Leader August 14

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Inside Today: Officials sound alarm about COVID surge • Page 1B

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City amends SMLS policy after ‘unique’ case By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

When she voted in favor of a Special Minimum Lot Size Area (SMLSA) ordinance in 2019, Elizabeth Nemec thought she was helping to protect her slice of the Heights from further commercial development in a mostly residential area. Such ordinances serve as zoning mechanisms in a city without zoning laws, allowing homeowners to restrict land use in their immediate area while ensuring that new home construction fits with the character of existing structures. But earlier this year, Nemec found

out that within the designated eightblock area, where all vacant, unplatted lots are required to be used for single-family homes per the SMLSA ordinance, that the Houston Planning Commission allowed three residential lots to be re-platted in 2020 as part of an unrestricted reserve. That means the land can be used for commercial purposes or multi-family housing, such as an apartment complex. After Nemec and about 65 percent of her neighbors voted in favor of the SMLSA ordinance, but before it was approved and turned into law by the Houston City Council, the city’s Plan-

ning & Development Department, in consultation with the city’s legal team, determined the measure is superseded by a similar 2004 ordinance that restricts lot size in that part of the Heights but not land use. That leaves the newer ordinance ineffectual, at least for the time being. “That was not communicated to any of us that were voting for it,” Nemec said. “It made us feel a false sense of security.” The three residential lots and one commercial lot that was re-platted into a 25,000 square foot unrestricted See Ordinance P. 5A

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Photo by Adam Zuvanich A 25,000-square foot property at the southwest corner of 10th 1/2 Street and Studewood Street was recently sold to a developer.

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INSIDE. Concert goers enjoy a balcony view during a “Vampire Weekend” concert at White Oak Music Hall in 2019.

Photo by Julian Bajsel

WOMH celebrating fifth anniversary Music man. Oak Forest’s Drake Eckhart offers at-home music lessons to local students.

Page 4A

Drink up. Stefan Modrich reviews cocktails at William Price Distillery in Garden Oaks.

Page 7A

By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com

Nearly 1 million people have walked through the doors of White Oak Music Hall (WOMH), 2915 N. Main St., as it’s hosted almost 1,700 concerts since its founding five years ago. To celebrate its fifth anniversary, with all its successes and challenges, including Hurricane Harvey and the COVID-19 pandemic, WOMH is hosting a fan appreciation day on Aug. 21. The event, which is free for ages 21 and up and $5 for those under 21, will include the musical stylings of Ruckus, Camera Cult, Marley Moon, -iLL LiaDand Hiram, who is a DJ who will play a montage of artists that have performed at WOMH over the years. “Because we do so many shows, it might get lost in the shuffle that we’ve hosted dozens of award-winning artists; artists that have won Grammys, CMAs, Mercury Prizes, etc.,” said Johnny So, WOMH’s co-managing partner. “These

Great expectations. Local football players are earning preseason recognition.

Photo by Trish Badger Music fans got close to the stage during a sold-out 2019 concert at White Oak Music Hall.

are world-renowned artists that are coming to our venue. And we’ve been told by many artists over the years that WOMH is a highlight of their tour. That goes a long way towards helping establish Houston as a can’t-miss touring des-

Church....................................................... 4A Classifieds.............................................. 5A Coupons. ................................................. 3B Food/Drink............................................. 1B Obituaries.............................................. 8A Opinion. ................................................... 3A Public Information......................... 2A Puzzles...................................................... 3A Sports. ....................................................... 4B

tination.” So said he’s heard from many nearby residents that they enjoy having a venue so close. But WOMH feuded with some Near Northside residents in its early See WOMH P. 5A

Houston ISD’s new superintendent proposed a mask mandate that would apply to all students, employees and visitors on district campuses, buses and facilities - joining other Texas school districts in defiance of a standing executive order by Gov. Greg Abbott. Millard House II, who was hired in June after leading a school system in Tennessee, announced during a school board review meeting House Aug 5. that the HISD Board of Education would vote on the proposed mask mandate at this Thursday’s meeting. If approved by the nine-member elected board, which voted after press time, House said the measure would take effect immediately. HISD is scheduled to start the 202122 school year Aug. 23. With no funding provided for virtual learning by the Texas Legislature earlier this year, HISD plans to hold classes entirely in person. Earlier Aug. 5, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo raised the county’s COVID threat level to red, its highest level, amid a recent spike in cases and hospitalizations caused by the Delta variant of the coronavirus. Children younger than age 12 are not eligible to receive one of the COVID vaccines available in the U.S. “As superintendent of schools of the largest school system in the state of Texas, that concerns me,” House said during the Aug. 5 meeting. “It concerns me greatly.” Elizabeth Santos and Kathy Blueford Daniels, the HISD trustees who serve area schools, both indicated on Twitter last week they would vote in favor of a mask mandate, with Santos writing, “I will vote for any and all measures to keep our kids and communities safe.” Austin ISD and Dallas ISD are among other Texas school districts that have announced mask-wearing requirements, according to the Texas Tribune, which also reported that Abbott has been sued over See Masks P. 5A

Waltrip grad Tokyo-bound as coach for Paralympics By Betsy Denson

Page 4B

THE INDEX.

New superintendent proposes mask mandate in defiance of statewide order

betsy@theleadernews.com

Waltrip High School graduate Katie McClosky is off to the Paralympics next week as part of Team USA. As a strength and conditioning coach with the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee, McClosky works with both Olympic and Paralympic sports. “I love the relationships I have built with athletes,” McClosky said. “My coaching is built from relationContributed photo ships and trust. I could have the best Waltrip graduate Katie McClosky, in red, is strength and conditioning program headed to Tokyo for the Paralympic Games.

in the world, but if an athlete doesn’t believe in it then it is worthless. So, I spend a great deal of time getting to know the athletes individually.” On the Olympic side, McClosky has worked with the swimming, shooting, modern pentathlon and sport climbing teams. On the Paralympic side, she works with the men’s and women’s wheelchair basketball teams. It is the basketball teams she is going to Tokyo to support. “Both teams are defending gold medals from Rio in 2016,” she said. “I will be there to assist teams when lifting, leading warmups, attending

practices and also being there for the games.” The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) is the National Olympic Committee and the National Paralympic Committee for the U.S.. Founded in 1895 as the United States Olympic Committee, the USOPC is headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado. McClosky was offered an internship with the strength and conditioning department at the USOPC in January 2017, which eventually led to a full-time position. See McClosky P. 4A

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State of the City slated for Oct. 13 By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner will give the annual State of the City address at 11:30 a.m. Oct. 13 at the Hilton Americas-Houston hotel, according to a news release from the city. The release said this year’s theme, “Always Rise,” will aim to celebrate the city’s strength and resiliency amid tough times such as the CO-

VID-19 pandemic. According to the city, Turner’s address will focus on topics such as updates on the city’s programs and services as well as on efforts to keep its technology, innovation and health practices on the “cutting edge.” There will also be discussion on the overall impact of the pandemic and the city’s efforts to help its citizens and businesses recover, according to the release, as well as

on infrastructure improvements and the public-private partnerships aiming to help improve residents’ quality of life. “I am looking forward to highlighting the city’s goals and achievements,” Turner said. “We have proven time and again that by working together, Houston can turn obstacles into opportunities.”

By Landan Kuhlmann Houston police have arrested a man accused of fatally shooting his father and injuring another woman in Greater Inwood last weekend. Larry A. Britton Jr., 37, has been charged with murder and aggravated assault of a family member in connection with the shootings of 69-year-old Larry Britton

Britton Jr.

Kempwood shooting suspect arrested By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Houston police say they have arrested a man accused of shooting a security guard at a local apartment complex last week. The Houston Police Department said Gerardo Rodriguez, 23, has been charged with aggravated assault in the shooting of 40-year-old Jedley Jean. Jean was taken to a hospital in stable condition, according to HPD. Police said officers re-

sponded to Shadow Creek Apartments at 7500 Pinemont Dr. in the Kempwood area around 3:15 a.m. Aug. 5 to find that Jean had been shot. According to HPD, Jean was attempting to lock up the complex’s laundromat when he noticed Rodriguez and asked him to leave. The two then allegedly got into a shouting match, police said, before Rodriguez allegedly fired at Jean multiple times and hit him in the torso.

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Sr. and 40-year-old Joanne Rosas, according to Harris County court records. The elder Britton was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Houston Police Department, while Rosas was taken to a hospital in critical condition. HPD said officers responded to 10135 Inwood Hollow Ln. around 4:30 a.m. Aug. 7 to find Britton Sr. laying in the roadway with multiple gunshot wounds. Rosas, po-

lice said, was found inside the home with gunshot wounds to her head and torso. Further investigation identified the younger Britton as a suspect, police said. He was already being held in jail on unrelated charges of harassing a public servant and assaulting a peace officer, according to court records.

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Police searching for Acres Homes shooting suspect By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Local authorities say they are searching for the person who shot a man Monday night in Acres Homes. The victim, 31-year-old Joseph Hardiman, was taken to a nearby hospital in stable condition, according to the Houston Police Department. HPD said Hardiman was walking eastbound at 2200 Dolly Wright St. when someone began shooting at him, striking him in the torso as Hardiman returned fire. The suspect then fled the scene in an unknown vehicle, according to police.

Anyone with information in the incident is asked to contact HPD’s Major Assaults & Family Violence division at 713-308-8800 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.

