June 8 Section A

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Saturday, June 8, 2019 • Vol. 64 • No. 23

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Demolition proposed for historic homes in Heights

By Betsy Denson betsy@leadernews.com Gilbert Joseph Perez owns Bungalow Revival, a company that does restoration, renovation and interior design of homes, many of which are in protected historic neighborhoods in the Heights. So when he saw an application to demolish three homes in the 1200 block of Yale Street, he was more than a little curious, especially since he was interested in buying one of the houses to use as office space.

“I called my broker and was looking at financing, but the sale was already pending,” Perez said. “A couple

of weeks later I was driving by and saw the demo (application) sign. I was like, ‘Wait a second. Isn’t this a historic block?’ ” The answer is yes according to Dipti Mathur, a planner leader with Houston’s Planning and Development Department. The three structures for which demolition has been proposed are in Houston Heights West, one of three historic districts in the neighborhood.

While members of the mayor-appointed Houston Archaeological and Historical Commission (HAHC) will consider the application at a hearing scheduled for 3 p.m. June 13, Mathur

said the Planning and Development Department provides support for the HAHC. Mathur said homes in the historic district are governed by Chapter 33 of the Houston Code of Ordinances as opposed to Chapter 42, which covers subdivisions, developments and platting. Chapter 33 requirements do not require mailings to nearby neighbors about proposed changes, unlike with Chapter 42.

“The notice is the sign,” said Mathur, who noted that the bar for demolition approval with Chapter 33 See Demolition P. 8A

Domino effect Jason Knebel (713)232-9712

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2019 Photo by Adam Zuvanich From left to right, Robert Miller, David Powell and Lloyd Landry play dominoes Monday at a vacant lot on 33rd Street in Independence Heights. The site has long been a popular gathering place for neighborhood residents.

Voting for our annual Reader’s Choice Awards has been extended through June 14.

So if you haven’t already, now is the time to identify your favorite businesses in a variety of categories and let us know what you think.

On our website, www. theleadernews.com, we’re asking you, our readers, to select everything from the best doctor to the best restaurant; the best pet care to the best real estate agent.

The list won’t be accurate if readers don’t participate.

We also encourage businesses to ask their customers to support them.

Voters are welcome to make copies of the ballot, which was published in the May 4 and June 1 editions, and submit them either by mail, in person or online.

Winners will be revealed in the July 13 issue.

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

Gentrification causing tension in Independence Heights

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com A small group of Independence Heights residents sit together on a vacant neighborhood lot that might as well be a fenced-in porch. They talk like old friends and listen to old music while sipping on tall cans of beer, chewing on snacks and taking occasional puffs of a cigarette or vaping device.

The mood is slightly more serious a few feet away, where three older men talk smack to each other while taking turns slapping dominoes on their table. They pay more attention to the game than the suds sitting in front of them or the people who pop in to the impromptu party to see what’s going on.

It’s the perfect weekday evening to

Photo by Adam Zuvanich Residents play basketball May 21 at Independence Heights Park.

be relaxing outside – sunny and warm but not too hot – and a pair of trees on the property provide plenty of shade.

Even if the weather were unfavorable,

a group that includes Billy the Kid, Cowboy and J-Faye probably would have gathered anyway.

“This is what we do right here. Every day we be here,” said J-Faye, a woman who declined to provide her last name. “Rain, shine, sleet or snow, this corner’s gonna go.”

For years, perhaps decades, the vacant lot on 33rd Street between Rogers Street and Omega Street has been a popular hangout for longtime Independence Heights residents, particularly those of retirement age. Along with daily get-togethers and domino games, it’s where community members host cookouts and fundraisers for their friends.

But their days at the spot could be numbered, because the area immediSee Gentrification P. 8A

How do the area’s public schools stack up against the rest of Texas?

Some are shining, while others entered the summer lagging behind.

Children at Risk, a nonprofit that has ranked Texas public schools for more than a decade, released its 2019 rankings earlier this week. They are based on how well schools support economically disadvantaged students as well as students’ standardized test scores, yearly growth and, in the case of high schools, readiness for college and careers.

Field Elementary in the Heights was the area’s top performer, ranking 22nd among Houston-area elementary schools and 64th in the state with an A+ grade. The campus also was recognized as the Houston area’s top “Gold Ribbon” school for having a high achievement level despite a high population of students living in poverty.

Field, where 71 percent of the 464 students this past year were economically disadvantaged according to Houston ISD, also received high praise in January. The school was nominated by the Texas Education Agency for national Blue Ribbon recognition as an exemplary school.

“All the way around, we’re feeling really good this year,” longtime Field principal John Hendrickson said. “I think it’s well-earned. We have a dedicated faculty and staff here to work with our children.

We also have the support of the PTO and community.”

Oak Forest Elementary also fared well in the Children at Risk rankings with an Agrade. Four other area HISD elementary schools in the area received a grade of Bor better, as did Black Middle School and Hamilton Middle School.

The four public high schools in the area performed poorly according to Children at Risk, which gave a D+ to Heights High School, a D to Scarborough, a D- to Waltrip and an F to Washington.

Three other area schools – Highland Heights Elementary, Smith Elementary and Williams Middle School – also received failing grades from Children at Risk.

According to the nonprofit’s website, See Rankings P. 8A

Le Tour de Oak Forest continues to connect community Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com The idea was to help Oak Forest residents become more familiar with their surroundings and each other.

Lucy Fisher Cain had no idea the neighborhood bike ride she created would become such a well-known, and well-liked, part of the community.

Cain, the first security chair for the Oak Forest Homeowners Association, is the brainchild of “Le Tour de Oak Forest,” the

annual neighborhood bike ride that began in 2013. It since has become a cherished event among residents, who will gather again Saturday morning for a 10-mile ride that covers several corners of the community.

“It turned out to be really successful, which I’m glad,” Cain said. “It turned out to be a family event.”

The sixth Le Tour de Oak Forest – since it started the event has been held every year except 2016 – will begin at 9:30 a.m. at Hope Episcopal Church,

1613 W. 43rd St. The ride ends there as well after meandering through the neighborhood and twice crossing White Oak Bayou.

The cost of the ride, which is open to all ages, is $20 for adults and $10 for children 10 and younger. It is not a race and participants can cut the ride short if they wish.

On hand for the post-event festivities in the church parking lot will be Rita’s Italian Ice, See Bike Ride P. 8A

CURRENT PROPERTY LISTINGS

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Area schools receive mixed reviews from nonprofit Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

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THE PUBLIC. The Leader • Saturday, June 8, 2019 • Page 2A

Man arrested for allegedly shooting at cops in Heights From Staff Reports A man who allegedly led police officers on a chase into the Heights and then fired gunshots at them the night of May 29 was arrested and charged with multiple crimes, according to the Houston Police Department.

HPD said in a news release that Mathew Arron Clements, 30, has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault of a public servant and one count each of felony evading arrest and felon in possession of a weapon in the 182nd State District Court.

