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Covering the Heights, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest & the neighborhoods of North Houston Saturday, March 31, 2018 • Vol. 63 • No. 11
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“This is my pet peeve here,” said Maltbie. “Kneel on something or maybe sit, but watch your posing! It’s not very flattering to squat amongst bluebonnets. There is even a website dedicated to it: poopingonbluebonnets.tumblr. com.” Leader readers said they had plenty of experience with Maltbie’s second suggestion. Stella Stevens said her niece swelled up after Stevens accidentally sat her in a patch of bluebonnets that had bull nettle. The picture is now family lore but a painful memory for certain. “It’s a plant that makes a burn like a jellyfish,” said Stevens.
A lawsuit that challenged the validity of the Garden Oaks Maintenance Organization has ended with a dull thud. Questions about what happens next are as loud as ever. In November 2017, the 14th District Court of Appeals confirmed that GOMO could not enforce its deed restrictions against Peter and Katherine Chang, homeowners who challenged GOMO’s legal standing. After being denied a rehearing before that same court, GOMO has now hired a law firm to handle bankruptFor perspective on cy proceedings where Garden Oaks that would allow can go next, see the homeowners’ Publisher Jonathan association to efMcElvy’s take fectively reorganize. At the same time, they have Page 4A nearly $600,000 sitting in a bank account and questions remain about where that money goes now. In 2012, GOMO filed suit against the Changs, seeking to stop an additional two-car garage they built. Not only did GOMO seek a permanent injunction, they also sought damages for every day the extra garage door was still standing. In the suit, GOMO claimed the deed restrictions did not allow more than a single two-car garage. A trial court disagreed, but not because of verbiage in the Garden Oaks deed restrictions. Instead, the trial court ruled that the Changs didn’t have to abide by those restrictions because GOMO was an “invalid” organization. Specifically, the court said the Changs proved that GOMO was not formed legally. Things got complex when the trial court’s
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A Place to Worship - Look to our Guide of local churches to celebrate this easter.
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The INDEX. Church....................................................... 7A Classifieds.............................................. 7B Coupons. ................................................. 5A Food/Drink/Art................................... 9A Obituaries.............................................. 7A Opinion. ................................................... 4A Public Information......................... 3A Puzzles...................................................... 4A Sports. ....................................................... 5B
GO suit ends with bankruptcy, questions
Photo by Bianca Williams Professional photographer Bianca Williams took this bluebonnet picture of her daughter in low light. Read on for tips about how to improve your own photos.
Bluebonnet pictures need planning By Betsy Denson For The Leader They’re blue, they’re blooming and people are attracted to them like a bee to honey. It is bluebonnet season and Houston’s bayous are peppered with people trying to take the perfect photo of the bluebonnets with their children, their dogs, or themselves. Professional photographer Jayne Maltbie has a few suggestions to get your best shot. Number one, mind the light— “Getting the best images are all about making the most of your lighting conditions,” said Maltbie. “If you can avoid photographing at high noon in full sun, please do!
Full sun results in harsh shadows, and often uneven exposures if not using any additional light sources. Wait until the sun is low, at sunset, or work on an overcast day to get a better photo. Otherwise, get under some shade if you can, or better yet, use a flash to fill in the dark shadows.” Number two, watch out for nature—“Bluebonnets are a great place for snakes and fire ants to hang out,” she said. “Pay attention to what is in the flowers before you settle down into them. Bring something to scare away the snakes in the area you plan on hunkering down in. Wear some protective foot covering, like boots, if you can.” Number three, don’t squat!—
Durham takes spring learning outside By Betsy Denson For The Leader After years of fundraising and planning, Durham Elementary will soon unveil an outdoor learning classroom, complete with electricity, whiteboards, tables and chairs. Principal Amy Poerschke said that when she arrived three years ago, plans were well underway for the classroom. A garden was added during her tenure, as well as a hand washing station. The outdoor classroom is the last component. “We’re in the home stretch,” she said. “All of the teachers are very excited.” First year Outdoor Garden PTA Chair Matt Baumgarten has been helping see the shelter through construction and says he’s been very impressed with the generosity and dedication of the Durham community in making the project happen. “When first started I was given a three
ring binder detailing the history of the shelter and garden,” said Baumgarten. “I quickly realized how hard the garden committee had worked to make this a reality and how many individuals donated time and personal resources over the last few years. We have also been fortunate to work with a quality local contractor, CTC, whose professionalism has been a great asset.” Similar to Durham’s physical education pavilion, the outdoor classroom will be covered. It is situated near the school’s gardens. Durham’s Spring Fling is on April 7, and the goal is to have the classroom as complete as it can be by then so parents and community members can view and appreciate it. PTA President Carrie Jaeger said that each Durham student has had the opportunity to attend an Urban Harvest class See Durham P. 11A
Contributed photo Work is underway on Durham’s outdoor classroom. It will be unveiled in early April.
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The public. The Leader • Saturday, March 31, 2018 • Page 2A
Post 560 honors Vietnam vets
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By Kim Hogstrom For The Leader American Legion Post 560 located at 3720 Alba Rd. has been a vital member of the community since 1946 and a list of its acts of generosity, is long. On Saturday, March 31, members of the post are doing it again by hosting their second annual “Vietnam Veterans Appreciation Day,” and everyone is invited. Activities start at noon and will last until, well, “Who knows?” states veteran Richard Voorhies. All Vietnam-area service men and women are encourage to attend this special event. Each will be honored in a moving ceremony. There will be no admission charge and all food and beverages for these heroes of American history will be supplied free, compliments of Post 560. Admission charge for the general public will be $10 and include food, beverages, entertainment and unrivaled camaraderie. The Master of Ceremonies for Vietnam Veterans Appreciation Day will be local
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Contributed photo American Legion Post 560’s Richard Voorhies and Charlie Powers will host the post’s Vietnam Veterans Appreciation Day March 31.
resident, Commander Charlie Powers, a veteran of the US Marine Corps and the War on Terror. Also, the American Legion’s 8th District is co-hosting the Vietnam Veterans Appreciation Day states District Commander and Post 560’s, First Vice-Commander Richard Voorhies. A natural leader, Voorhies served 14 months in Vietnam in 1968 and 1969.
Attendees will have the chance to get a close look at a Vietnam-era F-4 Phantom fighting jet on display there. Guests will also enjoy a DJ, and dancing. Weather permitting, the festivities will happen outside in the yard and the comfortable, covered patio. Don’t miss this opportunity to shake some brave men and womens’ hands, and to thank them for their service.
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Police Reports • March 19-22 MARCH 19
Arrest 2:17 PM 700-799 E 33RD Burglary 4:15 AM 2400-2499 N SHEPHERD Robbery 4:39 PM 2900-2999 N SHEPHERD Theft 2 PM 1600-1699 W T C JESTER Theft 3 PM 5500-5599 DARLING Burglary 9:30 PM 3100-3199 ELLA Theft 11 AM 300-399 PATTON Theft 5 PM 2100-2199 SHEARN Theft 5:45 PM 3200-3299 WHITE OAK
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Robbery 11:50 PM 100-199 N LOOP Theft 8:55 PM 1100-1199 ADELE Theft 3 PM 1200-1299 N DURHAM Burglary 6 AM 1000-1099 E 14TH Assault 1:10 PM 300-399 E
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The Leader • Saturday, March 31, 2018 • Page 3A
Former OFHA president named County Fire Marshal For The Leader
Earlier this week, Harris County Commissioner’s Court appointed Laurie L. Christensen as Harris County Fire Marshal. Christensen’s appointment is effective immediately. “I am honored to be appointed Harris County Fire Marshal and look forward to continuing to serve the residents of Harris County,” Christensen said. “Ensuring the safety of the community from any fire loss is my number one priority.” “Chief Christensen has decades of experience, not only in the fire service, but also law enforcement,” said Judge Ed Emmett. “She has been an integral part of the the Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office and Harris County government for many years, and we
Surgery and Medical Diseases of the Eye Photo courtesy of Harris County Fire Marshal New Harris County Fire Marshal Laurie Christensen with County Judge Ed Emmett. Christensen was named to the position earlier this week
are excited for her appointment and confirmation.” For more information and a complete bio, contact Rachel Moreno at (832) 509-7400 or at Rachel.Moreno@fmo.hctx. net.
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Heights H-E-B suffers permit setback, expected open in fall By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com Those anticipating completion of the Heights H-E-B will now have a slightly lengthier delay than originally planned according to the company. When the 92,000 squarefoot store set to border 23rd Street and North Shepherd Drive broke ground last October, it marked the end of a series of setbacks – among them Hurricane Harvey – for
the San Antonio-based grocer’s expansion efforts. The day of the groundbreaking, H-E-B Houston Scott McClelland said the current schedule slated the grocery giant’s Heights creation for an August 2018 grand opening. However, a company spokesperson told The Leader earlier this week that permitting issues have slightly delayed completion back to a late fall opening. As dates are subject to change based on various fac-
tors, the company declined to set a specific timetable for completion. Officials remain committed to bringing their vision to fruition in the Heights sooner rather than later “Nobody is more interested than me (in getting this thing started),” McClelland said in an interview last June. “The Heights is my dream store to get built. Good things come to those who wait, I promise.”
