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Saturday, April 15, 2017 • Vol. 62 • No. 15

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Woodland Heights traffic saga frustrates residents By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

3414 WASHINGTON AVE FEASTURBANEATS.COM

Plans appear to be in place for a traffic plan in the Woodland Heights neighborhood which would include speed bumps and other traffic calming devices to help with speeding traffic on several thoroughfares. Not all is well with the city’s decision, however, and several residents have continued to express frustration throughout the process, no matter the result. Back in 2011, the Woodland Heights Civic Association asked

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the city to install speed bumps to help with the traffic. Over the next several years, city officials spruced up the plan before concocting an initial plan for 26 speed bumps and two traffic circles, with four of those on most-affected Pecore Street, which was reclassified as a minor collector so as to make way for the devices. Fast forward to June 2016, when the city mailed ballots out to all the affected neighbors, and the vote came back as a resounding ‘No’ amongst most homeowners.

Later, a revised plan contained a reduced number of overall proposed speed bumps down to where it currently stands at 17 devices. On feedback for the second proposal, the comments appeared to play out as 202 in favor, 258 against, three undecided, and eight to go with the majority, with 29 wishing to add additional devices and 32 wishing to remove some. However, despite the majority appearing to oppose it, the city decided to See Traffic P. 5A

We Ride to Austin

Photo by Landan Kuhlmann Shown here is Pecore Street, one of the more hotly contested streets in the Woodland Heights traffic saga. Despite apparent resident objections, the city has decided to install traffic calming devices on Pecore and throughout the Woodland Heights neighborhood.

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Page 1B

The INDEX. Church....................................................... 7A Classifieds.............................................. 7B Coupons. ................................................. 8A Food/Drink/Art................................... 1B Obituaries.............................................. 5A Opinion. ................................................... 4A Public Information......................... 2A Puzzles...................................................... 4A Sports. ....................................................... 9B

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com Even though Stephen Reed and Tim Chisolm may have taken different paths to where they are today, they will now forever be connected through the stories they share and will have shared with them as they make their way from Houston to Austin later this month. Beginning April 29, Chisolm and Reed will both partake in the BP MS 150 bike ride. The annual ride is the largest fundraising bike ride in North America with more than 12,000 cyclists, 3,500 volunteers and countless spectators along the route. The two-day, 180-mile journey will take place April 29-30, beginning in Houston and ending in front of the state capitol in Aus-

tin. BP’s annual trek provides an opportunity for those living with multiple sclerosis (MS) and those who care about them to connect, join together, be inspired and raise critical funds for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. A family affair Reed and his brother have always shared a special bond. Coming from a split home, Reed has always looked to his brother for guidance. He even seemed to follow in his older brother’s footsteps, from playing the same sports growing up to obtaining an engineering degree and moving to Houston just a few short years ago. “From that perspective, my brother was a huge influence on me, not only as a sibling but

Focus on Non-Profit

also as a role model and someone to look up to and take care of me,” he said. “We had our rough spots, but growing up I always had someone to look up to and found myself following in his footsteps. He’s always been a big part of my life. We lived together in college, and we’ve gone through a lot together.” Soon after his brother’s graduation, however, that bond would be put to the ultimate test. “He first started noticing it when he was working out or playing flag football—he couldn’t see anything or everything went blurry. He couldn’t catch a football—it’d be three feet from where he’s trying to grab it,” Reed said— a notable development for someone who

For the first time in the history of The Leader, an entire edition of this newspaper will be devoted to the women in our community who keep our businesses and homes running. And we need your help (here’s looking at you, dad) to make sure we find the Woman Leader of the Year. On May 6, in the week leading up to Mother’s Day, the pages of The Leader will be full of stories about outstanding women in our area in an edition we’ve dubbed “Women at Work.” From CEOs who manage our businesses to mothers who manage our homes, we want to tell our readers and the women of this community how much we all depend on them. And it only seems fitting to do so the week before Mother’s Day. But that’s not all. On Friday, May 12, The Leader will host our inaugural Women at Work luncheon at Ginger & Fork restaurant for the first 100 women Michol Ecklund who are nominated for Woman Leader of the Year. During that luncheon, Michol Ecklund, the deputy general counsel for Marathon Oil and, more importantly, a mother, will speak about her position and what she believes are the keys to balancing a home and work life. The May 6 edition and the May 12 luncheon are part of a larger drive to help support an organization in our area that cares for women in need. The

See Bike Trek P. 9A

See Women P. 3A

Fourth of a multi-part series

Locals helping locals through the Leather Apron Foundation By Jennifer Layer jennifer@theleadernews.com In 2005 a US Army soldier named Jonathan Kolmetz returned home from Iraq. Kolmetz quickly realized that involvement in community service was the most powerful tool in helping integrate himself back into the civilian world. “It was fast-paced, high-contact and gave me a sense of purpose that I missed from my time in the military,” said Kolmetz, President and Founder of the Leather Apron Foundation. Taking what he had learned from volunteering with non-profit

organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters of Houston and Skills 4 Living, Kolmetz partnered with three other graduate friends from his alma mater, St. Pius X High School, to form the Leather Apron Foundation (LAF). “As a community of friends and neighbors, we were already supporting one another but we figured if we formalized our giving and support that when that time came to help one another we would be able to give even more,” said Kolmetz. “I am proud to say that we have given back more than $100,000 to this community and thousands of hours of community

service over the last 5 years.” LAF is rooted in local people supporting local causes. LAF has several annual programs including, but not limited to, a Day of Service and 3-2-1 GO! Back to School, where a week’s worth of uniforms are provided to select students in need. LAF also fundraises for a large variety of local organizations and groups, including two of our previously featured non-profits: Oaks Dads’ Club and MANNA Food Pantry. LAF stands apart from other fundraising agencies, in that they See Non-Profit P. 5A

Photo supplied LAF volunteers gathered clothes for the ‘3-2-1 Go! Back to School’ event.

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The public. Saturday, April 15, 2017 • Page 2A

Mayor Turner kicks off second year of Hire Houston Youth Mayor Sylvester Turner and partners kicked off the application period for the second year of Hire Houston Youth at a breakfast at the McDonalds on Studemont at I-10. Utilizing public/private partnerships, Hire Houston Youth will provide jobs and internships to Houston youth between the ages of 16 to 24 at an hourly wage of $8. In the past, the city helped place only about 450 kids in summer jobs. This year, there will be 5,000 positions available. “Never before have this many summer jobs been offered for Houston youth,” said Mayor Turner. “We are taking this program to historic levels. Summer employment provides young people with an opportunity to gain workforce readiness skills, engages them

in positive activities during the summer, and links them to long-term career opportunities. An able and ready workforce is also critical to ensuring a robust economic future for our city. I am committed to providing summer jobs for our young people who live in the city and I call on our corporate partners to work together with the City of Houston to Hire Houston’s Youth!” According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, less than a third of American teenagers held a job in the summer of 2016, and their participation in the workforce is at a historic low. At the same time, 40-50 percent of large US employers report they cannot fill entry-level positions. Starting last week, applications for jobs with companies and nonprofits will be accept-

ed online at www.hirehoustonyouth.org. In addition, six on-the-spot hiring events are planned to connect youth looking for jobs with employers who are hiring. These events will include access to community resources, financial literacy and scholarship information. Applicants need to bring their resumes and employment eligibility documentation. On the spot hiring events * April 22 from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center 4400 W. 18th St., Houston, Texas 77092 * April 29 from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Worthing High School 9215 Scott St., Houston,

Police Reports • March 31-April 8 MARCH 31

Arrest 2:16 PM 00-99 E CROSSTIMBERS Theft 9:15 AM 500-599 E DELZ Theft 4 PM 200-299 PATTON Theft 9:15 AM 000-099 ALBA/35TH

APRIL 1

Arrest 1:51 AM 300-399 W 16TH Arrest 2:27 AM 800-899 E 25TH Arrest 3:10 AM 1100-1199 BEVERLY Theft 4:07 PM 1000-1099 GROVEWOOD Theft 2 PM 4000-4099 N SHEPHERD Theft 8:30 AM 4700-4799 MARABLE Theft 9:30 PM 1600-1699 E T C JESTER

APRIL 2

Burglary 3:44 AM 100-199 W 19TH Arrest 12:59 AM 200-299 N LOOP W Burglary 2:57 AM 2000-2099 N DURHAM Theft 10:30 AM 800-899 W 27TH Theft 11 AM 600-699 HEIGHTS Arrest 12:56 AM WHITE OAK/ STUDEWOOD Theft 8:45 PM 4200-4299 ROSE Burglary 8 AM 400-499 E 26TH Theft 4 PM 1000-1099 ASHLAND Theft 10 AM 000-099 DURHAM/ N LOOP W Arrest 12:56 AM 2600-2699 WHITE OAK Theft 7:15 PM 1800-1899 SHEPHERD

