerous traffic configuration at an intersection she drives through at least twice every weekday.

The Spring Branch resident started submitting requests to the city’s 311 system in February, when she noticed the traffic lights at the intersection of Hempstead Road and Pinemont Drive were almost always flashing red. There are multiple lanes as well as left-turn lanes on all four sides of the intersection and a railroad crossing immediately to the west, and a set of new-yet-unused traffic signals hangs above the pavement.

“This is, like, life or death,” Chaney said. “Somebody literally could get killed in that intersection, or hurt really bad.”

Chaney, who grew up in Garden Oaks and also lived in Oak Forest, wondered why the existing lights were malfunctioning and the new ones had yet to be turned on. So she also reached out to her city council representative, TxDOT and one of its subcontractors for an ongoing construction project along Hempstead Road – all in an attempt to find out what the problem was and when it would be solved.

Chaney said she got different explanations from different entities as well as the semblance of a promise from the city’s Transportation & Drainage Operations department, which told Chaney that the new traffic lights would be activated on July 21. When that did not happen, the city then told Chaney the switch would happen a week later.

It didn’t happen on Tuesday, either, and a new explanation emerged. TxDOT said the signals could not be activated because Union Pacific Railroad, which operates the nearby rail,

See Dian, P. 5A

needed to first conduct a test to make sure the traffic light system was in sync with the mechanical arm that lowers and blocks vehicles from crossing the railway when a train is passing.

“It’s all somebody else’s fault. Somebody else never does anything,” Chaney said. “Nobody has said, ‘Yes, that’s on us, we’re going to handle that.’ ” Blame game TxDOT spokesperson Emily Black, whose agency controls the right-of-way for the intersection, said the ongoing work is part of a multi-year project to replace all the traffic

See Signal, P. 5A

Photo by Zarah Parker A Heights-area resident speaks during a March community meeting at 1433 Dian St., the site of a proposed affordable housing complex.

Local Legion post opens creative writing contest

By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com

Page 1B

THE INDEX. Church....................................................... 4A Classifieds.............................................. 5A Coupons................................................... 3B Food/Drink/Art................................... 7A Obituaries............................................... 4A Opinion..................................................... 3A Public Information......................... 8A Puzzles...................................................... 3A

Photo by Adam Zuvanich Workers for Traffic Systems Construction examine a traffic control box Tuesday at Hempstead Road and Pinemont Drive.

The Dian Street Villas, a proposed affordable housing development that has become a point of contention in the Heights area, has taken a significant step toward coming to fruition.

The developer of the project, Houston-based nonprofit Texas InterFaith Housing, was awarded a 9 percent federal housing tax credit on July 23 by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA).

The tax credit is worth $1.5 million annually over a 10-year period and will help finance the project, which calls for a three-story, 108-unit apartment complex at 1433 Dian St., with 96 of those units designated for lowincome renters.

“I’m glad to hear the tax credit application was awarded by the TDHCA,” said State Rep. Anna Eastman, who lives in the Heights, represents the area and wrote a letter in support of the project as part of the developer’s application. “My hope is that those who are opposed will continue to engage with the developer through the design and build process and ultimately welcome our new neighbors.”

On a statewide level, the TDHCA awarded $81.6 million in tax credits to a total of 71 affordable housing developments, including 10 in Houston.

Another proposed project in the area that submitted an application to the TDHCA – a 180-unit complex called The Ella planned for 1718 W. 26th St. – was not awarded a tax credit.

The Dian Street Villas, proposed for a 2.05-acre site that previously was used for commercial purposes, has been met with opposition from hundreds of nearby residents and on June 23 had its application temporarily terminated by the TDHCA. The state agency ruled that the developer did not notify the Shady Acres Civic

Contributed photo Pictured is the military carrier pigeon that was chosen as American Legion Post 560’s newsletter mascot.

Under the new leadership of recently elected commander Will Spencer Jr., American Legion Post 560 in Garden Oaks is striving to open up better communication between the post and the community it serves.

“I had campaigned to provide better communication and environment to the Legion membership and our neighbors in the community,” Spencer said. “So beginning in August, we are switching from our monthly calendar to a monthly newsletter.”

A military carrier pigeon was chosen as the mascot for the newsletter, which sparked an idea that would

bring the community and post together.

The post created a creative writing contest for high school kids and adults from the area to participate in by naming the carrier pigeon and writing a bio for it in 500 words or less.

“We hope to discover a creative author who can name our new mascot and then spin an imaginative, patriotic story about his heroic adventures before finding his new home at Garden Oaks American Legion Post 560,” Spencer said.

The contest is free to enter and the winner will receive a small cash prize from the Legion and have their carrier pigeon story published in The

Leader.

“With so many of our family and friends affected by the stress, losses and uncertainties due to the (COVID-19) pandemic, a creative writing contest open to the public might just be a welcome distraction,” Spencer said.

Entries must include the author’s name, address, email address and phone number. Participants can submit their work by emailing willdspencer@gmail.com or mailing their work to the American Legion Post 560, located at 3720 Alba Rd. The deadline to submit entries is Sept. 1, and the winner will be presented at the post’s monthly meeting Sept. 16.

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Page 2A • Saturday, Aug. 1, 2020 • The Leader

Virtual and in-person

DOCTOR APPOINTMENTS We’re still here for you Even during these challenging times, Houston Methodist doctor offices are open and seeing patients who need our care. Though your appointment may not look like a typical appointment, our providers may see you via video visit, telephone or in person, when needed. Rest assured, we are taking every precaution to ensure we can safely see you and meet all your health care needs.

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THE TOPICS. The Leader • Saturday, Aug. 1, 2020 • Page 3A

Soak up the energy of small businesses O ver the course of any given week, the media companies we own and manage speak to about 750 small business owners.

And if you’re looking for some good news about this pandemic and our future, it’s about time you heard an honest take on how these women and men are fighting for their professional lives.

For those of you who run or manage small businesses, you’ll nod your head in agreement. The consumers – our readers – however, must understand the purpose and value of a vibrant small-business community, which makes up almost half of our nation’s economy.

When you walk into any locally owned business today, you’ll immediately sense the fear on the faces and in the voices of the owners.

Maybe “fear” isn’t the precise word.

Maybe it’s trepidation. Maybe it’s unease.

However you describe it, the people who own businesses today don’t know what’s around the next corner, and there’s a wonderful example right here in Houston.

Almost two weeks ago, as testing increased, positive COVID results spiked and hospital CEOs held daily press briefings, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and County Judge Lina Hidalgo began floating the idea

Jonathan McElvy Publisher

of locking down the city.

In order to get control of this pandemic – as if anyone or anything will do that besides modern medicine – the leaders of this city said we all needed to go inside our homes, drink more wine, eat more food, get more depressed, and wait for the virus to disappear from the air.

In the following days, as we made our daily calls to local businesses, you can only imagine the horror stories we heard.

“We’re doomed,” they said. “If they lock us down, we’re going out of business.”