Picture from P. 1A Candice Croker had a similar experience with her daughter and an ant pile. Other readers had additional tips. “Just don’t stop on the side of I-10 like the people who slowed traffic for miles recently,” said Sarah Ordonez. Kirk Zihlman recommends plenty of allergy medicine
two hours prior and a cooperative baby. A cooperative baby might be a bit of a difficulty, just like the perfect photo of anything, but the attempt is fun just the same. Whatever you end up with, The Leader would love to see your bluebonnet photos.
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The Topics. The Leader • Saturday, March 31, 2018 • Page 4A
Garden Oaks has chance to fix itself now G arden Oaks, the vaunted neighborhood of stately homes, prodigious trees, desired schools and envied street addresses, needs to get its act together. For the past few years, a legal battle has brewed between neighbors. Last week, a board of homeowners, called the Garden Oaks Maintenance Organization, decided the battle should end. Now I get the feeling they may have surrendered to fight another war. Those of you who don’t live in Garden Oaks may not care one whit about this, but it would serve us all to understand the dynamics at play. These destructive issues lurch in all our associations. In 2012, Peter and Katherine Chang decided to add an extra garage to their home. Even though deed restrictions to the Garden Oaks neighborhood allowed for only a one- or two-car garage, the Changs wanted an additional two-car garage, effectively giving them a four-car garage. The board members of GOMO, responsible for enforcing the deed restrictions of the neighborhood (or so they thought) filed suit against the Changs. They sought a permanent injunction to the construction. By the letter of the neighborhood law, GOMO seemed to be in the right. The only problem, of course,
Jonathan McElvy Publisher
was they weren’t right. Actually, they weren’t consistent, which is just as bad as being wrong when you’re dealing with property rights. Just across the street from the Changs, another family had a threecar garage. No, it wasn’t four, but it wasn’t two, either, and if one family could break the restrictions, why couldn’t the Changs? Thousands of dollars in legal fees later and the Changs won their case, but not because a jury ruled that a four-car garage was OK. In the judge’s final opinion, he didn’t even say the deed restrictions were wrong. Instead, GOMO was taken down by a technicality. When they formed their organization in 2001, they skipped some paper work and missed a deadline. Even though GOMO “governed” the restrictions for 15 years, a single lawsuit rendered them powerless. Except it didn’t. They can still enforce the deed restrictions.
Now, let’s skip forward for fear of losing the smartest of you. Last week, GOMO officially announced it would drop any further options for appeal and seek out a bankruptcy judge to sort out the mess. Why a bankruptcy judge? Because GOMO has about $600,000 in its bank account, and you’ll remember that a trial and appellate court said the organization was invalid. Every dollar GOMO spends now could be challenged in court, and nobody wants that. To understand the stakes of this story, I spoke to nearly a dozen people earlier this week from every side of this issue imaginable, and it seems there are two options: Either the board disbands and lets a judge tell them how to disburse that money, or they try a legal maneuver that seeks a judge’s permission to reorganize, so they can continue operations as the gatekeeper of Garden Oaks. What I’ve learned is there are a lot of people that want GOMO to go away. First among those people is Peter Chang, who fought and won against the organization. There’s another group that wants GOMO to reform – the legal way, this time – so there can remain some semblance of order to the neighborhood and its deed restrictions.
Austin-tatious, Texas OUR CAPITAL -- The monthly Festival of Peace, Love and Flowers is set for next week. Or maybe it’s the Walk for Esperanto. No, Austin is hosting the monthly Festival for Flowers, Love and Peace, not to be confused with the first party. OK, maybe not, but this town is truly a hotbed of festivals, demonstrations and, lately, serial bombings. It seems that every weekend they are gathering on Congress Avenue to celebrate or protest something. Just recently they held the annual South By Southwest Conference and Festivals, or SXSW, which started out in 1987 as a small showplace for local musical groups (the town calls itself “the live music capital of the world” so as not to compete with Nashville as the recording capital) to perform before talent scouts. Then they added film premiers, tech stuff, literature, even politics. (When President Barack Obama came to SWSX, he began his speech with: “First of all it’s just good to be back in Austin. I love Austin, Texas. I do.” He went to Franklin’s Barbeque where he ordered eight pounds of brisket, sausage and turkey to go.) The 10-day event became so big – up to 400,000 total -- that the town tried to cut down on shows, stalls and, hopefully, attendance, probably the only such festival to do so. After a great outcry, the town relented. This year CNN, Fox Sports and The New York Times not only covered SXSW, but hosted parties. The economic impact of SXSW was $325 million in 2016. In comparison, Super Bowl LI brought a $347 million economic impact to the Houston economy, but remember SXSW is an annual event. And to think, Austin almost lost its role as our capital. President Sam Houston liked the capital being in Houston, a town that bore his name, but when his arch-enemy, Mirabeau B. Lamar, became president, Lamar moved the capital here, to what was then a mud village called Waterloo. (Houston called it “the most unfortunate site on earth for a seat of government.”) When Houston again became president (they had term limits), he began moving the government back to Houston, and sent soldiers and ox carts to return the republic’s archives to Houston. Armed Austinites stopped the wagon train outside of town, the archives were returned, while Houston and the rest of the government stayed in the Bayou City. In 1845 the capital was again moved to Austin, and building flourished, but this was still the frontier. Two of the workmen were scalped by Indians. In 1850 Texas voters named this town as the capital. Aren’t you glad the town isn’t called Waterloo? Journalists the world over would have fun with that. Back when I was a student at UT, no sane person went to East 6th Street at night. It
Lynn Ashby Columnist
was perhaps the worst part of town. Today, or tonight, the place is packed with strollers, drinkers, occasional stabbings and a night life version of Bourbon Street. An interesting walk is, during the day, check the front of the old two-story buildings with their neon and glitz. Then go around to the alley and note the backsides – native stone walls, some pretty mason work, and all the utilities strung on the outside because they didn’t have Comcast when the stores went up in the 1850s. I have noticed that the Austin TV stations have much better local news shows than Houston’s, with very little coverage of shootings, apartment fires and car wrecks. Maybe they don’t have as many. But the media front looks cloudy. The town’s newspaper, the Austin American-Statesman, which is quite good, has been sold to New York-based publishing firm GateHouse Media for $47.5 million. GateHouse has a reputation for cutting staffs, lowering costs and increasing profits. One reason Obama said he loved returning to Austin is that it is an island of blue in a state that is overwhelmingly red. But then, the town has always been a contrarian. In February 1861 Austin and Travis County residents voted against secession 704 to 450. Its long-time U.S. representative is Lloyd Doggett, a liberal-to-centrist Democrat. The Republican-controlled Texas Legislature has been trying for years to gerrymander Doggett out of office. They can’t, so they have packed all of central Texas’ Democrats into his district which runs from north of Austin to south of San Antonio in a long, thin line. If Doggett drove down I35 with both car doors open, he would kill most of his constituents. This gives Travis County one of the 10 most gerrymandered districts in the entire nation. It puts Travis County in five – yes, five – Congressional districts, with four Republicans, each diluting the Dems vote by nipping off part of liberal Austin and merging it into overwhelmingly GOP areas. So we have districts that basically run from Austin to Houston and Austin to Mexico. In March 2017, a panel of federal judges ruled that the 35th district was illegally drawn with “discriminatory intent.” In August 2017 there was another ruling that the district is unconstitutional. But we have the upcoming 2020 census which should give the state two or more new representatives, and thus is going to greatly change Texas’ Congressional
Without confusing the issue even more, this problem of GOMO’s legal status is almost laughable. You see, before they formed in 2001, there actually existed another similar board. And it turns out that governing body was formed illegally, as well. In other words, this makes it twice that a Garden Oaks organization has sought to enforce deed restrictions and has, effectively, been shut down by the courts. Now, imagine living in a neighborhood where the people who purport to run it can’t file paperwork on time, and not just once, but twice. If you live in that neighborhood, how much do you trust the leaders to be fair and equitable? Here’s the tragedy in the entire mess: Garden Oaks is one of the most desired neighborhoods in this city. Its homes are lovely, its lots big and its elementary school offers a unique experience that parents want for their children. Meanwhile, there seems to be a rag-tag effort at governance that must be fixed now. Take my observation for the value of the paper it’s written on: Garden Oaks needs governance. The neighborhood needs an organization that enforces its deeds (fairly), and it needs a gatekeeper to maintain the value of the property. Lose that, and your neighborhood becomes another open plot of land for the developer
of the day. What Garden Oaks does not need – and this is true for every board in every neighborhood in our area – is a group of three or four homeowners who think they’re some sort of higher power. From social events to lawsuits, Garden Oaks needs to get rid of the drama, and they can do this easily. My hope is that a judge lets GOMO reorganize properly. If that’s allowed, the rest is completely up to the people who live in Garden Oaks. For starters, homeowners need to get involved in their boards – the current, invalid, GOMO board has four vacancies (from what I’ve heard, many are worried about the legal liabilities of serving). So instead of using the bank account to threaten lawsuits to every rule-breaker, use some of that money to form a legal entity that has untouchable authority. Once you do that, once you give all homeowners a stake in the success of the neighborhood, you can protect what’s most precious to everyone. You can fund private security, donate to your Montessori school, keep an office that takes care of neighbors and, most importantly, enforce the legal deed restrictions beyond reproach. That’s a war worth winning. Email jonathan@theleadernews.com
The reader.
