Page 10 • The Leader • April 20, 2013 • @heightsleader
Long time coming, Ruggles Green ready to fit in by Charlotte Aguilar charlotte@theleadernews.com Some restaurateurs aspire to earn four stars in prestigious food rankings. While Ruggles Green’s Federico Marques takes food seriously - as evidenced by his staff ’s labors to create a Heights-friendly menu and daily specials - it’s the goal of becoming a four-star “green” restaurant that really puts a twinkle in his eye. “We’re out to create a new sustainable energy standard at this Heights location,” said Marques, who’s aiming for a soft opening no later than Monday (but was a possibility for Friday). “If we can get four stars, well…” his voice trails off and he launches into an impressive list of accomplishments including 100 percent LED lighting, solar power, composting and recycling of every available material, selling old fryer oil for conversion to biofuel and a cutting-edge energy management system. He hopes all those measures and more will lead to the elusive four stars from the international Green Restaurant Association. Ruggles Green, with locations
“and although it meant delays and a lot of additional cost, we did it out of respect to the neighborhood.” Back when he initially brainstormed the Ruggles Green concept with partners five years ago, Marques had hoped the Heights would be the first location, but that didn’t happen for a variety of reasons. “We’ve always felt this was the perfect place for our philosophy,” he said. “It’s a close-knit community that’s receptive to the green philosophy. “
That not only includes care about the environment, but use of local, sustainable foods, and menus heavy on options for vegetarians, vegans and those who require gluten-free diets, he explains. “We can make 90 percent of our menu items gluten-free.” Ruggles Green’s biggest change in the Heights will be to offer a weekend breakfast, not available at its other locations, “because we know this is a big breakfast neighborhood,” he said. And diners can look for surprises, especially in the daily specials, where chefs get the chance to exercise their creativity and feel for their new clientele. “It could be something like buffalo chili or special pizzas – anything we think might work,” he said. Ruggles Grill will introduce its old-looking but state-of-theart building and food at a grand opening from 6-10 p.m. next Thursday, April 25, benefiting the Discover Fitness Foundation, a Heights-area organization that battles childhood obesity through healthy physical activity. For more, follow the Ruggles Green Facebook page or go to www.rugglesgreen.com.
While Buri didn’t disclose the amount that was given to charity, she said the recipients are St. Mark’s Medical Center Foundation, Shriner’s Hospital, Boys & Girls Country of Houston Inc., Timbergrove Little League, Meals on Wheels and Young Survival Coalition. The donation to Timbergrove Little League will help fund the new concession stand and the installation of lights. The Young Survival Coalition is a non-profit dedicated to helping women under age 40 who are diagnosed with breast cancer. Its leader for the state of Texas, Sandy Castillo, regularly plays bingo at SPJST. “We usually take up this whole table -- we cover table in pink and lots of people want to talk to us,” said Castillo, a breast cancer survi-
vor who was diagnosed at age 39. The SPJST’s youth group works the concession stand, and those proceeds fund their events. The bingo workers receive a small stipend, but it’s primarily a volunteer effort. “When you can give it to charity,” Buri said. “You feel like it’s worth it.” Carol Havemann of Spring is a third-grade teacher by day and the bingo caller every Thursday evening. “It’s entertaining,” Havemann said. “It’s fun to sit and watch the people get all excited.” There are times, however, when the packed bingo hall resembles a third-grade classroom. “I just want to tell them to be quiet and be good listeners,” Havemann said. “Then, I remember, it’s not my classroom.”
Manager Christina Blick and Chef Manager Sylvester Reyes are getting ready to launch the latest Ruggles Green restaurant at the site of the old 11th Street Café in the Heights. (Photo by Michael Sudhalter) in River Oaks, City Centre and Sugar Land, already holds the distinction of having the greenest restaurants in Texas and the U.S., Marques says. The new restaurant is located in the old 11th Street Café, 748 E. 11th St. And while from the outside, the historic building looks untouched, it’s something like the façade of a Hollywood movie set. Three outside brick walls were all that could be kept intact after design needs were evaluated. “We had to build an original building from the inside out,” said Marques,
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Bingo • from Page 1 it quite a bit,” Graham said. “You get a chance to actually do something on a Thursday. Everybody is involved, and you can and bring your own food.” SPJST is a national organization that’s been around since the late 19th century. The lodge also hosts dances, primarily attended by senior citizens. Its rooms and large outdoor patio are available for rent. The Lodge has about 7,000 members, although not all of them are active. Buri credited her predecessor, Mildred Holeman, for creating widespread interest in the bingo hall. All of the employees are certified by the Texas Lottery Commission, which ensures that all of the bingo is played within the hall itself and not outside it.
Heights resident Clara Bruz, 81, has enjoyed bingo at SPJST Lodge 88 since the early 1950s. (Photo by Michael Sudhalter) Aside from the operational costs, the bingo proceeds are donated to charities determined by the board of directors.
