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TEA official addresses ongoing investigation into HISD By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com Those who follow public education closely in Houston may have been surprised by the Texas Education Agency’s directive that the Houston ISD Board of Trustees cease its search for a permanent superintendent until the TEA has completed its special accreditation investigation of the board. The state is reportedly investigating possible violations of the Open Meetings Act and
improprieties in how HISD vendors are selected. A local group called Supporters of HISD Magnets and Budget Accountability organized a meeting last Saturday with AJ Crabill, the TEA’s deputy commissioner for governance, to talk about the possible outcomes of the investigation as well as the timing of the TEA’s directive. Crabill expressed concern that details of the investigation were already known, stating that the state’s docu-
ments were privileged, but said a final public report would be months away. Possible sanctions for HISD, in order of severity from least to greatest, include a corrective action plan, a TEA monitor who observes and can give advice, a conservator who gives directives to the superintendent or the board (one already is in place) or a board of managers that would temporarily replace all of the current trustees. See TEA P. 4A
Contributed photo Texas Education Agency official AJ Crabilll, center, speaks last weekend. He is flanked by Tracy Lisewsky, left, and LaTrice Ferguson of Supporters of HISD Magnets and Budget Accountability.
If you build it... Jason Knebel (713)232-9712
By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
jasonk@greenwoodking.com GREENWOOD KING
PROPERTIES
the community didn’t really fit with what I was looking for,” founder Mike Schaad said. “I thought I could find a
A federal bankruptcy court judge ruled in August that the Garden Oaks Maintenance Organization (GOMO) had to stop collecting transfer fees, its primary source of revenue since forming in the early 2000s. Judge David Jones also asked GOMO to exclude transfer fees from its Chapter 11 restructuring plan, which was presented to current and former homeowners for a neighborhood-wide vote. The people of Garden Oaks apparently like transfer fees a lot more than the judge. GOMO did not seek confirmation of its bankruptcy plan in a Tuesday court hearing because not nearly enough homeowners supported it. While conducting a vote that essentially ended up even, GOMO office manager Pam Parks said homeowners made it clear they preferred a transfer fee – a onetime payment upon completion of a home sale – to the annual mandatory fee of $80 that was included in the Chapter 11 plan. “People wrote on their ballots that they would have voted for it if it would have been a transfer fee instead of a maintenance fee,” Parks said. “We put that annual maintenance fee in there because the judge basically painted a picture that we needed to go in that direction. So we tried and lost.” Parks said a continued hearing has been set for May 9. Between now and then, GOMO can modify its plan for another potential vote or pursue a joint plan with the court-appointed committee of unsecured creditors, which represents the interests of nearly 400 claimants, many of whom are seeking the return of their .75 percent transfer fees. Doubt about GOMO’s authority to collect transfer fees precipitated its
See Rugby P. 4A
See GOMO P. 4A
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BREAKING.
Driver charged in pedestrian deaths
Photo by Ralph Parrott/Sui Generis Photography Norm Dillon, right, makes his way up the field flanked by Matthew Provost during an Arrows Rugy Club match against the Kingwood Crusaders. The currently 50-member club is looking to build a field and facility in Independence Heights.
Rugby club looking to plant roots in Independence Heights By Landan Kuhlmann landan@thleadernews.com
From Staff Reports The driver of the car that struck and killed two pedestrians in the Heights late last month has been arrested and charged with two counts of failing to stop and render aid involving death, according to the Houston Police Department. HPD said in a news release that Jada Mimms, 20, was arrested without Jada Mimms incident Tuesday and charged in the 183rd State District Court. Mimms’ blue Chevrolet Cruze was traveling north on North Shepherd Drive on the night of March 30, when it struck and killed Jesse Perez, 64, and Lesha Adams, 55. Adams had stopped and gotten out of her own vehicle to help Perez, who was confined to a wheelchair, cross Shepherd south of 10th Street. According to HPD, Mimms allegedly left the scene and returned a short time later. Police say she did not show signs of intoxication and was questioned and released at the time.
A rugby ball may look like a larger verision of a football, but the two sports are far from garnering the same level of recognition in the United States. However, a local club is looking to make its mark in the Houston sports and rugby scene while cultivating a greater love of the game through the undertaking of a transformative project in Independence Heights. The Houston Arrows Rugby Football Club, a 50-member Catholic adult team which has utilized the football fields at St. Pius X High School and St. Thomas High School for practices as well as matches over the past three seasons, has begun
Contributed rendering Shown here is the proposed site near Crosstimbers Road and Interstate 45 in Independence Heights where the Arrows want to build their field and facility.
work on a project for a dedicated field it can call its own. The Arrows are seeking to secure land for their own facility through a fundraising drive called “Into The Breach.” “A lot of the clubs and cultures in
Space-themed trip to Rice helps area kids reach for stars By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
Contributed photo Roger Capuchino Jr., right, helps his son, Roger Capuchino III, launch a stomp rocket during a field trip to Rice University on April 6.
EASTER PORTRAIT Complimentary Easter portraits for the kiddos. Complimentary p y snacks and drinks for everyone.
Location: 1803 W. 43rd St Houston, TX 77018
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Going to college wasn’t exactly the expectation for Roger Capuchino Jr., whose parents did not attend college and were of modest means. He took classes at Houston Community College after graduating from Waltrip High School, but never completed a degree. Capuchino wants his 9-year-old son to aim higher academically, and his son is well on his way. Roger Capuchino III, a
third-grader at Sinclair Elementary in Timbergrove, got a taste of one of the best colleges in the country last weekend. He participated in the second annual Space Day in Space City at Rice University, where he sat in on a lecture by a college professor, attended a baseball game, toured the campus and got to build a toy rocket. “I’m excited,” said the elder Capuchino, who accompanied his son. “I had never seen a college campus when I was his age. It never crossed my mind. Me being able to do
Backyard Garden Tour T our ou
Please Join Us April 13th!!
Time:
Transfer fee back in play as GOMO plan rejected
that with my son at a young age, it will put that in his mind and increase his eagerness to push forward.” Fostering that sort of sentiment is one of the objectives of the National College Readiness Institute (NCRI), a Houston-based nonprofit founded in 2016. It was selected by Houston City Councilwoman Ellen Cohen to receive a $15,000 grant from the Harris County Department of Education’s Case for Kids program. See Space P. 4A
Donna Hood TOP LISTER
benefitting the SPP Constable Program, Durham Elementary PTA, and SPP Garden Club beautification projects
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From Staff Reports A northwest Houston woman died last Saturday evening when another driver ran a stop sign in Oak Forest.The Houston Police Department said the woman, identified by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences as 22-year-old
Tommiesha Sarver, was traveling south on Rosslyn Road at about 7:45 p.m. Saturday. Her white Honda Accord was struck by a black Chevrolet Tahoe, with the driver failing to yield the right of way at a stop sign while turning left from Chantilly Lane. According to HPD, Sarver’s Accord
then left the roadway and struck a fence and tree. She was transported by paramedics to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. HPD said Monday that the driver of the Tahoe remained at the scene and had not been charged with a crime. The investigation is ongoing.
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Mayor Sylvester Turner announced last week that Houstonians can once again have glass recyclables picked up from their homes. The city’s new recycling contractor, Spain-based FCC Environmental Services (or Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas), was awarded its contract in 2018 and opened
a new 120,000 square-foot facility in northeast Houston in March. The Houston Solid Waste Management Department, after a two-year hiatus from curbside glass recycling pickup, has since been collecting bottles and jars made of brown, clear and green glass. Glass and other materials accepted in recycling bins — aluminum, cardboard, paper and some plastics — should be clean, dry and empty.
The city, which previously had a recycling contract with Houston-based Waste Management, said the new deal with FCC shares the financial risk between the two parties so the city “can limit its liability when the value of recyclables declines and share in revenue when it rises.� The city owns the facility, while FCC is responsible for operations and maintenance. “During the course of nego-
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tiations, the city worked hard to come to an agreement for Houston that at no time will the cost per a ton of recycled material exceed the cost per a ton of disposal to the landfill,� the city said in a statement. Glass recyclables will continue to be accepted at the city’s nine drop-off centers, including the one at 9003 N. Main St. in Independence Heights.