APRIL 3

Theft 4 PM 2300-2399 N SHEPHERD Burglary 6 PM 500-599 WOODLAND Theft 4:36 AM 700-799 SUE BARNETT Theft 3:20 PM 1900-1999 HEIGHTS Theft 6:12 PM 700-799 N LOOP W Theft 5 PM 1000-1099 W 30TH Assault 4:22 PM 100-199 W CAVALCADE Theft 6:30 AM 100-199 YALE Theft 4 AM 1700-1799 ANSBURY Robbery 8:30 PM 800-899 OAK Robbery 5:40 PM 4900-4999 N SHEPHERD Theft 3:20 PM 400-499 S HEIGHTS Burglary 12 AM 1300-1399 N SHEPHERD Robbery 7:30 AM 1100-1199 W COTTAGE Theft 5:30 AM 2200-2299 AIRLINE Theft 10:15 AM 800-899 USENER Burglary 1:20 AM 1500-1599 SHEPHERD Theft 10:54 AM 1400-1499 SHEPHERD

APRIL 4

Theft 9:29 AM 6300-6399 WYNNWOOD Theft 10 AM 1300-1399 CROSSTIMBERS Theft 2 PM 1000-1099 ALTHEA

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Braun Enterprises has announced they are acquiring the property at 1848 Airline which is currently home to Bellissimo Ristorante as well as Half Price pawn. The marketing flyer lists the total square footage as 9,538, with 3,250 currently available. Half Price Pawn currently occupies 2,450 square feet and Bellissimo Ristorante is 3,838 square feet. Bellissimo has been named by Leader readers as one of the most underrated restaurants in town.

APRIL 8

Theft 7:59 AM 5000-5099 DARLING Theft 5:51 AM 6500-6599 ENID Theft 3 AM 3600-3699 BEAUCHAMP Theft 8:03 AM 4400-4499 NORTH Reports are provided by SpotCrime.com based on data from the Houston Police Department.

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come of less than $22,000. HHY has been designated as a White House Summer Opportunity Hub and is part of a National League of Cities study on the best practices for educational and workforce development efforts.

Saturday April 22 10 am - 3 pm

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This is the second year for the HHY program. Fifty seven companies participated and 1,135 jobs were provided in 2016. More than 50 percent of the job candidates had no prior work experience and 50 percent had annual household in-

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APRIL 5

Burglary 1:30 PM 500-599 E 25TH Theft 3:20 PM 1000-1099 N SHEPHERD Theft 10 AM 900-999 N SHEPHERD Theft 2:30 PM 2600-2699 WHITE OAK Theft 2:40 PM 1700-1799 W T C JESTER Theft 8:01 PM 100-199 YALE Theft 2:26 PM 400-499 S HEIGHTS

APRIL 6

Theft 7:08 AM 1900-1999 HEIGHTS Burglary 1:02 AM 100-199 CROSSTIMBERS Theft 10:56 AM 4300-4399 EUROPA Theft 9:30 AM 100-199 HEIGHTS Theft 5 PM 800-899 N DURHAM Theft 5:46 PM 4400-4499 N SHEPHERD Theft 4 PM 100-199 YALE Theft 6 PM 4600-4699 NETT Theft 4:15 PM 4400-4499 NORTH Theft 6 PM 1100-1199 ROY Theft 5:30 PM 1000-1099 ROY Theft 10 AM 000-099 WAUGH

APRIL 7

Arrest 9:07 AM 200-299 W 24TH Theft 6 PM 800-899 HEIGHTS Theft 3 PM 3400-3499 WHITE OAK Theft 6 PM 3100-3199 WHITE OAK Assault 9:30 AM 1700-1799 TABOR Theft 7:28 PM 2700-2799 WHITE OAK Theft 5:45 PM 2700-2799 WHITE OAK

Braun buys Bellissimo By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com

Theft 2:15 PM 4500-4599 N SHEPHERD Theft 4:15 PM 1600-1699 SHEPHERD Theft 7:30 PM 100-199 HEIGHTS Theft 7 PM 000-099 HEIGHTS Theft 11:12 AM 400-499 20TH Theft 2:15 AM 1200-1299 W 20TH Assault 3:47 AM 100-199 STOKES Theft 1 AM 100-199 E CROSSTIMBERS

Texas 77051 * May 6 from 10:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m. Magnolia Multi-Service Center 7037 Capitol St., Houston, Texas 77011 * May 20 from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Acres Home Multi-Service Center 6719 W. Montgomery Rd., Houston, Texas 77091 * June 3 from 10:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m. George R. Brown Convention Center 1001 Avenida De Las Americas, Houston, Texas 77010 * June 10 from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Southwest Multi-Service Center 6400 High Star Drive, Houston, Texas, 77074

“It’s delicious, but isn’t always super busy,” said Mandy Derryberry. “I’m always afraid that one day I’m going to pull up and they are going to have shut down because enough people don’t know about it! It may be my favorite Italian food in town…and that’s saying a lot.” Readers need not worry. Braun’s Zach Wolf said Bellissimo is staying. “We are going to update the exterior and lease the vacancy,” Wolf said. “We are big fans of Bellissimo and expect them to be there for a long time. This extension of the Heights is improving every day.”

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Full-spectrum veterinary hospital opens on Yale By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

There’s a new sheriff in town for animal care--Urban Animal Veterinary Hospital. The new clinic is a groundup, state of the art veterinary hospital for the Heights and its surrounding communities located at 1327 Yale St. All eight technicians at Urban Animal Veterinary Hospital have ER training and referral hospital backgrounds. Urban Animal offers care ranging from cardiology, dermatology and oncology to internal medicine, pain management and virtually everything in between (as well as separate ventilated isolation facilities for animals with contagious diseases) in efforts to be a full-service hospital that can help pet owners in the Heights and surrounding communities from the early life stages all the way until their beloved friend reaches full maturity. “There are not a lot of appointment-only practices located centrally in the Heights to make it easy to access, and we have a staff with emergency backgrounds so we can stabilize a critical patient—we’re

Women from P. 1A Mission of Yahweh, which helps homeless women and their children, will receive 15 percent of the revenue earned from Women at Work. “From my wife, to my mother, to my sisters to the women at our office, we need to do a better job of making sure the women in our lives know how much we appreciate them,” said Jonathan McElvy, publisher of The Leader. “This is an idea we’ve had for a number of years, and we finally had the resources to do it this year.” McElvy also said this may be one of the most important fundraisers The Leader has done in the past decade. “I’ve had a chance to learn a lot about the Mission of Yahweh,” he said. “To have an organization that is so close to our area, and an organization whose sole focus is to support homeless women with children, I think it’s

Saturday, April 15, 2017 • Page 3A

Finding Yourself In An Unexpected Life Transition? Let’s get started with

Honest Conversations® Photo supplied Urban Animal Veterinary Hospital is now open at 1327 Yale St. in the Heights.

also open on Sunday when nobody else is,” owner Hilary Granson said. Granson and her staff pride themselves on providing the full spectrum of care, seeing as no two pets are the same and it’s not possible to account for every contingency. “When an animal walks through our doors, we don’t know what it’s going to be, and we want to be able to address every situation and help owners when they need it the most,” Granson said. “There are certain cases that may have to be referred to a special hospital and are beyond what we can do in a day practice, but at the very least we should

be able to help stabilize it and get a diagnosis for the owners.” “I’ve seen too many times when animals struggling to breathe or are holding on by a thread are turned away from treatment, and that’s not good for the animal or the owner,” Granson added. “I want to take that unknown and stressful factor out and help them make a more informed decision when they’re not in a panic.” Urban Animal is open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call 713-863-0088 or visit urbananimalveterinary. com for more information.

just wonderful that we’re able to make an impact on their work.” Along with businesses in the community that will submit nominations for Woman Leader of the Year, we’re looking for nominations of mothers who deserve just as much (if not more) credit for managing our homes. Here are the details: To nominate someone for Woman Leader of the Year, send publisher Jonathan McElvy a 250-word explanation of why the woman in your life should be considered our area’s Woman Leader of the

Year and include a photo. Those nominations can be emailed to jonathan@theleadernews.com or dropped off at The Leader office. The nomination costs $50 and includes a seat at the Women at Work luncheon on Friday, May 12 when the Woman Leader of the Year will be announced. Businesses also can contact The Leader for more information about the special May 6 edition and how to nominate women who help run our businesses.