districts. This brings us to T-shirts such as: “Thanks for visiting Austin, just don’t stay (I hear Dallas is great.)” The town and its surrounding areas now hold 2.1 million people. Does that include the 50,000 UT students? In any event, Austin is booming, much to the annoyance of the old-timers (pre-2000). The last census in 2010 counted 740,390 people within the city. It’s now put at 963,116, making it the 11th largest city in the country. “Keep Austin Weird” is the unofficial slogan. For instance, the Columbus, Ohio, soccer team, the Crew, wants to move here. But every time a park is picked to build a stadium, the locals protest. I think that’s where they hold the weekly Festival of Cool Things and the Austin Fair for Pot, Tattoos and Kael. Ashby is visiting at ashby2@comcast.net
Proposed cement company will eliminate property values
Email us your letters: news@theleadernews.com
Dear Editor: The proposed cement plant should not be permitted. There are no streets in the area that are based for the continuous heavy cement trucks and would be constantly in need of repair. We all know the City’s history on street repair. With the current situation on U.S. 290, the last thing we need is an influx of heavy truck traffic. There is the noise of the very early morning activity of loading trucks for start-up delivery to job sites. However, this plant will not lower property values in the area. It will eliminate property values. Homes in the immediate area will not sell. The only people this is good for is the Cement Company. That being said, it will be permitted. Cement companies make large political donations. Residents do not. Permit bureaucrats work for politicians. Residents, can only remind those politicians that they do vote. Jerry Pinckard
Alzheimer’s Association calls on Congressman Ted Poe
Dear Editor: The Alzheimer’s Association’s 2018 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report reveals a steep increase in the strain of Alzheimer’s disease on people living with the disease, their families,
caregivers and society at large. For the second consecutive year, the total national cost of caring for people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias will exceed a quarter of a trillion dollars, amounting to $277 billion in 2018. The number of people now dealing with Alzheimer’s has risen to 5.7 million persons nationwide. Last year a person was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s every 66 second, now it’s every 65 seconds. These statistics require our immediate attention and Congress is the one body that can take the lead in bringing us toward a world without Alzheimer’s. Currently there is a new bill in Congress that desperately needs the support of Congressman Ted Poe (TX-02). The Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act (H.R. 4256) will reframe Alzheimer’s disease from an “old person’s” disease to what it really is – a Public Health Crisis. This bill will create an Alzheimer’s public health infrastructure across the country to implement effective Alzheimer’s interventions. The Alzheimer’s Association calls on Congressman Poe to cosponsor the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act (H.R. 4256). We are confident that with Congressman Poe’s support, one day, we will have a treatment or a cure and no more families in the 2nd Congressional District will have to face the burdens of this devastating disease. John Harris Staff Lead, Federal Public Policy Alzheimer’s Association
the leader Puzzlers. Answers found in this week’s Classified section
SUDOKU
aCrOss
1. Centralized mailing compartment 4. Small argument 8. Latin for “hail” 9. Semicircular headdress 10. Hole plug 12. Primp 13. A spontaneous motivation 14. Don’t know when yet 16. Portable computer screen material 17. Conform 19. Yoruba 20. Wings 21. Tar Hill State 25. Hard, durable wood 26. Pallid 27. Pabir language 29. Not crazy 30. Word element meaning ear 31. Hill (Celtic) 32. “Dangerous Liaisons” actor 39. Space between 2 points 41. Arbitrageur
42. 3rd or 4th Islamic month 43. Assistance 44. Manuscripts (abbr.) 45. In a way, soaks 46. Synovial knee syndrome 48. 2nd cervical vertebra 49. State of sudden fright 50. Snakelike fish 51. Each of 4 Hindu ages 52. Point midway between S and SE
dOwn
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11. Clan division 14. Referee declares 15. Rampart 18. “Big” actor’s initials 19. Noah’s boat 20. Diarist __ Frank 22. Luminous celestial ring 23. Famous motor club 24. 007’s creator 27. A timely blessing 28. UTHealth (abbr.) 29. Roman Helios 31. Check 32. Making of a worn-out vicious horse 33. Wife 34. An alternative 35. Spanish unit of length 36. Wild goats 37. Municipalities 38. Bother or harass 39. Excessively sentimental 40. Middle Eastern dish 44. Waterproof raincoat 47. Former OSS
WORD SCRAMBLE
The Leader • Saturday, March 31, 2018 • Page 5A
District C meeting focuses on Harvey recovery, CIP progress By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com City officials say they have not forgotten about planned projects around the area – but caution that progress may be held up as the city works to balance those needs with Harvey recovery needs. During last week’s District C community meeting, councilmember Ellen Cohen, Mayor Sylvester Turner and a multitude of city officials joined dozens of residents for the annual discussion, focusing on Harvey recovery efforts and the progress of projects that are part of the city’s Capital Improvement Plan. “Hurricane Harvey has changed a lot – it’s impacting how we roll out CIP projects and other plans,” Turner said, noting more than 6,300 homes and businesses in District C were impacted by the storm, and more than 3,000 Houston families remain living in hotels or homes in need of reform. “We would have liked for dollars to be rolling out much quicker.” As a result of that, Turner said city council has modified the ordinance to allow fami-
lies to apply for RVs, mobile homes, and similar arrangements on a temporary basis. In Harvey’s wake, Turner said he firmly believes the way to proceed is build in a new way that makes the city stronger and more resilient – and some of that change is already happening. Turner has requested that city council consider amendments to Chapter 19, which would require the building of a new structure to be guided by the 500-year flood plain – as opposed to 100-year – and then build two feet higher. City council took the amendment under consideration earlier this week. “The goal is that, as we move forward in future development of this city, we are asking that people to build higher,” he said. Local projects to move forward, delays expected During District C’s meeting last week, Turner also reiterated the city’s urgency with regards to moving forward with planned CIP projects, and officials have advised against adding additional work to the budget until funding for both Harvey recovery and existing
projects has stabilized. “The reason it’s impacting the CIP is that in many cases we’re having to pay the money out first and get it reimbursed later. Many of the projects within the CIP that will go forward, but some will be delayed – the emphasis will be on Harvey recovery,” he said. “We can rightfully say that other storms will come, and it’s important for the city to be stronger and more resilient, and for us to put people in a much better position.” One project that will move forward, coined Neighborhood Street Reconstruction Project 460, involves building concrete pavement with storm drainage, curbs, sidewalks, street lighting, and necessary underground utilities Impacted areas will include several areas of the Heights, including East 10th Street, East 12 ½ Street, West 17th, East 25th and East 26th as the project proceeds north. Further, the project scope includes work on Arlington, Ashland, Laird, Granberry, Harvard, Oxford, and West 18th Streets. Projects such as the Watonga Boulevard drainage and reconstruction and Garden
Oaks/SPP road work will also continue according to officials. According to Afolake Adeniyi, Community Ombudsman for the city’s Public Works – Capital Projects department, city officials do not yet have a specific anticipated timeframe to provide as of press time due to Harvey recovery and funding challenges that have added significant uncertainty to the current CIP cycle. “We have to spend this money up front, so it creates this ripple effect as we go through these five years that it’s pushing projects we’d have done this year back into next year,” Public Works Director and Oak Forest resident Carol Haddock said at the meeting. “Everything is still in line, it just may take us longer to reach that line. We want to make sure we address the projects that are here, get through the Harvey reimbursements and meet the commitments we made to you.” Full audio of the meeting be found on the city’s website at houstontx.city.swagit.com/ and clicking on the Committees and and Commissions Tab.
Photo courtesy of Ellen Cohen (Twitter) Mayor Sylvester Turner speaks at the annual District C community meeting last week while councilmember Ellen Cohen looks on. Among topics discussed were Harvey recovery, progress on local CIP projects and public safety.
Spanish Flowers opens second location in area For The Leader
Contributed photo Casa Ramirez always has something to fit anyone’s fancy, as shown here. From handmade paper flowers to cotton clothing from Chiapas Mexico, all comers can find something fun and/or educational.
There’s always something new happening over at Casa Ramirez For The Leader There’s always something new and educational at Casa Ramirez for customers to enjoy, according to owners Macario and Chrissie Ramirez. “Whether it’s the new young children’s bilingual board book The Life of – La Vida de Selena
or the cook book Truly Texas Mexican, colorful hand-made paper flowers from Mexico or cotton clothing from Chiapas Mexico, we have lots of merchandise to get you ready for Spring fiestas and events and that will add a touch of Latin American color and richness
to your daily life,” owner Macario Ramirez said. Visit us on Facebook! For more information, contact Macario Ramirez, owner, Casa Ramirez FOLKART Gallery, 241 W 19th, Houston TX 77008, 713-880-2420 or email at casa.ramirez@att.net.
