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Waltrip vows to address problems by fights among students. Niggli said there had been physical altercations each of the previous two Fridays, including a multiple-student melee in a gym that was captured on video and shared on social media.

Around the same time that school let out last Friday, the Houston Police Department responded to a report of kids fighting at nearby Oak Forest Park.

“I hear you all. We’ve said enough is enough,” Arredondo told the crowd at the meeting, which was requested by the booster club for Waltrip’s band.

“We want to make sure we’re here and making progress toward that end.

We’re putting things that are already

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com Michael Niggli stood in front of more than 50 students and parents in the Waltrip High School band hall Monday night, hearing concerns and answering questions during a meeting that lasted 90 minutes. The school’s first-year principal was backed by Jorge Arredondo, an area superintendent for Houston ISD who provided several responses of his own.

Much of the conversation centered around campus safety near the end of a school year that, according to multiple teachers and parents, has been marred

in place, some short-term things and some long-term things, to make sure that happens.”

In the aftermath of the April 26 brawl in the gym, which Niggli said started as a “fight over a girl” and was instigated by students who have since been transferred to an alternative school, Waltrip is trying to beef up security and change the conditions on campus that enabled the fight to materialize.

Niggli said he has expanded duty hours for the staff members assigned to monitor the gym and decided to add a second lunch period next school year.

See Waltrip P. 8A

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Contributed photo

Heights resident Heather Potts adopted her son, Tresor, from Burundi in 2016.

Page 7A

Heights resident cherishes relationship with adopted son

By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com Three years ago, Heights resident Heather Potts met her son, Trésor.

He was not an infant but nearly 7 years old, and the meeting did not take place in a hospital room but in the East African country of Burundi.

Familiar face. Vanessa Saldana has been promoted to principal at Hogg Middle School.

Page 8A

Roto-Rooter waives balance owed by Oak Forest man

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

jasonk@greenwoodking.com GREENWOOD KING

Winner, winner. On a sandwich and in soup, chicken stood out recently at La Vista 101.

Photo by Adam Zuvanich Michael Niggli addresses students and parents during a Monday meeting at Waltrip.

Her overwhelming feeling of love, though, was the same as it would have been had she given birth to him.

“Trésor is my favorite person ever and I’m the luckiest mama ever,” Potts said.

As right as the role seems now, Potts remembers a time when she didn’t think children would be a

part of the picture. She worked long hours as a lawyer and was single.

“My house had white furniture and pale gray walls,” she said. “I thought I might get married but not have kids.”

A pivotal conversation with a felSee Mother P. 8A

An Oak Forest man who claims he was misled by employees of RotoRooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup has been relieved of his debt to the national company.

Roto-Rooter and Antonio Helm, who had an outstanding balance of $3,503.35 for water remediation work done in his home in late February, agreed May 1 to waive the balance and release each other from any further claims or damages. Helm, 57, who is on a fixed disability income, previously paid the company nearly $3,000 to replace a faulty drainage pipe that caused a toilet to overflow in his bathroom.

The agreement was made one week after The Leader published a story detailing Helm’s case, in which he said Roto-Rooter employees assured him his homeowner’s insurance policy would cover costs for work Helm later deemed unnecessary. Helm agreed to have the work done at the time, and his insurance claim was subsequently denied.

“I’m very glad,” Helm said Wednesday. “I feel like I got some justice here. ... And my wife (Christy) can sleep again.”

Jim Michael, Roto-Rooter’s Houston general manager, said last week that he disputed Helm’s claim and that the multiple employees who worked on the home followed industry protoSee Helm P. 8A

Photo by Adam Zuvanich Oak Forest resident Antonio Helm had his debt forgiven by Roto-Rooter.

Reports raise eyebrows about city recycling

By Adam Zuvanich

THE INDEX.

azuvanich@theleadernews.com

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

Is recycling a ruse in the City of Houston?

“That’s been my concern,” Houston City Councilwoman Brenda Stardig said. “My greatest fear is we’re making two runs for regular trash and then recycling, and needing all those drivers and those separate trucks, and then on top of

it heavy trash, and then it’s all going to the same place.

“Wouldn’t that be horrific?”

According to recent reports by a Houston television station, that might be true. KHOU 11, citing video evidence and anonymous city employees, reported that truck drivers have mixed recyclables with trash and delivered loads of recyclable-only

materials to city garbage facilities – all at the direction of their supervisors and with all of it ending up in a landfill.

A Houston Solid Waste Management Department spokesperson told the station that a mixed load ended up in a landfill, according to KHOU. The city has launched an investigation into the matter, with Mayor Sylvester Turner telling re-

porters last week that city employees found to have violated Houston’s recycling pickup policy could face disciplinary action.

Questions emailed Monday to spokespeople for the mayor’s office and Solid Waste Management Department were unanswered as of press time Wednesday. A Solid Waste Management Department See Recycling P. 2A

Photo Adam Zuvanich The Thomas “Buck” Buchanan Service Center on Judiway Street houses city trucks.

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THE PUBLIC. The Leader • Saturday, May 11, 2019 • Page 2A

Mediator declares Prop B negotiations at impasse

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

A court-appointed mediator could not help the City of Houston and local firefighters union agree on a phasedin implementation plan for Proposition B. The two parties, along with the local police officers union, held at least three negotiation sessions after Judge Tanya Garrison of the 157th Civil District Court ordered nonbinding mediation on April 18. Mediator David Matthiesen, in a May 3 letter filed with the court, declared the negotiations at impasse.

Garrison is presiding over a lawsuit filed by the Houston Police Officers Union that challenges the legality of Prop B, which voters approved in November to grant firefighters equal pay to police officers of corresponding rank and experience.

“It is now in Judge Garrison’s hands to rule one way or another,” Mayor Sylvester Turner said.

Turner said the firefighters union rejected the city’s offer for a three-and-a-half-year phase-in plan that would not include layoffs or demotions.

Marty Lancton, president of the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association, said the union made a counteroffer for a four-year phase-in before an impasse was declared.

Lancton also said the city’s offer came with a caveat that was unacceptable to the union. He said the mayor demanded that the firefighters union declare Prop B unconstitutional, which is the legal argument being made by the city and police officers union.

“If we all agree it’s unconstitutional, there is no more question in court,” Lancton said. “Because if all parties agree, then you have just up-

Photo by Adam Zuvanich Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner speaks to reporters May 3.

ended the will of 300,000 voters.”

Turner said the city is in the process of immediately implementing Prop B and will begin mailing checks to firefighters totaling about $31 million -- which represents pay raises effective Jan. 1 -on May 10. To offset the cost,, the city also has sent 60-day layoff notices to 67 fire ca-

dets, 220 firefighters and 47 other municipal employees.

Lancton said 454 more firefighters have received demotion notices.

“We need to find a way to absorb and to achieve the will of the voters in a way that does not threaten the public safety, it doesn’t threaten our employees’ wellbeing and livelihoods,” Houston fire chief Samuel Pena said. “Not only fire department, but there are municipal employees out there that are also being affected. The community is being affected, and this has got to stop.”

Lancton said the firefighters union is willing to continue negotiating with the city on a phased-in implementation plan. He also said the city’s proposals have lacked financial data requested by the union, such as detailed breakdowns of base and incentive pay for firefighters

and police officers as well as criteria for specific incentives.

