Leader0422 a

MICHAEL

Don’t Forget to Say “Thank You”

Inside Today: New tenants for upcoming developments • Page 1B

S I LV A

Administrative Professional Week See Our Ad Page 3A

MICHAEL SILVA

713.725.8748

Covering the Heights, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest & the neighborhoods of North Houston

michaels@johndaugherty.com

Flower & Gift Shop 10570 NW Frwy 713-680-2350

Saturday, April 22, 2017 • Vol. 62 • No. 16

About Us 3500 East T.C. Jester Blvd Suite A (713) 686-8494

of e s t 20

16

B

news@theleadernews.com www.theleadernews.com Facebook/THE LEADER.

THE LEADER

Readers' Choice

Boiled Crawfish speCials po-Boys & More B.y.o.B. (713) 703-7544 2521 N. Durham

City targets nearby areas for new initiative

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com It is no secret that some areas of the city could use a facelift or don’t enjoy the same quality of life as others, and last week the city’s leader showed his intent to beautify sometimes-forgotten communities (including two local spots) within one of the nation’s largest cities.

Monday morning, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced that two neighborhoods bordering our area of Houston (Acres Homes and Near Northside)

will be among the first areas to receive help from a new initiative aimed at improving quality of life for residents living in neighborhoods not currently enjoying the same luxuries as

See related opinion column on 4A others around the city, termed “Complete Communities.”

“This is going to be a signature program of my administra-

tion because it is so important to the families who live in these neighborhoods,” Turner said in a release. “We must not be a city of haves and have nots.

Every Houstonian has a right to make the choice I have made and live in the neighborhood where he or she grew up.”

Officials’ next steps include at least four public meetings in each affected area in the coming months, after which implementation on any identified See Initiative P. 3A

Wabash heist * Pest * Mosquito

Photo by Landan Kuhlmann Places such as Woodland Park (bordering Near Northside) are primed to benefit from projects to be initiated by the city in the surrounding areas.

Drones hovering?

What to do

* Rodent * Termite

281.407.8517 281.462.8726 www.natran.com www.natran.com

By Jennifer Layer jennifer@theleadernews.com

Insulating Since 1979 $

get 50 OFF

your purchase of $750 or more Attics • Walls • Floors Noise Reduction • Removal

713-868-1021

www.paylessinsulation.com

inside.

Photo by Landan Kuhlmann Nicole Corkery soothes one of Wabash’s many rabbits. Unfortunately, she and other Wabash employees have been hit hard by thieves in recent weeks, experiencing three thefts of their precious animals.

Feed store searching for answers, animals following thefts Aztec makes its move The longtime business moves from 34th St. to Pinemont.

Page 2B

New mural for Northline Local artist Alex Arzu puts some finishing touches on the 300 foot mural.

Page 7A

Find it.

FENCED LOT FOR LEASE: 5319 Wunder Lane, 77091.

North Shepherd, St. Pius area.

No utilities. 832-746-8208.

OR RENT - HEIGHTS 1-1 APARTMENT: $750 per month plus $400 deposit.

713-869-2001.

Page 4B

The INDEX. Church....................................................... 5A Classifieds.............................................. 4B Coupons. ................................................. 6A Food/Drink/Art................................... 7A Obituaries.............................................. 5A Opinion. ................................................... 4A Public Information......................... 2A Puzzles...................................................... 4A Sports. ....................................................... 6B

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com When Wabash moved from Washington Aveue to to its new location on N. Shepherd, it seemed like all was finally right with the world after the city permitting process dragged the move out for months. Now, area criminals have made life miserable for owner Betty Heacker.

On Friday, April 7, several suspects broke into the beloved neighborhood feed store, stealing dozens of the store’s livestock — including rabbits and pigeons – valued at around $1,000 in total. And Friday was not the first incident.

“We’ve been burglarized three

times in the last seven or eight weeks, and the same thing happens each time,” Heacker said. “The first time they jumped the fence, and took all of our bunnies and doves; the second time we locked up our doors, and they jumped the fence in another spot, forced the doors open and took all of the bunnies and pigeons.”

In response, the longtime owner and founder implemented some extra heavy-duty security measures to keep the criminals out — but the thieves continued their theft spree, each of which has left Wabash short of anywhere from $600-$800 in inventory.

“This last time (Friday night), the thieves cut through the fence,”

Focus on Non-Profit

she said. “We had double-locked our doors this time, but they just cut through the fences around our cages, so we’re going to have to rebuild them.”

“We’ve checked with other feed stores who work with this type of livestock, but none of this is showing,” she added “I was pretty sure this is going to some sort of flea market.”

Unfortunately, an occurrence such as this is one that plays itself out repeatedly in places such as Los Angeles – where according to an ABC news report in 2013, authorities made away with 22 rabbits, 10 birds and 40 baby turtles

Last Monday a Leader area resident was swimming in their backyard pool, and noticed a drone flying above their property. The resident felt their privacy was being violated and called the police to come and investigate the situation, which was exactly the right move to make.

Constable Allen Rosen told The Leader, “just like with any other crime fighting matter, we would obviously like people to contact law enforcement to make us aware of the situation.

We want to investigate what that person is doing, because drones are not only used for fun but can be used for illegal Photo by Jennifer Layer purposes as Constable Rosen holding the well.” police drone. He says that If a civilian despite what some use them for, calls the police drones also serve as a viable law about an inva- enforcement tool. sion of privacy due to a nosy drone, the authorities will immediately come to the property and look for the drone operator.

“The operators of drones are usually close by, and so we will follow the drone from the ground and wait until it lands and try and locate the operator that way,” Rosen said. “We will then investigate the situation to the best of our ability, and confiscate the drone if necessary.”

There are many laws and restrictions for drone usage that all drone owners should be aware of. Every drone must be registered with the government

See Animals P. 3A

See Drones P. 5A

Fifth of a multi-part series

Family Houston models itself after ever-changing city

By Jennifer Layer jennifer@theleadernews.com The early 1900s were a dismal time in Houston, with the devastating impacts of the great Galveston hurricane that killed approximately 9,000 people and a serious smallpox epidemic ravaging its way through the city.

In response to this state of emergency, 12 prominent Houstonians founded the non-profit organization Family Services of Greater Houston, also known as Family Houston. These founders put on different entertainment events, like fire dancing and pony

shows, to raise money for those in need. The funds grew to allow the purchase of an office and staff members.

Family Houston has since consistently remolded itself in each generation of people to fit the needs of that time, while also maintaining a focus on mental health and counseling services.

Family Houston has established itself as both a proactive organization in terms of mental health and a reactive organization in terms of disaster relief and culture shifts.

For example, in World War II the needs of Houston changed as mothers were now pressed to leave

their homes and work to support the war effort. In response, Family Houston added a day care center and hired visiting homemakers.

In the 1960s Family Houston readjusted again in response to an extreme growth in teen rebellion, by including more adolescent counseling, group counseling, and substance abuse counseling.

Following a spike in the U.S. Latin-American population during the 1970s, Family Houston established a Spanish-only center and began employing bi-lingual staff across the city.

See Non-Profit P. 6A

Contributed Photo A client meets with Catherine, one of Family Houston’s counselors. Family Houston has been around since the early 1900s .

curreNt property ListiNgs

For LeAse

950 Lamonte

$1,900/mo.

Covered bridge

5005 georgi #89

Diane Smith 713-301-8782

3-2 • Very quiet established Townhouse/Condo community. Fresh paint and new carpet throughout. Convenient to 610 and 290. $124,500 MLS# 19453163

White oak Condos

1880 White oak #176

Mark Welch

713-875-4240

2-1 • Nice corner upper unit by rear emg. exit.

Patio looks out over Heights and DWNTN. Bike trail. $168,500. MLS# 29911539

houston heights

822 W. 26th

Karen Vicknair 713-822-8072

3-2.5 • Award winning Bourdeaux floor plan by Sandcastle Homes.Open living & kitchen w/ formal dining area. $469,900 MLS# 50962805

| www.preproperties.com

|

$1,995/mo. MLS# 29901054

1009 gardendaLe

A NAme you cAN trust

713-686-5454

MLS# 47845804

1631 ChantiLLy $2,100/mo. MLS# 28584694

1053 Chesire

$2,500/mo. MLS# 32840474

1803 W. 43rd • Houston, TX 77018

© 2013-2016 BHH Affiliates, LLC. Real Estate Brokerage Services are offered through the network member franchisees of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Most franchisees are independently owned and operated. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of HomeServices of America, Inc.® Equal Housing Opportunity.

The public.

