September 12 Section A

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Inside Today: There’s a renewed focus on healthy living • Page 1B

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Covering the Heights, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest & the neighborhoods of North Houston Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020 • Vol. 65 • No. 36

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Photo by Adam Zuvanich Cars and trucks travel along West 43rd Street at its intersection with Cheshire Lane, where Oak Forest resident Karen Yager was killed in an automobile accident July 27. The dangers of 43rd have long been a concern within the community.

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going across that, because it scared me.”

Earlier this summer, a few years after she moved out of that home on Cheshire, Moore’s fears were realized. Her best friend since high school, who had recently moved into that same house, was killed while trying to cross 43rd from Cheshire.

Karen Yager, 46, died July 27 when her Honda Civic was struck on the driver’s side by a Jeep Wrangler driven by 28-year-old Esvin Crispin Aguilar, according to the Houston Police Department. Aguilar was charged with intoxication manslaughter for his role in the crash, and the HPD accident report also cited speeding as a contributing factor.

Moore said she plans to place a cross with Yager’s initials, K.A.Y., in the esplanade where her friend’s car came to rest. One of Moore’s most cherished possessions is a painting

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

Dr. Hallie Ray Moore lived near the intersection of Cheshire Lane and West 43rd Street for about 15 years.

But the owner of Oak Forest Veterinary Hospital often steered clear of it when driving to and from her house.

There are two lanes going in each direction on 43rd Street, and the median to the northwest of Cheshire is lined with trees that can make visibility challenging. Vehicles traveling in that direction regularly eclipse the posted speed limit of 35 mph, Moore said, and there also are potential traffic hazards to the southeast.

Churches are on opposite sides of 43rd just to the southeast of Cheshire, and a little further in that direction are two adjacent schools.

“It’s a known dangerous spot,” Moore said. “I would try to avoid

Speeding Tickets 1,580

Wato n

WATONGA - ROSSLYN TICKETS: 7 ACCIDENTS: 102

given to her by Yager, who was an artist, when Moore graduated from veterinary school.

“Not a day goes by that I don’t think about her. I pick up the phone to call her and I can’t,” Moore said.

“She was my best friend since junior year of high school. I drove her to school. She was the bridesmaid in my wedding and the godmother to my daughters.”

Yager’s recent death has called attention to the dangers of 43rd Street, which residents of Oak Forest and Garden Oaks have long considered troublesome. Ten-year-old Anthony Dwight died while riding his bicycle a few blocks to the southeast in 2005, when he was struck by the driver of an SUV at the intersection of 43rd and Oak Forest Drive. A few blocks to the northwest of Cheshire and 43rd, See 43rd P. 5A

43

rd S

St. Thomas QB Kopp commits to play for UH

t

See Kopp P. 4A

ROSSLYN - ELLA

ELLA - SHEPHERD TICKETS: 989 ACCIDENTS: 68

N Shepherd Dr

Ella Blvd

TICKETS: 584 ACCIDENTS: 211

Page 7A

Numbers at top of graphic represent total numbers of traffic accidents and speeding-related citations issued by Houston Police Department on West 43rd Street, between Watonga Boulevard and North Shepherd Drive, from January 2015 through July 2020.

Source: City of Houston. Infographic by Brooke Nance.

Photo by Wayne Donnelly St. Thomas High School quarterback Maddox Kopp scrambles out of the pocket.

Organic co-op thriving in new Heights location

By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com

Page 4B

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

Photo from Twitter Houston ISD interim superintendent Grenita Lathan looks over the shoulder of an HISD student on Tuesday, when the state’s largest school district began online learning for the 2020-21 academic year.

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com Maddox Kopp was essentially born into competition.

Growing up with three older siblings who all went on to play college sports at the NCAA Division I level, that fire came naturally. Kopp has two older brothers – Anderson and Miller Kopp – playing Division I basketball at Lamar and Northwestern, respectively. His oldest brother, Braeden, recently graduated

Traffic Accidents 381

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Rosslyn Rd

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lvd

Page 4A

End of an icon? Texas cafeteria chain Luby’s, which has an area location, could be closing soon.

See HISD P. 5A

Traveling troublesome on 43rd

Ongoing effort. American Legion Post 560 is still collecting items for hurricane victims.

Your city painter. Lauren Luna has made a name for herself in Houston’s art scene.

On the first day of virtual school for Houston ISD, hundreds of thousands of students and their families were unable to access the district’s website for most of the morning Tuesday.

Those trying to access the HISD @ See related H.O.M.E. program at column by houstonisd.org were Betsy Denson greeted with an error Page 3A message that said, in part, “We can’t connect to the server for this app or website at this time. There might be too much traffic.”

The website started working again late Tuesday morning and, even when it

Photo by Betsy Denson Jessica Wilt, right, hands a bag of food to Central City Co-op member Marci McMahon.

Jessica Wilt, who co-owns Central City Co-op with husband Erick Navas, likens its recent move to the former Steel City Pops location in the Heights to a graduating high schooler who is going off to college. After all, as Wilt explains, the organic co-op is actually 20 years old.

It reopened in July at 420 E. 20th St., Suite A, where co-op members as well as other members of the community can find farm-fresh produce and

other food items.

“Pat Greer, who was one of the pioneers of healthy living and eating, started it on her porch,” Wilt said. “It was kind of an ambiguous business organization. It was never a nonprofit, but a Texas not-for-profit.”

The money earned or donated was used to keep the co-op running.

For a time, it operated out of Ecclesia Houston just north of downtown, and then Grace Lutheran, which later became Kindred church in the Hyde Park area. Wilt said over time, it became more difficult for the members

to keep the co-op going.

As the founding volunteers took on new projects, there was a need for the co-op to have a director. Wilt and Navas were asked if they would be the stewards of the co-op, which meant taking on its debt and day-to-day operations.

For the past four years, the couple has worked on restructuring it and running the co-op and farmer’s market more as a business. When Navas’ company offered him a voluntary resignation package, the oil engineer See Co-op P. 8A

Page 2A • Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020 • The Leader

AS HOUSTON OPENS UP, SO DO MORE WAYS TO STAY HEALTHY.

WITH SAFE WAIT™ MEASURES FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING IN PLACE, YOU CAN MAKE YOUR OWN HEALTH A PRIORITY AGAIN. Primary Care and Specialist Appointments – in-person or online through Virtual Office Visit Mammograms Diagnostic Imaging Colonoscopies Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Convenient Care Centers Urgent Care 24/7 Virtual Urgent Care

SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. SEE A DOCTOR. STAY WELL.