Turner said the “city would be bankrupt” if it met all the demands of the firefighters union.

Barring a breakthrough in negotiations, Garrison will at some point end the dispute by allowing the voter-approved referendum to stand or deeming it unconstitutional. Attorneys for the police officers’ union and city have argued that Prop B is preempted by the Fire and Police Employee Relations Act, which is part of Texas’ Local Government Code.

Garrison, during an April 18 hearing, said there is legal precedent that both supports and goes against the legality of Prop B. On May 3, she ordered the three litigants to submit briefs on or before May 10 that answer the following question: “When local law authorizes conduct that

can be consistent with state law in some circumstances, but can be inconsistent with state law in other circumstances; then does the local law run afoul to the state law for all purposes?”

Turner made his stance clear.

“I am firmly convinced that Proposition B is not in the best interests of this city,” he said. “And it should not be allowed to live.”

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Recycling, from P. 1A statement to KHOU said, in part, “The city wants to move forward to make sure this will not happen in the future.”

Mike Crippen, who has participated in curbside recycling during the 12 years he has lived in Oak Forest, said city officials “need to tell us” if they are not recycling the materials they collect from green bins.

“Why should I go to the trouble of separating everything and using a separate bin?” he asked. “If they’re not going to recycle anyway, I might as well just throw it all away.”

While the global market for recyclable materials has dwindled in recent years, the city recently entered into a recycling contract with Spain-based FCC Environmental Services. The company opened a new 120,000-square foot facility in northeast Houston in March.

Irma Reyes, a spokesperson for the Solid Waste

Management Department, said in January that the city expected to collect at least 5,000 tons of recyclables per month once the agreement with FCC began. She also said it costs the city $3.25 per home per month for recycling collection. There are no fees for the department’s services, which are covered by taxes.

When asked in January if any recyclables were going to a landfill, Reyes said, “Despite the best rumors that could be started, no city collected material has been deposited in a landfill.

Although residents may see a blue truck collect their recycling (green can), they can rest easy knowing that we work to harvest the material for beneficial reuse or remanufacture. The department values our customers’ commitment to recycling, even during these challenging times.”

Oak Forest resident John Weaver and Shepherd Forest resident Shelby Lefevre both

said they would have a problem if their recyclables were not actually being recycled by the city.

Stardig said, “Anything’s possible.” She also said city leaders should be honest with taxpayers.

“The mayor has said he’s going to investigate, but we need to make sure that everyone follows up and follows through,” Stardig said.

“If anyone has any other reports, I’m asking them to contact their council member with that information.”

Crippen said recycling is an important undertaking whether the city participates or not. So he wants to keep doing so however he can.

“Maybe some third party would step up and we could take it to them instead if we have to,” Crippen said. “I would do that if that’s what it took to get it recycled.

I would hope that the city would do it for me, but if they won’t, I hope there’s another way.”

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The Leader • Saturday, May 11, 2019 • Page 3A

THE TOPICS. The Leader • Saturday, May 11, 2019 • Page 4A

Trustee’s mixed messages compound transparency problem

I

n its April 29 report about a multiple-student melee in the Waltrip High School gym, Houston television station KTRK said Elizabeth Santos wanted answers from the school district she helps oversee.

Two days later, in an email to me that was copied to the school principal and the Houston ISD press office, Santos criticized me for asking questions about the April 26 incident that caused concern among parents and, according to HISD, resulted in injuries to students. The HISD Board of Education trustee also questioned my coverage of the fight, which was posted to our website the same day it happened and, just like the TV report, included a video of the brawl that was shared on social media.

In her note, Santos described the fight as a “hiccup” and said there was no “lack of student control” on the Waltrip campus.

“I don’t appreciate you attacking our community or using the videos to gain readership,” she wrote.

As made clear last week by our publisher, Jonathan McElvy, The Leader had the following reasons for writing about the fight, showing video of it and pressing the press office for information about it: Our community needed to know about the fight and what caused it, and we want to help make sure that campus conditions improve and such an altercation never

Adam

Zuvanich Editor

happens again.

It’s also clear that reporting about the incident was the right call, based on the majority of the feedback we’ve received from readers and the response by Waltrip and HISD. Our coverage helped spark necessary conversations among school stakeholders, who discussed concerns about campus safety and ways to improve it at a Monday night meeting at Waltrip.

Santos’ stance on all this, meanwhile, is much muddier. She said she wanted answers, and then she criticized us for asking questions.

So which is it?

“I want to apologize for making it seem like I was talking out of both sides of my mouth. I really don’t,” Santos said Wednesday. “I am not your typical politician. ... I don’t do double speak. I’m known for my honesty.”

My dealings with Santos, a former

HISD student and teacher who was elected to the school board in 2017, have been limited. We had our first phone conversation Wednesday, after I told her I was writing this column and wanted to give her a chance to comment.

I first heard from Santos in February, shortly after I published a column about HISD’s initial refusal to answer my questions about crowded classrooms at area campuses. I reported that Santos had not responded to an email seeking comment, and she then emailed to explain why she hadn’t.

She also said she’d be “more than happy to sit and talk” and gave me her cell number, adding, “The Leader should have access to me as often as needed.” Santos ended the email by saying, “I welcome the hard questions.”

My story about campus enrollment came out two weeks later and, beforehand, I made more attempts to talk to her about the issue. She never complied.

Santos has been more responsive regarding the recent issues at Waltrip, which surfaced after three students and two parents expressed concerns about the campus as well as school and HISD administrators at a school board meeting last month. She said she was receptive to those concerns, relayed them to interim superintendent Grenita Lathan and was “deter-

The Lone Czar State THE STREET CORNER – Look around you. See anything suspicious? I thought not. Oh, those Ruskies are clever. We are looking for our old friends, Aleksandra Yuryevna Krylova and Mikhail Leonidovich Burchik. If you recall, those are two top Russian agents who came to Texas checking out our gullibility to see how they could tilt the last presidential election to Donald Trump, and it worked. Texas went for Trump over Hillary Clinton by a whopping 9 percent margin. Earlier, a secret Russian program to help Trump was only our suspicions, but the Mueller Report confirms that this sleepy fishing village on the bayou, Houston, Texas, would be the center of spies and foreign intrigue. Indeed, we were the Number 1 choice for creating chaos. (I find it humiliating that the Russians looked all over America and determined that their softest target would be Houston.)

A Confederate rally planned here November 2015 was the “earliest evidence” that Russians attempted to interfere in the 2016 presidential election, according to the Mueller report. An Instagram post on an account called Stand For Freedom (which was later linked to Russian online trolls) tried to organize a rally in Houston. “Good evening buds!” the post read, according to the report. “Well I am planning to organize a confederate rally in ... Houston on the 14 of November and I want more people to attend.”

Apparently not much happened, but they tried again in May 2016 by staging a rally outside the downtown Houston Islamic Da’wah Center, which attracted about a dozen protesters. A group called the Heart of Texas had organized the rally to protest what it consider the “Islamization” of Texas. The group had also encouraged followers to bring legal firearms. About 10 people bearing flags of the United States, Texas and the Confederacy came, but more than 50 counter-protesters also showed up. So there were two opposing rallies at the same time at the same place.

