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State sues county over absentee applications Hollins said in a Tuesday tweet that his office would wait for an upcoming state district court hearing before proceeding with the plan, which calls for mailing applications to more than 2 million voters regardless of whether they are eligible to vote by mail. In order to cast a mailin ballot, according to state law, voters must be at least 65 years old, disabled or ill, out
By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
A plan to send ballot-bymail applications to every registered voter in Harris County was placed on hold earlier this week when the State of Texas sued interim Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins, claiming he does not have the legal authority to do so.
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This just in. Two local seventhgraders are starting a newspaper club for their neighborhood.
Page 4A Photo by Adam Zuvanich Kat Creech, founder of nonprofit Recovery Houston, grabs construction supplies Tuesday from Houston Community ToolBank.
Local residents lending hands to hurricane victims By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
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Healthy eating. Zarah Parker reviews Flower Child, where health food is tasty, too.
Page 7A
High honors. Find out who won volunteer awards from the Houston Heights Association.
Kat Creech, a former Oak Forest resident who works as an event planner in the area, started a nonprofit in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Harvey because her fellow Houstonians needed help. Three years later, Recovery Houston is back in action but has its eyes fixed on friends to the east. Hurricane Laura narrowly avoided Houston last week but ravaged the people of southwest Louisiana, who sent volunteers and rescue boats to the Space City when much of it was under water in 2017. Creech drove to Louisiana last weekend to survey the damage caused by the Category 4 storm and, this weekend, is returning with a team of volunteers and supplies. Recovery Houston is coordinating with the Cajun Navy Foundation to help cover damaged roofs with big, blue tarps, a temporarily fix so residents can still live in their homes while they survey the wreckage and await assistance from FEMA and their insurance companies. “We want to take our circle of influence and love here in Houston and give back to the Cajuns, to the Cajun Navy, who helped us a lot during our time of need here in Houston. That’s the call to action.” Area residents can support Creech’s effort by making tax-deductible donations at www.recoveryhouston.org. Those interested in volunteering or donating goods and other supplies can email info@recoveryhouston.org for more information. Many other local residents and area businesses are lend-
Unprecedented school year to start with uncertainty By Abigail Eastman
Contributed photo Pictured is a damaged home behind a downed tree in southwest Louisiana, which was recently hit by Hurricane Laura.
ing their own hands to Lake Charles, the Louisiana city hit especially hard by Hurricane Laura, and surrounding communities in southwest Louisiana and southeast Texas. Rainbow Lodge, 2011 Ella Blvd., was among the Houston restaurants to make donations for Hurricane Laura relief. American Legion Post 560 in Garden Oaks held a donation drive, collecting items such as bottled water, non-perishable food, diapers, undergarments and cleaning supplies that were sent to communities in need. Liberty Hoepfl Garage, 4610 N. Shepherd Dr., is collecting goods for Starks, Louisiana, in a partnership with Durham Elementary School. Garage co-owner Kathryn See Laura, P. 4A
Sophia Castillo, an 11-year Houston ISD teacher who works at Heights High School, said virtual learning could never compare to in-person instruction. She said she’s a different person when teaching in front of a screen versus teaching in front of a classroom full of kids. Castillo teaches biology to ninth graders and, in some ways, the COVID-19 pandemic is the real-world version of the class she teaches. With HISD planning to rely solely on online instruction for at least the first six weeks of the upcoming school year, which starts Tuesday, Sept. 8, Castillo said she worries about how she will build the connections with her students that the classroom facilitates. She also said it will be difficult for her incoming ninth graders to get up to speed on the technology used in the classSee related room, since her ninth story graders last year had many months to learn Page 4A how to work the programs. Now, Castillo will have to find a way to teach all of that virtually. She said online learning applications will be especially important, because unlike last spring, HISD will count all grades for students. Castillo’s case is not unique as HISD starts an unprecedented school year. Parents and students also have concerns and are making adjustments based on the pandemic, which could affect HISD’s plan for the 2020-21 academic year. The school district announced its “Reconnect Safely, Return Strong” plan in July and, in August, the HISD Board of Education approved a $54.6 million budget amendment to ensure students are equipped with computers and internet access and that campuses have enough purchase personal protective equipment, social distancing signage, plexiglass dividers and special education personnel. Face-to-face, on-campus learning is scheduled to begin Oct. 19, although that date is subject to change See HISD, P. 5A
File photo Virtual learning for students at Heights High School and other Houston ISD schools starts Tuesday, Sept. 8.
Disc golf becoming popular pastime during pandemic By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
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THE INDEX. Church....................................................... 4A Classifieds.............................................. 5A Coupons................................................... 3B Food/Drink/Art................................... 7A Obituaries............................................... 4A Opinion..................................................... 3A Public Information......................... 8A Puzzles...................................................... 3A
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of their home county during the election or incarcerated but otherwise eligible to vote. The county clerk’s plan has drawn the support of Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, two fellow Democrats. Hidalgo said in her own tweet earlier this week that the mailed applica-
Photo by Landan Kuhlmann Brad Tipton releases a putting disc during a round at T.C. Jester Park last Sunday. Tipton is among Houstonians who have been playing more disc golf during the pandemic.
For many competitors, it’s the roar of the crowd that gives them the juice or feeds their competitive spirit. But for Ryan Bahde and many others in Houston, the most satisfying sound in the world is a disc flying into the metal baskets at T.C. Jester Park’s disc golf course. And it has taken on an entirely different meaning in the new world of COVID-19. “I love just watching a great shot fly through the air and the sound of chains,” Bahde said.