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THE TOPICS. The Leader • Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020 • Page 3A

Pandemic becomes time of push-through parenting

T

he first rule of Facebook these days is to get off Facebook, because it’s not going to make you feel better about much of anything.

However, I often find it hard to take my own advice. Because sometimes you find something you didn’t know you needed to read.

In my case, this was a post from an overwhelmed mom who was looking for inspiration to get through the days ahead. And the dad who answered her said this: “As having the kids around 24/7 was starting to affect my mental health and drive my depression to an even lower low, I had to make a choice. The choice I made was to embrace the time. How many times do we say stuff like, ‘They’re growing up too fast,’ or, ‘There’s never enough time?’”

Simple enough, right? But to me it was radical.

Like many people, I have spent hundreds of hours with my schoolaged children since March. Math is not my forte, but I estimate it is somewhere in the neighborhood of 2,000 waking hours. So. Much.

Time. I’m less certain how many

Betsy Denson

of those hours are me saying, “Not now, can’t you see I’m doing something,” or, “Here’s your device,” or, “No, I wasn’t hiding in here, the coat closet needed reorganizing.”

My kids aren’t even little anymore. They’re not particularly needy and they are often a lot of fun. But they still require parenting.

That’s where I’m running out of

juice. I’m the car on fumes hoping to coast into the gas station. I want my own life back between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., my own dreams, my own work, my own little piece of quiet while I can be glad that they are off living their best lives off in the world. We have had all this time, but it hasn’t always felt like a gift.

When I read the Facebook post above, I thought about something I tell my kids to get them to try new things – be afraid but do it anyway.

What if I wordsmithed it a little and applied it to myself ? Be over it but show up anyway. Be overwhelmed but be present.

Because they are growing up too fast.

One day we’ll be busy again and there won’t be enough time.

Stop. Listen. Help. Play. Love.

There are countless choices I make every day. Parenting is a choice, too. Because I’ve been doing it on autopilot, I almost forgot.

Then the universe got serious about testing me.

This week marked the beginning of a new school year in Houston ISD. In past years, this would have

meant the obligatory back-toschool photo in the front yard and a quick, inconspicuous side hug for good luck before they went to school and I went back to an empty house to celebrate by watching something completely inappropriate on Netflix.

The 2020 version was a photo in the front yard with their laptops before they came back into the house to log on to their online learning platform while I planned to sit down and write this article about how I’ve now got this parenting thing whipped.

Instead, the online learning platform was overwhelmed. The early part of the day was spent much differently than anticipated. There were some tears shed. They might have been mine. And I’m up way too late finishing this piece.

Tomorrow is another day. I will choose patience and kindness for myself and everyone else. The next hour I will probably have to choose them again.

In the movie “Groundhog Day,” Phil Connors eventually uses the time loop to become a better version of himself, after going the

Staying safe at home during a hurricane IN THE BATHTUB – You may be wondering why I am here in my dry tub, with a mattress over me. That’s because some expert said that, when you are in the direct path of a hurricane, and you won’t evacuate because you are too stupid or are suicidal, the safest place to be is in your bathtub with a mattress over you. I am not suicidal. But this storm trooping is getting old. Almost three years to the day, Hurricane Harvey ripped through Houston. My house had survived Allison, Rita and Ike without so much as a damaged shingle, and Harvey had come by with no problem. Then the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers decided to open up the flood gates on the dams to prevent flooding, and we were flooded out. The most ridiculous oxymorons are jumbo shrimp, humble Texan and military intelligence.

Hurricane Laura is our latest catastrophe. People on TV say, “This is the third time we’ve been flooded out,” or, “I haven’t repaired my store since Harvey.”

Those in the safety of their home in St. Louis must ask themselves, “Why do they stay there? Move to someplace safe.” So, while hiding here in my bathtub, I started looking for where I should move to be safe. Biloxi has beautiful beaches. So does Corpus Christi. Maybe Lake Charles with all its casinos.

New Orleans is a great town – at low tide. No, forget them. The entire Gulf Coast annually gets clobbered by hurricanes which touch off tornadoes to Memphis.

(Although Oklahoma to Nebraska is called “tornado alley.”) The East Coast is also a target for hurricanes.

Actually, those storms go as far north as Boston. On Aug. 25, 1954, Hurricane Carol hit Bean Town and toppled the steeple on the Old North Church. That was the steeple from which Paul Revere got his signal: “Two if by land, one if by sea.” It’s a shame they didn’t have a third lamp for: “Three if

by Carol.” There is no safe place on the East Coast from Key West to Canada.

However, New York City hasn’t had a natural disaster and should be safe, but only during daylight among large crowds.

Millions have flocked to California. Perhaps I should join them for safety. Wait!

That state is besieged by wildfires. “This is the third time we’ve been burned out.” Then there are the earthquakes. It’s only a matter of time until California slides into the Pacific. To the north Portland and Seattle are green and cool – and looted. Do I really want big guys with no name tags or group identification hitting me over the head with

Lynn Ashby Columnist

clubs? Maybe some place far inland, like the Dakotas? No thanks. I’ve seen “Fargo.” Compared to that, what’s a little head banging?

Chicago, Louisville and Minneapolis are off limits unless you arrive in an Abrams tank. After Kenosha, Wis. (population 99,944, about the same as Odessa’s) became a battleground, I determined to choose a town that has a riot-free zone or has defunded its police department. Mass shootings occur all too often. Don’t move to any town that has schools, movie theaters or a Walmart.

Finding a safe place to live in America these days is difficult. Move overseas?

New Zealand and Iceland are pretty clear of Covid-19. Which brings us to the pandemic. Where could I move to that is virus-safe?

President Trump has said 31 times and counting that the pandemic is practically cured, but his promised deadline for a virusfree America didn’t hold up. Maybe I should move to Loving County. It is one of three counties in Texas which has reported zero cases of Covid-19. Loving is in West Texas, with a population of 134 as of a 2017 estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau, and is the secondleast populous county in the United States after Kalawao County, Hawaii (which has a population of 88). Of course, a single case of the virus in Loving would, percentage-wise, probably put it among the top10 virus hot spots in the nation. I’d like to stay in Texas. El Paso is out (Walmart). Austin has the UT Tower which Charles Whitman found to be an excellent bunker. Dallas is still trying to live down Lee Harvey Oswald. A friend from Wichita Falls said, “There’s no reason to live there except for the weather and the scenery.”

I should consider my odds with murders, muggings and door-to-door salesmen who want to clean my gutters.