The city of Houston Street Recycling Center is trying to ensure that its residents won’t have difficulty recycling in the wake of the property at 3602 Center Street (one of its recycling centers) being sold. According to Gary Readore, Chief of Staff for the City’s Solid Waste Management Department, the recycling center was sold to Admiral Linens for revenue purposes. The recycling center was scheduled to close on June 1, but the city is finalizing negotations with Admiral to extend the use of the property for the next six to 12 months. The location is a block east of Heights Blvd. and a block north of Washington Ave. Readore said the City is currently looking for a property in the area to replace the 3602 Center Street drop-off.
a black sedan whose make and model couldn’t be discerned. He was described by the victim as a black man just over 6 feet tall, about 180-210 pounds with a white T-shirt and black jeans. The most outstanding feature: a yellow bear mask, complete with ears. The same night the Chamboard couple was robbed, April 9, a 31-year-old woman, who had stopped at an ATM machine for cash moments before, was robbed in the driveway of her home in the 2300 block of Chantilly. In both incidents, the robber was described as possibly Hispanic, wearing a multi-colored ski mask, brandishing a pistol and getting away in an older gray 4door sedan. The Chamboard victim believed it was a Mitsubishi Elantra. The series of incidents started with two similar robberies – in the 2000 block of Hewitt and 1700 block of Candlelight – the night of April 5, in which victims felt they may have been followed home. In both incidents, the robber was
– Michael Sudhalter
Magnet • from Page 1 magnet schools where applicants exceed spaces to select youngsters. In what seemed a bit backwards, the board approved two magnet school programs earlier in the meeting before voting on the new guidelines. The Energy Institute High School will start in the fall with a ninth-grade class and could be located at the former Holden Elementary School – most recently HISD’s Central Regional office – at 812 W. 28th St. in the Heights. Training students for jobs in both traditional petrochemical and new energy sources, such as solar and wind, the school would be the first of its kind in the nation, according to HISD. The board also approved creating a middle school Baylor College of Medicine Academy at Ryan Middle School, 4610 Elgin St., east of downtown. It will launch in Ad the #fall34143 with a class of sixth-grad-
ers and be a feeder school for the highly regarded DeBakey High School for the Health Professions. The board voted last month to close Ryan because of chronic low enrollment. Each year, a new grade will be added at the two campuses until they reach their full range. The district has applied for $12 million in federal magnet grant funds that would support the schools for their first three years. The public will get their first chance to get acquainted with the new schools at the district’s annual School Choice Fair, which is scheduled from 9 a.m.-noon April 27 at the district’s headquarters, 4400 W. 18th St. HISD is also seeking teachers for the non-traditional medical and energy programs, with a tight application deadline of April 22. For more information on applying, go to www.houstonisd.org/careers.
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Robberies • from Page 1 an umbrella, and he cursed her before fleeing in a car, which she did not see well enough to describe, the daughter said. The robber was apparently not armed. While there are some common descriptions of suspects, vehicles, weapons and modus operandi, robbery investigators have yet to make a connection among the crimes. “They’re sifting through all the evidence looking for similarities,” said HPD spokesman John Cannon, who said the department has stepped up both marked and unmarked patrols of the area. But while the pace of robberies has slowed, the incidents haven’t stopped. The latest victim was a 62-year-old man visiting the 1400 block of Curtin Street shortly after 10:30 p.m. Monday. When he got out of his car, he told investigators, a man ran up to him pointing a gun and demanding his money. After he complied, the robber ran west a few houses and escaped in
“It’s kind of a tough road trying to find a replacement property that is economical,” Readore said. “We had a spot we thought was worked out and the community squashed it. There’s a lot of residential development. We can’t be too close to residential. The cost of the land is so expensive in that area.” The dropoff site is unstaffed and includes a parking lot with roll-off containers. Residents deposit materials into it. When the 3602 Center location finally closes, residents will be able to drop off their recycling at two sites – 9003 North Main in Houston and 5004 Dincans in West University Place, although the latter may be shutting down in the future.
described as a black man armed with a pistol, with the Candlelight victim observing a 4-door white sedan as the getaway vehicle. HPD’s Cannon and the Chamboard victim had identical advice: for residents to be aware of their surroundings. As a precaution, suggests the victim, “maybe even honking and flashing lights when coming home. As brazen as these scum have been though, I don’t know if it would make a difference.” Don’t hesitate to call with even the slightest suspicion of an individual or vehicle, said Cannon. Broader tips or leads should be phoned in to the robbery division at 713-308-0700 or to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS. For now, the followers are growing on neighborhood Facebook pages, where residents are freely sharing first-hand accounts of robberies, tips, rumors and advice – as well as the same zeal to learn about concealed weapons permits and classes and Citizens Patrol that peaked, then waned, during last fall’s robbery spree.
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