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THE TOPICS. The Leader • Saturday, April 13, 2019 • Page 3A
Media Camp for writing offers endless potential
S
ometime around my sophomore year of high school, baggy haired and pimply faced, I knew the script to the rest of my life. You see, I had spent so much time letting doctors fix all my sports injuries that I thought I had no other choice than to be an orthopedic surgeon. By the age of seven, I had broken (or severely bent) my arms a whopping six times – and that’s not hyperbole. I fell off a toilet once, no kidding. I had finished a bath and the towels were on a shelf above the commode. Soapy and wet, I stood on the lid, reached for a towel and landed left-arm-first in the bathtub. I fell off a trampoline because my hot-shot neighbor, John Shreckengost, told me to back up so he could show the cute girls how he could do a flip. I backed up all the way to the ground, right arm first. I was tackled twice in football – once on the sidewalk, once on the curb – and both times ended in a cast. I tried to jump over a creek the size of the Grand Canyon and broke my fall with my arm landing squarely on a brick. I fell out of a tree another time because OSHA didn’t monitor our treehouse development company. I remember sitting at the foot of that tree, no feeling in my arm, thinking, “This has got to stop.”
Jonathan McElvy Publisher
While all my friends were swimming in the local, public pool, I sat on the steps with a plastic bag around the sweaty plaster glued to my arm. I’ll never forget the smell of those casts, nor the dirt that seeped from them, nor the size of the saw blade doctors used to remove them. The arms were just a blip on my sports injuries. My ankles, one year, looked like softballs; I played a state championship basketball game with a broken finger that still looks more like an “s” than the normal “l.” I spent most of my high school baseball seasons popping anti-inflammatory pills while ice numbed the tendonitis in my right elbow. And in an unsanctioned, front-yard wrestling match with one of my best buds, I separated a shoulder. Let’s put it this way: My sports medicine doctor knew me well, so he wasn’t surprised when I ap-
proached him my freshman year of college to ask if I could work a summer job in his office to learn more about medicine. A funny thing happened along my way to medical school, though. It turns out, my brain wasn’t wired for the sciences. I studied harder and knew my biology book better than the academics, but I couldn’t handle what should be the unlawful multiple-choice tests they give in the university setting. No, my brain was wired to think I could find truth in A.), B.), C.) and, quite obviously, D.) All of the Above. That makes for a stunningly neurotic test-taking experience. Meanwhile, a few years earlier, one of my high school English teachers had brought a special guest to our classroom – a giant named Robert Stewart who was the strongest guy on the Alabama football team. I remember one thing Stewart said in that 30-minute conversation with our class: Learn how to write – it will help you in nearly any career you want. As an awkward teenager, I wasn’t smart enough to know what Stewart meant. Today, I think he was the smartest guy in the room. At the same time I was making Cs on biology tests in college, I was trying to write my first novel, which still exists somewhere on a floppy drive,
never to see the light of day again. In the 22 years since I passed my last college class, writing has been part of my life every day. It has led me to a career that has allowed me to interview sports stars, a sitting President, and thousands of people just like you and me who have wonderful stories to tell. Writing hasn’t just allowed me to write, though. I discovered I loved the business of writing, and my company now owns five separate entities. And even better, I’ve gotten to work with brilliant people, all who shared the ability to write. Some of those people work in the marketing world now, creating amazing campaigns across the country. Two former colleagues went on to be attorneys. A half dozen have moved into politics, while some of them have gone on to teach, work in the clergy or work as fundraisers. One former editor, a fantastic writer, is now an analyst for one of the world’s largest energy companies. I’ve even worked with writers who became extremely wealthy in the world of sales, and some who found their place in retail. You see, writing isn’t just sitting at a computer with fingers moving. It’s about learning and describing what you’ve learned. It’s about thinking critically, organizing thoughts, and being so trustworthy
The size of taxes are upon us THE READER. THE DINING ROOM TABLE – Like millions of other Americans, I am spending hours trying to figure of my federal income taxes for 2018. Actually, my wife – the daughter of a CPA – is doing the heavy lifting. My job is to advise with suggestions like: “Can’t we deduct these taxes from our income?” And: “The dog ate our receipts, but just trust us.” And: “Maybe, like our President, we can just hide them.” One study by the I.R.S. found it takes the average American taxpayer 13 hours to comply with the tax code, but this includes four hours devoted to actually completing the forms. Record-keeping takes an additional six hours and tax planning two more, and an extra hour is thrown in for miscellaneous tasks, like figuring out to low-ball your income and inflate your deductions. All told, Americans spend over $168 billion to comply and 6 billion hours. Another study found that total preparation times vary from five hours for a 1040-EZ to 16 hours for a standard 1040 form (69 percent of all taxpayers). However long it takes you, if you pay one single dollar in federal income taxes, you pay more than Amazon. We have often heard on hate radio, “Half of Americans pay no taxes.” That makes us mad and a bit selfpitying. If only it were true and we were in that non-paying half. According to the Tax Policy Center, 43.3 percent of American households – not half -- pay no federal income tax. Get it? No federal income tax. There are other taxes, such as taxes on property, cigarettes, gas, liquor, Social Security and state and local taxes. Everyone pays taxes. A quick example: Texas is one of seven states that has no income tax, but is currently debating a $251-billion budget for the next two years. Where do you think that money came from? Not from income taxes. (Incidentally, New York collected $2,249 per capita in individual state income taxes during the 2017 fiscal year, according to data from the Tax Foundation. Connecticut was second, at $2,218, followed by Massachusetts’ $2,146.) So the next time you hear some knuckle-draggers repeat the half-of-Americans, etc., ask what planet they live on. But there are ways to cut or even avoid federal income taxes. Presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren likes to claim, constantly, that GE pays “zero” in taxes. The company does pay payroll taxes and local and state taxes. And GE says it also pays federal income taxes. How much? GE isn’t saying. Nor is it required to. Amazon, however, is an even better story. Another presidential candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders, claims that Amazon.com, despite taking in $5.6 billion in profit in 2017, paid no federal corporate income taxes for that year. While Amazon’s tax filings are not public, its SEC
Lynn Ashby Columnist
filing for 2017 shows that the company used the tax code expertly (and legally) so well that the company anticipated a $137-million tax refund – yes, refund -- from the federal government. No wonder Jeff Bezos is the richest person in the world – until his divorce goes through, then he’ll probably be tied as richest with his ex-wife. If, like Amazon, you expect money back (good luck), the wait time for your federal income tax refund depends upon your filing method. A traditional filing, where you mail back your income tax return, could take several weeks. If you file electronically (e-file), it could take 10 to 14 days. Here’s some good news for all you wannbe tax cheats: follow the lead of porn star Stormy Daniels’ lawyer, Michael Avenatti. The feds say he has not filed a federal income tax return since 2010, and he has not paid federal income taxes since 2008, yet lives “extravagantly.” You wonder how many other Avenattis there are, probably quite a few. Why? For the past decade Congressional Republicans have been cutting the I.R.S.’s budget, which has been warning that it doesn’t have enough manpower (or womanpower) to catch tax cheats. At a congressional hearing in 2015, Rep. Mike Kelly, a Pennsylvania Republican, scolded the head of the I.R.S. for talking publicly about the agency’s need for more auditors. “Those comments are better kept internally.” In other words, “Don’t tell the public that they can cheat on their taxes because we keep cutting your budget.” Then the Congressmen cut the budget. According to press reports, the government’s most recent estimate, back in 2010, is that Americans fail to pay more than $400 billion in taxes each year. That’s enough money to reduce the annual federal deficit almost by half. What you bet that number has increased in the last nine years? ProPublica reported last year that I.R.S. audits declined by 42 percent between 2010 and 2017. The I.R.S. has especially pulled back from scrutinizing people like Michael Avenatti who do not file tax returns; new investigations fell from 2.4 million in 2011 to just 362,000 in 2017. The number of I.R.S. auditors has been reduced by one-third since 2011. The government employs fewer people to chase deadbeats than at any time since the 1950s.This is pennywise and pound foolish, since the I.R.S. has estimated
