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Changing guidelines rattles teachers, parents

By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com

The end of October marks two weeks of in-person classes for Houston ISD, and already a number of teachers and parents are questioning the wisdom of continuing. At issue is the district’s own criteria for in-person learning, as stated in its reopening plan, and what some see as a backpedaling of its own guidelines.

According to the reopening plan, the bar for going back to virtual learning was a COVID-19 test positivity rate for Harris County of more

than 7 percent over a 14-day period.

At the beginning of the week, the Harris County COVID-19 dashboard posted a 14-day average positivity rate of 7.4 percent. Houston’s city numbers were lower for the 14 days, at 6.5 percent.

On Monday, interim superintendent Grenita Lathan sent parents an email stating that HISD was updating both the COVID gauge and the process they will use to transition between levels. The gauge had moved from the most severe red to orange just before students returned in person on Oct. 19. COVID Gauge Level 2: Orange indicates “a signifi-

cant and uncontrolled level of COVID-19 in the community as determined by local health officials.”

“To ensure a holistic and datadriven approach, movement between all colors will be based on a careful review of multiple metrics from both Harris County Public Health and the Houston Health Department, as well as an ongoing assessment of reported cases and data trends in our district,” read the email.

The week before, the district announced it will no longer close camSee HISD P. 5A

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INSIDE.

Bees knees. Beekeeper Mickey Kleinhenz is offering a last batch of honey before winter.

Page 4A

Courtney Stein and her dog, Zealand, dress up in their matching unicorn costumes for Halloween.

Photo by Betsy Denson

Halloween garb not just for kids

By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com

What shapes us? Archway Gallery will soon feature scultpures by artist Tracey Meyer.

Page 9A

On a tear. A local high school football team won its third consecutive game last week.

Page 4B

For more than a decade, the National Retail Federation (NRF) has conducted an annual Halloween survey to find out how Americans will celebrate the holiday. It is no surprise that with the safety guidelines recommended for a safe Halloween, this year will be different.

The NRF said more than 148 million U.S. adults plan to participate in Halloween-related activities. Among those celebrants, safe at-home activities ranked the highest, with 53 percent planning to decorate their homes and 18 percent to dress up a pet. However, Halloween spending is down by about 8 percent, due to a decrease in costume sales.

With virtual costume contests planned – like the one planned by the Timbergrove Manor Neighborhood AsSee Costumes P. 5A

Casa Ramirez founder honored with ‘Un Gran Altar’

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

THE INDEX. Church....................................................... 5A Classifieds.............................................. 6A Coupons................................................... 8A Food/Drink/Art................................... 9A Opinion..................................................... 3A Public Information..................... 10A Puzzles...................................................... 3A Sports......................................................... 4B

Photo by Betsy Denson For Halloween this year, area resident Marya Minter is replicating her Dia de los Muertos look from last year.

With Harris County seeing record turnout during early voting, many readers of The Leader likely have already cast their ballots in the general election.

But for those who haven’t, there’s still time. Early voting was set to end Friday, and Election Day is next Tuesday, Nov. 3.

To help you prepare, today’s edition includes an Election 2020 voter’s guide that tells you almost everything you need to know about races that are most important to those in the Heights, Garden Oaks and Oak Forest areas. We provide a sample ballot that will resemble what area residents will see at polling places across the county, along with updated versions of election-related news reports published during the last month.

There are stories about campaign finance at the local, state and federal level as well as the races for Harris County Sheriff, which includes two local products, and the District 148 seat in the Texas House of Representatives.

Today’s B section also includes new stories about the race for the District 18 seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, where longtime incumbent Sheila Jackson Lee, a Democrat, hopes to hold off a challenge by Republican Wendell Champion. And we provide the latest update on the legal challenges to Harris County’s practice of drive-through voting, which has been popular throughout the county and at Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church in Timbergrove Manor.

To top it off, we included a story about a Woodland Heights resident who recently released a political-themed novel called “The Write-in.”

So check out all our election coverage, stay informed, stay safe, and don’t forget to vote before it’s too late.

Photo by Christina Martinez Chrissie Dickerson Ramirez stands in front of “Un Gran Altar,” which she created in honor of her late husband, Macario Ramirez, the Casa Ramirez founder who died in June at age 86.

Remembering deceased loved ones is a significant part of Mexican culture and the annual holiday Dia de los Muertos, in which surviving family members and friends honor the departed person’s memory with elaborate, colorful altars that include photos, food, flowers and important artifacts from their lives.

Chrissie Dickerson Ramirez said constructing an altar, or

ofrenda, is not usually recommended within the first year after a loved one’s death, because the loss can still be too fresh and too painful.

But in her case, even though it’s been less than five months since she lost her husband, Macario Ramirez, to heart failure on June 10, she had no choice but to put together “Un Gran Altar” in his honor. Helping the Heights community celebrate Dia de los Muertos is a longstanding tradition at Casa Ramirez Folkart Gallery, which

the couple founded in 1984 and moved to West 19th Street in the 1990s.

“Even though it’s a challenge, it’s also been such a special time for us. It’s something I had to do,” Chrissie said.

“You know, in terms of doing it, I feel like he’s still with me. I think that has lessened just the grief that comes.”

Chrissie, who still runs the shop and gallery at 241 W. 19th St., unveiled her husband’s alSee Casa Ramirez P. 5A

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THE TOPICS. The Leader • Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020 • Page 3A

It’s never too late to find common ground A few days from now, half the country is going to hate the other half.

If Donald Trump is re-elected as president, you’re going to hear about how he’s a wannabe dictator who profits from sitting in the Oval Office, fans the flames of bigotry and lies about everything from COVID-19 to his tax returns to his scores on the golf course.

And if Joe Biden beats him on Nov. 3, there will be talk about how the former vice president is a senile socialist who wants to dismantle the oil industry and do whatever he can to cover up his and his family’s questionable business dealings overseas.

Well, I’m here to tell you it doesn’t have to be this way, even if your preferred candidate doesn’t win in the ongoing election. There is common ground to be had, mutual understanding to be found and the truth is almost always somewhere in the middle of opposite sides of an argument.

More importantly, don’t believe everything you see and read on social media.

Case in point: I spent most of the day Tuesday intending to write a column that called out Joe Danna and his campaign for a disingenuous comment on Twitter that was directed at The Leader and, more specifically, me. I was going to defend the way we do journalism here in Northwest Houston while saying it’s both a shame and intellectually dishonest for people seeking elected office to

I sent before publishing a story last week about Joe Danna’s race against Democrat Ed Gonzalez, the incumAdam bent sheriff. My story included a of Danna’s termination from Zuvanich mention the Harris County Precinct 1 ConEditor stable’s Office in 2012, and his campaign’s Twitter account responded Monday with the following comment: “Predictable, biased piece. Apparently it was too much work for the turn their attacks toward the media reporter to go to my website and and claim we have an agenda against read my extensive statement regarding my wrongful termination. The them.

I’m still doing that, actually, but my fact that your multiple requests for criticism is no longer quite as point- interview went unanswered was not ed. Because sticking to my journal- by mistake.”

This upset me for multiple reasons. istic ideals of being fair, transparent and even-tempered led to a revela- For starters, Danna’s campaign manager, Amanda Orr, stopped respondtion of sorts.