Unfortunately for the Kremlin, no riot ensued.

All of this derring-do is the work of the Internet Research Agency or IRA, the Russian government’s agency which engages in all sorts of dirty deeds: fake news, fake names, divisiveness and general troublemaking. These days every U.S. intelligence official says the IRA is already making plans and plots to influence the 2020 presidential election and keep Trump in the Oval Office. So what can we do to spoil their schemes?

First, check out yard signs for Trump, especially if they are written in Cyrillic. See if your neighborhood stores have had a run on Stolichnaya or borscht. Look for weird cowboy outfits. Last time the Kremlin Two were in town they wore the most ridiculous Texas clothes and looked like

Lynn Ashby Columnist

a Roy Rogers clown. Check your mail. If the stamp has a picture of Vladimir Putin, toss. Robocalls can be made by the millions. If your Caller ID reads, “Anonymous” or “You just won the Mega Million,” don’t answer, but give me the phone number and I’ll take it from there.

Russian President-for-Life Putin likes to split us apart, us-versus-them.

Remember his spies promoted both “Black Lives Matter” and “White Lives Matter.” If you are of another hue, you don’t matter. Just to be safe, in my neighborhood I’d never put up a sign reading “Democrats’ Lives Matter.” The Mueller Report states: “The IRA continued to organize rallies even after the 2016 U.S. presidential election. The attendance at rallies varied. Some rallies appear to have drawn few (if any) participants, while others drew hundreds.” Don’t attend any Confederate rallies featuring real Confederate soldiers who say “youse guys” or “fuhgeddaboudit.”

As the election heats up, tempers rise, emotions are strained. So here’s how the IRA works: There is a big demonstration in favor of, say, Trump. In the midst of it, six paid goons (hired by a fictitious front) come in carrying “Warren for President” signs.

Pushing ensues, fights break out. TV cameras zoom in on the scuffles and follow the cops as they escort the troublemakers away. The cost: $500. The results: Priceless.

And that 3-minute scene will make the network news programs time after time. The big push from Putin’s Paratroopers is social media, and they are brilliant. They manipulate by swamping Americans with emails, rumors, Facebook, Google, Twitter, anything to turn us against one another.

Each of these messages has just enough truth in it to make the rest believable.

Whomever the Dem presidential candidate is, get ready to be inundated with false charges. Example: “Beto O’Rourke wants open borders and, if elected, would allow hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants to come to our beloved country to rape, steal, murder and park in handicap spaces.” The accusation stems from this: MSNBC host Chris Hayes asked O’Rourke on-air: “Would you, if you could, would you take the wall down here -- knock it down?” O’Rourke answered: “Yes, absolutely.” But the charge is silly, because illegal immigrants swimming across the Rio or climbing over the wall can’t park in handicap spaces because they don’t have cars. Another one:

“Kirsten Gillibrand was born in Kenya.” That charge, too, has an ounce of truth, she was born. “Pete Buttigieg is an atheist. Even though he’s the mayor of South Bend, he watched Notre Dame play Baylor and didn’t care who won.” True, he’s the mayor.

Congress is demanding that Facebook and the others stop allowing such false news and misinformation about the candidates. When asked if this abuse would be ended, a representative of Twitter replied: “Da.” If you doubt all of this and toss it off as rampant paranoia, I’ll ask you: How did the Kremlin feel about the outcome of the 2016 election?

On the night of Nov. 9, 2016, Hillary Clinton called Trump to concede the presidential election. Shortly thereafter, the feds were listening in as the head of Russia’s Sovereign Wealth Fund, apparently a Kremlin front, received a message from New York: “Putin has won.” I rest my case.

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mined to improve the culture” at the schools she represents.

According to Waltrip band director Jesse Espinosa, the concerns had previously been expressed to Santos at one of the monthly community meetings she holds. Espinosa said Santos told the concerned students and parents they could voice them in front of the school board.

About two weeks after that happened, the melee broke out in the gym. When I texted Santos to get her reaction, she said, “I’ve reached out to the interim superintendent and she has not responded.”

The next day, when I asked if she had any more details, Santos said, “HISD Administration will not/have not given me any information other than an email with their public statement.”

It sounded strange that a school board member would not be privy to more information regarding a school she is charged with serving. It also sounded like she was pressing the district for more information.

After her response to my questions to the press office, though, I couldn’t help but wonder how hard she pressed or whether she had been forthcoming about being denied more information. It also struck me that Santos went out of her way to say Lathan had not responded to her.

It should be noted that, according

to the Houston Chronicle, Santos is part of the Texas Education Agency’s special accreditation investigation into the HISD board. The paper reported that the investigation centers around possible open meetings violations by Santos and four other trustees, who are alleged to have discussed voting out Lathan prior to doing so at an October 2018 school board meeting (Lathan was later reinstated as interim superintendent).

Santos denied the allegations Wednesday and said she has been honest with the TEA. I’ll reserve judgement until the TEA releases the findings of its investigation.

Transparency, or a lack thereof, has shown itself to be a big problem for the biggest public school district in Texas. Santos told me the district needs to communicate better with its community, but she still might be contributing to that problem -- which is an even bigger problem than the ongoing issues at Waltrip.

Santos needs to do what she says she wants to do. She should actually answer hard questions instead of trying to avoid them. She should demand more from HISD if she’s not getting it.

And she shouldn’t do these things for me or The Leader. She should do them for the people who elected her.

Email azuvanich@theleadernews.com

THE READER.

Email us your letters: news@theleadernews.com

We’ll accept reader anger if change comes

have been retired, and today she knew that our old “saying” is true.

After reading that story in The Leader, a very nice lady showed up at the garden, put in a good day’s work, said she enjoyed it and would be back.

The garden supplies fresh, organically grown vegetables to our local food pantries that serve the poor.

Thank you Leader!

AG

Dear Editor: I enjoyed “We’ll accept reader anger if change comes.”

The Leader is the only paper I read anymore for the exact reasons you mention in your writing.

Keep up the good work.

Lane Lewis Dear Editor: This is very well stated. I am a parent of a Waltrip student. What you said is exactly what my child told me Friday night. In fact, she says there were closer to 10 fights that day. The gym, the cafeteria, and a patio area all at essentially the same time.

Plus at least one earlier that day.

I also work for HISD. It truly concerns me how things have changed just this year at Waltrip. I love that my children both chose their neighborhood school but I am increasingly concerned for student safety.

I appreciate the efforts you have gone to in order to verify facts. And while shining a light on the positive things is great …. people are less likely to share that than when something is very wrong.

Keep up the good work!

A Railsback

Community garden supplies vegetables to food pantries

Dear Editor: Half a century ago, when I was in the newspaper business, we had an old saying: “Early to bed, early to rise, work like hell and advertise.”

Apparently that piece of advice is still good today.

Recently our local newspaper, The Leader, ran a story about my wife’s community garden. She has been tending that garden for almost as long as I

Brawl at Waltrip escalates safety concerns

Dear Editor: It is very easy to blame the principal for the lunch situation and claim that is the cause of such deplorable behavior, and perhaps that is partly correct. I prefer to delve a little deeper and look for root causes. What I see from my advanced years is that our social culture, in general, is failing to instill in children self-discipline.