“It’s the best.” Bahde, a Heights resident and director of a league that meets at 5 p.m. every Wednesday at T.C. Jester Park, 4201 T.C. Jester Blvd., picked up the sport more than 20 years ago. But he said the pandemic – which has mostly prevented large gatherings for many competitive sports – has given way to an increasing number of newly-minted disc golfers and interest in the sport around the area. “We’re seeing a lot of newer players come out and discover the league,” Bahde said. “Even with COVID coming out, it’s
brought a few more people to the course and exposed a lot more people to the sport. We’re always looking to grow the sport, and it’s a welcoming group. It’s a way to meet new friends and have fun at the same time.” Weekly participation in the T.C. Jester League has grown by at least 30 percent since the pandemic took hold, according to Bahde. Prior to COVID-19, he said about 30-35 players showed up each week. Now, that number is closer to 45-50, and the camaraderie is growing along with it. See Disc, P. 5A
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THE TOPICS. The Leader • Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020 • Page 3A
Big companies don’t value our community
M
ost weeks, I try to write about topics that impact or inform or amuse the greatest number of readers possible. This week, I’m taking a personal day for a few hundred of our readers, though maybe there’s a lesson for all of us beneath the surface. Most of the longtime readers of The Leader know about our old office, which sat just south of the Oak Forest Post Office on East T.C. Jester Boulevard. In 1982, The Leader moved to that office on the southwest corner of the building, and we called it home until our lease expired at the end of June this year. If you’re counting at home, our office was there for 38 years. When our company bought The Leader in 2012, I sat in an office near the front of the building, and my window opened to a metal rack that stored copies of our free newspapers. No matter what time of day I was there – early morning or late at night – the steady stream of cars stopping to pick up a paper always amazed me. Each week, we set 10 bundles of newspapers at the front door (100 papers in a bundle), and by the end of the week, rarely did a newspaper
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remain. Sure, we had our group of sticky fingers, taking a handful to line a birdcage or stuff a moving box, but most people came and picked up one or two papers, looking for a job or a coupon or, every once a while, this column. On Thursday mornings, when we’d fill the rack with the week’s papers, we’d always have a few cars in the parking lot, patiently waiting for a week’s worth of printed news. If I sound nostalgic, it’s because I am. Our company has changed a lot since those quiet days at The Leader office. We own more newspapers and companies now, and our office – admittedly – is quite a bit nicer than the flood-prone flex space we once called home. These days, we sit a few blocks south at the Preserve
office complex on East T.C. Jester near 610. When our lease expired at the old office in June, we had to take all our belongings with us, including that well-worn rack that has been touched hundreds of thousands of times in the past decade. And as you might imagine, our phones immediately began to ring. “Where can we get a copy of The Leader now?” While our new office is only a few blocks from the old one, it’s hard for most of our readers to find. Our building is stuck in the back of a wooded area with limited parking, and we’re on the second floor, making it difficult for some of our senior readers. After a few phone calls, we found a solution. We had a wonderful relationship with one of our neighbors at the old Leader office, Houston Dance Works. Autumn Rosemond, the owner, knew how many people came by to pick up newspapers, and said she’d love to have the rack outside her business. A few days later, we had a new Leader rack a few hundred feet from the old one, making it easy for the hundreds of people who pick up
The downward drift of Texas In 2012, a Houston Chronicle photojournalist made a video featuring readings by, among others, Barbara Bush, Quanell X and Mayor Annise Parker, to celebrate March 2. It was not only Texas Independence Day but, coincidentally, Sam Houston’s birthday, and was certainly something to mark. However the video had nothing to do with anything Texas. March 2 is also the birthday of Theodor Seuss Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss, who was born March 2, 1904. The celebrities read from “Green Eggs and Ham.” Those other anniversaries went pretty much unnoticed, and still are. This brings up a question: Has Texas lost its mojo? It used to be on March 2, on the UT campus in Austin, the Longhorns would unroll a huge Lone Star flag down the Tower while the band played Texas tunes. Wonder if they still do that? Texas Exes still hold parties on or near that date. San Jacinto Day, April 21, used to be celebrated with parades and floats and bands, and survivors of that fight would gather on the battlefield. The Aggies mark April 21 with a Muster for Ags who had died in the past year. It was said that in 1942, as U.S. forces were pinned down on Corridor, Aggies – and there were 27 of them -- got together on April 21 to hold Muster. Others say that was just a tale. On April 21, 1946, 128 Aggie troops gathered on Corregidor for Muster. We still see our flag on bumper stickers, food, beer mugs and on the seat of pants, but some don’t understand. One of my brothers was a Marine infantry officer in Vietnam. He flew a Texas flag over his bunker until a superior told him to take it down. “People might think it’s a Viet Cong banner.” When the Astros were in a playoff with the Boston Red Sox in 2018, Houston was plastered with Texas flags. This was right after a hurricane hit Puerto Rico. A Boston sports writer wrote that it was sure nice of Housto-
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nians to fly the Puerto Rican flag in sympathy. The shape of the state is easily recognizable. We see Lone Star-shaped ashtrays, dog dishes and boxes of candy. We also have a state seal, the Lone Star surrounded by a Christmas wreath. Bill Hobby, a former – and decidedly best – lieutenant governor, told me that he had attended a convention of lieutenant governors, and they held an outdoor barbeque. Hobby wore a big belt with an oval metal buckle sporting the seal. Another lite gov asked about it and Hobby explained it was the Texas seal. “Gee,” said the guy, “wonder if we have one?” One reason for this disinterest in things (or thangs) Texas is the immense addition here from out-of-state and out-of-country newcomers. Texas’ population increases by 1,000 people A DAY. Half are births, the other half are from foreign lands or the other 49 states. (Do you ever get the idea that the Border Patrol is watching the wrong river?) In Harris County, more than a million residents -- one in four -- are foreign-born. This is one reason in Houston there are more than 150 foreign consulates and permanent representations. Some are honorary, but 89 are fulltime. Oops. Make it 88. There goes China. These 1-million foreign-borns might not know, or care, about Davy Crockett, rodeos or what happened here before they arrived. I once met a woman whose family moved here from Up East. She objected to her children having to learn about Texas history. Also, Texas law requires students recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States flag and the Pledge of Allegiance to the Texas flag each day. Maybe her
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kids take a knee. Even the storied Texas Rangers are getting slammed. Certainly we have lost our power in Washington like when Lyndon Johnson ruled the Senate and Sam Rayburn controlled the House. Somehow Ted Cruz and Louie Gohmert just don’t fill those shoes. We might have more punch if we took better care of ourselves. According to US News & World Report among the 50 states Texas ranks 37th in health care, 34th in education, 15th in the economy. We are 33rd in infrastructure and 39th in opportunity. Texas is 33rd in crime and correction and 40th in natural environment. US News overlooked a most important category. Texas ranks Number 1 in state executions: 841 since 1930, 563 since 1976. So there is still hope. Ashby is rank at ashby2@comcast.net