Danna, the Republican candidate ing to my emails two weeks before I for Harris County Sheriff, has deep posed any specific questions, and I ties to the area, and his daughter, had never before had any conversaMonica, works for a prominent com- tions or interactions with Danna or mercial real estate firm in the com- written any stories specifically about munity and has been a reliable, ac- him. So how could this report have cessible source of information for our been predictably biased?

I also gave Danna ample opportunewspaper. So, at the risk of catching nity to address his background and her off-guard and potentially burning a bridge, I reached out to let her campaign talking points before the know I took issue with a comment story was published, just like I did made by her father’s campaign and with Gonzalez, who made himself was going to write a column about available and answered all my quesit, but I didn’t want that to affect our tions. Why should I treat Danna any interactions regarding her role with differently and rely on information on his campaign website, which is inRevive Development.

She proceeded to put me in touch herently biased because he’s running with her dad, whose campaign had for elected office?

Along those lines, the campaign ignored my interview requests as site makes no mention of Danna’s well as a series of emailed questions current role in law enforcement as

You can trust, maybe THE POST OFFICE – Along with other paranoid/cynics, I am personally delivering my ballot to the post office. But will it be counted? Maybe the deep state takes all the Trump ballots and shreds them. But then we have QAnon, the proTrumpsters who may be shredding all the Biden votes. Either way, dropping off my ballot at a United States Postal Service station is risky. And I certainly can’t trust my postal carrier any more to deliver my ballot to the proper destination. She does have a sneaky look about her, not to mention sporting that “Vote” button. For years I trusted the postal service, but now we are told the USPS is cutting back on deliveries, taking sorting machines off line and generally wrecking Benjamin Franklin’s 245-year-old baby. President Trump says we can no longer trust the post office, and he never lies.

This is one small example of a change in our lifestyles.

Today every person, group and system is under suspicion.

The FBI used to be a bulwark of honesty and integrity. Now we find the FBI is investigating itself because its agents may have tried to lie, tamper with evidence and mislead America.

President Trump has said time and again that he can’t trust our intelligence agencies. Indeed, at the Helsinki conference with his best buddy, Vladimir Putin, our President said he trusted Putin more than his own intelligence agencies, and well he should. The IRS can’t be counted on to accurately tax some among us. Just ask Trump’s fixer, Michael Cohen, who told how Trump cheated on his taxes by the millions and the IRS never found out. The Justice Dept.? Oh, come on. Atty.

Gen. William Barr is always firing incompetents and running off lawyers who keep digging up so-called “dirt” on friends of the President. It’s gotten so bad that pardons have to be issued to these poor innocent souls.

Whom can we trust? First, never trust anyone who says “whom.” Today we can’t trust anyone. So paranoia and cynicism are spreading faster than Covid-19. The obvious bad example is the fake news shoveled to us by “America’s enemy,” the press. A Gallup survey found overall 41 percent currently have “a great deal” or “fair amount” of trust in newspapers, television and radio to report the news “fully, accurately and fairly.” Although trust in the media is down this year, it beats the record low of 32 percent in 2016. Republicans’ lead the way in not trusting our media: only15 percent of Republicans say they have trust and confidence in the media compared to 69 percent of Democrats and 36 percent of independents. Recent Gallup data also shows that Republicans’ trust in most specific news sources in recent years has stagnated or declined,

Lynn Ashby Columnist

while Democrats’ has risen.

Guess what? Fox News is the only national news source that a majority of Republicans trust, while a majority of Democrats trust the six national news sources. Last year’s Gallup/ Knight Foundation surveys found that Republicans were much more likely than Democrats to think they found bias, inaccuracy and misinformation in newspapers, on television and on radio.

But what about other pursuits? Gallup surveyed Americans about honesty and ethical standards in the workplace in late December. Maybe it’s the Covit-19 curse, but we trust our medical professions. Nurses are top of the honesty league and they have been there for 17 years in succession, with 84 percent of Americans rated the honesty and ethical standards of nurses as high or very high.

Doctors and pharmacists also did well with 67 and 66 percent placing a high level of trust in each profession respectively.

High school teachers finished next. Despite “Defund the Cops” marches, 54 percent of Americans still view police officers as being honest and ethical while 13 percent gave them a low rating.

Accountants and the clergy are next. Then come the fake newsers. Americans feel very strongly about journalists – both ways. They either trust or don’t trust them a lot. I guess it depends on your politics. At the bottom are business executives, car salespeople and, to no one’s surprise, members of Congress, with 58 percent of us having a low or very low opinion of their honesty and integrity and only 8 percent giving them a high or very high marks. We need to meet that 8 percent. I think they’re members of Congress. We can’t trust our scientists and researchers. Less than half of Republicans (47 percent) say they would take a Covit-19 vaccine but 81 percent of Democrats would, according to a poll by Gallup.

Here’s a little side note. In 1957 there was an afternoon game show, “Who Do You Trust?” It was emceed by a little-known comic and his sidekick: Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon, who were never heard from again. “Trust but verify,” is a rhyming Russian proverb, but became an internationally known phrase in English when President Ronald Reagan used it on several occasions when discussing nuclear disarmament with the Soviet Union. He didn’t trust the Ruskies, but how do others see

us as a trusting nation? Trust in the United States has dropped by more than 50 percent since 2016, the sharpest drop of any country assessed in the 2020 Best Countries report from US News & World Report, an annual global survey of more than 20,000 people in 36 countries, including in the U.S. What happened to us since 2016?

We fell to Number 24 of the 73 countries assessed, just behind Number 23 Greece and barely ahead of Number 25 Israel. Finishing in first place was Canada with 100 percent trustfulness. It was followed in trustworthiness by Switzerland and the Scandinavian countries Sweden, Norway and Denmark. Good Lord, we finished behind 23 other nations in being trusted. At the very bottom was Kenya then Serbia and Belarus.

“In God We Trust” is the official motto of the United States of America. But verify.

You can trust Ashby at ashby2@comcast.net

a reserve officer for the Polk County Sheriff’s Office northeast of Houston. I did extra work in contacting the folks in Polk County to verify Danna’s employment status and even quoted a captain there as saying Danna is a “good guy” who “does a good job.”

So again, where’s the bias?

Having my journalistic integrity questioned by his campaign was ironic because also on Monday, I helped his daughter with another matter of journalistic integrity. Monica reached out to say someone had inquired about a property while claiming to be working for The Leader, and I set the record straight by telling her the person in question wasn’t being honest.

As it turns out, the critical tweet sent by Joe Danna’s campaign wasn’t honest either. In a Tuesday night phone conversation that lasted nearly 45 minutes, he told me the message was written by his campaign manager and not by him, and he didn’t personally take issue with the story I had written.

“You handled it very well,” he said.

“I respect you for that.”

I respect Danna for taking the time to talk to me, answer my questions and address my concerns, even if it was a week later than I would have preferred. He apologized for the tweet penned by Orr, who Danna hired to promote him and defend him, and said it was his call to decline my previous interview requests because a years-old experience with The Leader made him think we would not treat him fairly.

For the record, Danna claims his 2012 termination from the constable’s office was political retaliation for putting himself on the ballot for Precinct 1 constable while working for the office as a deputy. According to a 2016 report by Houston TV station Fox 26 News, Danna was dismissed for falsifying documents related to serving a court summons.

“I was set up,” he said.

Do I believe that? Like I told Danna, I’m going to reserve judgment until I learn more about the matter, like any good journalist would do. In the meantime, it’s fair to report the perspectives of both sides, which is what I wanted to do all along.