that each additional dollar spent on tax enforcement would yield $4 in federal revenue. The annoying thing is that you and I, or our grandchildren, have to pay what the deadbeats don’t pay. A few years ago the House Committee on Doing Stupid Things heard from a sobbing witness who said a friend of his had committed suicide after being hounded by the I.RS. for not paying his taxes. Turns out the witness owed $30 million in back taxes. Finally, if you are thinking of being a tax dodge, remember a quote from that famed Chicago businessman, Al Capone, who said: “They can’t collect legal taxes from illegal money.” But also remember that Capone did not go to prison for murder, kidnapping, extortion or bad breath, but for federal income tax evasion. Ashby is taxed at ashby2@comcast.net
that people will open up to you. A few years ago, our company had the idea to pass along what I was given in high school. The Leader holds its annual Media Camp each summer to introduce young people to the world of media. We teach them about writing, about photography, about building websites and about video. They write stories, post to websites, build a photo gallery and film their own broadcast. We’ve never had a camp where the youngsters left disappointed, and if you’re looking for an activity one week this summer for your children, you never know what switch may get turned on in their minds. The ages of children who can attend is 10-15, and this year’s camp will be held from July 8-12 at our office. If you’d like more information about our camp, you’re more than welcome to email me at the address below. These days, a lot of us don’t like to talk about “media,” with its negative connotations. But what we do at The Leader, and in our company, is not “media” in the national, angry sense. We believe in telling great stories about great people and important topics. And if you think your children may be interested, we’d love to show them the way. Email jonathan@mcelvymedia.com Email us your letters: news@theleadernews.com
Families of fallen pedestrians call for traffic improvements
Dear Editor: While METRO should, of course, work with Houston Public Works to install safe crossings, this tragedy is 95% city design, not METRO. This street should be redesigned for safe <=35 mph speed immediately. Ideally, Shepherd, Durham should be converted to 2-way. Setting sites on removing the bus stop is missing the forest for the trees. People frequently cross Shepherd/Durham to get to locations other than the bus stops. John Bernal Dear Editor: My sympathy to the families. Trying to get the city to make any improvements to safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motor vehicles is a losing battle. (Although they did just change the lanes on Studewood.) The city bureaucracy is slow to respond, and just finding the proper department can be a task. 311 is the only point of contact, and it seems that reports to 311 go into a black box. They farm out the request to the proper department, and then tell the caller that they have no idea what the department can do/ will do/has done. Meantime, there is no easy way to contact the responsible department. The sidewalks are awful, and not ADA compliant. There are also mud slicks on the sidewalks, where I have slipped and fallen several times. Right now, W. 15th is closed just east of Shepherd, and the sidewalk on the east side of Shepherd is closed from 14th to 15th, but then, on the west side of Shepherd the sidewalk is closed from 15th to 16th. So, when you walk your
dog up Shepherd, you have to zig zag across a super speedway to walk a block or two north or south. Meanwhile, the construction crews don’t even know if there is a permit for this. Is there? The city can’t answer that, either. If there was a real muckraking journalist in Houston, maybe s/ he could get an answer to this. In real cities, the construction sites are usually required to put in wooden sidewalks, with a roof over it. Contractors don’t shut down entire blocks like they do in Houston. Of course, the people in charge of Houston think that putting up a sign that threatens to tow people from the public right of way is OK, as long as you move it back to the fence line. If the city was diligent in collecting fines from businesses and contractors, they could have the money to pay for Prop. B. I also had some advice for the police department. I once worked for a sheriff ’s department, and, the county auditor would come and tell the sheriff that they needed some more HRE’s (human revenue enhancers). The police would go to the bar parking lot, mark the headlights of the cars, and then wait down the street. The drunk drivers got off the road, into jail, and the money rolled in, too. Every weekend in Houston is a carnage of drunk driving crashes, so this could improve traffic safety and bring in the needed revenue. As it is, the police department can’t take reports over the phone. They need to send an officer, which means you wait for three hours, and an officer comes, takes a report, and doesn’t investigate. What a waste. The people in charge of Houston are stuck in their ways, and don’t want to respond to the people who actually attempt to use the streets, sidewalks, and trails. Jason Hochman
the leader Puzzlers. Answers found in this week’s Classified section
SUDOKU
aCrOss
1. Leg shank 5. Small amount 8. Roman emperor 10. Having ears 12. Innocent young woman 14. No wrinkles 16. Small coin (French) 17. 19 hundred hours 19. A way to inform 21. A seal or signet 22. Tobacco smoke residue 23. Tai language branch 25. Set afire 26. Partridge FamilyÕs actress Susan 27. Canadian flyers 29. Faculties of perception 32. A light two-wheel carriage 34. Was ___ (looked at) 35. Appear with 37. Natives of Thailand 39. Hill (Celtic) 40. Runs PCs 42. Visualizes 44. Mistake
45. Riding horses 47. Point of purchase 49. Armless Aphrodite 53. Having negative qualities 54. Protective visual folds 55. Crystallized calcium carbonate mineral 57. Beach grains 58. One who presents a bond for payment 59. Car mechanics group 60. & & &
dOwn
1. Small paddle boats 2. Usual 3. Economic consumption 4. Without (French) 5. Powder mineral 6. Fleshy seed covering 7. Indicates 8. Stone lined grave 9. Feels remorse 10. Chemical structure 11. Decomposition 13. Morally base 14. Joins
15. Danish krone 18. Breastplate 20. Lesson reader in church 24. 1921 Turkish/ Armenian Treaty 26. In a way, refutes 28. Zoftig 30. Fish, hair or inter 31. Mains 33. Fathers 35. Transparent eye membranes 36. Stray 38. Seafowl 39. 3 pip cards 41. Invests in little enterprises 43. Placards 44. 1st woman 45. Finds a sum 46. Thick piece of something 48. River in Hesse, Germany 50. Inner forearm bone 51. 1 of 2 contesting groups 52. Olive tree genus 56. Metal container
WORD SCRAMBLE
Page 4A • Saturday, April 13, 2019 • The Leader
Art on wheels
Space, from P. 1A
Several area schools participating in Saturday’s Art Car Parade
Harvard Elementary’s “E-Car-ology” art car and its creators.
Hamilton Middle School’s “Jurassic Carnage” art car.
Isabel King, left, and Dafne Meza-Flores work on Heights High School’s “Pride and Joy” art car.
Arabic Immersion Magnet School’s “Booma the Driving Owl.”
Love Elementary’s “No. 93 Crush City Cruiser.”
NCRI founder Michelle Frias said the grant is used to conduct weekly afterschool STEAM workshops at area elementary schools including Browning, Sinclair and Stevens, which have significant populations of economically disadvantaged students. The grant also covered the $20 registration fee for about 45 students from those schools, along with some from Oak Forest Elementary, to attend the daylong field trip to Rice on April 6. Sinclair principal Lee Mashburn said some of his students who participated in a writing contest also got to go. “Some of those kids who went, they are hopefully on track to be first-generation college graduates,” Mashburn said. “So we’re exposing them to one of the major universities in the United States. It’s something that probably without an opportunity like that, they might not be privy to.” Adrian Amaya, a senior account executive in the Rice athletics department, said about 330 kids in all attended Space Day in Space City. It served as exposure to the university for potential future students while exposing them to the science of space exploration. The students first heard from Dr. David Alexander of the Rice Space Institute and later had some hands-on lessons. They broke into groups
and constructed stomp rockets, in which squeezing an empty plastic bottle attached to a flexible tube creates force to propel a toy rocket from the other end of the tube. The visiting youngsters also toured the Rice campus, were treated to lunch and attended an afternoon baseball game between the Owls and Florida International. There were space-related activities at the ballpark, too, including trivia games and the chance for kids to try on helmets and gloves worn by astronauts. “We make our entire day into a space theme,” Amaya said. The idea of reaching for the stars was incorporated as well. The elder Roger Capuchino said the experience stoked his son’s affinity for being adventurous, creative and construction-minded. Space Day in Space City had much the same effect on another third-grader from Sinclair. Like the younger Capuchino, Aniyah Quezada is an A-B student with a keen interest in science. Quezada’s mother, Desirai Quezada, said her daughter could hardly stop talking about her visit to Rice after returning home. Now Aniyah wants to go to college there to pursue her dual career goal of becoming a scientist and fashion designer. “I’m very grateful,” Aniyah said. “I enjoyed myself.”