In MeMorIaM

Inez Stacey

Saturday, April 22, 2017 • Page 2A

NNMD annual job fair set for May 3 For The Leader The Near Northwest Management District’s Community Job Fair is in its seventh year of helping employers find the right employees and job seekers find the right job. The Job Fairs been designed to optimize the job search process by offering education, training and entrepreneurship opportunities to jobseekers along with job recruiting and agency staffing and having it all in one place at one time. This approach is intended to create a unique synergy that will yield a higher level of success for jobseekers. This model raises the possibility that job seekers will leave the event with a positive outlook on their futures and develop a plan to reach their goals. Reaching their goal is the success factor that has been the priority for all employees. By recognizing and reinforcing the skills and talents of the perspective employee our goal is to engage them into finding the job that fit’s long term. This not only affects the employed, but also the entire family by improving the quality of life and future of the extended family.

Employers are invited to come to the community job fair to hire qualified candidates for their open positions.

We only invite and approve

employers who have open positions and have expressed a need for qualified candidates and who say they intend to hire candidates that qualify.

The range of job offers differ for each employer so we ask that they complete a form to tell us what they are looking for and give us a basic overview of their requirements for employment. That information gives the event coordinator the chance to review all positions being offered and choose as many different job types and skill levels as possible to provide a number of qualified prospects to fill the jobs available.

In the spirit of entrepreneurship, we allow selected homebased business entrepreneurs the opportunity to participate in our job fair to give jobseekers interested in securing residual income the chance to speak about non-conventional income-generating opportunities. Entrepreneurs are unique contributors, they have conquered their fears of failure and learned how to identify and manage different types of risk. Entrepreneurs strike a positive note with jobseekers because they promote selfsufficiency and secure their dreams of owning and running their own businesses. Preparing yourself to qualify for open positions should be an op-

tion for attending jobseekers.

People with limited skills are the ones who are struggling and many walk away from job fairs feeling minimized in some way because they are unable to meet the requirements for the position(s) they desire. If jobseekers are properly informed they could realize value in deferring their employment pursuits for a time to attend an educational and/or training institution to better their chances of making more money in the future.

Colleges and training institutes are now taking full advantage of NNMD producing skilled workers and filling the gap for businesses and families. This is a win-win and a very positive addition to our job fair.

The job fair workshops offered empower job seekers by giving them practical information regarding aspects of the hiring process. Topics that will be covered are as follows:

position and also show them how to address problem areas that can affect their chances of getting hired.

You Got The Interview, Now What? (15 Minutes): 10 a.m.- 11 a.m.- 12 p.m.

This workshop is designed to teach the do’s and don’ts when attending an interview.

This information will help jobseekers improve their presentation skills when going to an interview. It will include suggestions on how to dress, how to present and how to answer interviewing questions that will improve chances of getting the job. The next NNMD job fair is Wednesday, May 3 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Advent Lutheran Church, 5820 Pinemont Dr.! Come for the day to discover your new future for your family.

February 28, 1928 - april 10, 2017 Our beloved Inez “MawMaw” Stacey, 89, formerly of Houston, Texas, passed away Monday, April 10, 2017 at the Inn at Olentangy Trail in Delaware, Ohio.

She was born February 28, 1928 in Houston, Texas; the daughter of the late John and Mamie (Leone) Santoro. She was a sales clerk for Kaplan’s in Houston, and was a member of St. Stephen’s United Methodist Church. She was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, and very active with the Shriners, and Oak Forest Masonic Lodge 1398. Inez enjoyed spending time and playing cards with her family and friends.

She had a giving soul and shared all the she had, except for her beloved bowl of Blue Bell Ice Cream. Later in life, she proudly spent college football Saturdays decked out in scarlet and gray cheering on The Ohio State Buckeyes.

Left to cherish her memory are daughter, Diana (John) Rankin of Lewis Center, Ohio; grandchildren Tara (Kyle) Helmer of Lewis Center, OH, Jill (Francisco) Vega of Concord, CA, Dana (Alan) Duddy of Dublin, Ireland, and Kevin Stacey of Houston, TX; great grandchildren Chase and Tori Helmer, Maxwell and Miles Vega, and Gemma and Grace Duddy and many more family members. She was preceded in death by her husband Jimmie Edwin Stacey; son Jerry Stacey; brothers Tony, Brice and Nat Santoro; sister Josephine Cloud.

Please join us in remembering her life at 3:00 PM on Monday April 24th at St. Stephen’s United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas. Refreshments including Blue Bell Ice Cream will be served following the service.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation in her name, Inez Stacey, to the Shriners Children Hospital. https://www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/en/donate To share a fond memory or leave a message of condolence please visit www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

Why Your Resume Isn’t Working (15 Minutes): 10:30 a.m.- 11:30 a.m.12:30 p.m.

This workshop is designed to highlight those items on the resumes that employers look for the most. This short course will assist job seekers in building a resume with the right information specific to the open

Police Reports • April 9-14 APRIL 9

Theft 11:30 AM 1400-1499 NICHOLSON Theft 7:30 PM 4400-4499 SCHULER Theft 3 PM 1700-1799 HARVARD Theft 6 PM 1700-1799 HARVARD Theft 5:15 PM 1000-1099 GROVEWOOD Theft 3 PM 1200-1299 W 22ND Theft 5 PM 1200-1299 W 22ND Theft 2 PM 1300-1399 E 34TH Assault 2:40 PM 200-299 CROSSTIMBERS Theft 1:56 PM 1200-1299 34TH

APRIL 10

Burglary 2 AM 500-599 WOODLAND Theft 3:54 AM 900-999 N SHEPHERD Burglary 9 AM 3500-3599 KATY Theft 6 PM 5500-5599 KIAM Theft 2 PM 600-699 THORNTON Theft 10:56 AM 900-999 N LOOP W Theft 9:59 AM 4000-4099 N SHEPHERD

APRIL 11

Theft 1 PM 700-799 W 12TH Theft 1 PM 1000-1099 HEIGHTS Theft 7:59 PM 1300-1399 PRINCE Burglary 3:21 PM 200-299 COCKEREL Robbery 5:43 PM 4500-4599 N MAIN Theft 3:55 PM 1100-1199 W 31ST Burglary 4:30 AM 700-799 T C JESTER

Don’t Be A Victim!

Concealed Handgun Classes

we Buy aLL GuNS

New LoCatioN

2001 Karbach Suite F Houston, TX 77092

713-694-4867

Buy SeLL trade

Gift Certificates

Black Gold Guns & ammo Licensed FFL/Class III Dealer Theft 6:15 PM 2600-2699 COUCH Theft 9:15 AM 1400-1499 N LOOP W Theft 9:25 AM 1000-1099 N SHEPHERD Theft 5:30 AM 600-699 OMAR Theft 6:45 AM 1900-1999 TAYLOR

APRIL 12

Burglary 4:30 PM 2100-2199 GOSTIC Theft 6:30 PM 1000-1099 CURTIN Theft 3:30 PM 1000-1099 CHANTILLY Theft 5:40 PM 1900-1999 YALE Burglary 6 PM 300-399 W 20TH Theft 8 AM 200-299 W 17TH Theft 2:30 PM 400-499 E 16TH Theft 1:15 PM 400-499 W 26TH Theft 4 AM 600-699 E 28TH Theft 10:25 PM 1000-1099 W 23RD Theft 11 AM 500-599 W 38TH Theft 3 PM 3500-3599 WHITE OAK

Burglary 5:12 PM 4100-4199 DELHI Theft 4 PM 500-599 STUDEWOOD Theft 3:30 PM 5200-5299 KIAM Theft 9 AM 700-799 W 11TH Theft 9:01 AM 700-799 E 11TH Theft 12:10 AM 600-699 E 38TH Theft 9:10 AM 500-599 THRELKELD

APRIL 13

Theft 7:30 PM 200-299 W 17TH Theft 9 AM 500-599 W 24TH Theft 3:30 PM 100-199 W 19TH Theft 4 PM 1000-1099 W 20TH Theft 2:30 PM 1200-1299 W 20TH Theft 5 PM 1200-1299 W 20TH Theft 4:15 PM 2500-2599 WHITE OAK Theft 5:15 PM 1600-1699 SHEPHERD Theft 10 PM 5600-5699 YALE Arrest 3:54 PM 1400-1499 HEIGHTS BL Theft 3:29 AM 900-999 W 23RD Theft 3:33 AM 800-899 JUDIWAY

APRIL 14

Arrest 9:30 AM 600-699 E 28TH Theft 11:39 AM 4000-4099 N SHEPHERD Arrest 6:37 AM 1300-1399 N LOOP W Theft 3:30 PM 000-099 E CROSSTIMBERS Theft 10:45 PM 3900-3999 WASHINGTON Theft 3 PM 4300-4399 ROSE Reports are provided by SpotCrime.com based on data from the Houston Police Department.