That phrase was uttered hundreds of times to our sales and marketing teams, and the only solace we could offer was a virtual hug and a “Good luck.”

A few days later, Gov. Greg Abbott emphatically said he would not order a statewide lockdown, and he wouldn’t let local authorities do it

either. Abbott, who like other politicians has made good calls and bad, has had to back-track on comments during this pandemic, and his assurances did little to ease the concerns of business owners.

As a side note, am I the only one who wishes – just once – that our elected officials would just exit stage left and let a team of medical professionals come out with one voice on every decision we need to make?

Sure, there’d be disagreements, but it would be better than taking cues from politicians. No matter how genuine they may be, they’re still politicians, and they can’t help but shape words to fit their narrative.

Rant over.

The natural response of small businesses has been fear. And when you live in fear for an extended amount of time, the results are exactly what you’d think they are.

First, small business owners are exhausted. They’re frustrated, fatigued, walking into their stores not sure if anyone will show up, and if customers do happen to appear, will those customers be healthy, will they fight wearing masks, will they spend more than a few dollars?

Take it from someone who runs his own small business: When you’re unsure how much longer your business can last, opening your email

and answering the phone can suck the wind out of the most headstrong person.

There’s another fear small businesses have: Most of them do not want to spend money on anything except the air conditioning and their debts. The results have been disastrous for those who rely on small businesses for employment opportunities.

In Houston, restaurants were allowed to open weeks ago – some of them at 75-percent capacity. So wasn’t it interesting that many didn’t hire back enough servers or cooks, and instead kept focus on their carry-out business?

The reason goes back to the very beginning: Trepidation. Business owners don’t know what’s around the next corner, and they aren’t going to make decisions that jeopardize losing everything, including hiring back employees.

So where’s the positivity in all of that? Simple.

Every day, when our company calls local, small businesses, they all answer the phone. They ask us what we’re hearing. They ask if we know anything about potential lockdown orders. They ask how we’re doing.

Today, when our company calls local, small businesses, the resiliency in their voices is unmatched. They’re

Take me to your letter

THE READER.

Dear Readers, We here at the Daily Dud always appreciate hearing from you, unless it’s a brick through our front window. That’s why we publish your letters, but due to the current toxic atmosphere, especially against the press, we have decided not to let your often erroneous charges go unanswered. So with that caveat, we now run this issue of Letters to the Editor, which is more pleasing than our original title, Bulletin Board for the Village Idiots.

Editor, Your commie-inspired article on the dangers of directly injecting Clorox into your body to cleanse it of COMIT-19 runs counter to observations by my wife, MarthaSue, and me. We tried injecting Clorox this morning and MarthaSue is just fine, although she is taking a nap in the front yard. I, too, am feeling just great and….the room, the room is…. – B.S. in Katy.

Editor, This is in reply to that stupid letter from Y. Baseless in Conroe objecting to a letter from Z. Scrubs in Perpetuity explaining why black helicopters have been circling his house. Scrubs is not paranoid any more than I am for wearing a ring of garlic around my neck to protect me from vampires. It works, and proof is that I have not actually been attacked by vampires in several weeks. I rest my case. – Your Reader in Houston.

Editor, It has been eight days since I submitted my op/ed article on “Our State Leaders Are Great,” yet you have not run it.

Granted that our governor has changed orders to counter the tequila virus every other hour, and no one is sure whether what store or bar and massage parlor is open, but as Ralph Waldo Emerson, whoever he was, said, “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines.” – Greg A. Austin Editor, You’re hedline: “We Shud Pay Our Grate Teechers Moore” is an inslot too us “unqualified and on probation” teechers. Why shud only the grate teechers get moore? – A Teecher in Spring Brunch Editor’s reply: The headline actually ran: “Our Teachers Are Great – and Should be Paid More.”

Editor, Why did you run that liberal screed calling for everyone to wear a mask during the pandemic? We real Americans don’t need orders from the gubment. This is the same leftist thought process that would have us to refrain from shooting holes in highway signs, obeying the speed limit and not texting while driving through school zones. And while I’m at it, tell the federal gubment to keeps its hands off my Medicaid and Social Security. – J. R. Jayare, Houston Editor, That conservative screed of a letter, “I’ll vote for Trump again,” contains quotes taken out of context, untrue statements (“If you need a test you can get a test.”) and stupid observations. You shouldn’t

Dear Editor: Regarding Lynn Ashby’s July 25 lamentations over the newspaper industry’s decline: Well, he and his own comrades-in-ink have caused it.

When an outlet’s news and editorial coverage of a targeted elected official is consistently greater than 90 percent harshly negative -- in Lynn’s case, 100 percent -- it’s obvious that reportage standards have caved to political ideology. We hear now of a “cancel culture.”

Well, refusal to acknowledge... which is to say, objectively report... anything positive about anyone with whom one disagrees reflects that cancel culture’s stench. Recently at the Wall Street Journal, 280 employees sent a letter to the publisher blasting the WSJ opinion pages, which host (among others) some editorialists who are vigorously critical of a particular political party and its functionaries who taint America’s government and press sectors. If you can’t or won’t rationally debate with ideological opponents, Hey, shut ‘em down! A New York Times opinion writer recently resigned due to coworker harrassment after she departed from the paper’s blatant agenda. These incidents reveal an industry internally caustic to its own very mission, an industry mostly now a loyal Party Organ ... TASS, anyone?

And do note Lynn’s pejorative “clueless business people.” Many journalists -- likely due to historically low newspaper pay scales -- bizarrely

Lynn Ashby Columnist

run letters that disagree with my preconceptions. – Libby Lib, Montrose Editor’s reply: Why is it that a letter from an opposition reader is always a “screed” and not an “observation,” “comment or “opinion?” Tolerance is MIA these days.

Editor, Tolerance is in too much abundance these days.

And we have too many bigots.

If there’s anything I can’t stand it’s a bigot! – G.G. in Coherent Editor, You bunch of weasels, hiding behind your title so no one knows who you are. Stand up and take it!

Don’t keep giving us your fake news – like global warming, child labor laws and the hoax of COVIT-19 – and just sign them “Editor.” What a bunch of sissies. – Name withheld by request Editor, This frenzy cry to topple Confederate statues is un-American. There is nothing wrong with monuments to people you don’t like. I don’t like spinach, but Crystal City, Texas, (“Spinach Capital of the World”) has had a statue of Popeye for 75 years, and you don’t see me tearing down Popeye. As for restitution for slavery, I am all for slaves being paid by their former owners for years of backbreaking labor in the cotton fields, but I can’t find any of either.