No HPD officers were injured and none discharged a weapon during the incident,

police said.

According to HPD, officers responded to alerts of several robberies in the area of Hammerly Boulevard and Bingle Road, encountered a white pickup truck driven by Clements and pursued it. Another male unidentified by HPD exited the truck during the pursuit and surrendered to police.

HPD said Clements continued his attempt to evade officers and led them to the 2700 block of West 18th Street, where he allegedly fired a weapon toward police. He later abandoned the truck in the 100 block of Harris Court and tried to flee on foot but was apprehended by police, according to HPD.

HPD said its investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Anyone with information about the case is encouraged to call HPD at 713-308-8800 or Crime Stoppers at 713-2228477.

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It’s officially hurricane season, which means it’s time for area residents to prepare for potential natural disasters.

Saturday, June 1 marked the official start of the 2019 Atlantic Ocean hurricane season. According to last week’s seasonal outlook released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Prediction Center, anywhere between 9-15 named storms could potentially develop in the Atlantic basin this year. Of those, 4-8 could become hurricanes and 2-4 could strengthen into major hurricanes with winds of 111 mph or higher.

If that forecast holds, it would make for a near-normal season as the average hurricane season produces 12 named storms, six of which become hurricanes, including three major hurricanes.

“The Harris County Of-

fice of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (HCOHSEM) monitors all named storms and activates once a storm enters the Gulf of Mexico,” Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said in a news release. “Our proximity to the coast makes us vulnerable and storms can intensify very quickly. The county, along with our first responders, is working hard to prepare for hurricane season and ask that the community do the same.”

With the season beginning, the HCOHSEM has encouraged residents to stock up on key materials such as first-aid kits, weather radios and batteries, mobile phones and chargers, sleeping bags or blankets, clothing, shoes and personal hygiene items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap and deodorant.

If they anticipate needing help to evacuate, residents are encouraged to sign up

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with the State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry (STEAR) online or call 2-1-1 to register for transportation.

STEAR is a free service available to the elderly, people with access and functional needs, and individuals who do not have any other means of transportation.

Residents can sign up to receive weather and emergency alerts at readyharris. org and closely monitor news reports. Local officials and the county office will provide information about current conditions, evacuations and re-entry. Residents can also follow HCOHSEM on both Facebook and Twitter.

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The Leader • Saturday, June 8, 2019 • Page 3A

THE TOPICS. The Leader • Saturday, June 8, 2019 • Page 4A

School rankings kick the legs out of hard work

A

bout this same time of year, each year in the state of Texas, a group of parents and public education professionals receive a collective kick to the teeth.

It’s too bad, because most of these folks have just spent nine months steering our children through a tough year of school – where criteria for success has changed once again – they feel positive about the growth of those children, and they look forward to a few months of watching their youngsters take a break from the books.

Earlier this week, a group called Children at Risk released its 2019 rankings for schools in most of the big cities across Texas – including, obviously, Houston.

Locally, we always look for our children’s schools to find out where they rank, hoping against hope that all the work parents have done in the classrooms of their children has paid some sort of dividend. Maybe, just maybe, our beloved schools have surged up the rankings, giving us yet another source of pride in our children, and another reason to celebrate the summer months.

You see, for most parents – the ones truly involved in the mental and social growth of their children – the quality of the schools these children attend really matters. Think about it: When a family buys a new

Jonathan McElvy Publisher

home, what’s one of the Top 3 questions?

“How are the schools?”

When mom or dad takes a new job and the transfer means a new zoned school for the child, what’s the first question asked?

“How are the schools?”

Schools are more than just glorified day care centers. They matter to most of us. Their success is personal to us. And the success of the school, only second to the success of our own children, has an enormous psychological impact on the educational expectations of our children.

In fact, in more than two decades of covering education for some sort of media outlet, I’ve never seen a more important issue to parents than the quality of education their children receive.

If you don’t know much about Children at Risk, and how they

calculate the rankings of schools in Houston, I’ll give you a quick primer: If your child is in elementary or middle school, there are three categories (all representing 33 percent of the total) that make up a school’s grade. One third is based on STAAR testing. Another third is based on the achievement of the school compared to other schools with similar poverty levels. And the last third is based on improvements in STAAR testing scores.

If your child is in high school, it’s basically the same criteria, except they all count for a quarter, with the last quarter being how ready your child is for college upon graduation.

We can talk about this methodology all we want, but I want to put in perspective some of the scores we saw from schools in our area (complete scores can be found in our news story that starts on Page 1A).

Field Elementary topped the list of local schools, ranking as the 22nd-best elementary school in all of Houston and receiving an A+ grade. Oak Forest got an A-, while Harvard, Travis and Crockett Elementary got a B+. An 89.9 is an A in my book anyway, and those schools, and their administrators and teachers, should be proud of the sustained achievements of their students.

But as I analyzed these scores,

THE READER.

Making the grad Good morning, graduating class of 2019. Some of you may be wondering what this gathering is all about, since you rarely showed up for class.

Let me explain. Every May or June, graduating students all over the nation put on their black gowns and mortar boards and sweat in the summer heat for three hours while they are given wise words of advice – onward and upward, that sort of thing. Well, if you don’t know the direction by now, it’s too late. So commencement speeches are like being handed a roadmap after you’ve arrived at your destination.

I have been selected to be this year’s commencement speaker for this university due to my brilliance, high grades when I was a student, and the fact that I just donated a new dorm. First, a little background. This is not the class of 2015 four years later. Some of your original classmates died, got expelled, flunked out or just decided a college degree is not all it’s cracked up to be, and enrolled in a community college to study arc welding, which pays better than a teacher anyway. Over the years, the semesters, the classes, you studied enough to get by, or Googled your subject matter and churned out pirated papers and your professors were too lazy to cross check.

Now let’s discuss the current scandal of parents paying bribes to get their stupid kids into a good school. Incidentally, among the so-called “elite” schools involved were Yale, Stanford, Princeton and the University of Texas at Austin.

Three out of four ain’t bad.

If you wonder how you got into this school, ask your curling coach, because you never curled, can’t curl and wonder why the coach is driving a brand-new Lamborghini Aventador. Some parents who were caught buying their kid’s way into college are dreadfully sorry. Mainly they are sorry that they got caught. The parents claim that their children knew nothing about the scandal, but the kids may have wondered about their SAT grade since they never took the SAT. This brings us to the student debt. Recipients of a bachelor’s degree in 2016, the last year such figures are available, who left school with debt, owed an average of $30,301.

All told, Americans owe over $1.56 trillion in student loan debt, spread out among about 45 million borrowers. That’s $521 billion more than the total U.S. credit card debt. So college students and grads have run up a bigger IOU than what is owed to Visa, MasterCard, and all the other credit cards plus what you owe Vito “Knuckles” d’Scorpio to cover your meth bill. This doesn’t even count the 14 percent of parents who took out an average of $35,600 in federal loans to pay for their kid’s tuition.