This is first and foremost the task of parents. It starts with potty training, moves on to sharing, not hitting, not talking back to parents (or anyone else in authority), and ought to include basic manners.

By the time a child is school age, basic social skills and constraints ought to be entrenched in the child’s character, reinforced by teachers to include not talking unless called upon, following directions, doing homework and respecting teachers other students.

What I see is overemphasis on self-confidence, self-esteem and feelings and precious little discipline, self- or otherwise, and absolutely no impulse control. Infringing upon such a student’s feelings of self-worth becomes a flash point for such brawls.

This is a societal ill started by parents and exacerbated by our educational system.

Katie McDonald

the leader Puzzlers.

Answers found in this week’s Classified section

SUDOKU

aCrOss 1. Birds 5. Quills 11. Coniferous tree 12. Type of vessels 16. Used for baking or drying 17. Promotion of product or service 18. Many wombs 19. “On the Waterfront” actor 24. Air conditioning 25. Heart condition 26. Curved shapes 27. The 7th letter of the Greek alphabet 28. Let it stand 29. Famous actor 30. Mated 31. High and low are types of these 33. Marsupial 34. African nation (Fr.) 37. Huge 38. Mountainous area in Puerto Rico 39. Crooked 42. Canadian law enforcers (abbr.)

43. Neat and smart in appearance 44. Intent 48. Reptile genus 49. A way to make full 50. Merchant 52. Michigan

53. Manifesting approval 55. Melancholic music 57. Massachusetts 58. Membrane of the cornea 59. Calendar month 62. Exam 63. Commission 64. Old English letters

dOwn 1. Olfactory sensations 2. Bon __ 3. Turn up 4. Bright 5. Thick piece of something 6. Cause to absorb water 7. Morning 8. 0 degrees C. 9. Dull, heavy sounds 10. Eisaku __, Japanese Prime Minister 13. Tellurium 14. In an angry way 15. Homopterous insect 20. Above 21. Sodium 22. Aoris’ father (Greek myth.)

23. They ring receipts 27. Periods of history 29. South Dakota

30. Mammal genus 31. ScotlandÕs longest river 32. Potato state 33. ___ City, OK 74641 34. Connected with touch 35. Molding 36. High-energy physics 37. Of I 38. Small pieces of bread 39. Third day in Armenian calendar 40. They accompany the leader 41. 1,000 grams (kilogram) 43. Felis domesticus 44. Large, flightless birds 45. Felt deep affection for 46. Suffer death 47. Private rendezvous (pl.)

49. Not the winner 50. Touchdown 51. Ancient Egyptian sun god 53. Portuguese parish 54. Aromatic oil 56. Not down 60. Mister 61. Barium

WORD SCRAMBLE

The Leader • Saturday, May 11, 2019 • Page 5A

THINGS TO DO. The Arts Allman Betts Band Saturday, May 11 7 – 10 p.m.

The Heights Theater – 339 W. 19th St. Allman Betts Band is performing at The Heights Theater.

Deer Tick Sunday, May 12 7 – 11 p.m.

The Heights Theater – 339 W. 19th St. Deer Tick is performing at The Heights Theater with Courtney Marie Andrew.

Justin Roelant Thursday, May 16 8 – 11 p.m.

The Heights Theater – 339 W. 19th St. Justin Roelant and the West End Band are performing at The Heights Theater.

Tunes in the Tap Room Tuesday, May 14 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.

Harold’s Retaurant & Tap Room – 350 W. 19th St. Enjoy live music in Harold’s Tap Room every Tuesday night.

The Marcus King Band Saturday, May 11 8 p.m.

White Oak Music Hall – 2915 N. Main St. The Marcus King Band is performing at White Oak Music Hall.

Wild Belle Saturday, May 11 8 p.m.

White Oak Music Hall – 2915 N. Main St. Wild Belle is performing at White Oak Music Hall with Terri Terri.

olson St. Sara Van Buskirk, a Texas-based songwriter and guitarist, is performing at Visionary Heights.

The Markets Eleanora’s Market Saturday, May 11 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Cavatore – 2120 Ella Blvd.

There will be local growers, makers, designers, artisans and food producers.

Little White Oak Night Market Saturday, May 11 4 – 8 p.m.

Sideout Volleybar – 2623 Keene St. The Little White Oak Night Market brings together local farmers, craft merchandisers, and artists.

The Farm Stand at Petrol Station Saturday, May 11 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

948 Wakefield Dr. The Farm Stand at Petrol Station features goods from local vendors.

Heights Morning Market Sunday, May 12 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

3106 White Oak Dr. Heights Morning Market gathers local talented artisans, farmers, and entrepreneurs to bring you closer to the goods you need. Stop by to shop and stay to brunch, drink mimosas, and listen to live music at Onion Creek.

Lost Dog Street Band Sunday , May 12 7 p.m.

White Oak Music Hall – 2915 N. Main St. Lost Dog Street Band is performing at White Oak Music Hall with matt Heckler and The Hill Country Devil.

The Market at Sawyer Yards Saturday, May 11 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

1502 Sawyer St. This curated market hosts a mix of artist mediums with a focus on folk art, the maker is the seller & artisan crafts including packaged specialty foods. Surrounded by the highest concentration of working artists in all of Texas, the market coincides with 2nd Saturday Open Studios, when artists from The Silos at Sawyer Yards, Winter, Spring, Summer and Silver Street Studios, open their studios to the public.

Chromatics & Desire Sunday, May 12 8 p.m.

White Oak Music Hall – 2915 N. Main St. Chromatics & Desire is performing at White Oak Music Hall with In Mirrors.

Sip & Shop Market Saturday, May 11 Noon – 5 p.m.

Bungalow Heights – 1919 Beall Join Bungalow Heights and local purveyors for our monthly Sip & Shop Martket, held on the second Saturday of each month.

Pile Monday, May 13 8 p.m.

White Oak Music Hall – 2915 N. Main St. Pile is performing at White Oak Music Hall with C.H.E.W. and Overo.

The Pews

Hot Mulligan Wednesday, May 15 6 p.m.

White Oak Music Hall – 2915 N. Main St. Hot Mulligan is performing at White Oak Music Hall.

Skeletonwitch Thursday, May 16 8 p.m.

White Oak Music Hall – 2915 N. Main St. Skeletonwitch is performing at White Oak Music Hall with Soft Kill, Wiegedood, and Portrayal of Guilt.

Sara Van Buskirk Saturday, May 11 7:30 – 10 p.m.

Visionary Heights – 1331 Nich-

Women’s Bible Study Group Monday, May 13 5:30 p.m.

YMCA –1234 W. 34th St. The Women’s Bible Study meets every Monday at the Harriet and Joe Foster YMCA. The study is called The Faithful, which explores crucial moments in the lives of five Old Testament figures--Queen Esther, Gideon, Hosea, Malachi, and Nehemiah.

Guests and new members are welcome to attend this nondenominational Bible study.

Email scripturesharing@earthlink. net for information.

Men’s Scripture Sharing Group Thursday, May 16 7 a.m.

YMCA –1234 W. 34th St. The Men’s Scripture Sharing Group meets every Thursday at the Harriet and Joe Foster YMCA. There will be music, Bible study and fellowship. Guests and new members are welcome to attend this non-denominational Bible

study. Email scripturesharing@ earthlink.net for information.

books will be available in popular categories. All children’s books will be $1, even board books. In addition to a wide selection of books, the sale will also include vinyl LPs, CDs, DVDs, audio books and vintage maps.