The Fifth Amendment states, “nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.” The Yankee Army took my ancestors’ slaves and didn’t pay a penny for them, much less “just compensation.” Now how about some restitution to me? – Beauregard Forrest Lee, White Hood, Texas Editor, Your columnist, Missy d’Mark, constantly beats up on Esperanto and immigrants from Arkansas, but never says a cross word about the lack of Norwegians on TV, Benghazi or the 2016 Olympics. She went too far in hyping margarine over butter, and I don’t need to waste my time reading her sorry opinions on organ donations or whether the toilet paper roll should go over the spool or under it. But I notice her column didn’t appear last week. Why is that? It’s the first thing I look for. – A Disgruntled Reader Editor, Your recent diatribes about faceless hedge funds in NYC buying up all the local newspapers and cutting payrolls, number of pages and even days of the week to publish in order to fatten profits are right on target. Keep up the good work. – A Happy Reader Dear Happy Reader, Thank you for that supportive message. While we’re on the subject, the Daily Dud, which has

been in the Dud family for 167 years, has been sold to the Greedy Complex in NYC, a subsidy of Corporate Raider, Inc., based in Hong Kong, owned by Anonymous Entity, LLC of the Cayman Islands.

The new owners assure the staff that no changes will be made except for a slight reduction to one reporter who will also be the sole photographer, printer and distributor, but that should be easy since issues will be limited to every other Saturday.

Editor, It’s all FAKE NEWS! The liberal media are the cause of all our problems. Stop spreading rumors, lies and a faulty horoscope through your newspaper! -- Love, Mother Dear Mother: You can have your brick back.

Ashby edits at ashby2@comcast.net

News reporting responsible for industry’s decline

all looking for ways to make it to the end of the year. They’re all praying for a vaccine. They’re all hoping the economy can stay put until that vaccine comes. And they all have a single mission: They’re going to fight like hell to have a business when this nightmare ends.

I wish every person reading this could take 10 minutes to talk with a small business owner. Ask them how they’re making it. Ask them what they need to get through this mess.

Ask them how they find the energy and courage to open their doors when they know they’ll lose money for another day.

Up in Washington, D.C., they’re talking about another round of stimulus to help struggling small businesses. The conversations are going to get political, and both Democrats and Republicans are going to sound like insecure teenagers, hoping to win political points across a national media that believes we live and breathe to hear what politicians think.

Let’s hope they make the right decisions. In the meantime, we’d all be better off soaking in the energy and resiliency of the thousands of small businesses who refuse to let this nightmare win.

Email jonathan@mcelvymedia.com Email us your letters: news@theleadernews.com

hold businessmen in sneering contempt, ignoring, perhaps as a notion simply beneath them, the profit motive: Produce a superior product, competently sell it win-win, and revenue will follow. America’s journalism industry today needs to take a good hard look at its product: Output which no doubt pleases all the Party myrmidons, but is... more and more every day... less and less worth buying.

J. Reynolds

Free lunches not the answer

Dear Editor: I see HISD is giving away our tax dollars again and calling it “FREE.” News Flash HISD, it is not free to me when you give away our tax dollars.

I am tired of paying for other people’s children.

We already provide money for education, food stamps, EBT card, welfare and the list goes on.

Instead of giving away tax dollar lunches, why not spend time and resources to determine why these children are not being fed at home and solve that problem. This sounds like child endangerment to me. Solving the problem at home would ensure these children are properly cared for 24 hours a day and not just at lunch time.

Solving the problem at home should also help elevate a child’s self-esteem knowing their parents are providing the proper care for them.

Just stop using the word “FREE”.

Olton Decuire

the leader Puzzlers.

Answers found in this week’s Classified section

SUDOKU

aCrOss 1. Carpenter sharks 10. Billy clubs 12. Cassava 13. Keeness of vision 15. Confidence game 16. Run playfully 18. Article 19. Dept. of Housing and Urban Dev. 20. 2001 Spielberg film 21. Covered with frosting 24. Own (Scottish) 27. Model stance 30. Italian greeting 31. Oh, God! 33. Radioactivity unit 34. Feeling of personal worth 35. Befitting a ruler 37. Waterproof raincoat 39. Root mean square (abbr.)

41. Napoleonic island 42. Whale ship captain 44. Put in advance 47. Sensory receptor 48. Porzana carolina 49. 13th state 50. Graz city river 52. Promotional material

53. Gather into a book 56. Reduce in amount 59. Slow and apathetic 60. Not liquids or gasses 62. Caused to continue 64. Owner

dOwn 1. Kitchen basin 2. Currency exchange fee 3. BBC Doctor 4. Supervises interstate commerce 5. Iceland (abbr.)

6. Cache 7. Diaphragm spasm 8. So. Am. country 9. Low fat milk 10. Not-a-Number 11. Engine additive 12. Home of Ball State 14. To bear young (sheep or goats) 15. Beijing Automotive Group 17. Oil drilling apparatus 22. Tidal bore 23. Condemns to ruin 24. Of she

25. “The African Queen” screenwriter James 26. Former US gold coin worth 10 dollars 28. So. African Music Awards 29. Potato state 32. Aba ____ Honeymoon 36. Household god (Roman) 38. Gemstone weight units 40. Half pro 43. Past tense of bid 44. Communist China 45. Public mob violence 46. Dutch bulbs 51. Networks (Spanish) 54. Floor cleaner 55. Train for something (informal) 56. Low female voice 57. Coffin stand 58. Sum 60. Pig genus 61. W. hemisphere assoc.

63. Atomic #52

WORD SCRAMBLE

Page 4A • Saturday, Aug. 1, 2020 • The Leader

State, local leaders at odds about school reopenings

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews. com

The health authorities for the City of Houston and Harris County signed a joint public health order last week that restricts most schools in the region from holding in-person classes until at least Sept. 8, city and county officials announced July 24.

According to a letter to educators shared on Twitter by Harris County Public Health, the order applies to all public schools and nonreligious private schools in the city and county. They will not be allowed to hold school-sponsored events and activities, including athletic

competitions and other extracurricular activities, until inperson classes resume.

The order does not affect the plan previously outlined

by Houston ISD, the largest school district in Texas that includes several schools in the area. HISD plans to start school Sept. 8 and utilize online-only instruction for the first six weeks.

The Houston-area health order, and similar schoolrelated orders throughout the state, were challenged Tuesday by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. He issued nonbinding legal guidance related to the authority of local health officials. “Education of our children is an essential Texas value

and there is no current statewide order prohibiting any school from opening,� Paxton said in a statement. “While local health authorities may possess some authority to close schools in limited circumstances, they may not issue blanket orders closing all schools on a purely preventative basis. That decision rightfully remains with school system leaders.�

The Texas Education Agency reportedly issued a statement later Tuesday saying public school districts could risk losing state funding if they keep campuses closed based solely on local health orders.

The TEA previously said public schools could hold on-

Crash, from P. 1 A her.�

HPD said officers responded to 1500 W. 43rd St., where a green Jeep Wrangler and gray Honda Civic had collided at about 5:25 p.m.

Monday. Police say Aguilar was driving the Jeep northbound on 43rd Street at a high rate of speed, while Yager was driving the Honda southwest on Cheshire and attempting to cross 43rd at the time of the crash.