Have a warrant? Make it right For The Leader If you have outstanding Harris County class C pending or open warrants, you have a chance to Make it Right! This Saturday, April 22 from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Lakewood Church will be hosting a Make it Right event where you can resolve your warrants for free, on site, without fear of arrest.

In a matter of a few hours, and at no charge, you can remove outstanding warrants and resolve pending cases.

The list of eligible class C offenses include: possession of drug paraphernalia; continuing obligation of a child now an adult; criminal mischief – less than $100; criminal trespass; disorderly conduct; issuance of a bad check; failure to

appear; failure to I.D.; minor in possession of alcohol; minor consuming alcohol; minor in possession of tobacco; public intoxication; and theft – less than $100.

Childcare will be provided at the event for ages 5 – 10.

Spanish and Vietnamese interpreters will also be available.

To look up information on your case visit jp.hctx.net.

Aztec Rental Services

serving Houston And tHe surrounding Counties for over five deCAdes W W W.A zteC rentA lserviCes.Com

Moving to new location We Will Be Closed April 21 & 22 W. Tidwell

290 7721 Pinemont

7721 pinemont Houston, tX 77040

He

m

ps

te

ad

W. 43rd

Rd

.

Bingle

W. Tidwell

Hollister St.

While we move to our new facility at

We Will re-open at our new facility on

Pinemont

monday, April 24 please give us a call with any questions

713-681-1383

Thank you for your business

Saturday, April 22, 2017 • Page 3A

Initiative from P. 1A (and affirmed) community project will commence. Up to 60 percent of the city’s discretionary TIRZ affordable housing and federal housing funds and other uncommitted city resources will be used in a targeted way in the five pilot neighborhoods, which are in line to receive approximately $14 million in capital improvements over the next five years.

“We are going to do this while striving to preserve affordability for existing residents, and we will not leave until we know what we have done will have a high likelihood of success,” Turner said.

“The plans are important for identifying needed improvements; however,

implementation of some improvements may occur simultaneously with the planning process as opportunities arise,” Press Secretary Darian Ward added.

With the focused approach involving the communities as well as partners in the public, private and nonprofit sectors, Turner believes the city can transform each of these neighborhoods upon completion of their projects. Officials will work with community advocates and partners across the city to create improved access to affordable homes, jobs, well-maintained parks and greenspace, improved streets and sidewalks, grocery stores and more beginning this coming June and wrapping up around the end

of the year.

While Turner and his staff realize completion of Complete Communities does not mean every problem will vanish overnight, they believe it will usher in an era of neighborhoods that are sustainable with leadership in place that can continue forward movement to hopefully eradicate any obstacle in its way.

“We recognize this program will not repair every home, nor will it be a panacea for solving all the issues in these neighborhoods,” he said. “The problems have been decades in the making, and solving them will require a long-term focus and strong relationships with our partners.”

enclosure, I don’t think we’re going to have this problem anymore,” Heacker said.

For now, though, Heacker has been forced to coop her beautiful animals up inside and put them into stock tanks, and her anger was undeniable.

In that vein, she implored the community to keep their eyes peeled and help bring the animals back home.

“If people are going to cut a heavy-duty chain link fence and basically destroy our property, there’s not a great way to stop them right now,” she said.

“I can’t say what I would like to see happen to these guys online but if you see these babies on Craig’s List or at a flea market please let us know.”

Administrative Professionals Week April 24-28

Animals from P. 1A after raiding an illegal corner street vendor — and even right here in Houston.

“Thieves target animals just like they do any other ‘property’ if they can turn a quick buck. You have to be vigilant all the time,” said Monica Schmidt with the Houston Human Society. “Whether they’re stealing it to potentially sell it online or they have bad intentions, it’s something that can snowball out of control quickly, and unfortunately it’s the animal that suffers in the end.”

From things such as neglect to not providing proper veterinary care or access to food, water and shelter and more, a plethora of potential detriments to an animal’s wellbeing exist regardless of the perpetrator’s initial intentions.

“Unfortunately, with Houston being so large, we see all types of cases, and the best advice we can give people is to be vigilant,” Schmidt said.

“As a business owner, they just need to look at what they can best do to secure their property and keep these people out.”

In efforts to stem the tide, Heacker has already jumped on doing so. Early last week, Wabash received its permit to build on an addition to the store for an animal enclosure, and it will be about eight weeks before animals can be transferred to the spot.

“Once they’re inside the

Saturday April 22 10 am - 3 pm

Art • Jewelry Crafts Decor & More

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church 1819 Heights Blvd. @ 19th St.

713-861-5596 • www.saecheights.org

Free

Admission

Community Information Fair 3122 Center St. Missionary Baptist Church

Houston - 77007

Saturday April 29 •10am - 2pm Free Tech Advice

Free Information

Free raffles

Display & Information from Heights Area Community Organizations

Kelsey Seybold • AT&T Trainers • Kroger Heights Library •YMCA • The Forum • Social Services •HISD • Petco and more

Order Early!!

The Topics.

Saturday, April 22, 2017 • Page 4A

Complete Communities plan seems incomplete

T

he city of Houston announced a plan this week they’re calling “Complete Communities,” and Mayor Sylvester Turner went so far as to say it will be the “signature program” of his administration.

I think Turner and his administration can do a lot better than this.

If you didn’t read the story on our front page today, the plan is to invest city resources into five communities in Houston that desperately need help. Two of those areas, it turns out, border our area of Houston – Acres Homes to our north and Near Northside, east of the Heights.

If I’m reading things right, the city has a few specific plans in place to better the lives of the people who live in these “incomplete (?)” communities.

First, residents in Acres Homes and Near Northside, among others, will meet with the city to map out a long-term vision for their neighborhoods.

Second, these neighborhoods will get some immediate attention – called “Quick Delivery Projects” – where the city will pick up heavy trash, kill some of the weeds in the area and enforce deed restrictions.

Next, the city has begun working with the private sector to determine the “barriers to investment” in those neighborhoods. In other words, the city wants to ask detailed questions like why Whole Foods won’t open

Jonathan McElvy Publisher

a concept store on W. Montgomery Road.

Some of the private sector meetings will be held with home builders who, the city says, will build new homes in these neighborhoods.

Another set of meetings will be held with a funding company that apparently will work to finance some of the new construction in the area.

Last, the city plans to use money from the TIRZ discretionary fund and another $14 million in capital improvements over the next five years.

The purpose of this column isn’t to give you all the details. You can read our story or visit the city’s website, where they have an entire page devoted to the Complete Communities program.

Instead, I’m concerned Turner’s plan will be little more than an afterthought in a couple of years, and that’s no way to leave a signature.

First, let me tell you that the announcement and the intentions are

wonderful. All the neighborhoods selected for this first phase of special attention desperately need it, including the ones closest to us. The axiom goes that if you pay attention to something, that “something” always improves. If you pay attention to your weight, you’re more likely to keep it under control. If you pay attention to your expenses – even without some grand plan of saving 20 percent of your income – by nature you will spend less money.

That, I’m afraid, may be the only positive I can see from this Complete Communities program. And let me be the first to tell you I hope I’m wrong. I only have personal experience from which I can draw.

For the first decade of my journalism career, I earned my newspaper stripes in the Black Belt of Alabama – a heavily minority swath of small towns that hovered around 12 percent unemployment and couldn’t get new businesses or industries to give them the time of day.

I was the most outspoken editor in the entire state of Alabama about the issues that plagued us. I wrote stories about infrastructure problems. I wrote about crime problems.

I wrote about the pride we took in our communities and how, if we’d just do a little more to show some pride in where we lived, the investments in our cities would improve.

For a few years, I had a direct

Contacted by Cons THE COMPUTER -- “Dear User, Your account has expired, you must renew or your account will be de-activated.

Click Here To Renew.” And: “We have detected that your account may have been accessed by an unauthorized individual. As a safety measure to restrict this threat, you are to upgrade your email. Click Here To Re-activate.” “There is an attempt from suspicious devices to login your account.

Your (no space) account has been Stopped. Please reactivate your account Now.” These warnings emailed to me daily are urgent messages from my cable company, Disable Cable, except they aren’t. They are simply a ploy to hook me on a scam to get my secret codes.

For some time I have been receiving such come-ons, but they have been increasing. Perhaps you are having the same problem: You sit down at your computer to write an email to your bondsman, or maybe a ransom note, and up come assorted emails from unknown, or fake, entities. You have to go through them however briefly in case some may be genuine – your mother’s nursing home really did burn down and you should come get her.