Spanish Flowers Restaurant celebrated their 38th year in business on July 3. They have enjoyed a reputation far beyond other neighborhood restaurants as the place to go when hankering for Tex-Mex and Mexican specialties or dessert and coffee after an evening out. This vast restauContributed photo rant, located at 4701 North Shown here are the Chipolte Baby Back Ribs at Spanish Flowers. Main is always humming. The restaurant recently opened its second area location, off the The new owners have been North Freeway. making continuous improve- from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. The Strawberry Cheesecake and ments in the structure and Express Menu has more com- one of the favorites Pastel De decorations of the building for binations of entrees and the Elote topped with cajeta and a while now. They are from a portions are somewhat small- vanilla ice cream. region of Mexico where they er than larger portions on the Spanish Flowers offers their use beautiful stone to build regular menu. Some of the fa- great food for you to share at inside and out. You will see vorites listed are Chicken Tar- home, with friends, at private this stone inside the restau- ragon, Chicken Tortilla Soup, parties and corporate parties rant on the walls and other Enchilada Trio and more. Of or they have a large dining decor. They now have a full course the old favorites on room that you can reserve for service bar area where you the regular menu are always group gatherings, organizacan enjoy a casual drink with available such as enchiladas, tion/meetings, birthdays, anfriends or just stop by during tacos, tamales, traditional niversaries or whatever you Happy Hour and let the traf- mole, menudo, caldos (soups) want to celebrate. Come join fic move on while you enjoy and sizzling grilled platters of us today. a Tequila drink made with a meats and shrimp served inThe new location at 14915 great Tequila that is also from dividually or family style. And North Fwy, Houston, TX the region of Mexico where don’t forget the chile con que- 77090 or the orginal location they lived. so and nachos. If you have at 4701 North Main. For more In an effort to meet custom- any room left for dessert, you information visit them online, er satisfaction they have also won’t be disappointed. They www.spanishflowersrestaucreated an Express Menu that offer Flan, Fried Ice Cream, rant.com is served Monday thru Friday Sopapillas, Tres Leches Cake,
Fredrickson offers prime ophthamology care For The Leader Becky J. Fredrickson, M.D., Ph.D., is originally from Council Bluffs, Iowa, and received a B.S. degree in chemical engineering with highest distinction from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. Prior to entering medical school, Dr. Fredrickson conducted biomedical research as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of London in England. Dr. Fredrickson received her medical degree from Bay-
lor College of Medicine and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering (Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineering) from Rice University in Houston, Texas. Dr. Fredrickson completed her ophthalmology residency training at the Baylor College of Medicine Cullen Eye Institute following an internship at Christus St. Joseph Hospital in Houston. During residency, she received the Everett L. Goar Award for ophthalmic research. Dr. Fredrickson is a member of the American Academy
of Ophthalmology, the Texas Ophthalmologic Association, the Harris County Medical Society, and the Texas Medical Association. She is a board-certified ophthalmologist practicing comprehensive ophthalmology including cataract surgery, glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetes, ocular infections and dry eye. Dr. Fredrickson also performs cosmetic ophthalmology including Botox, Juvederm and blepharoplasty surgery (eyelid surgery).
sales price. That fee, which is .75 percent of either the purchase price or the appraisal by HCAD, must be paid at closing. For a $500,000 home, that would amount to $3,750. According to Barsalou, there is about $600,000 in the account, and GOMO needs a court to give legal instructions for what to do with the money. “The [GOMO] board is still reviewing how they should move forward,” said Barsalou, who is not handling the bankruptcy proceedings. “What they’d like to do is reorganize, but the question is how much of the funds in their possession they can use.” As Barsalou noted, paying for the bankruptcy attorneys will be expensive. Peter Chang, whose lawsuit spurred the uncertainty, doesn’t want the board around, at all. “I am cautiously optimistic that the board will do what’s right for the neighborhood,”
Chang said. “That means closure of GOMO.” Chang doesn’t believe the money should be used to reorganize, but rather it should be sent back to where he believes it belongs. “They still have a lot of money. And with a lot of money, they have a lot of power,” Chang said. “I think they should return the money to the homeowners.” The money GOMO has collected in the past has been used for neighborhood administration and safety. In GOMO’s fiscal year 2017, the organization spent a total of $72,179. More than $25,000 of that was spent on the Constable program. In the years prior to the Chang’s lawsuit, GOMO paid nearly $12,000 a month to fund two patrols of the Constable. While timing is uncertain, one person close to GOMO said a filing with a bankruptcy court could happen as early as April 1.
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Suit from P. 1A ruling was appealed. The 14th District Court of Appeals agreed that GOMO could not enforce restrictions against the Changs, but the court also said GOMO, “as an association, has the legal standing and authority to enforce the neighborhood’s bylaws.” In other words, the Changs won, but so did GOMO. “Basically, GOMO was not formed exactly right,” explained W. Austin Barsalou, the attorney representing GOMO. “But GOMO is still a valid organization. It is a [homeowners’ association]. The issues are mandatory assessments and membership, but they can still enforce the restrictions.” The real issue now, according to a number of sources who asked to speak off the record, is the money. GOMO has a lot of it. Every time a home sells in Garden Oaks proper, title companies add what’s called a “Transfer Fee” on top of the
It’s time to trust our readers again.
Page 6A • Saturday, March 31, 2018 • The Leader
Contributed photo St. Joseph’s Medical Center in the Heights, shown here after renovation, came under new ownership in 2017. For more on what the revamped center has to offer, visit sjmctx.org.
New SJMC offers variety of services For The Leader Anyone looking for health care services in The Heights community should make sure to learn more about St. Joseph Medical Center in The Heights (SJMC in The Heights.) Located within the newly renovated Heights Hospital building at 1917 Ashland Street, SJMC in The Heights is a full-service hospital equipped to handle a wide range of emergencies, medical conditions and surgical needs. Since it opened in the fall of 2012, SJMC in The Heights has been a vital health care resource for the local community. An extension of the main downtown campus, The Heights campus is connected to more than 500 board-certified physicians and specialists in the Houston area. “We have a dedicated team that stands ready to serve all patients,” says Stacie Velasco, MSN, RN - Director of Nursing Services at SJMC in The Heights. “The Heights is such a unique community and we enjoy treating patients that we consider our friends and neighbors. No one typically wants to be hospitalized, but we know our patients appreciate the convenience of
having a hospital right in the neighborhood. Plus, if there’s ever a need for a higher level of care, we can easily transfer a patient to the main campus, to ensure continuity of care,” adds Velasco. In addition to providing a compassionate nursing team, patient care is supported by the onsite lab, dietary, diagnostic imaging, respiratory and pharmacy departments. Hospital services are based on three floors of the building. Patient registration, the emergency department and imaging are located on the first floor. The fifth floor contains all patient rooms, including a 4-bed intensive care unit. The sixth floor houses the operating suites, post anesthesia care unit, day surgery, pharmacy, lab and the administrative offices. In July 2015, SJMC in The Heights launched the Senior Advantage program for active community men and women ages 55 and up. Studies have shown there is a strong link between social interaction and mental and physical well-being for seniors and Senior Advantage is designed to help meet that need. Today, the program is still going strong with nearly 500
members. Free educational and social events are held monthly, including BINGO, held on the second Wednesday of each month from 2-3:30 p.m. and breakfast seminars, held on the fourth Wednesday each month 8-9:30 a.m., holidays excluded. All events take place at the Heights campus. Membership is free and more information can be found at sjmctx.org/senioradvantage or call 713-969-5376. In the event of an emergency, the SJMC in The Heights Emergency Department (ED) is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The ED is staffed by boardcertified physicians, nurses and medical technicians who are all specially trained to handle a wide range of illnesses and traumas. Online ED appointments can be made for non-life-threatening injuries or illnesses via the hospital’s website. To find out more information about SJMC in The Heights, call the main hospital line at 713-969-5400 or visit their website at sjmctx.org. For a physician referral, call 713-757-7575 or click on the DoctorFinder™ tab, found on the homepage.
Experience helps local agents guide clients For The Leader With a combined total of 38 years of Real Estate experience, Mike Clark and Debbie Kotzur continue to strive to make their clients real estate experience a good one! They are all about repeat clients and have always put them first! Debbie, being a native Houstonian and Mike living here most of his life, they are familiar with Houston, its growth and expansion, par-
ticularly the near northwest area having seen subdivisions such as Shepherd Forest, Oak Forest, Garden Oaks, Mangum Manor, Candlelight Plaza, Shepherd Park Plaza, Candlelight Estates, Forest West, Forest Pines, Timbergrove, Lazybrook, Shady Acres, the Greater Heights and others continue to grow and prosper. Mike and Debbie are constantly guiding their clients through the buying and selling process, making it as easy and
pleasant as possible. Using the latest technology available, they are able to provide the information their clients need to make the most informed decisions. Persistent and detail oriented, they will work harder for their clients to get the deal done! Mike and Debbie will be more than happy to help you with all your real estate needs! Anywhere or any time! Double the experience, double the exposure!