Some 11.5 percent of student loans are 90 days or more

Lynn Ashby Columnist

delinquent or are in default.

However, there is hope for not repaying your loan. It’s a forgiveness program called Public Service Loan Forgiveness or PSLF. Borrowers who attempted to certify for PSLF: 1,173,420 Borrowers who submitted forgiveness applications: 19,321 Borrowers who were actually granted PSLF: 55 So don’t count on having your loan cancelled. And remember, declaring bankruptcy to erase your loan is not an option. You can’t. There is another possibility. Robert Smith, a wealthy financier, announced recently during graduation ceremonies at Morehouse College that he would repay the student loans taken out by the 396 men in this year’s graduating class. (It’s a historically black, male-only school in Atlanta.) The promise may cost Smith up to $40 million.

See if you can rename your school Morehouse. There is also a plan touted by a number of Democratic presidential candidates to simply make a college education free. For a nation that is $22.3 trillion (that’s 22 million million) in debt, don’t count on it.

But we might all ask, “Why is college so expensive these days?” Over the last quarter century, average tuition rose by 85 percent, adjusting for inflation, while average state spending measured on a per-student basis declined by roughly 5 percent. A college doesn’t make things like a manufacturing company. They don’t buy steel, glass, cloth, so they have no costs to purchase materials. They don’t pay property taxes or most any other tax. They get vast taxdeductible gifts. Something’s fishy.

Now let’s talk about jobs.

No, let’s don’t. Actually, there are jobs out there, but only for bar bouncers, Uber drivers and running for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Jobs are particularly scarce for all of you who majored in philosophy, medieval history or journalism. When job applicants come to me at the Acme Pig Rendering Factory, I first check their resume. If past work experiences include Grand Kleagle, Gestapo officer or soccer hooligan, I pass. Same for leaders of the #MeToo movement. The last thing I need is another sexual harassment suit. I’ve been fined enough. I also check to see if the applicant is a graduate of Trump University. His tuition must have been paid by Mexico in pesos.

Now we get down to a few

I went back five years to the same report listed by Children at Risk. I wasn’t as concerned about yearover-year rankings as I was a longer-term trend. What I found, to be honest, is almost unbelievable.

Let’s start with Stevens Elementary, just a few blocks from The Leader’s office. In 2014 – five years ago – Stevens ranked 577th of all the elementary schools in Houston and received an overall grade of D. In this year’s report, Stevens now ranks 814th with a grade of D-.

Likewise, Love Elementary moved from 600th with a D grade in 2014 to 703rd and the same D grade five years later.

And the one that’s most personal to me, Durham Elementary, ranked 609th with a D grade, and five years later, and thousands of parentalinvolvement hours later, now ranks 617th and jumped all the way to a C- grade this year.

Durham is personal to me because that was my son’s first publicschool encounter as he entered PreK (we moved at the end of the first semester and he started at another school in January).

Beyond my son’s enrollment at Durham, I lived in the Shepherd Park Plaza neighborhood for more than six years, and I spent a lot of time around that school. Six years ago, I reported on the horrible conditions around that school, and

Harrison leaves legacy of inclusion

things you should know before you go. You have been told never to play poker with a guy named Lucky, never eat at a diner called Mom’s and never buy a Rolex from a guy who’s out of breath. Never trust someone who calls you “Dude” or asks if he can borrow your Social Security number for an hour or has an unlisted DNA. We all know the expression, never take a knife to a gunfight. I recommend you avoid gunfights in the first place. Be kind to your parents or they’ll start charging you rent, even if you’re sleeping in their basement because there’s no other place to go. Finally, assuming you do find work, next year another graduating class will be sitting in these very chairs, all thinking the same thing: “When I graduate, how can I take his job?” You have a one-year head start.

Get busy.

Ashby commences at ashby2@comcast.net

Dear Editor: My condolences to the Harrison family in the loss of their beloved. I first met Pastor/Professor David while attending the College of Biblical Studies. His style of teaching was infectious! He ended up being someone I confided in and I was able to call him my friend. Although his passing is difficult, I am happy to know he’s with Jesus now. He is already missed!

Alicia C. Dear Editor: This is really close to my heart … I’m going to miss you so much. I remember when I met pastor David, I was really broken, sad, and felt lost. He was a friend and a teacher, then he became my pastor, then he acted like my father, the father I never had.

He counciled me, he baptized me, and he help me grow, and then he married me. It’s been a week and I haven’t received a text or email from you and that’s when I become sad, but one of the last texts he was telling me it is time for me to venture off. I didn’t understand, but pastor now that you are not here, I think I’m getting what you were telling me ... I miss you, but I have a lot of recording, a lot of emails, and a lot of books that you have given me. I will cherish them forever …… I LOVE YOU PASTOR DAVID. Stephanie Griffie Dear Editor: Pastor David was a true man of God. His love for God and his passionate commitment to sharing the message of hope in Christ Jesus. Pastor David was so kind and humble. When I visited the church, he was so personal. He made it a point to make us feel welcome. It was an such honor to have met him and hear him preach an uncompromising Gospel of Jesus Christ. My sincere condolences to his wife, children,

began to understand what schools like Durham face in order to move up the rankings.

Here’s what I saw in six years of observation: Parents walking their children to school every day and not leaving the school because they wanted to volunteer. Our neighbors, Carrie and Warren, spent every possible hour at the school running the PTA or helping weed the garden.

They knew everything happening in that school, and their investment in time was multiplied over hundreds of times by other parents in the neighborhood.

And you’re telling me that in the past five years, Durham has slid in the Houston elementary school rankings, even though they became an IB school during that time?

Look, I don’t question Children at Risk or its methodology. I’m not one of those people who thinks we should all be winners, and that everybody deserves an A. But I bet a lot of you have had similar experiences to the one I had with our children and their schools.

What matters most is that parents stay involved, regardless of rankings. The longer that happens, and the more we show our faces in our children’s schools, the less we have to worry about what the methodology says.

Email jonathan@mcelvymedia.com Email us your letters: news@theleadernews.com

family and church family.

Daina Ketchum Robinson

City of Houston recycling is not free

Dear Editor: In the May 11 Leader there was an article regarding recycling in Houston. In the article Irma Reyes stated there are no fees for the department’s services, which are covered by taxes. Really no fees, what does she think taxes are? A couple of months ago there was an issue in my neighborhood where recycling was not picked up for several weeks. I reported the missed recycling to 311 and the mayor’s office. I received an email from Irma Reyes, in which she stated, “The City of Houston provides free garbage and recycling collection to the residents of Houston.” I guess the recycle trucks, bins and driver’s salaries were donated by someone. Someone in this department needs to decide if recycling is free are do taxpayers pay for it. This was the second time someone in the waste management department decided I was STUPID. My response to her was garbage and recycling are not free but are paid for by our tax dollars, the city just does not line item them out in any bill. At least NOW she is not saying the services are free. It is very sad what we as taxpayers have working for us.