Local business is our business. Send your story of interest news@theleadernews.com

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The Topics. Saturday, April 15, 2017 • Page 4A

Almost all good things must be traded in I did something stupid a few months ago, and I blame my children. Actually, throw my wife in too, even if I love them all dearly. For 10 years, my Ford Explorer and I got along splendidly. We drove all over the southern half of the United States together. We spilled Cokes on the carpet together. We left French fries between the seats together. We had an indention in the center console where my arm rested for a decade. Besides a dead battery once or twice, we never had much reason to fight. If I put the key in the ignition, that 2-toned Eddie Bauer edition rarely failed me. All good things must come to a trade-in (we’re talking about cars), and my wife convinced me to buy a small school bus that would offer us plenty of room to pack the kids and three-quarters of our house anytime we drove to Grandma’s house an hour away. This new tank I drive (you’re welcome, Al Gore) comes complete with the functionality of a small army of robots. Obviously, I can talk to the car, because pushing button was just too difficult. If I’d like, I can order wifi service so that anyone in the car can check in on DisgraceBook and

Jonathan McElvy Publisher

tell their band of merry followers that they, indeed, are riding in a car. My children, of course, have no need to adopt the habits of previous generations that actually learned to entertain themselves. When I was a kid, our favorite game was “Got That Bug,” in which we received points for being the first to identify a Volkswagen Beetle. We got extra points if one of the front lights was burned out. I can’t snidely comment on all of this car’s new-found functionality. We can all agree that having rearview cameras changed the game. No longer do we have to turn around and try to determine the depth of space we have left before we crash into the car behind us in the grocery store parking lot. Now, we can just watch it happen on a mini TV set installed in our dashboard.

I will admit I’m amazed at my new car’s ability to protect me from imminent destruction. If a car slams on the brakes in front of me, my tank doesn’t even wait for me to see the brake lights ahead. This car stops on its own. If I begin to veer out of my lane, my new car gently vibrates my seat and then turns the steering wheel to get me back into the center of my lane. In fact, I’m convinced that if I settled in on a long stretch of highway, I could turn on cruise control, fall asleep and never know the difference. I have yet to try that maneuver. Our cars today are not engine parts working at the behest of our instructions. Rather, they are an extraordinary compilation of computers that need a driver and a dump truck worth of money. I’ve had my small school bus for three months, and over the weekend, my wife informed me she needed to make a quick trip to the store. Obviously, our cars will not park side-byside anymore, so I handed her my keys and watched her walk out the door. Then I watched her walk right back in the door to inform me that the car would not start. I spent an hour pushing buttons. I

Remember The A La Mode THE ALAMO PLAZA – A man is shouting “Praise Jesus!” as he walks in circles. Nearby are a Haagen-Dazs shop, two Ripley’s Believe It or Not stores, a wax museum, a mirror maze and lots of traffic. This is what some 2-million visitors a year see. We are here because this is the period between the fall of the Alamo, March 6, and the Battle of San Jacinto, April 21, Texas’ High Holy Days. It’s a good time to see what’s happening, for there are plans – repeat, plans – to change the look of the Alamo and its surroundings. Let’s hope so, since this neighborhood has been through some tough times, and not just bodies scattered all over the place. We can run through the first part: the Alamo was built in 1724. Later, Spanish troops occupied the mission and its surrounding buildings -- the church was only part of the grounds – then Mexicans forces. By 1836, the place was abandoned, until Lt. Col William B. Travis was sent here by Gen. Sam Houston to destroy the Alamo and march east. This brings us to March of 1836. When John Wayne (or Billy Bob Thornton, depending on which version of the movie you saw) and 181 other defenders were killed here, Francisco Antonio Ruiz, the Alcalde of San Antonio, was summoned by Gen. Santa Anna: “He directed me to call upon some of the neighbors to come with carts to carry the dead to the cemetery, and also to accompany him, as he was desirous to have Colonels Travis, Bowie and Crockett shown to him.” Ruiz reports: Travis was shot through the head, Bowie was killed in his bed, and so much for the version of Crockett surrendering to the generalissimo. In 1846, after the U.S. annexed Texas, Edward Everett, a U.S. Army sergeant and company clerk, wrote: “The church seemed to have been the last stronghold, and amidst the debris of its stone roof, when subsequently cleared away, were found parts of skeletons, copper balls, and other articles, mementos of the siege; as were the numerous shot holes in the front...” He went on to condemn the “tasteless hands,” “the wanton destruction” by “other relic hunters or other vandals and iconoclasts.” The army used the church as a warehouse. Then the mission property was sold, much was torn down for commercial development, and by 1871 only 30 percent of the original structures was left. In the 1880s a visitor wrote how he felt “amazement and disgust upon my first visit to the old church…filled with sacks of salt, stinking potatoes, odorous kerosene, and dirty groceries.” Daughters of the Republic of Texas (my mother was a member of the DRT, but she

Lynn Ashby Columnist

refused to say which side she fought on) bought the Alamo in 1905, and apparently ran it rather well until 2011 when the state took it over, although I was never sure why. For years visitors from around the world have been complaining about how Texas tacky this area is, right in the middle of downtown San Antonio. (This reminds me, have you ever noticed how many Civil War battles were fought in national parks?) There has long been talk of restoring or improving the Alamo Plaza, but it’s been all hat and no cattle. But now San Antonio is linked with the state and feds to finally do something. A blue ribbon committee – what else? -- was formed and the Plaza Project got underway. There are plans, drawings, committee meetings, and that’s about all. Money is a problem, and opponents don’t like closing off streets and tearing down buildings. (Please, no more “Second Battle of the Alamo.” It’s been used to death.) One major obstacle is that the six-story 1936 Post Office and Federal Building, which recently underwent a $56 million renovation, occupies a big chunk of the mission’s former land. It is hoped the feds will turn over the building to be converted into a museum, and it is noted the FBI has already left because the structure doesn’t pass new Homeland Security, uh, security. But the building is sitting right on a most important part of the battlefield: the north wall. I think they ought to level the building and restore the wall – and everything else. Incidentally, there is an odd link between the Alamo and musicians. A drunken Ozzy Osbourne urinated on the Alamo Cenotaph, a 60-foot high statue erected in 1939 in the Alamo Plaza, in mid-day of Feb. 19, 1982. The story got changed to him peeing on the mission itself. Only, “It’s just not true,” a guide at the Alamo told the Boston Herald in 2003. “If he had, the police wouldn’t have arrested him. They would have beaten him to within an inch of his life.” Osbourne was banned from playing San Antonio again until 1992, when he made a public apology to the city and donated $10,000 to the DRT. British rock star Phil Collins has one of the world’s best private collections of Alamo memorabilia, which he has donated. He has so much good stuff that a separate pavilion is being considered to house it. Another British

rock star changed his name from David Robert Jones to David Bowie because of the knife, not the man. Meanwhile, don’t hold your breath until the Alamo Project is complete. As mentioned, the task of restoring the Alamo Plaza has been suggested and abandoned over the past 30 years. The city convened groups to study the plaza in 1988 and 1994. In 2011 it even hired a New York company to recommend ways to increase the plaza’s appeal to locals. Perhaps the Texas Legislature could help if we tell the lawmakers there will not be transgender bathrooms. As for the cost of the project, it started at $37 million, has hit $300 million and shows no sign of slowing down. Maybe, like Trump’s wall, we can get the Mexican government to pay for it. Ashby remembers at ashby2@comcast.net

made a call to tech support (because mechanics now need degrees in computer science), and I was told that I should not push any more buttons. I was asked to confirm the car’s location, because the satellite that automatically tells President Trump where my car resides needed verification. “A tow truck will be there within 45 minutes,” the nice lady told me. Besides wondering if a bomb had been planted inside my tank, I felt a bit humiliated that I was asked to please step out of the car. Long story short, the dealership has informed me that the ECU switch to the motherboard’s flex capacitor has a faulty fuse or wire or microchip. Because of those issues, which may or may not be exactly what the service technician/Ph.D. told me, the Start Button that fires up my new tank won’t actually send power to one of the computers that controls another computer that opens my rear hatch. I don’t blame my wife and children for investing one of my kidneys to purchase a new car that can couple as a small apartment. When all the buttons work in sync, it’s kind of neat to tell my car to call Mom. Unfortunately, when I demand my

car “Call Mom,” I get a very snide response that says, “I’m sorry, I don’t know who your mother is. For that matter, I do not know who you are.” My old Ford Explorer was a friend. My new car, these days, kind of feels like my adversary. Maybe that’s what it’s like with modern technology and, I assume, in 10 years from now, me and my tanker bus will have formed our own fondness for each other. At that point, I’ll probably go shopping for a new car that attaches to a drone and skips the highway system all together. I’m certain it will be a self-driving car that eliminates the highway patrol because, constitutionally, they can’t ticket me for speeding if I’m not the one doing the driving. I probably won’t have to pay for wifi because our entire world will be connected via white wing doves that carry small antennas on their beaks. I know that day is coming. But after the past week of reflection on my old car and this new computer sitting in my driveway, I kind of miss just putting one of those old, metal keys in the ignition and hearing my engine purr. Email jonathan@theleadernews.com