Then there are the banks, or maybe not: “Your account has expired. You are advice (sic) to Re-Activate or your account will be de-activated.” “During a recent review, we identified activity on your account that may be related to fraudulent usage and need you to verify this activity as soon as possible. You must review this activity immediately by clicking on the secure link below.” A new twist: “Wells Fargo invites you to participate in a short survey to provide feedback regarding your recent visit to a Wells Fargo branch.” A bank in that hotbed of international finance, San Angelo, Texas, has $12 million due me. I receive many alarms about “suspicious activities” from banks I never used or, in some cases, never even heard of, but they want me to re-register. It’s good to know that, if I ever do business with them, they will keep a close eye on my account, and drain it dry.

What we (I assume you are getting the same scams) have here is some 16-yearold in Croatia, in his parents’ basement at midnight, churning out these fake requests.

A major point: he must be getting good feedback or he wouldn’t keep doing it. Then again, maybe business is slow after the Russians no longer needed so many anti-Hillary and pro-Trump fake news bulletins. Remember the No Call Law passed by Congress a few years ago? One member said it was the most popular bill ever passed by that body – they received 40 million immediate signees. (Come to think of it, that law must be crumbling around the edges, because I am now getting solicitation phone calls.) Well, by the same token to shield me from all these unwanted cons,

Lynn Ashby Columnist

I have a “Block Sender” line on my computer. It doesn’t work.

Somehow that 16-year-old is getting around the shield.

Maybe “Block Sender” means that I have been designated my block’s sender.

Here’s a slightly different bait: “Dear friend, I know this letter will definitely come to you as a huge surprise. I am Capt. Henk Thomas. Please I need your urgent assistance.

Contact me via my private email for more information.

Respectfully, Capt. Henk Thomas United States Marine Corps. Syria.” That’s a pretty vague address, “Henk.” Another strange one: “I got your information online for dance classes. I’m organizing a surprise dance (like flashmob) for my daughter’s wedding, So i (sic) want you to teach the Bridesmaids choreography.

Let me know if you can do this? i will also need the below information from you.” I suspect the “below information” includes my address, password to the burglar alarm system, where I keep the family jewels and when I’ll take my next vacation. OK, I don’t immediately see the con with dancing lessons, but there’s got to be one. Maybe he is checking out home safes, and is vault-zing across Texas.

At this point I must wonder, as do you: how did our names get on these suckers’ lists?

Somewhere along the line I must have ordered a pet aardvark, or entered a Publisher’s Clearing House Sweepstakes.

No, my name popped up on the One Born Every Minute list because that Nigerian prince probably lost my address and I never got my share of the $40 million he had in a London bank. Then there those emails which are not scams, apparently, but just sent to the wrong guy, “Dear CEO, At present we want to purchase a batch of Diapers(For the elderly,children).” This guy’s keyboard must not have a space bar. I also got a proposal to sell me manhole covers.

Honest.

Each day I find emails from China (perhaps by way of Croatia): “dear sir/madam, first, let me introduce our company for you. we are china import & export trading co., we need to purchase from your company log cabin (120 sets) from your company.” I do sport some Lincolnesque traits, but no longer build log cabins. One more: “Dear CEO: Wish have a nice day!” This last one is a killer: “The CEO of respect; Our company and the school have invested in three football training schools to train football talents for China. Now

we need to invite nine qualified foreign football coach, to China for our comprehensive football training.” Would it be politically incorrect to suggest they check with the coaches at Rice?

My question was answered when I received this: “I obtained your name and address from the international business internet. Now, we are writing to you to hope establish business relations with you.” That explains everything. My name appeared in the CEOs of the Fortune 500 or maybe the Forbes World’s Billionaires list.

I was spotted at Davos having drinks with Bill Gates, Warren Buffett and the petroleum minister from Saudi Arabia. Next time I’ll register as a Nigerian prince.

Ashby have nice day at ashby2@comcast.net

pipeline to the Democratic governor of the state, and I have no idea how many times we talked about ways to improve our area. (That governor ended up in jail, but I don’t think that was my fault.)

The work I did reporting on the Black Belt of Alabama eventually earned me a spot on a task force charged with developing programs that could bring those communities out of poverty.

We had one group that worked with private businesses to ask them to invest in our cities. We had another group that focused on the aesthetics of the communities, thinking that if we could make these areas prouder of themselves, they would take more pride in where they lived. You know… Forced pride, if there is such a thing.

We had education committees, crime committees, and we had a committee that sought to work with residents to develop their own vision for the future.

Any of that sound familiar? By any other color, we could have called it Alabama’s “Complete Communities” program, because the five neighborhoods selected by Turner all suffer from the same issues we saw in central Alabama.

After six years of meetings and blue ribbon task forces and a lot of good people talking about tough problems, I don’t know that I could

point to one major success of that group. In fact, some back home tell me the cities are worse than they’ve ever been. And we had nearly 200 people working on the problems.

Mayor Turner should be commended for trying something – anything. But the solution isn’t to talk about a vision. Instead, we can’t sugarcoat the problems.

In the last three months – yes, just three months – Acres Homes had 37 violent crimes and 105 property crimes committed, according to HPD. Near Northside had 13 violent crimes and 47 property crimes.

There are a combined 284 registered sex offenders living in those two areas of Houston.

If I could go back and serve Alabama’s Black Belt region, I’d suggest we make our streets safer first. Then I’d suggest we invest every private dollar and mentor in our schools.

Ask somebody looking for a neighborhood what they want for their families: Safe streets and good schools. Proximity to work probably comes in a distant third.

I’m pulling for Turner and his administration. But if this is going to be Turner’s signature issue – his legacy – we should encourage him to tackle the most critical issues first, regardless of how difficult that task may be.

Email jonathan@theleadernews.com

The reader.

Purchasing attendance credits a convoluted scheme

Dear Editor: Aside from the obvious error in the article title which should read “Vote ‘Yes’ on May 6 to purchase attendance credits”, I take exception to the whole premise of Ms. Eastman’s article. I am left only to wonder what former Enron hack came up with such a convoluted scheme as this?

Basically, Eastman is asking us to support implementation of an instrument developed and/or traded which allows the HISD to circumvent its compliance with an aspect of Texas Public School Finance by purchasing “attendance credits” to “swap dollars” for kids who aren’t attending HISD schools and, by doing so, HISD will (at least on paper) be brought into line with the necessary wealth level per child.

Is anybody really buying this crap? I’m not even sure the smartest guys in the room at Enron could have envisioned a scheme such as this. I doubt Eastman even understands what she is asking us to support, but I’m sure some high dollar consultant has convinced her this scheme will work so just go out and sell it! Probably the same consultant positioned to make the market for buying/selling/trading those “attendance credits” for a healthy commission/fee.

If the parameters of the Texas Public School Finance regulations are burdensome, inequita-

ble, and not worthy of support, then do your job and address the problem at its core. Don’t try to sell us some hair brained scheme to buy and sell attendance credit offsets. These schemes have a way of coming back around and eventually biting you on the backside.

FA Schwartz

Disappointed about anonymous source

Dear Editor: The lead story in the April 15 edition of The Leader is a disappointment. The story is an opinion piece dictated by an anonymous source.

The Leader allowed the anonymous source (“Woodland Heights resident”) to manipulate, and to slant, a putative news story concerning a complex situation for which there are multiple points of view.

Because your source is anonymous, it is The Leader’s credibility that is hurt. In the age of fake news, responsible people want always to “consider the source” of reporting. With this piece, we can’t consider the source because The Leader hid the source.

Rosie Walker Email us your letters: news@theleadernews.com

the leader Puzzlers.

Answers found in this week’s Classified section

SUDOKU

aCrOss

1. Famed Spanish General’s nickname 5. Drink alcohol 11. Savings for soggy days 14. Kleenex, Puffs are some 15. Moved in a circular way 18. Pile of stones 19. Drenched 21. Talk to you (abbr.)

23. World’s longest river 24. Thoughts 28. Stake 29. Lawrence Taylor’s nickname 30. Coat or smear 32. Comedian Josh 33. Cost, insurance, freight (abbr.)