The missed recycling in my neighborhood was also blamed on Hurricane Harvey. We were informed the green bins had washed away. None of the recycle bins in my neighborhood washed away, so I never understood that explanation. Also, I did not realize that hurricanes were picky about the items they destroyed.

Also, it would be great if the politicians would stop using the word free and replace it with taxpayer funded, whatever they are giving away at the time.

Olton Decuire

the leader Puzzlers.

Answers found in this week’s Classified section

SUDOKU

aCrOss

1. Engine additive 4. Recipe measurement (abbr.)

7. Tooth caregiver 10. Hawaiian dish 11. Retirement account 12. Basketball player Ming 13. Say suddenly 15. Carbon isotope ration (abbr.)

16. Frasier CraneÕs brother 19. Framework over oil well 21. Edible mollusk 23. Handy 24. Japanese banjo 25. Microwave 26. Double-reed instrument 27. Covered 30. Leaseholders 34. Master of business 35. Herb 36. Blood clot 41. Route 45. Reach a higher position 46. American state 47. Erases 50. Expunge

53. Waits around idly 54. Came into 56. Nikolai __, Bolshevik theorist 57. 007Õs creator 59. Dravidian language 60. Central nervous system 61. Male child 62. Born of 63. A period of history 64. A major division of geological time 65. Doctor of Education

dOwn

1. Prods 2. Tempest 3. Miserable 4. Excited 5. Temindung Airport 6. Provides shade from the sun 7. Generators 8. Newspapers 9. Unaccompanied flights 13. Bahrain dinar 14. Romanian currency 17. Between northeast and east 18. London Southend

Airport 20. Cucumber 22. Lovable pig 27. Woman (French) 28. Defensive nuclear weapon 29. Clutch 31. Seventh letter of the Greek alphabet 32. Records electrical activity 33. Car mechanics group 37. Speaking 38. A formal permission 39. Exploiter 40. Affixed 41. External genitals 42. Deity 43. Eat these with soup 44. Swerved 47. Connects two pipes 48. Challenger 49. Ranch (Spanish) 51. Righted 52. Fatty-fleshed fish 55. Prosecutes alleged criminals 58. Swiss river

WORD SCRAMBLE

The Leader • Saturday, June 8, 2019 • Page 5A

THINGS TO DO.

The Arts

Folk Family Revival Saturday, June 8 7 p.m.

The Heights Theater – 339 W. 19th St. Folk Family Revival is performing at The Heights Theater.

Tunes in the Tap Room Tuesday, June 11 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.

Aly & AJ Saturday, June 8 8 p.m.

White Oak Music Hall – 2915 N. Main St. Aly & AJ are performing at White Oak Music Hall.

Devastation On The Nation Sunday, June 9 6 p.m.

White Oak Music Hall – 2915 N. Main St. Devastation On The Nation is performing at White Oak Music Hall with Belphegor and Dark Funeral.

Hexxus Monday, June 10 7 p.m.

White Oak Music Hall – 2915 N. Main St. Hexxus is performing at White Oak Music Hall with Ether.

The Houston Symphony Tuesday, June 11 7:30 p.m.

White Oak Music Hall – 2915 N. Main St. The Houston Symphony presents Resilient Sounds at White Oak Music Hall.

Gary Gulman Thursday, June 13 7 p.m.

White Oak Music Hall – 2915 N. Main St. Gary Gulman is performing at White Oak Music Hall.

Sebadoh Thursday, June 13 7 p.m.

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

The Markets Eleanora’s Market Saturday, June 8 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, June 8 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, June 8 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

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

Heights Morning Market Sunday, June 9 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

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

The Market at Sawyer Yards Saturday, June 8 6 - 10 p.m.

1502 Sawyer St. The Market at Sawyer Yards is a curated open-air market that hosts a mix of artist mediums with a focus on folk art, the maker is the seller, artisan crafts and specialty foods. The market coincides with 2nd Saturday Open Studios. Both are open second Saturdays for summer evenings and days September May. SawyerStreetMarket.com

The Pews Women’s Bible Study Group Monday, June 10 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, June 13 7 a.m.

YMCA –1234 W. 34th St. The Men’s Scripture Sharing Group meets every Thursday at

THE OBITUARIES. Alice Louise Bannister, 71,

born May 17, 1948 in Huntsville, died May 31. Bannister began her career in telecommunications at Southwestern Bell where she spent more than 30 years of her life, starting as a telephone operator at 16. She is survived by her loving husband of 44 years, Wayne, daughter Donya Eaves, Bethany, Bitzy, and Bailey Bannister and two grandchildren.

Barbara Francis Bugaj, 93, born Oct. 10, 1925 in Brenham, died May 26. Bugaj was a devout member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church where she was involved in several groups including the Altar Society, the Altar Guild, and leader of the prayer group. She is survived by her husband of 71 years, Ernest Bugaj.

Fay Nell Fitze, 82, born

counters With Jesus. VBS is free. Call 713-864-1470 to register or for information about the events.

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.

Fun & Games Double Dare-zzz Sunday, June 9 3 p.m.

Eureka Heights Brew Co – 941 W. 18th St. Come hang out at Eureka Heights and play their version of the game Double Dare.

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

St. 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 at St. Stephen’s. 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.

Commonplace Book Workshop Sunday, June 9 100 a.m. – noon Noted – 1901 Lawrence This hands-on workshop will guide you in putting your ideas, notes, and quotes to work for you as you organize, plan, and play with a commonplace book.

Retrouvaille Program Friday-Sunday, June 28-30 Are you married but living a singles lifestyle? Do you feel frustrated or angry in your marriage?

Many find that talking about it only makes it worse. Some couples experience coldness and simply shut down. Retrouvaille has helped 10’s of 1000’s of couples experiencing marital difficulty at all levels. Information about the retreat can be found at www.helpourmarriage.org.

75th D-Day Anniversary Thursday, June 6 6:30 p.m.

Heights World War II Memorial - Heights Blvd. at 11th St. The Lady Washington Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, invite you to join them this Thursday at the Heights World War II Memorial located on Heights Boulevard at 11th Street to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of D-Day. Grateful citizens, veterans, and families of the Heights and surrounding neighborhoods are invited.

St. Ambrose Bazaar Sunday, June 30 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.

St. Ambrose Catholic Church 4213 Mangum Rd. The bazaar will feature a raffle (grand prize 5,000 Visa Gift Card), silent auction, adult games, children games and activities, and of course live entertainment!

Volunteers are needed. Weekly bazaar meetings are Tuesdays at 7 p.m. in room A. Call 713-6863497 for information.

American Legion Coffee & Donuts Friday, June 7 10 a.m. - Noon American Legion Post 560 – 3720 Alba Veterans and the Community are invited for Coffee & Donuts with Commander Tony on National Donut Day at Garden Oaks American Legion Post 560. Enjoy a tour and learn the history of the holiday. Please RSVP 609-5013341.