Keeping with the interest of objectivity, let me make it clear that the purpose of this column is not to say you should vote for Danna or vote for Gonzalez. The point is that no matter who wins, don’t rush to judgment about the kind of job they’ll do as sheriff for the next four years.

It’s also important, especially in today’s political climate, for people with a disagreement to explain where they’re coming from and listen to what the other side has to say. You might find your dispute was merely a misunderstanding or that you have more common ground than you imagined.

You might also discover there’s more to a tweet or a Facebook post than meets the eye. Sometimes it’s just people playing politics. azuvanich@theleadernews.com

THE READER. Our readers can think for themselves

Dear Editor: Jonathan, we were in Galveston last week and did not see The Leader and your insert regarding “BLITZ”

by David Horowitz. Kudos to you and your staff for publishing this. I own the book and it is a great read for anyone regardless of their political affiliation. I even sent a copy to an old friend in KCK, a longtime union man and staunch Democrat. I suggest, as I did to him, just read pages 203-212, The Nine Biggest Dangers to America from the Anti-Trump Left and The Top Ten Lies Democrats Have Told You. Even if you hate Trump as a person, think before you VOTE. Brian Carpenter Dear Editor: How sad we have become that the few are still trying to make decisions for the many. If you don’t like something, then don’t read it. Shame, shame on them for thinking I think like them and they think for me.

Thank you for being the neighborhood paper that you are. Freedom of press is why we live in such a great country. Stand up and be counted for the country we live in.

David Villarreal Dear Editor: Jonathan McElvy’s editorial described perfectly the function of journalists and news organizations.

People who complain should understand this was not a declaration of any political opinion but simply a paid advertisement. More importantly, those who decided to shame The Leader, obviously do not believe paid advertising is free speech, they also be-

Email us your letters: news@theleadernews.com lieve free speech is only that with which they agree.

I hope they realize that totalitarian regimes begin by limiting free speech, which is why our founders made it part of the first amendment of our Constitution. People have the right to boycott, complain, and even protest what they disagree with in our society, but they should realize when you start limiting those rights to others you are turning the country into a state that will eventually limit your rights.

Ken Dropek Dear Editor: Apparently the cancel culture now includes newspapers. Shame on those who decry the right of a paper to display a paid advertisement for a product.

Will you, as a publisher, now have to determine the political viewpoint of anyone who advertises in The Leader? Should you as a business have to be fair and balanced and run an ad for a competing point of view? If a tee shirt company prints a slogan on a tee shirt, does that qualify as an endorsement?

Anyone who doesn’t understand where this idiocy is leading is putting their head in the sand. The only way our Republic will survive is with the FREE exchange of ideas and opinions without fear of retribution.

Thank you for upholding the standards by which every newspaper should operate.

Marianna Jayson Dear Editor: It really is rich, Leader Readers (Oct. 24) squealing like Ned Beatty because the Leader printed some clearly labeled pro-Trump paid advertising. These

See Reader, P. 8A

the leader Puzzlers.

Answers found in this week’s Classified section

SUDOKU

aCrOss

1. Molten rocks 7. More (Spanish) 10. Artists’ workrooms 12. Radiant light around an object 13. More threadbare 14. Moses’ elder brother 15. Become aware of 16. Exclamation of relief 17. Swiss river 18. Mimics 19. Colored fabric 21. A bunch of bills 22. Despised 27. “Today’s” Roker 28. “Twilight Zone” host 33. Three-toed sloth 34. Actor 36. Lawyer’s organization 37. Maldives capital 38. In bed 39. Wedgelike metal fastener 40. Winglike structures

41. Mesoamerican resin 44. Glasses 45. Green 48. Large South American burrowing rodent 49. Shoulder blades 50. Noah’s boat 51. A female ogre

dOwn

1. Unkind 2. Vestments 3. A derisive remark 4. Japanese apricot 5. They __ 6. Soviet Socialists Republics 7. Arad river 8. Lined up one beside another 9. Diego, Francisco or Anselmo 10. One who analyzes metals 11. To that place 12. Expressed pleasure 14. Fills with horror 17. Find a sum

18. Cognizant 20. Female making debut in society 23. Members of U.S. Navy 24. A group of three 25. And, Latin 26. Fall back time 29. What was that?

30. Inches per minute (abbr.)

31. American/Canadian falls 32. North Palestine region 35. Bird beak 36. Manila hemp 38. Smart 40. Three-banded armadillo 41. Short cloak 42. Scops owl genus 43. 100 = 1 afghani 44. A health resort 45. Equal, prefix 46. Microgram 47. Make imperfect

WORD SCRAMBLE

Page 4A • Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020 • The Leader

Last call for fall honey from local beekeeper

By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com

Mickey Kleinhenz first got into beekeeping when he started assisting former Oak Forest resident Sean Pessarra, who had a bee removal business called Mindful Honey.

Kleinhenz bought some bees when he was starting out, but he also got extra honeybees from the removals that he and Pessarra were doing.

Now he has 50 colonies at five different bee yards, including one at property he owns in Inwood Pines, and he is still going strong.

For Kleinhenz, who has an undergraduate degree in horticulture and food production as well as a master’s in landscape architecture, the way he keeps bees is the same way he manages his gardens – with a light hand.

“I’m a little more hands off,” Kleinhenz said.

He says as bees reproduce, they will start new colonies as the current ones become crowded. The queen bee will leave the hive, sending out a pheromone to the hive that she is getting ready to vacate and take some workers with her.

Then, she travels about a quarter-mile away in the search for a new hive, and the old hive produces another

queen.

Because Kleinhenz sets up appealing boxes with some honeycomb bait in the trees in his garden, the queen oftentimes will not stray as far. “(The swarm trap) is basically a fishing lure,” he said.

In three or four weeks, once the hive gets going, he relocates it closer to the ground.

Honey production most often occurs during the late spring and summer months.

The bees then slow down in preparation for winter.

“There is a strong seasonality to it,” Kleinhenz said. “The queens stop laying so much and there’s a period of rest.”

Now is the time that Kleinhenz will condense his hives before winter and spread them out a little so they can flourish again, when warmer weather comes. And it is when he gets his last batch of honey for the season, which he offers for sale on the Oak Forest Homeowners Association’s Facebook page.

“It is like pruning a rose for vigor,” Kleinhenz said, “so that the hives can stay dense and warm in winter.”

Kleinhenz said he would love to offer classes in beekeeping. He was working with Durham Elementary students in their garden, until the schools closed for in-person learning last March.

Wabash Feed & Garden, 4537 N. Shepherd Dr., also offers beekeeping classes taught

by John Berry as well as supplies and equipment.

During a 2019 HomeShow Garden Pros segment, Berry said the No. 1 question he gets asked is, “Am I going to get stung?”

The answer is yes, but Berry also said there is a relaxation in beekeeping that is unique.

One person who took Kleinhenz up on his expertise was Ella Lee Forest’s Nathan Benesh, who along with wife, Lauren, became interested in beekeeping after taking some classes. This is the second year they’ve been beekeepers. This year, their three hives produced enough honey to distribute “Benesh Bees” honey to friends and family.

“It’s a hobby that can pay for itself,” Nathan Benesh said.

One of the family’s hives was purchased, the second moved from an owl box in The Woodlands, and the third was lured in using Kleinhenz’s method.

“They send out scouts first,” Benesh said.

He said he and Lauren have been stung a few times when their hive inspections annoyed the bees but that none of their four children – who like to help them – have been stung.