The reader. Critical Mass becoming a nuisance for area

Dear Editor: As a long time resident of the Houston Heights I was disturbed by your article on Critical Mass. Both my sons rode with Critical Mass and it was a great time for them to connect with other bike enthusiasts. What is a nuisance is the inconsiderate motorists who disregard bike lanes and bikers all month. Why not write an article about that instead of the two motorists who were inconvenienced for 5 minutes late at one night. Todd August Dear Editor: This article represents the disgraceful shift from unbiased reporting to dogmatic, opinionated pieces – unfortunately the latter gets more attention and revenue. Why not share the other side of the story? Not just from the perspective of someone who is “inconvenienced” once a month by cyclist. For instance, the movement was started partially because cyclist were tired of drivers having little to no regard for the safety of cyclist despite the law. Furthermore, the article’s rhetoric is a pretense that most of the group is breaking the law, when in fact, is only a handful. Many of the participants are kids and families who safely finished the ride. An easy solution would be for some of these police start issuing citations and the behavior would stop quickly. Please open your awareness and start writing articles without bias (I know it’s difficult, we are all inherently biased) for the sake of journalism and your readers. Matt

Email us your letters: news@theleadernews.com Dear Editor: I understand that everyone has an opinion, but cars/trucks, etc kill people. Distracted drivers, road-ragers, “pot smokers”, and drunk drivers inconvenience more people on a daily basis than all the cyclists combined. And critical mass is only once a month. Drivers disregard traffic lights, stop signs, crosswalks, and railroad crossings ALL DAY EVERY DAY. Drivers that kill other drivers and cyclists at an increasing rate aren’t even mentioned in this article. Seems to me, that the “entitled brats” are the commentators whom ALL wanted to remain anonymous. How surprising. *eye roll* Regina Dear Editor: We did Critical Mass in Houston one time and were extremely disappointed with it. Rather than be a fun group ride which could bring education to folks about safe cycling practices, it is more of a “we have the critical mass to blatantly disregard traffic laws and get angry at cars who try to stop us.” Bad taste and a very unsafe practice. Donny Dear Editor: It’s a rolling frat party and unfortunately started by a resident of the GOOF area. While the intentions in the beginning might have been good to bring awareness, the only thing they bring now is delinquent behavior, alcohol, drugs and incredible amounts of trash. This needs to be organized by the city instead of one person and a couple of his friends because obviously they have lost complete control. Posting the route prior to the last Friday would also be a good idea so all Houstonians can plan around this so called monthly “awareness event.” Luis

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

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1. Subway inhabitants 5. Removes 11. Ancient Greek City 12. Plagued 16. An aspect of the Egyptian Sun god 17. Registered dietician 18. A citizen of Iran 19. JordanÕs old team 24. Ballplayers go here when they’re hurt 25. Common fractions 26. Terrorist organization 27. Extinct flightless bird of New Zealand 28. Heroic tale 29. Reared 30. One of the first cars 31. Praises highly 33. Make fun of 34. Defines a vector space 38. Blotted 39. Municipal 40. Maxim 43. Russian investment bank 44. Active Filipino volcano 45. Scottish tax 49. Peter __ 50. South Asian garment for women 51. Taiwan capital

53. University of Dayton 54. Combining radio waves 56. Sweetheart (archaic) 58. Farm state 59. Singer-songwriter Atias 60. Isolates 63. Tiny piece 64. Most domesticated 65. Matured

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1. Responds 2. Trailblazing tennis player __ Gibson 3. Driving 4. Holy places 5. Spanish river 6. Cardinal 7. Anno Domini 8. Southeast 9. Ills 10. Gentlemen 13. Lanthanum 14. Support 15. Widened 20. Exclamation of surprise 21. Type of Suzuki motorcycle 22. Advantages 23. Cover 27. Ancient kingdom near Dead Sea 29. Baylor University

30. Aristocratic young lady 31. Resinous insect secretion 32. Noble gas (abbr.) 33. Combo exercise __-bo 34. Shoulder blade 35. Fortress 36. River in England 37. Popular point guard Jeremy 38. Decigram 40. Swiss river 41. Where milk is processed 42. Weird guy Yankovic 44. Tattoo (slang) 45. Place to see movies 46. Conclusive comment 47. Has high legislative powers 48. Initialed 50. Cassia tree 51. Touchdown 52. Egyptian pharaoh 54. Thai district Ban __ 55. Kiln 57. Michigan 61. Morning 62. Rob Gronkowski is one information 49. Nabran village 56. Of (French) 57. Darmstadtium

WORD SCRAMBLE

Saturday, April 15, 2017 • Page 5A

Traffic from P. 1A go through with a modified plan to put to another vote — which was puzzling to one Woodland Heights resident until she began receiving emails that some residents’ comments had not been counted. Several had voted no, but were among those who wished devices removed or added. Several members of the committee then proceeded to go through the neighborhood and audit all the votes. “We went on Next Door and showed that some of those people had voted against it. We counted more than 300, as opposed to their 258 against figure,� she said. The Woodland Heights resident went on to say that the city appeared to take the 202 pro comments, then added to it the 32 (removing) and 29 (adding), thus eclipsing the 258 anti-plan sentiments and providing merit for another revision. “That’s how they came up with the original decision to move forward,� she said. Fast forward to last month, and the latest results were 196 comments in favor, 213 against, two to go with the majority and two wishing to add additional speed bumps; suggesting (for a third time) that the majority remained against the plans. However, the city had still said it would install the bumps. Even more troubling was the fact that the city appeared to be putting more stock into comments from the “neighborhood� (Woodland Heights) than those affected in Norhill to push the project forward in some residents’ estimations. “I don’t understand how our neighbors who live just a few streets away from us could have less weight just because they have a different homeowner’s association or civic association,� the Woodland Heights resident said. All residents within

half a mile of any device were supposedly given the equal opportunity to comment, per city ordinance. City representatives did not provide answers to The Leader’s follow-up questions “I thought ‘No’ meant ‘No,’� added a Norhill Heights resident living off Pecore close to proposed devices. “If you’ve never had so much opposition, what is that telling you?� And indeed, the saga appeared far from over at a sometimes contentious city council meeting on April 1. Councilmember Karla Cisneros reiterated the case for the plan, saying that it was a cog of the traffic management plan put in place years ago, that the Woodland Heights wanted the plan and that money was already set aside for installation. “This is a split vote in our neighborhood. In such a split in a device environment, we have to look at the streets that are the most affected, and the people on the streets most affected overwhelmingly want them,� she said addressing the council. Following installation, officials are set to conduct another traffic study and round of public feedback before sending the decision to a vote. “I think this is a responsible position to take in this instance. I wish it had been clearer-cut and an easier decision,� Cisneros said. “There have just been such strong opinions on both sides, and it’s in part because of some of the others working against it that numbers have come down to a reduced number of devices.� However, that revelation sparked disagreement among several in attendance. “That doesn’t make any sense to me,� Councilmember Michael Kubosh said of the process described. “I’m getting a lot of pushback from the community on this, and it doesn’t make any sense [if the vote

was that close] to install them before having it come back to us for a vote.� Kubosh cited the potential cost of the bumps (estimated at about $6,000 per bump for 17 devices) as a major issue. “I don’t think that’s a good resource of city dollars, especially when in a budget shortfall such as we are. I’d like for you to hold off on this and reconsider,� he told Cisneros. “I can’t see spending all this money on something, then having us vote on it afterwards. I oppose it.� Additionally, several residents in attendance refuted council language saying neighborhoods “overwhelmingly desire� the project, such as 27-year Woodland Heights resident Simone Adams. Adams pointed out that of roughly 2,400 homes in the Woodland Heights, only 413 comments were received in total—representing only about 17 percent of the neighborhood. On Pecore and Watson Streets, supposedly the most affected, she said the “for� comments do not come close to representing the voice of those affected. “The interest and desire for the program in the Woodland Heights just is not there, but there are other neighborhoods with a significant majority for and need for the program,� she said. It initially appeared as though the one who has the ultimate power within the city might squash the project. “It does not seem as though that should be the logical sequence,� Mayor Sylvester Turner said. “Even if they say that’s the process, I’m going to reverse the process.� However, at the next meeting April 11, Turner said that after investigation, the department had in fact followed the correct procedures; therefore installation will move ahead as previously planned.

Non-Profit from P. 1A also support individual people during times of need, such as death or financial loss. “In 2015 we helped one family raise more than $30,000 after the primary breadwinner received a heart transplant,� said Kolmetz. “Last year we supported, both financially and with volunteers, two events for Friends of Oak Forest Park and helped them raise more than $50,000 towards the revitalization of Oak Forest Park and their goal of becoming a Playground for All Abilities.�   Kolmetz said that LAF is hoping to grow to become the primary go-to organization for local residents in need and those who have a desire to give back. “We want to be the bridge between those that want to give back and those that are in need,� said Kolmetz. “We want to continue fostering a sense of community outside of philanthropic and civic activities so we support or put on events like Move in the Park.� Like most non-profit leaders, Kolmetz says the best part about the job is the feeling he is left with at the end of the day, knowing that not only have his actions made a difference, but also that he is surrounded by a community that wants to make a difference as well. “The most powerful moments come sitting around the kitchen table in the homes of friends and neighbors during or after their time of need,� said Kolmetz. “Many times we cannot put the pieces back together but we can put our collective arms around them and say we are here for you. I wish our hundreds of donors and sponsors could feel how powerful that collective hug and show of support is during that time of need.� Although LAF works to satisfy the needs of the community, they also need the community’s help to do so. If you are interested in volunteering or just learning more about LAF visit www.leatherapronfoundation.org, and sign up for their email list. You can also call 281-723-5707.