35. Royal Bank of Canada 36. Polyvinyl chloride 39. Lifeless 41. Doctor of Medicine 42. Former Saudi Arabian king 44. River along border of India

and Nepal 46. German widow 47. Administrative review board 49. Small tower 52. Central American fruit 56. Cigar 58. Bring to life 60. Linked together in a chain 62. Marinara, BBQ are two 63. Mail

dOwn

1. Expression of creative skill 2. Nonclerical 3. Credit card company 4. Ancient Chinese city 5. Personas 6. More (Spanish) 7. Close to 8. Nigerian City 9. Pals 10. Internal 12. Type of tent 13. Beloved Princess 16. Supplementing with difficulty 17. Region in

Mississippi 20. Brave act 22. 36 inches 25. -__, denotes past 26. Swiss river 27. Submersibles 29. Portable computer screen material 31. Binary-coded decimal 34. Supervises flying 36. Represents dull, abrupt sound 37. Deformity involving a limb 38. Map 40. Dominican Republic 43. Breed of hogs 45. District attorney 48. Light Russian pancake 50. Selfs 51. Rock songstress Turner 53. American Music Awards 54. Partner 55. Egyptian Sun god 57. European money 58. Consumed 59. Doctor of Education 61. Actinium

WORD SCRAMBLE

Saturday, April 22, 2017 • Page 5A

The calendar.

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.

FAMILY FUN DAY/CRAWFISH FESTIVAL Oak Forest Homeowners Association 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. Buy tickets online at www.myoakforest. org/events/2017-crawfish-fest.

WINE EVENTS Rainbow Lodge Enjoy some wine and dinner at 6:30 p.m. April 26, at Rainbow Lodge, 2011 Ella Blvd. The wine featured will be Retour Oregon Pinot Noir, by trailblazer vintner Lindsay Woodward. A five course dinner by Chef Mark Schmidt, will include three vintages of Retour.

The cost is $145+ per person.

Call or email to reserve a spot.

Information: rainbow-lodge.com, 713-861-8666.

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.

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.

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. Advance tickets for the dinner and dance are $20, dance only $12. Tickets at the door for the dance only is $15. Call 713-869-5767 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.

AARP MONTHLY MEETING AARP Chapter 1265 The monthly meeting will be held at 10 a.m., May 1, in the community room at 1520 Candlelight Ln. The Sunshine Band will perform. The meeting is open to anyone 50 or older, and will be preceded by a meet-and-greet at 9:30 a.m. There will be no meetings for June through August. The next meeting will be Sept. 11.

Information: 713-681-1133.

OFHA TOUR DE OAK FOREST Oak Forest Homeowners Association The bike ride will be May 6, from 9:30 a.m. until the last rider crosses the finish line. The ride will begin and end at the Oak Forest Chill, 3542 Oak Forest Dr. There will be food trucks, beer and sodas. The event is sponsored by Memorial Hermann Greater Heights. For registration,

shirts and waivers, visit www. myoakforest.org/events/2017bike-event/ WORKOUT FOR A CAUSE Bayou City Crossfit Get a great CrossFit-style workout for a great cause, geared for all fitness levels. The workouts are one-hour sessions, for ages 18+, at 9 and 10 a.m. May 13.

A $20 suggested donation is requested and can be made online or at the door. The proceeds benefit the Playground for All Abilities. Bayou City Crossfit is located at 3622 Golf Dr. Information: houstonparksboard.org/projects.

JAY KARAHAN TO SPEAK Heritage Republican Women Judge Jay Karahan, Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 8, will be the guest speaker for May. He will discuss the criminal justice system and the many upcoming changes following the legislative session. The meeting will be held at Candlelight Church of Christ, 4215 Watonga, at 7 p.m. May 4. Light refreshments will be served. Men are also welcome to attend. Information: 713-688-3256, 713-682-0496.

60TH REUNION Reagan High School class of 1957 The John H. Reagan Class of 1957 will have their 60th reunion May 6-7, at the Sheraton Houston Brookhollow Hotel, 3000 N. Loop W. Fwy. If you have not received an information packet, please contact Kay Potter Cella at kaycella125@gmail.com or 281658-5111.

Drones from P. 1A prior to any use. Following this, drones may only fly 400 feet in the air and cannot be out of eye sight of the operator. The list of restrictions changes significantly based on whether or not the drone has a camera attached. “We are not sure if the drone we were called to investigate [in The Leader area] had a camera, but if it did it was illegal,� said Rosen. “You cannot take an image of someone’s personal property without their consent.

If there was no camera, then it was perfectly fine.�

If a drone operator takes a photo or video of someone’s private property, it is classified as a class C misdemeanor similar to a traffic ticket. There is a defense to prosecution if the operator destroys the images prior to any public release of the images. If it becomes a chronic problem, people can civilly sue the drone operator.

Aside from any snooping

New Well Puppy & Kitten Exam

FREE Routine Male Cat Neuters

Annual Ladies Tea at Oak Forest Baptist Oak Forest Baptist Church Women’s Ministry is hosting its annual Ladies Tea, April 22, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the

40

church. All ladies in the community are welcome. 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. 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. Games include soccer and kick ball. The community (all ages) is welcome.

Hope Episcopal is located at 1613 W. 43rd St. Call 713681-6422 for information.

G.I.F.T. worship at Zion Lutheran A G.I.F.T. (Growing in Faith Together) service will be held at Zion Lutheran at 11 a.m.

April 30. G.I.F.T. is a new concept in worship with all ages participating. The theme for this service will be Easter. Everyone is welcome to come experience this unique worship service.

Zion Lutheran is located at 3606 Beauchamp in the Heights. Call 713-869-1493 for information.

St. Rose of Lima to hold annual spring festival St. Rose of Lima Catholic Community will be holding their annual Spring Festival from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. May 7.

The community is welcome.

Festivities include fun and entertainment for all ages with a Children’s Midway, raffle, great food, silent auction, and dancing to the Telstars. Wristbands for unlimited play are available for $20.

St. Rose of Lima Catholic Community is located at 3600 Brinkman. For information, call 713-692-9123 or visit the

Georgia Helen Copeland,

98, born Jan. 29, 1919 in New Willard, Texas, died April 7. Copeland was a member of Baptist Temple for more than 50 years.

Survivors include her children Brian R. Copeland and Susan Sirnic, and two grandchildren.

Opal Starr Doss, 97, born

Oct. 23, 1919 in Elkhart, Texas, died April 6. Doss coiffured more than 1,600 heads of hair for Heights and nearby funeral homes. She is survived by her son, Allen Doss, three grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

Martha Elizalde, 58, born Oct. 8, 1958, died April 4.

James Elbert Padgett, 84,

born Aug. 8, 1932, died April 1.

Great Taste of the Heights at All Saints The Great Taste of the Heights will be held from 510 p.m. May 20, at All Saints Catholic Church, 215 E. 10th St. There will be drinks, music and food. Donations needed for the silent auction. To donate, call 281-706-4000 or email kmooney7420@gmail. com.

Worship services at Arise Baptist Church The community is welcome to attend worship services at Arise Baptist Church, 803 Curtin St. Worship service times are 10 a.m. Sundays.

Bible study is 6 p.m. Sunday evenings. Wednesday evening prayer service and ABC Kids Club is 7 p.m.

For information, call 713659-9697 or visit www.arisebaptistchurch.org.

Raymond L Reeves, 95, born April 13, 1921 in Garden Valley, Texas, died April 11. He is survived by his brother Frank, and sister Effie Mae, and a special friend Aline Kidwell.

Lucy Pearl Romero, 85, born Nov. 25, 1931 in Elkhart, Texas, died April 4. She is survived by her children Connie Louise Dean, Tino Anthony Romero Jr., Marvin Romero, Curtis Wade Romero Sr., Deborah Lynn Shelton, Carl Davidson, and 17 grandchildren.

where she taught accounting classes and eventually became the Bursar. Webb is survived by her son Jonathan Royce Webb, siblings Yvonne Dalferes, Audrey Jean Bush, Maurice Bush, Rose Bush, Renald Bush, Lorraine Peddada, Patrick Bush, Ann Bush, and Edward Bush.

Augustine Gayle Bush Webb, 66, born Nov. 15, 1950,

Evelyn L. Widacki, 86, born Sept. 23, 1930 in Bremond, Texas, died April 14. She is survived by her sister Helen Jenswold, children Eugenia Liebscher, Elaine Van Houten, Mary Jo Janacek and Debbie Wilganowski, 12 grandchildren, and seven greatgrandchildren.

died April 4. She worked faithfully for the IRS for nearly 15 years in the small business department.

She took night classes at St. Thomas University in pursuit of her Master of Business Administration and began a long career at Houston Community College

Years

website at www.stroselima. org.

The Obituaries.

Earl Cooke, 96, born March 20, 1921 in Hempstead, died April 2. He was retired from his career at Sandoz Pharmaceuticals, as a Medical Sciences Liaison. Survivors include his son Douglas Cooke, and daughter Susan Cooke Pena, six grandchildren and a great-grandson.

49

$

From the Pews.

Car Show at St. Stephen’s The 2017 Car Show will 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. There will be special activities for children, music by the Country Ham Band, a special tour for the hearing and sight impaired, and Boy Scout Troop 604 will have lunches for sale.