“These are gentle queens

Photo by Betsy Denson Oak Forest resident Mickey Kleinhenz condenses his beehives before the winter. He is harvesting one last batch of honey for the fall and will largely leave them alone until spring.

with gentle genetics,” he said.

“The kids really enjoy it, and we’re trying to be good neighbors, so that’s important.”

Kleinhenz believes bee temperament is as much about nurture as nature.

“It is how you interact with them,” he said.

While Benesh had thought about doing a “crude” harvest,

Dia de los Muertos art installation displaying in Montie Beach Park

By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com

The Dia de los Muertos festival at Montie Beach Park will not be happening like it did last year, with folkorico dancers, live performances and vendors. For the safety of the community during the pandemic, the Montie Beach Civic Club cancelled the festival, but didn’t forgo a type of celebration.

This year, an art installation will be set up on the hill at the park, 915 Northwood St., called “Ofrenda at Montie Beach Park,” from Saturday through Monday, Nov. 2 as a safe way to hold to the Dia de los Muertos tradition.

“It was important not to completely cancel to keep the cultural significance,” said Arturo Gutierrez, who is

Contributed photo Pictured are pieces included in an “Ofrenda Kit” from Casa Ramirez Folkart Gallery, which are being given away at Montie Beach Park.

a member of the civic club.

“We think it’s important to continue the tradition.”

An ofrenda is an altar dedicated to a deceased loved one. During Dia de los Muertos, it’s intended to welcome the spirit back from the dead.

The display will feature ofrendas, lights, papel picado, full floral display and more. To engage kids to participate, the civic club purchased 100 Ofrenda Kits from Casa Ramirez Folkart Gallery, 241 W. 19th St., to give away for free. The kit comes with a sugar skull that can be decorated and four items that represent earth, wind, fire and water.

“Dia de los Muertos is not about grieving,” Gutierrez said. “It’s more about the celebration of life.”

using a filter to get honey from the manually crushed comb, he then discovered he could rent a mechanical extractor from Wabash. He said the extractor made things a lot more convenient.

“There are a lot of people who are willing to mentor others,” Benesh said.

For more on getting started

American Legion Post 560 hosting Halloween festivities

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

American Legion Post 560 in Garden Oaks is preparing to host multiple Halloweenthemed events so community members can enjoy some spooky holiday fun despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

From Thursday, Oct. 29 through Saturday, Oct. 31, Post 560 will host its inaugural haunted house at 3720 Alba Rd. The haunted house will run from 6-9 p.m. Thursday and 6-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

No touching of objects inside the haunted house will be allowed, and only one household at a time will be permit-

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Houston ISD’s weekly food and supply distributions have been moved to the weekends in order to better accommodate working families.

A news release from the school district said weekly community distributions at two locations, including the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center at 4400 W. 18th St., have been moved from

Wednesdays to Saturdays so area families and students can pick up food and other supplies. Beginning Oct. 24, meals are being distributed from 2-5 p.m. each Saturday through the end of the year with the exceptions of this Saturday, Oct. 31 (Halloween), Nov. 28 (Thanksgiving weekend) and Dec. 26 (day after Christmas), according to the district.

HISD said food and other supplies are available to the general public. Student

meals are available for children between ages 1 and 18 who are engaged in virtual learning, the district said. If children are not present in the vehicle, HISD said families must provide a birth certificate or proof of enrollment in any school district to receive student meals.

For more information on student meals and a complete list of distribution times and locations, visit HoustonISD.org/StudentMeals.

ted inside in order to maintain social distancing. Masks will be required at all times, and all guests will be temperature checked prior to entry.

Tickets will be $10 for those 13 or older and can be purchased at buytickets.at/ americanlegiongardenoakspost560/419422. Children 12 and under will get in free if accompanied by an adult.

For more information on the event, call 713-682-9287.

Earlier Saturday, Oct. 31, the community is invited to participate in Post 560’s “Trunk or Treat” from 1-4 p.m.

Attendees should come in costume to the free event, and masks and social distancing are encouraged.

Garden Oaks American Legion to celebrate Marine Corps’ birthday From Staff Reports landan@theleadernews.com

HISD community distributions moved to Saturdays

with a hive, visit https://www. almanac.com/beekeeping101-getting-started-planningfor-bees.

Kleinhenz also offers live bee removal, colonies for sale and mentoring services.

He can be reached at mickeykleinhenz@gmail.com or “Mickey Kleinhenz” on Facebook.

American Legion Post 560 in Garden Oaks is inviting Marines and Marine supporters to its headquarters at 3720 Alba Rd. on Nov. 10 to celebrate the 245th birthday of the United States Marine Corps.

Beginning at 6 p.m., attendees are invited to take part in a free dinner and program celebrating the anniversary as well as a cake-cutting ceremony.

For more information on the event or to attend, community members can call or text 609-501-3341.

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The Leader • Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020 • Page 5A

Casa Ramirez, from P. 1A tar last Saturday during an open house that drew about 100 members of the community. Un Gran Altar and four other altars, including a community altar created by Judy Turner in which visitors can leave photos or other items in memory of their departed loved ones, will remain on display through Nov. 15.

Until that time, Casa Ramirez will be open from noon-5 p.m. on Sundays, from 1-5 p.m. on Mondays and from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on every other day of the week. The altars were created in conjunction with Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, which starts Saturday, Oct. 31 and ends Monday, Nov. 2.

Chrissie said the holiday, which is rooted in indigenous religious teachings and includes symbolism from the Catholic Church, can be celebrated by anyone regardless of their beliefs or cultural backgrounds. She also said it is not the Mexican version of Halloween, which is associated with scary imagery whereas Dia de los Muertos

features skeletons that appear to be happy and peaceful.

Altars also include the four elements of earth (food and flowers), wind (paper cut-outs or banners), water (something to drink) and fire (candles). “It’s believed that the souls of the dead come back for a brief time to visit,� Chrissie said. “The families or loved ones want to welcome them with favorite foods and favorite times. It’s a good omen for the upcoming year when the spirits of those departed see a warm welcome for them.�

The altar Chrissie created for Macario, with the help of family and friends, includes photos of him from different stages of his life as well as gemstones and pieces of amber the couple acquired during a visit to Oaxaca, Mexico.

It also features traditional yellow marigold flowers and the image of a bright orange sun, symbolizing the cycle of life, as well as items from Marcario’s life as a teacher of Mexican culture and tradition and as a champion of civil and labor rights.

Photo by Christina Martinez Multiple photos of Macario Ramirez, who died in June, are featured in the Dia de los Muertos altar created for him at Casa Ramirez Folkart Gallery at 241 W. 19th St.

Chrissie said the experience has been emotional but also therapeutic, and it’s helped her and the community reconnect with her beloved

HISD, from P. 1A

husband. “He’s here,� she said. “That’s what people say when they walk in. They still feel him here.�

Photo by Christina Martinez “Un Gran Altar� was created in honor of the late Macario Ramirez, the Casa Ramirez Folkart Gallery founder who helped introduce the Heights community to the Dia de los Muertos holiday.

Costumes, from P. 1A

campuses with one reported confirmed positive or presumptive COVID-19 case. Instead, a campus will close if two or more confirmed positive cases are reported.