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THE TOPICS. The Leader • Saturday, August 14, 2021 • Page 3A

Neighborhood news is everyone’s business By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com

A

fter what may be one of the longest tenures ever for a freelance gig, my time at The Leader, for now, has come – if not to a hard stop – to a controlled landing. I won’t be writing weekly for the paper anymore but may be back to write columns or articles from time to time. It’s been an enjoyable 10-year journey as I wrote about in a previous editorial, but I have found, surprisingly, that as my kids get older and want to be around me less, I want to be there for them more. So, we’ll see how that all works out. Maybe I’ll take the time to write the Great American Novel about a near suburb of a major Southwest Texas city called Pine Grove, so as not to get sued. The book will be about the lives, loves, and machinations of a close-knit community of people who manage to come together despite their varying views and disparate personalities to battle something I haven’t figured out yet. Maybe apathy is the bad guy.

Betsy Denson

Maybe it’s overdevelopment. Maybe it’s many-tentacled extraterrestrials. Toothy space invaders are surely something everyone can agree is bad news. I won’t lie – I’m looking forward to an extended social media break as combing the various neighborhood Facebook pages is a major story source for me. There is much to be found there – people reaching

out to help others and fill the needs as they see them – but there is also so much meanness and online one-upmanship as seems to be a hallmark of our time. Airing your personal discontents about your neighbors on social media is not the answer to a healthy resolution of your issues or a healthy community. Face-to-face contact is hard and it is necessary, and I believe it’s something we need to master – myself included – to move forward in any meaningful way. I realize that some readers may be crying foul as The Leader singles out individuals in stories about disputes of local interest. This is always something that I’ve struggled with and the reason I’ve turned down assignments over the years. My argument has always been that I have to see these people on the soccer sidelines and the grocery store. Besides, my heart has always been with the softball, feel-good stories. Give me the person who grew the state’s biggest turnip or beautified a boulevard any day. A good newspaper, however, is

Bugged by the bug The average IQ of the American people is about to rise by several points. I shall explain. Given the choice of wearing a mask and not living, I prefer the former. But a lot of people among us don’t. Surveys show fewer Texans (64 percent) wear masks “always” or “often” compared to the national average (67 percent), and much less than other large states hit by the pandemic. But over 65 percent of Texans would support vaccine mandates issued by federal, state or local governments; the national average is 64 percent. More than 62 percent of Texans would support vaccine mandates for children returning to schools, and 67 percent would support them for students returning to universities. How a healthy majority of Texans feels about masks doesn’t seem to matter. We take masking orders from our leader, Gov. Greg Abbott, who recently tweeted: “The time for government mask mandates is over -- now is the time for personal responsibility... Every Texan has the right to choose whether they will wear a mask or have their children wear masks.” It gets worse. Although the delta variant is sweeping through Texas, on July 29 Abbot doubled down, signing an executive order prohibiting any government entities receiving state funds, including counties, cities, school districts, public health authorities and government officials, from mandating masks as this would “ensure the ability of Texans to preserve livelihoods while protecting lives.” No masks to protect our lives? (Incidentally, Texas leaders in Washington are not much help. Sen. Ted Cruz says wearing a mask is “a virtue signal of submissiveness” and called Congressional Democrats wearing face coverings “kabuki theater.”) As for our school children, the American Academy of Pediatrics recently recommended that all staff, and students over the age of 12, wear face masks in schools, regardless of whether they are vaccinated. Our governor says no, regardless of what the school districts, teachers and parents want. Whatever happened to the Republicans’ Holy Grail of local control? Don’t do me no more favors, Gov. Now remember that this is the same leader who declared after the Legislature passed some weak bills after Ice Storm Uri: “Bottom line is that everything that needed to be done was done to fix the power grid in Texas.” Days later ERCOT told us to conserve power because there may be rolling blackout during the summer heat wave. It is easy to spot those who don’t wear masks. Surveys show they are disproportionally white, rural, evangelical Christians and politically conservative, i.e. Trump supporters. They don’t wear masks because it’s hard to do while wearing a buffalo headdress and horns. An important point: Nor are they vacci-

Lynn Ashby Columnist

nated. (There is a direct correlations between those states with the lowest percentage of vaccinations and states that voted for Trump.) The latest Gallup poll found that most vaccinated Americans are keeping their masks on: 90 percent. So if you see someone not masked, chances are that person is also not vaccinated. Queen Elizabeth II was vaccinated. So was Pope Francis. President Joe Biden and his wife got the needle. Donald Trump and his wife were quietly vaccinated last December, but didn’t’ tell anyone. Rupert Murdoch got vaccinated, while one of his network’s stars, Tucker Carlson, called a Biden vaccination proposal “the greatest scandal in my lifetime.” Carlson won’t say whether he got vaccinated. Odd. Nearly 600 colleges and universities are now requiring students, faculty, staff or a combination of the three to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 before coming back to campus. But Gov. Abbott’s order prohibits Texas public universities from requiring students to be vaccinated for Covid-19 before returning to campus. However, Baylor, being private, only encourages vaccination and masks for anyone who is unvaccinated. Rice University requires some form of vaccination. If you choose to go maskless and are not get vaccinated and die, fine, that’s your business. No, wait. It’s my business too, because either: (1) You hang out in the ICU for a few weeks and run up a huge bill but don’t have insurance so I’m paying your bill, or (2) You have insurance and my rates skyrocket to cover your bills. Either way you are costing me big bucks. How should we, the vaccinated and masked, act towards those who cause so much trouble? In Medieval times lepers had to totally cover themselves and, when walking through town, ring a bell and chant, “Unclean, Unclean” so that others could flee. That may be asking too much today, and we’d probably run out of bells. Pity the poor Salvation Army alms collector during the Christmas season ringing his bell outside a Target. Show your vaccination card? We have to show a driver’s license to prove we are older than 21 to buy liquor. To vote in Texas we have to show our driver’s license along with our birth certificate, DNA sample and note from our Republican precinct chairman. On the other hand, we can buy a gun by just buying a gun. America is one of the few countries with enough vaccines to protect every resident — and yet it has the highest rates of vaccine hesitance or

refusal of any nation except Russia. So getting down to the nub: smart people are wearing masks and getting vaccinated. But after 14 months of free vaccinations, pleas from experts and even cash bribes, and every survey shows these precautions can save your life, still about 90 million Americans won’t get with the program. As a result, about 99 percent of new pandemic cases won’t wear masks and won’t get vaccinated. The rest of us are paying for it – literally and emotionally. Our lives have been made more difficult because new tests show that, even if we are vaccinated, the intelligently challenged can spread Covid-19 to us. Are they stupid? Ignorant? Uncaring? All of the above? The subsequent death rates among their numbers will increase and, as noted, the average IQ of the American people is about to rise.

supposed to cover all news, even the difficult stuff. The critical pieces on development and education I’ve written over the years have helped me shape my views and toughen my skin. I’ve never been constitutionally equipped to be the editor, though. Speaking of the person who is the editor, Adam Zuvanich, I think the neighborhood is lucky that he does hold the top spot. A secret softie, Adam can be tough and he is not afraid to pursue any story where it leads him. When I tell him about something, he is off and running with it. He is also balanced and thorough and most importantly to me – interested in the area. And that brings me to what I want to leave you with. The Leader will continue to be successful as long as people are interested in local news. And I know they are. I got about 40 percent of my story ideas from people who sent me an email or a text about something they had a problem with, or something they wanted to know about. The Leader has a general email –

news@theleadernews.com – and I hope people will keep sending their questions and concerns and ideas to the paper. If it is something that interests you, it is probably something that will resonate with others. There might be someone else out there, too, with a writing background and a passion for this community who would like to contribute a piece to the paper on occasion. That was me 10 years ago. Email Adam at azuvanich@ theleadernews.com and pitch him your idea. Because neighborhood news is everybody’s business. The more people who participate, the better The Leader will be. In the months to come, I look forward to being a reader and not knowing what I need to know until that precisely thrown paper ends up on my lawn each Thursday. And I’ll be sending my emails to the news desk with tips, just like you. I’m just a little sad that I don’t have a professional license to be nosy anymore. See you around the neighborhood.

THE READER. New HISD superintendent proposes mask mandate in defiance of statewide order

Dear Editor: Interesting choice of words... “in defiance”. Seems like a good lesson to teach our children. Whitney Ferrarese Dear Editor: Unenroll your kids and wait. C.G. David

Local Congresswoman arrested during protest

Dear Editor: Was she abusing her staff again? Or did she cross Bosses Schumer and Pelosi? Bob Davis Dear Editor: Kudos to Sheila and everyone who is brave enough to step up to protect voting rights! Jane Broyles

Email us your letters: news@theleadernews.com Dear Editor: She is an embarrassment. Political theater. Jennifer Jones Osowski

Local churches engaging with community

Dear Editor: Love New Day Church! Most amazing church ever! After trying to find the right church for us for almost 20 years…we finally found New Day, and it has changed our lives! Melody Crain Dear Editor: Thanks for sharing about what local churches are doing to love our neighborhood! Hannah White

City adding missing sidewalk link in Heights

Dear Editor: Abbie Kamin, can we just get the bridge fixed? Bob Davis

Ashby has been thoroughly shot at ashby2@comcast.net

the leader Puzzlers. Answers found in this week’s Classified section

SUDOKU

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WORD SCRAMBLE

Page 4A • Saturday, August 14, 2021 • The Leader

Oak Forest resident offers music lessons By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com

Oak Forest resident Drake Eckhart has the following education philosophy: It is never a student’s job to learn, it’s his job to teach. “If (a student is) struggling, that’s on me to make it better,” Eckhart said. “I’ve lived by that philosophy and it’s made my teaching career a dream.” Eckhart, with a degree in music education from the University of Houston, has been teaching private lessons for the last 12 years for violin, guitar, cello, viola, double bass and drums while professionally playing himself for 10 of those years as well as two years of orchestra directing.