Lazybrook Baptist Church Events June 2 – Aug. 25 6:30 p.m.

Lazybrook Baptist Church 1822 W. 18th St. Lazybrook Baptist Church is sponsoring the Young Adult Summer Book Club Fellowship, “Welcome to Adulting- Navigating Faith, Friendship, Finances, and the Future� by Jonathan “JP�

Pokluda, which will be at the home of Sean and Vonda Bonte.

They will start with a meal and then have discussion from the book. Vacation Bible School at Lazybrook Baptist Church will be July 8 – 12, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. for kids who have completed Kindergarten - 5th grades. Theme: In the Wild, Amazing En-

Craft Beer Stroll Thursday, June 13 5 – 9 p.m.

19th Street, between Yale and Shepherd Enjoy an evening of Houston’s craft breweries at 19th Street’s Craft Brew Stroll. Sample beers from multiple breweries up and down 19th Street, including; St. Arnold Brewing Company at AG Antiques on West 19th, Astral Brewing at Vanity Salon Houston, Eureka Heights Brew Co at Eclectic Home, Great Heights Brewing Company at Jubilee, Austin Eastciders at Retropolis, Karbach Brewing Co. at Circa Real Estate LLC, Platypus Brewing at The Lift

Ora “Dale� Mae Scott, 78,

June 16, died on May 25. She is survived by her loving husband, Sheldon K. Fitze, and her son and his wife, Barry and Eva Williamson, and her daughter, Danelle Williamson Garcia, and her granddaughters, Kara and Kalyn Garcia, and grandsons, Nathan and Benjamin Campbell, and great-grandson, Grayson Campbell. She is also survived by her step-daughter, Shelley Fitze.

born Sept. 25, died on May. She is survived by her daughters, Diane D. Janczak-Garcia & spouse Luis, Jeanette J. Janczak and spouse Thomas Massey, Karin A. JanczakArthur & spouse Timothy, Sharon A. Janczak-Hewitt & spouse Curtis, and Lisa L. Janczak-Mata & spouse Hector. She is also survived by six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren and a sister Betty R. Scott-Loth.Â

Daniel Michael Twardowski Sr., 79, born Mar.

Dr. Joseph Edward Orlando, 76, born Jan. 5, died on May

14, died on May 28. He was born on March 14, 1940 in Chappell Hill, TX, the son of Joe and Helen Twardowski. He is survived by his sons, Daniel M. Twardowski Jr. and Cris Twardowski.

26, 1963, died May 25. Vega was a Senior Police Officer for the Houston Police Department, Academy Class #129, and proudly served for 31 years. Vega retired from the police force in 2016.

He was an active member of Holy Name Catholic Church. He is survived by his beloved wife, Sandra C. Vega, children Monica Noriega, Joe Vega Jr., Mark Vega, Rosie Vega and Matthew Vega, his mother Bessie Vega, siblings Greg, Sandy and Cindy, and four grandchildren. Visitation will be held Friday, June 7, from 5-8 p.m., with a rosary at 7 p.m. at Pat H. Foley & Co., 1200 W. 34th St. Mass will be Saturday, June 8, at 10 a.m. at Holy Name Catholic Church, 1920 Marion St., Houston 77009.

CHURCH 1822 W. 18th • 713-864-1470

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By Pastor Will Cover Arise Baptist Church t goes without I’ll say it anyway: 803 saying, Curtin but St. Houston TX 77018“we have all made713-659-9697 mistakes.â€? As •Alexander Pope so aptly put it: “To www.arisebaptistchurch.org err is human, to forgive, divine.â€? We should remember this the next time we make a mistake. Most certainly, we uringfrom the our lastmistakes, couple of there been must learn andweeks hopefully nothave continue awful storms all across the United States.

There to repeat them, but we should also forgive ourselves. While have been hundreds of tornadoes that have resulted it can be hard enough to forgive others for their mistakes, it in lives lost and lots of property damage. These storms can sometimes feel and almost impossible to forgive ourselves. come up suddenly cause tremendous problems.

We We sometimes cannot bring ourselves to forgive something all face difficult times in our lives and some more than others.

Thoseand that strong seem be able to endure we’ve done, weare may punish andtoharangue ourselves while others sometimes struggle and fail.indiscretions.

There are many for years, or even decades, over youthful In storms life, both andbe figurative.

Is there addition,insome of usliteral may not able to forget the hope sins ofin the struggles of life, or do you just have to tough it out? our past. And although that may prevent us from repeating In Acts 27 we read about the Apostle Paul as he was being them, we must be forgivetrial ourselves, just as taken to Rome as charitable a prisonerand to stand before Caesar. we should forgive we should make a real effort in While on the trip,others. a giantSo, storm engulfed their ship.

This the coming days weeks forgive the offenses of says othersin storm lasted forand more thantotwo weeks.

The Bible Acts 27:20 that “all hope thatit we should saved was as well as our own.

Sometimes, helps to justbeforget about then hadofno hope survival. them;taken that is,away.� to tryThey to putliterally them out our mindofand stop However, God was not done working through the life of repeatedly mulling over them. One of the reasons we use Paul. He spoke to Paul and told him that all of the people the the phrase “forgive forget�even is because sometimes is on boat wouldand be saved though the boat that would the only way to forgive, i.e., by forgetting.

But far better, and be wrecked and lost. The rest of the chapter talks about morePaul divine, is to with be able forgive whileand remembering how spoke thetomen on even the boat gave them hope.

He offered hope to them He believed what the offense.

So, we should let because go of those unforgiving, God had said.

He knew that about God had to Him, and vindictive, shameful feelings thespoken past, and get over He knew that God always keeps His promises.

At the end it! Corrie ten Boom, who survived incarceration in a Nazi of the day, all of the people on the boat lived and were prison camp said, “Forgiveness is to set a prisoner free, and uninjured. All of the people were encouraged and full of to realize that the prisoner was you.� hope.

I

St. James Lutheran Church, Morning Worship ...............ELCA 10:45am MANNA Sponsor

Thursday Night Bingo Thursday, June 13 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.

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.

HOPE THROUGH STORMS

DIRECTORY

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

BN BN t -FBSOJOH )PVS

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

Bible Studies QN QN For Youth, Children 4QPOTPS Wednesday and Adults............................ 6:15pm 8FTU SE 4U t )PVTUPO 5Y t

Open Mic Night Tuesday, June 11 9 p.m.

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

Joe A. Vega, 55, born July

15. He is survived by his mother, Eula DuBroff; wife of 50 years, Hope Orlando; and son, Jason Orlando; sister Debbie Pape; sister, Connie DuBroff; sister Carol Price; and sisters-in-law Janet Joyce, Bobi Hubbard, and Angie Orlando.Â

St. James Lutheran Church, ELCA

on 19th, and Under the Radar Brewery at Vinal Edge Records.