HISD parent and Lindale Park resident Tish Ochoa has kept her daughter home to continue virtual learning for the current six-week period and says she is disappointed that HISD has decided to move the goalposts on considerations for closure. “I think it’s deeply unfair to go back on their word to school staff and (the decision) will lead to increased community spread,� Ochoa said. “I understand we all want children to be served and that there is pressure from (the Texas Education Agency) to not close down schools. But I urge the district to put the needs of the children and teachers of Houston first.�

There are also parents happy to have the opportunity to continue in-person learning. “I actually think it is going alright for us personally,� said one middle school parent. “I tried to mentally prepare my kids before face-to-face started to ensure they knew it was not going to be anything like before. The hardest part for them was getting used to the ‘one way only’ in hallways and doors.�

Even so, she does not feel like HISD did enough to prepare the teachers to do double duty. “It does not seem balanced from an attention perspective to have students virtual and face-to-face in the same class,� she said. “(It is) frankly challenging for the teacher to deliver to different audience types. The school itself is doing a fantastic job to ensure the kids remain safe.�

Zeph Capo, president of the Houston Federation of Teachers, said the mixed messaging has resulted in an erosion of trust among teachers and parents. “If the health department had different metrics, then

sociation where residents will post their photos to Instagram or Facebook before Oct. 30 – and others planning to stroll the streets or hang out in their yards with neighbors and friends, there are plenty of adults dressing up.

As expected, the pandemic features large in some people’s costumes. Beth Barron is dressing as a plague doctor and Sally Walden is going as a survivor of 2020. Jenni Ferrell said she will be a grouchy mother of three teenagers during COVID-19 – costume not required. Angela Kay and her co-workers are going as 2020 itself – Kay is the toilet paper hoarder.

Marilyn Christensen said her school special education team is required to wear masks and gloves all day and in some cases gowns. So, they are making the best of it. “We are going as the CDA contamination group from (Pixar’s) Monsters Inc.,� she said.

Notably, fashion retailer Yandy, who is not afraid to make a sexy costume of just about anything, says sexy COVID costumes are off limits. “I don’t think there’s anything sexy about it,� Yandy’s vice president of merchandising, Pilar Quintana-Williams, said in a recent Business Insider interview.

In the tried-and-true category, there are plenty of entries. Kimberly Flynn might be a pirate. Brandi Hamilton will be Wonder Woman and Irene Arango will dress as a witch.

Yvette Mackedatosh and her husband are going as Frankenstein’s monster and his bride. Seth Higgins will be Michael Meyers. Courtney Stein and her dog, Zealand, will be wearing matching unicorn costumes. In the notquite-so-common category, Nora Heene said she will be a festive pinata. “My husband and I are going as breakfast,� Andrea Catalano said. “He’s an egg and I’m a waffle.�

(HISD) should have been sure about them from the beginning,� he said.

Even before Lathan’s Monday email, teachers were opposing what they say are unsafe working conditions.

A group called Educators for a Safe Reopening organized a “sick-out� protest of about 100 teachers on Oct. 22.

The group’s requirements for a safe learning environment included a mandatory 6 feet for social distancing, meals eaten outside or in large open, well-ventilated areas and classrooms with an optimized HVAC system.

The group also advocates for a school-wide quarantine if someone on the campus contracts COVID and no TEA sanctions for teachers or staff who resign during the 202021 school year.

Capo said the HFT did not have any role in organizing the protest but that some of its members participated. He also said representatives from Educators for a Safe Reopening were coming to speak at the HFT’s Nov. 2 board meeting and that he does not rule out more drastic action from HFT in the future. “If (our members) want to take risks, we will take those risks with them,� Capo said.

The HISD COVID-19 Dashboard showed 163 confirmed cases as of Wednesday, with 114 of those coming from staff and 49 from students. It also reports 89 active cases with 39 active student cases and 50 staff cases. Garden Oaks Montessori Magnet, Hogg Middle School, Heights High School, Helms Elementary, Oak Forest Elementary, Katherine Smith Elementary and Williams Middle School have active cases, according to the dashboard.

This week, El Paso ISD got a two-week waiver from the TEA to continue virtual learning because of the city’s rising infection rate. The TEA said so far, it has not received a waiver request from HISD.

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

Jennifer Massey will transform herself into Pennywise, the clown from movie It. “Makeup and hair will be done by Primp and Blow on 34th and Ella,� Massey said.

Popular culture is informing many costumes for this Halloween. Carrie Schadle is dressing as Dr. Clara Mandrake from Schitt’s Creek.

Laura Holt will be Eliza Schuyler from Hamilton. And Ashley Cassel is paying homage to Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Julia Hayes says she will be Cara Dune and her husband will be the Mandalorian. “(I) couldn’t get the kid to agree to being Baby Yoda even though ‘this is the way,’ � she said.

Then there are the people who are using what they already have to create Halloween magic. Amber Ambrose will be Aang from The Last Airbender. “I’m getting as much out of this shaved-head phase as I can,� she said.

Family costumes are big for those with the littles. “We are dressing up in a family theme, Goldilocks and the Three Bears,� Renee Blaize said. “I’m praying for cooler weather because the bear costumes are plush and warm.�

Emily Garcia said she might go as the other half of her son’s costume. “He keeps changing his mind as he suddenly remembers that dressing up with your mom is embarrassing,� she said.

Lauren Hafner’s family is going as The Wiggles. Krystal Galatian will be Luna Girl from PJ Masks at request of her daughter, who is going as Owlette.

Sometimes, you just don’t know what you want to be until a social media ad tells you. “I’m going to be a Magic 8 Ball because I saw the costume in a Facebook-targeted ad and I couldn’t not order it,� she said.

Contributed photo A local resident is dressing up as a jellyfish for Halloween.

Contributed photo Princess Leia of Star Wars fame is the Halloween costume of choice for an area resident.

GET TheIT! Prince of OVER

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

W

e are looking for peace.

We need peace. People First Church St. James Lutheran Church, ELCA Weekly are lashing out at the Sunday Services Gethsemane Lutheran Church • Bible Study: 9:15 a.m. injustice, the problems, and the t 8PSTIJQ &OHMJTI

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We invite you to worship with us! • Evening: 4:15 p.m. pain around them. Our country 1700 West 43School at Rosslyn Sunday ........9:15 am MANNA t -FBSOJOH )PVS BN QN 713-682-4942 is deeply divided over substantive t 8PSTIJQ 4QBOJTI QN QN Pastor – Dr. Richard Walters Sunday Worship......10:30am 4QPOTPS Ad # 32285 issues.

I see the “bigâ€? issues like Wednesday Bible Study 8FTU SE 4U t )PVTUPO 5Y t & Prayer 6:00pm Candlelight Church ofService Christ coronavirus response, healthcare, Join us for Services FC Heights Family and Staff the Supreme Court, and the in English or Spanish Sunday Morning Worship 8:30 and 11:00 201 E. 9th St. • 713-861-3102 Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn Sunday Worship 10am & 5pm Sunday School for Children, Youth and Adults 9:40 economy. I hear the social issues 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 and you will be forgiven...

Wednesday Bible Study 7pm such as racism, abortion, and www.lazybrookbaptistchurch.org Home of Johnson Memorial School for Little Children Rev. Nathan Lonsdale Bledsoe, Pastor 4215 Watonga Blvd. • 713-681-9365 R.S.V. Luke 6:37 Wed for the following: freedom of religion. While all 2003 W. 43rd St. 713-686-8241 s t s u m c . o r g Houston, TX 77092 Sunday Services: Live Stream at 11:00am of these things matter, who is Bible Studies: From Homepage, click on taking time to address suicide, 1822 W. 18th • 713-864-1470 Connect/Small Groups depression, and domestic abuse.