Del Mar reviving the bowling scene For The Leader Del Mar Bowling Entertainment Center is the only UNREAL BOWLING Center in Texas, and is right here in your neighborhood at 3020 Mangum Road!! Del Mar has Unreal Bowling, new technology that provides an interactive bowling experience that brings the bowling ball and lane to life through the use of high-end video graphics and audio sound effects. It offers dynamic colorful ball animations and lane displays. The animations follow the ball down the lane, and backgrounds set the mood with themes created for birthday parties, holidays, corporate events and more. The software engineers are constantly developing and updating new features, backgrounds and animations for the Unreal Bowling platform. Del Mar Bowling Entertainment Center has undergone an extensive modernization in every aspect, especially in technology. Del Mar Lanes is now THE place to go on Friday and Saturday nights. It has become Houston’s hottest family entertainment center! Between huge 150-inch music video and sports video screens, special effects lighting, bowling ball motion tracking sensors, infrared cameras and projector systems, you can enjoy the best bowling experience ever! Del Mar Bowling Center is celebrating its 60th Anniversary this year. If you are from this area, it is likely you have spent time in this building at some time in your youth. The question is, “ How long ago was that last visit?” You will not believe all the changes, and now is definitely the time to check them out by revisiting your old stomping grounds. If it will be your first time there, you are in for a treat. Del Mar Lanes has traditional casual bowling and league activities from Sunday to Friday afternoons. Then, Friday evenings starting at 6:00 PM, the UNREAL BOWLING excitement begins! The food menu was expanded to include healthier choices, fresh meats, larger portions, half-pound burger patties, fresh-cut fries, handtossed pizzas, and many new menu items. The owner of Del Mar Lanes, Robert Torres, is very happy to have Eddie Magee as the Director of
Contributed photo Judy Bankhead (L) and Susan Tate, A.I.F.D in their shop. The duo has big plans for the spring season.
Darlene’s Flower & Gift Shop and D Boutique ready for Spring For The Leader Darlene’s Flower & Gift Shop and D Boutique would like to share with all the Leader Readers that we are more than just a neighborhood flower shop. Yes, we are a full-service, family owned (The Sisters) and operated florist, offering a unique selection of flowers, plants, customized gift and gourmet baskets. We deliver to Houston and surrounding areas for whatever your floral needs might be. In February of 2019, we will celebrate 50 years in the floral and gift ware industry. What you may not know
is that we are so much more. Darlene’s and D Boutique can be your “go-to stop” if you need a gift, home decor, gourmet items or a trendy new outfit, handbag or shoes just for you. We offer great selections for Birthday, Anniversary, Showers, Weddings, New Baby, Graduation, and Mother’s Day for yourself or anyone on your list. Included in the array of wonderful ideas for Home Decor are items from Mud Pie, Aromatique, Swan Creek, Michel Design and Kelly Rae Roberts. To satisfy the hunger in all of us you will find tasty treats from
Wind & Willow, Savory Fine Foods and Salem Baking, just to name a few. The list is endless for our boutique. We are proud to include Corkys, Steve Madden, Betsey Johnson, Pretty You and SockSmith as well as many other talented designers. So, the next time you need a gift, a new outfit, something to brighten up your home or just a little something for yourself - think of Darlene’s and D Boutique. We invite you to come by and see for yourself all of the wonderful treasures that our store holds, located at 10570 Northwest Fwy. 77092.
Heights Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics opens in Heights For The Leader The story of Heights Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics began over yummy meals in the Heights restaurants where we were dreaming up a practice that would make busy parents in our beloved neighborhood find dental and orthodontic appointments easy. As parents ourselves, we understand how hard it is to take the kids out of school and drive around town to various venues. Wouldn’t it be easier to get your teeth cleaned and have your orthodontic consultation at the same time? Wouldn’t it be more convenient to have a wire change and sealants done in one appointment? We truly believe in dentistry being a comprehensive field with many aspects being addressed at the same time. So somewhere around dessert, two or three years ago, we made a decision to build a happy place for kids’ dental needs in our neighborhood. Dr. Lindhorst lives here and although her Memorial Smiles For Kids practice is some miles away, she has always supported local schools, festivals, and neighborhood needs. Dr. Darsey also has a busy practice in Memorial area, Darsey-Krivan Orthodontics, where he has been
Contributed photo Dr. Darsey (L) and Dr. Lindhorst have joined forces in the heart of the Heights in efforts to create an easier, more convenient spot to meet the neighborhood’s dental needs,
seeing many of the Heights kids for their orthodontic needs. He lived in the Heights for years until his family of five outgrew the little bungalow and an opportunity took him to Memorial. Joining our forces in the heart of the Heights has been super exciting to both of us and we love seeing the neighborhood and surrounding area kids in our new state of the art facility. We rented a beautiful space in a renovated building across the street from the Historic Heights Fire station and kept the décor true to the Heights spirit. We added kids’ friendly adventures such as Ipads
and X-box games, filled the space with toys and books for children of all ages, and made it also welcoming to all adults wanting a consultation for braces or Invisalign with Dr. Darsey. We are super excited to be part of this amazing neighborhood and can’t wait to meet more of our neighbors! Come visit Heights Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics to say “hello”, meet our doctors and our team, and let us show you why this is such a great place for the dental home for all the neighborhood kids and adults needing orthodontics.
INVITATION TO BIDDERS:
Contributed photo UNREAL Bowling is just one of many feautures new owner Robert Torres has implemented at Del Mar Bowling Entertainment Center.
Bowling Operations, overseeing all league and entertainment bowling activities, and also Esteban Olvera as Director of Food and Beverage Operations, overseeing all restaurant and bar operations. The knowledge, experience and expertise each of them have in their respective areas will help ensure that Del Mar Lanes remains a fixture in this community. Inside Del Mar Lanes you will find the Brass Monkey Bar & Grill, a full-service restaurant and bar, with live music entertainment on most weekends . There are now a variety of frozen drinks, mixed beverage cocktails and an expanded beer menu as well, both bottled and draft beers. A friendly wait staff is now available to serve food and drinks at each lane. Having originally opened for business in 1958, Del Mar Bowling Center has had only 4 owners in its 60 years in business. “Independent bowling centers are becoming increasingly more scarce, but Del Mar Lanes is here to stay!!” says Torres. “We have made the bowling center much more modern, entertaining and inviting, and are re-energizing the Del Mar name! This is needed in our community. Hopefully, bowlers will love the new changes and spread the word for their weekend entertainment, and catered company parties and events.”
NEAR NORTHWEST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT (NNMD) - DISTRICT MARKER SIGNS: SEALED BIDS IN DUPLICATE ADDRESSED TO TBG PARTNERS WILL BE RECEIVED IN THE OFFICE OF TBG PARTNERS (3050 POST OAK BLVD., SUITE 1100, HOUSTON, TX 77056) UNTIL 10:30 A.M., APRIL 17th, 2018, AT WHICH TIME ALL BIDS WILL BE OPENED AND PUBLICLY READ FOR THE FURNISHING OF ALL MATERIAL, EQUIPMENT, LABOR AND SUPERVISION NECESSARY OR INCIDENTAL TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEAR NORTHWEST MANAGEMENT DISTRICT (NNMD) - DISTRICT MARKER SIGNS LOCATED IN HARRIS COUNTY NORTH OF 290 ALONG HOLLISTER STREET AND ANTOINE DRIVE.
SCOPE OF PROJECT:
IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO: SIGN FABRICATION AND ELECTRICAL WORK, PLANTING AND IRRIGATION. A MANDATORY PRE-BID CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD AT THE OFFICE OF TBG PARTNERS LOCATED AT 3050 POST OAK BLVD, SUITE 1100, HOUSTON, TX ON APRIL 3rd, 2018 AT 10:30 A.M. (ATTENDANCE IS MANDATORY). PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, AND BID DOCUMENTS ARE AVAILABLE, AND MAY BE PURCHASED AT THOMAS PRINTWORKS (4235 RICHMOND AVE., HOUTON, TX, 77027). PLANS FOR VIEWING ONLY ARE AVAILABLE AT TBG PARTNERS, INC. BID BONDS ARE REQUIRED AND MUST ACCOMPANY EACH BID. THE SUCCESSFUL BIDDER WILL BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE A PERFORMANCE BOND AND A PAYMENT BOND, AS PROVIDED FOR IN THE BID DOCUMENTS, FOR THE FULL AMOUNT OF THE CONTRACT. THE OWNER RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REJECT ANY OR ALL BIDS.
The Leader • Saturday, March 31, 2018 • Page 7A
Snakes as pets: Reader gets the ‘low down’
Dear Tabby, My kids are begging for a pet snake. Aside from my obvious feelings of trepidation about (willingly) bringing a snake into our home, I’m entertaining their request and reaching out to you to get more info on what having a snake as a pet entails. Scrutinizing Snakes in Shepherd Park Dear Scrutinizing Snakes, I completely understand your concern about bringing a snake
into your home as a pet. The good news though is that--believe it or not--snakes can actually make good pets for those who are willing to take the time to research the topic and make an informed decision (like yourself!). For a more comprehensive study on what it takes to have a snake as a pet, I turned to our friends at Texas A&M University’s School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences to get the “lowdown” (pun intended) on snake ownership. What Type of Snake to Get? The first place to start, when considering a snake as a pet, is to determine which breed of snake would be best for your family. Dr. Sharman Hoppes, clinical associate professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences has some suggestions for which snake breeds that may make a suitable pet.