An Easter reflection on resurrection The Reverend Jimmy Grace St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church

Recently I came across a poem written by a contemporary Presbyterian minister named Kara Root. The honesty of her written words struck me as apropos for Easter Sunday, as her untitled poem explains why she needs the resurrection. She writes: “I need the Resurrection because my sister is sick and can’t afford insurance, because I’ve told a weeping Haitian mom, ‘No, I can’t take your son home with me.’ Because I’ve been rushed off a Jerusalem street so a robot could blow up a bag that could’ve blown us up. I need the resurrection because I’ve exploded in rage and watched my children’s tiny faces cloud with hurt. Because evil is pervasive and I participate. I need the Resurrection because it promises that in the end all wrongs are made right. Death loses. Hope triumphs. And life and love Prevail.� Kara’s poem summarizes our Easter faith, punctuating it with a deep-seated reality we might not always associate with resurrection. In his Easter message this year, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, Michael Curry points to this earthy reality of resurrection when he says that “the world does not need another

fairy tale.� Today we celebrate Easter because resurrection isn’t a fairy tale. It is who we are, it is our story. As Kara mentions in her poem, all of us need it. Personally, I need resurrection because without it, my life doesn’t make any sense. If there is no resurrection, then for me, my life is devoid of meaning and purpose. It is my very ground of being – everything depends on it. We need resurrection because without it, we have no answer to the suffering and pain we see on a daily basis in this world, whether that is recently in some far away, foreign capital, or in our own city or even in our own homes. Without resurrection, there is no hope, there is no purpose, there is no point. That said – how many of us after Easter will live our life as if resurrection is just a fairy tale? How many of us after Easter will return to our places of work, or to our families, treating the resurrection as a quaint notion from a long ago time that no longer means anything to us in the busyness of our lives? How many of us will forget in twenty-four hours how central the resurrection is? I have a theory – and the theory is that as much as we talk about resurrection in the church, we do so to keep it at a safe distance, to domesticate it. And when clergy like myself are successful at domes-

ticating resurrection, then we are successful in making it appear boring and forgettable, at least until maybe when a loved one close to us dies. I have buried enough people in my profession to see this happen again and again. There is something about being at a cemetery when you see a casket lowered into the ground or an urn placed into a columbarium that brings curiosity about the resurrection to the surface. Many times people, after watching their mom or dad or brother or sister lowered into the ground have asked me, “Where is mom now? Is she in heaven?� They ask me because they expect I have a definitive answer, which because I am human, I don’t. Of course I understand why we ask those kinds of questions – we are desperate in such moments for some sense of closure when a loved one dies. We want to know that they will somehow be okay. I get that. But the question of where someone goes when they die, and yes my answer is heaven, is not a question I find captivating anymore. Here’s the question I want to ask: not is whoever has died in heaven – but rather, are we now? In other words, the question I want to ask is “what does the resurrection say not about the dead – what does it say about the living? What does it say about us today?� My answer is that it says everything. Because Christ tran-

Good Friday Project debuts at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church For The Leader Good Friday, the day set aside to contemplate the crucifixion of Jesus, is observed by Christians by attending services such as the powerful Good Friday Liturgy celebrated at St. Andrew’s,h, 1819 Heights Blvd. at noon on April 14. This year St. Andrew’s also introduces The Good Friday Project, a series of five reflections on the crucifixion that will employ a variety of art forms including drums, painting, choral music and drama. Please join us at 7 PM as we endeavor to add creative expression to a solemn day honored by millions around the world. For more information, please visit www. saecheights.org or call (713) 861-5596.

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scended death and now lives, our lives are – ontologically different. Our lives are given meaning and purpose not only because of Jesus’ resurrection, but because his resurrection is our resurrection. We live and never die because Jesus lives and the tyranny of death is overthrown. It is not a fairy tale – it is our story – the story of God reaching into this world bringing life without end for all people. That means you. That means God gave you life, a life that will never end, though one day you will die. But your death is not the end, it is merely a birthday into eternal life. The resurrection of Jesus means that you have already been resurrected. And because you are resurrected, heaven is all around you. Heaven is here, it is in your home, it is in your car, it is in your place of work. Heaven is in your friends, heaven is in your family, heaven is in your irritating boss at work, and heaven is in your enemy. Everything is resurrected, everything is new. Christians call this new life “Easter.� And because it is not just one day a year, we cel-

ebrate Easter every Sunday. We do so because we need the resurrection. We need the Resurrection because it promises that in the end all wrongs are made right, that death loses, hope triumphs, and life

and love prevail. It is anything but boring. It is anything but a fairy tale. It is God’s gift to you, today, and always. Never forget that. Happy Easter.

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Page 6A • Saturday, April 15, 2017

OBSERVE HOLY WEEK & EASTER AT ST. ANDREW’S

Maundy Thursday April 13 • Holy Eucharist 7:00 pm

Good Friday April 14

Sunday, April 5 at 8:30 AM &of10:30 AM • Stations the Cross 11:00 am

• Liturgy Noon • The Good Friday Project 7:00 pm

easTer day

April 16 • Great Vigil Sunrise Service 6:00 am • Holy Eucharist, Rite I 8:30 am • Celebration Brunch 9:30 am • Holy Eucharist, Rite II 10:30 am • Easter Egg Hunt Noon • Rhythms of Grace Service 2:00 pm

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church 1819 Heights Boulevard | saecheights.org

May the gifts of God’s love and sacrifice fill you with joy and gratitude as we celebrate this holy season. EXPERIENCE- HOLY WEEK

Worship Schedule

B

We Welcome Everybody April 13 Maundy Thursday

Thursday, April 13 • 6:30 pm Holy Communion Friday, April 14 • 12 Noon - 3:00 pm Stations of the Cross Saturday, April 15 • 6:30 pm Easter Vigil Sunday, April 16 • 8:15 am & 10:30 am Easter - Holy Communion

211 Byrne • www.holytrinityrec.org

EASTER

April 16 Easter Sunday

10:00 A.M. – Worship Service in English 12:30 P.M. – Misa en español Worship Service in Spanish 1602 W 43rd St. • Houston, TX 77018 Phone: 713-686-1577

Easter Egg Hunt April 8

Sundays beginning April 16 8:15 & 10:50 a.m. - Traditional Worship 11:00 a.m. - Modern Worship

10:00 AM @ T.C. Jester Park

Palm Sunday Services April 9 8:30 & 11:00 AM

Discover the real evidence of Jesus’ death and resurrection! Whether you are a skeptic or have been a Christian for years, you will be touched by the true story of an award-winning investigative journalist (Lee Strobel)—and avowed atheist—who applies his well-honed journalistic and legal skills to disprove the newfound Christian faith of his wife…. with unexpected, life-altering results.

Maundy Thursday Communion

April 13 7:00 PM

Good Friday Service April 14 7:00 PM

Easter Sunday Services

April 16 7:00, 8:30 & 11:00 AM Nursery is available for children 4 and under at all services

2003 West 43rd • 713-686-8241

Trinity Lutheran Church 800 Houston Avenue, Houston, TX 77007 www.trinitydt.org - 713-224-0684

Between West T. C. Jester and Rosslyn

www.stsumc .org

Resurrection Services Share Your Easter with us & discover “the Place Where You Belong”

Rev. Deanna M. Young, Senior Pastor 14210 Aston Street, Houston, TX 77040 713-462-3206 www.fairbanksumc.org

April 14 Good Friday

12 Noon – Bilingual Worship Service

St. Stephen’s United Methodist Church

For a special series based on the movie, “The Case For Christ”

April 9: Palm Sunday Worship * 10:50 AM Contemporary Worship * (Spanish) 11 AM Catered Lunch 12:30 PM Easter Egg Hunt / Scavenger Hunt April 10-13: Prayer Walk Fellowship Hall 11 AM - 7 PM April 13: Maundy Thursday Service * 7 PM April 14: Good Friday Service (Spanish) 7 PM April 16: Easter Sunday Contemporary Worship* 8:30 AM Breakfast 9:30 AM Worship* 10:50 AM Contemporary Worship* (Spanish) 11 AM * Nursery provided for services

7:00 P.M. – Bilingual Worship Service

Celebrate Easter at

Join Us This

Fairbanks United Methodist Church

SHARING THE LOVE OF JESUS IN A MULTICULTURAL COMMUNITY

Easter and Holy Week

THE COMMUNITY OF FAITH CHURCH ishop James Dixon and The Community Of Faith Church, 1024 Pinemont began Resurrection Season with a special Communion Service, Palm Sunday, a 5-day fast, and Good Friday Service. Sermon Series: “Love So Radical, Love So Real.” The sermons illustrate that God loves us and Jesus Christ His Son intercedes on our behalf so that we are justified by faith in Him (I Corinthians 1: 14, 20 and Philippians 3: 10-11). On Resurrection Day, Sunday, April 16, 2017 the following events will occur: 6 am to 7 am -Sonrise Service; 7 am to 8am Breakfast; 8 am – Dramatic Celebration; 10:30 am – Finale Celebration “Radical Power! Radical Praise!”