“Sunnyvale, Calif., is the safest city in America,” according to something called Travel Safe, which keeps track of crime rates. But I have already scratched off anywhere in California, not wanting to be there when that state slides toward Hawaii. Houston rated medium in overall safety, but H-Town also rates medium in “natural disaster risk.”

I don’t trust their ratings.

“Scam risk: high. Scams

happen regularly in Houston. They vary from someone trying to divert you so that their partner can steal your wallet, bag or cell phone to various street tricks by professional scammers who want to extort money from you.” Shows what they know. Any day I expect my share of that $30 million the Nigerian prince promised me.

From Smarter Travel: “In general, crime in Houston happens 81 percent more often than in the rest of Texas, and 95 percent more often than in the rest of the United States, in part because of its huge population. As for violent crime,

Houston clocks in at 150 percent higher than the Texas average, and 170 percent higher than the rest of the nation. Property crime in Houston also occurs much more frequently than in the rest of its state or country, though it has been decreasing the past few years.”

Maybe I really should move to St Louis and wonder why people live in such dangerous places. Wait again. The FBI reports St Louis is the most dangerous city in America. I’ll just stay in my bathtub.

Ashby is safe at ashby2@comcast.net

opposite direction. He heroically saves the residents of Punxsutawney from horrible accidents, becomes fluent in French, sculpts ice, learns to play the piano and finally wins the heart of his producer, Rita.

I’m not nearly that ambitious. If I can get from point A to point B with intention and grace, it will be more than enough.

The rub, I think, is that there is no definite ending to any of this. If there was, it would be a lot easier.

There’s a quote I really like from author and professor Brené Brown in Daring Greatly: “The willingness to show up changes us. It makes us a little braver each time.”

If I wordsmithed it a little for the present circumstance, I’d sub the word better for braver. Not that bravery isn’t needed, too.

Like so many of you, whether at home with your kids or scrambling to find care for them while you go to work, I’m just pushing through.

Stop. Listen. Help. Play. Love.

Repeat.

Email betsy@theleadernews.com

THE READER. Runners/walkers in the dark

Dear Editor: I drive to work before sunrise.

On my way, I encounter numerous people running and walking in the dark. None of them are wearing REFLECTIVE clothing.

None of them have any form of a LIGHT! This is careless, irresponsible and dangerous!

It is disconcerting that I have to dodge people that I can NOT see until I am Too close to them.

Get a SAFETY first PLAN and STAY VISIBLE or stay at home until it is daylight.

Concerned in Garden Oaks

A stamp of disapproval

Dear Editor: How about we cut the charade and take a look at what actual USPS customers think. Of the 4 U.S. Post Offices in northwest Houston, the location at 1300 W. 19th has the highest average google reviews at 2.2 out of 5 stars, with 181 reviews. The lowest average score is 2499 Judiway with 1.7 out of 5, with 168 reviews. The four locations average 1.95 stars out of 5,

with 520 combined reviews.

For those in the area, try a Nextdoor search for mail problems or missing mail. If you scroll down enough, you’ll see ample posts of fellow neighbors venting real frustration, dating back to well before this became a controversy.

This is not an indictment of the many hard-working postal employees, but the USPS is a perpetual money-losing, posterchild for government waste.

Jason Starr

Big companies don’t value our community

Dear Editor: Perfect location! Thanks for letting us know!

JB Dear Editor: I can’t think of a better place to put that rack of Leader papers.

Mytiburger rocks!

Betty Elliott

Email us your letters: news@theleadernews.com

the leader Puzzlers.

Answers found in this week’s Classified section

SUDOKU

aCrOss

1. Islamic prayer leaders 6. Waterproof raincoat 9. Millisecond 13. Popular pie nut 14. A field of mowed grass 15. RCO organic group 16. Pomace brandy 17. The innermost parts 18. Gull suborder 19. Became more intense 21. Sound absorption unit 22. Rattling breaths 23. Indicates doctor 24. For instance 25. A doctrine or system 28. Foot (Latin) 29. Dirt shoulder 31. Horn sound 33. Mumbai film industry 37. Disturbance 39. Zedong or Tse-tung 40. Cibin River city 42. Kate’s sister Pippa 45. Twitches 46. Formal close (music) 47. A baglike structure 49. Lease 50. Typographical space 52. Pa’s partner

53. King mackerels 55. Ceremonial staffs 57. About money 60. Spoiled child 61. Infants 62. Semitic fertility god 64. __ Frank’s diary 65. Reimbursed 66. English pennies 67. 365 days 68. G. Gershwin’s brother 69. Stopping device

dOwn 1. Inches per minute (abbr.)

2. Medieval honey drink 3. Land area unit 4. One who carries #55 across 5. Tin 6. Adult female horses 7. Overwhelmed with wonder 8. Brain and spinal cord (abbr.)

9. Inept 10. One who replaces a striker 11. Any habitation at a high altitude 12. Hold fast to 14. Sad from being

alone 17. Slang for famous person 20. Soft infant food 21. Small mergansers 25. Big Blue 26. Appear to be 27. Greek verse intended to be sung 29. Next to 30. Flying Pegasus corp.

32. Records walking steps 34. Broad back muscle 35. Teased apart 36. Cut into small cubes 38. Icelandic poems 41. American time 43. City of Angels 44. Nostrils 48. Narrow canvas bed 50. Force into a bay 51. Sept. 1914 battle 53. Sergeant fish 54. Cavalry-sword 56. Town of Jesus’ 1st miracle 57. Picasso’s mistress Dora 58. Frog genus 59. Talk tiresomely 61. Characters in one inch of tape 63. Side sheltered from the wind 66. Lead

WORD SCRAMBLE

Page 4A • Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020 • The Leader

Arts organization looking for new home

By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com

Visionary Heights, a nonprofit, spent five years catering to both musical and visual artists at its Nicholson Street location. Artwork hung on the walls and a small live concert would be put on once or twice a month along with a monthly gathering of locals who played music together.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic making in-person events infeasible, the organization had to relinquish the Heights space in July. “Since we wouldn’t be able to continue the art portion, we tried figure out how to continue the music,� said Ed Amash, the new director for the organization.

In focusing on the music, Visionary Heights changed its name to Song Circle Houston.

Song Circle Houston’s vision is to inspire self-expression through music. It hopes to encourage the craft in participants through mentorship and education.

While it is without a permanent location, the organization hope to find a new home through a partnership in the Heights. In the meantime, the first in-person event will be The Gatherin’, a gathering of people sharing their music on Oct. 18. “It’s an outlet for folks to share their creativity,� Amash said.

When held at the Nicholson location, The Gatherin’ was a gathering of 12-25 musicians who would take turns sharing their songs. Poets and storytellers have also participated.