newspapers there each week. Except that didn’t last long. We got a call the next week that our newspaper rack was gone. We asked the property owner, Kagan Realty, if they knew what happened to it. They pleaded innocent, but also told us that the owner of the business did not want us to replace it. Sounds odd, right? First, in the eight years our company has owned The Leader, we never once had a rack stolen from the property. Our business manager, Jane Broyles, worked at that office for 24 years, and not once did we have a rack stolen. Then came the really odd call. Autumn at Houston Dance Works said she never asked for the rack to be removed, and I conveyed that to the folks at Kagan Realty. They backtracked and said since The Leader was no longer a tenant in the office, they don’t want us to have a newspaper rack there. It doesn’t matter that Autumn asked us to put one there. That’s like C&D Hardware in the Heights not allowing us to have a rack at their store because The Leader doesn’t have an office there. We all know what this is, and it’s
too bad. Even though The Leader was a wonderful tenant for Kagan for nearly four decades, their pettiness means the hundreds of people who rely on The Leader for local information can’t make the same drive they’ve made for years to get a local newspaper. Look, in the grand scheme of things, it’s not that big of a deal. People will get in a new habit, and we’ll all forget in the long run. Here’s what I won’t forget, and maybe this is the larger lesson for all of us: One of the great things about our neighborhoods is that we treat this area of Houston as a close-knit community. Larger companies like Kagan obviously don’t get that, and it’s why we should do everything possible to support our locally owned businesses. And in that spirit, the folks who spent years driving to The Leader to find a newspaper can now hop over to Shawn Salyers’ restaurant, Mytiburger on 43rd Street, and pick up a paper at our new rack there. And maybe on one of your stops, you’ll buy a burger from him and support another local business. Email jonathan@mcelvymedia.com
THE READER. Bridge fire sheds light on homelessness in Heights
Dear Editor: If the “cause had yet to be determined” and there is no evidence that the suspect was homeless, why the sensationalistic headline that suggests otherwise? It’s a shame to see blame placed on an already vulnerable population when there is no evidence to support it. Will most people read the article to get the actual details, or will they stop at the inaccurate characterization in the headline? Probably the latter, unfortunately. Let’s do better when sharing information with our community. Heights resident
Everyone is right in the case of COVID
Dear Editor: I agree! Why can’t we all work together and kick some virus butt? I am so tired of people that make everything political! It doesn’t matter who you are, what race you are, what political side you choose. Just choose wisely where you go, what you do, what precautions you take. It could mean the difference between life and death for someone you know and love, or don’t even know at all. And when we have a vaccine don’t tell me not to get a shot. Make your own choices and I’ll make mine. Like Jonathan said, it doesn’t make either of us right or wrong. It just gives us all a choice. Choose carefully! Jeanette Black Dear Editor: Your comment that the American people are not divided regarding HIV/AIDS is an insult to the lives lost as a result of American panic and ignorance when HIV first became prevalent. HIV/AIDS is not the same as the current COVID-19 pandemic. HIV was never
Email us your letters: news@theleadernews.com spread through mere social contact, so the chances of contracting HIV were and are minimal from kissing, from hugging, from talking face to face. COVID-19, in contrast, is spread through the simple acts of socialization — that is what makes COVID-19 so insidious. Humans are social beings yet we are tasked with the major mind-play of having to keep far away from each other at all times. “You do what’s right for your family but don’t chastise those who disagree..” Yours is the very shortsighted, foolhardy mindset that has caused COVID-19 to spread and to result in so many needless deaths in America. Unless your family lives on “Gilligan’s Island” your actions and choices affect the lives of others. Rugged individualism has its time and place; the current pandemic is neither. Dale Smith
Should high school sports happen this fall?
Dear Editor: I too have missed high school sports games over the past couple of months. I’d love to watch them again this Fall. Hopefully, they’ll still play and I can at least watch the games from my local news station. Franklin White
TABC cuts break for bars, brewpubs
Dear Editor: The statement Abbott made is not true. It did not contribute to the spike, it was the protest, the mass open funerals, the waterparks, etc. I have lived in this neighborhood all of my life. There are about four family owned bars that have no more than 15 people at a time. They are daytime bars, where neighbors and friends go during the day. Well, already two of them are out of business. It’s a shame. We really don’t see the what his logic is, restaurants have 20 people at any given day sitting at their bar. Janet Hafercamp
the leader Puzzlers. Answers found in this week’s Classified section
SUDOKU
aCrOss 1. Swedish rock group 5. Founder of Babism 8. 2 stripe Army rank (abbr.) 11. Of Salian Franks 13. Indicates near 14. Swiss river 15. Golden pothos 16. Runs PCs 17. E. Tunisian seaport 18. Cyprinid fishes 20. Genus Ulmus 21. Stitched garment border 22. Takes in as a part 25. Pierre is the capital 30. Brush upward 31. Moby’s author’s initials 32. Belgian franc 34. Mongolian capital Ulan ___ 35. Computer code for letters & numbers 38. Initials of Watson’s detective 39. Spanish be 41. Jauntier 43. Cormoran Strike’s 2nd novel 46. Wasted material 48. Bleat sound
49. Excess body weight 50. Oral polio vaccine 55. Rigs 56. Drawstring 57. Baltic flat-bottomed boat (alt. sp.) 59. Double curve 60. Point midway between NE and E 61. Mackerel shark genus 62. Used to be United __ 63. Animal nest 64. Abba __, Israeli politician
dOwn 1. Signing 2. Spoken in the Dali region of Yunnan 3. Worthless drivel 4. Aboriginal race of Japan 5. Adorn 6. Greek god of light 7. Atomic #83 8. Eating houses 9. Baby buggy 10. Supervillain Luthor 12. Hansom 14. Tennis champion Arthur
19. Flank 23. Sleep 24. Richly patterned weave 25. Hoagies 26. Moonfish 27. University of Santo Tomas 28. Duo indicates 29. Regarding this point 32. Stand for coffin 33. Not yielding 36. Point midway between S and SW 37. Data executive 40. Changed gears 41. ___ Sauer: Weapons co. 42. Brews 44. __ May, actress 45. Shiny cotton textile 46. Cavalry-sword 47. Bullfighting maneuver 48. Shopping containers 51. ‘Puppy Bowl’ network listing 52. Hillside 53. Metrical foot 54. Dog in Peter Pan 55. Romaine lettuce 58. Irish Sea Isle
WORD SCRAMBLE
Page 4A • Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020 • The Leader
New local principal has love for language, education By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com
Love Elementary’s new principal, Eden Bass, grew up speaking Spanish with her family, but at Wellesley College she chose to major in Middle Eastern studies. Bass said she learned how much she enjoyed teaching during a study abroad program where she volunteered at Jerash Camp in Jordan, working with Palestinian refugees. “It opened my eyes,� Bass said. It was the Teach for America program that brought her in 2013 to Houston ISD’s Patrick Henry Middle School, where she spent two years as a math teacher. When the Arabic Immersion Magnet School (AIMS) opened, Bass applied and joined the founding team there
as an Arabic language enrichment teacher. She taught yoga, in Arabic, to pre-K and kindergarten students as well as computer, physical education and, interestingly enough, Spanish. After the first year, Bass moved to the AIMS leadership team and over the next several years served as magnet coordinator, teacher specialist and assistant principal. Bass’ time at AIMS further cemented her belief in a duallanguage program. “I’m a big proponent,� she said. “The earlier you learn, the better. I feel like I’ve spent my whole life trying to catch up.� A self-professed “education nerd�, Bass said she wanted to learn all she could about being a leader in a public school. So in 2018, she got a master’s degree in public school leadership from Columbia University.