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

D

This same hope is available to us today. God can and Judge not, andthrough you will beWord. judged; will speak to you Hisnot Holy Youcondemn can believe not, and you will not condemned; forgive, what God says because Godbe always keeps His Word.

I don’t know what your struggle is today but I want you to know and you will be forgiven... that there is hope in the Living God through His Holy Son, Jesus Christ. If you R.S.V. don’t have this hope or are unsure of Luke 6:37 this hope I would love to help you find hope in your storm.

Page 6A • Saturday, June 8, 2019 • The Leader

Are coyotes a threat in our neighborhoods? otes attacking humans is an exceedingly rare occurrence.

According to the Humane Society, “more people are killed by errant golf balls and flying champagne corks each year than bitten by coyotes.” The real risk of coyotes to your family is the safety of your pets. Coyotes are most active at dawn and dusk, so make sure to keep a careful eye on your outdoor cats and small dogs during this time.

Coyotes “habituate” in urban areas Coyotes’ diet consists of rodents, snakes, birds, grass and fruit. One problem with coyotes and humans living in close quarters, is that coyotes are adapting to this new environment by eating from garbage cans and pet food bowls.

Not only does this draw the animals closer to homes, but it also “habituates” the coyotes-or makes them less fearful of humans. And this is a very dangerous thing.

Hazing is encouraged If a coyote gets too accustomed to the sights, sounds

Dear Tabby, I’ve heard reports of some coyote sightings here in Garden Oaks. It never occurred to me that coyotes might be in the middle of the city. I have small children and pets and this really frightens me! Any advice on protecting our pets and ourselves from them?

Guarded about Coyotes in Garden Oaks Dear Guarded, Coyotes are indeed found in urban areas. Mostly due to development, coyotes are increasingly pushed out of their habitats and found living among us in our cities.

The good news is that coy-

and smells of humans, they’ll keep encroaching on property.

The best thing to do if a coyote is coming too close is to “haze” them. Hazing consists of making loud noises, throwing rocks or spraying them with a water hose to make your property as inhospitable as possible.

It’s also advisable to bring in bird feeders and lock your

doggie doors at night to remove any means for hunting or gathering from the coyotes’ game plan. Generally speaking, coyotes are harmless to humans but with a few precautions, you can be sure to keep your pets safe and your property inhospitable to coyotes.

Questions for Tabby? Email her at deartabbyquestions@ gmail.com

We Can All Help Prevent Drug Resistant Germs

Emerging antibiotic resistant germs are a real concern to the human and animal healthcare communities. Yes, we will need better drugs in the future, but at the front line of this never-ending battle, we primarily need responsible people so germ mutations never start. The overuse of antibiotics is dictated by doctors but driven by everyday people. Doctors prescribe unnecessary amounts due to lifestyles that could be improved upon for the benefit of all.

Preventative Medicine helps to Prevent antibiotic overuse, this Prevents drug resistant germs.

Obviously, proper shelter, water, nutrition, hygiene, cleaning, and waste management are key to germ control. Fewer antibiotics are used if good practices are in place.

As for Veterinary Preventative Medicine, we can prevent antibiotic overuse by promoting: 1. Proper Vaccine programs 2. Internal Parasite Control Programs - Heartworms/worms 3. External Parasite Control Programs - Fleas/Ticks & others 4. Dental Care Programs - Both professional and HomeCare These programs would significantly reduce respiratory, intestinal, skin, periodontal, and many other preventable infections veterinarians must treat everyday with antibiotics.

If we are responsibly concerned about antibiotic resistance, then we will take proactive measures to best prevent parasites and disease in the first place.

Pet of the Week Meet Mason This Abyssinian boy was found wandering around a school playground begging for food and love. Luckily for Mason, a volunteer at the cat rescue group swooped in and saved him. He’s now living a life fitting of such an exotic breed in his foster home until his new family finds him. If you love friendly, outgoing, and social (not to mention stunningly handsome) kitties, then Mason is your dude. To learn more, go to www.saveacatrescue.org

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of antibiotics overused.

Always call your Vet if you have any concerns or questions

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The Leader • Saturday, June 8, 2019 • Page 7A

Art Valet: Mayor seeks proposals for arts projects Mitch Cohen Art Columnist

What do you get when you mix art and government?

Words. Lots and lots of words!

I’m referring to grants, proposals and competing for money for projects supported by local and national government institutions.

I go cross-eyed reading some of the verbose calls for art that come across my “desk.� I’m kind of one of those “just do it, ask questions later� artists. When it comes to grants, you really have to have your act together and there is a lot more to it than proper grammar and punctuation. To those of you like me, we have a higher chance of getting arrested than becoming the darling of the City of Houston.

If being the center of attention is your cup of tea, then Houston has a special invitation for you. The city, in a recent news release, invited proposals for local public art

projects that Mayor Sylvester Turner would endorse for potential grant funding by a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) program called “Our Town.�

The federal agency’s grant program is interested in art projects tied to community priorities such as public safety, health, blight and vacancy, environment, job creation, equity, local business development, education, civic participation and/or community cohesion.

The Our Town website plainly states, “The highest ranking official of the local government is required to submit a formal statement of support designating the project as the one of the up to two applications being submitted for the local government.�

The grants are up to $200,000, and artists and organizations who receive the grants must provide matching funds. “As we work to develop our ‘complete city’ with enhancements for every neighborhood, I’m excited about artists and organizations bringing forward their best ideas for this grant

An art project in the Fifth Ward was an Our Town grant recipient last year.

opportunity,� Turner said.

The Our Town program supports projects that create lively, beautiful and resilient places with the arts at their core. The grant embraces the expanding role that culture plays in communities.

Applications guided by the city’s Arts and Cultural Plan will be most competitive for the mayor’s endorsement. The plan’s mission “is to foster an environment in which art and culture flourish for the sharing

and benefit of all residents and visitors.�

Details can be found on the city website under Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs.

Applicants are encouraged to consult the Our Town grant program website. The NEA website has many examples, documents and even webinars to assist in preparing proposals. This is the 10th year for the Our Town program, giving applicants a virtual treasure trove of past successful ex-

Review: Local Foods loaded with good-to-eat, good-for-you options

By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com If Local Foods isn’t the epitome of what the Heights has become, then I don’t know what is. I don’t mean that in a bad way either. It’s colorful and has variety as well as a laidback atmosphere.

Also, it could be described as a place that attracts young professionals.

Along with a spacious patio, there’s a spacious interior that has almost any kind of seating you may want. Want a high booth, circle table, couch-like seating or bar seating? Local Foods has it. The chairs looked comfortable and featured different patterns at each type of table.

When I walked inside Local Foods at about 11:20 a.m. it was already filled with the lunch crowd. I walked up to the counter to order and asked the employee what the most popular menu items were.