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government. Jesus brings peace by forgiving you of your sin. It is impossible to have the peace of God until you first have peace with God. I can’t even begin to properly address the problems in society until first dealing with my own problems. I need forgiveness and you need forgiveness. Before you will ever be able to forgive someone else for what they have done you must first experience forgiveness yourself. The hope for you and for me is in the forgiveness of God through the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross. You can have peace. I have found peace. The answer is not found in religion. The answer is not found in politics. The answer is not found in education. Peace is found in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He is the Prince of Peace. He said in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.�

Page 6A • Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020 • The Leader

Oak Forest barbershop honoring fallen first responders with promo

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Valor Barbershop in Oak Forest is running a promotion honoring Houston first responders who have died in recent days.

Houston Fire Department arson investigator Lemuel Bruce and Houston Police De-

partment Sgt. Harold Preston were killed in the line of duty earlier this month, with Bruce dying Oct. 16 in a shootout with a suspected arsonist in Timbergrove Manor. Also, Harris County Precinct 4 Constable’s Office deputy Micheal Floyd’s sudden death last week remains under investigation.

Valor Barbershop at 2217 W. 34th St. will be donating $5

from each haircut to the men’s families through Nov. 3 to help with unexpected expenses.

Customers can book online at valorbarbershop.com. “To the families of these heroes, our thoughts and prayers are with you,� the shop wrote in a Facebook post Monday. “To these heroes, we are honored you chose to protect us.

Godspeed.�

Houston law firm Arnold & Itkins hosting ‘RESPECT’ contest for kids

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Houston law firm Arnold & Itkin is hosting its fourth annual “RESPECT� contest for students across the city in an effort to foster the value of respect in the community.

Fifth-grade students in Houston ISD and other districts in the region have until Nov. 12 to submit an essay “defining respect in their own words� accompanied with an illustration to reinforce their point. The

contest has been held since 2017, attracting hundreds of submissions, according to a news release from Arnold & Itkins, a personal injury law firm located at 6009 Memorial Dr. “The students have truly taught us more about the meaning of respect than we could have ever imagined,� partner Kurt Arnold said.

Winners will be awarded a cash prize for themselves and their respective schools as well as for a charity of their choice, according to the law firm. First-place win-

ners will receive a total of $3,000, second place will receive $2,000 and third place will win $1,000. Winners will be announced during a special ceremony in Houston’s 270th Civil Court on Nov. 30.

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Page 8A • Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020 • The Leader

Reader, from P. 3A

Why do some cats drool? are a couple of causes for your cat’s drooling behavior and, it could be a sign of good news or bad news. Let’s dive right in, shall we?

Dear Tabby, Our cat, Simba, drools when we pet him. I didn’t know that cats could drool like dogs do!

Why is our cat doing this--is he sick?

Drooling Cat in Timbergrove Dear Drooling Cat, It can be a little unsettling when you see your normally delicate and clean kitty drooling buckets of saliva. There

Sign of illness of stress Unfortunately, sometimes when cats drool, it is a sign of illness. Cats will often produce excess saliva when they are nauseous and right before they vomit. Sometimes this nausea has relatively benign causes-like when he eats his food too fast--but nausea in cats can also be a symptom of a more serious problem, like liver or kidney problems.

Cats also drool when they’re in a stressful situation.

If your cat has repeated stress in his life, you might see him

Pet of the Week

drooling more often. If this is the case, help him to relax by removing or lessening the stressors in his life.

Lastly, cats who are experiencing mouth pain will often drool excessively. A toothache, mouth ulcers, or other oral health problems could be the cause of your cat’s drooling. A trip to the vet would be wise to rule out any of these causes.

Content kitty The good news is that many cats drool when they’re happy and content. As an observant cat owner, you should be able to tell if Simba is happy (tail up, flopped over on his back, “making biscuits,” etc). If your cat is only drooling when he’s happy, this is simply a sign of

a satisfied, loving kitty. Experts still don’t understand why happy cats drool excessively.

It has even been proposed that some cats get so content while being petted that they simply forget to swallow their saliva!

Awww (and also, ewww)!

So, first thing’s first: Get to the vet to rule out a serious illness. If all checks out well, consider yourself lucky to have such a satisfied kitty!

Sure, it can be a little gross to be drooled on while cuddling with your kitty, but it’s the highest form of compliment your pet can give.

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

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Meet Reika This 8-year-old gray and white domestic shorthair girl is as sweet as she is gorgeous. Reika is independent but playful and would do best in a home without other pets or small children. She is a simple gal who is happy as can be with cheap cat food and an Amazon box to play in--the perfect cat for someone who’s never had a cat before. To learn more about Reika, go to www.friends4life.org.

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To Recycle or NOT to Recycle?

Dear Editor: Tuesday is trash day for our neighborhood of the Leader area.

On October 27th observed the blue trash truck approaching my neighbors house and collect the garbage from the black trash bin.

Okay that’s normal. Then noticed the blue truck move forward a few feet and grab and empty the green recycle bin in the same blue trash truck. So the garbage and recycle went into the same truck.

The truck approached the two bins in front of my house and also emptied both the black and green bins into the same truck. Is the city of Houston actually recycling our recycled material or not? If not, then why go through the trouble of separating and properly cleaning the recycle material for proper separate disposal in the green bin if it just ends up in with the normal garbage? If the mayor and other city officials cannot fulfill their words on recycling, then I would really like to be able to return the green recycle bin and not be charged the monthly rental fee for it. I realize the cost of recycling costs more to do, but is that cost higher than putting everything in the land fill that will hurt the environment?

What was observed today was not the first time nor the second and not even the third time that someone in this household has seen practice happen. It has been in numerous discussions before among neighbors around here.

So is it worth to recycle or not to recycle?

CB on Chantilly

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Dear Editor: Mr. McElvy, you were nicer to those fragile pinheads than I would have been.

Perry Whitley

Dear Editor: I have never been more proud of an editorial as I was of Jonathan’s last week. Your paper is probably one of the most unbiased publications around and you express all views. Sometimes I do not agree with you, most of the times I do but I respect your right to speak your mind.

On our street we have Biden signs and we have Trump signs but there is a respect of views because we are neighbors. I do not social media, twitter or even neighborhood blogs because of the derogatory nature I have observed. I just do not need that in my life. I read, I listen and form my own opinion.

The political ads on TV have taken on a viciousness I have never seen before and I am ashamed of all the candidates for

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I am proud to get a paper that stands up for freedom of expression rather than cower to a few readers who obviously do not believe in our Constitution or respect the right to differ.

GA

same folks blithely have no problem whatsoever with the fact that more than 95 percent of America’s media -- the very “press” whose freedom from government coercion is specifically protected by the Constitution -- has devolved into a corrupt stench of party-apparatchik spin-flacking for the Democrats. They’ve enthusiastically abandoned all pretense of adherence to honest journalistic/reportage standards.

This election cycle, major “news” outlets have applied all possible positive slant to Democrat candidates and positions, have ramped up pro-Democrat editorializing to degrees that would astonish even the sleaziest televangelists, and have totally ignored any developments -- and there are serious plausible criminal allegations -- which would be detrimental to their slate. Would you want your doctor to treat you the same way the Democradolescent-Media Confederacy shills its pro-Party prejudice throughout America, only saying what you want to hear? Telling you how healthy your hair is, enthusiastically opining that your appearance thus is absolutely terrific, and intentionally not mentioning your terminal cancer?