“Ball pythons, kingsnakes and corn snakes are great,” Hoppes said. “However, large boas and pythons do not make good pets for most people due to their large size.” Make Sure You’ve Got A Suitable Habitat One of the most important things to consider when researching a habitat for your pet snake is to make sure that it is escape proof because, trust me, none of your friends will agree to come over for dinner if you’ve got a snake who likes to escape. This escape-proof habitat should also include appropriate warming lights to ensure that “Slytherin” is comfortable. No Need To Be Squeamish About Feeding The truth of the matter is that snakes eat small, furry things and there’s really no way around that. However, Hoppes discourages feeding pet snakes live prey.
Pet of the Week
“It is cruel to the prey animal and can also be dangerous to the snake,” Hoppes said. “The prey animal, if not killed quickly, can bite the snake. In some cases where the snake is not warm enough or is sick, the prey animal may even extensively chew on the snake.” Frozen rodents are readily available for snakes in pet stores and online, so (thankfully) there’s no reason to worry about your children witnessing the “circle of life” right there in the living room. Snakes can be fun pets who have distinct personalities. With a bit of research and forethought, bringing a pet snake into your home could be a wonderful addition to your household and provide hours of entertainment and education for the whole family.
Meet Alfie This 6 month old, bulldog/cocker spaniel/lab mix (Whew! Whatta combo!) is the word “goofy,” personified. Happy and laid-back, Alfie loves everyone and lists walks, naps and eating as his favorite hobbies. Alfie would surely fit seamlessly into any home and family--maybe even yours? To see some of Alfie’s adventures, follow him on Facebook at: Adventures of Alfie, or contact Love, Molly rescue at www.thelovemollyfund. org.
Do you have a question for Tabby? Email her at deartabbyquestions@gmail.com
Neighbors: Houghtons welcome a baby girl; Robert Lamb turns 95 By Elizabeth Villarreal elizasgarden@outlook.com
Parents Jay Houghton and Marike Elenbaas are the proud parents of a baby girl, Shoshanah Brielle Houghton. She was born March 10. Big sister is Annemieke Sabella Houghton and proud grandma is Hazel Houghton. Happy, happy birthday to Robert Lamb who was surprised by his family with a party at Demeris Barbeque on the occasion of his 95th birthday on Saturday, March 24. Five generations of the family were represented at the festive celebration. Bob Lamb told his lifelong story in great detail, much to everyone’s delight. He was graduated from John H. Reagan High School and he married Marjorie Harrison of Bryan, TX. The couple was married 65 years until Marjorie passed away in 2011. Lamb
Big sister Annemieke Sabella Houghton welcomes her baby sister Shoshanah Brielle Houghton.
grew up in the Heights and later moved to Oak Forest. He is retired from Foster Wheeler Corporation. Daughters Carolyn Lamb Nelson and Barbara Lamb Hendry threw the birthday party in honor of their sweet father.
Easter Bunny (Austin Armstrong) poses with Jason and Kim Syrinek and their 5 month old son Jordan.
Robert Lamb, along with five generations of his family, help him celebrate his 95th birthday.
The Shepherd Forest Civic Club held its annual Easter Egg Hunt in Stonecrest Park this past weekend. The event was a hopping success and the Easter Bunny (Westchester Academy senior Austin Armstrong) worked his charms on the
little ones and everyone went home with candy and prizes. The skies were beautiful, the children were excited and the Easter Bunny happily posed for photos. Many thanks to each of the many neighbors who made donations, stuffed eggs or at-
tended and helped with the event, with a special thank you to Delinda Holland for spearheading the event and Civic Club officers Krista Ripper, Payton Arens, Patricia Williams and Mary Lamb for the final organization details.
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Page 8A • Saturday, March 31, 2018 • The Leader
The calendar.
AARP MONTHLY MEETING AARP Chapter 1265 The monthly meeting will be held at 10 a.m., April 2, in the community room at 1520 Candlelight Ln. The meeting is open to anyone 50 or older, and will be preceded by a meet-and-greet at 9:30 a.m. Georgia Lewis is president. Information: 832-654-4744. WILLIAM ARCHER GUEST SPEAKER Heritage Republican Women William Archer will be speaking on Estate Planning and Probate. The presentation will include: overview of the probate system, what to do when a loved one passes, what to consider in your estate plan, requirements to probate a will, and avoiding probate. The meeting will be held at Candlelight Church of Christ, 4215 Watonga, at 7 p.m. April 5. Light refreshments will be served. Men are also welcome to attend. Information: 713-682-0496. MONTHLY HAPPY HOUR Heights Young Professionals Hop into Spring with Hyp! This month’s happy hour will be from 5-8 p.m. April 5, at Platypus Brewing, 1902 Washington Ave.
Platypus Brewing will provide lite bites for all attendees. Wear pastel color to be entered to win a prize. The cost is $10 in advance through April 5, at 2 p.m. and $15 at the door. Information: info@heightschamber.org, 713861-6735. DISTINGUISHED SPEAKER SERIES Houston Assembly of Delphians Houston Assembly of Delphians’ fourth season of Distinguished Speakers features Mary Covington, Program Director for the STAR (Success Through Addiction Recovery) Drug Court Program. The event will be from 5-7 p.m. April 7, at the West University Community Center, 6104 Auden St. Information: 713468-3749. SPRING FLING Durham Elementary Mark your calendars for some family fun! Come enjoy bounce houses, a vide game truck, a rock wall, face painting, a balloon artist and more. There will be two food trucks, Mingo’s Latin Kitchen and Uncle Louie G’s Italian Ices. The event will be April 7. Buy presale tickets at www.DurhamPTA.
org/shop.
UNIFY Stroke Discussion Group is open to all stroke patients, stroke survivors and caregivers. The meeting will be held from 3-4 p.m., April 12 (the 2nd Thursday of every month), in the South Tower, First Floor, Classroom C at Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital, 1635 North Loop West. Please register to attend this free event by calling 713-222-2273.
8TH GRADE BARBECUE Frank Black Middle School The Frank Black Middle School eighth-graders will hold their third annual barbecue from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. April 7. Proceeds benefit the class for their end of year activities. Eat in (cafeteria) or drive thru is available. The cost $10 for a barbecue plate (includes BBQ chicken leg quarter, rice, BBQ beans, bread, condiments). $2 raffle tickets will be sold for a 40” flat screen TV. The school is located at 1575 Chantilly Ln. Information: 713-613-2505.
RUMMAGE SALE Waltrip Band Do some spring cleaning and help the Waltrip Ram Band too! The Roaring RamBand is hosting a rummage sale, Saturday from 7 a.m.-noon, April 14, at the school located at 1900 W. 34th St. Donated items can be dropped off at 7 a.m. If interested in renting a space, the cost is $25. Contact waltriprambandbooster@gamil. com for information. Band students will also be having a car wash and selling concessions. If you have a musical instrument collecting dust, there will be an instrument drive.
THE WIZARD OF OZ St. Pius X High School Theatre SPX and the SPX Fine Arts Department presents “The Wizard of Oz” April 12, 13 and 14 at 7 p.m., and at 2:30 p.m. April 15. General admission is $5 for students and $10 for adults. St. Pius X High School is located at 811 W. Donovan St. Information: fantg@stpiusx.org. UNIFY STROKE DISCUSSION GROUP Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital
RUN THE GROVE 5K West 11th Street Park The Run the Grove 5K will begin
and end at West 11th Street Park, located at 2400 West 11th St. in the heart of Timbergrove Manor. This year’s event will honor the memory of Dr. Lorraine Cherry and it is suggested to dress up as woodland creatures (both children and adults) as part of a tribute to her. The run will be April 14, and begins with registration at 7 a.m., followed by the 8 a.m. run. The kids fun run begins at 9 a.m. Information: www. tmnaonline.org/run-the-grove. AARP TAX AIDE Mangum-Howell Center AARP tax-aide volunteers will provide free income tax assistance for low- and middle-income individuals at Mangum-Howell Center, Doss Park at 2500 Frick Road, 77038. Participants must bring their 2016 tax returns and 2017 tax documents to the Center. Tax Aide is available through April 17 Tuesdays 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Wednesdays noon-4 p.m. Information: 281-591-7830, www.hcp4.net/community/communitycenters. LEGALLINE: FREE LEGAL ADVICE Houston Bar Association The Houston Bar Association
From the Pews. Easter Egg hunt at Immanuel Lutheran Make plans to attend Immanuel’s 8th Annual Easter Celebration, 10 a.m. Saturday, March 31. Along with the Easter egg hunt, there will also be games, activities, refreshments and a visit by the Easter Bunny. Children from the community are welcome for a Saturday morning of fun and fellowship. Immanuel Lutheran Church welcomes the community for worship on Easter Sunday morning, April 1. Worship with communion starts at 8 a.m. Immanuel Lutheran is located at 306 E. 15th St. Call 713864-2651 for information. Holy Week services at St. Stephen’s All are welcome to attend Holy Week services. A Maundy Thursday Communion service, focusing on the Last Supper, will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 29. Journey to the cross and tomb on Good Friday, March 30, at a 7 p.m. music-filled Tenebrae service. Services on Easter Sunday, April 1, will include a sunrise service at 7 a.m., a Praise Celebration at 8:30 a.m. and traditional worship at 11 a.m. A continental breakfast will be served following the Sunrise service. St. Stephen’s United Methodist Church is located at 2003 W. 43rd St. For information, call 713-686-8241 or
visit www.stsumc.org and the church’s Facebook page. All Saints TALC features Movie Night All Saints Third Age Learning Center will be closing on Thursday and Friday, March 29 and March 30, in observance of Holy Thursday and Good Friday. A movie day will be April 6, and will feature the WWII drama, “The Darkest Hour” starring academy award winner Gary Oldman as Winston Churchill. The movie begins at 10 a.m. and lemonade and popcorn will be furnished. TALC will host a Spring Party at 10:30 a.m. April 13, featuring a spring hat contest, refreshments, door prizes and music by the Strummin’ Saints Ukulele Band. All Saints Catholic Community is located at 215 E. 10th St. For information and lunch reservations, call 713-2481277. All Saints Knights of Columbus hold Lenten Fish Fry The All Saints Knights of Columbus council will host their final Lenten Fish Fry in the parish hall from 3-8 p.m. Good Friday, March 30. Plates include fish, hushpuppies, fries, slaw, green beans, sauces, and tea/lemonade. Adult plates are $10 and children under 10 are $5. Cookies will also be available.