St. Stephen’s Event Monday, May 13 10 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Stephen’s UMC – 2003 W. 43rd St. The Gathering Place, a monthly ministry for persons with Alzheimer’s Disease and other types of memory loss, will be held in the fellowship hall of Stephen’s UMC. Guests can enjoy fun activities and lunch, allowing caregivers to take a break, all free of charge. For more information, please contact Monica Holiday with CarePartners Texas at 713682-5995, ext. 206, or call St. Stephen’s at 713-686-8241, or visit www.stsumc.org and the church’s Facebook page.

Theater Lab June – July 1 – 4 p.m.

1613 West 43rd Kids in grades 1st – 6th have the opportunity to participate in Theater Lab summer camp. Prices from $200-225. see website for details www.theaterlabkids.com/ summer-camp or email Theaterlab1.5@gmail.com.

Mother’s Day Heights Mercantile Market Saturday, May 11 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

714 Yale St. Heights Mercantile Mother’s Day market will feature local artists and vendors along the promenade and sidewalks the day before Mother’s Day,

Fun & Games Beer 101 Monday, May 13 6:30 – 8 p.m.

Eureka Heights Brew Co. – 941 W. 18th St. The class will last approximately one hour and will conclude with a pint of beer of your choice and a Q&A with the brewer and a Murray’s Cheese representative.

Sparrow and The Nest Market Saturday, May 11 Noon – 5 p.m.

802 Ralfallen Sparrow and The Nest are hosting a Mother’s Day market featuring, Elaine Bradford art, Ciebo handbags, Stephanie Lienhard soaps, lotions, and scarves, and Montrose Goods.

American Legion Barbecue/ Steak Night Saturday, May 11 Noon American Legion Post 560 – 3720 Alba Come by for the American Legion’s barbecue. Plates will be served from noon until sold out.

There will be brisket, ribs, chicken and sausage served. Steak Night will be at 6 p.m. Friday, May 17.

Dinners include a baked potato and salad. Call 713-864-0757 for information.

Revival Market Sunday, May 12 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Revival Market – 550 Heights Blvd.

Come celebrate mom with the whole family in tow, starting with brunch followed by a stroll around the market. For this event, Revival Market is bringing in their favorite vendors so you can fin dthe perfect gift for mom.

The parking lot will be closed off for the market.

Truth North Saturday, May 11 10 a.m. - Noon True North Exhibit - Heights & 10ths St. Chris Silkwood, co-curator of the True North exhibition, will begin the discussion with an introduction about the Heights Boulevard Sculpture Project. Jeff Forster and Damon Thomas will be discussing both of their largescale sculptures. Both Damon’s “Home Fire� and Jeff’s “North Space Ruin� in the 1800 block of the Heights are the first ceramic sculptures included in this annual outdoor exhibit. Register here: https://www.clayhouston.org/ event-3363348

Mother’s Day Brew Spa Sunday, May 12 12:30 – 3 p.m.

Eureka Heights – 941 W. 18th Join Eureka Heights on Mother’s Day for a special Brew Spa hosted

by Beauty Counter and Connect Massage. Mom can get a free facial and makeover form Beauty Counter. After a quick trip to the bar for a Brutal Women BRUT IPA Mimosa, settle in and relax while Connect Massage works on those shoulders for $1 a minute. Satellite of Pizza will be onsite serving up brick oven style pizza.

Open Mic Night Tuesday, May 14 9 p.m.

Heights Vinyl – 3301 Cline St. This is a free flowing, “tap in,� share the mic event where everyone is welcome.

Big Book Sale Saturday, May 18 10 a.m.

Hogg Middle School – 1100 Merrill St. The Friends of the Houston Public Library will have a large selection of books for sale at bargain prices. All items will be $3 or less. Children and adult

WOB Fish Off/FWP Happy Trails and Hot Dogs

1822 W. 18th • 713-864-1470

Sunday

Wednesday Bible Studies Youth, • Worship (English) .....For 10:00 amChildren - 11:00am Adults ............................

6:15pm • Learning and Hour ...........

11:00am - 12:00pm • Worship (Spanish) .... 12:30 pm - 1:30pm > [O ŕ Ž

Weekly Sunday Services r #JCMF 4UVEZ B N Weekly Sunday Services r .PSOJOH B N

• Bible Study: 9:15 a.m. r &WFOJOH Q N

40404040 Watonga • 713-688-5227 Watonga • 713-688-5227

invite youtotoworship worship with with us!

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Weekly Worship Services Weekly Worship Services9:00 9:00 a.m. a.m.

Sunday School & Bible Classes10:30 10:30 a.m. am Sunday School & Bible Classes Preschool Program • Mon. - Fri. 9-2 p.m.

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ESL Classes Tuesday - Thursday www.gethsemanelutheran.org

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

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Effective Veterinary Care Taking Action to plan ahead, be prepared, and prevent problems is the basis for cost effective healthcare. This Proactive Healthcare is far more beneficial, convenient and affordable than Reactive Care (waiting until an ill pet requires crisis medical management).

Healthcare is also more cost effective if it is not fragmented (ie., services broken up and performed at various facilities). It takes far more Doctor’s time to correctly gather data, analyze and diagnose a patient’s current condition if healthcare (exams, tests, vaccines, vet only prescriptions) comes from various facilities.

Mistakes, miscommunications, and unnecessary repeat of tests are less likely if we Avoid Fragmented Healthcare.

Establishing a current and complete Doctor/Patient relationship with a trusted primary care veterinarian and facility is vital to your pet’s Best Care. Best choices of care can be offered there or referrals properly made to other trusted facilities that serve the best interests of the pet and client.

Always call your Vet if you have any concerns or questions

7151 Fairbanks N. Houston (1 mile North of HWY 290)

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Liberty Kitchen Brunch Sunday, May 12 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Liberty Kitchen – 1050 Studewood St. Liberty Kitchen wants to make Mothers feel special. So for Mother’s Day, all moms who attend their Sunday brunch will receive a complimentary glass of Sangria or Mimosa in addition to enjoying a special 3-course menu designed just for the occasion.

CHURCH Sunday Bible Studies For All Ages ... 9:30am t 8PSTIJQ &OHMJTI

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BN QN Morning Worship ............... 10:45am MANNA t 8PSTIJQ 4QBOJTI

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Experience and Knowledge...

A Powerful Combination

Build a Bouquet Sunday, May 12 Noon – 3 p.m.

Holler Brewing Co. – 2206 Edwards St. Create a custom bouquet, designed and built by you for you mom on Mother’s Day. Each arrangement includes lush, seasonal greens, your choice of filler flowers, and six beautiful roses.

Thursday Night Bingo Thursday, May 16 7 p.m.

SPJST Lodge 88 - 1435 Beall St. Bingo at SPJST Lodge 88 is held every Thursday night. Bingo pads are $5 each. Doors open at 5:15 p.m. Early bird special starts at 7 p.m. with regular bingo games beginning at 7:30 p.m.