He told me the “Crunchyâ€? chicken sandwich and the Seasonal Harvest salad were usually the top choices. Since I hadn’t had a salad as an entrĂŠe in a while, I went with the Seasonal Harvest, which came with mixed greens, market veggies, sprouts, goat cheese,

Photo by Zarah Parker The Seasonal Harvest salad and guava lemonade from Local Foods at 714 Yale St. in the Heights.

seasonal fruit, nuts and herb vinaigrette. For a protein, the employee suggested the chicken.

For a beverage I was intrigued by the seasonal lemonade and decided to try it when I found out it was guava lemonade.

I grabbed my number and went to fill up my cup with the lemonade. For anyone new to this location of Local Foods, the tea, lemonade and water are located in the back corner hidden behind a wall.

Since a lot of the seating was taken by the early lunch crowd, I sat at a high table

that was pushed up against the window facing Yale Street.

I’ve never had guava anything, but the lemonade was good. It was on the sweet side, which I never mind.

It wasn’t long before the salad was placed in front of me.

While the menu didn’t specify exactly what type of veggies were on the salad, it turned out to be alfalfa sprouts, green beans, Brussels sprouts, beets and cauliflower.

The seasonal fruit was watermelon, and the nuts were pecan pieces.

The first thing I appreciated about this salad was that

it wasn’t light on ingredients.

It wasn’t just a load of mixed greens with veggies thrown of top. You could say it was more of a harvest.

The herb vinaigrette had a good taste that balanced with the greens instead of becoming the dominant flavor, which I’ve experienced with other vinaigrettes. I enjoyed the choice of pecans on top and thought the alfalfa sprouts nicely complemented the salad.

However, I found the Brussels sprouts to be on the mushy side. And while I love a good watermelon, the pieces in this salad seemed out of place amongst the flavors of the greens and veggies.

Other than those two, I thought the choice of ingredients were a good combination.

Next time I want to eat healthy, and eat good, I’m going to Local Foods.

Local Foods Address: 714 Yale St. Hours: 10 a.m.–9 p.m. daily Pricing: $11-$15 Kid-friendly: Yes Alcohol: Yes Healthy options: Yes Star of the Show: Seasonal Harvest salad

Vegan restaurant expands hours Photo by Zarah Parker

Zarah Parker

Beet falafel is available at Verdine, a vegan restaruant at 449 W. 19th St. that has expanded its operating hours to include dinner.

Managing Editor

Two months after opening its doors, Verdine is now open for dinner at 449 W. 19th St. For lunch or dinner, restaurant goers can now enjoy vegan meals, such as Verdine’s “Beet Falafel,� which is served with spinach hummus, turmeric-roasted cauliflower, quinoa salad and Israeli salad.

Diners can also grab the “La Table� snack during happy hour. It’s a 100-percent plant-based cheese board with cashew mozzarella, herbed chevre, sharp cheddar and marinated tofu feta.

The new hours are 11 a.m.– 9 p.m. Tuesday–Thursday, 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Friday–Saturday and 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Sunday.

Big Star Bar to remain open A few weeks ago, it was reported that the owner of the property where Big Star Bar resides was going to sell. The bar’s lease was going to end at the end of May, and the plan was to lease month-by-month until the sale of the property was completed.

Two days before Big Star Bar threw its 10th anniversary party on May 25-26, it was announced on its Facebook page

that the bar was able to extend its lease.

CultureMap reported that bar owner Brad Moore was in Houston to finalize details when the property owner told him she no longer wanted to sell and the bar could stay if

Moore wanted it to. Moore said yes.

So, Big Star Bar will remain at 1005 W. 19th St. Fajita Pete’s coming to 43rd Street The fajita delivery chain

Commited. Professional. Knowledgeable.

Fajita Pete’s is set to open its 10th Houston location at 1214 W. 43rd St., Ste. 1000 on Wednesday, June 5.

Fajita Pete’s delivers fajitas and margaritas to-go within a 3-mile radius of the restaurant.

Restaurant goers can also dine in, carry out or choose a catering option.

The new location will be open 11 a.m.–8:30 p.m. Monday–Thursday, 11 a.m.–9 p.m.

Friday–Saturday and noon–8 p.m. Sunday.

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2950 North Loop West, #500, Houston, TX 77092

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

(Between Ella & T.C. Jester)

Rent Online and Iva S. Jarmon, Broker Your Trusted Real Estate Advisor 713-398-3919

amples.

That website link is https:// www.arts.gov/grants-organizations/our-town/grant-program-description.

While browsing the website, I followed a link to “Exploring Our Town� that has categories of past project examples separated by setting, type and location. For my visual personality, the gallery style layout is perfect for finding similar projects. From there, more details on the hows, whys and

outcomes are detailed on an easy-to-read format with photos and more detail than I expected. Consider my opening statement!

Applicants should submit their concepts, with identified artists and partners, no later than June 18 to Cultural.Affairs@houstontx.gov.

Successful applicants will receive the required endorsement letter to include with their final submission to the NEA, which is due Aug. 8.

To learn more about the city’s cultural programs, visit online and follow the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs on Facebook and Instagram @ HoustonMOCA. In other news, Sawyer Yards Second Saturday open studios at Silos, Winter and Silver will open at night, joining The Market at Sawyer Yards this summer for second Saturdays in June, July and August.

Get details, and not too many words, at SawyerYards.com.

THE LEADER

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Page 8A • Saturday, June 8, 2019 • The Leader

Gentrification, from P. 1A ately around it is changing and some of their new neighbors would prefer them to congregate elsewhere. According to multiple people there Monday night as well as two community leaders, police were called to the lot at least once this spring because of reported disturbances.

Tanya Debose, executive director of the Independence Heights Redevelopment Council, said she isn’t sure who called the cops but suspects it was someone with a vested interest in one of the new homes built nearby. The neighborhood has begun to be gentrified within the last few years, which has some longtime residents feeling like unwanted guests in their own homes.

“We have good relationships with the people who are building within our neighborhood,” Debose said. “It’s just those that come in with the mentality of, ‘We bought it, we own it, we can do what we want.’

“No, they’ve got to understand, this community has a plan. We had an identity before you showed your butt up here.”

Independence Heights was incorporated in 1915 as the first African American municipality in Texas before being annexed by the City of Houston in 1929. It has remained predominantly black as well as an affordable place to live.

But as land has changed hands and new homes and developments continue to spring up, property taxes have spiked in recent years. They figure to continue increasing, which is a concern to lifelong Independence Heights resident Henry Paige, the husband of Super Neighborhood Council 13 president Mardie Paige.

“We are fighting trying to keep our independence here and keep the prices down so that the citizens that have been here for a number of years will be able to live,” he said.

The Independence Heights residents who frequent the vacant lot on 33rd Street want to continue congregating there.

Debose and Paige both said those residents have the permission of the property owner.

According to the Harris County Appraisal District, the 6,000 square foot lot has been owned by the estate of Gabriel Rosa since 2008. Its appraisal

value is $150,000.

Lisa Golden, who lives nearby and often hangs out at the spot, said she keeps the grass mowed and that the group is good about keeping the property clean. There is a portable restroom on site, and Golden said everyone typically leaves before 10 p.m.