Happy birthday!
Tanker overturns in Heights From Staff Reports Some Heights residents were ushered out of their homes early Tuesday morning when a big rig flipped over near 6th Street and Rutland Street. A Houston Fire Department spokesperson confirmed that a tanker truck containing 7,500 gallons of Ethanolamine, a colorless, viscous liquid that smells similar to ammonia, tipped over shortly before 6 a.m. Tuesday. Though no Ethanolamine escaped the big rig, an ABC13 report said the truck was leaking motor oil and hydraulic fluid. The contents were offloaded from the truck, which was turned upright and towed away by about 4 p.m. Early Tuesday morning, after the tanker overturned, HFD said approximately 30 nearby residents were evacuated to 7th Street. HFD dispatched Hazardous Materials Response Teams to the scene in order to contain the area, displacing residents in the area for
Photo by Landan Kuhlmann A tanker truck overturned in the Heights on Tuesday, leading to the evacuation of nearby residents.
several hours. Officials cleared the scene between 5 and 6 p.m. Tuesdaty according to an HFD spokesperson
GOMO, from P. 1A bankruptcy filing in April of last year. A 2016 state district court ruling in favor of Garden Oaks resident Peter Chang, a member of the creditors committee, revealed that GOMO had no standing to collect his transfer fee because it violated the Texas Property Code while petitioning residents to include them in the neighborhood’s deed restrictions. Nonetheless, a transfer fee is now part of the restructuring plan devised by the creditors committee. Its original plan, which also included an $80 annual fee, was submitted to the court last month and was to be vetted by Jones at Tuesday’s hearing. But creditors committee attorney Charles Rubio submitted an amended plan Monday night that instead included a reduced transfer fee of $1,500, subject to annual increases. If that transfer fee is adopted, Rubio said the amount would be deducted from each of the creditor’s claims. A restructured homeowners association also could charge that amount to every new Garden Oaks homeowner since the collection of transfer fees was suspended in August, creating revenue moving forward. “We determined that it’s unlikely that this community is going to approve an annual assessment in lieu of the transfer fee,” Rubio said. As part of the new plan by the creditors committee, and because there would not be any changes to the deed restrictions, Rubio said it would be voted on only by the creditors and not all
TEA, from P. 1A 1,142 of Garden Oaks’ homeowners. The idea is to expedite the conclusion of the bankruptcy case by satisfying the creditors and allowing the homeowners association to reorganize with new leadership. Amending the deed restrictions – a key part of GOMO’s restructuring plan – could then be tackled by the neighborhood as a whole. Rubio said such a process also would allow the transfer fees to be properly incorporated, whereas they were improperly incorporated in the early 2000s. Under Texas law, Rubio said changes to deed restrictions must be approved by at least two-thirds of all homeowners. Fewer than 400 ballots were cast in response to GOMO’s restructuring plan. “We just want to do the most straightforward and easiest thing to get (a restructuring plan) approved,” Rubio said. Parks said GOMO has a similar desire. So instead of continuing to proceed with competing restructuring plans, GOMO and the creditors committee could agree on a joint plan. Parks and Rubio said the two sides will continue to negotiate and, if they settle on one plan, could request to return to court before May 9. Parks said there is a “heightened desire” for such a scenario. “We would hope they would approve of the ideas of what we’re doing here,” Rubio said. “We’re certainly willing to work with them and take their ideas and combine our ideas and go out with a joint plan.”
Durham Elementary School, which opened in 1967, held a birthday celebration on April 6. The free event with an estimated 600 attendees included refreshments as well as a scavenger hunt, obstacle course, outdoor games, magician, bounce house and face painting. Photo by Bouchet Images.
“Either it impacts the full board or it doesn’t impact the full board,” he said, adding that the most severe sanctions were reserved for when governance “has degraded to a point that it is actually harming the wellbeing of a community’s children.” Other districts that have had a board of managers installed include El Paso ISD, Beaumont ISD and Edgewood ISD in San Antonio. Crabill said a board of managers in these cases was a temporary fix for a few years and that the board members were tasked with resolving the specific issues that brought the sanctions. “Their job is to make it easy for (the) board of trustees when they return,” said Crabill, who added that rolling elections for trustees continue while the board of managers is in place so that the board is repopulated with elected persons in thirds. When asked about any link between the investigation and the superintendent search, Crabill referenced the state conservator’s letter to trustees and said he took it at its word that there was some connection. He said he was not involved in the decision regarding the superintendent search because he had recused himself from ongoing investigations into HISD in order to be a better support mechanism for the board. Crabill also said it is his hope that the board would continue to improve. “If what there was was this kind of blood lust for (a board of managers), I think that would have already occurred,” he said. HISD charter renewal At the April 4 HISD Board of Education meeting, the board voted to renew in-district charter agreements
for eight campuses. While five of the schools were renewed with a 7-1 vote, the renewal for the Energized and Inspired charter schools, founded by Lois Bullock, squeaked by 5-4. Those schools have come under fire for loaning Bullock’s for-profit company millions of dollars and paying high salaries to their leaders. Trustee Elizabeth Santos, who voted against renewing all charters, said she found the administration’s oversight of these contracts to be inadequate, particularly for finances, special education and teacher certification. “With the Energized schools, the administration could not answer questions about multi-million dollar loans to a for-profit company owned by the head of schools,” Santos said. “Until we have better safeguards in place, I cannot support continuing to rubber stamp these in-district charter contracts.” Trustees added an amendment stipulating the district will incorporate into the agreements greater oversight of financial management and academic performance of the in-district charters. Education finance reform There are dueling proposals in Austin for how schools would be financed and how teachers would get paid. The Texas Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 3 in early March, which would give $5,000 annual pay raises to full-time classroom teachers and librarians. The cost would be $4 billion. On April 3, the House almost unanimously passed House Bill 3, which is more all-encompassing. It would increase the funding weights for each student by $890 and fund a full-day pre-kindergarten for low-
income students. The bill also would reduce the recapture payment for wealthy districts in terms of property tax revenue, such as HISD. It also would add raises for all full-time school employees who are not administrators, although the annual base amount for teachers would be a little more than $1,300 with discretion given to districts to increase that amount. Heather Golden, who is in Austin this week with HEAR, an HISD advocacy group, said House Bill 3 also includes increased weights for dyslexic and dual-language students. “It also has transportation funding HISD doesn’t currently receive as a recapture district,” Golden said. “Overall, House Bill 3 is good for kids.” Golden expressed concern that the Senate bill has no way to fund the teacher raises after two years and doesn’t address the larger school-finance concerns that the House bill does. Zeph Capo, president of the Houston Federation of Teachers, said his body is less satisfied with the lowered minimum required amount in the House bill, along with the fact HISD will be distributing the raises. “There is a significant lack of trust right now between our educators and the district,” Capo said. “Some of it is valid, but I am confident that if the educators continue to stand with us and speak up then we will be able to push much closer to the proposed $5,000 for teachers and also ensure that the rest of our team is included.” Golden said the final version of a school-finance bill that gets the nod from the House and Senate will likely be hashed out in conference.