St. James Lutheran Church, ELCA

Saturday, May 18 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Woodland Park - 212 Parkview The White Oak Bayou Association will hold its tongue in cheek White Oak Bayou Fish Off Contest, in partnership with the Friends of Woodland Park’s Happy Trails and Hot Dogs Day. Fishing contest is a suggested $5 per family/group donation, or free with a $10 a White Oak Bayou Association annual membership.

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

4215 Watonga Blvd. • 713-681-9365 Houston, TX 77092

t goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway: “we have all made mistakes.� As Alexander Pope so aptly put it: “To err is human, to forgive, divine.� We should remember this the next time we mistake.

Most certainly, we By make Pastora Will Cover must learn from ourArise mistakes, andChurch hopefully not continue Baptist 803 St. Houston TX 77018 to repeat them, butCurtin we should also forgive ourselves. While it can be713-659-9697 hard enough to• www.arisebaptistchurch.org forgive others for their mistakes, it can sometimes feel almost impossible to forgive ourselves.

We sometimes cannot bring ourselves to forgive something This Sunday wemay celebrate Mother’s Day.ourselves Flowwe’ve done, and we punish and harangue ers, cards, and gifts will be given to moms for years, or even decades, over youthful indiscretions.all In across this thistoday brings back addition, somecountry. of us mayFor notsome be able forget the sins of memories a mother whoprevent has passed This our past. And of although that may us fromon. repeating day is special to us because it brings honor to asa them, we must be charitable and forgive ourselves, just person who has sacrificed and given of herself we should forgive others. So, we should make a real effortfor in us.coming She always ourtoneeds wants ahead of the days andput weeks forgiveand the offenses of others Philippians 2 we read to of just someone else asher wellown. as ourInown.

Sometimes, it helps forget about who served us.

His name is Jesus!

He left heaven them; that is, to try to put them out of our mind and stop and all ofmulling its glory come repeatedly over to them.

Onetoofthis the earth reasonsand we die use anphrase awful“forgive death and on the cross.

Philippians 2:7that saysis the forget� is because sometimes “He himi.e., thebyform of a servant.�

Think the onlytook wayupon to forgive, forgetting.

But far better, and more divine, to forgive whileup remembering about it. isToto be able a servant is even to give your own the offense.and So, take we should go of those unforgiving, purpose on theletpurpose of another.

Jevindictive, shameful feelings that aboutGod the had past,for andHim. get over sus fulfilled the purpose He it!came Corrieand ten died Boom, incarceration in a Nazi in who yoursurvived place! What a servant!

Beprison said, “Forgiveness is to set apurpose prisoner you free, can and causecamp He served God the Father’s tohave realize that thelife! prisoner you.� eternal The was Bible tells us, “We love Him

because He first loved us.� The love of Jesus is a

Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn self-sacrificing love. It is like the love of a mother, not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, only better.and Jesus was willing to humble himself you will be forgiven...

and suffer and die not for people who loved him but for His enemies.

DoLuke you love R.S.V. 6:37Jesus because of what He has done for you?

Page 6A • Saturday, May 11, 2019 • The Leader

THE OBITUARIES.

Dogs who eat poop and the owners embarrassed by it could cause her poop to have the residual scent of our rich, human food. Many dogs love to eat cat poop also, which due to a higher protein diet, is appealing to many dogs.

So try to avoid feeding her table scraps and see if that decreases her urge to eat her poo.

Dear Tabby, I have an embarrassing problem. My dog likes to eat poop-her poop as well as that of other dogs. Why does she do this? It’s so gross and disturbing. Please help!

Feasting on Feces in Shepherd Forest

Clean up after your dog If your dog is eating poop in the yard, perhaps it’s time

to get diligent about cleaning up after her to avoid this unsightly habit. While you might not be able to completely nip this habit in the bud, you can certainly reduce her exposure to the tempting turds. Diligently cleaning up, coupled with some new, brain-stretch-

Do you have a question for Tabby? If so, email her at dear tabbyquestions@gmail.com.

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April 25. John proudly served 4 years in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean conflict. He is survived by his daughters, Vicki Sansum and Lori Brown, and his dear friend Emalyn Buchtien.

George is a 4-year-old, Giant Schnauzer/Lab mix who loves to play ball and cuddle. George was adopted out as a puppy, but has since found himself back in a foster home because his family is moving out of the country. But don’t feel too sorry for George. He has handled the transition beautifully and is now ready for his new beginning with a permanent family. Could it be yours? To learn more, go to www.k-9angelsrescue.org.

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Visit to vet might be in order In some cases, eating poop could be a sign that your dog’s health is precarious. Dogs

It’s tasty If you’re feeding your dog too much people food, this

ing toys, might be the equation for putting the kibosh on your dog’s embarrassing habit.

Pet of the Week

Boredom or anxiety Believe it or not, dogs will eat all manner of strange things -- poop included -when they’re bored and also when they’re feeling anxiety.

Separation anxiety can cause dogs to chew, pace and, yes, eat stuff that they shouldn’t.

Try keeping your pet otherwise occupied when you’re away with Kong toys, puzzles and other engaging distractions.

Dear Feasting on Feces, I can certainly understand your concern about your dog eating poop. It’s really gross ... I mean, does your dog kiss her mother with that mouth?

Outrageous!

But, rest easy knowing that what you’re experiencing is rather common and could be caused by several factors:

4

who suffer from diabetes or parasites sometimes eat their own poop, so check in with your vet to rule out anything abnormal.

Linda Kay Zingelmann,

64, born Mar. 27, died on April 27. Linda is survived by her daughter Alicia McQuaig; husband Charlie Kingston; step-daughters Charley (Bree) Clark, Caitlin Kingston, and Kelly Courtney; treasured step-grandchildren Skylar and Oakley Andel and Carter and Cole Courtney; uncle, Delvin Zingelmann; niece Katie Zingelmann; brother-in-law George Kingston and wife Laura.

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The Leader • Saturday, May 11, 2019 • Page 7A

Art Valet: Nonprofit enriching lives of veterans through artful expression Mitch Cohen Art Columnist

A new tenant has moved into Sabine Street Studios that is unlike many of the other artists and groups that are part of the Sawyer Yards studio complex.

Warriors in Art (WIA) is a 1-year-old nonprofit that is providing art instruction to veterans. In fact, the founders of WIA have not found any other nonprofits at all like theirs.

A chance encounter brought together the two visionaries that formed WIA. Michael Reynolds retired from the Marine Corps after 13 years of active duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, and he was injured in combat. He was exposed to art therapy following his injury in Afghanistan and found it integral to his transi-

tional process. Reynolds’ experience with art led him to express his experiences with painting and drawing and inspired his vision for providing art instruction to veterans.

Linda Morales is an Air Force veteran, having spent six years in logistics and the last three in the Military Equal Opportunity program, and currently is an occupational therapist. Morales enjoys creating, including photography, music, painting and drawing.

She wanted to find a space for veteran artists to show their creativity to the community and found that there was none. “Michael and I met and discussed his vision for providing art instruction to veterans as a transitional tool, as well as an opportunity for them to connect with others,� Morales said. “We were both motivated by our experiences and our desire to help other veterans and our community, and WIA was the product of our vision for a positive and lasting legacy.�

Are any of the founders or board members artists?