“Since retiring from orchestra directing, I’ve tried to make private lessons my fulltime job,” Eckhart said. “Since we live in Oak Forest now, I’d love to just keep my lessons local.” Eckhart teaches students of any age and any skill level and mostly travels to his students’ homes. Although he said sometimes students and parents like to visit his home to see his recording studio with all of his 23 instruments. With a passion for music that was instilled by Eckhart’s father, who Eckhart described as “a pretty rockin’ hair metal guitarist,” music has provided all kinds of opportunities for him. “It’s been about 10 years since my first paid gig as a

section double bassist in the Rapides Symphony Orchestra in Louisiana,” Eckhart said. “Since then I have subbed for numerous orchestras all over Houston, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio.” Other than orchestras, Eckhart used to be a gigging and touring rock musician who played guitar, bass guitar and drums in multiple different groups through the years. “I bounced around everywhere,” Eckhart said. “Having a love for all kinds of music, it was hard to commit to one group or genre. I’ve really enjoyed playing gigs as a bassist in jazz ensembles, country cover bands and even top 40 groups.” While bass is Eckhart’s favorite instrument, either

his upright double bass or bass guitar, he said, “If it has strings, I can make it sing,” also having experience playing violin, viola and cello in professional ensembles. However, even though he tells people he can make an artistic attempt at any instrument, he typically avoids the brass and woodwind instruments. People interested in private lessons can contact Eckhart through email at drakeeckhart@yahoo.com, over Instagram @DrakeEckhartLessonStudio or through Facebook Messenger, which can be found by searching his name. “As far as the future of my lessons go, we might see an Oak Forest School of Music,” Eckhart said.

Contributed photo Oak Forest resident Drake Eckhart conducts a home lesson with music students.

Heights resident new CEO of Lemonade Day GOMM counselor creates adopt-a-teacher group By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com

Lemonade Day, an organization that helps spark an entrepreneurial spirit in youth by giving them the tools to create and execute their own small business, has a new leader in Heights resident Nicole Cassier-Mason. “The most important aspect of our program is to bring in together youth entrepreneurial education combined with experiential learning that truly delivers a deeply impactful result,” Cassier-Mason said. “You can learn it all day, but until you need that real life application where you’re testing skills, building confidence and giving the creative ambition to go after your dream.” According to Cassier-Mason, Lemonade Day plays a vital role in the greater workforce system as the pandemic has shown the discrepancy of wealth in the workforce. Lemonade Day is teaching business and financial literacy at a young age, which Cassier-Mason said is giving children a better chance at success. With 12 years of prior experience at a Houston non-

profit that developed housing for homeless and at-risk families, Cassier-Mason joined Lemonade Day with both a personal a professional passion. She said she feels she is now on the other side of the problem when it comes to the underserved and has a chance to help people bridge the gap between what they learn in school and how to apply it to real life. “I aspire for Lemonade Day to be nationally and internationally known as the leader for preparing youth for life through entrepreneurial programs,” Cassier-Mason said, “while serving as many youths possible with an emphasis on the underserved.” Cassier-Mason’s vision to be nationally and internationally known begins with maximizing the potential in the programs that already exist in cities across the United States. In a city like Houston, Lemonade Day would often partner with a chamber of commerce or a school, which would offer Lemonade Day’s program as an afterschool program. Now, Lemonade Day has a digital platform, which has opened the door for opportunity, both with the organi-

zation and to children who didn’t go to a school that had Lemonade Day. “Our new digital platform is helping us bring the program to kids in the existing cities and we’re using that as a way to attract new cities for the program,” Cassier-Mason said. Currently, Lemonade Day is seeking to launch its program in Chicago, Boston, Miami and New York. The plans to go international are more about being opportunistic and having the resources available. Cassier-Mason mentioned people from other countries stumbling across Lemonade Day, and the organization being able to respond and have tools available for them to use. For example, both Madrid, Spain and South Africa are on Lemonade Day’s radar, Madrid because Lemonade Day’s curriculum is already translated into Spanish and South Africa because the developers of Lemonade Day’s digital platform are from there. To learn more about Lemonade Day, visit lemonadeday.org/Houston.

helped me build character and break out of my shell,” she said. “I knew I wanted to get into coaching to have that impact on others.” Late in high school, McClosky started to get a passion for lifting weights. “I would go to the Harriet & Joe Foster YMCA to lift with my older brother,” she said. “The two passions of sports and lifting came together when I decided to be a strength and conditioning coach.” Based at the USOPC training center in Colorado Springs, McClosky said there are athletes who train yearround at residential programs and those who come for camps throughout the year. On a typical day, McClosky balances between coaching athletes on the floor in the

weight room and doing remote work as she also has athletes who work full-time jobs and have families and need to train on the side. McClosky uploads the athletes’ programs and they access it through an app. She creates workouts and offers videos of exercises so athletes can practice proper technique. “We also have a lot of meetings to talk about the progress of the athletes,” McClosky said. “As a strength coach, you work closely with the sports coach to develop a strength and conditioning program specific for that individual and sport. You study movements, physiological demands, physical demands and common injuries. Then you create a program that will help the athlete perform at a high level as well as miti-

By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com

When Roxana Horak was an elementary school counselor in Katy ISD last year, she joined a Facebook group where educators were “adopted” for the school year. With the pandemic shadowing the school year, Horak said the family that adopted her was a consistent source of support and encouragement. “Throughout the school year, they delivered gift baskets, purchased supplies from my wish list and wrote me motivational notes. I couldn’t ask for more,” Horak said. This year, Horak is starting the school year as the new counselor at Garden Oaks Montessori Magnet and when she realized there were no similar groups to adopt a Houston ISD teacher, she created one so more educators could experience the love she was given the year prior. “HISD is the largest school district in Texas,” Horak said. “That’s a lot of educators to love, so why not? I am, myself, a giver, and want to make others smile. Something like this brings smiles to many faces.” The “Adopt an HISD Teacher” Facebook group was cre-

ated by Horak as an avenue to connect educators with members of the community for support. As of Tuesday, the group was just shy of 500 members. “Being an educator is hard work normally, but it’s definitely more challenging during COVID times,” Horak said. “And who doesn’t like to feel loved, supported and encouraged when the going gets tough? My motivation for creating the group was to provide a source of support for teachers.” The group and the admin of the group are not associated with HISD. Some are employees and some are parents to children who go to a school in the area. If an educator wants to be adopted, they will post their bio on the group’s main page. The bios include information about who they are, likes, interests, where they work, what they do or teach, and any other information they’d like to provide. People looking for someone to adopt are free to go through the group and find an educator’s bio that resonates with them, and all they have to do is comment that they’d like to adopt that educator. The two then connect and discuss how the educator can be supported throughout the year.

“I’ve been asked a couple times about what it takes to be an adopter, and I have to stress that it’s not about the money,” Horak said. “It’s about the support and encouragement. An adopter does not have to spend an arm and a leg to make their adoptee feel special. That’s really important to know. I don’t want people to feel like they’re not ‘good enough’ or able to adopt a teacher. It’s not about how much you spend, but how you make someone feel.” Starting this Wednesday, the group began “Wishlist Wednesdays,” during which educators can post their wish lists on a thread dedicated to them. “This way, there’s even more support — other educators can pay it forward, members of the community who don’t quite want to dedicate themselves to adopting someone for an entire school year can still support educators as often as they wish, and it’s also a way for educators to get an idea of what materials other teachers are using in their classrooms, crowdsourcing at its finest,” Horak said. For now, people can find the group exclusively on Facebook by searching for the group name.

McClosky, from P. 1A “I took the internship after graduate school at Kansas State,” McClosky said. “It was a bit of a chance to come (to Colorado Springs) to take another internship but it paid off. I never would have dreamed I would be where I am, but life is crazy. I believe my strong work ethic taught by my parents has helped me be successful in my career and taught me to never give up.” McClosky a graduate of Oak Forest Elementary, Seton Catholic Junior High and Waltrip, later earning a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from the University of Houston. At Kansas State, she got her master’s and did a twoyear graduate assistantship. “I played sports throughout high school and valued how many of my coaches have impacted my life and

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gate injury.” McClosky works closely with sports psychologists, physiologists, sports medicine and dieticians as an entire sports performance team to support the athletes. “Everyone benefits from a different approach, so it’s finding what works best for that athlete,” she said. “That is what makes it so much fun.” During COVID, McClosky said they have gotten very creative with training. “The training center shut down for three months,” she said. “I had to work with the athletes to come up with creative workouts with limited equipment. We did many bodyweight movements and often used household items in place of weights.” She said she has enjoyed getting to know the athletes

Houston, TX 77092

on a personal level, too. “With the wheelchair basketball teams I have become a part of the family,” McClosky said. “We are all in it together. It is really special to be a part of a culture like that.” McClosky leaves for Tokyo on Aug. 17 and will be there until Sept. 6. She said she hopes more people will tune into the Paralympic games, which are scheduled for Aug. 24-Sept. 5 and will televised and streamed on NBC’s platforms, including NBCOlympics.com, the NBC Sports app and the Peacock subscription streaming service. “The athletes in the Paralympic games are so talented,” she said. “It has been amazing to see the Paralympic movement growth since I have been with the USOPC.”

GET The mountain perspective OVER IT!

t goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway: “we have all made mistakes.” As Alexander Pope so aptly put it: “To err is human, to forgive, divine.” We should remember this the next time we make a mistake. Most certainly, we must learn from our mistakes, and hopefully not continue to repeat them, but we should also forgive ourselves. While it can be hard enough to forgive others for their mistakes, it can sometimes feel almost impossible to forgive ourselves. We sometimes cannot bring ourselves to forgive something we’ve done, and we may punish and harangue ourselves for years, or even decades, over youthful indiscretions. In addition, some of us may not be able to forget the sins of our past. And although that may prevent us from repeating them, we must be charitable and forgive ourselves, just as we should forgive others. So, we should make a real effort in the coming days and weeks to forgive the offenses of others as well as our own. Sometimes, it helps to just forget about them; that is, to try to put them out of our mind and stop repeatedly mulling over them. One of the reasons we use the phrase “forgive and forget” is because sometimes that is the only way to forgive, i.e., by forgetting. But far better, and more divine, is to be able to forgive even while remembering the offense. So, we should let go of those unforgiving, vindictive, shameful feelings about the past, and get over it! Corrie ten Boom, who survived incarceration in a Nazi prison camp said, “Forgiveness is to set a prisoner free, and to realize that the prisoner was you.”