they are seen,� she said. Bass is aware of how the community rallied in 2011, when HISD proposed closing Love because of low enrollment. “That really impressed me,� she said. Although she never took formal Spanish classes, Bass said she understands the language well and has told the Love community that her new job gives her more impetus to call her grandmother for additional practice in speaking it. A 2019 HISD demographics report says that the majority of Love’s students, 86 percent, are Hispanic. Bass said that about half of those students who identify as Hispanic are fluent in Spanish. “It’s not always taught to the third generation,� she said. And even though Bass values a close community, she said the school can accommo-
Bass
When the opportunity came to apply for the role at Love Elementary, which also has a dual-language program in Spanish, Bass took it. Bass said the small size of the school, similar to AIMS, appealed to her. She also appreciates that Love’s teachers have an average of 14 years of experience. “Every student feels like
date about 100 more students at 1120 W. 13th St. The same 2019 HISD report said about half of Love’s student body are zoned students and the other half have transferred in from another zone. As principal, one of Bass’ goals is to get the word out about what Love has to offer. “I want to build that neighborhood confidence,� Bass said. “People assume that since we do not have ‘magnet’ in our name, we don’t offer any specialty programs. (Love) actually offers a great duallanguage program and we are dedicated to serving this neighborhood.� To do that, Bass wants to use the same approach she did at AIMS, namely getting out into the community, to festivals and other events – when she’s able to do so safely. There are also small tweaks such as HISD providing the
school with a new logo. Changing roles in a virtual environment has been different, Bass said, but the atmosphere has been no less welcoming. This school year is also the first that Love will have a fulltime HISD wraparound coordinator, who will help students and their families with nonacademic needs necessary to be successful in school. Bass said she has enjoyed learning about Love’s unique traditions – like the spring rainbow photo where every class dresses in a different color, and the EarlyAct FirstKnight program from the Rotary Club that knights students for showing certain character traits – and wants to build on them. “Once we are able to be in groups again, I want to have an open-door policy and be transparent about what we have to offer,� Bass said.
Longtime area resident Danna dies at 66 By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
Donna Jean Danna loved being around kids – her own kids and their friends, neighborhood kids, the kids she taught as a kindergarten assistant at St. Rose of Lima Catholic School and eventually her grandkids. Even in her mid-50s, Danna and her husband took in an infant relative and treated her as their own kid. Kailey was 2 months old when the Dannas began caring for her, and she’ll turn 12 years old on Saturday. “She loved children. Everybody called her the baby whisperer,� said her oldest daughter, Monica Danna. “Kids loved here. She was very fun.� Donna Danna, a motherly figure to countless kids while her eldest children were growing up in the Forest Pines and Mangum Manor subdivisions, died Aug. 27 of an apparent heart attack. She was 66. Danna is survived by her three children and four grandchildren as well as her husband of 48 years, Joe Danna, the Republican candidate for Harris County Sheriff. He will face Democratic incumbent Ed Gonzalez in November’s general election. “As my daughters and I attempt to move forward in this world without Donna, we thank God for the gift of her life and love,� Joe Danna said in a statement released by his campaign. “We are experiencing profound grief and heartbreak, and will continue to do so for some time. There was no one like Donna. She was the love of my life and my biggest supporter.�
Contributed photo Donna Danna, center, poses for a picture with her husband, Joe, far right, as well as her children and grandchildren. She died Aug. 27.
The Dannas were married at St. Ambrose Catholic Church in 1972 and spent the next few decades as area residents, with their two oldest daughters, Monica and Jill, graduating from Scarborough High School. Monica is the director of leasing and marketing for Revive Development, a prominent commercial real estate firm in the Heights, Garden Oaks and Oak Forest area. Monica described her mother, who grew up in Pasadena and was known as D.D. among her friends and grandkids, as irreverent and selfless. Monica said Donna left her back gate open so neighbors could swim in her pool and was known to invite the family’s landscaper inside for lunch. Donna enjoyed taking care of others and tending to her garden, and she took annual vacations with a group of mothers she befriended while teaching at St. Rose. Donna also started the first af-
ter-school program at St. Ambrose when her oldest daughters attended there in the mid-1980s, according to Monica. Kailey is now a seventh-grader at St. Ambrose, where the family has set up a scholarship fund in Donna’s honor. Monica said the Donna Danna Student Scholarship Fund will provide a partial scholarship every year to a St. Ambrose student in need. In lieu of food and flowers, the family asks that donations be made online at www.donnadannastudentfund.org or directly to St. Ambrose. “We’re obviously grateful for the 66 years that she was here and the time she was with us,� Monica said. “It’s devastating. Mom was everyone’s most favorite person.� Monica said the family is planning a private liturgy service and also intends to hold a celebration of life event, where friends and extended family will be welcome, at some point later this year.
Contributed photo Seventh graders Olivia Donohue, left, and Maggie Padilla decided to start a newspaper club for Garden Oaks and Oak Forest after their school’s newspaper was cancelled.
Local kids start newspaper club By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com
After their school newspaper was cancelled, seventh graders at St. Rose of Lima Catholic School, Olivia Donohue and Maggie Padilla, decided to start a kid-run newspaper club for Garden Oaks and Oak Forest. “I think that newspapers are still important to a community because you can read about something but you weren’t there to experience it,� Donohue said. Donohue and Padilla both said the main reason they wanted to start the paper was to give other kids in the neighborhood the opportunity to write and create a newspaper. “We are going to try to cover all the topics like breaking news, sports and other events happening in the community,� Padilla said. The club will begin with an emailed newsletter every other week, but even-
tually they hope to publish in print. Both girls have taken writing classes and Donohue was a student at The Leader’s Media Camp last year. “The experience was awesome. The camp covered all types of media,� Donohue said. “I am more interested in filmmaking after it, and I think the photography part of the camp will help us with taking photos to go with the stories.� The club will also serve as a fun way to meet other kids in the neighborhood. Padilla said they’re looking for kids who are 10-14 years old to participate in the club. “For our new members, we’re looking for people who like to write and would take their role seriously,� Donohue said. “The responsibilities would include keeping on task and writing your assigned article.� To learn how to join the club, contact Donohue and Padilla via email at tsct20offical@gmail.com.
Laura, from P. 1A van der Pol said generators and fuel are among the most pressing needs in communities impacted by the hurricane. “We’ve always had a close kinship with the folks from Louisiana,� van der Pol said. “We helped them during Katrina. It’s just time to help them now.� Also spearheading that effort are Durham teacher Anne Baumgarten and Garden Oaks residents Dorothy Leahy and Brooke Murphy, who are collecting supplies at their homes. Baumgarten said Leahy and Murphy personally delivered items last weekend and were planning to send more this week.
Last weekend’s drop-offs in Louisiana included donated bottled water from William Price Distilling, an in-the-works spirits manufacturer at 970 Wakefield Dr. in Garden Oaks that pivoted to producing hand sanitizer at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Zack Hiller, vice president of the company, said it sent more than 1,000 gallons of water last weekend and will keep bottling it as long as there is a need. Hiller said it’s City of Houston water that is treated on site at William Price Distilling, which will use the same water when it begins making whiskey and other spirits later this year.