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The Leader • Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020 • Page 9A

Art Valet: Online or in person, Archway in tip-top form Mitch Cohen Art Columnist

Archway Gallery presents “What Shapes Us,” featuring new sculptures by Tracey Meyer, from Nov. 7-Dec. 3.

A virtual opening and artist talk is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 7, viewable at ArchwayGallery.com or Facebook Live. Private tours may be scheduled by appointment on the website. Operating hours for Archway Gallery, located at 2305 Dunlavy St., are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday and by appointment Monday through Thursday.

I would like to preface this column with a suggestion that you absolutely should check this one out, both online and in person if you can.

Being one that is primarily focused on the outdoor genre of art exhibitions, I was pessimistic when all the virtual art shows and exhibits began earlier this year. Although Art Va-

let readers know I have showcased many virtual events in this column.

There’s a huge leap from in-person events to whatever “device” you may be looking at to “experience” the same.

For the promoter, there can be a huge expense involved, in both the creation process and capturing the attention of the audience. That expense can involve both time and money.

Still, the entrepreneur in me is fascinated by the opportunities emerging from our virtual world. After browsing thoroughly the Archway Gallery website, I’d say Archway is already well on its way to leading the evolution of a combined virtual and live art experience.

In addition to presenting member artists’ work, Archway offers art classes and concerts in their space. All are designed around pandemic measures with social distancing, mask requirements and hand sanitizer is available. Past concerts, gallery talks, tours and more are available online.

Patrons can visit the incredibly easy to navigate website today and view the current

Contributed photo Tracey Meyer, whose work is being featured by Archway Gallery from Nov. 7-Dec. 3, showcases one of her “What Shapes Us” sculptures.

exhibit, “Diverse-City, An Ode to Houston,” featuring photography by Isabelle Perreau.

The site navigation is a breeze.

Gallery director Joel Anderson’s video introduction leads right into the artist’s talk and tour of her work.

Under the exhibitions tab, choose “upcoming” and a preview page for Meyer’s exhibit appears.

The page features a preview of Meyer’s sculptures

and background on her, and patrons can schedule an inperson, small-group visit and tour with the artist on opening weekend.

On Nov. 7, the available work will also appear on the main page and viewers can purchase directly or in person.

Meyer’s third solo exhibition, and her first at Archway Gallery, is a sculptural exploration of the complexity of life. Meyer employs rag paper,

wood and ceramic to create sculptures that each represent an imagined individual’s existence. Momentous or calamitous events are represented by the physical shaping of the whole sculptural form.

This exhibition asks the viewer to consider more deeply the hidden challenges that others experience and to re-examine the complexity of existence in general.

Meyer’s intention is to make artwork that is interesting, intriguing and pleasing to the eye. When she bends each individual cut within the artwork, she is representing the reaction to an experience or choice. The sculpture is usually then painted and, lastly, placed on its support. The reflections and shadows cast on the support tell the rest of the life’s story. They portray the outcomes of new opportunities presented to the individual, demonstrating how past experiences can still shape their lives.

Raised in Australia, Meyer has lived in Houston on and off since 1997. During this time, she attended the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston’s

Glassell School of Art and achieved the Certificate of Art in painting and sculpture.

Meyer began her working life as a teacher of history. She has spent many years on various boards and committees, has travelled extensively and is fascinated by the world around her. She is consequently driven to learn new skills. Meyer is a keen observer of the natural world and inspired by the building blocks of nature, her work aims to utilize shapes and repetition to examine the relationship between order and complexity.

She is also known to contemplate the human condition in her work. She employs a range of materials, which are either repurposed geometry or shapes she has constructed herself, and she honors these shapes with a methodical and precise way of working.

Archway Gallery is artistowned and operated since 1976.

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: Sticky’s sticks landing with big, flavorful wings

By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com

The food truck turned brickand-mortar Sticky’s Chicken is a fun addition to Sawyer Yards.

Its chicken is in fact sticky, but delicious because of it.

Ordering online is a breeze, with popular items highlighted at the top. I ordered the chicken over rice, which is sautéed chicken over garlic fried rice, Sticky’s sauce, aioli and green onions and the OG wings, which comes with five wings drenched in sweet garlic BBQ sauce, topped with green onions. With the wings I got a side of French fries.

The chicken over rice survived the drive home perfectly.

The Sticky’s sauce and the aioli were drizzled over the chicken and rice and portioned well so that there wasn’t too much sauce smothering the dish.

The Sticky’s sauce was sweet

and tangy, mixed with the garlic fried rice, the dish had interesting sweet and savory layers.

The French fries were the crinkle kind. What I enjoyed most about them is that there were pretty heavily seasoned.

The extra seasoning worked to make the fries seem more than just plain fries you can get anywhere.

The OG wings were my favorite. The wings with big with a thick batter. The sweet garlic BBQ sauce had a thicker consistency than more wing sauces. Much like the sauce on the chicken over rice, the sweet garlic was tangy and sweet.

Because the wing meat was also hot and fresh, the overall experience of the wings was delicious.

By the time I was done with the wing my fingers where covered in sweet sauce.

I had ordered a dessert, but

it wasn’t in the bag. I’m started to realize how important it is to actually check the bag when ordering for to-go. Other than that, Sticky’s did a good job packaging the food for to-go and it was a pretty seamless curbside pickup.

I can definitely see myself grabbing wings from Sticky’s Chicken in the future. I look forward to trying its other menu options as well.

For a business that opened right before the pandemic hit, it’s doing a pretty good jo.

Sticky’s Chicken Address: 2312 Edwards St. Hours: Noon – 8 p.m. Tuesday – Saturday, Noon – 5 p.m.

Sunday Pricing: $8 - $9.75 Kid-friendly: Yes Alcohol: No Healthy options: No Star of the show: OG wings

Photo by Zarah Parker Clockwise from bottom left are the OG wings, chicken over rice and French fries from Sticky’s Chicken.

Heights residents use pandemic to boost at-home food businesses Zarah Parker Managing Editor

Good things can come out of bad situations. While the pandemic has kept a lot of people home, and put stress on business owners, it’s also allowed people to get creative and do things they might not have done otherwise.

For two Heights residents, they’ve used the last few months to expand their culinary aspirations.

Eilidh Cowan, originally from Columbus, Ohio, recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in bioengineering, but cooking has been her focus since May. What started as a food blog account on Instagram, Bonsai Eats, has since transitioned into a premade meal service with menu options that can be picked up or delivered to the central Houston area.

The Texas Food Cottage Law covers desserts that Cowan prepares at home, but not the meals.

“I thought trying my hand at being a chef during COVID was the perfect opportunity,” Cowan said. “My boyfriend always encouraged me to do it and I finally did.”

People can choose a dish and place the order through bonsaieats.com or by contacting Cowan directly. She said she cooks the meals to be ready exactly on the delivery time the customer chooses. It is then ready to eat when she drops it off or when people

Contributed photo Heights resident Eilidh Cowan launched an at-home cooking business in May called Bonsai Eats.

pick it up without the need for reheating or further preparation.

“So far, people have loved it as most of my dishes are pretty ethnic,” Cowan said.

Examples of the type of meals Cowan prepares include garlic miso pasta with roasted chicken and vegetables, French beef stew with homemade bread, ginger-toasted pork chops with Greek pasta and Thai basil curry, which can be made vegan and gluten-free.