Rugby, from P. 1A faith-based group of guys who could hold themselves to a higher standard off the field as well.” The Northside Columbus Club has offered the Arrows the chance to purchase a 10,000-square-foot portion of its property at 607 E. Whitney St. in Independence Heights, near the intersection of Crosstimbers Road and Interstate 45. The Arrows’ fourphase plan, according to the club’s campaign website, calls for raising $1.5 million over the next five years in order to build the Rugby Formation Center and to begin work on the field in early 2020. To date, the club has raised $50,000 in pledges, with $22,000 collected. “We’re really looking for a headquarters to build a place where we
Contributed photo The Arrows Rugby Club has had about 80 players come through its organization.
can grow the sport and build good men,” Schaad said. The concept of building a Houston-based club first struck Schaad after attending a USA vs. Argentina
match at BBVA Compass Stadium in early 2016. And several months later, the Arrows were born. But a space issue soon arose. A regulation rugby field is 120 yards
long by 77 yards wide, dimensions not readily available at many area facilities. “It doesn’t fit within a track and doesn’t fit inside a football field unless the track is specifically built to shape around a rugby field,” Schaad said. “Basically every club in Houston is playing on fields narrower than they should be playing on.” During the club’s inaugural 201617 season, the Arrows were 1-8. The next season, the record improved to 3-4-1, and the Arrows currently sport a 4-5 record this season. Growing the team, Schaad noted, is reliant upon the ability to offer what many clubs cannot. “It’s very hard to find space and find organizations that will allow you
to use their field, so not having your own space really hinders growth and the ability to build a strong rugby club,” he said. At the culmination of their project, the Arrows foresee hosting high school tournaments, youth rugby clubs and more on the property. It would consist of a weight room, two locker rooms and two meeting rooms along with a chapel and social area. “We really think we can put together a space that encourages growth both on and off the field,” co-founder and team member Bill Pellerin said. For more information on the Arrows and their campaign, visit ArrowsRugby.com and ArrowsIntoTheBreach.com.
THINGS TO DO.
The Arts
The Lone Bellow Sunday, April 14 7 – 11 p.m. The Heights Theater – 339 W. 19th St. The Lone Bellow is performing at The Heights Theater with John Moreland. Ian Moore Band Thursday, April 18 7 – 11 p.m. The Heights Theater – 339 W. 19th St. The Ian Moore Band is performing at The Heights Theater with Scott H. Biram. Tunes in the Tap Room Tuesday, April 16 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. Harold’s Restaurant & Tap Room – 350 W. 19th St. Enjoy live music in Harold’s Tap Room every Tuesday night. Hell’s Heroes II Saturday, April 13 3:30 p.m. White Oak Music Hall – 2915 N. Main St. Hell’s Heroes II is coming to at White Oak Music Hall, with Razor, Power Trip, Exciter, and more. Big Freedia Sunday , April 14 8 p.m. White Oak Music Hall – 2915 N. Main St. Big Freedia is performing at White Oak Music Hall with Alfred Banks. Steve and Donna Bing Sunday, April 14 2 – 5 p.m. EQ Heights – 1030 Heights Blvd. Steve and Donna Bing is performing at EQ Heights. Spring Reveal: Cynthia Leigh Miller Sunday, April 14 2 – 4:30 p.m. The Chrysalis – 1218 Heights Blvd. Ste. A Join The Chrysalis for its exhibition of artist Cynthia Leigh Miller. The afternoon event will release the theme of Cynthia’s summer exhibition in the Franklin Gallery on the evening of June 28, 2019. The event will feature Q&A with the artist and an exciting discussion about what’s to come.
The Markets Little White Oak Night Market Saturday, April 13 4 – 8 p.m. Sideout Volleybar – 2623 Keene St. The Little White Oak Night Market brings together local farmers, craft merchandisers, and artists. Eleanora’s Market Saturday, April 13 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. Cavatore – 2120 Ella Blvd. There will be local growers, makers, designers, artisans and food producers. Heights Epicurean Market Saturday, April 13 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 1245 Heights Blvd. The Heights Epicurean Farmers Market supports all the good things that bind a community in the name of healthy, natural, clean living and brotherhood. Heights Morning Market Sunday, April 14 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. 3106 White Oak Dr.
Heights Morning Market gathers local talented artisans, farmers, and entrepreneurs to bring you closer to the goods you need. Stop by to shop and stay to brunch, drink mimosas, and listen to live music at Onion Creek. The Market at Sawyer Yards Saturday, April 13 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. 1502 Sawyer Yards St. Experience another aspect of art-making that is not widely available with guidance from Houston-artist Jack Gron. Happening during Second Saturday at Sawyer Yards, Expressions in Molten Metal is an interactive experience that allows the public to create their own design in a resin sand scratch block that will then be turned into a cast aluminum block by Gron’s mobile foundry.
The Pews Women’s Bible Study Group Monday, April 15 5:30 p.m. YMCA –1234 W. 34th St. The Women’s Bible Study meets every Monday at the Harriet and Joe Foster YMCA. Guests and new members are welcome to attend this non-denominational Bible study. Email scripturesharing@ earthlink.net for information. Men’s Scripture Sharing Group Thursday, April 18 7 a.m. YMCA –1234 W. 34th St. The Men’s Scripture Sharing Group meets every Thursday at the Harriet and Joe Foster YMCA. There will be music, Bible study and fellowship. Guests and new members are welcome to attend this non-denominational Bible study. Email scripturesharing@ earthlink.net for information. St. Stephen’s Events Sunday, April 14 8:30 a.m. St. Stephen’s UMC – 2003 W. 43rd St. Children of all ages are welcome to participate in the palm procession at the beginning of the 8:30 am and 11 am services on Sunday, April 14. Arrive a few minutes early if participating. All are welcome to attend a Family Easter Celebration Saturday, April 20, from 4 – 7 p.m. at Oak Forest Park, beginning with an egg hunt, followed by a cook-out and a family-friendly Easter vigil. For more information, call the office at 713-686-8241, or visit www. stsumc.org and the church’s Facebook page. St. Matthew’s Events Sunday, April 14 10 a.m. St. Matthew’s Methodist Church – 4300 N. Shepherd Dr. The community is invited to come and share Holy Week at St. Matthew’s Methodist. Palm Sunday: April 14, 10:17 a.m. Enter sanctuary waving palm branches. Maundy Thursday: April 18, 7 p.m. Communion and foot washing. Good Friday: April 19, 6 p.m. Christ’s journey to the cross through music and scripture, plus Stations of the Cross. Easter Sunday: 7 a.m. Sonrise service and continental breakfast by the youth. 9:15-10 a.m. will be pictures with the Easter Bunny and Egg Hunt and at 10:17 a.m. is the Easter worship service. Lazybrook Baptist Church Events Sunday, April 21 10:45 a.m. Lazybrook Baptist Church – 1822 West 18th St.Â
The Leader • Saturday, April 13, 2019 • Page 5A
Join Lazybrook on Easter Sunday morning as they bear witness through music and testimonies of the life-changing encounters with the Savior. Choir Easter Musical; WE ARE WITNESSES, Encounters With the Savior. On April 25 is the Men’s Annual Fish Fry, at no cost. Guest Speaker: Pastor Russel Cravens of Neartown Church.
brisket, ribs, sausage, chicken, beans and potato salad. Annual Easter Egg Hunt Saturday, April 13 10 a.m. Stonecrest Park The Shepherd Forest Civic Club Annual Easter Egg Hunt is scheduled for this Saturday. This civic club event will again be held at Stonecrest Park, located on East T.C. Jester at Stonecrest. All Shepherd Forest residents and their children are invited and encouraged to attend. The Easter Bunny will be on hand to greet the children and pose for pictures, so bring your camera, along with a lawn chair and an Easter basket. Refreshments will be served after the Egg Hunt.
Immanuel’s Easter Celebration Saturday, April 20 10 a.m. Immanuel Lutheran Church – 1440 Cortlandt St. Join Immanuel Lutheran Church for its 9th annual Easter celebration. There will be fun activities, games, refreshments, and an Easter egg hunt for children ages 10 and under. The Houston Saengerbund Choir Tuesday, April 23 7:30 p.m. First Evangelical Lutheran Church – 1211 Holman The Houston Saengerbund Choirs will perform in both German and at First Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Annual Crawfish Boil Saturday, April 13 4 p.m. Brookston Body Shop – 1330 N. Durham Dr. Brookston Body Shop is throwing its annual crawfish boil this Saturday, where you can eat, drink, and enjoy the weather.