Citing the responding officers’ report, HPD spokesperson Jodi Silva said there were no passengers in either vehicle and that there was clear weather and a dry road-

line-only instruction for up to eight weeks after the start of the 2020-21 academic year.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo responded by writing on Twitter that the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in the Houston region are at all-time highs and that hospitals “are teetering at capacity.�

Per a statewide order, all schools in Texas completed the 2019-20 academic year with remote, online-only learning. “We’re in an immensely worse position than we were when things opened too early, leading to where we are now,�

Hidalgo wrote. “We stand behind our decision to close schools.�

way at the time of the crash. Silva said there are no traffic signals at the intersection, but drivers on Cheshire have stop signs on both sides of 43rd. “(The Jeep) initially struck her in the intersection and pushed her car down West 43rd, where it spun out, hit a median and hit a tree in the median on West 43rd,� Silva said.

HPD said Aguilar, who has a Shady Acres address according to Harris County court documents, showed signs of intoxication at the scene and was subsequently arrested.

Upcoming community center in Near Northside to include YMCA Children’s Academy From Staff Reports The Near Northside is getting an early childhood education academy that will be located at the newly constructed Avenue Center at 3517 Irvington Blvd., according to a news release from Houston-based nonprofit community builder Avenue CDC. Avenue Center, a community center for the neighborhood slated to open in August, features approximately 30,500 square feet of community programming space. In addition to the new YMCA Children’s Academy, the community hub will offer nearby residents access to a variety of programs and services, including a new Legacy Community Health Clinic, homebuyer education and counseling, post-purchase and foreclosure prevention counseling, financial education through the BBVA Center for Financial Education, and space for community meetings and training classes.

The YMCA Children’s

Academy will help address the shortage of early childhood education capacity in the Near Northside community. It will enable the YMCA to introduce infant care to the community, a service that the neighborhood has previously lacked, and will accommodate up to 70 children ranging in age from 6 weeks to 5 years.

While the YMCA has been an early care provider in the community since the 1980s, the Avenue space allows the expansion for the younger ages in a modern building designed to address their unique developmental and educational needs. To increase access for low-income families, financial assistance will be available to help with monthly costs. “Research continues to show that low-income families are challenged by a lack of access to quality early care for children. That’s why we are delighted to partner with YMCA of Greater Houston to help provide quality early childhood education resourc-

es in Near Northside,� said Mary Lawler, executive director at Avenue CDC. “Recent studies have shown that more than 40 percent of the neighborhood’s children reside in a household where both parents work, which requires childcare outside of the home. The facilities at the YMCA Children’s Academy will not only help address this pressing need – they will also contribute to the long-term health and wellbeing of working families in the neighborhood.�

The YMCA Children’s Academy will replace an existing YMCA program that is currently housed at Second Christian Church, and will be located on the first floor of Avenue Center.

Construction on the academy and outdoor playground begins this month and services are expected to open to neighborhood families in late fall. “Our mission is to ensure all communities have access to critical resources, including education,� said Stephen Ives,

president and CEO of YMCA of Greater Houston. “We are honored to partner with Avenue in order to offer an early education program for families with children in the Near Northside.�

In 2017, Near Northside was designated as one of five pilot neighborhoods for Mayor Sylvester Turner’s Complete Communities initiative, which focuses on ensuring Houston communities have the qualityof-life elements needed for residents to live and prosper in their own neighborhoods.

These elements include adequate access to healthcare, educational resources, healthy groceries, parks and green space, quality public transit and economic opportunities.

Avenue is in the midst of an ongoing capital campaign that has raised more than $10.6 million for Avenue Center from organizations that include the City of Houston, BBVA, Complete Communities Improvement Fund, Houston Endowment, Fondren Foundation,

HHA to continue blood drive throughout August

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

The Houston Heights Association (HHA), which has held blood donation events for each of the last three months, has scheduled four more during the month of August.

Area residents can donate once per week as part of the effort, which helps supply the

Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center during the COVID-19 pandemic. Donation events are held at the Heights Fire Station at 107 W. 12th St., and each donor will receive a free COVID-19 antibody test along with a coupon for a free pint of Blue Bell ice cream.

Residents wishing to donate must register online in advance for specific time slots.

Donation dates and corresponding registration websites are below: • Thursday, Aug. 6 (https:// www.commitforlife.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/314940) • Thursday, Aug. 13 (https://www.commitforlife. org/donor/schedules/drive_ schedule/314941) • Wednesday, Aug. 19

(https://www.commitforlife. org/donor/schedules/drive_ schedule/314942) • Thursday, Aug. 27 (https://www.commitforlife. org/donor/schedules/drive_ schedule/314979) For more information on the blood drive, residents can contact HHA executive director Emily Guyre at emily@ houstonheights.org.

great-grandchildren.

was a member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Houston for 54 years. He is survived by his wife Rose, children Chuck, Greg and Brad Hollas, daughter Jane Malkowsky, brothers Alvin, Armand, Robert, Winfred, Richard, and 12 grandchildren.

THE OBITUARIES. Cheryl Lynn Anderson, 62, born Oct. 4, 1957, died July 20.

She was a graduate of Waltrip High School and earned her bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Houston.

She was employed 20 as a public school teacher. She is survived by her mother Cleo Streater, daughter Kimberly Anderson, son Joshua Anderson, sister Susan Truax, brother Gene Reeves, and three grandchildren.

Emilio Berrones, 47, born May 22, 1973 in San Luis PotosĂ­ City, San Luis PotosĂ­, died July 19. He is survived by his daughter Laura Berrones and parents Francisco and Juana Berrones.

John Ferrata Jr., 85, born April 25, 1935, died July 18. Fer-

rata attended St. Thomas High School and The A&M College of Texas, now known as Texas A&M University, where he received a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering.

He was a member of the Aggie Corp of Cadets. John graduated Texas A&M and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force and received his wings as an Air Force pilot in January 1961. After his Air Force career, Ferrata continued on in the private sector as Director of Administration at the Houston law firms of Sewell & Riggs and Martin, Disiere, Jefferson & Wisdom. He is survived by his children John B. Ferrata III, Paul D. Ferrata, Charlotte Ferrata Toney, and his children’s mother Friedabelle Ferrata, brother Charles D. Ferrata, 13 grandchildren, and 17

Joe Hernandez, 84, born May 6, 1936, died July 19. He attended Jeff Davis High School.

Joe worked as a butcher for many years which led him to eventually open Joe’s Deli in the late 80’s.

He is survived by his sons Joseph, Randy, Richard and Robert Hernandez, daughter Bernadette Zamora, 14 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

Leo Albert Hollas, 76, born Sept. 14, 1943 in High Hill, Texas, died July 19. Hollas played baseball in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization for two years. He graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelor’s degree in Education. He worked in construction for 45 years. He

Iva May Knox, 97, born April 4, 1923, died July 24. She is survived by her son, Van C. Knox, daughter Dena Heslep, five grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and one great-great granddaughter.