By Pastor Will Cover

Arise Baptist Church 803 Curtin St. Houston TX 77018 713-659-9697 • www.arisebaptistchurch.org

M

y family and I recently got away on a trip to the mountains. There is nothing quite like standing at the peak of a mountain and surveying Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn the world below. From that not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven... perspective you can see the R.S.V. Luke 6:37 world from an entirely different point of view. The quiet and solitude are excellent aides to introspection. The hustle and bustle of city life fades away and clarity of thought becomes as available as the clean air. Our God sits on his throne in

heaven. He sees and knows all things. Standing on a physical mountain gives perspective but it pales in comparison to the perspective that God has on His creation. It is a great comfort to know that our God sees, knows, and cares. Psalm 47:8b says, “God sits upon the throne of his holiness.” Being on the mountain top is awesome! Serving a God who sits far above the mountains is even better.

The Leader • Saturday, August 14, 2021 • Page 5A

Ordinance from P. 1A reserve, at the southwest corner of 10th ½ Street and Studewood Street, was sold earlier this summer to a developer who said he plans to use the property for a three-story commercial building that will be a mix of retail and office space. That eases the concerns of Nemec, who said she feared the land would be used for something like the seven-story storage facility that is going up nearby. But she still views her experience with the SMLSA application as a cautionary tale, and the case prompted the city’s planning department to amend its policy regarding SMLSA applications. City planner Abraham Zorrilla said the department is no longer accepting SMLSA applications with geographic areas that overlap that of an existing ordinance, unless the older ordinance is first rescinded. According to Zorrilla and Jennifer Ostlind, the assistant director of community and regional planning for the department, the city began allowing property owners to submit Special Minimum Lot Size Block (SMLSB) applications in 2002. That’s the type of ordinance that does not restrict land use and was determined to supersede the SMLSA measure, which was introduced by the city council in 2007. Prevailing opinion Ostlind said the city’s legal department determined the older ordinance prevails because of the city council’s 2013 amendment to Chapter 42 of the local government code, which says Special Minimum Lot Size ordinances will remain in effect

until they expire or are rescinded by impacted property owners. There are more than 200 such ordinances in the Heights, with the older SMLSB ordinances expiring after 20 years and the newer SMLSA measures in effect for a period of 40 years. Ostlind acknowledged that the applicant for the SMLSA ordinance in 2019, Heights resident Grant Sovereign, was not told about the effect of the previous ordinance before he and his neighbors voted on the newer measure. In a March 2020 email to Zorrilla, which was obtained by The Leader, Sovereign wrote, “When I started this process I was told that the new designation would supersede the old. … I feel like I have lied to everyone I told during the process that this petition would protect their property.” Ostlind said Sovereign and neighborhood leaders were informed about the overlapping ordinances, and how they would impact each other, when the planning department discovered the issue. She added that it was a “unique” situation. “We can always do better at getting information out,” she said. “So we will do everything we can to make sure people know that if they are going to be in an overlapping area, that there’s a block (ordinance) that supersedes the area (ordinance), we will try to make it more clear what the process is to undo it.” In an Aug. 4 letter to property owners impacted by the overlapping ordinances in the Heights, Zorrilla outlined the process for having the older measures rescinded, which requires the support of at least 67

percent of affected property owners. The appropriate form is available online at https://www.houstontx. gov/planning/Neighborhood/docs_ pdfs/SMLSB_rescind.pdf. Sovereign said in an email this week that he thinks newer Special Minimum Lot Size ordinances should supersede older ones, in part because there is a greater threshold for having them rescinded than there is for implementing them in the first place. The older block ordinances require at least 51 percent support from impacted property owners, according to Zorrilla, while the newer area ordinances require at least 55 percent support. Mark Williamson, president of the Greater Heights Super Neighborhood Council and the land-use chair for the Houston Heights Association, said he also thinks the newer type of ordinance should prevail because it comes with protections for singlefamily residences in addition to controlling lot sizes. City council member Abbie Kamin, who serves the Heights as part of District C, said she is “extremely disappointed” that the SMLSA ordinance championed by residents in 2019 is being overridden. “Special Minimum Lot Size protections are one of the few tools available to neighborhoods for their preservation,” she said. “While council offices do not have control over legal decisions like what happened here, it brought to light this loophole. I am working with the Planning Department to notify areas with overlapping SMLS designations that could leave them vulnerable to re-

plats, and we’re also trying to clarify the application process to make sure these types of protections are not lost.”

do,” Nemec said. “I understand that. It’s just frustrating.” Adam Chunn of Yawning Interests, LLC, which purchased the property early this summer, said he would not have bought it if it had not been re-platted by the previous owner, listed as Wayne Crane and Twyla Davis on the Harris County Appraisal District website. Chunn also said he outbid another developer who wanted to use the land for a gas station. Chunn said the existing buildings on the land – four old houses, including one on the corner lot that previously housed the Hello Lucky Life boutique – are derelict and will soon be torn down. He does not yet have concrete plans for the future of the property, he said, but envisions a three-story structure with a “quirky, walk-in shop” on the bottom floor as well as ground-level parking and office space on the top two floors. Like many of his new neighbors, Chunn said he is opposed to the towering storage facility being built one block to the north. “I bought into the Heights property because the Heights is a gorgeous area, and I’m not looking to make it ugly,” Chunn said. “I see that area as a growing commercial corridor that is high-class, and I want to join into that class.” Nemec said she was “so relieved” to learn of Chunn’s intentions. But she still wants to inform other Heights homeowners, who might be considering their own SMLSA applications, that their intentions could potentially be thwarted by another ordinance that is decades old.

Under transformation Nemec and Sovereign said they also took issue with how the 2020 re-plat of the Heights property was handled by the Houston Planning Commission, which did not notify Sovereign or any other property owners before approving it. Ostlind said notification was not required under Chapter 42 because the lots had never been restricted to single-family use – even though Sovereign and his neighbors were under the impression the lots were in the process of being restricted as such. Ostlind said the general public was notified through the planning commission’s bi-weekly plat report, although community members were not given the opportunity to speak about the issue before the commission. The re-plat was scheduled to be considered during a meeting on March 19, 2020, Ostlind said, but it was cancelled because of the local onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ostlind said state law requires the planning commission to take action on all plat applications within 30 days of their submittal, so the commission ended up approving all applications on the March 19, 2020 agenda, subject to staff comments. She also said the commission received two emails in opposition of the re-plat that were kept on file – from Sovereign and Williamson. “There’s a difference in the right thing to do versus the legal thing to

Masks from P. 1A

WOMH from P. 1A days and in 2018 settled a lawsuit by agreeing to install sound-monitoring equipment, cap its number of outdoor concerts and limit the number and length of shows on school nights, according to the Houston Chronicle. So also said as the hall has gained popularity, it’s been a catalyst for commercial and residential development in its area. “For many attendees, their visit to White Oak Music Hall is the first time they’ve ever been to the Near Northside; they get to see how much the area is growing,” So said. “This can involve some growing pains, but in the long run, it helps build the vibrancy and diversity of a community.”

Within 1,000 feet of WOMH, Oui Eats is developing a food hall, Marquette is building a 200-plus unit apartment complex, Black Page Brewing is developing a micro-brewery, and a Holiday Inn Express is under construction. As for the next five years, So said that if WOMH is able to keep the same momentum it had in its first five, he’d be happy. “But we think the area and White Oak Music Hall will become more of a destination hub, with the food hall and brewery opening,” So said. “So we are excited for fans to have a multitude of options to enjoy before and after shows as well.”

his executive order in Bexar and Travis counties. The governor ordered in May that no local government entity, including public school districts, could require masks on their premises. Abbott’s press office did not respond to a request for comment. The governor indicated on Twitter last week he would not reverse course on his order regarding masks. “The time for government mask mandates is over – now is the time for personal responsibility,” Abbott tweeted. “In May, I signed an executive order prohibiting mask mandates by (government) entities. Every Texan has the right to choose whether they will wear a mask or have their children wear masks.” The latest guidance from the Cen-

ters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a federal government entity, recommends “universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status.” House said he “labored over” his planned proposal for a week or so as he monitored local COVID case data. Hidalgo said Aug. 5 that the county’s positivity rate for COVID tests had tripled from about 5 percent to 15 during the previous three weeks. Dr. David Persse, the health authority for the City of Houston, said Aug. 5 that COVID-related hospitalizations in the Texas Medical Center had increased by about 500 percent compared to a month earlier. He also said the level of COVID

measured in the city’s wastewater in late July was at its greatest concentration since the city began measuring it last summer, indicating that cases will increase over the next few weeks. As of Wednesday, according to Harris County Public Health data, there have been more than 211,000 cases of COVID among city residents, including more than 13,000 active cases. The disease has caused at least 2,969 deaths, with 194,965 patients having recovered. “We know we’re going to get pushback for this. We know that people will be angry. Some will be happy,” House said. “We’re not going to be able to please everyone. What we have to understand is, if we have an opportunity to save one life, it’s what we should be doing.”