“Those two ladies were instrumental in us getting the water out there,� Hiller said of Leahy and Murphy. “I’m doing the easy part, just putting water in bottles.� Rob Gaudet of the Cajun Navy Foundation, one of multiple similarly-named organizations in Louisiana, is a Lake Charles native whose group has set up a command center in the city and is focusing its relief efforts on low-income communities in the northern part of town. He has been coordinating with Creech and Recovery Houston to serve as first responders of sorts to homes damaged by Laura, which brought more wind than rain.
CHURCH D I R E CTO RY
I
In light of theSunday COVID-19 outbreak, please check with church below for updated St.each James Lutheran Church, ELCA Bible Studies For All Ages ... 9:30am Morning Worship ............... 10:45am • Worship (English) ..... 10:00 am - 11:00am information Wednesday about services and events. In-person services are temporarily restricted. Bible Studies For Youth, Children • Learning Hour........... 11:00am - 12:00pm MANNA
Three years after the grassroots, crowdsourcing organization performed more than 4,000 water rescues in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, Gaudet said the Cajun Navy Foundation is thankful to the Houstonians who are now returning the favor. “We couldn’t ask for a better state to be next door to,� Gaudet said. Crews from Strata Roofing & Construction at 4715 Pinemont Dr., have been making daily trips to the Lake Charles area to put tarps on damaged roofs, particularly on larger homes. Owner Bryan Meyer said most impacted homeowners are being charged for the service, but the
GET Helping is hard OVER IT!
t goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway: “we have all made mistakes.� As Alexander Pope so aptly put it: “To err is human, to forgive, divine.� We should remember this the next time we make a mistake. Most certainly, we must learn from our mistakes, and hopefully not continue to repeat them, but we should also forgive ourselves. While it can be hard enough to forgive others for their mistakes, it can sometimes feel almost impossible to forgive ourselves. We sometimes cannot bring ourselves to forgive something we’ve done, and we may punish and harangue ourselves for years, or even decades, over youthful indiscretions. In addition, some of us may not be able to forget the sins of our past. And although that may prevent us from repeating them, we must be charitable and forgive ourselves, just as we should forgive others. So, we should make a real effort in the coming days and weeks to forgive the offenses of others as well as our own. Sometimes, it helps to just forget about them; that is, to try to put them out of our mind and stop repeatedly mulling over them. One of the reasons we use the phrase “forgive and forget� is because sometimes that is the only way to forgive, i.e., by forgetting. But far better, and more divine, is to be able to forgive even while remembering the offense. So, we should let go of those unforgiving, vindictive, shameful feelings about the past, and get over it! Corrie ten Boom, who survived incarceration in a Nazi prison camp said, “Forgiveness is to set a prisoner free, and to realize that the prisoner was you.�
By Pastor Will Cover
Arise Baptist Church 803 Curtin St. Houston TX 77018 713-659-9697 • www.arisebaptistchurch.org
Y
esterday a group from our church went to help First Church people who were affected by St. James Lutheran Church, ELCA Weekly Sunday Services Gethsemane Lutheran Church Hurricane Laura. When we got to • Bible Study: 9:15 a.m. 4040 Watonga • 713-688-5227 t 8PSTIJQ &OHMJTI BN BN • Morning:10:30 a.m. We invite you to worship with us! the Sulphur/Lake Charles area we • Evening: 4:15 p.m. Weekly Worship Services 9:00 a.m. t -FBSOJOH )PVS BN QN 1700 West 43School at Rosslyn Sunday School & Bible Classes 10:30 am Sunday ........9:15 am found incredible devastation. The MANNA 713-682-4942 t 8PSTIJQ 4QBOJTI QN QN Pastor – Dr. Richard Walters Sunday Worship......10:30am wind blew with so much force that 4QPOTPS Ad # 32285 Wednesday Bible Study billboards were knocked down, 8FTU SE 4U t )PVTUPO 5Y t & Prayer 6:00pm Candlelight Church ofService Christ roofs were ripped off, and trees were Join us for Services FC Heights Family and Staff snapped in two like toothpicks. We in English or Spanish Sunday Morning Worship 8:30 and 11:00 201 E. 9th St. • 713-861-3102 Judge not, and mobile you will nothomes be judged; condemnover and saw flipped Sunday Worship 10am & 5pm Sunday School for Children, Youth and Adults 9:40 Sund Please visit our website at: not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, Sunday Bible Classes 9am www.fbcheights.org Ministries for All Ages tractor trailers on their side. This and you will be forgiven... Wednesday Bible Study 7pm www.lazybrookbaptistchurch.org Home of Johnson Memorial School for Little Children doesn’t even begin to describe Rev. Nathan Lonsdale Bledsoe, Pastor 4215 Watonga Blvd. • 713-681-9365 R.S.V. Luke 6:37 Wed for the following: ◆ stsumc.org 2003 W. 43rd St. ◆ 713-686-8241 Houston, TX 77092 the real devastation in the faces Sunday Services: Live Stream at 11:00am of the people we spoke with as Bible Studies: From Homepage, click on they worked on their homes or sat 1822 W. 18th • 713-864-1470 Connect/Small Groups waiting for some help. We met one lady as she was sitting on the floor of her apartment trying to work on her electric wheelchair. While she Gethsemane Lutheran Church still had some charge left in her Pastor Jerry McNamara battery, the chair had issues with a 4040 Watonga • 713-688-5227 connection and it was not moving We invite you to worship with us! properly. She worked on her chair while sweating profusely because Weekly Worship Services 9:00a.m. of the lack of electricity to power Online services can be reached her A/C. Power crews are saying it through the website below at 9:00 am. and Adults............................ 6:15pm
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company is doing minor repairs for free and not taking up-front money from veterans and first responders. If other impacted residents cannot afford to pay the entire cost to have their roofs secured, Meyer said his company is allowing them to pay a portion of the price and defer the rest. “Everybody here is super appreciative of us doing what we’re doing,� Meyer said Tuesday from Louisiana. “There’s so much destruction in East Texas and western Louisiana. There’s just not enough people (to help).� Follow Adam Zuvanich on Twitter @AZuvanich
could take as long as a month before power is restored in some of the hardest hit areas. We took as much food and water as we could carry, as well as chain-saws, rakes, and other tools to help clear debris. We were able to clear trees, feed people, bring water to the thirsty, and pray with those who were discouraged. Everywhere we looked there was someone needing help. The hard part wasn’t getting to Louisiana. The hard part wasn’t gathering materials in Houston. The hard part was helping people a little bit all the while knowing they needed more than we had to give at that moment. It is hard to help when you know that your help is not enough. When we left, we knew we were leaving people behind who would still be hurting. Don’t let the challenges and struggles keep you from helping someone. It is worth the work and the effort to help someone in need. While you may not be able to do everything your little bit is needed and appreciated. Your cup of cold water in Jesus’ name may be just the encouragement someone else needs. Don’t let the hard parts of helping keep you from doing your best for others.