All Saints Catholic Community is located at 215 E. 10th St. Call 713-304-1626 for information.
811 W. Donovan St. For information, visit www. ar rowsr ugby.com/schoolboysmatch.
Passion Week at The Community of Faith Bishop James Dixon, II and The Community Of Faith Church, 1024 Pinemont, will host several services to culminate Passion Week. On Resurrection Celebration Day, Sunday, April 1, the following events will occur: Sonrise Service is 6 a.m., breakfast 7:15 a.m., two morning worship opportunities - 8 a.m. “The Eight” and 11 a.m. “The Experience.” Sermonic Series is “I Owe It All to the Blood.” Call 713-688-2900 for information.
Maundy Thursday service at St. Matthew’s A Maundy Thursday service will be available to the community March 29, 7 p.m. The Friday Tenebrae Service is 6 p.m. Breakfast will be served after the Easter SonRise service. St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church is located at 4300 N. Shepherd Dr. Call 713-6970671 or visit the Facebook page or the website at www. stmatthewsmethodist.org. Bravura Concert Series at All Saints Join us for an evening filled with the enriching music of Bach, Handel, Scarlatti, and Frescobaldi. Dr. Jeong-Suk Bae and Louis-Marie Fardet provide an illuminating program into the Baroque. The concert will be at 5 p.m. April 15. Free will offering admission. All Saints Catholic Church is located at 215 E. 10th St. Call 713-864-2653 or visit www.allsaintsheights.com for information.
Family friendly rugby at St. Pius X Kubiak Stadium Arrows RFC, Houston’s Catholic Men’s Rugby Club, welcomes the community to enjoy an evening of family-friendly Rugby. On Easter Monday, April 2 at 5:30 p.m., high school boys from Strake Jesuit, St. Pius X, and St. Thomas will unite as the Arrows Schoolboys to host their brothers from Fordham Prep, a Jesuit school of the Bronx, NY. Join us at Kubiak Stadium (at St. Pius X High School) for this free, fun-filled evening that includes two rugby matches and a dinner social to follow. The match will be held at St. Pius X High School Kubiak Stadium,
on the Book of Daniel. There will be Bible study, prayer, and fellowship. Guests and new members are welcome to attend this non-denominational Bible study. Email scripturesharing@ earthlink.net for information or call 713-516-4282.
died March 21.
Joann Looney Gray, 71, born Dec. 16, 1946 in Houston, died March 19. Gray worked many careers, but retired from
Verde Environmental after 20 years. She was a devoted member at Northwest Baptist Church. Survivors include her son, Brian Scott Kliem, brother Garry Looney, and sisters Pamela Hext and Barbara Klesel.
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Cultivation of the Spirit
f you would be a truly spirited person, you must seek the Spirit continuously and be receptive to its influence in your life. This requires, first and foremost that you truly want to live a spiritual life, and secondly, that you open your heart and soul to God. Different religious traditions may describe this process differently. Evangelical Christians may describe it as accepting Christ as their personal Saviour. Catholics have a formal confirmation procedure where young people affirm their acceptance of God’s way. Adherents of certain Eastern religions describe this receptivity as having the wisdom gate opened. James Taylor sums it up well in his song “The Secret of Life” when he says that “The secret of love is in opening up your heart.” Realize that the gate of the soul is the narrow gate, and that it takes courage to open up your heart, but there is no shortcut to having the spirit of God within you. Pursue the way of the Lord. Cultivate your inner spirit. Perform virtuous deeds. Join in the family of God. Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God, and he who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God; for God is love. R.S.V. 1 John 4:7-8
The Leader • Saturday, March 31, 2018 • Page 9A
Details are not missed at Golden Bagels & Coffee Christina Martinez Managing Editor
The details that go into the bagel, coffee and menu program at Golden Bagel & Coffee do not go unnoticed. Upon arrival, Chef Joseph Apa walked me through kitchen stations, through each bagel step process and station, he proudly showed me where his lox and nova cure in the walkin fridge and he talked history. Details shared before we even glanced at a menu. The Heights concept is fruited from Katz Coffee owner Avi Katz and local attorney Gregg Goldstein. The duo is working to celebrate classic New York bagel offerings on the menu, with their own gulf twist and freshly cured and smoked fish. And, of course, coffee. The Golden kitchen is equipped with all the necessary tools, machines and me-
ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR Celebrate the outer reflection of inner beauty 9:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Saturday, March 31 Oso Yoga – 1520 Rutland Come join Oso Yoga this Saturday to learn how to be the director of your own life. The focus of the class will be on inner balance in the Kundalini Yoga tradition. It’s great if you find yourself too much in your own head or if you’ve experienced post traumatic stress. The space will be open and warm, giving you the opportunity to connect with likeminded people and nourish your inner self. This is a free event, but donations are accepted.
Pilates and puppies 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Saturday, March 31 Happy Belly Studios – 3562 TC Jester Blvd. There are very few things better than a sweet puppy looking for a cuddle. This Saturday Happy Belly Studios is hosting their first ever puppies and pilates mat class and adoption event. This mat class is free and will be held on the lawn of the studio! Feel free to stay longer and receive more puppy love after the class is over. Cash donations to Pup Squad Houston are appreciated!
Avenue Q 2 p.m. Saturday, March 31 Obsidian Theater – 3522 White Oak Dr. Avenue Q is a winner of the Tony “Triple Crown� for best musical, Best Score, and Best Book. The musical is a relatable, hilarious story about a recent college graduate learning the fine art of becoming an adult in a run-down neighborhood set in New York City. The original Avenue Q is a little R-rated—this version will be a “school� edition, that was created with input from the musical’s original authors. It maintains the dramatic and comedic integrity of the show, with the edits making it appropriate for younger performers and audience members.
VHS swap and horror art show 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. Saturday, March 31 Misfit Toys – 1802 Yale St. Houston’s first ever VHS swap meet will be held this Saturday! Bring your old tapes and swap or sell them to other collectors. Incorporated into the event is a horror art show, showcasing many talented artists who have a love for the unsettling. This is a celebration of horror, sci-fi, action, and all other genres on VHS, beta, laserdisc, and more. Stay after the event for a showing of Spookies from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. This is a free event for all ages! Parking will be available on 18th St and Heights Blvd.
chanics to produce their 11 bagel offerings. Baking staff comes in around midnight to begin the process and passes in the early morning with the morning shift at about 5 a.m. Bagels are made fresh daily and choices are abound. On top of 11 bagel offerings, 14 spreads are also an option. “The Cutler oven is refurbished from New York,� chef Joseph Apa said. “It’s a bagel oven and we had it shipped from New York to Houston.� If you are a lox and/or nova person, Golden Bagels and chef Apa have a treat for you. “Everything is from Airline seafood,� Apa said. “The cure process takes me about 66 hours. After it is smoked and chilled, the full process is about 72 hours and everything is hand sliced.� The smoke process for the fish is probably one of the only
From the top going clockwise, the Nova Plate with house cured and smoked nova, cream cheese, onions, capers and on an Everything bagel. The many bagel offerings you can choose from behind the Golden counter. The Three Salad Plate featuring the Israeli, Pasta and Shrimp salad. Chef Joseph Apa is leading the kitchen at Golden Bagels located at 3119 White Oak Dr. (photos by Christina Martinez).