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The Leader • Saturday, August 14, 2021 • Page 7A

Art Valet: Outdoor markets lift spirits, occasionally cars Mitch Cohen Art Columnist

A suggested topic for this column that I get often is to write about all the things that go into putting on the art markets. As I’m thinking about it, all I can come up with is … how boring is that? If I write about to-do lists, shopping, building web pages, spreadsheets and database nonsense, I will surely just put you, dear readers, right to sleep. Getting prepared for an outdoor market is not complicated, it just takes planning. I like to plan backwards - from what I envision as the end result first, back to the beginning. The big challenge is dealing with the unexpected. That’s when it dawned on me, nothing is that cut and dried. There’s always a wrench thrown into those carefully laid plans. Murphy’s Law, right? The one thing I could write

about that may not put you to sleep is the unexpected challenge. With an outdoor, public event, anything can happen. About 10 years ago we were setting up at a bank parking lot for White Linen Night. One car owner never returned to claim their car. I never thought I would do this, but we got enough people to surround that small car, pick it up and turn it so that it was no longer a problem. Upon returning to retrieve his car, I heard the owner was very surprised and embarrassed! Another time, the car left behind was too big to move and until we found out why it was there, just a bit on the intimidating side. It was emblazoned with Houston Police Department colors and logos and except for the bullet holes that riddled most of it, it looked very much like the real deal. It turned out to be nonoperational decoy to prevent break-ins that got left behind for the weekend. The artists displayed artwork and business cards on it for the day. Obstacles are generally easy to work around. People,

ever seen slam the woman in the face. In the minutes it took them to pack up and skedaddle (I love that word), the rain stopped and we had a great market! A fun story to end this on a high note that happened recently on 19th Street: About 10-15 motorcycles rumbled up to the front of the market and began parking on the curb. I stood nearby watching, not sure what to think. As the black-clad riders removed their helmets, I recognized almost all of them as regulars to the market and even a couple of artists that attended in the past. I love outdoor markets! Swing by The Market at Sawyer Yards from 6-10 p.m. Saturday at 1502 Sawyer St., and ask me for more stories! If you drive a motorcycle, just create your own parking space.

Photo credit @fitlow The Market at Sawyer Yards at Night is an outdoor market ready for patrons in the local neighborhood.

on the other hand, can pose a different kind of challenge. Groups in particular are challenging. This is where my nonconfrontational nature really gets tested. Political groups feel they are entitled to hand out flyers, take surveys, register voters and promote their candidates

at outdoor events. Most call ahead and that’s the end of it. One rather overbearing group whose persuasive nature is not very popular in this country, took the initiative and set up a table, tent and proceeded to work the crowd. I only realized this when I was approached by one of the

group members. I recall standing in the middle of the parking lot, many eyes on us, as I explained louder than normal that they weren’t welcome and had to leave. I was taken aback by their “right to be there” when a clap of thunder was followed by the biggest rain drops I’ve

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: William Price Distillery blends whiskey with charm in Garden Oaks By Stefan Modrich smodrich@mcelvypartners.com

Mark Twain once quipped that “too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough.” I can only speculate about whether or not Mr. Twain would have frequented a place like William Price Distillery, 970 Wakefield Dr. if he were around today. But I can confirm that the variety of drinks you’ll find there are worth sipping and savoring. My first choice was the bartender’s recommendation, a Boxing Julep ($12) with William Price’s blend of straight rye whiskey garnished with apricot, peach, mint and turbinado cane sugar. This particular blend, the WP 101, was distilled in Indiana. William Price describes it as a “balanced aroma of sweet fruit and floral rye will give way to a caramel, vanilla, fruit forward body, with a finish of bold spice.” If you like a classic julep, you’ll love the Boxing Julep. I thought the apricot and peach flavors helped draw out the sweet and spicy flavors of the whiskey and made for a punchy and delicious drink. The Gold Rush ($9) features William

Price’s house-made rye whiskey and chamomile, honey and lemon. It’s the perfect refresher to wind down after a long week, sitting outside on the patio with friends as the sun sets on the dog days of summer. Another popular cocktail on offer is the Saturn Redux ($12) made with Polish potato vodka that is infused with herbs and mixed with passionfruit, spearmint tea, lemon and orgeat — a sweet syrup composed of almonds, sugar and rose water or orange flower water. You can also buy whiskey ($49.99) and vodka ($22.99) by the bottle. William Price’s coffee liqueur is also for sale and goes for $28.99 per bottle. If you’re looking for food, the best you can do from the bar is hot or Korean BBQ jerky ($3) or herb or curry peanuts ($3), but a food truck across the street offered up gumbo to passersby. Starting at 6 p.m. Thursdays, Umbrella Fellas serves up gourmet burgers and hot dogs. Hook & Butcher’s steak night runs from 6 p.m. until sold out on Fridays. William Price Distillery Address: 970 Wakefield Dr. Dining Options: Dine-in, pickup

Photo by Stefan Modrich The Gold Rush ($9) from William Price Distillery, 970 Wakefield Dr. in Garden Oaks is a refreshing blend of whiskey, honey, lemon, and chamomile.

Hours: 4-10 p.m. Thursday-Friday, 2-10 p.m. Saturday-Sunday Entrée prices: $9-$21 Kid-friendly: No Senior discount: No Alcohol: Yes Healthy options: None Star of the show: Gold Rush

Photo by Stefan Modrich The Boxing Julep ($12) from William Price Distillery, 970 Wakefield Dr. in Garden Oaks features whiskey, apricot, and peach.

Turnout at Railway Heights Market soft opening boosted by social media, word of mouth

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By Stefan Modrich smodrich@mcelvypartners.com

A food hall serving the Timbergrove area began the first phase of its soft opening Aug. 4, drawing locals as well as people from as far away as Baytown or Pearland. Visitors to Railway Heights Market, 8200 Washington Ave. Suite #100, said Aug. 5 they learned about the venue through social media platforms. Anh Mai, a partner from Company of Nomads, which operates the market, said people began to show up an hour before the doors opened at the soft opening. A group of friends and Heights residents who came to the market together said they were impressed with the selection of international cuisine, and ventured outside their comfort zone to try new dishes. “It’s something different,” Dida Gonzalez said. “We needed it in the area.” Jose Longoria said he was invited by his sisterin-law and her friends, who discovered Railway Heights through TikTok. Gonzalez said the group also tried Indian food from Samosa Haus and Polish dumplings from Pierogi Queen. “We were going to (The Greedy Chicken) for wings because that’s what we’re used to,” Gonzalez said. “But we wanted to expand our taste buds. So we tried the samosas and they were really good.” Selina Serna said she enjoyed the aguas frescas from Churrazon, which were a refreshing way to cool down

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Photo by Stefan Modrich Visitors peruse Railway Heights Market last Thursday. The venue, at 8200 Washington Ave. Suite #100, had its soft opening last Wednesday and drew visitors from across the Houston area.

from the stifling weather outside. “Whenever it’s hot in Houston, we’ll just come for some drinks,” Serna said. Stephanie Garcia, who said she lives 30 minutes away from Railway Heights, said she appreciated the openness of the food hall and the abundance of dining room and patio space. She said she tagged along with a friend and her child. “It’s nice, there’s not too many people,” Garcia said. “I would come back.”

She was seated at a barstool and tabletop in the center of the hall, lined with food stands and boutique shops like PopSoap, a vegan soap and bath vendor, and The Pink Swan Shop, a women’s clothing store. Garcia said she was enjoying a bowl of pho from Drunken Pho, one of the most popular destinations in the food hall during the first week of Railway Heights’ opening. “We had a very good reception,” said Nelly Dang,

who runs Drunken Pho with her husband, Loan Dang. “We did better than we thought we would.” The market is operating on a limited basis and is closed on Monday and Tuesday. It is open from 4-9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 4-10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday. Follow us on social media @FromTheLeader

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Nibbles & Sips: Commune scaled back due to rise in COVID cases By Stefan Modrich smodrich@mcelvypartners.com

Commune, a project of Indie Chefs originally scheduled to be a two-week long “anti-food festival event” has been scaled back to three days due to concerns over rising COVID-19 cases in the Houston region, according to a news release from Hunter Smith of Fox Glove Communications. “Given our values and those of our community, we can’t, in good faith, ask hundreds of chefs and thousands of you to get in cars and on planes in a month’s time,” Smith wrote in a news release. “While we can’t predict where we will be by then as a state or even as a country, we know that we are unwilling to gamble with anyone’s health.” The event, now called “Commune Preview,” will run from Aug. 26-29 at Heights House Hotel, 100 W. Cavalcade St., and be entirely outdoors while featuring two dozen chefs instead of the planned 200, according to the news release. Indie Chefs plans to do Commune as the group originally intended in March 2022. Those who already purchased tickets have first right of refusal to keep them for Commune Preview, to hold their ticket for the full-length

Contributed photo Marcos Leal has been tabbed as the chef de cuisine at Loro Asian Smokehouse, which plans to open this fall in the Heights.