“If they can sit down in Midtown with a beer garden and drink beer, why can’t we sit up here and drink beer?” said Robert Miller, one of the domino players Monday night. “We don’t hurt nobody or argue with nobody or fight nobody.”

Michelle Ynostrosa, who for about a year has lived in the newly constructed home just east of the vacant lot, agreed that its regular visitors generally keep the space clean and are not bothersome. But she said they get loud at times, especially after drinking, which makes her “feel like I moved in next to a bar.”

“I have mixed feelings about it,” Ynostrosa said. “They were here first.”

Ynostrosa said she suspects the owner of the new home next to hers, which also borders the vacant lot and is on the corner of 33rd and Omega, is having a difficult time selling it. She also said she thinks the owner wants to purchase the vacant lot.

The property owner according to HCAD, Sassafras Construction Company, LLC, did not respond to a voicemail seeking comment. The Shawn Manderscheid Team with KW Metropolitan, which has a forsale sign with a phone number in front of the home, did not answer multiple calls to that number or respond to a text message inquiring about the property. It is listed for $315,000 on the Houston Association of Realtors website.

Ynostrosa said she moved to Independence Heights from the Woodland Heights, where she sold her home after property taxes became too expensive.

So she’s been on both sides of gentrification, which she described as cyclical.

“The neighborhood is changing,” Paige said. “For the good, for the bad, we’re not sure yet.”

Follow Adam Zuvanich on Twitter @AZuvanich.

St. Thomas’ Wolf drafted by Mets From Staff Reports The Major League Baseball dream of a local high school athlete is now one step closer to reality.

St. Thomas High School pitcher Josh Wolf, who recently graduated, was picked Monday in the second round of the MLB first-year player draft, making him the highest selection in the school’s history.

Wolf is the seventh St. Thomas alumnus to be drafted.

Photo from Twitter

He’s also the fourth Eagle to be drafted directly out of high school and the first since Aus-

tin Fairchild was taken by the Kansas City Royals in 2012.

The other previous St. Thomas draftees are Jeff McCurry (Pirates, 1990), Adam Zornes (Padres, 2008), Patrick Leonard (Royals, 2011), Conor Biggio (Astros, 2015) and Cavan Biggio (Blue Jays, 2016), the latter of whom made his MLB debut less than two weeks before Wolf’s selection.

Wolf burst onto the prospect scene during the past two seasons. As a junior in 2018, he

posted a 1.06 ERA and struck out 53 batters in 39 innings.

During an illustrious senior campaign this year, Wolf struck out 126 batters in 69 innings while sporting a 1.52 ERA to help lead St. Thomas to its ninth TAPPS state-tournament appearance in 10 years.

Wolf now has a decision to make regarding his future. He previously signed a letter of intent to play collegiately for Texas A&M.

3,078th state) Love: D (703rd region, 3,501st state) Wainwright: D (745th region, 3,702nd state) Stevens: D- (814th region, 4,045th state) Smith: F (852nd region, 4,249th state) Highland Heights: F (906th region, 4,528th state)

Hogg: C+ (168th region, 950th state) Clifton: D (285th region, 1,696th state) Williams: F (327th region, 2,058th state)

Rankings, from P. 1A its rankings “aim to help parents, educators and community members understand how their schools are performing and spark dialogue on the quality of public education across Texas.”

Below is a complete list of Children at Risk grades for area schools, with their Houston-area and state rankings in parentheses: Children at Risk Grades ELEMENTARY Field: A+ (22nd region, 64th state) Oak Forest: A- (92nd re-

gion, 375th state) Travis: B+ (158th region, 682nd state) Crockett: B+ (165th region, 731st state) Harvard: B+ (168th region, 742nd state) Browning: B- (339th region, 1,653rd state) Helms: C+ (407th region, 1,997th state) Sinclair: C+ (414th region, 2,019th state) Garden Oaks Montessori Magnet: C+ (457th region, 2,280th state) Durham: C- (617th region,

Demolition, from P. 1A is much higher. “There are a number of criteria they have to meet. (The home) has to be beyond repair. Inspectors do site visits.”

HAHC Executive Secretary Margaret Wallace Brown, who also is the interim director of the planning department, said structures are classified as either contributing or non-contributing historic structures and that the city, by design, makes it difficult to demolish a contributing structure.

“We take demolition requests very seriously,” Brown said. “You can always build another structure. But you can never get back (a historic) one.

What we are asking is if there is really no alternative.”

The city guidelines state, among many other criteria, that a demolition request will only be granted if the structure has seriously deteriorated to an unusable state and is beyond reasonable repair, and that it would be an unreasonable economic hardship for

MIDDLE SCHOOL Black: B+ (90th region, 434th state) Hamilton: B (108th region, 563rd state)

HIGH SCHOOL Heights: D+ (148th region, 1,091st state) Scarborough: D (160th region, 1,196th state) Waltrip: D- (175th region, 1,273rd state) Washington: F (198th region, 1,406th state)

Bike Ride, from P. 1A the applicant to make it usable again.

Realtor Robert Wood, who represents the seller of the homes on Yale, said one of the single-story homes has been vacant for 10 years and the other has been vacant for 50 years. He said the two-story structure has been uninhabited for five years.

“They are in terrible condition,” Wood said. “If they were sitting on any other lot, they’d be torn down.”

Rainey Richardson is an interior designer and Heights resident who desires to build single-family homes on the site if the demolition is permitted. She said new homes would need to have the same look and feel as other homes of the time period.

“As a resident of the Heights, I want it to be something that fits as well,” Richardson said.

Perez said he will be surprised if demolition is approved.

the Good Dog Houston food truck and beer from Eureka Heights Brew Co. “The longer the family and children hang out and enjoy the event, the better,” said Martha Mears, a member of the Oak Forest HOA executive board.

Connecting with the community has been a trademark of Le Tour de Oak Forest, which was one of several initiatives Cain came up with to promote neighborhood awareness and camaraderie. After being appointed security chair by then-HOA president Craig Powers in 2012, Cain said she and then-public relations chair Nora Heene also implemented regular happy hours and a movie night in the park.

Amidst concerns about increased crime in the neighborhood, Cain also helped Oak Forest enlist SEAL to enhance security. The bike ride was another way to help combat crime, because

it gave participants a better understanding of the community and brought them closer to their neighbors.

Linda Trombatore, who for the last three years has helped organize the race along with Pam McHenry, said Oak Forest residents who do not participate in the ride have come to appreciate it. And many of them take part in their own ways.

Over the years, Trombatore said community members have come outside to cheer on the riders as they cruise by. Some play music for the riders or offer them refreshments in the form of fruit or cold drinks.

“You meet people on a bike ride and then you run into them at the park or see them somewhere else, and you’re more inclined to stop and talk,” said Rhonda Power, a regular rider. “It does make the neighborhood stronger.”

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