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.

and other illegal uses, drones have proven themselves extremely useful in all sorts of situations. “There are a lot of things you can use a drone for legally, like military exercises, mapping, utility inspections, real estate, and having fun flying in a public space,� said Rosen. “We use them in my department all the time. They are invaluable for high risk tactical operations, surveying flood damage, and even tracking people in a fresh pursuit. A drone can save the lives of our officers because they provide situational awareness that you can’t match through other means.�

Rosen says that drones invading private space is not a common call they receive, but he encourages people to call about an invasion of private space if it ever happens. “We want you to call us, that’s what we are here for,� said Rosen.

of quality care for your family pets

Dog Rabies Vaccination

8

$

75*

* With Wellness Exam

Call About Cat Vaccines

5315 Antoine@ Pinemont

713-688-9625

Hours: M-F 7am-6:00pm Sat. 8am-12 Noon

inFECtion ControllED Chase Baker, D.D.S.

T

here is a lot of discussion recently of dental offices and their infection control measures relating to the recent story coming from the oral surgeon in Tulsa allegedly ignoring proper standards and delegating dental procedures. As a member of the American Dental Association, I have been closely following this story as it has developed and it is troubling to think of the consequences of such oversight. Every patient should have the confidence when going to their dentist that they are being protected while being treated.

You should be assured that all staff thoroughly scrubs their hands before and after each patient. New gloves and masks are used with every patient. All surfaces of the treatment room have been cleaned and disinfected. Instruments have been sterilized in an autoclave or another sterilization device.

Disposable items like needles or gauze are placed in special containers for monitored disposal.

A patient’s well being should be the dentist’s top priority, and you should be ensured that your dentist is following stringent infection control procedures and complying with state regulations for your protection.

Prepared as a public service to promote better dental health. From the office of: Chase Baker, D.D.S., 3515 Ella Blvd., 713-682-4406.

MESSAGE OF THE WEEK

The Problem of AkrAsiA

T

directory

First FirstChurch Church Heights

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

1700 West 43 rd at Rosslyn 713-682-4942 Pastor – Dr. Richard Walters

GETHSEMANE LUTHERAN CHURCH

Sunday School ........9:15 am Sunday Worship......10:30am Wednesday Bible Study & Prayer Service 6:00pm

Pastor C. David Harrison 201 E. 9th St. • 713-861-3102 www.fbcheights.org

4040 Watonga • 713-688-5227 Reverend John Cain, Pastor

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

Preschool Program • Mon. - Fri. 9-2 p.m. www.gethsemanelutheran.org

Member of MANNA

Ad # 22283

6OJUFE .FUIPEJTU $IVSDI " $BSJOH 4IBSJOH 'BJUI 'BNJMZ

Sunday-- Bible BibleStuday Study For Ages .. 9:30am Sunday For All All Ages..9:30am MorningWorship.............10:45am Worship............ 10:45am Morning Age Graded Zones ...........6:15pm Wed.- Prayer Meeting & Missions Wed. Prayer Meeting & Missions Organization......................6:15pm Organization .....................6:15pm

1822 W. 18th

4U 4UFQIFO T

Dr. John W. Neesley - Senior Pastor

713-864-1470

4VOEBZ .PSOJOH 8PSTIJQ BOE 4VOEBZ 4DIPPM GPS $IJMESFO :PVUI BOE "EVMUT

4DPVUJOH HSPVQT GPS BMM BHFT )PNF PG +PIOTPO .FNPSJBM 4DIPPM GPS -JUUMF $IJMESFO

3FW ,FWJO 3 0UUP 1BTUPS 8 SE 4U â—† X X X T U T V N D P S H

he term “akrasia� is a Greek term meaning “lacking command over oneself.� It is sometimes used in the sense of going against one’s better judgement, or the all-too-common occurrence of knowing the right thing to do but otherwise failing to do it. Socrates was famous for claiming that the very concept is illogical; that is, that no one knowingly does wrong. For Socrates, wrongdoing was always a result of ignorance, i.e., not knowing that one is actually harming oneself by doing wrong. Aristotle took a different approach to the problem of akrasia by making it a conflict with our opinions rather than our knowledge, as it was for Socrates. But perhaps the problem is more complicated than this. Sometimes we act against our better judgement because our own goals are unclear. Other times we do so simply because our desires are too strong to resist. For example, smokers may know that it is in their best interest to quit, and truly want to quit, yet the craving for tobacco gets the better of them. Finally, there may be internal conflicts that relate to our inherent character. Often we have competing aims or desires, and one element of our character, perhaps not one of the better aspects of our personality, wins out over the others, despite our knowledge that we should do otherwise. Paul’s solution to this problem is to realize that our desires come from our bodies while goodness and virtue stem from God’s law.

St. James Lutheran Church, ELCA MANNA Sponsor

• Worship (English)..... 10:00 am - 11:00am • Learning Hour........... 11:00am - 12:00pm • Worship (Spanish) .... 12:30 pm - 1:30pm

1602 West 43rd St. • Houston, Tx 77018 • 713-686-1577

Page 6A • Saturday, April 22, 2017

Make your pets greener this Earth Day

Dear Tabby, With Earth Day happening this week, I was wondering if you can give us any tips for being “Greener” pet owners. Any tips for environmentally safer pet care?

Going Green in Garden Oaks Dear Going Green, Earth Day (which is Saturday, April 22) was founded in 1970 as a day of education about environmental issues. Earth Day is now a globally celebrated holiday that is sometimes extended into Earth Week, a full seven days of events focused on green awareness. It’s a great time to reassess your habits and try to find greener alternatives to your normal routines.

Adopt don’t shop: As a pet owner, one of the greatest things that you can do to support a greener existence is to adopt a pet rather than shop for a pet at a pet store or puppy mill.

There are millions of homeless animals crowding our shelters and, by adopting a dog or cat from a shelter, you’re saving a life and making space in the shelter for another animal in need.

Beyond adoption, once you’re happily co-existing with your animal companions at home, there are more ways to support a greener life as a pet owner.

Scoop the poop: Leaving dog or cat waste where pets drop it might seem like a natural alternative to putting it in a plastic bag and dumping it in a landfill, but harmful bacteria from pet waste may seep into

local groundwater, be swept away in rainwater runoff or--if flushed--survive sewage treatment and eventually contaminate streams, lakes, or bays. Some pet owners compost pet waste in a miniature outdoor septic tank.

When shopping for poop bags, look for biodegradable bags that will decompose in the landfill--or reuse plastic grocery bags. For cats, make sure you’re using litter made from materials that can be easily composted—such as corn, wheat, or recycled newspaper, rather than unsustainable clay.

Treating fleas with safer methods: A flea infestation is misery, but commercial “bug bombs” fill your home with potentially hazardous chemicals. Try controlling the local flea population by using a combination of non-toxic methods. Grooming your pet regularly with a flea comb is a good start.

As the fleas are caught in the comb, deposit them in soapy water to prevent them from jumping back onto your pet.

Fleas lay their eggs in the environment rather than on the animal, so cleaning up dust, debris, and pet hair will also help. Wash pet bedding and vacuum every five days, and get the vacuum bag out of the house before those tiny flea eggs hatch. You can freeze or burn the bag contents to destroy the eggs. Using a wet

vac with slightly soapy water is an efficient way to capture both stray fleas and eggs. “Natural” or “food grade” diatomaceous earth (not the kind used in swimming pool filters) is safe to use in areas that can’t be reached by a mop or vacuum—the fine powder dehydrates fleas.

Safer pet food and pet food containers: Try to choose pet foods that are made with organic or humanfood grade ingredients that avoid hormones and additives. It’s also helpful to buy in bulk to reduce packaging and transportation waste. Consider purchasing the biggest bag of dry food available and then store it at home in a large container. This also helps keep the food fresher for longer, preventing food waste in the process. Be sure to recycle wet food cans as well.

Just a few, relatively simple changes can add up to big results for the environment. These green pet care tips won’t just keep the most playful family members healthier, you’ll also add ecofriendly to the list of life lessons your kids will have learned from having a family pet. Your influence can change the planet for generations.

Do you have a question for Tabby? Email her at: deartabbyquestions@gmail.com

Pet of the Week Meet Ada. Ada is a 2 year old, former “show cat” whose owners brought her to the vet to be euthanized when they grew bored with the cat show circuit. Thankfully, Ada’s vet said, “Nope,” and connected Ada with a rescue where she’s safe and loved.

Ada is sweet and affectionate. Choose her, and she will show you that beauty is more than skin deep. To learn more, contact Save A Purrfect Cat Rescue at: www.saveacatrescue.org.

Non-profit from P. 1A Most recently Family Houston has responded to the needs of veterans returning from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, by creating an employment services program along with additional attention to PTSD counseling.