Commune event in 2022 or to receive a refund. A limited number of spots are available online for Commune Preview, where all events will be held in a 7,500-square foot outdoor space. Limited and spaced seating will be available and local health guidelines will be observed, according to the news release. Loro taps Leal as chef de cuisine in Heights Loro Asian Smokehouse & Bar, coming this fall to 1001 W. 11th St., has named Marcos Leal its chef de cuisine. Leal was born in Monterrey, Mexico, but moved to Houston as a child. He received a culinary arts de-

gree from the Art Institute of Houston. He eventually landed the lead cook position at the Wolfgang Puck Express in Houston, and then became the executive sous chef at the renowned Hotel Galvez in Galveston. Leal also spent time working at Jasper’s in The Woodlands and smoked meats with David Welch of FireCraft BBQ. Leal was also the executive chef at Topgolf in Katy. Loro was founded in 2018 by Aaron Franklin and Tyson Cole, and also has locations in Austin and Dallas. “Joining the team as Chef de Cuisine at Loro Heights represents the culmination

Graze is bringing handcfrafted charcuterie boards to 1135 E. 11th St. in the Heights.

of my culinary journey,” Leal said. “I am excited to build a team from the ground up and to come back to Houston, the city I consider my hometown.” Graze brings custom charcuterie boards to Heights Graze, a handcrafted charcuterie and cheese board purveyor, is opening a store at 1135 E. 11th St., owner Alyssa Case announced. Case, a Heights resident, founded Graze in 2019. Her service will operate in its current delivery-only mode until the store opens, which

she said she hopes will be late September or early October. Boards range from $75 for the “junior” size, which serves 4-6 people, to “Texas,” which serves 25-30 people for $375. Orders can be placed online at https://grazehtx. com/. Eight Row Flint offers whiskey lockers program to customers A Heights bar has a new program aimed at whiskey and bourbon lovers. Eight Row Flint, 1039 Yale

Contributed photo

St., made its whiskey lockers available for rent to customers in late June for $75 per month. Locker-holders will be able to purchase bottles selected by Morgan Weber, owner of Eight Row Flint. The selections will include specialty whiskeys such as Buffalo Trace, Russell’s Reserve, Sazerac Rye, Weller Full Proof and Whistlepig. Eight Row Flint began with 48 personal lockers and now has 30 available as of last Friday, according to the bar’s general manager, Christina Ramey.

HHA meeting becomes animal kingdom By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

People were not the only participants in the Houston Heights Association’s first in-person monthly meeting in more than a year. Animals got in on the action as well. The nonprofit civic organization held a Monday night meeting at the historic Heights Fire Station, 107 W. 12th St., where the theme was “Those Amazing Animals.” Representatives from Friends For Life Animal Shelter, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Wildlife Rehabilitation Coalition were among the speakers for the event, with the children in attendance getting up-close looks at Friends 4 Life’s ambassador dog as well an opossum, screech owl and snake. The Houston Heights Association (HHA) had been holding virtual monthly meetings since the local onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. Monday marked the return of in-person meetings, which are family-friendly, open to members of the neighborhood and planned for 6:30 p.m. on the second Monday of every month. “We had so many people come, and all the speakers were so happy,” said Angela DeWree, an HHA volunteer who organized the meeting. The meeting started with 30 minutes of a meet-andgreet with adult- and kidfriendly refreshments, followed by welcome addresses from HHA president Sharon Dearman and executive director Emily Guyre. In ad-

dition to Kelly Norrid of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Mary Warwick of the Texas Wildlife Rehabilitation Coalition – who spoke about wild animals that live in the Heights and surrounding communities – speakers also included author and comedian Dylan Powell, who sold copies of his book, “Houston Culture Shock.” DeWree said Houston City Council members Sallie Alcorn and David Robinson, along with a representative of council member Abbie Kamin’s office, also were in attendance. Jeffrey R. Henningsen of JBH Catering & Event Planning was there as well, donating prepacked cookies as well as dog treats. DeWree said Friends For Life, an animal shelter located at 107 E. 22nd St., spoke about a new initiative in which it provides assistance to pet owners in need so they can continue to care

Photo by Rich Anhorn A screech owl was among the animal attractions at the Houston Heights Association meeting on Monday.

In Memorium Photo by Rich Anhorn Local kids pet a snake during the Houston Heights Association’s monthly meeting Monday at the Heights Fire Station, 107 W. 12th St.

for their animals. “They support those owners with food or medical treatment through their clinic so animals can stay with the people that they love,”

Fuller

DeWree said. “To me that was so powerful.” For more information on the HHA and its monthly meetings, visit houstonheights.org.

Louis Harold Fuller, youngest son of Rufus and Laura Fuller, born on February 16, 1931 in Hempstead, Texas. Longtime resident of Candlelight EstatesOak Forest of 56 years. He celebrated his 90th birthday surrounded by family and friends.

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He is preceded in death by his wife of 67 years J’net, and his only son, Louis Harold Fuller, Jr., his 3 siblings, William (“Bill”), Lucy and

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Lillian. He leaves behind his daughters: Diana, Peggy, Laura and Jana, their spouses: Larry Evans, Richard Ruffin, Rick Utley and Ricky Froehlich, daughter-inlaw Cheryl Fuller; 14 grand children, 23 great grandchildren plus one on the way, two great great grandchildren, plus numerous n i e c e s, n e p h e w s, cousins and friends. On July 31, 2021, Harold passed away peacefully surrounded by his daughters while they prayed over him, sang hymns and told him how very much he was loved and will be missed. He also received several calls from grand children and niece giving him words of love and gratitude for the amazing example he was and the beautiful legacy he leaves behind.

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onald Lee, a resident of Garden Oaks for 55 years, joined his Heavenly Father in Heaven Tuesday, August 3, 2021, 10 years after his diagnosis of Dementia. A visitation will be held Sunday, August 15, 2021, at Woodlawn Funeral Home from 6-8 pm. The Celebration of his Life will be Monday, August 16, in the Worship Center of Houston’s First Baptist at 1pm. He made a great impact on this community and the entire city of Houston as he served as Sr. Vice President at Reagan Bank in the Heights and as President of Northwest Bank & Trust. In 1983 he founded & served as President & Chief Executive Officer of First Northwestern Bank at HW 290 and 43rd. In 1997 it was sold to Prime Bank where he served as Regional President. He led the group that eventually sold to Wells Fargo where he continued in

Ronald E. Lee

the same capacity until his retirement. Mr Lee was also a key founder of Northwest Academy, a private Christian School that went on to become Houston Christian High School. His volunteer work as coach, counselor, teacher and fundraiser for such causes as area Christian radio stations and as Chairman of the Sustaining Fund of Houston Baptist University have all been crowned with

unprecedented success. He coached many little league teams that his son, Russell, played on at Oaks Dads Club. He also served as President and later Lieutenant Governor of the Brookhollow Optimist Club. In later years he could always be found on Wednesdays and Saturdays at the Spring Branch Faith Mission Center & Food Pantry of Houston’s First Baptist Church, giving out the good news of Jesus Christ as well as food, clothing and meeting other needs. Ron and his wife, Betty, built their forever home on Chantilly Lane in 1965, where they lived and raised their three children, Terry Lee (Miller), Debbie Lee (Driver), and Russell Lee. The children all graduated from Waltrip and NW Academy, respectively. Ron Lee continued living on Chantilly until moving to a Senior Facility close by in 2018.

The Leader • Saturday, August 14, 2021 • Page 1B

Former nursing home to be repurposed

Preferred Health

By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com

There is a coming soon sign at the former site of the Brookhollow Heights Transitional Care Center, 1737 N. Loop W., #200. The Scottsdale, Arizonabased Healthcare Trust of America is the owner of the 103,821-square foot property which housed the 56,512-square foot convalescent hospital. The property is adjacent to Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital. The sign promoting the medical office building says the development is in the pre-leasing stage. According to its website, HTA is the largest dedicated owner and operator of medical office property in the country. HTA says it invests in critical medical properties located both on and around hospital campuses and in “attractive core community locations where providers are competing for patients.” Their portfolio totals more than 25.6 million square feet, and the company focuses on select markets that are growing faster than the U.S. overall, and where it can build scale to efficiently service its properties. Recent acquisitions in Texas include the 49,000-square foot Wylie Medical Plaza in Dallas, with Baylor Scott & White Health as a key tenant, and the 80,000-square foot El Paso Portfolio, which houses the El Paso Healthcare System and The Hospitals of Providence. The company lists the investments in these properties at $17.9 mil-

DIRECTORY Chiropractic Care

NORTHWEST CHIROPRACTIC George G. Junkin, D.C. D.A.C.B.N. Nutritionist 11500 NW Frwy - Suite 201 Houston, Texas 77092 Tel: 713-686-0828 www.drjunkin.com Photo by Jonathan McElvy The property at 1737 N. Loop W. #200, the site of a former nursing home, is being developed into a medical office building by Healthcare Trust of America.

lion and $19 million, respectively. An 80,000-square foot HTA Houston property acquired in 2019 is called Gemini I & II and lists Clear Lake Medical Group, an affiliate of HCA Houston Healthcare, as a key tenant. There is no word yet on any relationship between the planned medical office building on the west loop and Memorial Hermann Greater Heights. The Harris County Appraisal District valued the total property for $3,214,896 this year. The purchase price has not Contributed photo been disclosed. A former nursing home at 1737 N. Loop W. #200 was recently demolished to

By Betsy Denson Dr. Michael Chang, a pediatric infectious disease specialist with UTHealth and Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, said he understands why people have questions about masks. With the constantly changing face of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a huge learning curve for the scientific community. “The public is sometimes learning things at the same time as the scientists,” Chang said. Chang agrees with the recommendation of The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), among other scientific entities, that people older than age 2 should mask indoors, at least for now. “As a parent and as a physician, I believe masks are an intervention that works,” he said. “(They) minimize your risk of getting sick and they are relatively low cost.” The mask, he says, is simply a barrier or a fence to the germs resulting from a virus or bacteria that multiply when you are sick and get a foothold in your nose, throat, mouth and lungs. The germs hitch a ride on the droplets or secretions that an infected person emits when they talk, cough or sneeze. Wearing a mask can prevent those droplets from getting in the mouth or nose of others around you, along with preventing the droplets of others from

Dr. Jaclyn Harrison Heights Health Tower 1900 North Loop West Suite 580 713-714-5376 www.whiteoakmedicalassociates.com Obstetrics / Gynecology

make room for new construction.