Chef Joseph Apa.
things that chef Joe and his Golden team do not tackle inhouse. Just down the road in the old Katz Coffee warehouse
on 34th Street is where Apa has made his smoke house and equipment. During my visit, chef suggested we try the Build Your Own Reuben - opting for corned beef, sauerkraut, Russian, on a sliced and toasted everything bagel, and served with made in-house pickles; we also ordered the Nova Plate
and tried the Three Salad Plate that comes with bagel chips! The three salads we opted for were the Israeli, Pasta and Shrimp - all were delightfully fresh and paired perfectly with a bagel chip. Also during my lunch visit I tried the CafĂŠ De Olla, a Nitro cold brew on tap with chocolate, cinnamon, anise and pi-
loncillo notes; a second tap is their Jumping Mouse on CO2, a milk chocolate and currants tasting cold brew. You can also find classic coffee offerings like a Cafe Latte, Cortado, Americano and more. These offerings are all Katz Coffee at the core, naturally. Apa said currently they have two frequent customers: the weekday morning customer that comes early for a coffee and a bagel(s) to-go before work. The second customer is the weekend customer that comes to hangout, order a few things for the table to try and share, and slow down with friends. The menu offers breakfast and lunch options, ample seating inside and out, and there’s even wi-fi for when you need to get things done. The Golden menu is fresh and bright and Apa’s attention to detail and cured/smoked fish program is unrivaled. Email christina@theleadernews.com
Cavatore’s
Art Valet: HITS presents “Shrek the Musical� at Miller Outdoor Theatre Mitch Cohen Art Columnist
THE LEADER
HITS Theatre, a Heights nonprofit theater company, kicks off the spring season with “Shrek the Musical,� their 31st-anniversary production at Miller Outdoor Theatre. Performances are over the next two weeks Thursday Saturday, March 29 - 31 and April 5 - 7 at 8 p.m. The event is ticketed for covered seating. Free tickets are available (four per person over age 16 while they last) at the Miller Outdoor Theatre box office the day of the performance between the hours of 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. The box office is located behind the theater. If tickets remain at 1 p.m., the box office will re-open one hour before show time to distribute the remaining tickets. Really, though, the best way to see a performance is on the hill, which will start filling up in the afternoons before the show. I love a good picnic. If you’re cross-legged challenged like me, bring low to the ground lawn chairs. Sitting on the hill with a picnic blanket and all your own goodies is really the best way to attend these shows. In case you’ve been hiding under a rock, here’s what the show is about, from HITS: “Shrek the Musical� is a fun, family-friendly production about a faraway kingdom turned upside down and things get ugly when an unseemly ogre shows up to rescue a feisty princess. Throw in a donkey who won’t be quiet, a bad guy with a short temper, and over a dozen other
HITS Theatre kicks off the spring season with “Shrek the Musical,� this weekend at 8 p.m. on March 29 - 31 and next weekend on April 5 - 7 at Miller Outdoor Theatre located at 6000 Hermann Park Drive.
fairy tale misfits, and you’ve got the kind of mess that calls for a real hero. Full of all-new songs and great dancing, “Shrek the Musical� is part romance, part twisted fairy tale and all irreverent fun for everyone! HITS Theatre offers classes for grades 1 - 12 taught by skilled professionals specializing in the disciplines of acting, dancing, and singing. Each class culminates in a full production where every student performs on stage. Get more info hitstheatre.org.
Cohen is an artist and founder of First Saturday Arts Market and the new Market at Sawyer Yards, find him at ArtValet.com.
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Before you go, visit www. milleroutdoortheatre.com for directions and parking, get there early! Miller Outdoor Theatre is located at 6000 Hermann Park Drive in Hermann Park, just south of the Museum of Natural Science and the McGovern Centennial Gardens.
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Page 10A • Saturday, March 31, 2018 • The Leader
La Hacienda still going strong For The Leader Uncertain about the future ahead, the Cabrera family decided to take the risk to come to the U.S.A. and seek a better life to make their dreams a reality. It was 1957 when Luis Cabrera along with his wife Alicia and three sons, Baldemar, Ernesto, and Gilberto arrived in Houston. On January 1, Ernesto began his American dream journey at the age of 14 when he got his very first job at Felix Mexican Restaurant, located at 904 Westheimer, where you would always find him with his inseperable broom. By the end of the year, Ernesto moved on to his next endeavor at Old Mexico Mexican Restaurant on 120 West Gray and soon after moved on to River Oaks Country Club. This is where he got his “big break” with a little white lie.
He was 16 at the time when he applied for the job but the offer was only for those who were at least 18 years of age. With a little luck, he magically gained two years and became 18 on the spot and was able to land the job. Two years later when he turned 18 he began working as a waiter and was done with the back of the kitchen. He managed to work at all of the Mexican restaurants throughout the city in the late 50s and 60s. The restaurants included: Leo’s (Shepherd Dr.), Santa Anita (Pierce St.), Molina’s Mexico City (Main St.), El Patio (W. University), Larry’s Spanish Village, Bertas (Travis St.), La Fonda (W. Alabama), El Charro Mexican Restaurant (Old Katy Rd. and Blalock), and Casa Martinez (Town & Country), while the Town & Country shopping center was still being constructed.
At age 27 (1969), Ernesto moved back to Monterrey, Mexico to initiate his first business. Two years later he returned to the U.S.A. and continued working in the Mexican restaurant business. First, at Mexico Inn on Long Point, then returned to Casa Martinez on Town & Country until February 1973. Five months later, in July 1973, Ernesto opened his first restaurant in the U.S.A., La Hacienda Mexican Restaurant at 14759 Memorial Dr. And here we are today, where Ernesto will be celebrating the restaurant’s 45 year anniversary. Ernesto welcomes everyone to come and taste the history! “Thank you to everyone, it is because of your help that I was able to realize my dreams.”
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The Leader • Saturday, March 31, 2018 • Page 11A
SPX arts students garner prestigious state honors For The Leader
St. Pius X High School had more than 20 students take top honors at the 2018 TAPPS State Solo and Ensemble Competition on March 20 and the MA National Contest on March 23-25. SPX band and orchestra students, under the leadership of Band Director Robert Carlin, showed strong skills with eight students taking Division 1 Superior and 6 students earning Division 2 Excellent performances. Those who earned superior marks were Senior Carolina Corzo, flute; Senior Marvin Deaver, tuba; Junior Loc Duong, trombone; Junior Raquel Haddad, flute; Junior Justin
Nguyen, cello; Junior Sophie Rodarte, flute; Junior Lauren Williams, viola; and Sophomore Gia Cabacungan, percussion. Those who received excellent marks were Senior Max Foye, clarinet, Senior Charles Zhu, violin; Junior Xuanqi Li, violin; Sophomore Blake Deery, trombone, Sophomore Nathan Matas, percussion; and Freshman Louis Eagleton, percussion. Additionally, Corzo, Haddad and Rodarte earned a Division 1 Superior mark in the ensemble category as the SPX Flute Trio. Competing at the MA National Contest in Fort Worth on March 23-25, the SPX Winter Guard, under the direction of Carlos De Los Santos, earned a Division 1 Superior rating and brought home a
trophy. The Winter Guard team is comprised of Senior Alex Calderon and Freshmen Kate Mytchak, Hannah Sebesta, Shelbie Kay, Yarian Garcia, Kendahl Haltiwanger and Noelia Luna. The group was judged on appearance, choreography, technique, precision, presentation, showmanship and general effect. At the same competition, Senior Anita Hopmann, under the direction of Twirling Coach Robin Crossland, was honored with a Division 1 Superior rating and trophy for twirling. She was judged on the same criteria as the Winter Guard group. Hopmann also was awarded second overall in twirling at the MA National Competition.
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Fuego Food Truck is now open By Jeanette Black For The Leader Shelly Saldana, owner of Cornerstone Materials LLC and Fuego Food Truck, has been a woman working in a man’s world for over 20 years and also raising a family with 7 children. She is one busy lady!! You can drive past Cornerstone Materials LLC, her business at the corner of 26th and Yale in The Heights , and see
her driving her heavy equipment around the yard loading stone, gravel , dirt and mulch onto trucks for delivery. She is back in business after having to close the business for a few years. Shelly says “sometimes you have to close a few doors to get new ones to open up.” She started back in business with her Fuego Food Truck, specializing in Mexican and Honduran Foods and has quite
a following. Shelly says her fried plantains are a specialty and a customer favorite. Before long, she had both businesses up and running. So, if you need some landscaping stones, gravel, dirt, mulch or some good food for breakfast or lunch, consider stopping by her corner at 2503 Yale and let Shelly help fix you up!! You won’t be disappointed!
tended learning opportunities for students. “The possibilities are endless - from hands-on science activities to simply using the new classroom structure as a place to find inspiration for creative writing and art,” said Gunden. “My kids love their garden days and already come home with lively reports of what they planted or tasted - I look forward to hearing about how they are using the classroom structure as well.” Principal Poerschke thinks that the IB curriculum at Durham will ensure that all teach-
ers use the space. “The IB program is holistic,” she said. “We have full content teachers. Anything that can happen inside can happen outside.” Jaeger emphasized how many people came together to make the classroom a reality, and persevered during the inevitable roadblocks. “We are so fortunate to have strong parent involvement, faculty support and an amazing network of community players that have worked tirelessly on this project,” said Jaeger.
Durham from P. 1A once a month this year. Urban Harvest is an organization that partners with schools to teach and support organic gardening. “[The students] think it’s awesome and often share what they experienced as soon as they get home,” said Jaeger. “They are proud to see what they’ve planted growing and excitedly try carrots, squash and ‘purple things!’ The structure will add another element to this amazing space.” Parent Angie Gunden is most excited about how the outdoor garden and classroom will provide a space for ex-
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Page 12A • Saturday, March 31, 2018 • The Leader