On Oct. 18, the event will be slightly different. “People bring themselves, their instrument and a chair and we will get

into groups of 10,� Amash said.

The event doesn’t yet have a location, but Amash said they are looking to have it at a local park or brewery.

The location will be announced on its Facebook page (@VisionaryHeights) within the next few weeks. The group will keep its previous schedule of meeting on the third Sunday of every month. “We always welcome new members,� Amash said. “We’re a place where people can feel comfortable sharing their music. That’s the spirit of what we’re trying to do.�

Amash said the organization hopes to bring back live concerts and visual art once it has a permanent location.

Anyone who could help Song Circle Houston find a new space can contact them at songcirclehouston@ gmail.com.

Facebook photo The Gatherin’ was held by Visionary Heights, now called Song Circle Houston, every third Sunday of the month for local musicians to come and share their music.

This photo was taken before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Local Legion post still accepting donations for Laura victims

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

American Legion Post 560 in Garden Oaks is doubling down on its efforts to help victims of Hurricane Laura, many of whom are still in need of assistance.

On Sept. 4, members of the local Legion post dropped off a truckload of donated supplies to their sister post, American Legion Post 179 in Sulphur, Louisiana. The local organization is planning to deliver another truckload to Sulphur on Sept. 20 and is asking for the community’s help. “This isn’t the first time Garden Oaks has stepped up to help us, and we’re so happy to have the relationship that we do with our

neighbors,� said Scott Villarreal-Dowlearn, the First Vice Commander for Post 560. “There’s been times we need things and we simply ask.

Then next thing we know it’s at our door within the hour.�

Community members can drop off items at Post 560, located at 3720 Alba Rd. in Garden Oaks, through Sept. 19. Volunteers will be on hand from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Monday through Friday to accept donations. In lieu of donating items, those wanting to help also can make cash donations to the organization to cover the cost of any additional needed supplies.

Last weekend, Post 560 served as the donation depot for a supply drive sponsored by the American Legion, De-

Contributed photo American Legion Post 560’s Scott Villarreal-Dowlearn, left, and Will Spencer, second from right, recently delivered supplies to Louisiana.

partment of Texas District 8. According to Post 560, FEMA and other govern-

ment assistance has not yet made it to Post 179, and the organization has not been

Kopp, from P. 1A from Vanderbilt, where he was a tight end on the football team.

Maddox Kopp’s grandfather played quarterback at the University of Cincinnati, while his father was a tennis player at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. “It’s where I found my competitive edge, playing in the driveway and front yard. We can’t play one-on-one anymore because it turns into a fight,� he said. “But we’ve been competing all our lives.

That’s what shaped us into who we are today.�

The fire forged from those grudge matches has helped Kopp become the latest college athlete in his family. The St. Thomas High School senior announced Sept. 1 that he has committed to play quarterback for the University of Houston next fall.

Kopp selected UH among his 12 major-college offers.

His other suitors included Colorado, Wyoming, Texas State, Central Michigan and the University of Mississippi, among others. According to a report from Sports Illustrated, Ole Miss and Houston were the two finalists to get the homegrown talent, who is 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds.

Oral commitments are nonbinding until players sign national letters of intent. “It’s so much about the opportunity (Houston) provided,� he said. “They’re only going in the right direction, and I feel like I can come in there and elevate the program and the school.�

And though he has parlayed his talent on the gridiron into the scholarship offer, Kopp noted that football was initially more of a hobby or second

sport to play in the break from his first love – basketball.

As a youngster, Kopp traveled around the country playing the sport, and he also plays for St. Thomas’ basketball team. It wasn’t until around his sophomore year at St. Thomas when he truly fell in love with football, and he hasn’t looked back.

As a sophomore, Kopp appeared in just six games for the Eagles, throwing only 18 passes as the backup quarterback behind eventual University of Miami commit Peyton Matocha. But his coaches said the talent was never the question. “He was quite capable. He just played behind (Matocha) and couldn’t get on the field much,� St. Thomas head coach Rich McGuire said. “His work ethic is so strong, that he just kept getting better.

We knew he was going to be good, because he really just kept working. He’s one of the hardest-working young men you’ll ever find, one of the most mature young men you’ll ever find mentally.�

Soon after he took the reins of the St. Thomas offense during the 2019 season, that talent became evident to those outside the high school’s walls and the City of Houston. Kopp had a breakout junior season, throwing for 3,089 yards and 28 touchdowns while leading the Eagles to a 9-4 record and the TAPPS state semifinals.

That performance earned him a selection to the Elite 11 quarterback competition after the season. The Elite 11 has previously featured future NFL stars such as Deshaun Watson, Andrew Luck and Kyler Murray. “I just trusted the process,

because I knew I had put the work in,� Kopp said of his improvement. “So the results were going to come. I have a lot to learn, and I’m still learning – every day and every game.�

In staying close to home to begin his college football career, Kopp cited Houston’s recent track record of getting quarterbacks to the NFL – such as recent draftees Kyle Allen and Greg Ward, Jr. – as well as the opportunity to compete for a job early on in his career.

And having the chance to do so in his hometown, barely six miles from where he now straps on the pads, would just be a bonus. “Leading a team in my hometown would mean the world, being able to play in front of my friends and family.

My goal is to create a program that can’t be stopped,� he said. “It means a lot to be able to play in my hometown, and just put on for the city.�

First, however, he’s got a senior season to focus on.

Pushing ahead Per TAPPS guidelines, Kopp and the Eagles hit the practice field on Monday in preparation for their first game, which is scheduled for Sept. 25 against El Campo.

Over the past several months, McGuire said the team has been conducting socially distanced workouts in efforts in preparation for the season as they look to build on last season’s state semifinal trip.

Part of the season’s challenges will surely include replacing defensive standouts Cooper Thomas and Daniel Coco, who the Eagles recently lost to graduation. But even

more so, McGuire said the most important aspect will be taking continued heed of social distancing protocols, so that this year’s 27 seniors can play out their final high school season. “It’s the largest senior classes we’ve had in a long time, and they’re anxious to go out and try to win some football games,� he said. “You can’t do that if you’re not out there, so you’ve got to do what you’re supposed to.�

In addition to social distancing on the sidelines, McGuire said St. Thomas players have been provided face coverings at every workout, which they are required to wear if not actively participating in the play. “They’ve got to take care of themselves when they’re not (on the football field),� he said. “As much you say teams can beat themselves, that’s the easiest way to beat yourself this year.�

As much as the team looks to Kopp for his on-field performance, McGuire said the mental aspect of the game and his leadership will shine even more as the team re-acclimates to game speed while continuing to adjust to the world of COVID-19.