Roy Soraiz, 83, born Oct. 12, 1936, died July 24.

Ricardo Luis Valencia Jr., 35, born Jan. 15, 1985, died July 24.

The J.E. & L.E. Mabee Foundation, Midway Foundation, Bank of America, The Brown Foundation, The Cullen Foundation, Hess Corporation and Camden.

For more information about Avenue’s community development and revitalization efforts visit, http://avenuecdc.org/.

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IN MEMORIAM

Tony Munoz NOVEMBER 11, 1955 – JULY 22, 2020

T

ony MuĂąoz was born Nov. 11, 1955 in Houston, TX and passed away peacefully on July 22, 2020 at 65 years-of-age.

Tony was the son of Irene and Tony MuĂąoz, Sr. Tony is survived by his beloved wife of 44 years, Dana, his two children, son Eric MuĂąoz and his wife Charlee Keller MuĂąoz, daughter Alana MuĂąoz Gonzales, his sister Sylvia MuĂąoz and two brothers Paul and Richard MuĂąoz, and his loving mother-in-law, Kathryn Melson.

He leaves behind five beloved grandchildren; Matthew, Jordan, and Julia Gonzales; Emma and Grayson MuĂąoz; and countless other family and friends who loved him dearly. Heaven just got a little bit brighter, and we can all rest easily knowing that he is standing beside his maker.

Tony graduated from Waltrip High School in 1974. As an avid surfer, he and his surfing buddies had no problem skipping school when a big storm was headed to Galveston, to catch the big one!

At a young age, Tony began his lifelong career in the fence business at United Fence Company, owned by his father and Uncle Paul. In his twenties, he founded Tony MuĂąoz Fence Company, where his son later joined him in the family business after returning home from the Navy.

Ministering to youth was one of Tony’s great passions in life. As members of Houston’s First Baptist Church,

Tony and Dana served in the Middle School Youth Department for 14 of their 25 years as parishioners there. They volunteered at summer camp yearly and attended numerous mission trips to various countries, where Tony used the gifts the Lord provided him to better the lives of others in need.

In his continuous lifelong journey of loving and serving the Lord, Tony, alongside his devoted wife, helped establish the Bayou City Fellowship in 2011, where he served in different capacities over the past nine years. There, Tony continued to show his strength, leadership, and most importantly his generosity through serving others in both good times and in challenging times. Tony was the kind of man who would show up on friend’s and family’s doorstep in times of need. Most recently, we remember the way he showed up for those in need following the devastation of Hurricane Harvey.

He loved traveling with his family and friends, and was fortunate to visit countries around the world for both leisure and serving the Lord on many mission trips. But above all, his greatest treasures were his five grandchildren. He enjoyed attending baseball games, school events, recitals, and spending holidays with his family. Baptizing his oldest grandson, Matthew, was one of the greatest privileges of his life.

For those who wish to do so, in lieu of flowers, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions in Tony’s name be directed to Gracewood. Gracewood rescues children and their single mothers, ensuring a bright future by providing home, hope and healing. https://www.gracewood. org/Site/Ways-You-CanHelp/Financial-Support/

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QN QN time when people are eithe 4QPOTPS 1602 West 43rd St. • Houston, Tx 77018 • 713-686-1577 1822 W. 18th • 713-864-1470 thoughts about something.

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Weekly Worship Services 9:00 a.m.

Weekly Sunday Services rd Gethsemane Lutheran Church serve faithfully while go these times. familyIn member that gave me 1700you West 43through at Rosslyn Arise Baptist Sunday School &Church Bible Classes 10:30 am • Bible Study: 9:15 invited a.m.

713-682-4942 me to their birthday 4040 Watonga • 713-688-5227 Preschool Program • Mon. - Fri. 9-2 p.m. the book of Revelation, God gave John the opportunity 803 Curtin St. Houston TX 77018 www.gethsemanelutheran.org Pastor – Dr. Richard Walters • Morning:10:30 a.m. their children to be thankful We invite you to worship with us! to see heaven and then to write down what he saw that being thankful is impo 713-659-9697 • www.arisebaptistchurch.org • Evening: 4:15 p.m.

Ad # 32285 Weekly Worship Services 9:00 a.m. always to be thankful depend for people to read1700 about.West In chapter 43 rd twenty-one, at Rosslyn Sunday School & Bible Classes 10:30 am Bible says in Ephesians Preschool Program • Mon. - Fri. 9-2 p.m.

John tells us that there will 713-682-4942 be a new heaven, aThe new things unto God and the Fat www.gethsemanelutheran.org Pastor – Dr. Richard Walters hen I was a little boy I remember going to earth, and a new Jerusalem.

Christ.�

I would encourage y In fact, we learn that God Join us for Services this holiday season to reme Ad # 32285 my grandmother’s house for dinner.

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Heaven is a place where English or Spanish God. He gave up His only So Sunday Morning Worship 8:30 and 11:00 weSunday arrived at her house it would always be believers will dwell forever with God. I am thankful so that anyone who trusts hi Sunday Worship 10am & 5pm School for Children, Youth and Adults 9:40 haveall eternal life. Don’t forge filled with wonderful aromas food bubbling on the Sunday that Bible heaven is 9am a place where God will wipe away Classes Ministries for Allof Ages If you would like to discus Bible Study 7pm will be no more death or pain. stove and baking inMemorial the oven. stomach Home of Johnson School My for Little Children wanted Wednesday tears because there You Pastor Will Cover can be re Join us for Services Rev. Nathan Lonsdale Pastor often say to can immediate gratification!

My Bledsoe, mom would Curtin St., or www.ariseb 4215 Watonga Blvd. • 713-681-9365 have patience during difficult times because803God Pastor Jerry McNamara in English or Spanish â—† â—† 713-686-8241 s t s u m c . o r g 2003 W. 43rd St. Sunday Morning Worship 8:30 and 11:00 Houston, TX 77092 me, “Patience, please.â€?

She wanted me to wait until

St. James Lutheran Church, ELCA

St. James Lutheran Church, ELCA

Bible Studies For All Ages ... 9:30am Morning Worship ............... 10:45am Wednesday Bible Studies For Youth, Children and Adults............................ 6:15pm

Patience, Please!

Sunday

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Candlelight Church of Christ

Candlelight Church of Christ

is working out His plans and heaven is being prepared 4040 Watonga • 713-688-5227 & 5pm Sunday School for Children, Youthwas and Adults 9:40 everything prepared and it was timeSunday to eat. Worship for all10am those who have trusted in Christ.

Sunday We invite you to worship Ministries with us! for All Ages Your life has probably been completely changedBible Classes Turn off 9am the news and the social media long Wednesday Bible Study 7pm Home of Johnson Memorial School for Little Children the last few months.

Schools are closed, offices are enough to spend time with God. Read His Word. Talk Weekly Worship Services 9:00a.m.

Rev. Nathan Lonsdale Bledsoe, Pastor shut down, normal activities are cancelled, 4215 and toWatonga • 713-681-9365 Him in prayer.Blvd.