The Leader • Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020 • Page 5A
Disc, from P. 1A
HISD, from P. 1A given the COVID-19 conditions in the Houston area at the time. Students and families will have the opportunity to opt out of in-person learning when it begins, if they feel uncomfortable returning to campus. HISD said it has distributed 76,362 digital devices for students since the onset of the pandemic in March, with plans to distribute 22,750 more, and it plans to have distributed nearly 26,000 wireless hotspots by next month. Parent’s perspective Tish Ochoa, a Heights parent of an incoming third grader at Wilson Montessori, said her daughter was set up for success last spring because Ochoa was able to provide the technology and assistance to support the transition to virtual learning. But she acknowledged there would be a widening gap in between those who have the resources to get online and those who do not. After Spring Break, which came shortly after the onset of the pandemic in the Houston region, Ochoa’s daughter was given a list of assignments at the beginning of each week and had two Zoom calls per week. While it took her daughter time to adjust to learning online, by the end of the year she was able to upload her own assignments. Like Castillo, Ochoa said she worries about the connection between her daughter and her teacher, which she noticed was missing when classes went virtual in March. Even more significant, Ochoa said, was the lack of socialization between students. Her daughter was no longer regularly interacting with her
friends and is now mourning the loss of school and being able to go back to be with her peers. Over the summer, Ochoa was looking for a college student to help supervise and tutor her daughter. Virtual learning is a struggle because she and her husband both work full-time jobs and cannot necessarily commit the time to helping their daughter during the day or providing her with supplemental educational activities. Ochoa and other parents are trying to put together small groups of children to work with a tutor, both to help the parents and as a way for the kids to socialize. Ochoa said HISD’s decision to reopen virtually was the best choice. She said the plan was well thought out and took into account concerns about the safety of staff and students. But she hopes HISD puts together a concrete metric of case counts that will be frequently updated, so parents can have some sort of gauge to determine when students will return to school and under what conditions. Student’s life Gabriella Taverna, an incoming senior at Heights High School, said her weeks last spring consisted of two classes per day from 8-11 a.m., when students and teachers met through Google Teams calls. The afternoons were reserved for assignments and getting extra help if needed from teachers, a system put in place by Heights. Taverna said her classes really only lasted 15-30 minutes, and many of her friends stopped turning in assignments and showing up to
One of multiple leagues around Houston in conjunction with the Houston Flying Disc Society (HFDS), its competitive play is for all walks of life, said league member and Timbergrove Manor resident Paul Williams. Players as young as 10 years old to those over 60 have participated in various weeks. “I think a lot of people have been looking for outdoor recreational activities, and they’ve picked up disc golf in the COVID era,� said Williams, who has been part of the league for more than a decade. “You definitely see a lot of people wanting to learn, and there’s a lot of ways for people to jump into it and start learning.� Williams said the inability to participate in many traditional sports during the pandemic has contributed to increased interest as casual players and newcomers search for ways to stay active while social distancing. “Being able to pick up disc golf is a lot easier than trying to pick up regular golf or many other sports,� he said. One Houstonian taking advantage of the opportunity is Spring Branch resident Chase Meyer, who used to live in the Heights and said he picked up the sport while living in California nearly 10 years ago. Along with buddy Brad Tipton and friends from his job at Karbach Brewing just down the road, he was playing a few holes on Sunday morning. Meyer said the group has made near-weekly trips to T.C. Jester Park’s 21-hole course, which is one of 14 Houstonarea HFDS courses. “Since the pandemic started, we’ve been out here just about every week; sometimes
class altogether. When asked about her workload, Taverna said she had two assignments per class per week, but the curriculum felt the same. Given the option to switch back to in-person learning in October, Taverna said she most likely will continue virtual learning until at least January as allowed by the district. Not only are her parents worried about the new coronavirus, but she nannies as a job. Virtual learning gives Taverna the unique opportunity to continue her nannying job while still attending school, allowing her to save money for college next year. Castillo said she will make the switch to in-person learning once given the opportunity. She was originally nervous that she would have to have four separate lesson plans when the switch occurs -- one virtual and one in person for each of her two classes -- but HISD will be hiring separate teachers to lead the virtual classes. In HISD’s reopening plan, there are plans to reconfigure classrooms in order to ensure a 6-foot distance between students. Castillo said she can see no way of going back to school in a setting that would be conducive to social distancing. High school hallways and classrooms are crowded, she said. She also said she is lucky enough to have a sink in her classroom, so she can make sure her students are washing their hands, but is worried about having adequate supplies in the school such as soap, paper towels and masks for all of the students. Follow us on social media @ FromTheLeader
Photo by Landan Kuhlmann Chase Meyer throws a disc toward a basket last Sunday morning at T.C. Jester Park’s disc golf course. Since the pandemic began, Meyer said he and a group of friends have been making almost weekly trips to the course.
even twice a week. Before that it was once every few weeks,� he said. “It’s one of the few places you can go outside your home – you can social distance, hang out with friends, and not have to worry about getting too close to people.� Williams echoed the sentiment. “It gives a sense of normalcy for sure, so we don’t have our lives completely turned upside down with everything,� he said. That privilege, however, is one that was nearly taken away when the pandemic first began. Back in March, Bahde said the Houston Parks and Recreation Department’s citywide takedown of playing amenities included the chainlink baskets at T.C. Jester Park. Following a brief hiatus and meeting with parks officials, however, the baskets were later reinstalled under an
agreement with the city for the league to maintain social distancing and safety protocols such as utilizing electronic scorecards and touching only their own discs. And along with the reinstalled baskets came a sigh of relief. “Whenever the baskets disappeared, we all felt it. To have the opportunity to meet with friends and be able to resume an outdoor routine meant a lot to us,� Bahde said. “We’re grateful, we cherish it, and we’re glad the city returned the baskets. We’re doing our best to do our part to be careful and safe so we don’t risk losing them again.� For better or worse – for birdie or bogey – disc golf has become a new pastime, a normal routine in a world almost devoid of them. “Honestly, it really means everything,� Meyer said.