“Michael is an artist who paints and draws, and you will find his artwork currently on display in our studio (1907 Sabine St., Studio 115),� Morales said. “I take photographs and am also working on re-visiting skills I learned in college in art classes, and hope to have some works ready to display in the near future.�

Is creating art therapeutic? “An activity is therapeutic, by nature, if it is healing,� Morales said. “As an occupational therapist, I understand the idea of engaging in an activity that allows for expression and completion of a product as therapeutic. Our program, however, is not art therapy, but a program that uses art as a means of expression, and as Michael says, is a ‘language equalizer.’ “We are providing a skill that allows veterans to learn and create as well as connect with other veteran artists and to their community,� Morales continued. “We are providing a way for them to tell their story to an audience that wants

to hear it. WIA’s program is a six-month art program with a curriculum that is currently focused on painting and drawing, with future plans to expand to other (media).�

What kind of activities are planned in the Sabine Street space? “We are conducting weekly art classes, with open studio time on Second Saturdays,�

Morales said. “We are also planning our first anniversary and open house on June 1 in the studio space. We will have regular social/networking events once a month to encourage other veterans, veteran artists and community artists to connect.�

Morales is part of the initial program, primarily for feedback as a board member.

She joins five other veterans chosen to take part in the inaugural class. In addition to participating in the Second Saturday Open Studios (1907 Sabine St., Studio 115), find the WIA booth at The Market at Sawyer Yards this Saturday, too. As the students progress,

Linda Morales, left, and Michael Reynolds lead Warriors in Art.

they plan to bring finished veteran art to the market. For now, they’ll have T-shirts, pins and bags with all proceeds going directly to provide art supplies.

Interested veterans can contact Morales at linda. morales@warriorsinart.org or Reynolds at michael.reynolds@warriorsinart.org, or

visit www.warriorsinart.org.

Interested sponsors can support the WIA mission using Zelle or Venmo at donations@warriorsinart.org.

my bill, I found that I didn’t have to overpay for a good lunch, like I do at many new places that pop up in the area.

And underneath the bill was an old library checkout card that past customers had signed. Once again, I smiled at that little detail.

I left happy, and not just because my food was so good, but because everyone who was working there and other customers who were there, just seemed happy to be there.

The only problem is that I think it might be awhile until

I get to try other menu items, because I’ll be going back for that sandwich quite often.

Cohen is an artist and founder of First Saturday Arts Market and The Market at Sawyer Yards. Find him at ArtValet.com.

Review: It’s all good at La Vista 101

By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com

La Vista 101 is charming, from its dĂŠcor to its service and food.

When I walked in for lunch I was greeted happily by the staff and quickly taken to the dining area to choose my own seating. I went for the gray, checkered-cloth booths along the wall.

The menu was in a folder with the word “Confidential� stamped across the front. The lighting above my booth was covered with what looked like a dark red vintage lampshade with pompoms and crystals hanging off the rim.

They were simple, small things that made me smile.

The general atmosphere of the restaurant made it seem like an upscale diner. Upscale because of the menu and dĂŠcor, and diner because of the non-pretentious friendliness of the staff. It was a place you could go when you wanted really good food in a casual setting.

I ordered the Soup ‘N Half a Sandwich. The soup of the day was chicken and mushroom, and the sandwich I chose was the chicken, which came with sun-dried tomatoes, pesto, onion, greens and mozzarella on housemade focaccia bread.

During the time I was waiting for my food – and the rest of my visit – I noticed that my iced tea never quite got below half a glass. Each time I drank to that middle line, a server would be there ready to fill it back up.

When my food arrived I was once again charmed by its presentation. The soup came in a small egg-shaped bowl with the half sandwich on the side.

They were placed on a wooden tray rather than a plate.

I ate the soup first. I sipped the broth and found it to have a pleasant, light tomato basil flavor with tender onions mixed in. The chicken tasted fresh, which I point out because I often stay away from soup because the meat always tastes a little off. Personally, I’m not a fan of mushrooms,

Photo by Zarah Parker The chicken sandwich on housemade focaccia bread and chicken and mushroom soup from La Vista 101.

but I did try one. It wasn’t the taste; I just can’t get over the rubbery texture.

It was easy enough to push the mushrooms to the side and eat the rest of the soup. A few times I set my spoon down so I could try my sandwich only to change my mind and go back to the soup. The tomato basil, onions and chicken melded together deliciously.

When I got to the sandwich I was a little suspect at how overflowing the greens were.

I was quickly turned doubtless from the first bite. The focac-

cia bread had a garlicy spread covering the inside, like garlic bread, that saturated the whole sandwich. That, plus the pesto, made this sandwich heavenly.

Everything inside the sandwich had a hint of garlic and pesto, which created what I’d say is a perfect combination.

While I wasn’t sure the sandwich needed so many greens on top, once I began eating it I saw that there wasn’t nearly as much as I originally thought and I would have been OK with even more.

When it came time to pay

Love for baking spans generations Zarah Parker Managing Editor

I was in Ovid, Idaho, the first time baking intrigued me.

My grandma was the kind of woman who knew the ins and outs of both cooking and baking and had innumerable recipes piled in her kitchen.

It was there in her home that she put a carrot cake in front of me, ignoring my grimace while my own mom ignored my pleading look to save me from having to eat it.

Since no one thought to remember I didn’t like carrot cake, even though I had never tried it, I had to eat it for fear of being rude. To my utter surprise, carrot cake was pretty

good and it was then that I decided I needed to figure this baking thing out.

Back in Texas, I went through a bake-anything-andeverything phase. This included buying random baking cookbooks and baking page by page starting from the first.

Now, you might be thinking I was on the right track to learning by producing burnt cookies, flat cakes and questionable pies, and you’d be half-right. Through this process I found a peanut butter cookie recipe that my family still begs me to make.

But at the same time, I wasn’t really paying attention to what I was doing. I wasn’t necessarily trying to get better. I was just trying to bake at least one thing that tasted exceptional. And I suppose I did,

but for a long time those cookies were the only thing I made that were worth the time.

It wasn’t until I began talking with my grandma about my baking that she set me on the right course. We actually sent letters back and forth to one another, so the mail brought all of our baking correspondence.

At my begging for her advice and recipes, she obliged.

One of the most important things l learned was you need a tried-and-true recipe and one that isn’t going to be too complicated for a new baker.

While I never got the carrot cake recipe from her, she sent me some of her favorite recipes typed out on paper. She even sent me a few dinner options, which much later got me into trying to learn how to

cook.

My love for baking first was passed down from my grandma. I don’t think I would have ever gone through a serial baking phase had I not had that bite of carrot cake in Idaho, but more than that my grandma taught me it’s usually a good idea to look to your elders for advice in the kitchen.

Because of the curiosity and respect she instilled in me for baking, when I enjoy a new dessert I often search out the baker to pester them for a recipe. That’s how I got my favorite banana pudding recipe, which doesn’t require the typical boxed banana pudding from the store.

I am still learning, but I have more than one solid recipe everyone loves. Now it’s more like three.

Food briefs: California sandwich shop secures spot at upcoming M-K-T

By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com

Mendocino Farms is coming to Houston with four locations of its sandwich market concept, according to the company’s website.

One of those locations will be at the upcoming M-K-T development at 600 N. Shepherd Dr. in the Heights, which plans to open in 2020.