He will help you and give you grace â—† 713-686-8241 Online services can beSt. reached 2003 W. 43rd s t shave u mbeen c . opostponed. rg Houston, TX 77092 regular â—† events If you care about to go through this time.

He loves you and He will through the website below at 9:00 am. politics, you are probably frustrated no matter where always keep His promises. www.gethsemanelutheran.org

The Leader • Saturday, Aug. 1, 2020 • Page 5A

Signal, from P. 1A

Dian, from P. 1A Club about the project as required by statute, but later reinstated the application on an appeal by the developer, which provided documentation that showed the civic club is just outside the boundaries of the project site and therefore did not need to be notified.

Another funding source for the Dian Street Villas is the City of Houston, which has conditionally pledged $11 million from the Community Development Block Grant it received after Hurricane Harvey in 2017. The city is in an ongoing lawsuit with the Texas General Land Office, which wants to take control of $1.2 billion in disaster relief that it says the city has not used in a timely and responsible manner. “We’ve done everything according to the rules,â€? Russ Michaels, the executive director of Texas Inter-Faith Housing, said during the public comments portion of last week’s TDHCA board meeting. â€œâ€Ś You can’t get these types of developments into the Heights without a little bit of blowback.â€?

The Greater Heights Super Neighborhood Council, on behalf of the Shady Acres Civic Club and Clark Pines Civic Association, wrote a letter of opposition to the project, citing concerns about increased traffic in the residential area.

More than 700 nearby residents also signed an online petition called “STOP Dian Street Villas.� In the 250-plus comments associated with the petition, community members also said they fear the development will put a strain on infrastructure and increase flooding risks in the area, reduce property values and lead to more crime. “I don’t oppose affordable housing.

That has nothing to do with it,� Clark Pines resident Rebecca Bass told the TDHCA board during its meeting. “My neighbors are great, and we just want to conserve what’s here for the neighborhood. It’s not a good place for this. There’s a million other places in Houston that would be a good fit.�

Kevin Strickland, another nearby resident opposed to the project, said he took issue with the developer’s lack of engagement with the community before its application was submitted in February. The developer has since held multiple community engagement meetings.

Strickland also said Eastman and Abbie Kamin, who represents the area on the Houston City Council, should have solicited community members’ input before supporting

the project. The city council voted in February to support several affordable housing projects in Houston, including the Dian Street Villas, with Kamin providing one of the affirmative votes.

Kamin’s office did not comment on the Dian Street Villas’ tax credit award. “It’s really disappointing that on paper, there’s a lot of requirements for community engagement and notification,� Strickland said. “So in theory, democracy should work. In practice, it’s all lip service.�

Moving forward, Strickland said his goal is to hold the developer accountable to the promises it has made to the neighborhood in terms of being receptive to its concerns and amending the project plans accordingly. He also said he wants to hold local elected officials accountable for supporting the project while ensuring they help to “bridge the gap� between the developer and the neighborhood.

David Charvoz, president of the Clark Pines Civic Association, said he supports the Dian Street Villas project but expressed a similar sentiment. He said Texas Inter-Faith Housing has pledged to work with a neighborhood oversight committee during the construction phase of the project, which is targeted to be completed by 2022, and that it has agreed to work with the city on traffic-calming measures near the development. “I really hope the developer keeps their promises that they made to us,�

Charvoz said.

Michaels said in a text message that Texas Inter-Faith Housing is “looking forward to working with the City of Houston and collectively creating long-term possibilities with our surrounding neighborhood, incorporating a continued open and positive communication effort with them.�

Shady Acres resident Kate Black said she’s been “really impressed� with the developer and its plan. She also said Texas Inter-Faith Housing seems to be receptive to the neighborhood’s concerns.

Black said she represents about 80 nearby residents who are part of a group called “YIMBY Heights,� which is in favor of the Dian Street Villas and other affordable housing projects. “There’s a large contingent of neighbors who really believe in affordable housing in this area and do think the Dian Street Villas is a good fit for our neighborhood,� she said.

signals along Hempstead Road between West Little York Road to the northwest and Long Point Road to the southeast. She said TxDOT is paying the contractor for the project (Main Lane) and subcontractor (Traffic Systems Construction) a total of $4.6 million to complete the work.

Black said the traffic signals are being replaced because they’re old and sometimes faulty, an explanation for them regularly flashing red at Hempstead and Pinemont. She said the reason for the delay in activating the new traffic signals is because the City of Houston, which is responsible for maintaining and programming the signals once they have been installed, asked for extra equipment to be used for safety purposes once the construction project was already underway.

Black also said a Union Pacific representative was “supposed to be there� Tuesday to conduct its test. But Union Pacific spokesperson Kristen South contradicted that statement, saying the railroad company was not asked to conduct a test at that intersection until it was contacted by Traffic Systems Construction on Tuesday to schedule the test for a later date.

Management for Traffic Systems Construction, based in Dickinson, did not respond to a request for comment. “We were not scheduled to be out there (Tuesday). All that happened (Tuesday) is we got the call to set it up,� South said. “And we anticipate that happening next week, assuming that the equipment that the city installed meets our requirements to interact with our signal system.�

Erin Jones, a spokesperson for Houston Public Works and Transportation & Drainage Operations, said the city typically does not activate traffic signals on TxDOTcontrolled roads until it gets the go-ahead from TxDOT or the state agency’s contractor that all the prerequisite work has been done. She said the city has never gotten such notification regarding the intersection of Hempstead and Pinemont, yet it told Chaney the signals would be activated on July 21 and then a week later.

Jones told The Leader on Monday that the new traffic signals would be activated on Tuesday. “We’re ready whenever they’re ready,� Jones said Tuesday, referring to TxDOT. “We have to wait

Photo by Adam Zuvanich Workers study the traffic lights at Hempstead Road and Pinemont Drive.

for them to say, ‘OK, we’re ready to turn it on.’ ‌ I guess they thought it was going to be (Tuesday), just like they thought it was going to be last week.â€?

Slow going Regarding the issue with the existing traffic signals at the intersection frequently flashing red, Jones said the city first responded to Chaney’s concerns in February and subsequently asked TxDOT and its contractor about the problem. She said the contractor attributed the issue to a malfunction with the railway preemption – which activates when a train is approaching – but an investigation by the city determined that was not the case.

Jones said the city was then told

by TxDOT that it would look into the problem, but never heard back.

Black, the TxDOT spokesperson, said the flashing-light problem was temporarily fixed Tuesday.

Chaney said Tuesday, when the traffic signals were working normally, was only the third time she’s seen them work properly in the last several months. They were still cycling through green, yellow and red on Wednesday morning, she said. “We are working as hard as we can with these three large entities,� said Black, referring to TxDOT, the city and Union Pacific. “It’s not for a lack of effort. We’re working on getting things done, and we’re close to the finish line.�

In an attempt to expedite the activation of the new traffic signals, Jones said the city loaned four Opticom sensors and other necessary materials to TxDOT and the contractor. Black said only the sensors were used for the intersection of Hempstead and Pinemont, with a wi-max antenna and loop detectors being used for other locations.