“The endless cycle of cooking allows me to express and test my creativity over and over again,” Cowan

said. “Cooking really clears my head and makes me feel connected with other people whenever I see them enjoy my food.”

Allison Hartley has been in the food industry a long time as chef and caterer, but there wasn’t much time with her own business, Sweet & Savory Girl.

“When COVID hit it gave me the push to work on my own business exclusively,” Hartley said.

While Hartley does smallscale catering and specialty desserts through her business, over the last couple of months she has shifted to

teaching cooking classes. The cooking classes intended to be for kids, but Hartley said many adults have reached out as well.

Hartley teaches the classes however the parents feel most comfortable, whether in-person or over Zoom. She’s developed two different classes, one covering sweet foods and the other savory. Each has about eight lessons that build on one another, but it’s also an option to take just one lesson. The classes are flexible.

“Whatever they want to learn, I’m willing to teach,” Hartley said.

Recently, Hartley had a Zoom class that was Halloween-themed at the request of parents. She developed Halloween recipes specifically for the class.

From cooking for others to teaching others to cook, these two Heights residents have been able to bring good out of troubling times.

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THE PUBLIC. The Leader • Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020 • Page 10A

HFD still investigating string of fires

City, county approve tax rate decreases From Staff Reports The Houston City Council and Harris County Commissioners Court recently approved property tax rate decreases for 2020, although homeowners’ payments to both taxing entities figure to increase because of annual hikes in appraisal values.

The county commissioners court on Tuesday unanimously voted to lower the county’s property tax rate by 1.3 cents per $100 valuation compared to last year. It represents the county’s first tax rate cut in a

decade.

Following a public hearing Oct. 21, the city council voted 13-4 in favor of lowering the city’s property tax rate to $0.561840 per $100 valuation, down from last year’s rate of $0.567920.

Council member Amy Peck, who represents part of the area in District A, was among the council members to vote against the rate after previously saying she thought it should be even lower amidst economic challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

She said in an email earlier

this month that city was using a provision in the Texas Tax Code that allows a taxing unit “to issue a tax rate that would leave us with about the same amount of tax revenue that was spent the previous year for day-to-day operations plus an extra 3.5 percent,” with the city instead using an 8 percent multiplier because Houston was declared a disaster area on account of the pandemic.

Peck said the city could have used the 3.5 percent multiplier and proposed a 2020 tax rate of $0.544532.

Garden Oaks theft suspect remains at large

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Local law enforcement officers are searching for a man accused of being involved in a string of motor vehicle burglaries and thefts in Garden Oaks and Shepherd Park Plaza.

The suspect, identified as Kenneth Stephen Cavazos by the Harris County Precinct 1 Constable’s Office, remains at large, according to a crime alert from the constable’s of-

fice. He has been charged with felony burglary of a motor vehicle, burglary of a building and felony theft, according to Precinct 1.

Precinct 1 said investigators were called to a home in the 800 block of Fisher Street last Friday, Oct. 23 in regards to an alleged burglary that happened Oct. 16, when a homeowner claimed a bike was stolen from the property. After locating bike parts at Cash America Pawn Shop off Mesa Road, Precinct 1 said subse-

quent investigation identified Cavazos as the suspect.

Cavazos allegedly barricaded himself inside a home when investigators tried to make contact with him, according to Precinct 1.

According to Harris County court records, Cavazos has previous convictions in the county for engaging in organized criminal activity, possession of a controlled substance, terroristic threats and assault of a family member.

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HFD said De La Cerda was involved in an exchange of gunfire with arson investigator Lemuel Bruce, who also died Oct. 16, during a surveillance operation in the Heights area early that morning.

HFD said Bruce, 44, was going off a “vague vehicle description and general geo-

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Among the items set fire at those locations were vehicles, sheds and trash, according to HFD. HFD said Joshua De La Cerda, 30, who died Oct. 16 near the intersection of West 18th Street and Watercrest Drive, is also “supected in setting multiple fires in the area.”

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Photo by Adam Zuvanich Richard Kercho and John Ortiz, two Shepherd Forest residents who have worked for the Houston Fire Department, set up a memorial Oct. 19 for Lemual Bruce, the arson investigator who died Oct. 16 at the intersection of West 18th Street and Seamist Drive.

For over 80 years, we’ve cared enough to think about the very worst.

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Ten days after an arson investigator and suspected arsonist died during an early morning shootout in Timbergrove Manor, the Houston Fire Department said it was still looking into a string of recent fires in the Heights area.

HFD said in a Monday news release that the Houston Arson Bureau continues “investigating multiple fires in the northwest area of Houston.” The department has not answered emailed questions from The Leader about the number of fires under investigation, the times, dates and locations of the fires and whether there are additional suspects beyond the two who have been identified.

Joshua A. Rauch, 28, was arrested Oct. 10 and charged with second-degree felony arson, according to the fire department, which said he is accused of setting seven fires early Oct. 7 in the Oak Forest and Acres Homes areas.

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graphical area” during the surveillance operation. The department said Bruce was attempting to obtain a license plate number from the vehicle driven by De La Cerda when gunfire was exchanged.

“Investigations involving Joshua De La Cerda and Joshua Rauch are still ongoing,” HFD said. “No additional details will be released at this time, except to state that the (Houston Arson Bureau) is working with other law enforcement partners to ensure successful completion of these cases.”

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Drunk driving suspected in fatal North Shepherd crash

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Houston police have arrested and charged a man in connection with a fatal crash in the area last weekend.

The Houston Police Department said 31-year-old Rickey Caballero Jr. has been charged with intoxication manslaughter in the 248th District Court

for his alleged role in the incident. The victim, 50-year-old Samantha Amos, was pronounced dead from her injuries at Houston Northwest Hospital, according to HPD. Another passenger, a 54-yearold male, was also transported to the hospital, according to HPD. HPD said Caballero was

driving southbound at 6900 N. Shepherd Dr. around 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 24, when he allegedly lost control of his vehicle at a high speed and struck the rear of Amos’ car with her and the other passenger inside. He allegedly showed signs of intoxication after the crash, police said, and was arrested on the scene.

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Police Reports • October 22 - 26 OCT. 22

Theft 1 PM 500 BLOCK ALLSTON Vandalism 11 AM 1000 BLOCK YALE Burglary 3 AM 400 BLOCK W 38TH Theft 2 AM 2500 BLOCK AIRLINE Arrest 6 PM 300 BLOCK W CROSSTIMBERS Assault 8 AM 00 BLOCK E CROSSTIMBERS Theft 10 PM 1800 BLOCK SHEPHERD

OCT. 23

Theft 11 PM 500 BLOCK W 20TH Vandalism 10 PM 900 BLOCK WAKEFIELD Theft 10 AM 200 BLOCK W 20TH Theft 4 AM 200 BLOCK W 26TH Theft 11 AM 500 BLOCK E 32ND Theft 7 AM 1600 BLOCK AIRLINE Arrest 12 PM 1500 BLOCK N LOOP N Other 11 AM 2600 BLOCK N DURHAM

OCT. 24

Burglary 7 PM 4300 BLOCK HEITE Theft 8 PM 1600 BLOCK T C JESTER Assault 4 AM 2500 BLOCK LAWRENCE Assault 11 PM 1100 BLOCK W 20TH Assault 9 AM 1500 BLOCK N LOOP Theft 5 AM 1900 BLOCK TABOR Theft 5 AM 300 BLOCK CROSSTIMBERS Arrest 10 PM 1300 BLOCK N SHEPHERD

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