St. James Lutheran Church

Sunday School ........................9:15 am Easter Sunday Worship........................10:30am-Noon Wednesday Night Prayer & Bible Study .......... 6:00 pm - 7:45pm Pastor C David Harrison

First Church Heights Follow Us On... 201 E. 9th Sunday St. • Houston 77007 9:30am School

Sunday Worship 10:30am

713-861-3102 • www.fbcheights.org

Gethsemane Lutheran Church 4040 Watonga | 713-688-5227 Rev. John Cain, Pastor

invites all to Easter worship

Maundy Thursday, April 13 7:00 pm Service with Living Last Supper

Good Friday, April 14 7:00 pm Service

Easter Sunday, April 16 7:00 am Sunrise Service with Communion 9:15 am Children’s Celebration 10:00 am Easter Egg Hunt 10:30 am Service with communion www.gethsemanelutheran.org www.gethsemanelutheran.org

Saturday, April 15, 2017 • Page 7A

The calendar. URBAN BALLET CONCERT Houston City Dance Houston City Dance, 1307 Clay St., will present their Urban Ballet Concert at 8 p.m. April 13 and 14, and 2:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. April 15. The cost is $25 for adults and $20 for students. Information: houstoncitydance.com, 713-5296100.

see the Houston Crush Facebook page for a complete list.

DEAD GIVEAWAY Theatre Suburbia Theatre Suburbia, 4106 Way Out West Dr., presents “Dead Giveaway,� a dark comedy murder mystery by local playwright Pat Cook. The show runs April 14 through May 13, at 8:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. April 30 and May 7. Reservations are strongly encouraged. Tickets are $16 for adults, $13 for students and seniors, and $13 Sunday matinees. Information: 713-682-3525, theatresuburbia. org.

STEAK NIGHT American Legion Post 560 Come by the American Legion Post 560, 3720 Alba Rd., for a delicious steak dinner and entertainment, April 21 (third Friday of each month). Steaks will be served from 6 p.m. until sold out. The cost is $15 per plate. Information: 713-682-9287, facebook. com/AmLegionPost560/, www. txlegion560.org.

CALL FOR DONATIONS Houston Crush Baseball/ Houston Eagles Independent Houston Crushers and Heights Eagles Independent are coordinating a Goodwill clothing drive to benefit the Independence Heights Redevelopment District, HCB and HEI on Saturday, April 15 from 8 a.m.-11 a.m. at Independence Heights Park, 501 E. 35th St. Bring unwanted clothing and household items and donate to a good cause. Acceptable items are clothing, shoes, cookware, household decor, books, computers and printers, small appliances, sporting goods etc. Please

EASTER EGG HUNT 50/50 Acorn Golf Bunny on the Green Easter Egg Hunt will be held at 50/50 Acorn Golf April 15. Proceeds will benefit OFHA. Call 832-831-5327 to register.

OFHA FAMILY FUN DAY/ CRAWFISH FESTIVAL The OFHA Family Fun Day/Annual Crawfish Festival will be held from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. April 22, at Fifty Fifty Acorn Golf and is sponsored by Pinch Restaurant. Also available will be hot dogs, sliders, pizza, beer, lemonade and sodas. Activities include games, rugby clinic, music, bounce house, golf ball launcher, prizes, and silent auction. Proceeds benefit the Neighborhood Patrol Program. Buy tickets online at www. myoakforest.org/events/2017crawfish-fest. SPRING FLING 2017 K-9 Angels Rescue K-9 Angels Rescue is excited to host the 2017 Spring Fling

event at Cottonwood, 3422 N. Shepherd Dr., from 6-9 p.m. April 26. The proceeds will benefit the K-9 Angels Rescue. A portion of all food and drink sales from the night will be donated to K-9 Angels. There will also be a band, a silent auction and some exciting raffle prizes. To donate or for information, email sherri_sera@ hotmail.com or call 713-2946398.

potatoes, sauerkraut, and iced tea. Advance tickets for the dinner and dance are $20, dance only $12. Tickets at the door for the dance only is $15. Call 713869-5767 for reservations and more information. DARE TO DREAM, DARE TO DANCE Studio Nia Moves Studio NiaMoves is celebrating 10 years at 508 Pecore St. in the Heights. Come by April 29, from 7-10:30 p.m. for Dare to Dream, Dare to Dance - a celebration and gala benefiting The Center For Success and Independence. TCSI offers adolescent trauma therapy and treatment for teen substance abuse and co-occurring mental health issues. Proceeds bring healing dance and movement to teens served by TCSI. Gala features local belly dance stars, Bollywood dance, show-stopping hoopers, silent auction, food, DJ and dancing. Tickets may be purchased at www.niamoves. com/d2d2.html.

YARD SALE/DOCUMENT SHREDDING Sinclair Elementary PTO The Sinclair Elementary PTO will hold a yard sale from 8 a.m.noon, April 29. Vendor tables are open to the public and can be purchased for $30 before April 21. After April 21, vendor tables are $35. Thanks to the Timbergrove Manor Civic Association who is offering document shredding for the community five complimentary file box sizes. Each additional box is $5. No more than seven boxes. Service is provided by ShredTex. Sinclair Elementary is located at 6410 Grovewood. Information: yardsale@sinclairpto.org.

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K-9 FUN RUN AND WALK Houston Humane Society Register as an individual or start a team, and raise funds for Houston Humane Society’s life saving programs. Come for the race, stay for the party in the park. The walk will be held at Lynn Eusan Park, at the University of Houston, 4800 Calhoun Rd., from 8 a.m.-noon, April 29. To register, visit HoustonHumane. org or call 713-433-6421.

STRIBRNANKA SPJST Lodge 88 On tour from the Czech Republic, Stribrnanka will perform April 29, at the SPJST Lodge 88, 1435 Beall St. Doors open at 4:30 p.m., dinner will be served at 5 p.m., followed by the 7 p.m. performance and dance. Dinner menu includes pork schnitzel, mashed

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Holy Week and Easter activities at Oaks Presbyterian Oaks Presbyterian Church will hold Easter week activities. Maundy Thursday service is April 13, at 7:15 p.m. and will follow with a family-style dinner at 6:15 p.m. Please call to make reservations for the dinner. Easter morning worship with communion April 16, is 10:30 a.m. and will be followed by an Easter egg hunt. Oaks Presbyterian Church is located at 1576 Chantilly Ln. Call 713-682-2556 for information. The Case for Christ sermon series at Trinity Downtown The Case for Christ Sermon Series begins Easter Sunday, April 16. Trinity Downtown will begin a four-week message series based on the major motion picture, The Case for Christ in theaters this April.

Come and discover the evidence of Christianity for yourself. Sunday morning services are 8:15 a.m. and 10:50 a.m. (traditional) and 11 a.m. (modern). Trinity is located at 800 Houston Avenue. Visit www. trinitydt.org or call 832-3013100 for information. Easter Sunday service at St. Stephen’s Worship on Easter Sunday begins with a sunrise service at 7 a.m. outside in front of the sanctuary. Contemporary worship begins at 8:30 a.m., followed by Sunday School at 9:40 a.m. which will include a children’s Easter Egg Hunt. Traditional worship begins at 11 a.m. Bring a flower for the Flowering of the Cross. Registration is open for the 2017 Car Show to be held from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., April 22. All vehicle types are welcome. Pre-registration is $10 per vehicle; registration will be $20 the day of the show. Proceeds will benefit St. Stephen’s youth ministry and The World Service Fund. Admission is free. 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. Greater First Baptist Church to hold community revival Independence Heights Greater Houston Baptist Ministers Alliance – Rise and Celebrate Resurrection Week Community Revival will be held at 7:30 p.m. through April 14 at

Greater First Baptist Church, 4441 Haygood St. The pastor is Rory L. Thompson, Sr. Call 713-695-7061 for information.

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its annual Ladies Tea, April 22, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the church. Tickets are now on sale and seating is limited. Call 713-682-4942 for tickets and information. Oak Forest Baptist Church is located at 1700 W. 43rd St.