Local doctor discusses science behind masks betsy@theleadernews.com

Internal Medicine

getting in yours. Chang said the proper way to wear a mask – either surgical or cloth – is for it to fully cover the nose and mouth with the edges having a decent fit against your face. Touching the outside of the mask to adjust it is something that reduces the effectiveness of blocking infected droplets, but Chang maintains that even improper mask wearing is better than no maskwearing at all. “Even if it’s less effective, minimizing the risk is worthwhile,” he said, citing the long-term effects of COVID he is seeing in some patients and the increased rate of infection of the Delta variant, which has led to the current surge in cases and hospitalizations. He said that while last spring pediatric patients were diagnosed with COVID after coming to the hospital for an unrelated issue, like a surgery, the current patients are coming in because of their COVID symptoms, namely respiratory issues. Chang asserts that younger children are capable of getting maskwearing right, more often than not. “Sometimes I think we underestimate the adaptability of kids,” he said. “They see (correct mask-wearing) modeled correctly by teachers and parents and other students.” Chang said he has a new perspective on masks after seeing the decrease in other infections this winter, a byproduct of much of the country masking up. “We had historically low rates of flu

Contributed photo Dr. Michael Chang is a pediatric infectious disease specialist with UTHealth and Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital.

and RSV and a decrease in strep and bacterial pneumonia,” he said. He said that what doctors, including himself, have learned since last spring is just how effective masks have been in slowing COVID infections. They have a much better success rate this go-round with COVID than in previous studies of mask-wearing during past outbreaks of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and some of the earlier occurrences of Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Chang said. There are about 40 peer-reviewed studies so far about the effectiveness of masks to prevent COVID infections. A February 2021 article in the

Journal of the American Medical Association, which reviewed data from 10 previous studies, concluded that wearing a cloth mask can reduce transmission of exhaled droplets from infected wearers into the air by around 50-70 percent. And a study published by JAMA Internal Medicine in December 2020 said consumer-grade masks can offer protection that’s almost the exact same or even better than non-N95 medical masks that professionals use. Most famously, a July 2020 CDC report outlined the case of 139 clients exposed to two symptomatic hairstylists with confirmed COVID-19 while both the stylists and the clients wore face masks. No symptomatic secondary cases were reported. Chang said perhaps the reason why masks are working well this time around is because so many more people are wearing them, either by choice or by mandate, and they’re wearing them correctly. “As we get more information and data, we have more insight (about how masks work), he said. That doesn’t mean that masks for the general public will be a recommendation forever. “Things change,” he said. “In six months, we may not need masks. The biggest flaw in the messaging is not conveying the uncertainty well enough. Science is happening in real time.”

DR. STEPHANIE FULTON Stephanie Fulton, M.D. 1740 W. 27 St. Suite 301 Houston, TX 77008 713-880-2727 www.fultonobgyn.com Major Hospitals

Memorial Hermann Greater Heights 1635 North Loop West Houston, Texas 77008 Tel: 713-867-2000 memorialhermann.org Physician Referral 713.222.CARE

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Regional leaders sound alarm amid surge in COVID cases By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner pleaded with residents to get vaccinated during a joint news conference Aug. 5, when they discussed a surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations and warned the region’s healthcare system could soon be overwhelmed. Turner said he even was prepared to defy executive orders by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who is not allowing local governments and public school districts to require masks or issue stay-at-home orders as means of mitigating the spread of a virus that already has caused nearly 3,000 deaths among city residents since the local onset of the pandemic in March 2020. Hidalgo raised the county’s COVID threat level to red, its highest level, which indicates a “severe and uncontrolled” level of transmission and that public health capacity is strained or exceeded. She asked the roughly one-third of the county population that is not vaccinated to seek out the shot and otherwise stay away from the general public, and she also recommended mask-wearing in public for all residents of the region.

“Be more scared of this virus than the vaccine,” Turner said. “Because this virus is no joke.” There has been a rise in COVID cases in the region during the last few weeks, according to Harris County Public Health data, with about 3,700 new cases reported on Aug. 4. One month earlier, there were 82 new cases reported reported in the county. In the six zip codes served by The Leader -- 77007, 77008, 77009, 77018, 77091 and 77092 -- there were 1,394 active cases as of Wednesday, an increase of nearly 400 compared to six days earlier. There were at least 200 active cases in five of those zip codes. According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau and Texas Department of State Health Services, the six local zip codes have an estimated total population of 205,559, with about 55 percent of those residents having been fully vaccinated. Countywide, about 46 percent of the population has been fully vaccinated, according to Harris County Public Health data. Hidalgo said the positivity rate for COVID tests in the county had tripled during a period of three weeks, going from 5 percent to 15. And Dr. David Persse, the health

authority for the city, said the Houston area’s “healthcare system right now is almost at a breaking point.” Data from the SouthEast

Texas Regional Advisory Council, which monitors hospital trends in the region, shows there were 1,580 COVID patients in Harris County

hospitals as of Tuesday. Every day between May 16 and July 16, the county’s hospitals had fewer than 500 COVID patients.

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Photo from Twitter Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, at podium, speaks during a joint news conference Aug. 5 with Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, right. Both elected officials encouraged residents of the region to receive COVID vaccinations amidst a recent surge in cases and hospitalizations.

Local Vaccination Rates Below is a zip code-by-zip code breakdown of COVID-19 vaccination rates in the area served by The Leader, with estimated 2019 populations from the U.S. Census Bureau and the number of fully vaccinated residents from the Texas Department of State Health Services. Zip Code 77007 77008 77009 77018 77091 77092 Total

Vaccinated 28,833 25,012 19,560 14,502 9,635 15,495 113,037

Population 40,080 34,895 36,147 28,229 27,750 38,458 205,559

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Page 2B • Saturday, August 14, 2021 • The Leader

Just a spoonful of spices enhances well-being By Shana Tatum RD, LD www.shanatatumrd.com

Spices enhance health and well-being both through their direct impact on specific health outcomes but also in the role they play to promote healthy eating. With COVID-19 influencing families to cook more at home, spices are taking a prominent role for home cooks. Spices have been studied for their role in preventing atherosclerosis, or the plaque formation in arteries that contributes to cardiovascular disease, as well as for cholesterol, anti-clotting factors, blood pressure regulation, cancer and cognitive decline. Beyond all the modern-day scientific evidence of their health benefits, cultures across the globe have known the value of these plants and created culinary traditions with them for over 3,000 years . Here’s a few to draw your attention to today that are likely already in your cupboard: Oregano and marjoram: These are spices we often find seasonally in autumn to late spring. They have medium to

Tatum

heavy flavors. Both oregano and its cousin marjoram are from the mint family and are usually thought of as ingredients in Greek, Italian and French cuisine. Fresh and dried leaves of oregano can be added to soups, stews, sauces, eggs, olives, many tomato-based dishes, chili and pizza. The flowers have a flavor similar to the leaves and can be a flavorful and decorative addition to vegetables, salads and other foods. Sweet marjoram has a mild, sweet flavor that goes well with mushrooms, car-

rots, cauliflower and spinach. It was found in one study by the Journal of Food Protection to have the highest inhibition against bacteria such as Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. For patients in need of antimicrobial treatments, oregano is often used. Combinations to consider: Combinations to consider: • Oregano, basil, and tomato • Oregano, lemon juice and marjoram Cinnamon: We often think of this spice as an autumn or winter flavor. It offers a function for heating and is best added to foods early in the cooking process. Its taste is sweet, bitter and pungent at the same time. From Ceylon to cassiva this spice is wellknown. However, did you know cinnamon has been used to help patients with Type 2 diabetes? It has properties shown to have a modest effect by lowering blood glucose levels as well as decreasing serum triglycerides. A study from Diabetes Care used higher doses of cinnamon than we may use

daily, but it offered a glimpse into some potential benefits to even a dash of it in your morning coffee. This is often recommended to my patients with blood sugar concerns and those with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Combinations to consider: - Cinnamon, almonds and raisins - Cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, coriander and black pepper - Cinnamon, cardamom and rice - Cinnamon, cloves, mace and nutmeg Ginger: This rhizome sends out plant stems below ground and offers year-round flavor. Tastes move from sour to hot. Often found in recipes that are baked or stir fried, ginger offers more than just great flavor. It has been found in recipes as far back as 7,000 years ago in Southeast Asia. A few slices of ginger contain small amounts of minerals like manganese, copper, potassium, magnesium and vitamins such as vitamin B6 and vitamin C as well as fiber. It has been studied for pain, nausea, anti-inflammatory effects and anti-carcinogenic

properties. Due to its effect in the gastrointestinal tract, patients often are recommended ginger as a pro-motility agent, helping to speed up transit in the bowels. Combinations to consider: - Ginger, carrot, celery and garlic - Ginger, chile peppers and garlic - Ginger, chocolate, cream and rum - Ginger, lemon and mint Turmeric: It is also a yearround root flavor that is part of the ginger family. It has flavors of bittersweet and pungent. It acts as a heating spice and has a light to medium flavor. It is native to India and the roots and leaves are both edible. Curcumin is one of the wellstudied phenols that is the yellow-colored component of turmeric. It is a powerful antioxidant that has research to show benefits for neuroprotection, cholesterol regulation and even anti-tumor effects. It works so well in the inflammatory cascade that in one study in the International Journal of Biochemical Cell Biology it outperformed NSAIDs (Non Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs). You have likely heard

its name on the “superfoods” list. Consuming black pepper or ginger along with turmeric can increase the absorption of curcumin. Because it is fat soluble, taken with fats or oils can also increase its bioavailability. Combinations to consider: - Turmeric, cilantro, cumin, garlic, onion, paprika, parsley and pepper - Turmeric, coriander and cumin Spice up your Saturday Spend a Saturday morning exploring all the spice booths at the Houston Farmers Market on Airline Drive. It’s a feast for the eyes to imagine all the flavors these vendors share. Or stop off at Penzey’s on 19th Street. They have wonderful blends to choose from and all the staff is helpful and knowledgeable. You can get on their newsletter and receive recipes and flavor highlights each month. Online spice shopping is also a great way to expand your palate. Try FronteirCoop. com or thespicehouse.com. Both have a long history of providing well-sourced spices, which is important to know!

