August 25, 2018 Section B

The TheLeader Leader• Saturday, • Saturday,August July 28, 25,2018 2018• Page • Page1B 1B

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Summer’s Dog Days Wane, But Animal House Continues the

By Cynthia Lescalleet For The Leader If you own a pet, you’ve likely altered the living space you share to better accommodate them.

This busy intersection of pet and home ownership triggered a bit of residential research by National Association of Realtors, which found more than 60 percent of homeowners surveyed either own or plan to own a pet, and 52 percent of home-and-pet owners have tackled a petfriendly home project.

Top projects? NAR’s “2017 Animal House: Remodeling Impact� report determined adding a fenced yard (23 percent), a pet door (12 percent) and laminate flooring (10

percent) led the list. Other common projects, such as a cat litter closet, animal pool, built-in dish stand, nook for bedding/crate or a pet-washing station, each weighed in at 3 percent or less.

Pet-owning home shoppers, meanwhile, ranked animal-centric amenities a bit differently, with having a pet-washing station higher (19 percent) than a pet door (11 percent). Laminate flooring was also a high priority, at 66 percent, second only to a fenced yard (91 percent).

And what of interiors? Local interior specialists asked about designing with pets in mind say don’t forget the finishes, fabrics and furnishings.

Our pets often have run of the house. And it looks like it!

Pet-loving clients aren’t always aware of the need to select from options that hold up better against the tooth and nail and hair -- and other animal behaviors, notes Kathy Anderson, Eklektik Interiors’ owner and principal designer.

“Design can help mitigate some of it.�

When Anderson begins a pet-friendly project, she likes to know “how clients’ pets behave vs. how clients want them to behave.�

If, for example, the dog likes to lounge on the sofa’s pillow back, replace it with a tight-back sofa, she says.

Just make sure to provide an alternative spot. Similarly, give pets a way to look out the window – without jumping onto the chair -- such as a well-placed and padded bench or ottoman.

When making dÊcor selections, know that even if your pet doesn’t shed (much) or mark territory, if a neighbor’s pet is visiting, there’s a potential source of accidents, she says.

Flooring raises a few challenges and choices, such as porcelain tile and LVT (luxury vinyl tile). Yes, hardwoods can be refinished, but the process is messy, time consuming and expensive. Â For the look with-

out the maintenance, use a substitute, she says.

Meanwhile, hardwood stain choice makes a difference, notes Shannon B. Thompson of Shannon B. Thompson Interiors, who is also a Realtor.

Darker colors show more pet hair than medium tones. And high gloss gets dinged quickly by pet nails, even when they’re clipped.

Rugs are another solution for saving the floors, but it’s best to choose less expensive ones that can be laundered or replaced. And in all cases, get it treated before installing it, Anderson says.

In fabric selections, avoid weaves with a loop, particularly if your pet is feline and even when there’s an official scratching post, she says. A loop is just too tempting (and satisfying) to snag and possibly run.

Also, just because tweed is a sturdy fabric doesn’t make it a good choice for pet homes;

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July showcases large-scale sales According to the latest monthly report from the Houston Association of Realtors (HAR), 8,108 single-family homes sold in July 2018 compared to 7,433 a year earlier – accounting for a 9.1percent increase. On a yearto-date basis, home sales are running 3.4 percent ahead of 2017’s record volume according to the report. In local markets, while Year-to-date sales of homes have dipped slightly (from 1,929 YTD in 2017 to 1,922 through the end of July 2018) from last year, there was also a 6.9 percent jump in homes sold last month compared to July 2017. “Consumers are keeping the Houston housing market one of the most vibrant in the U.S., despite low inventory and concerns about affordability,� said HAR Chair Kenya Burrell-VanWormer with JPMorgan Chase. “Much of that is reflective of a healthy job market that continues to draw new hires to Houston from across the country and around the world.�

According to the report, the single-family home median price in Houston rose nearly six percent to $243,500, and the average price increased 2.4 percent to $305,910. Both represent the highest figures ever for a July according to the HAR report.

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september 19•2018 Photo courtesy of Houston Association of Realtors Homes in the Leader neighborhoods showed strong sales numbers in July according to the latest report from the Houston Association of Realtors.

In local neighborhoods, both average and median prices rose nearly across the board on a year-to-date basis, while monthly YOY prices varied widely.

77018

Fifty-nine homes sold in the Garden Oaks/Oak Forest neighborhoods in July 2018, compared to 51 the previous July, a 15.7 percent increase.