By all appearances, Kopp is ready to lead the charge. “During the quarantine, there weren’t any coaches or other players forcing you to work out – it was all on you,� he said. “We’re prepared, but we know it’s not going to be an easy road during the season. There are going to be bumps. But how we respond to that is really important.�

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given any set date on when help might arrive – leaving the small community in significant need of supplies. “Once again, we are asking for your help so that we may continue to bring comfort and hope to those still in need,� Post 560 said.

Post 179 has established itself as a shelter and supply distribution center for those impacted by Hurricane Laura. Among items donated to Post 560 during the last drive included 30 cases of water, more than 500 rolls of toilet paper, 50 pounds of cat food and more than 300 canned good items. “Right away, you could see the relief on their faces – and I understand that feeling so much, having been on the

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NGET

CHURCH

receiving end of (these natural disasters) so many times before,� Villarreal-Dowlearn said. “It’s great to be able to do something for these guys and do it with our community’s help.�

The following items will be accepted, among others: - Non-perishable canned food and snacks; - Pet food and cat litter; - Bottled water; - Generators/gas cans; - Trash bags; - Work gloves - Cleaning supplies - Bug spray/repellant; - Personal hygiene and shower supplies - Paper plates, towels, and napkins

ineteen years ago we made a promise to never forget. We promised to never forget those men and women who perished in New York City, at the Pentagon, and in the field in Pennsylvania. We promised never to forget the firefighters and police officers who ran into burning buildings to save people. As a nation we t goes without but I’ll say it anyway: “we have all camesaying, together to fight against a great evil and to made mistakes.� As Alexander Pope so aptly put it: “To remember the heroes who gave their lives to try err is human, to forgive, divine.� We should remember others.

We Most needcertainly, peoplewewho have care this the nextand time save we make a mistake. enough for others to be willing to give their lives must learn from our mistakes, and hopefully not continue to repeat them, but we should also ourselves.

While if necessary.

Theforgive Bible says, “Greater love hath it can be hard forgive others for their mistakes, it noenough man tothan this, that a man lay down his life for In light of the COVID-19 outbreak, please check with each church below for updated information about services can sometimes feel almost impossible to forgive ourselves. his friends.� I am so thankful for those who were St. James Lutheran Church, ELCA We sometimes cannot bring ourselves to forgive something Sunday Studies For All Ages ... 9:30am andBible events.

In-person services are temporarily restricted. to sacrifice themselves to save others. This we’ve done,willing and we may punish and harangue ourselves Morning Worship ............... 10:45am • Worship (English) ..... 10:00 am - 11:00am courage loveindiscretions. for othersIn is of the highest for years, orkind even of decades, overand youthful Wednesday Bible Studies For Youth, Children • Learning Hour ...........

11:00am 12:00pm MANNA addition, some of us may notisbe able in to the forget the sins regard of standard and held highest among all • Worship (Spanish) ....

12:30 pm 1:30pm and Adults............................ 6:15pm Sponsor our past. And although May that may from repeating people. weprevent neverusforget those who gave their St. James Lutheran Church, ELCA 1602 West 43rd St. • Houston, Tx 77018 • 713-686-1577 them, we must be charitable and forgive ourselves, just as 1822 W. 18th • 713-864-1470 lives on 9/11/2001. If we continue to remember we should forgive others. So, we should make a real effort in what they gave theirthe lives for of and live our lives with t 8PSTIJQ &OHMJTI BN BN the coming days and weeks to forgive offenses others Weekly Sunday Services the same purpose their deaths not be in vain.

Gethsemane Lutheran Church as well as our own.

Sometimes, it helps to just forgetwill about t -FBSOJOH )PVS

BN QN • Bible Study: 9:15 a.m.

MANNA 4040 Watonga • 713-688-5227 Pastor Jerry McNamara them; that is,  toBefore try to put them out of article, our mind Iand stop like to remind I finish this would • Morning:10:30 a.m.

We invite you to worship with us! t 8PSTIJQ 4QBOJTI

QN QN repeatedly mulling them.

One person of the reasons 4QPOTPS you ofover one other who we hasusegiven their life. • Evening: 4:15• p.m.

4040 Watonga 713-688-5227 Weekly Worship Services 9:00 a.m. the phrase “forgive and forget� is because sometimes that is 1700 West 43 at Rosslyn Sunday School & Bible Classes 10:30 am This person gave his life for you almost 2000 years 8FTU SE 4U t )PVTUPO 5Y t 713-682-4942 the only way to forgive, i.e., by forgetting.

But far better, and Preschool Program • Mon. - Fri. 9-2 p.m.

We invite you to worship with us!more divine,ago. fact, he died every person. He was able Pastor – Dr. Richard Walters is to beIn able to forgive evenfor while remembering because he those had never sinned. His death should let go of unforgiving, Ad # 32285 Weekly Worship Services 9:00a.mthe . offense.toSo,dowethis vindictive, shameful about and get over was notfeelings to pay forthe hispast, own sins but to pay for the Sund Please visit our website at: it! Corrie tensins Boom, whopeople. survived Christ incarceration Nazifor your sin but Online services be reached of all died intoapay Candlelight Church ofcan Christ www.lazybrookbaptistchurch.org said, “Forgiveness is to set a prisoner free, and through the website below at 9:00 am. prison campyou must accept his payment for your sin. Don’t let Join us for Services to realize that the prisoner was you.�

Wed for the following: his death be in vain for you. Accept his free gift in English or Spanish www.gethsemanelutheran.org Sunday Morning Worship 8:30 and 11:00 Judge not, you willas not be judged; Services: Live Stream 11:00am ofand salvation payment forcondemn your sin. Never forget Sunday Worship 10am & 5pm Sunday Sunday School for Children, Youth andat Adults 9:40 not, andwhat you will notdid be for condemned; forgive, Jesus you!

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The Leader • Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020 • Page 5A

HISD, from P. 1A

43rd, from P. 1A where 43rd intersects with De Milo Drive, 18-year-old Kyle Eickenhorst died in a one-car crash in 2012.

