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Inside Today: Heights nutritionist offers healthy tips • 1B
Come In Out Of The Heat!
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Check Out Our Kool Summer Clothes.
Covering the Heights, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest & the neighborhoods of North Houston
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Saturday, July 12, 2014 • Vol. 60 • No. 36
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10570 NW Frwy 713-680-2350
Graffiti draws Oak Forest’s ire By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com
ABOUT US 3500 East T.C. Jester Blvd Suite A (713) 686-8494
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While graffiti on public and abandoned buildings is an eyesore, it’s not an uncommon sight. What was shocking to Oak Forest residents was the appearance of graffiti last Sunday morning on the garage of a newly constructed home on Chantilly, currently for sale. And the words themselves – “Class Warfare” – got many talking on the Oak Forest Homeowners Association Facebook page. Although one referred to the perpetrator as the Oak Forest Guy Fawkes, there was almost unanimous condemnation of the act, even by those who also took the opportunity to share
their opinions about the accumulation of rebuilds in the area and the perceived rise of an elitist culture in the neighborhood. “I can only hope it’s someone who doesn’t actually live in Oak Forest, because it would be embarrassing to learn that neighbors in the same community are sabotaging each other,” Haley Gilliam wrote on the Oak Forest Homeowners Association Facebook page. “Even if no one is living in this house yet, it’s still a home in our community.” Joyce Maniha, of Joyce Homes, Inc. said she cleaned up the graffiti herself but also filed a police report for the incident as well as an See GRAFFITI, P. 4A
test
Photo Con
VOTING ENDS JULY 14 The contest to name to the two best backyards in our area of Houston is almost over. In the two categories (With and Without Pools), more than 3,000 votes have been cast, and we expect a rush in the final days of the contest. For more information, go to our website, www.theleadernews.com. Vote once a day until Monday, July 14, and help two winners get a new TV!
TxDOT plans to replace Yale Street Bridge
Born to fly
THE BRIEF.
Shady Acres concerned about flooding
The Shady Acres Civic Club is concerned about water accumulating near W. 22nd and W. 23rd streets after heavy rain. “We need to figure out which way to make it go – the water has to go somewhere,” said Shady Acres Civic Club president Nancy Wilcox. “The infrastructure has to match the construction that’s coming in.” In recent months, the area has grown due to the addition of town homes and condominiums. Major flooding hasn’t been a concern, but the water has accumulated on driveways, and in some garages. Mike Tallbott, Harris County Flood Control District director said his agency is working with Shady Acres residents to find a solution to the drainage problem. “The Harris County Flood Control District has been contacted by residents about flooding issues in their neighborhood and is conducting research and holding discussions with the City of Houston, which also has jurisdiction in the area. No project or study is currently underway.”
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FIND IT. 1997 JEEP WRANGLER: Hardtop, 6-cylinder. Runs but needs work. One owner. $2,700. 713-582-6130. ESTATE SALE - ARTIST MOVING: July 10 through July 14, 8 a.m. 4406 Donna Bell Lane. Furniture, art, tools, big aquarium and miscellaneous. I WOULD LIKE TO SIT WITH YOUR LOVED ONE: Available 24/7. References. Call Trudy, 713-791-8477. OAK FOREST CANASTA CLUB players needed. Tuesday nights. Call Bill for information, 713205-2972.