Easter Bunny coming to St. Matthew’s The Easter Bunny is coming to St. Matthew’s Saturday, April 15. Bring the little ones with their baskets at 10:30 a.m. for a great egg hunt with refreshments. Don’t forget your cameras. The Methodist Men and Lydia Circle will be sponsoring a Fish Fry immediately after the egg hunt. A meal of fried fish, fries, coleslaw, hush puppies and drink will be available for $10. A variety of desserts will be $1 per serving. St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church is located at 4300 N. Shepherd Dr. Call 713-6970671 or visit the web site at www.stmatthewsmethodist. org for information.

Children’s Fun Day at Hope Episcopal Come out April 22, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., for some sun, fun, games and food. There will be hamburgers, hot dogs, desserts, drinks and activities including face painting, jump rope competition, and a threelegged race. The community (all ages) is welcome. Hope Episcopal is located at 1613 W. 43rd St. Call 713681-6422 for information.

(Between Ella & T.C. Jester)

Easter celebration at Immanuel Lutheran Plan to join Immanuel Lutheran, 306 E. 15th St., for their 7th Annual Easter Celebration. Activities begin at 10 a.m. April 15, and includes an Easter egg hunt of more than 4,000 eggs, games, activities, refreshments and a visit by the Easter Bunny. Easter Sunday morning worship service with Communion is at 8 a.m. Call 713-861-8787 or visit immanuelhouston.com for information.

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From the Pews. Easter activities at Hope Episcopal Hope Episcopal Church, 1613 W. 43rd St., will hold various Easter activities. Maundy Thursday footwashing is April 13. Good Friday service is 7 p.m. April 14. Great Easter Vigil with Baptisms and Lighting of Paschal Candle is 7 p.m. April 15. Resurrection Sunday is April 16 and begins with services at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., with breakfast served from 910 a.m. The Easter Egg Hunt is after the 10:30 a.m. service. Call 713-681-6422 for information.

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directory Sunday ForAll All Ages Ages..9:30am Sunday -- Bible BibleStuday Study For .. 9:30am MorningWorship.............10:45am Worship............ 10:45am Morning Age Graded Zones ...........6:15pm Wed.- Prayer Meeting & Missions Wed. - Organization......................6:15pm Prayer Meeting & Missions Organization .....................6:15pm Dr. John W. Neesley - Senior Pastor

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• Bible Study: 9:15 a.m. • Morning:10:30 a.m. • Evening: 4:15 p.m.

Reverend John Cain, Pastor Worship Services 8:00 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. (Nursery Provided) Sunday School & Bible Classes 9:15 a.m.

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f we live in the Spirit and strive to be godly and good, we should manifest the fruit of the spirit, as opposed to the works of the flesh. It is noteworthy that Paul speaks of the works of the flesh in the plural but refers to the fruit of the Spirit in the singular, suggesting that these attributes are united in the person who lives a godly life. The fruit of the Spirit is “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and selfcontrol.� (Galatians 5.22-23) And, the person who walks in the spirit will manifest these qualities as if they were the natural outgrowth of their soul. These are qualities which all good people should manifest and for which we should strive, but with which we may struggle mightily. Being patient and kind, and exercising self-control is easy enough when we are dealing with others who are themselves patient, kind, and self-controlled, but these can be incredibly difficult when dealing with those who are impatient, unkind, or lacking in self-control. We should open our hearts to the love of God and let His Spirit infuse us with the seeds of His divine love. And then, work hard to till and tend the soil of our life so that we might bear the fruit of the Spirit, spreading God’s love throughout the world. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart.

Candlelight Church of Christ Join us for Services in English or Spanish Sunday Worship 10am & 5pm Sunday Bible Classes 9am Wednesday Bible Study 7pm

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Page 8A • Saturday, April 15, 2017

This common Easter flower could harm your kitties

Dear Tabby, I’ve heard that Easter lilies are toxic to cats. Should I reconsider buying one for my home this Easter, since I have a cat? Are they also toxic to dogs? Hosting Easter lunch in The Heights Dear Hosting Easter, You’re heard right: Easter lilies pose a real threat to your cat. Since many cats enjoy eat-

ing grass and other plants on occasion, (science suggests that the greens settle an upset stomach) any flower or plant that you bring into your home has the potential to be a feast for your cat. For some plants, this isn’t an issue--aside from the regurgitation of leaves-but when it comes to Easter lilies, this could spell death to your cat. Just one bite of a petal, leaves, the stem, or even the pollen of an Easter lily can wreak havoc on your kitty’s digestive system and, if left untreated, can lead to kidney failure and death. And while a common culprit, Easter lilies are not the only type of lily that affects cats; tiger lilies, rubrum lilies, and some species of day lily are also poisonous to our feline friends. Even the

water that your Easter lily has been sitting in can pose a hazard if consumed by your kitty. The early symptoms of of lily toxicity are as follows: • Vomiting • Lethargy • Lack of appetite When it comes to treatment of lily toxicosis in cats, time is of the essence. You will need to seek emergency veterinary care immediately. If treatment is administered within 6 hours, chances are good that your kitty will survive. After 18-24 hours, however, the prognosis is not as hopeful, even for cats who receive treatment. Treatment includes emptying the gastrointestinal tract by getting the affected cat to vomit. Veterinarians may also administer activated charcoal to neutralize the toxins. Intra-

Camp 2017: CAP (Citizens for Animal Protection) is having its “Kids & Kritters Camp� this year in June. Kids & Kritters camp is a half day week-long camp for boys and girls ages 7-13 during the summer months at the CAP Animal Shelter & Pet Adoption Center. Games,

venous fluid treatment is indicated for at least 48 hours in order to prevent or treat renal (kidney) failure. Your kitty will need to be hospitalized and have his or her blood chemistry and urine values closely monitored to determine if treatment has been successful. As for dogs--Easter lilies don’t pose a risk to dogs. Aside from a mild upset stomach if your dog eats too many Easter lilies, these plants don’t pose the same risk as they do for cats. So, if you’re hoping to brighten up your Easter table with flowers that won’t harm your feline friends, consider one of these other beautiful Easter flowers that are safe for your cat: Easter orchids, daisies, violets, or Easter Cactus. CAP Kids & Kritters

crafts and hands-on animal interactions make each day FUN and help children to develop a positive attitude toward all living beings. Go to: www.cap4pets.org to learn more and register today! Do you have a question for Tabby? Email her at deartabbyquestions@gmail.com

Pet of the Week Meet Indie. This 3 year old Border Collie-mix was found on the street with her litter of puppies. With a little time and understanding, Indie has proven to be one of the sweetest dogs her foster parent has ever met. Indie would love a home with a canine bestie and a human family to love her unconditionally. To learn more, go to www.animaljusticeleague.org.

Neighbors: Fisher named Concordia University’s Sports Information Director By Elizabeth Villareal elizasgarden@outlook.com

Joe Zachary Fisher was named Concordia University’s new Sports Information Director. Fisher served as the Interim Sports Information Director since January 2017. Before that, he was the graduate assistant in the sports information office, arriving in Austin in the fall of 2016. Joe Zachary grew up in Oak Forest, attended Oak Forest Elementary, Grady Middle and St. Thomas High School and graduated from UH last May. He will complete his Masters Degree in 2018. Fisher is the son of Lucy Fisher Cain and husband Greg, and John Fisher, and is the younger brother of John Duncan Fisher. Way to go, JoJo! The recently held Shepherd Forest Civic Club Easter Egg Hunt was a hopping success and enjoyed by all in attendance. The skies were beautiful, the kids were excited and the Easter Bunny was happily posing for photos. Children from 3 months to 9 years old enjoyed hunting the eggs as well as the refreshments and prizes that followed. It was reported that this year’s attendance at the Egg Hunt was one of the biggest ever. Many thanks goes to each of the many neighbors who made donations, stuffed eggs or attended and helped with the event, with a special thank you to Delinda Holland and Jan Hughes (Jan made sure the Easter Bunny was in

Shepherd Forest Civic Club’s Easter Egg Hunt was a hopping success.

attendance!). Almost all the Civic Club officers were there to hand out prizes, punch and cookies. Officers in attendance were Civic Club President Kurt Shoeffler, Vice President Debby Fischer and Board of Directors Glenn Cessna, Bid Nutt, Mary Lamb and Ed Vargas. Just a few of the other residents attending were Darrell and Lynette Tidwell, Lauren Syrinek, Brian Miller, Kim and Jason Syrinek, Debby Fischer and Jim Kocinski. In support of Parkinson’s Awareness Month and World Parkinson’s Disease Day on April 11, please reach out to our neighbors who have Parkinson’s Disease and let them know

you care. April 11 marks the birthday of Dr. James Parkinson who figured out the connection between brain and body 200 years ago. Because it is PD Awareness Month, there are special programs and celebrations throughout the month of April and you can find information through the Houston Area Parkinson Society (“HAPS�) at www.hapsonline. org. In honor of Parkinson’s Awareness Month, Original Carrabba’s is inviting you to “Ciao� down for a cause – they are donating $2 to HAPS for every Ken Beckett’s Meat Ravioli dish sold through the end of the month of April at its 3115 Kirby location. HAPS is a lifeline for many and of-