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The Leader • Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020 • Page 7A
Art Valet: Self-made Annette creates works to see, touch Mitch Cohen Art Columnist
Some artists create paintings that grab you, lure you in for a closer look and cause you to think and ponder. Ginger Annette, a Houston artist, creates paintings that may appear to come to you. The swirls of texture mixed with metallic colors almost look like icing on a cake upon close examination and may invoke viewers to reach over and ask, “May I touch?” Actually, Annette tells me that children ask her permission before touching her highly sculptural paintings. Adults? Not so much. Annette encourages customers to touch her paintings, which is certainly not the norm for most artists. Annette’s attitude is as bright and colorful as her
paintings of flowers, hearts and other subjects, almost all as vibrant. A familiar candy bowl in her booth at the festivals and markets where Annette displays and sells her paintings get an equal amount of attention. Again, the children ask while the adults sneak. Annette calls herself a mixed media artist, using acrylics, oils, paste and many other unique items. “Sometimes it’s whatever I can find to add a texture or a specific color to an original piece,” Annette said. Her style and attitude didn’t exactly start out as bright and cheerful as she is now. She told me that dark beginnings led her into the world of art. “The reason I got into art as a young child was the household where I lived was pretty abusive,” Annette said. “I’d slip away to the library and spend hours upon hours looking at art books and trying to figure out a way to paint like
Contributed photo Artist Ginger Annette, right, poses with a happy customer.
the great masters, thinking that was my only way out.” At age 14, she was airbrushing images on vans and creating murals. In college, while majoring in psychology, Annette worked her way through school spending hours creating masterpieces and selling them. She continued painting on her own, never taking any art classes. “Trying to escape an abusive situation and then being told by a total stranger, an arrogant college professor, ‘That thing, that creation, that masterpiece you just spent hours upon hours creating isn’t worthy of anything,’ ... made me realize they were the ones who were damaged, not me,” Annette said. “I am good enough. ... I am better. … I won’t be pushed down or to the side. ... I am enough. ... and I will continue to be. “I sold everything, attended every local art venue and scoured every museum,” she continued. “I was looking for
what I could become, and one day I decided. I was good enough and my art resembles that.” Today, Annette is a regular exhibitor at First Saturday Arts Market, which will next be held from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. this Saturday, Sept. 5 at 530 W. 19th St. in the Heights. “It is by far my favorite place to sell art,” Annette said of First Saturday Arts Market. “It’s a family of artist friends and we work together to put on the best show possible. I love the laid-back atmosphere and the happy customers. It makes for a great weekend!” Find Annette at The Market at Sawyer Yards, too, on the second Saturday of each month and at the annual Friendswood Art in the Park. Her art can be found at Gingerannette.com. 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: Flower Child hits mark with healthy options By Zarah Parker
of tomato. It was a great alternative to a turkey sandwich. For dessert I grabbed one of Flower Child’s gluten-free lemon olive oil cakes, which was more like a cupcake. Despite it being gluten-free, the cake was fluffy. Lately, I’ve been seeing a lot of olive oil cakes and was curious about the taste. Biting into the cake, the first flavor was lemon, but then there’s an olive oil aftertaste. As someone who loves cooking with olive oil, I liked it. Since Flower Child is a health-conscious eatery, I knew my dinner would be on the lighter side, but I found
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Even though I rarely order soup before the weather turns cooler, I ordered the soup of the day at Flower Child on a whim. And it made me yearn for fall and winter. Flower Child’s soup of the day was chicken, white beans and fresh poblano. The broth was dark brown and hearty. Along with the shredded chicken, white beans and poblano peppers, the soup had corn, onions and cilantro. It reminded me of tortilla soup, but without tortilla strips. When it was first set on my table, I figured I’d only eat a few spoonfuls and move on to my entrée, but I quickly found I couldn’t put it aside. The soup was full of flavor and I especially liked the poblano. The soup also wasn’t overly filling. The shredded chicken tasted fresh, which I like because I tend to be really picky about meat in soup. While the soup made me feel welcoming to a new season, the atmosphere at Flower Child also proved to be warm. The space is full of eclectic items, like plants, old books, a variety of pottery and more in an open space lit by mostly natural light.
that I left full and feeling good. I also tend to think restaurants that focus purely on eating healthy sometimes miss the mark. Flower Child, on the other hand, hit the mark. Flower Child Address: 1533 N. Shepherd Dr. Ste. 100 Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday Pricing: $8.50-$15.50 Kid-friendly: Yes Alcohol: Yes Health options: Yes Star of the show: Chicken, white beans and fresh poblano soup
#1 SHIPLEY DO-NUTS IN HOUSTON Photo by Zarah Parker Pictured is salmon and broccoli with chicken, white beans and fresh poblano soup and the Flying Avocado wrap from Flower Child.
After ordering at the walkup counter and sitting down, the food was quick to the table. After eating the soup, I started on my main course, salmon with a side of broccoli. The salmon was lightly seasoned and was easily pulled apart by my fork. A sauce the broccoli was tossed in seeped a little onto the salmon side of the plate
and I found I liked the addition of the salty sauce on the salmon, something I wasn’t a huge fan of with the broccoli. While the broccoli was cooked tender, the sauce, to me, tasted so salty that I couldn’t eat more than one piece. Another side I had was clementine and apple, which were cut into chunks. There’s nothing added to the fruit,
but I enjoyed having a simple side to go along with my meal. My dinner partner got the Flying Avocado wrap, which came with smoked turkey, gouda, romaine, tomato and smashed avocado. After trying it for myself I couldn’t decide whose meal I liked better. The turkey was smothered in the avocado, while there was just one slice
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Fries are really good at being bad for you FREE DOZEN DONUT HOLES Zarah Parker Managing Editor
One of the curses of humanity is that a lot of the best things in life aren’t good for us, specifically food. OK, the truth is that our bodies are probably conditioned to prefer foods we grew up eating, so what I consider the best foods is subjective. To this day, I often enjoy box cakes over bakery bought because it’s all I had as a kid. The food item I loved as a kid, that still gets me in trouble with my health, is French fries. The golden, fried, salted potatoes are so good, but so bad for me. But are they really that bad? In 2017, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition released a study that followed 4,440 adults aged 45-79 for eight years and their potato consumption. While the study found that a higher potato consumption wasn’t associated with higher risk of death, eating fried potatoes 2-3 times a week doubled the risk of death. The study says French fries and fried potatoes usually contain high amounts of dietary fat, including trans fat, and added salt, which may increase the risk of death, particularly of cardiovascular disease as well as developing other chronic diseases.
French fries are both an American staple and unhealthy.