According to data from the Houston Police Department, obtained by The Leader through an open records request, there have been a total of 381 traffic accidents on 43rd Street – between Watonga Boulevard to the west and North Shepherd Drive to the east – since 2015. Nearly half of those accidents occurred between Oak Forest Drive and Ella Boulevard, which bookend shopping centers on both sides of 43rd, while there were seven wrecks apiece at 43rd Street’s intersections with Cheshire and De Milo. “It’s more dangerous than most streets,� said Candlelight Oaks resident Shawn Salyers, who owns MytiBurger at 2211 W. 43rd St. “People do speed down it and kind of treat it like a busier, wider street than it is. It’s residential, so you wouldn’t expect them to drive as fast as they do. It’s like a main thoroughfare.�

Photo by Adam Zuvanich Drivers approaching West 43rd Street from Nina Lee Lane as pictured above have a limited view of vehicles traveling east on 43rd.

related citations on 43rd between Watonga and Shepherd.

The majority of those tickets, 989, were issued in Garden Oaks between Ella and Shepherd, where there are large homes on both sides of 43rd and a school, Garden Oaks Montessori Magnet, a few blocks to the south.

Another 584 speeding-related citations were issued between Ella and Rosslyn Road to the west, with that stretch including the Cheshire intersection as well as the Frank Black and Oak Forest Elementary campuses.

A total of 377 speeding tickets were issued in school zones during the aforementioned five-year period, according to the municipal court data. In the traffic accident reports from HPD, speed was cited as a factor in 87 of the 381 collisions. “I think in between Ella and Shepherd is kind of a speedway a lot of times. I’ve seen people moving very rapidly,� Weltin said. “It’s increased, sadly and ironically, in the school zone where Oak Forest and Frank Black is. It’s becoming more and more of an issue.�

When asked why so many more speeding-related citations were issued between Ella and

Too much, too fast Tim Weltin, who works at Frank Black Middle School at the intersection of 43rd and Chantilly Lane and has a son who attends Oak Forest Elementary immediately to the southeast, also said speeding and aggressive driving are problems on 43rd. He and Salyers both said they have regularly been passed by other drivers while going the speed limit or even a little bit faster.

Data from Houston Municipal Court, also obtained through an open records request, corroborates what Salyers and Weltin have experienced anecdotally.

From January 2015 through midAugust of this year, HPD officers issued a total of 1,580 speeding-

Shepherd, where there have been 68 accidents in the last five years compared to 211 on the stretch of 43rd immediately to the west, HPD spokesperson Victor Senties said traffic enforcement is generally driven by complaints from citizens. He also said there have been school-zone enforcement initiatives on 43rd.

Houston City Council member Abbie Kamin, who represents the area in District C, said street safety is a “top priority� for her office.

She encouraged residents to report road safety concerns as part of the new “Vision Zero Initiative� within the Houston Planning Department, which Kamin said is actively seeking community input about dangerous intersections so it can prioritize investments for increased safety and mobility.

Feedback can be provided online at houstontx.gov/visionzero/ index.html. The city’s “Vision Zero� initiative aims to end traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2030. “I was deeply saddened and troubled to hear about the fatal accident this summer on 43rd,�

Kamin said. “My office has been in touch with the Oak Forest Homeowners Association, who has requested additional traffic

and speed patrols on this street.�

Oak Forest resident Mark Madeley, who lives near the intersection of Cheshire and 43rd and has seen three accidents there within the last two years, said he hopes the recent tragedy there leads to “meaningful change.� He offered a few suggestions, such as increased traffic enforcement, a traffic reconfiguration, widening the medians on 43rd and lowering the speed limit to 30 mph.

Martha Mears, who has served on the Oak Forest Homeowners Association board of directors since 2016, said overhanging tree limbs cause visibility problems along 43rd, particularly where the road curves near its intersection with Rosslyn. Trees and curves in the road also are an issue on 43rd between Ella and Shepherd, especially near Alba Road.

Moore said the curve near Rosslyn is especially problematic, because it’s where 43rd quickly transitions from a stretch of mostly businesses to a more residential area. She said she’d like for stoplights or stop signs to be installed somewhere on that part of 43rd, particularly as a new school year begins and more kids will soon be crossing the street.

While acknowledging that speeding is prevalent and traffic has increased, partly because contractors, construction crews and landscapers often service homes in the area, Mears said the responsibility for making streets such as 43rd safer lies with those who live in the neighborhood. “We the residents are at fault,� she said. “We don’t always stop at stop signs. We don’t adhere to the speed limit. It’s not a one size fits all. We’re all in this together.�

Follow Adam Zuvanich on Twitter @AZuvanich

wasn’t functioning properly, at least some area students were still receiving instruction from their teachers through the Microsoft Teams program. “We’re working through it and proud of my kids for being so patient,� area resident and HISD parent Mishona Steadman wrote in a comment on The Leader’s Facebook page.

HISD interim superintendent Grenita Lathan said during a Tuesday morning news conference that the issue was with the district’s web services provider, Blackboard Web Community Manager.

Lathan also said families were being rerouted from the faulty website, with students and parents able to access the district’s online hub at houston.itslearning.com. “As we all are aware, we can’t prepare for a crash,� Lathan said. “We found a fix to reroute those families.�

The largest school district in Texas, which includes roughly 209,000 students as well as more than 20 campuses in the Heights, Garden Oaks and Oak Forest areas, is conducting classes virtually for at least the first six weeks because of the COVID-19 pandemic. HISD plans to open all its campuses for in-person learning Oct. 19.

For the 12,000 or so HISD students who do not have computers or internet access from home, according to Lathan, HISD has opened 36 digital learning centers where elementary and middle school students can gather and learn in an online setting from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Students can be bused from their home campuses to their corresponding digital learning center, where breakfast and lunch will be provided on a daily basis at no charge.

Hogg Middle School, located at 1100 Merrill St. in the Heights, is a digital learning center for that campus as well as the following area elementary schools: Browning, Crockett, Field, Harvard, Helms, Love, Sinclair and Travis. Smith Elementary, located 4802 Chrystell Ln., is serving as a digital learning center for Durham, Garden Oaks Montessori Magnet, Oak Forest, Stevens and Wainwright. Highland Heights Elementary at 865 Paul Quinn St. also is a digital learning center. “Even under normal circumstances, the first day of school is exhausting, frustrating and stressful,� Donna Barziza Raines wrote on The Leader’s Facebook page. “But, it always works out in the end.�

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The Leader • Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020 • Page 7A

Art Valet: Luna a well-known name in local art scene Mitch Cohen Art Columnist

Mark your calendar for next Saturday, Sept. 19 to attend a solo art reception, Urban Playground, by Houston artist Lauren Luna.

Hosted by Carla Bisong, owner of Bisong Gallery at 1305 Sterrett St., doors open for the event at 5 p.m.

When I first met Luna, I made quite an impression with her by calling her anything but her proper name. Laura, Laurie or maybe Susan. I don’t recall, honestly, just that I was admonished and apologizing monthly when she returned to my art market.