4

fers social programs and assistance such as The Parkinson’s Enrichment Program, Painting with Parkinson’s, and even dance and yoga! They offer education, speech therapy, exercise and support as well as social services like transportation to doctor visits, emergency financial aid, and helping clients maintain independence for as long as possible. Our own Leader community neighbors Kathleen Crist and Celeste Harris are making a difference every day for folks with PD. Crist is a Licensed Master Social Worker and is the Director of Social Services and Program Development for HAPS. Harris is also a Licensed Master Social Worker and is on staff at HAPS where she is Special Programs Coordinator. They both work tirelessly to improve the quality of life for hundreds of Houston area residents affected by PD through service, education and advocacy. It’s time for the Spring Fling on Sue Barnett! A wonderful Sip & Stroll fundraising event is planned and you are invited. Neighbors will gather at the 1300 block of Sue Barnett Drive in Garden Oaks on Apr. 29 (rain date is May 6) from 4-6:30 p.m. The event will feature front yard garden tours, miniature garden displays, fairy house displays and curated vendors with creative yard art and container gardens for sale. This event will feature local home and garden service providers as well as food and drinks for all, including wine and beer, which

will be provided by area restaurants, businesses and residents. Table hosts providing food and/or drink tastings include: Rainbow Lodge, The Union Kitchen, Marchese’s Kitchen, The Barking Pig, Great Heights Brewing Company, Naturally Sweet Treats, Eureka Heights Brew Co., La Fresca Pizza, Frenchy’s Chicken, The Happy Macaron, Spaghetti Western, Mi Sombrero, The Baker’s Man, GO Kids, The Petrelli Family, The Driver Family, The House Manager, Natran, Animal Justice League and more! Also participating in this event: Friends of Oak Forest Park, which is a group working to create a park for all abilities at Oak Forest Park (they will host a fairy tale reading at the Spring Fling event), and RPM (Rescued Pets Movement) will host a wonderful silent auction benefiting their dedicated work rescuing and assisting animals in our area. Area residents and businesses are invited to create a transportable fairy house or miniature garden to be featured and displayed at the event. Architects, builders, artists, creative adults and children, individually or in groups, are welcome to participate in this display of spring inspiration and community fun! Tickets are limited and will not be sold the day of the event. The final day for ticket sales is Apr. 22. Tickets are $40 for adults, $3 for children over the age of 5. For tickets, go to www.eventbrite.com/ e/spring-fling-on-sue-barnett-drivetickets.

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Saturday, April 15, 2017 • Page 9A

YMCA provides active fun for children The Book Scene For The Leader

The YMCA of Greater Houston is committed to healthy living and wants to share the activities that will keep children’s bodies and minds in good shape over summer break at YMCA Healthy Kids Day Ž on April 22. Free to all families, Healthy Kids Day will be hosted by all YMCAs in the Greater Houston area from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. While activities will vary from center to center, children and their parents will get to sample all of the fun the Y has to offer in day camp, overnight camp, youth sports and swim lessons. Activities on Healthy Kids Day will include program demonstrations, such as karate and Zumba dance offs;

Photo courtesy of YMCA A YMCA trainer urges on a young fitness guru. The YMCA of Greater Houston will host a Healthy Kids Day April 22.

games, including hula hoop contests, water activities and relay races; arts and crafts, such as face painting and coloring; and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) activities such as making “elephant toothpaste� and “twisting tornados� in a bottle.

Families can also take tours of the facilities for free. “Healthy Kids Day is a great way to introduce families to summertime activities at the YMCA that not only are fun, but help children continue to grow and flourish when they are not in school,� said Shawn

Borzelleri, vice president of Programs at the YMCA of Greater Houston. “We would love for everyone to come out and see what the Y has to offer in terms of day camp, overnight camp, youth sports and swim lessons and to have fun together as a family.� Healthy Kids Day is a national YMCA initiative celebrated at more than 1,300 YMCAs across the country. More than 1.2 million parents and their children are expected to participate. Please contact your local YMCA or visit www.ymcahouston.org to learn more about Healthy Kids Day and YMCA summer programs. Those who join the YMCA of Greater Houston by April 24 will not pay a join fee, a savings of up to $125.

Bike Trek from P. 1A had played Division I football at Louisiana-Lafayette. Following a series of visits to various doctors and neurologists, the bomb was finally dropped. “I didn’t know what it meant to have MS, and the more I began to learn about how disabling it could be, I couldn’t believe it,� Reed said. “You grow up with someone, and you have this vision that you’re always going to have that person there and they’re always going to be capable. He was always there to protect me and take care of me and guide me.� Along with the role reversal of having to now be a rock for his brother, having the thought that the active brother he knew might be in a wheelchair one day brought Reed the thought of what the disease would do to his brother psychologically. Without his brother, Reed feels he wouldn’t be where he is today, which is why he then began helping him the only way he knew how. This year will be his seventh time riding in the Houston to Austin bike ride,

and the brothers will be cycling together on Team I-10 Connection in hopes of creating awareness and driving fundraising that will one day lead to a cure to this disease that has impacted the Reeds significantly. “The most rewarding part is the additional comradery it has brought to my brother and I. Every year we have more people come in, and it’s close friends and family, so it’s a close-knit group,� he said. “It’s great to have that tradition, and more than that it’s helping to raise money for a great cause that I have personal interest in with my brother.� A perfect fit “You’ve got to train up for it and put your own personal skin in the game, but it’s a very successful fundraiser for a good cause, and you know you’re making a difference,� said Tim Chisolm, who first learned about Multiple Sclerosis when two family friends (a married couple) were both stricken with the disease within a five-year period. Without a knowl-

edge of the disease to speak of, however, options for the avid biker to help were limited—or so he thought. All these years later, the stars aligned as Chisolm saw the advancements progressing and his friends beginning to heal, and wasted no time jumping on bandwagon and off the sidelines for the first time in 2009. “It just looked like a perfect fit of taking on an activity that was good for me physically, and also a way to give back to people affected by MS, since I knew people who were,� he said. “As I look at what’s been going on, treatments are making lives better and helping them live a higher quality life for longer. You see the end in sight with what a great cause this is.� Chisolm will set out on this year’s BP MS 150 with Team Hess April 29 alongside co-workers and friends, eagerly awaiting an inspiration he said is old hat, yet still takes him aback each time. “When you see people who actually have MS riding

and the parade lines where you’re riding with their family and friends rooting them on, you know that you’re a part of something much bigger,� he said. “You can see that they truly appreciate it. It’s awesome to see that direct connection to helping and seeing the appreciation as you go along.� This year, the MS Society aims to raise $16 million to bring hope to many who are affected by MS. And though one would think 180 miles on a bike would take its toll on even the most conditioned riders, the ride seems to finish before riders know what hit them—and Reed has no plans to quit anytime soon if he can help it. “As long as I’m capable of pedaling a bike I’m planning to continue doing it,� he said. “I’ve been surprised how fast the ride goes because of the support and seeing people with much bigger challenges who are participating in it,� Chisolm added. “That makes it a much shorter ride than I ever anticipated it would have been.�

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Bible Facts vs. Church Fables All visitors will receive a free 300-page book--

Christendom Astray from the Bible

Sunday • april 16 • 6pm 1846 Harvard Street • in The Heights We don’t want your money - no collection will be taken. Christ is coming soon and will reign on the earth. Sponsored by

The Berean Christadelphians For more info: 713-861-2263

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apRil 22nd

outdoor Market in tHe paRking lot 8aM - 2pM

Thompson’s AnTique Center of texas

9950 Hempstead Rd. • 713-688-4211 Rummage thru everything from A-Z. This is the anything and everything sale you have been waiting for!!

www.leaderprints.com

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WE WANT OUR SENIOR RESIDENTS NOT ONLY TO LIVE WITH US BUT TO THRIVE WITH US!

To Consider The Memory Care Program At The Forum At Memorial Woods!

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The Memory Care Program at The Forum at Memorial Woods is a Montessori based program designed to help your loved one with memory impairment, Alzheimer's and dementia. We RIIHU WKH Ć“QHVW LQ UHWLUHPHQW OLYLQJ LQ DQ HOHJDQW IXOO VHUYLFH OLIHVW\OH LQ +RXVWRQ

CALL TODAY AND LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY: (713) 956.0870 777 N. Post Oak Rd, Houston, TX 77024

ON THE BALL...

HOME-RUN SAVINGS 14 SEER SYSTEM - AS LOW AS

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00

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OVER

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100,000

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HVAC SYSTEM

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FIREFIGHTERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, TEACHERS AND ARMED FORCES - ACTIVE OR RETIRED To Those Who Have Devoted Their Lives To Our Service, Thank You!

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