According to HAR’s report, 389 sales have closed on properties in the neighborhoods YTD through the end of July – a 6.9 percent leap identical to our area’s overall rise.

Meanwhile, the average price of a home in the area jumped to $547,576 last month (a 15.6 percent spike from last July’s figure), and median home prices dipped 2.3 per-

cent to $425,000, compared to $435,000 the previous July.

77091

Greater Inwood did not have an extremely busy month, with eight homes coming off the market last month, compared to seven the previous July – a 14.3 percent increase.

Year-to-date, 59 homes have been closed on through the end of July compared to 61 at the same point last year – a slight 3.3 percent dip.

Average home prices in the northernmost portion of the Leader area dropped 5.2 percent – down to $201,750 – while median home prices jumped to $196,500 – a modest 2.3 percent increase yearover-year.

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Page 2B • Saturday, August 25, 2018 • The Leader

Tea + Victory, reconnect & unplug with board games

By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com No more are the days that you hide your nerdy board games in the closet. They’re officially cool to play and Tea + Victory Board Game Café, 2030 E. T.C. Jester, has a grand selection to choose from.

The team behind the board game café are co-owners Vanessa Briceño and Jason Bush, who upon returning to Houston after Briceño finished her master’s in game design in 2015, realized there seemingly was a board game in every city but Houston. After pondering the idea of opening their own board game haven for a year and a half, they made the jump.

They started out doing popups at local breweries with a hundred of their personal board games. Eventually, that number doubled due to how well the pop-ups were attended. But filling up a whole café is more unpredictable. Luckily, they’ve been pleasantly surprised by the outcome.

“We were surprised that it would be consistently busy every weekend. Like, I knew when we opened there would be [interest], but the fact that it’s kept on rolling is kind of neat,” said Bush.

A part of the success is the accessibly of the space.

No dark nerd dungeon to be found, but instead a place anyone would feel comfortable walking into and hanging out.

“When we were designing the space with the help of our designer, it was really important to us that the space feel bright and welcoming,” said Briceño.

On any given Friday or Saturday night, the café is packed.

At times people are waiting for a table to become available. “it’s really nice to get together with your friends and do something that isn’t the same thing you’ve always been doing, which is like meeting at a bar or going to a restaurant,” said Briceño, “One of the comments that we get consistently from customers is how nice it is to come in a see that no one

Photo by Zarah Parker The team behind Tea + Victory at 2030 E. T.C. Jester, Meghan Rega (Partner), Vanessa Briceño and Jason Bush (Co-Owners). The three partners offers a comfortable environment where shop goers can simply stroll on in and hang out to their heart’s content.

is on their phone. Everyone’s talking to each other, making eye contact, and laughing.”

“So, I think there is in society, in general, maybe a recognition that face to face interaction is lacking and it’s finding ways to promote that,” said Briceño.

There are the staple games of childhood like Monopoly, Sorry, and Connect Four, but since the late 90s more are more interesting board games have been released. Everyone has their own taste, but social deduction games are a favorite at Tea + Victory.

“Those are the ones were everyone usually plays a role.

It’s usually a good guy [verses] bad guy role,” said Bush, “So, it’s kind of a mix between a bluffing game and a role game.

For example, Secret Hitler. You have liberals, fascist and Hitler and liberals are trying to find out who the fascists are and kill Hitler. Anyway, it always devolves into hilarity. With a large party of eight it’s just a lot of yelling and screaming, ‘I know you’re a fascist, I know you’re Hitler’.”

Families come in all the time and play the classics like Operation with their kids, but even adults often gravitate toward the game that reminds them of their childhood—and one they already know how to play, like Battleship.

“I will say I am surprised at how much people are not playing Cards Against Humanity…we don’t see it brought out to the table, which is great because there are other games to play,” said Briceño.

For newcomers Bush recommends NMBR 9, which can be taught in five minutes and is easy to learn. It’s a Tetris style puzzle game that’s competitive. Anything that’s quick to pick up, easy to learn, and a lot of fun are good parameters to stay in if you’re just dipping your feet into the board game world.

“We have a copy of Twilight Imperium, which is this huge box and it’s on its fourth edition now,” said Briceño, “It typically takes about 6-8 hours to play, so it’s not really a game that we encourage people to play, but it would just be em-

barrassing not to have it on the shelf.”

Café goers are usually up to try any of the games but reading directions can take a long time and offer only confusion. So, Tea + Victory have trained staff to help recommend games and to teach how to play them.