Family Houston has truly proven themselves to be listeners and leaders of Houston.

“We try to be as much a part of the community as possible and so we change based on the needs of the community,” (Contributed Photo) said Mercy Harper, Manager A Family Houston client meets with Richard, director of the of Communications at Family organization’s financial stability program.

Houston. “We’ve been in the community long enough and “We have a luncheon combecause we are connected to United Way a lot of people ing up May 10th called Pillars feel comfortable referring of Strength. It’s going to be pretty exciting,” said Harper. people to us.”

Today, Family Houston “We’re going to have Elizabeth serves about 80,000 people a McIngvail as a guest speaker, year with various free servic- and she will be talking about es including: counseling, case her own experience with management, employment, OCD and how she became a financial stability, substance mental health advocate. We abuse prevention, parenting encourage the community to and life skill classes, and vet- come and join us.”

(Contributed Photo) For more information on eran services.

“As the communications Family Houston please visit CEO Charlie Weldon paints picnic tables with volunteers and manager, I am the one who familyhouston.org. staff as part of young profesgets to share all of our posisionals work.

Ad # 30111 tive stories with the public,” said Harper, “and so I’ve met a lot of incredible clients who NEW! View Instant Proofs With Digital come in and tell me about Do You Have what a positive impact we have had on them and it feels Old or good to know I work for an Damaged organization that allows for Photos? stories like these to exist.”

For those interested in Bring Them To Us And We Can Restore helping Family Houston, conThem Like New sider joining their Young ProHOURS: Tues.-Fri. 10:00-5:30 fessionals group. Get more Sat. 10:00-2:00, Closed Monday information at www.family1504 Yale • 713-869-4641 houston.org/young-professionals-for-family-houston.

Parsley Studio

Bring In The Grill Season With A Freshly Cleaned Grill!

15% OFF Your next grill cleaning w/coupon Expires April 30, 2017. Offer is strictly for cleaning.

Can not be combined with other offers.

713 682-2053

1903 Lawrence St. • Houston, 77008

www.trulitegas.com

To place an ad on the most popular page in the Leader, give us a call at (713) 686-8494 and ask for one of our professional sales executives

FREE DONUTS 2 KOLACHES FREE DOzEN FREE DONUT HOLES Get 1/2 dozen glazed donuts FREE with purchase of one dozen donuts or more.

With purchase of one dozen glazed donuts.

Buy a dozen donuts and get 1 dozen donut holes FREE!

Good at this location only. One coupon per visit. Tax not included. Not valid in conjunction with other coupons.

3410 Ella Blvd. at 34th St.

(713) 682-4343

Authentic Mej icano Cuisine

Free Dinner

2615 Ella Blvd. @ 27th  713-868-5232

OPEN Monday - Saturday 8am - 10pm & Sunday 8 am - 4pm

$ 95 OFF secOnd entree Buy 1 Dinner Get $4.95 OFF Second Dinner Dine-In Only. No Takeout Orders. Good 3-10 p.m. only.

• Not available on Senior Citizens or Kids Menu • One coupon per table / one coupon per family ORIGINAL COUPON ONLY! No copies accepted • Must be presented before ordering • Expires 4-29-17.

LIve MUSIC Thursday - Sunday 6 til Close

* Lunch Specials Daily * Take Out Orders Available * Complete Bar Facilities * Party Room Available (Seats 85)

4618 Dacoma

(Between Hwy. 290 and Mangum)

(713) 680-0825

Mon - Fri 7:30 am - 5:30 pm Sat 8:00 am - 4:00pm

Bonus Savings

27

$

75

Offer Expires 4-30-2017

Call front desk for information.

2505 Ella Blvd 713-677-0701

www.polkadotdogs.com

Full Bar

Homemade Mexican Food

Happy Hour e Fre y Deliver $ 99 3

Special BreakfaSt everyday

NEW HOURS: Sun-Thur 8am-10pm. Fri 8am-5pm. Closed Saturday

 Daily luNch SPEcialS  Bar FacilitiES  takE-Out OrDErS availaBlE

Happy Hours: Mon-Thur 3-8

Must schedule appt.

Must have current vaccinations.

11031 Northwest Frwy 290 Next to Conn’s 832-849-0947

Dine In Only After 3:00 pm • Expires 4-29-17

4

20% off grooming All Day • EVERY DAY

Buy 1 Dinner and 2 Drinks, Get 1 Dinner Free (up to $10.00) One coupon per table

Mexican Restaurant

Proud sPonsor of: Oaks dads’ club

AdolfHoepfl.com 713.960.4538 4610 N. Shepherd

with this coupon • expires 4-30-17

• Oil Change • Suspension Check • Brake Check • Steering Control Check • Tire Check • Lights Check • Battery Health Check • Belts & Hoses Check • Check Fluid Levels & Refill • Plus Road Test

*For faster service, please call for a reservation. Taxes not included. Most cars/light trucks. Oil change includes up to 5 quarts of motor oil and new oil filter. Full synthetic oil extra. Cannot combine with any other offer. Limited time only. Imports or special filters may be extra. Some restrictions may apply. 5 Year Winner

50% OFF EntrEE

8am - 2pm

Fajitas for 2

Buy one entree and get the second entree (of greater or lesser value) at half price.

with shrimp

1995

$

Dine In Only.

Excludes Alcholic Beverages • Excludes use with Fajitas for 2 special • Offer expires 4-30-17

Furniture rentals

10% DiScount off Any Lift Chair Rental With coupon. Not including taxes and delivery fees

PoWER-Lift REcLinERS • Power Assist with standing • Lay Flat-Infinite position available • Weekly, monthly & long-term rentals available • Rentals start at $110 a month, plus delivery fees & sales tax

(713)790-0955

6550 Longpoint Rd. Ste. 204

Landa Café senior speCial authentic mexican restaurant

$10 OFF Purchase of $25 or more for Seniors (55 years & up).

Must present coupon. Not valid with any other offers.

Great Breakfast Menu Too!

302 W. Crosstimbers 281-888-4876

Monday - Saturday 7am - 9pm • Sunday 7am - 3pm

3 Cheese Burger

$

w/ fries plate

Saturday, April 22, 2017 • Page 7A

Entertainment

Calendar

The Prison Show at Re:HAB 1 - 9 p.m.

Saturday, April 22 Re:HAB Bar on the Bayou - 1658 Enid St.

Get out on the bayou and enjoy live music, a crawfish boil, hot dogs, a silent auction, and raffles all day!

1-2 p.m. Max Flinn 2-3 p.m. Tha Lady D 3-4 p.m. Texas Joe Bailey 4-5 p.m. Roger Dawson 5-6 p.m. Chaz and The Plastic Flask 6-7 p.m. Charles Bryant 7-8 p.m. Lisa Lyric & Chris Elliott 8-9 p.m. Tom Turner Band Entry is $10 per person; $15 per couple. Food and raffle tickets sold separately.

Cafeza Presents Lain Gray Trio

9 - 11:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 22 Cafeza - 1720 Houston Ave.

Cafeza presents multi-faceted recording artist, Lain Gray. Since his breakout success with UK gospel group Nu Colours, Lain’s perfromance career has spanned oceans, genres, and disciplines.

At times his style has ranged from gospel and soul, to breakbeat, EDM, dancehall, and even musical theatre, having done runs with stage shows “We Will Rock You” and “The Harder They Come”. Lain will be accompanied by percussionist Charlie Perez and friends.

Lain takes the stage at 9 p.m., admission is FREE, so come early for some dinner and drinks and get yourself a great seat!

14 Pews Film Academy Fund Raiser 7 - 10 p.m.

Saturday, April 22 14 Pews – 800 Aurora $10 Show

14 Pews is pleased to present three short documentaries on Houston artists produced by 14 Pews Film Academy and directed by Cressandra Thibodeaux: Art & Activism, Nestor Topchy: Houston’s Phoenix, Houston Art Collectors.

These documentaries were made through the 14 Pews Film Academy. All the editors were college students, which Ms. Thibodeaux taught editing practices and tips which she learned while studying under Ralph Rosenblum (Woody Allen’s editor) and Sam Pollard (Spike Lee’s editor). The film highlights Houston artists: Dixie Friend Gay, Troy Woods, Patrick Turk Collage Art and Neva Mikulicz. Premiered at the Houston Cinema Arts Festival in 2015 (19 minutes).

The Barking Pig opens for lunch service

I

n the late fall of 2015, The Barking Pig opened doors at 2307 Ella Blvd.

The patio bar/eatery has found a home on Ella Boulevard offering beer, wine, classic cocktails, a full bar and food that puts a different spin on the typical bar food offerings.