Another reason the study provides for why fried potatoes have a higher health risk include what consuming fried potatoes says about a person’s dietary habits. Basically, if a person consumes fried potatoes more frequently, they probably also have an increased consumption of processed red meat, salty foods and sugary beverages. But if that last one’s true, I don’t think the risk can be solely blamed on a person consuming French fries. In an article titled “In Dense of French Fries,” on the Harvard Health Blog, Dr. Robert H. Shmerling says that even with the health risks, it doesn’t mean you have to swear off
Stock photo
fried potatoes. The reason he gives is that the 2017 study says the risk is in consuming French fries two or more times a week. So, there shouldn’t be as much of a problem with eating them once per week or less. He also says that portion size matters. A serving size is just 1015 fries, which I find kind of horrifying since pretty much all eating establishments go above and beyond that. Plus, there’s always the option of baking fries, which is healthier and something I plan to try soon. Before I read the study, I had no clue eating French fries as often as I do was such a damper on my health. I only
knew they were bad for me — the same way I know a cookie is bad for me. I think part of my problem was that fries are such a readily available side dish. They are offered with a majority of entrees at fast food and American-cuisine restaurants, and honestly it’s a bit weird if one of those places doesn’t have them on the menu. Knowing how bad French fries can potentially be for a person makes me want to eat them less, but at the same time say, “OK, and?” because if we really want to look into what we’re eating on a daily basis, most of it isn’t “good” for you if it’s not fresh and prepared healthily. So “OK in moderation” will be my new slogan when it comes to fries. And if I’m embarrassingly honest, that won’t be easy. French fries are my go-to side item for almost every meal I eat outside of the house because I know I can rely on them for tasting good. But if you’re going to have something in moderation, you have to make sure it’s the best. From now on I’ll try to order fries at only the restaurant I know to have, in my opinion, the best. Locally, those places include Gatlin’s BBQ, 3510 Ella Blvd.; La Lucha, 1801 N. Shepherd Dr.; Common Bond Café & Bakery, 449 W. 19th St. Ste. B; The Burger Joint, 2002 N. Shepherd Dr.; and Hopdoddy, 449 W. 19th St. Ste. D. All simple, but worth the indulgence -- once in a while.
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The Leader • Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020 • Page 8A
“Treat the problem itself, not just the symptoms.” This is the philosophy behind the chiropractic practice of Dr. George Junkin. Chiropractic adjustments and healthy lifestyle choices produce the best results. For over 35 years, Dr. Junkin has helped patients get releif from pain due to an injury or chronic condition. The result being fast long-lasting relief.
Police searching for suspects in Shepherd Park burglary By Landan Kuhlmann
responded to a burglary call in the 1100 block of Bethlehem Street just before 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28. According to the alert, the victim told police he returned from out of town that evening to check on a home he was renting out. The victim said all lights in the house and driveway were on,
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Police are looking for suspects who they say took home appliances from a house near Shepherd Park Plaza last week. A crime alert from the Harris County Precinct 1 Constable’s Office said officers
and that the realtor lock box located on the garage door had been removed. According to the constable’s office, the suspects cut the doorknob completely off the side garage door and found the key inside the lock box before stealing a washer and dryer from the residence.
The constable’s office said the burglary could potentially be linked to previous incidents in which washers and dryers were stolen, and suspects could possibly have disguised themselves as construction workers in work vans or trucks.
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HPD investigating fatal HFD investigating area house fire crash on Pinemont Dr. By Landan Kuhlmann light smoke coming from a two-story landan@theleadernews.com
By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
Houston police are looking into an area auto accident that left one woman dead and another injured last week. The Houston Police Department said the woman who died, identified as 37-year-old Javonna Smith by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences, was pronounced dead after being transported to HCA Houston Healthcare Northwest Hospital. HPD said in a news release that she was driving a gray Ford Mustang westbound in the 4000 block of Pinemont Drive about 4:45 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28, when she crossed over into eastbound traffic, hitting a red Subaru. The resulting collision caused the Subaru to subsequently strike a pickup truck, according to HPD. Police said the passenger in Smith’s car, a 49-year-old female, was also taken to the hospital with minor injuries. The drivers of the other vehicles, a 24-year-old male and 21-year-old female, were uninjured, according to HPD.
The Houston Fire Department is attempting to determine the cause of a house fire in the Lazybrook/ Timbergrove Manor area last week. In a news release from the department, HFD said crews responded to the 1100 block of Prince Street just before 7:30 p.m. Aug. 26 to find
home. After extinguishing it, HFD arson investigators said the fire appeared to have started in an air-conditioning unit in the first-floor attic, but the cause remains under investigation. There were no injuries reported in the incident, which resulted in an an estimated $100,000 of damage, according to HFD.
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Inwood apartment damaged in recent fire By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
The Houston Fire Department is investigating the origins of an apartment fire near Greater Inwood last month. According to a news release from the department, HFD responded to a call at Oakwood Gardens Condo-
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Voting, from P. 1A tions would be accompanied by information detailing who is eligible to vote by mail in the general election scheduled for Nov. 3. “There is nothing wrong or fraudulent with that or with people exercising their right to vote,” Turner said Tuesday on Twitter. “In fact, voting is good regardless of who you vote for.” In the lawsuit filed Monday by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, it is alleged that sending ballotby-mail applications to all registered voters will “confuse voters” and “lead many voters to believe they are allowed to vote by mail, when they do not qualify.” The law-
suit asserts that county clerks such as Hollins are permitted by state law to send mail-in ballot applications to those who request them, but not to those who do not. The legal feud between the state and its most populous county is the latest development in an ongoing argument about whether mail-in voting should be expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Texas Supreme Court previously ruled that fear of contracting the new coronavirus could not be the only reason a voter claims a disability on a ballot-by-mail application, but that it could be a factor in voters’ overall determination about their health.
Hollins has said his office does not have the authority to verify the disabilities claimed by ballot-by-mail applicants, essentially leaving the matter up to individual voters. Lazybrook resident Hector Castellanos said he supports the expansion of mail-in voting – which is more commonplace in many other U.S. states – on account of the pandemic. “I think it should be offered as an option. There are a lot of people that won’t be able to get out to the polls,” he said. “Everyone should have an equal right to vote. They shouldn’t be punished if physically they can’t make it to a poll.”
Another area resident, Sarah Reavis, said she does not support voting by mail because the United States Postal Service is “not reliable.” Samuel Lewis, who also lives in the area, said he will not try to vote by mail because of his dislike and distrust of President Donald Trump, who is up for reelection in November and set to face former Vice President Joe Biden. “That ain’t nothing but a bunch of tricks,” Lewis said of voting by mail. “Donald Trump is a trickster, and I don’t like him.” Castellanos said mail-in voting could be impacted by delays with the postal service
or fraud, adding, “There’s always going to be a way to try to exploit something.” He said those risks can be minimized by planning and coming up with safeguards. He also said Texas could follow the examples of other states if it wants to expand voting by mail. In the meantime, a state district court is expected to soon decide whether counties in Texas can send applications to vote by mail without specifically being asked for them. For the November election, the deadline to request a ballot by mail is Oct. 23, which is when the application must be received. “The pandemic has put
everything into just all kinds of unknowns,” Castellanos said. “I don’t see there being a problem with trying it out, given that it’s an option – not the only option, but an option to vote.”
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