Houston City Council member

Amy Peck, who serves the construction area in District A, was contacted by Chaney in May and has tried to escalate the sense of urgency for completing the project. Peck said her office contacted the office of State Rep. Anna Eastman, who also serves the area. “It doesn’t matter to us whose jurisdiction it is,� Peck said. “We just need to make sure it gets done.�

Eastman’s chief of staff, Marisol Valero, echoed that sentiment. She said she reached out to TxDOT about one week into July and was told a week later that it needed the city to supply power to the intersection so the contractor could work on the lights.

Valero also said Chaney was right to be concerned about the signals at the intersection flashing red most of the time while a new set of signals waits to be activated. “It’s one of those things where constituents have paid their taxes.

We are all supposed to work with one another,� Valero said. “If something’s not getting done, where is the responsibility? Who is capturing the things that fall through the cracks at each independent agency? Who has the oversight of their own program?�

Chaney said she’ll be “relieved� when the new signals are activated.

She also said she’ll “keep hounding them� until that happens.

Considering how long the work has dragged on already, though, Chaney is not convinced the issue will be resolved soon. She’s also bracing herself for a new explanation for why the signal saga at Hempstead and Pinemont continues. “Next thing you know, it’ll be COVID’s fault,� she said. “The only thing that they haven’t told me so far is that it is because of the coronavirus.�

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The Leader • Saturday, Aug. 1, 2020 • Page 7A

Art Valet: Caldera creates new pieces with old materials Mitch Cohen Art Columnist

Label this column, “The continuing series on how artists can survive any environment regardless of outside circumstances.”

On that note, meet mixedmedia artist and Heights resident Dana Caldera. She combines found collage material, painting and drawing into intricately layered compositions to create her work.

Caldera will have her art booth set up at First Saturday Arts Market, 530 W. 19th St., from 6-10 p.m. Saturday. She first joined the other artists there last December. I love a good story in artwork and Caldera’s work caught my attention because each piece seemed to have a story to tell.

“I’m interested in how we record our stories, our connection with others, and the shared ephemera of the human experience,” Caldera wrote on her website. “I work

often from found photographs and materials, drawing inspiration from the physical memories of people who are strangers to me.”

Caldera has found ways around the loss of shows through success with social media and commissioned work. This summer Caldera was commissioned by designers for a couple of art pieces incorporating vintage Heights images.

Art Valet: Tell me about the project and your hunt for the photos you are using.

“They requested that I use vintage collage material that was local to the Historic Houston Heights,” Caldera said. “I started this project in June and I went to some estate sales (safely and in a mask), where I search to find old books, journals, letters, recipes and family snapshots. I’m usually looking for beautifully aged, yellow paper and I love anything with cursive handwriting on it. I also started looking for historical Houston Heights photographs and newspapers.

I discovered that the Houston Metropolitan Research Center, part of the Houston Public Library’s Special Collections,

Contributed photo Dana Caldera is ready for visitors at the First Saturday Arts Market, which will be held from 6-10 p.m. Saturday at 530 W. 19th St.

has a collection of photography archives.”

Caldera was granted permission to use five photos from the archive and found advertisements for the original Heights development in The Galveston Daily News. This would be the late 19th century.

“I enlarged and had these PDF images printed on some

aged paper that I gathered from the estate sales so that it evoked the feeling of an old newspaper,” Caldera said.

AV: Is the work similar to what you already create?

Caldera: “The first commission is very similar to my typical paintings, but much bigger. I normally work small because primary collage

material, the original photographs and notes, are small. I try to use the original picture or letter, not scans, because it is more evocative. However, in this case, to blow up the size, I chose to reprint the digital historic photos much larger than normal.

“The second commission will be a little different,” Caldera continued. “They’ve asked for something more organic and neutral, where the collage material will be attached to the canvas in a sculptural way. I’m very excited to share this new style of work.”

AV: How has COVID-19 affected your art/lifestyle?

Caldera: “Fortunately, I work in a studio attached to my garage so I have had access to my artwork this whole time. Some of my shows and markets have been canceled and I’ve missed networking and supporting my artist friends. I teach college classes and they’ve all been moved online so I was able to retain that income/work. All in all, I consider myself lucky.

“On a positive note, COVID has actually brought more online attention to my artwork.

One of the designers that

commissioned these projects actually found me on Instagram. The other found my website via Google. I couldn’t believe it, but now I get to tell my husband I’m working any time he catches me on Instagram - which is admittedly often!“ AV: Ever find anything interesting at the estate sales?

Caldera: “My favorite estate sale was one where the homeowner worked for the railroad. He had a wonderful classic train room filled with miniature trains, tracks, trusses. It was impeccably built and detailed. In his house I found old maps of train tracks, old books and his old science journals.”

View Caldera’s artwork on her website, danacaldera.com, and in person on Saturday night at the First Saturday Arts Market. The market is in its 16th year in the Heights and encourages all to wear a mask and white linen attire.

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:

Sit back and relax at Live Oak Grill Zarah Parker Managing Editor

Beautiful century-old live oak trees dominate the front patio of Live Oak Grill. The branches of the trees are spread out wide and provided shade to the patio during lunchtime.

The trees aren’t the only historic aspect of Live Oak, located at 10444 Hempstead Rd. I was told the building that houses the restaurant was originally a home built in 1915. The grill has preserved most of its history, with original hardwood floors and the multiple-room floor plan.

The grill also has a playground outside, but it is currently closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It’s not just the preservation of the house’s history that makes the restaurant homey. It’s also the staff. From the moment my lunch party walked in, we were greeted by workers who genuinely seemed happy to be there.

The menu is made up of mostly American fare, with a few pasta dishes as well as Tex-Mex options. I ordered the hamburger sliders with fries.

While waiting for our food to come out, our server was very attentive, bringing us refills and napkins. And the at-

Pictured is Live Oak Grill’s hamburger sliders and French fries.

tentiveness didn’t cease once we had our food in front of us.

I can appreciate that because sometimes at restaurants, servers will disappear once your food has arrived, which is fine until I can’t find my server for a refill.

The three mini-burgers were made simply with only mustard, and I added ketchup. The fries were piled on the side, lightly covered in seasoning.

The patties tasted homemade and I enjoyed them with only the two toppings.

The fries were typical, like ones you could find at any grill.

My lunch companions ordered the chicken tenders and

regular-sized burgers. The latter were part of the Monday lunch special of buy one, get one free. Everyone enjoyed their food.

On a whim, our table ordered dessert after a different server tempted us with cookies-and-cream cake balls.

I usually don’t have good expectations for cookies-andcream desserts that aren’t ice cream, because I tend to think they taste fake, but I was surprised by how much I liked these cake balls.