Women’s Health Directory Directory of Local Female Health Service Professionals Dr. Stephanie Fulton Dr. Fulton is certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Her practice consists of obstetrics, gynecology, and cosmetic procedures such as laser hair removal. She is a graduate of the University of Texas and completed residency at St. Vincent’s Medical Center where she was a Chief Resident. Dr. Fulton volunteers as part of the health team ministry of her church. 1740 W. 27 St. Suite 301 • Houston, TX 77008 713-880-2727 www.fultonobgyn.com

Dr. Becky J. Fredrickson Board Certified Ophthalmologist. Dr. Fredrickson has been practicing ophthalmology for over 12 years. She routinely sees patients for diabetes, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and ocular infections. She specializes in surgical procedures including cataract, eyelid lifts, eyelid cysts, Botox and Juvederm, and pterygia.

1415 North Loop, Suite 400 Houston, TX 77008 713-668-6828 • www.houstoneye.com

Dr. Jaclyn Harrison, M.D. Board Certified Internal Medicine Dr. Jaclyn Harrison, a board certified internal medicine physician, has opened a new primary care/internal medicine practice, White Oak Medical Associates in the Heights. She believes patients deserve their doctor’s focused attention, personalized care, and is devoted to compassionate, effective treatment for her patients. 1900 North Loop W, Suite 580 • Houston, TX 77018 713-714-5376 Whiteoakmedicalassociates.com

The Leader • Saturday, August 14, 2021 • Page 3B

Spot these signs Harris County approves of heat exhaustion small business relief fund to protect your dog By Landan Kuhlmann

Fund, which was created with funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). “Small businesses generate jobs and provide needed products and services in our community,” Precinct 4 County Commissioner Jack Cagle said. “The new small business recovery fund will not only strengthen small businesses but our neighborhoods as well.” The county said many small business owners in the county were forced to close, while others enacted layoffs and reduced their hours of operation. Funds from the $30 million fund will be distributed by LiftFund. The nonprofit community development financial institution

landan@theleadernews.com

Call your vet immediately because, if you’re seeing this reaction from your dog, he might be in serious trouble.

Here are some signs your dog might be suffering from heatstroke:

Dear Tabby, Now that it’s mid-August and really getting hot, I’m worried about our dogs overheating while on walks or at the dog park. We have long haired dogs, so I know that they get really hot in the summer. What are some signs to watch out for to keep them from getting overheated? Overheated in The Heights Dear Overheated, So far, we’ve had a rainy summer and lots of clouds that have kept the temperatures down. However, now that it’s August, this is traditionally the time of the year when the heat really cranks up in Houston. I’m sure you know that dogs should be kept indoors when possible, or--at the very least--given access to ample shade and lots of water to drink, if kept outdoors during the summer in Houston. Heatstroke can kill a dog quickly, but it’s also very preventable and has some tell-tale signs that allow for plenty of warning to help your dog.

Diarrhea

Rapid heart rate and excessive panting

Dogs who are overheated will often have diarrhea. If your dog is exhibiting some of the other signs of heat exhaustion, plus diarrhea, call your vet immediately. To keep your dog cool and healthy this summer, make sure he has cooling centers to keep him cool. This can be access to misters, a fan or a kiddie pool. You will also need to be diligent about keeping cool, clean, fresh water available to your dog to drink during the day. Also, if you can’t keep your dog in the house during the hottest parts of the day, please make sure he has shady places to hang out in your yard. Our pets are our best friends, so we have to make sure we treat them as such. August in Houston is not for the faint of heart and it’s during this time of the year that we need to take some extra precautions to keep our pets healthy--it’s the cool thing to do!

A fast heartbeat and excessive panting are a danger sign in dogs. You might also notice that your dog is dizzy. An increased heart rate is your dog’s heart’s effort to regulate internal temperatures and lots of panting is your dog’s body’s way of trying to regulate body temps.

Bright red gums Take a gander at your dog’s mouth. If his gums are bright red this could be a sign of heat exhaustion. Your dog’s mouth is his “cooling center,” and increased blood flow to the mouth and gums is your dog’s way of trying to regulate his body temperature.

Lethargy If your dog can’t seem to get up off the floor after a hot walk, or, even worse, collapses, take immediate action. Vets recommend cooling him off using cool, wet towels (never submerge him in an ice bath).

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

Pet of the Week Meet Hadley Hadley is a 7 year old male pointer-mix who is about as easy as they come. He is leash trained, crate trained, and knows all of his manners. Hadley would love an active family who could take him on walks and the occasional adventure but also let him cuddle after a long, fun day. Hadley is a loyal boy who is ready for a fresh start--could you help? To learn more, go to www.k9angelsrescue. org.

Small businesses in Houston and Harris County could soon have another avenue to further expedite economic recovery from effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. A Tuesday news release from County Judge Lina Hidalgo’s office said Harris County had approved a new $30 million relief fund to support micro and small businesses recovering from the economic effects of COVID-19. Qualified, eligible small business owners can receive grants starting at $5,000 and get as much as $25,000 from the Small Business Recovery

provides aid to small business owners across its 15-state footprint, the county said, including more than $6.1 million in funding for Harris County small business owners.” More information about applications and eligibility requirements will be forthcoming, the county said. Since the beginning of the pandemic in spring 2020, the county said it has provided micro and small businesses with $40 million in funding. “We stand with our small business owners in their fight to emerge from the pandemic,” Hidalgo said. “And this $30 million investment is a necessary boost.”

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Page 4B • Saturday, August 14, 2021 • The Leader

Local football players selected to Touchdown Club all-preseason team By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

With the start of the high school football season right around the corner, a few of the area’s top athletes have been honored as “players to watch” during the upcoming season. Five players from local football teams were selected to the Houston Touchdown Club’s UIL and private school all-preseason teams, and were set to be honored during ceremonies at the Bayou Event Center on Wednesday and Aug. 18, respectively. Thomas Green and Cameron Price of St. Thomas were among private-school honorees, as were St. Pius X seniors Carson Hintz and Logan Tanner. Heights High School quarterback Jalen Morrison was the lone public-school player selected from the area. Per UIL guidelines, area football teams were permitted to begin practices Aug.

2 and full-contact workouts Aug. 7. Interschool scrimmages can begin Aug. 19, and the regular season is set to kick off on Aug. 26-27. TAPPS schools, which include St. Thomas, SPX and Lutheran High North, were allowed to begin practice Aug. 2. Volleyball teams were allowed to begin practice Aug. 2 and could start regularseason matches on Monday, in both UIL and TAPPS. Price, a senior wide receiver, will be one of the leaders returning from an Eagles squad that went 7-3 last season before falling in the TAPPS state semifinals. He had 754 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns last season. Green, meanwhile, is one of the leaders on an offensive line that paved the way for 123 rushing yards per game in 2020. Tanner, a tight end who is committed to San Diego State, led SPX with 980 receiving yards and 12 touchdown catches last season

Photo by Landan Kuhlmann Jalen Morrison, right, will lead the Heights offense this season.

Photo from Twitter St. Thomas’ Cameron Price is the leading returning receiver for the Eagles in 2021.

during a 4-4 campaign for the Panthers. Hintz starred on the other side of the ball for the Panthers, leading the team with 85 tackles and an interception. Morrison is being recognized as he returns to lead a Heights offense that averaged nearly 41 points per game last season en route to

a 7-2 regular-season record, along with the program’s first district championship and playoff win since 2013. The senior signal caller, who holds a college offer from Eastern Kentucky, accounted for more than 1,800 total yards and 20 touchdowns during the 2020 campaign. Photo from Twitter SPX tight end/defensive end Logan Tanner runs upfield.

Girls on the Run preparing for upcoming season By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com

Girls on the Run Greater Houston (GOTR) a nonprofit dedicated to empowering girls in third through eighth grade by teaching them confidence and good decision-making through running, is coming upon its 20th season, starting Sept. 13. While GOTR has been primarily on elementary and middle school campuses, the organization pivoted in the spring because of the pandemic and created community sites, where teams of girls could meet and train at their local park. “Anyone in the community could come,” said Heather Foley, social media and community outreach manager for GOTR Greater Houston. “Girls from different schools could come together and be on the same team.” Before, the kids were limited to join the team that practiced at their school campus. As GOTR goes into its fall season, community teams will continue and the on-campus teams will begin meeting again. The season kicks off with a preseason event that will take place from 9-11 a.m. Sept. 11 at the Outreach Center of Houston, 725 Bateswood Dr., where coaches and participants can collect their materials for the season. The event will feature different booths to begin familiarizing girls with the

“Five Cs” of GOTR, which are confidence, character, caring, competence and connection. “Girls on the Run is meant to bring joy, confidence and good decision-making while training them to set a goal and meet the goal,” Foley said. “For Girls on the Run, that’s a 5K but we want the girls to able to translate that into any goal they might have in the future.” The eight-week season ends Nov. 16, when GOTR will end with a 5K run. Local sites include Oak Forest Elementary, 1401 W. 43rd St.; Jaycee Park, 1300 Seamist Dr.; Lawrence Park, 725 Lawrence St.; and Stude Park off Usener Street in the Heights. Parents can register their girls on a team online at gotrgreaterhouston.org any time before Sept. 13. GOTR provides scholarships and a sliding pay scale to those in need. “No girl is going to be turned away because of the inability to pay,” Foley said. The organization is also hosting its third annual Sneaker Soiree, which has been rescheduled three times since April 2020 due to the pandemic, from 6-10 p.m. Sept. 2 at The Westin Memorial City, 945 Gessner Rd. The soiree is GOTR’s biggest fundraising event where attendees dress fancy but wear sneakers. The event will have a live and silent auction, dinner and open bar and more.

Contributed photo Previous participants of Girls on the Run, an organization that helps build confidence in girls through running, form a human pyramid.

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