SPX performs Into The Woods Thursday, April 11 7 p.m. St. Pius X High School – 811 W. Donovan St. Theatre SPX is performing “Into the Woods� on April 11, 12 and 13 at 7 p.m., and on April 14 at 2:30 p.m. Admission: $5 student / $10 adult.
High Five Food Truck Fest Sunday, April 14 Noon – 5 p.m. Eureka Heights Brew Co. – 941 W. 18th St. Come feast with Eureka Heights at the High Five Food Truck Fest. Five of Houston’s finest food trucks are going to be hanging out. Every truck will be offering at least one $5 menu item and handing out free high fives. The food trucks: Satellite of Pizza, Black Market Burritos, Hula Dog Texas, Texasiana Famous Food LLC, and The DoughCone.
The Savannah Sipping Society Production Friday, April 12 8:30 p.m. Theatre Suburbia – 4106 Way Out West, Ste. N The Savannah Sipping Society is about how four unique Southern women, all needing to escape the sameness of their day-to-day routines, are drawn together by Fate—and an impromptu happy hour—and decide it’s high time to reclaim the enthusiasm for life they’ve lost through the years. The show opens on April 12 and runs through May 11. Friday and Saturday evening performances are at 8:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m.
90’s Trivia Night Wednesday, April 17 7 p.m. Mellow Mushroom – 1919 N. Shepherd Dr. Test your 90’s knowledge at Mellow Mushroom during its 90’s trivia night.
BJ Coleman Book Signing Saturday, April 13 1 – 3 p.m. The Book Scene - 1820 W. 43rd St. Local author BJ Coleman will sign and discuss her book, “How Long Does Mourning Last� at The Book scene. There will be refreshments, prizes, and lively discussion.
2019 American Bonsai Society Convention Thursday, April 11 – Sunday, April 14 Marriott Westchase, 2900 Briarpark Dr. The Houston Bonsai Society will co-host the 2019 American Bonsai Society (ABS) Convention this weekend. The general public is welcome to attend and can visit the bonsai exhibit room and vendor area for free (please stop by the registration table to obtain a visitor pass); attendance at the other events will require the purchase of a convention pass.
Waltrip Band Performance Saturday, April 13 7 p.m. Waltrip High School – 1900 W. 34th St. The Jazz Ensemble #1 is performing at the school on Saturday with world-class, famous trumpeter Wayne Bergeron. He’s played on soundtracks to 100s of movies and television shows, and played with countless stars, including Maynard Ferguson. Tickets to the concert are $5, and is open to the public.
Clay Houston Pop-up Saturday, April 20 All Saints Catholic Church – 215 E 10th St. ClayHouston will present Member’s Pop Up Marketplace featuring over 20 local ceramics artists as well as Che’s Latin Fusion food truck. Members’ Pop Up Marketplace will give the community the opportunity to purchase the beautiful sculptural and functional ceramic art that is being produced by its members. This event is free and open to the
American Legion Barbecue Saturday, April 13 Noon American Legion Post 560 – 3720 Alba Come by for some delicious barbecue. Plates will be served from noon until sold out and include
DIRECTORY
MANNA 4QPOTPS
Wednesday Bible Studies For Youth, Children
8FTU SE 4U t )PVTUPO 5Y t and Adults............................ 6:15pm
1822 W. 18th • 713-864-1470
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Wednesday Bible Studies For Youth, Children • Worship (English) ..... 10:00 am - 11:00am and Adults............................ 6:15pm • Learning Hour........... 11:00am - 12:00pm
• Worship (Spanish) .... 12:30 pm - 1:30pm > [O ŕ Ž
Weekly Sunday Services r #JCMF 4UVEZ B N
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Pastor Jerry McNamara Gethsemane Lutheran Church 4040 Watonga • 713-688-5227
r &WFOJOH Q N • Bible Study: 9:15 a.m. SE 8FTU BU 3PTTMZO • Morning:10:30 a.m. • Evening: 4:15 p.m.
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WeWe invite you withus! us! invite youtotoworship worship with Weekly Worship Services a.m. Weekly Worship Services 9:00 9:00 a.m. Sunday School & Bible a.m. Sunday School & BibleClasses Classes 10:30 10:30 am Preschool Program• •Mon. Mon. - Fri. Fri. 9-2 Preschool Program 9-2p.m. p.m. www.gethsemanelutheran.org ESL Classes Tuesday - Thursday www.gethsemanelutheran.org
Bible Studies For All Ages ... 9:30am
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Healthy Pets Visit Vets
n recent years there has been a signi icant reduction in pet visits to veterinarians despite an increase in pet populations. Data shows common and preventable diseases in pets have been increasing. This shift from preventative care to reactive care typically costs more if pets are to stay healthy or alive. One driving force behind this trend, besides the recession, is dependence on the Internet. Pet owners often look online irst if their pet is ill. This delay means pets are far worse off when they inally get to the vet, therefore costs are much greater, some cannot be saved and euthanasia rates are up signi icantly. Although reliable Internet sites can provide knowledge they can not deliver know-how, experience or action for quick and proper treatment. Soon, it will be puppy parvovirus season again. Thousands of the cutest puppies will die needlessly as they do every spring. This killer disease is easily prevented with basic vaccines. With increasing mosquitoes, thousands of cats and dogs will acquire heartworms despite available prescription preventatives. All pets deserve at least an annual veterinary exam and consultation on their individual basic health care needs. To understand optimal preventative healthcare for your pet visit: www.pethealthpartnership.org. If your pet is ill, do not delay. Make an appointment and then research online.
Always call your Vet if you have any concerns or questions
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OVER IT!
Life often seems to alternate between abundance and scarcity. Sometimes there is too much at but other times, not“we enough. t goes rain, withoutand saying, I’ll say it anyway: have all Before addressing how to Pope create moreputabunmade mistakes.� As Alexander so aptly it: “To dance our lives, we divine.� shouldWe first ask whether err is in human, to forgive, should remember wethe should want if so, this next time we more make a abundance, mistake. Most and certainly, we whatlearn kind. It our is possible an abundance must from mistakes, to andhave hopefully not continue badthem, things or should even also tooforgive muchourselves. of a good toofrepeat but we While promotion at work comes withit itthing. can beThe hard enough to forgive othersthat for their mistakes, can sometimes feel may almostalso impossible forgiveso ourselves. a raise in pay cometo with many We sometimes that cannotwe bring ourselves to forgive something headaches find our self wanting our we’ve done, and Sometimes we may punishthe andquickest harangue route ourselves old job back. to for years, even decades, In a life of orabundant joy isover to youthful simplifyindiscretions. our life and addition, some of us may not be able to forget the sins of get rid of some of our material possessions. our past. Andwarns althoughthat that may preventthings us from can repeating Wisdom material be them, we must be charitable and forgive ourselves, just as “golden shackles� that tie us down and make we forgive others. So, we a real effort in usshould miserable. So, how doshould we make attract positive the coming days and weeks to forgive the offenses of others abundance in our lives? Trust in God’s goodas well as our own. Sometimes, it helps to just forget ness, but also work hard and work smart. about Live them; that and is, to live try towithin, put themorouteven of ourbetter, mind and stop simply, under repeatedly mulling over them. One of the reasons we use our means. Save something from every paythe phrase “forgive and forget� is because sometimes that is check, but also be sure to be generous, giving the only way to forgive, i.e., by forgetting. But far better, and to charity, to our church, and to those less formore divine, is to be able to forgive even while remembering tunate than us. Paradoxically, those who give the offense. So, we should let go of those unforgiving, the most seem to attract the most abundance; vindictive, shameful feelings about the past, and get over fruit grows on the trees and wheat in the fields, it! Corrie ten Boom, who survived incarceration in a Nazi and camp God said, wants us to both live and to prison “Forgiveness is to set a prisoner free,give and abundantly. to realize that the prisoner was you.�
I
Morning Worship ...............ELCA 10:45am St. James Lutheran Church, MANNA Sponsor
Band from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m .and The Texas legacy Czech Band will play from 3 p.m. – 6:30 pm.