Just this month, The Barking Pig is expanding hours and menus, now offering lunch at 11 a.m. every day.

“Now that we have hit a year and a half, we started Photos by Christina Martinez looking at what the neighOn the left, Barking Pig’s chicken salad sandwich, served with fries or chips. On the right, the lettuce borhood wanted/needed wraps. and many requested that we open earlier,” owner week, with a great friend ac- our order – we were hun- was having lunch solo, this Kristen Powell said. “We companying me. The two gry – we ordered the lettuce would have been my order, added a specific lunch menu. of us ordered the Brussel wraps, which are a build your- plus maybe an additional Things like Fish Tacos - grilled Sprouts, which are flash self wrap, served with pulled side if I was pretty hungry. I or fried, Meatball Sub, Chick- fried and topped with truffle pork, pickled veggies (both like the wraps for the health en Salad Sandwich or Wrap, oil and parmesan. Next was made in-house), cilantro and factor - eating a piece of letSalads with your choice of the chicken salad sandwich, jalapeños, and a aioli sauce. tuce instead of a tortilla or protein.” served with your choice of From our order, the lettuce something else that is heavy I visited for lunch this fries or chips. To complete wraps were my favorite. If I - lunch for me usually needs

Art Valet: murals to see and birdhouses to buy ginger This weekend there are come improvement to its site, two great art options for you a long wall on the exterior of Lunch - there’s a new mural to check a Walmart. That wall had beM out and the not to be missed come a prominent eyesore in dumpLings C Spring Biannual Art Stroll & the community as the result Sale.

The mural, all 300 plus feet of it, is not going anywhere soon so I’ll tell you about that first. The residents of the Northline neighborhoods got a long awaited mural on the back of the Walmart at Fulton and Crosstimbers. The football length mural is on the fence behind the store and was painted by Houston artist Alex Arzu, who operates Zu Art Collective.

The mural came about by a collaboration between Avenue Community Development Corporation, a Houston non-profit organization dedicated to building afford-

of continuous vandalism and tagging.

“The Near Northside and Northline neighborhoods have long been known for their vibrant history and culture, but in engaging with residents, we discovered that the neighborhood considered this long wall to be divisive and not representative of the community’s spirit,” said Lawler. “We are thrilled to partner with Vecino and Alex Arzu on this initiative that will beautify the neighborhood and hopefully serve as a catalyst for continued revitalization efforts throughout the Northline.”

6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, April 26 Rainbow Lodge - 2011 Ella Blvd.

Rudz Beer Dinner

7 - 10 p.m.

Thursday, April 27 Rudyard’s - 2010 Waugh Dr.

This month’s beer dinner is featuring the good folks out of Austin, Texas, (512) Brewing Company. Featured beer will include: SMaSH (single malt and single hop), White IPA, Nitro IPA, Cabernet Tripel and the Five-year Anniversary (Imperial Stout).

Tickets online at rudyardspub.com.

Managing Editor

to be something light, that way I can actually be productive when heading back to the office.

Owner Kristen Powell said she’s excited about the new hours and also their expanded patio.

“Now with the extended patio, we can accommodate larger groups, more puppies and more fun.”

And if you didn’t know, The Barking Pig is pet friendly, with water bowls, waste bags and even dog biscuits for hungry pups on-hand on the patio.

New lunch ideas are always a good idea. Stop in at The Barking Pig to see what’s new.

fork

itch

ohen

Rainbow Lodge Wine Dinner

Save the date for Rainbow Lodge’s wine dinner, featuring Retour Oregon Pinot Noir with Owner Lindsay Woodard.

Rainbow Lodge said they like to think that Oregon Pinot Noir matches perfectly with their menu, and have long been fans of Retour Wines.

Help them welcome Oregon’s trailblazer vintner and someone they call a dear friend, owner Lindsay Woodard, for a truly memorable evening featuring her limited and highly coveted Pinot Noirs.

This five course dinner

by Chef Mark Schmidt will include three vintages of Retour, an introduction to two of Lindsay’s new projects and she’ll treat us with her really delicious and next to impossible to get rosé.

Grab tickets online at www. rainbow-lodge.com.

Christina Martinez

At the top, local artist Alex Arzu in action for the mural in collaboration with Avenue Community Development Corporation and the Northline Walmart (photo courtesy Alex Arzu). In the middle, Bill Baldwin and Patrick Palmer overlooking their birdhouse that will go up for sale at the Spring Biannual Art Stroll & Sale at The Sawyer Yards.

To the left, Baldwin/Palmer’s birdhouse that will benefit the Houston Arboretum.

able homes and strengthening communities, and Vecino Health Centers, a community-based non-profit and Federally Qualified Health Center that provides high-quality, community-centric primary care to its working families.

After learning of the neighborhoods desire to beautify the area, Vecino saw a connection with their #LetHealthShine campaign, which illustrates the connection between people in the community, their personal health and the vitality of our city, and partnered with Avenue, who obtained funding for the creation of a public art piece.

According to Mary Lawler, executive director of Avenue, the mural’s location is a wel-

For more information about Avenue’s community revitalization efforts, visit avenuecdc.org. The mural is visible on Fulton behind the Walmart at Northline Commons, 4412 North Fwy. Houston, TX 77022.

Saturday afternoon and evening The Artists at Sawyer Yards present the Spring Biannual Art Stroll & Sale featuring artwork from nearly 300 local artists, plus celebrity-inspired birdhouses. Sale of the birdhouse creations benefits Houston Arboretum & Nature Center.

If you enjoy visiting the artist on 2nd Saturdays for open studios, this event kicks it up a notch. Several hundred notches, actually.

Start your stroll at Spring Street Studios from 3 – 5 p.m. for a pre-party and silent auc-

Art Columnist

starting at

tion of one-of-a-kind birdhouse creations, benefiting the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, according to a recent press release. Each was decorated by a Houston celebrity in partnership with a select Sawyer Yards artist.

Participating pairs include Mayor Sylvester Turner/ Nicola Parente; Rod Ryan of the Buzz/Taft McWhorter; sculptor David Adickes/Justin Garcia; former Mayor Annise Parker/Michael Golden; artist Sharon Kopriva/Chris Silkwood; Heights realtor Bill Baldwin/Patrick Palmer; and KPRC2 Weatherman Frank Billingsley/April Murphy. Additional benefit birdhouses, created by Sawyer Yards’ artists and priced at $100 each, will be offered throughout the evening at all the studios in support of the Houston Arboretum. After the silent auction concludes, all studios open at 5 p.m. for the stroll and sale.

I’ve seen the birdhouse

by April Murphy and Frank Billingsley, it looks like one of Murphy’s paintings come to life! My tip for this event is either go early and stay late or get a ride there. Spring St. Studios is a few blocks away from the other studios. The addresses are Silver Street Studios – 2000 Edwards St.; Spring Street Studios – 1824 Spring St.; Summer Street Studios – 2204 Summer St.; The Silos at Sawyer Yards – 1502 Sawyer St.; Winter Street Studios – 2101 Winter St. and find more information at www.sawyeryards.com.

Cohen is an artist and founder of First Saturday Arts Market and the new Market at Sawyer Yards, find him at ArtValet.com

$

6

something new to trY For Lunch! houston’s best cantonese and hong Kong dining experience.

4705 Inker Street | (713) 861-8883 w w w. g i n g e r a n d f o r k re s t a u r a n t . c o m

10 for $10 Pick from 10 items for $10 for a healthy and homemade lunch.

Monday – Friday Lunch Hours Only

C avat o r e

i ta l i a n r e s ta u r a n t 2120 Ella Boulevard • (713) 869-6622

www.Cavatores.com

22nd Annual Czech SpringFest Sunday, April 23, 2017 - 11 am - 7 pm SPJST Lodge #88, 1435 Beall St. (15th Street in the Heights)

Vitame vas

AdMISSIon - $8.00 ChILdREn UndER 11 FREE

GUEST ARTIST Iveta dandova KovAndA’S Czech Band Czech Natl. Enterprise (11 am - 2 pm) Award Winner 2001, 2002, Czechaholics Band 2003. She will display her for your dancing pleasure prize winning items. Many (3 pm - 6 pm) items for sale.

Traditional Czech Sunday dinner - 11 am - 2 pm Adults $10.00, Children under 11 - $7.00 Soup & Sausage with Sauerkraut served at 1 pm

Kolache Eating Contest, Silent Auction, Country Store & vendors Sponsor: Czech Heritage Society of Texas, Harris County Chapter, A Texas 501©3 Non-Profit organization Benefiting the CHSHCC Library & Archives

ou Dobr ’ Chut

For More Info, Call 713-349-0500 or e-mail chsheritage20@att.net