That was eight years ago, and there is a good chance that many art patrons and Houstonians now know the name Lauren Luna. She has been on television, radio, newspapers and magazines many times talking about

her oil paintings of iconic landmarks and cityscapes of Houston. That recognition includes The Leader and this column.

Luna handed me an invitation for next week’s reception many months ago and told me recently that she completed all of the paintings for the show during the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine. She also continued to teach two community college classes, hosted a virtual painting party on Yelp and finished six commissions, including three mosaic platters.

Luna likes to stay in motion, and I can attest to her persistence and drive. That’s what it takes to succeed and Luna has chosen her art for that path.

This will be Luna’s first solo gallery exhibition since her move to Houston nine years ago. Urban Playground includes 14 new oil works on canvas.

Known as “Your City Painter,” Luna seeks to demonstrate the importance of the outside world in every-

Contributed photos Houston painter Lauren Luna, left photo, has an art reception scheduled for Sept. 19 at Bisong Gallery, 1305 Sterrett St. At right is Luna’s oil painting called “Urban Bike RIde.”

one’s lives, while simultaneously showcasing the hidden and well-known parks within our city of Houston. Ranging from Hermann Park to Emancipation Park, to parks only existing in her head, Luna “Houston-izes” each location, making it feel like home. In a style of painting, not unlike

Vincent Van Gogh, Luna uses a palette knife to create heavily textured pieces that demonstrate her skill as a colorist and in one- and two-point perspective.

“Urban Playground; hidden amongst the iron trees in the heart of the concrete jungle, are the hidden gems; a loca-

tion for humans to pause their robotic, repetitive, digital lives and reconnect with those basic elements makes us human; social interactions, fresh air, and the sun,” Luna said of her featured painting.

Luna was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. She holds bachelor’s and master’s de-

grees in Fine Arts, focused on painting. Now living in Houston, she specializes in iconic Houston and New Orleans architecture and urban landscapes. Luna currently teaches at Lone Star and San Jacinto colleges and is copresident of the D.R.E.A.M. Affect Foundation, a nonprofit organization that awards scholarships to minority art students pursuing a career in the Fine Arts as well as grants for emerging artists to show their work.

Patrons can also meet Luna at her Silo at Sawyer Yards studio #132, 1502 Sawyer St. She’ll be there this Saturday for Second Saturday Open Studios. Find more about Luna at artistaluna.com.

Bisong Art Gallery is the only woman-owned, AfricanAmerican, for-profit art gallery in Houston. Learn more at https://bisonggallery.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: Array of flavors offered at Surya India sic, which was nice since there was so much already going on in terms of flavor with the entrees.

Surya is branded as upscale Indian, and while dining out didn’t give me the full experience, I thought the food was good, but a little pricy for what you get. There are more expensive dishes on the dinner menu, but the chicken dish cost the same from lunch to dinner.

For dining in, Surya has some policies you should know about before stopping by. The restaurant doesn’t al-

Zarah Parker Managing Editor

My favorite thing about Indian food is the different spices used in each dish that makes them taste so different than American cuisine.

Cardamom, clove, cumin and mustard seed are just a few of the common spices used in Indian food and are what make me always look forward to my next fix. I was excited to try Surya India specifically because I’d heard how flavorful its sauces are.

Once I tried them, I came away with the same impression, for the most part.

The Vegetable Samosas, crisp Indian-style empanadas stuffed with spiced potato, peas and herbs, came with two different sauces for dipping. The first was a dark honey color that was sweet and the second was a light green that reminded me of the green sauce at Tex-Mex restaurants.

When I broke open one of the samosas, the inside was a golden yellow with a consistency much like hushpuppies.

The thin, crispy outer layer added a nice texture balance

Surya India Address: 700 Durham Dr. Hours: 5-8 p.m. Monday, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., 5-9 p.m.

Tuesday-Saturday Pricing: $15-$22 for lunch, $15-$36 for dinner Kid-friendly: No Alcohol: Yes Healthy options: Yes Star of the show: Chicken Mangalorean

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If Not, Call Me Now Offering Mobile Service Photo by Zarah Parker Pictured are the Vegetable Samosas, the Chicken Mangalorean and Channa Saag from Surya India.

with the mushier inside. The spice was light and the flavor was mostly herby. I liked the sweeter sauce with it best.

Off the lunch menu, the Chicken Mangalorean, which has a coconut base with mustard seeds, curry leaves and chilies, was a favorite dish of mine. The creamy orange curry smothered chunks of chick-

en. The spice level was mild, but I enjoyed the flavor profile of chili, cumin and more.

The other lunch entrée I tried was the Channa Saag, which is spiced chickpeas with spinach. The Mangalorean was a little sweet, the Channa Saag was more savory with hints of ginger and garlic. I liked the chickpeas,

but could barely find them through the curry. I wished there was a better balance between the two.

The long flat pieces of naan were also one of my favorite features with the dishes. Still warm from the oven, I ate most of the naan on my own.

The rice that came on the side of both portions was ba-

Coffee shops still communal spaces

By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com

Eddie Little drinks coffee every day.

Since March, most of his coffee cravings were satisfied by his coffee pot at home, but he wished for a cup from his favorite shop, Slowpokes, which had temporarily closed in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Once the Garden Oaks shop at 1203 W. 34th St. reopened at the end of May, Little made it a point to stop by at least once a week to support the business. His order was always different: An Americano one week, a macchiato the next.

But it was always to-go.

Before the pandemic, Little would sip his coffee at one of the high tables, or at one of the booths, which he missed doing, but he thought it prudent to wait a few months before dining in anywhere.

“I’m older, so I wanted to be cautious,” Little said. “But a few weeks ago, I dropped by and stayed to read while drinking my coffee. It was nice.”

Little, who’s a retired accountant, said that since dropping by and staying that first time, he’s felt comfortable doing so since then. He’s noticed more people doing the same, except he hasn’t seen as many students with a laptop and a stack of books as he used to.

“Staying at home was making me feel a little crazy,” Little

low children under the age of 8. Surya also has a philosophy that its food is cooked to its merit, so it won’t modify in terms of spice levels.

Photo from Facebook EQ Heights, located at 1030 Heights Blvd., has continued to be a place to socialize during the COVID-19 pandemic.

said, laughing. “Coffee keeps me sane.”

Being back in a communal space gave Little a sense of normalcy, which was echoed

by EQ Heights owner Kevin Blasini, whose coffee shop at 1030 Heights Blvd. is known as a social house.