THE INDEX. Church
5A
Classifieds
4B
Coupons
6A
Food/Drink/Art Obituaries
7A 5A
Opinion
3A
Public Information Puzzles Sports
2A 4A 4B
Garden Oaks resident Dale Schwartz retired as a commercial airline pilot on July 4 after 29 years and 22,000 miles flying for Continental and United airlines. (Photo by Michael Sudhalter)
Garden Oaks pilot logs last of 27,000 hours flying across globe By Michael Sudhalter
michael@theleadernews.com
When Garden Oaks resident Dale Schwartz was a child, he found an Aviation Dictionary that his father brought home from World War II. He studied it from front to back and made it his lifelong ambition to become a pilot. “I always wanted to fly airplanes – I can’t remember a time when I didn’t want to fly,” Schwartz said. “You see things from a different perspective from 35,000 feet.” Schwartz, 65, flew his final flight on July 4, from Vail, Colo. to Houston, and passengers congratulated him on 29 years as a commercial airline pilot, when the plane landed at Bush Intercontinental Airport. His wife, Frances, and the couple’s two daughters, Stacey and Lindsey, joined him on his final commercial
flight. During that time, Schwartz flew all over the world and logged a total of 22,000 hours (not counting the 5,000 flight hours he accumulated as a corporate pilot in the early 1980s). The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has a mandatory retirement requirement at age 65 for pilots flying commercial planes. In 2007, the FAA increased the age requirement from 60 to 65 – and that gave Schwartz five more years than expected in the friendly skies. “I feel like I could still go a couple more years – I’m healthy and have all of my cognitive abilities,” Schwartz said. Schwartz said he’d still like to be involved in aviation, and is considering working as a flight instructor. “I’ve flown for 35 years on someone else’s schedule, so it will be nice to keep my
Garden Oaks resident Dale Schwartz flew his final commercial flight on July 4. He flew from Vail, Colo. to Houston. (Submitted photo)
own schedule,” Schwartz said. A native of West University, Schwartz graduated from Lamar High in 1968 before studying Aviation at San Jacinto College. Schwartz had several flight certificates when he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and flew F-111s during the mid 1970s at bases in Arizona and New
Mexico, respectively. “The Air Force training was a little more intense because you’re on their schedule, and it’s compacted into a year,” Schwartz said. “I wanted to fly jets, and I thought it would be good experience.” Schwartz said he learned See PILOT P. 4A
The Texas Department of Transportation plans to replace the 83year-old Yale Street Bridge in 2016. TxDOT made some adjustments to the bridge, including the addition of carbon fiber reinforcement under it, over the past few years. The bridge, located just south of I-10 at Yale (and White Oak Bayou) has restricted large trucks from traveling on it, but it needs to be replaced for long term viability, according to Danny Perez, public information officer for TxDOT. The cost of the project is estimated at $3.6 million and construction could begin in early 2016, according to Perez. TxDOT is handling the project, because it involves federal funds. TxDOT will host a public meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 29 to discuss the impact to the bridge, which was listed to the National Register of Historic Places in 2011 (one of approximately 75 on the list in Texas). The meeting will take place at TxDOT’s Houston headquarters, 7600 Washington Ave. Perez said TxDOT will listen to the questions and concerns of residents and business owners in the area and take them into consideration as the construction is planned out. “We’re trying to be pro-active, and address issues if they’re out there,” Perez said. Some neighborhood leaders already have opinions on the project moving forward. “My preference would be to keep the historical bridge, but it looks like we’re going to have to let go of the historic bridge and fight for something that’s going to look historic,” said Mark Williamson, a board member of the Houston Heights Association and the Greater Heights Super Neighborhood Council. Tom Dornbusch of Super NeighSee BRIDGE, P. 4A
Oak Forest resident enjoys publicizing 290 progress By Michael Sudhalter michael@theleadernews.com
Mike Zientek’s neighbors are always interested in his job. “Folks want to know what is going to be built when and what’s it going to look like,” said Zientek, who’s called Oak Forest home for the past seven years. “They want to know why their exit is closed.” Zientek, a public relations specialist for HNTB, an architecture, civil engineering and construction management firm that works closely with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) does his best to answer their questions.
He’ll often refer them to my290. com – a website that he helps keep as up to date as possible. Like most Oak Forest residents, Zientek understands the traffic and construction frustrations, but he enjoys being able to be the bearer of good news. And he’s involved in the neighborhood, often showing up at Oak Forest Homeowners Association meetings as a citizen, not just a transportation spokesperson. “I like Oak Forest because the trees are real big and mature, and it’s close to 290 and 610,” Zientek See ZIENTEK, P. 4A
TxDOT 290/610 updates • Project K: The new ramp from 610 to 290 is now open • Project K: The new ramp from 290 to I-10 should be open later in 2014. Loop 610 North Loop mainlanes and frontage road from TC Jester to Ella, and partial IH 610 West Loop mainlanes will be completed by the end of the year. • Project J-1: The I-10 to 290 ramp is expected to be open by early 2016. • Project J-2 will be completed 2017 (mainlanes of US 290 from W. 34th Street to IH 610.)
Oak Forest resident Mike Zientek works with the public to inform and educate about TXDOT’s U.S. Hwy. 290 Project (Photo by Michael Sudhalter)