LIFE IN GET ABUNDANCE
CHURCH t 8PSTIJQ &OHMJTI For BN BN Sunday Bible Studies All Ages ... 9:30am t -FBSOJOH )PVS BN QN Morning Worship ............... 10:45am t 8PSTIJQ 4QBOJTI QN QN
Annual Czech SpringFest Sunday, April 28 11 a.m. SPJST Lodge 88 - 1435 Beall St. The Czech Heritage Society of Texas is preparing for its Annual Czech SpringFest. The usual Country Store and Sausage Booth will be available. This year they will have a Czech Market selling decorative accessories, books and other Czech items. A small silent auction of boutique items will be adjacent to the Czech Market. Craft Artist Vladimir Klimis from the Czech Republic will be there to demonstrate his skill of wood carving. A traditional Czech Sunday dinner will be served from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Music will be provided by the Kovanda Czech
Tea and Victory First Anniversary Sunday, April 14 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. Tea + Victory – 2030 E. T.C. Jester In addition to Tea and Victory’s regular fun its adding extra space in the parking lot, including a petting zoo, moar beer, outdoor games, and other fun in celebration of its first birthday.
Fun & Games
St. James Lutheran Church, ELCA
public and there is free parking.
And God is able to provide you with every
Judge not,inand you will not be judged; blessing abundance, so that you maycondemn always not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, have enough of everything and may provide in and you will be forgiven...
abundance for every good work. R.S.V. Luke 6:37
R.S.V. 2 Corinthians 9:8
Page 6A • Saturday, April 13, 2019 • The Leader
Dear Tabby, Sometimes my dog does this weird, inhale, gagging, choking kind of sound. It’s pretty scary sounding, but he recovers quickly and it doesn’t seem to bother him. Any idea what this is all about? Weird Dog Sounds in Woodland Heights Dear Weird Dog Sounds, While a visit to the vet wouldn’t be out of the question for an exact determination of this curious sound, it seems likely that it could be what people sometimes call a “reverse sneeze.” What does a reverse sneeze look like? Typically, during a reverse sneeze episode, a dog will extend their neck, rapidly inhale
Reverse sneeze: Cool dog trick or cause for concern?
Hogg unveiling revamped SPARK neighborhood park
air and honk or choke a bit. It got the moniker “reverse sneeze” due to the fact it seems like just that--the opposite of a sneeze. The good news is that, even though it might look as though your dog is struggling to breathe through one of these episodes, they can, in fact, typically breathe just fine and will be back to normal in a few seconds. What brings on a reverse sneeze? A reverse sneeze happens when something external triggers this gagging/choking reflex in dogs. Oftentimes it’s dust or household chemicals. Sometimes just drinking too much water, too fast can bring it on. No matter what the cause, though, and scary as it may seem, reverse sneezes are harmless and actually common among certain breeds. Yorkies, Chihuahuas and other small breeds are notorious for reverse sneezing, but any type of dog has been
A middle school in the Heights is showing off its shiny new digs. Houston ISD board trustee Elizabeth Santos, Houston City Council member Karla Cisneros and others will join Hogg Middle School Principal Angela Sugarek from noon3 p.m. Saturday, when the Heights community celebrates the dedication of the school’s SPARK park. It includes new sod and irrigation for the soccer field -- Sugarek said some previous opponents refused to play games on it because of poor conditions -- as well as a renovated track, resurfaced basketball courts and new batting cages. “(The field and surrounding area) was just such an obvious feature of the school that didn’t look good, so we started talking about ways we could make this into a much more useable space,” Sugarek said. More improvements are on the way as part of the overarching “Hogg Outdoors” project, a collaboration between Hogg, SPARK and Learn Local, a Heights-based community nonprofit. The next phase involves installing a playground for neighborhood children ages 5-12 in the field’s northwest corner. Through both in-school and community fundraisers, more than $200,000 was raised toward the initiative’s first phase. Project Chair Adrienne Schwartz said initial plans called for raising about $150,000, but donations totaled $209,000, allowing several project aspects to be incorporated sooner than expected. “We were just going to do the minimum of what we
known to do it. Pressure on the neck from a leash or excitement can often bring on this reflex. Take a video to show your vet So, in short, while we can’t be absolutely sure this is what your dog is experiencing, it sounds like it might be. Mention it to your vet and maybe even take a video of your dog
doing it to show to the vet, the next time you’re there. As long as the dog doesn’t seem to have any ill-effects from these episodes, it’s safe to assume that what he’s experiencing is a harmless reverse sneeze. Do you have a question for Tabby? If so, email her at dear tabbyquestions@gmail.com.
Pet of the Week Meet Zwei This young Blue Heeler mix is sweet and submissive. Zwei is still a puppy, so he’s full of fun energy, but also eager to please and highly trainable. Zwei would love a home where he’s the only dog, and with older kids or adults only. Zwei is working really hard to learn the ins and outs of the good life in a home. Could your home be the right fit? To learn more, go to www.cap4pets.org.
THE OBITUARIES. Joe D. Euresti, 81, born Sept. 15 died April 5 in Houston, Texas
died April 6 in Houston, Texas.
Christopher Sol Tucker, 48, born Oct. 6
Jeanette Ann Mouton, 80, born April 26 died April 6 in Houston, Texas.
Raymond Mikeska Jr., 87, born Aug. 12
Ronald Edward Pearl, 51, born July 11 died Mar. 30 in Houston, Texas.
died on April 3 in Houston, Texas. died April 7 in Houston, Texas.
Mae Etta Cobb, 84, born Aug. 29 died
Mar. 31 in Hempstead, Texas. Mrs. Cobb was a devoted wife and homemaker who took pride in being a good wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.
Jimmy Dale Quimby, 84, born Dec. 24
Melvin Beard, 85, born Oct. 23 died April 6. He lived his life of love, faith, patience, generosity and hard work as a quiet exemplary role model for everyone who knew him. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, JoAnn Sinclair Beard of Houston, Texas, and his two daughters, Susan Beard Istre and Cindy Beard Niner. He is also survived by his four grandchildren:
Sarah Elizabeth Istre Brown, Ryne Wade Niner, Christopher John Istre, Kelsey Lynn Niner Ong, and two great grandchildren, Jacob Curtis Brown and Collins Marie Istre.
Gregory S. Jimenez, 58, born June 21 died Mar. 30 in Houston, Texas. In addition to his stepfather, Greg is survived by his sister Jamie Spruiell and husband Michael, stepsister, Amy Martin Duarte and husband Rick, nephews, Cavin Spruiell, Ellis Spruiell, and Wesley Spruiell; niece, Grace Galbraith; aunt Donna Hooper and husband, Ron, uncle Bill Hanley and wife Teresa, and aunt Codie Peterson.
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could afford – field and track renovations – but we were able to raise more than planned, so we added the acrylic topping on the basketball court and then put in new baseball cages,” she said. “The community really stepped up and gave generously to this project – over and above any expectations.” Hogg’s new facilities are now being used by the school’s sports teams, and the park will be open to community members from dawn until dusk when school is not in session. With Phase 1 complete, planning, fundraising and design has begun on Phase 2. Some of the playground equipment being planned resembles that of an agility course. Once complete, it would be accessible to the community after school hours and on weekends. Sugarek said the spot will enable nearby residents to utilize a safe park space without having to cross congested streets. “We want this to be a place where neighborhood parents can come over with their kids, and their kids can play,” she said. “Anyone here in Woodland Heights and other areas can walk here safely.” According to Schwartz, Phase 2 will cost about $100,000. She said there is a tentative plan to have the funds raised within a year, with construction possibly commencing in 2020. To donate or learn more about Learn Local as well as the Hogg Outdoors project, go to Learn Local’s website for Hogg Middle School – learnlocalhogg.org – and click on the “Donations” tab. Interested donors can also contact Schwartz for more information at schwartz.adrienne@yahoo. com.