The outside was a cream shell that melted in my mouth and reminded me of the Hershey’s Cookies ‘n’ Crème candy bars. The inside was a fudge-like cake and, together

Photo by Zarah Parker

with the shell, truly tasted like cookies and cream.

I made the comment when leaving that the restaurant would be an ideal place for family gatherings on Sundays after church. It’s relaxed and friendly.

Too bad it’s currently not open on Sundays.

Live Oak Grill Address: 10444 Hempstead Rd. Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday Pricing: $7-$14.95 Kid-friendly: Yes Alcohol: Yes Healthy options: Yes Star of the show: Sliders

FOOD BRIEFS:

Café focused on kindness to open in Heights

By Zarah Parker

Eater Houston that the restaurant would be closing for good because Blackbird couldn’t survive long term while focusing on carryout orders.

zarah@theleadernews.com

La La Land Kind Café, a coffee shop and café, is planting roots in the Heights.

The Dallas-based business recently signed on as a tenant for the M-K-T development at 600 N. Shepherd Dr., according to Eater Houston.

La La Land describes itself as a “socially conscious” café that prioritizes kindness, ingredients and altruism. The café focuses on this by hiring people who have aged out of foster care.

As part of its story, the team behind La La Land explained that after creating a nonprofit centering around helping the youths who come out of foster care, they realized that help with housing, mentorship and therapy wasn’t enough because many employers weren’t willing to hire youth that had no experience.

“If no one was going to hire our youth, we set out to do it ourselves,” La La Land’s website reads.

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Photo from Facebook The Dallas-based café and coffee shop, La La Land Kind Café, will open a location in the M-K-T development at 600 N. Shepherd Dr.

Blackbird Izakaya closes permanently The Heights Japanese restaurant Blackbird Izakaya, 1221 W. 11th St., has closed

permanently.

A video posted on YouTube by owner Billy Kim, titled “Goodbye Blackbird,” was published on the site July 20. Kim confirmed with

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THE PUBLIC. The Leader • Saturday, Aug. 1, 2020 • Page 8A

Eastman still serving despite primary loss

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

When the Texas Legislature convenes again in January 2021, State Rep. Anna Eastman will not have the ability to introduce a bill or vote at the capitol building in Austin.

She lost a Democratic primary runoff in mid-July to Penny Morales Shaw, who will face Republican Lui La Rotta in November’s general election.

But Eastman, a Heights resident who in January was elected to complete the term of former State Rep. Jessica Farrar, will remain in office through the end of this year.

She said she plans to spend that time meeting the needs

of her constituents in District 148, which includes North and Northwest Houston.

Eastman said she and her chief of staff, Marisol Valero, are “committed to serving the district through the rest of the calendar year.” Eastman said she is especially focused on ensuring that area schoolchildren have access to quality instruction, and that school districts have access to federal CARES Act funding, as the region continues to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic and educational leaders weigh their options in terms of remote online learning and traditional in-person instruction.

“I continue to serve on an education policy working

Abbott extends early voting period for November elections

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

On Monday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott extended the early voting period for November elections by nearly a week in an attempt to combat the obstacles presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Originally set to begin Oct. 19, registered voters will now be able to make their way to the polls beginning Oct. 13.

The Oct. 30 end date for early voting remains unchanged.

Election Day is scheduled for Nov. 3.

“As we respond to COVID-19, the state of Texas is focused on strategies that preserve Texans’ ability to vote in a way that also mitigates the spread of the virus,” Abbott said in a statement.

Interim Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins said the county is expecting a record turnout in November and applauded Abbott’s move. Hollins said he had previously asked Abbott to extend the early voting period.

“The safest way to vote is to vote by mail, but the

Eastman

group with the House Democratic Caucus,” said Eastman, a former Houston ISD trustee.

On her campaign Facebook page, Eastman outlined in English and Spanish a list of 20 constituent services

By Adam Zuvanich

next safest method to vote is to vote to avoid long lines at vote centers on Election Day,” he said in a statement.

“This extension gives voters more options to vote early.”

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campaign page. “We do not have the power to determine the outcome of the case, but we will make sure that you are heard and that your case receives the proper attention.”

While she will not have lawmaking power during the next Texas Legislature, Eastman said she could serve as a facilitator leading up to next year’s session. So she invited District 148 residents – including those in the Heights, Garden Oaks and Oak Forest – to reach out to her about potential legislative changes.

For example, a group of residents in both Garden Oaks and Oak Forest are attempting to remove racist language in their longstanding deed re-

strictions. Both sets of restrictions include unenforceable provisions that say only members of the “Caucasian race” can own property or reside in the adjacent neighborhoods.

Amending the deed restrictions entails navigating an exhaustive and complicated process, which could potentially be made easier by a statewide law.

“I am also available to discuss any potential legislation with constituents who have a specific issue they would like to see addressed during session,” Eastman said, “(including) the ability to change unconstitutional, racist language in deed restrictions desired by Garden Oaks and Oak Forest.”

County commissioner Ellis provides more support for bike-sharing program azuvanich@theleadernews.com

Abbott

that she invited District 148 residents to contact her about.

The resources are related to childcare, healthcare, consumer and business issues, programs for both crime victims and those who have been incarcerated, and issues related to environmental quality and transportation.

Eastman said she also could help residents in need obtain food stamps. She said she’s been working with the Houston Food Bank and other community partners to deliver food to home-bound citizens.

“Helping you to navigate and reach state agencies is one of the most important services my office can offer you,” Eastman wrote on her

The Harris County Commissioners Court recently approved a proposal by Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis, an avid cyclist who serves part of the area, to invest an additional $1 million in Houston’s bike-sharing program.

According to a news release from Houston BCycle, a nonprofit created by the city in 2012, the money will go toward the expansion of the program. It now has 111 stations with about 800 bikes, including nine stations in the Heights and Washington Avenue areas.

“In addition to being environmentally friendly, cycling is currently one of the safest forms of transportation — we need to ensure that it is an option for all residents,” Ellis said in the news release. “In addition to the BCycle investment, Precinct 1 is also investing to build protected bike lanes in the City of Houston so cyclists can feel safe sharing the road with cars.”

In April, Ellis pledged

$850,000 to Houston BCycle for the creation of 30 new stations, at least of which will be located in low-income, underserved parts of the city, along with 320 additional bikes and 100 electric bikes. A tentative location for one of those new stations is the intersection of North Main Street and Cavalcade Street in the Heights.

While making his latest financial commitment to the bike-sharing program, Ellis urged other Houston-area organizations to match his contribution so the program can be further expanded. Houston

BCycle said it had recordbreaking weekly and monthly ridership numbers in May. “It’s clear that the (COVID-19) pandemic has increased the momentum for safe, outdoor transportation and recreational options,” BCycle executive director Beth Martin said. “One of the

silver linings in the past four months has been the outpouring of advocacy and support for infrastructure that prioritizes the most vulnerable street users.”

For more information about Houston BCycle and a map of stations, visit houstonbcycle. com.

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