The sandwich business originated in 2005 in Los Angeles, California, by husband and wife co-founders Mario Del Pero and Ellen Chen.

Since then the concept has

popped up in neighborhoods all over Southern California.

Mendocino Farms’ mission is to provide fresh food and support the local economy by its partnerships with farmers and food artisans in the regions where it operates.

There isn’t yet a menu available for Houston locations.

California locations feature seasonal selections and classics with a “Mendo style,� like the Chicken MBP (Not Your Typical Mozzarella & Basil), which features shaved chicken breast, fresh mozzarella, marinated red peppers, basil pesto, greens and balsamic glaze

drizzle on ciabatta, plus many more options.

New coffee shop coming to 33 1/3 Luce Avenue Coffee Roasters is opening its second location in Houston at 33 1/3 at Thirtyfourth.

It’s a cafÊ and roastery that will be bringing handcrafted beverages to the neighborhood.

CafĂŠ customers will have the opportunity to watch the on-site coffee-roasting process and ask its staff questions about the process of making coffee.

The menu will include the “Creamericano,� a beverage crafted by house-made sweet cream paired with a bold Americano.

Customers also can grab a Spanish Latte, which was inspired by Vietnamese coffee and is a strong latte sweetened with condensed milk, or a drink off the Lucinnos section of the menu, which was created by blending together sweetened milk with malt cereal and vanilla ice cream.

The beans that Luce roasts will also be available for purchase.

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Page 8A • Saturday, May 11, 2019 • The Leader

THE BOOK SCENE Hogg Middle School selects new principal Your neighborhood Bookstore From Staff Reports

Hogg Middle School’s replacement for outgoing principal Angela Sugarek is coming from within.

According to a Tuesday post on the school’s Facebook page, the school has selected Vanessa Saldana to be its next principal. Sugarek submitted her resignation in March and, after this school year, will move to Pennsylvania to

be chief executive officer of a group of charter schools there.

Saldana is a veteran educator and has spent the last four years at the school as Hogg’s seventh grade principal. “She has a true passion for helping students and teachers learn and grow,� the post read. “She will be a principled and thoughtful leader, and she is absolutely the right person to take Hogg Middle School to the next level.�

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Contributed photo Heather Potts hugs her son, TrĂŠsor.

While TrĂŠsor became an American citizen knowing only a few English words, Potts said he has blossomed.

According to Potts, when asked what he likes about being in the U.S. as part of her family, TrĂŠsor said, “Sports and the love I get.â€?

Being mom to a boy means spending time at the soccer and baseball fields, and Potts enjoys rooting him on from the sidelines. Her son is also an extrovert, which

Potts is still trying to accommodate. “It’s hard to get his social needs met when I’m an introvert,� Potts said. “But I’m learning. It’s very easy to be his mother.�

When a classmate teased TrĂŠsor for not having a dad, Potts said she stewed about it for months until her son gifted her with some wise words: “Mama, I have moved past that. Don’t you think it’s time to do the same?â€? “He’s an old soul,â€? Potts said. “He’s taught me much more than I’ve ever taught him.â€?

Something she is still learning is what it’s like to be a white parent to a black son. Potts said she knows she needs help if TrĂŠsor is to grow up with a strong and healthy sense of self. “It’s constantly on my mind and is my biggest knowledge deficiency,â€? she said. “I put myself under the leadership of black men and women to learn.â€?

This Mother’s Day marks the fourth for mother and son. The next day, May 13, is the third anniversary of TrÊsor stepping off the plane into his new life.

Both will be marked with blissful normality. “He might take me to Subway,� Potts said. “I really just want him to hang up his own clothes.�

Waltrip, from P. 1A All 1,800-plus Waltrip students eat lunch during the same hour this school year, which Niggli said has forced some students to eat outside of a crowded cafeteria.

The principal also has pushed for a second HISD police officer to patrol the campus. Niggli said Waltrip began the school year with two, but HISD reassigned one of them to another school in November.

Niggli said a second officer came to campus during some lunch periods last week. Beginning next school year, Arredondo said HISD plans to have a two officers at Waltrip on a regular basis. “I definitely want to have two officers to start out next school year, and then we can see if the budget would permit maybe a part-time one,� Niggli said.

To be more receptive to community concerns, Niggli also is holding “Coffee with the Principal� events in the school li-

brary. The first two one-hour sessions are scheduled for 9 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Monday.

At the meeting earlier this week, multiple parents complained about not receiving notification from the school or district regarding campus fights. Arredondo said HISD sends automated alerts if there is a verifiable threat and a campus is placed on lockdown, but generally not for student fights.

However, Arredondo said he would relay the parents’ request to the district. “We’re hearing you all,� he said, “and we definitely can go back and talk about that.�

One Waltrip parent asked Niggli about fostering a campus environment where students feel more supported to report bullying and other issues. Another asked administrators to invest more in school programs that promote good behavior and camaraderie, such as the band and athletic

teams, and apply the principles they use to other facets of the school.

Adam Ramirez, in his seventh year as a teacher and coach at Waltrip, asked for more training for staffers assigned to monitor areas around campus. He also asked the administration to examine the root causes of fighting instead of merely reacting to it. “I know from talking to my students and athletes, the morale at Waltrip is the lowest it’s ever been since I’ve been here,�

Ramirez said. “Why is it like that? Those are the type of things we’ve got to figure out. And teacher-wise, morale is low. I’ll be honest. It’s low. “So what do we need to do to pick it up?

If teachers don’t want to be here, the kids are not going to want to be here. It trickles down on everybody.�

Follow Adam Zuvanich on Twitter @AZuvanich.

Helm, from P. 1A tocols, did not guarantee the work would be covered by insurance and “did everything by the book.�

Nonetheless, Michael agreed to waive Helm’s oustanding balance. As part of a contract they both signed Wednesday, Helm cannot pursue compensation for damages he claims the company caused to his dishwasher, wood floors and granite countertops. “For the sake of putting this to rest, I got rid of the bill,�

Michael said. “I’m not going to pursue him any longer and he’s not going to pursue me any longer.�

Readers expressed an outpouring of support for Helm after last week’s story was published. He set up a GoFundMe account, which as of May 1 had raised $120. “I’m going to put it toward fixing the house,� he said. “I need to replce the dishwasher and replace the granite countertops and get the floors restained.�

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Mother, from P. 1A low lawyer in June 2014 made Potts realize she could balance her career and motherhood. She remembers sitting at a stoplight thinking, “This could happen.�

Her sister had adopted three children domestically through the foster care system, so Potts was familiar with that process. Because she was single, a Texas agency turned down Potts. But a talk with an agency employee encouraged Potts to explore other agencies and options.

Potts directed her attention to the U.S. Department of State website, which details countries where American citizens can pursue international adoption and lists each country’s requirements and regulations. Burundi would adopt to a single parent and did not require a long stay in the country as a prerequisite for doing so.

In March 2016, Potts legally became TrÊsor’s mother before she traveled to Africa to bring him to his new home.

She had seen pictures of him and knew from adoption paperwork that he liked soccer and did not like to be in conflict with his friends.

With encouragement from her sister, Potts allowed herself to be open to adopting an older child. “It makes me cry when I think of what I would have missed if I hadn’t,� Potts said.

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