“It was important for us to try, within the social distancing parameters, to provide that communal space with some sense of normalcy that people desire,” Blasini said.

“While we need to change our routine to be safe and get beyond the virus, we also need to recognize there are ramifications of being isolated.”

Blasini said a few things have changed since the pandemic began. Aside from spaced-out tables, resulting in

less seating, the coffee shop still sees a good mix of people who come in to socialize with family or friends.

“Prior to COVID we had a lot of live music and poetry nights,” Blasini said. “We continue to support local artists, we just refreshed our art inside the shop, but we look forward to the day we bring back our live music.”

He doesn’t have a date in mind for when live music will return to the shop. But part of why he looks forward to when they can bring it back is because it’s part of what makes EQ Heights a communal space.

Because the shop is so community focused, they try to use local vendors as well. By supporting EQ Heights, Bla-

sini said customers are helping EQ and other local small businesses “claw back to normalcy.”

Boomtown Coffee, 242 W. 19th St., was a popular communal space but had to put that aspect of the shop on hold. It is currently doing togo orders only.

“We have always valued being a space for first dates, marathon study sessions, important business meetings and more,” said Chris Porto, the marketing and communications manager for Boomtown.

“During this time, we’ve had to pause being that space; we’re currently doing to-go only while we try to keep our staff and guests comfortable and safe.”

To help drive sales, Boomtown started selling its cold brew and Crüd -- its espresso, cold brew, chicory and vanilla signature drink -- in bulk quantities.

“We also began selling these amazing reusable masks created by AirX that are made from coffee,” Porto said.

Heights resident Shelby Richards often studied at Boomtown before graduating in the spring.

“I still stop by all the time,” Richards said. “But when I want to meet a friend for coffee or glass of wine, I come by Slowpokes so we don’t have to meet at one of our houses. I look for any safe excuse to get out of the house nowadays.”

832-884-4169

THE PUBLIC. The Leader • Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020 • Page 8A

Captain at Acres Homes fire Farino named interim president station dies from COVID-19 of local chamber of commerce

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

The Houston Fire Department announced that Capt.

Tommy Searcy, who since 2014 served at the station in Acres Homes, died Tuesday from COVID-19.

Searcy, 45, a father of three whose twin brother also is a Houston firefighter, is the third HFD firefighter to die from the disease after catching the coronavirus in the line of duty.

The others were Leroy Lucio in July and Jerry Pacheco in August.

“The Houston Fire Department is devastated by the loss of one of our most outstanding firefighters,” Houston Fire

Searcy

Chief Sam Pena said in a statement released by the department. “Tommy was a highly decorated 18-year veteran, an exceptional firefighter, a selfless teammate and a tireless

public servant.”

According to HFD, Searcy joined the department in August 2002 and was promoted to captain in 2013. He spent the first decade of his career at Fire Station 46 in Southeast Houston before joining Station 67, located at 1616 W. Little York Rd., in 2014.

There have been a total of 1,430 COVID-19 cases in the 77088 zip code where the fire station is located, with at least 27 residents having died from the disease and 1,189 patients having recovered. In the City of Houston and Harris County, there have been a total of 111,525 cases of COVID-19, 1,453 related deaths and 96,347 recoveries.

By Adam Zuvanich The Greater Heights Area Chamber of Commerce announced last Friday that it has named Dee Farino, a longtime member of its board of directors, as its interim president.

The local chamber, which serves hundreds of businesses in the Heights, Garden Oaks and Oak Forest areas, had been without a president since Louie Gill left the organization in May. Gill had served in the role since December, succeeding Jacob Milwee, who spent five years as chamber president before leaving to become a schoolteacher.

Farino joined the Heights

Co-op, from P. 1A took it so he could devote the next six months to growing the co-op. Wilt has spent the last four years working steadily on its development.

The couple’s efforts are working. Central City has gotten about 200 new members in the last several months.

With a master’s degree in economic development from Penn State, Wilt is clear on her vision for the organization, which includes returning ownership of the co-op to the community.

“We offer shares, but anyone can shop here, like a grocery store,” Wilt said. “You don’t have to be a member.”

Wilt said the co-op started as a way to have local, sustainable, organic food, but it is a good business incubator as well that offers small and micro farmers an outlet for their produce.

“Farmers need to farm,” Wilt said. “Any time that is spent away from the farm is time lost.”

It is not just any farmer who the co-op utilizes. Wilt said the 50 or so vendors and farmers that Central City partners with go beyond the USDA organic

certification.

“We really care about what is going into the soil,” Wilt said.

“The farmers we use are into regenerative, sustainable agriculture. They have less acres of land.”

Wilt said they buy directly from farmers every week and don’t haggle over the price.

“We get what they have available,” she said. “The week’s bounty is always different.”

What has been constant is how busy they’ve been.

“It’s just exploded,” Wilt said.

“We are adding more refrigeration. We are changing every week.”

They had been looking for more space when the former Steel City Pops location became available. Wilt said she was able to negotiate a reasonable lease for six months, starting in July.

They hope to extend it.

There are still popsicles on site, too, but now they are made of goat milk and come from All We Need Farm in Needville.

The co-op has been open six days a week. It is closed on Mondays. Wednesday is the day for people to come pick up their “Fresh Harvest” mixed

produce baskets in either a small, medium or large quantity. The baskets come with suggested recipes.

“People might come to a regular farmer’s market to get a breakfast taco and look around,” she said. “They might see a beautiful radish but they don’t know what to do with them. Here we help them to see the radish and make something delicious and wonderful out of it.”

Members get their weekly basket as well as a discount on other items. Their volunteer hours also net them discounts.

Wilt and Navas moved into the Heights in 2012 and finished

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rectors in 2009-10 and again from 2017-19. Farino will take a leave of absence from the board of directors while serving as president, according to a letter to members sent by current board chairperson Teresa Nicolas-Briggs.

“Dee’s chamber knowledge was essential in the board’s decision and we are confident that her experiences will help us through these uncertain times and lead us to a new tomorrow,” Nicolas-Briggs said.

The chamber has not held any in-person events since the COVID-19 pandemic reached the Houston region in March, instead operating virtually and participating in some community outreach initiatives.

azuvanich@theleadernews.com

building a home in the neighborhood in 2016, the same year they took on the co-op.

“We are committed to the community and passionate about what we are doing,” Wilt said. “We want to be stewards who eventually set (this) out into the world.”

A new website will debut in a few weeks. For more information, visit https://www.centralcityco-op.com/.

Farino

chamber in 2005 and began serving on its board of directors in 2006, having held the position of secretary of the executive committee in 2007 and chair of the board of di-

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