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The Leader • Saturday, April 13, 2019 • Page 7A
Art Valet: Mobile foundry comes to Sawyer Yards Mitch Cohen Art Columnist
Have you ever daydreamed about being a metal sculptor? Saturday is your big day as Houston-based artist Jack Gron brings his mobile foundry to Sawyer Yards for Expressions in Molten Metal. This exhibition workshop is an interactive experience that allows attendees to create their own designs in a resin sand scratch block that will then be turned into a cast aluminum block using a mobile foundry that Gron designed and built. Made possible by a grant from the Houston Arts Alliance, the workshop will be held in conjunction with Sawyer Yards Second Saturday events. Gron, originally from Steubenville, Ohio, which is wellknown for its steel mills, has spent much of his life balancing a full-time career as an educator and working artist. He’s recently retired from teaching
(and settled in Kingwood) to focus on his art and passions. This isn’t Gron’s first appearance at Sawyer Yards. In October 2018, his 8-foot tall metal sculpture titled “The Visitation,� best described as an alien robot, was revealed as part of Sculpture Month Houston on Art Alley. Recently we walked the space in preparation for Saturday’s event, and Gron shared stories of similar workshops he’s conducted all over the U.S. and beyond. The process is simple and almost anyone can participate, though it is limited to 50. “Throughout my professional career as an artist and educator I have been committed to building bridges in the community by collaborating with educational institutions, recreation centers, arts organizations and parks, and recreation centers through handson studio workshops,� Gron said. “These have focused upon casting of aluminum tiles on site utilizing a portable or ‘mobile foundry’ facility of my own design.� Gron selected aluminum because it is a lightweight, safe material that is easily ma-
Trying new foods doesn’t necessarily equate to liking them Zarah Parker Managing Editor
It’s not unusual for kids to be a picky eaters, but most of the time they grow out of it. I wasn’t one of those people. In fact, up until a couple of years ago I was just as picky then as I was as a kid. That natural growth into eating more diverse foods just didn’t happen for me. I’ve realized that I got my pickiness from my mom, who refuses any steak with a hint of pink, asks for no seasoning on anything she gets and pretty much will never try something new. But my dad isn’t to be left out. He’s a visual person, so if something doesn’t look good he’s not likely to eat it either. Really, I never had the chance to not be picky. One of my brothers likes to say my food groups are cereal, ice cream, and fried chicken. And since I think he’s actually half-serious, it’s a bit ironic considering he hates trying new foods. So, when I hit my 20s I decided I needed to break my bad eating habits and expand my horizon. It’s been something of an adventure. To break habits like ordering chicken strips and fries at any restaurant (because it’s usually the safest bet), refusing any “new� vegetables like squash or mushrooms and liking everything as plain as could be, I started with simply taste-testing new foods. The first time I tried sushi I was not overwhelmed with how good it was, which is what I was told two seconds before stuffing it in my mouth. I found that my taste buds were very much against this new thing. In general, my taste buds weren’t fans of the new flavors and textures I tried. But I slowly accustomed my taste to them. I now eat squash, but forget about mushrooms. I made it a rule that if I found myself in a situation where I could try a food I never had before, then I would. This rule found me in the middle of New Orleans with friends who insisted that I absolutely had to try oysters. Before my adventure out of picky eating began, I wouldn’t have even touched an oyster. And even though it wasn’t a baby step for me to eat one, I grabbed an oyster, closed my eyes and downed it anyway. A friend who knew me since seventh grade and was well acquainted with my eating habits was not just shocked that I went through with it,
but that I actually liked it and had more than one. Taste buds weren’t the only thing I had to change, but because I wasn’t used to certain seasonings and spices, my stomach rebelled. I have a close friend who occasionally cooks for me an authentic Mexican meal. I genuinely enjoy the food, but I’m never able to eat much of it. The new spices and flavors make my stomach very confused. Over the years of breaking picky eating habits, I’ve also realized there’s a misconception about what picky eating actually is. This is how I personally define a picky eater: A picky eater is someone who only eats certain food a certain way, and they won’t try anything new. But just because I don’t like something -- looking at you mushrooms -- doesn’t make me a picky eater. It would only make me one if I never tried something and then claimed not to like it. There is one thing that ever since I was a kid I’ve wanted to like. When I was younger I’d get my mom to buy me yogurt every once in a while and every time I’d fail to eat more than one. I think yogurt tastes awful, but I believed people when they said if you try something enough times you’ll like it. Well, even now I wish I liked yogurt. I’ll buy one every now and then. Every time, without fail, I hate it. I no longer consider myself a picky eater, mostly because I will try new foods. And while I usually like what I try, it doesn’t make me a picky eater again if I decide I don’t.
outlet; the chance to express themselves through art. By creating an environment that channels an individual’s energies through this art-making experience, the program will, in turn, provide a better understanding and appreciation of the arts.� You can preview the process in a video. Search for “Jack Gron’s Mobile Foundry Demo� on the Internet. The workshop will take place on Art Alley at Sawyer Yards in the “train shed,� un-
der the former Success Rice grain silos and coincides with the Sawyer Yards Second Saturday open studios and my Market at Sawyer Yards, located at 2101 Winter St. The workshop is 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Come early and visit sawyeryards.com for event details and a parking map. Cohen is an artist and founder of First Saturday Arts Market and the Market at Sawyer Yards. Find him at ArtValet.com.
Outside Cavatore’s Italian Restaurant
2120 Ella Blvd.
Jack Gron’s “The Visitation� and in the background, the train shed where Saturday’s workshop will take place.
nipulated and lends itself to a wide range of individualized expression. “Professional foundry art casting is quite expensive and usually associated with traditional and classical sculptural statuary as well as in jewelry and metalsmithing applica-
tions,� Gron said. “The purpose of this workshop program is to allow people with all levels of talent and ability the opportunity to experience another aspect of art-making that is not widely available. The workshops will also provide the public with an
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Review: Simplicity a slippery slope at La Vibra By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com
La Vibra Tacos’ concept is fashioned after Mexico City taco culture, which means these tacos don’t come with pico de gallo, sour cream or most other toppings we think to add to our tacos. The restaurant is based on simplicity. The space had minimal design. Light gray covered the walls, brown wooden tables filled the restaurant and accents of bright yellow and white popped. The menu was plastered above the counter space where I was to order. But La Vibra first and foremost lives up to its name by the good vibes I got from the staff, which was both friendly and helpful. Their helpfulness came in handy with the unfamiliar menu. The employee taking my order took the time to explain each section and answer any questions I had. I asked her what she thought I should order and she suggested the Costilla, a taco with sliced 1855 angus sirloin. It was under the Clåsico portion of the menu, which were your basic tacos on made-in-house corn tortillas. I also ordered a Pollo from the Volcån portion of the menu, which were the same kind of tacos that were on the Clåsico, but came with a toasted corn tortilla and Oaxaca cheese. I opted out of the cheese. For sides I went with a half-order of guacamole and potato puffs, which were described to me to be puffy French fries. When I sat down at my table I was brought four samples of salsa to try with my tacos. The guacamole came out
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first with toasted corn tortillas sprinkled with salt. With just avocado, onion and cilantro, the guacamole was one of the simpler ones I’ve had. Yet the lightness of the ingredients meant the few flavors that were mixed in really came out. It was smooth but had chunks in it as well, which is how I prefer guacamole. Next my tacos were placed in front of me. I tasted the Costilla first, then added a little guacamole and salsa on top. The thin slices of sirloin were tender but a little greasy. Again with the Pollo taco I tasted the chicken then added a little guacamole and salsa. While I assume it was the oil that was used to cook the meat, for the Costilla it was overwhelming in taste. I don’t mind greasiness for the most part with tacos, but I couldn’t taste anything beyond this oil, even after adding things on top. With the Pollo it had the same taste as the Costilla, but wasn’t as heavy. Even still it was really all I could taste, even with the additions. The potato puffs, on the other hand, were delicious. They were like an airy French fry. They had the taste of fries, but a lightness that made me feel no guilt with eating them. La Vibra Tacos Address: 506 Yale St. #A Hours: 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m. Monday–Saturday, 11:30 a.m.—9 p.m. Sunday Pricing: $2.50-$8.95 Kid-friendly: Yes Senior discount: No Alcohol: Yes Healthy options: Yes Star of the show: Potato puffs
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Page 8A • Saturday, April 13, 2019 • The Leader
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