They offer delicious foods too, from finger foods to fish and chips and kid friendly snacks.

“We want everybody to be welcome and you don’t have to play games. If you want to come camp out with your laptop during the weekday, please come. Or if you want to just come in for lunch, we are a café also, so we definitely want to encourage the neighborhood to use it like that,” said Meghan Rega, a partner in Tea + Victory.

There are multiple boxes of the same games, especially popular ones like Catan and Ticket to Ride, which are both fun and relatively easy. So, grab a game with some friends and put the phone away for a while.

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The Leader • Saturday, August 25, 2018 • Page 3B

Do-Over from P. 1B

Homes from P. 1B

fur will work itself into every woven cranny. You’ll end up with a hairy sofa or chair, she says.  While selecting fabric in the same color as your pets’ fur might seem to be a good way to minimize the appearance of shedding, it does nothing about eliminating it, she says. Your white sofa hides the white fur, but what if a guest is wearing dark slacks?

Slipcovers can protect upholstered pieces, but are expensive and not always easy to launder. Instead, use a washable pet throw. (It’s more stylish than a layer of protective vinyl like grandma

used to protect cherished furniture in the parlor for “company.�)

Window treatments -granted the trend is minimalist today -- do best if there’s no “puddling� to play in, she says. And again, animals like having a view.

All wall paints are not alike when it comes to touching up spots that pets use for a good back rub, Thompson says. While the paint trend is flat finish, a slight sheen (as in eggshell) cleans up more easily.

Do it well or don’t do it at all Pet amenities -- other than a yard -- don’t really

drive home sales, observes Thompson, in Realtor mode.

Be mindful of that when thinking about renovations that overly favor your furry family members, she says.

And it’s very important that any such projects be done extremely well. “A pet element that’s not well executed can detract from the value of the home at resale,� she says.

That said, Thompson’s list of best investments to make in keeping the house pet-friendly -- but humanready -- are scented candles, a good hair removal roller and an animal-grade vacuum cleaner.

22 homes last month, a 22.2 percent increase from the 18 sales in July 2017. Those jumps came despite a sharp rise in average home prices, which jumped 12.5 percent to $282,063. Year-to-date, however, there have been only 125 homes off the market, compared to 153 through the same stretch last year.

Meanwhile, median home prices remained mostly flat YOY, rising only 0.5 percent to $236,697.

77008

The Greater Heights/Timbergrove/Lazybrook neighborhoods were the only local area to showcase a dip in homes sales in July YOY

– only 84 homes came off the market here last month compared to 102 the previous July, a 17.6 percent drop.

Year-to-date sales have also fallen off the pace a bit, with 597 sales in the area compared to 624 through the same stage in 2017.

Along with the dip in sales came a couple of varying pricing trends. Average price for a home here ran $517,678 in July 2018 (down from 535,585 in 2017), while median pricing ran relatively steady with a 0.4 percent rise to $447,000.

77009

Near Northside and the easternmost portion of the

Heights were the third-biggest movers among local neighborhoods in home sales last month, with 62 sales closing last month – a 21.6 percent spike from last July.

On a year-to-date basis, this area has seen the biggest spike, with 13.6 percent more homes sold through this juncture than in 2017.

Along with increased sales, this area’s pricing patterns showcased the most significant positive changes across the board. Per the HAR report, average home price rose 18.1 YOY compared to July 2017, while the $415,000 median price represented an 8.6 percent spike over last year.

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By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com Time never stops, and our world is constantly on the move – and one local real estate agent makes it her goal to ease the burden of buying or selling as people move on to the next stage of their lives, whatever that may be.

Abundant Living Real Estate, Pamela Efferson of Pamela Efferson Properties first invested time in the real estate business shortly after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005. In Katrina’s aftermath, Efferson also became certified as a Seniors Real Estate Specialist, motivated to obtain this additional certification by a personal family member’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis. “I thought ‘All of those people in Louisiana are going to need a place to live, they’re going to need so much help.’ So I signed up at a real estate school on an accelerated program.

And as soon as I received my license, my first transaction was a family from New Orleans,� she said of her initial foray. “Most of my local clients at the time were older homeowners; many had been in their homes for 20 plus years.

I found out there was a level of training specifically geared towards learning how to help our senior citizen community and how to help them navigate through all the work to sell an existing home and find a home.�

A full-time Broker and Top Producer since 2006 Efferson has provided dedication and professionalism to those moving onto a new stage of life, whether it is downsizing or seeking a larger home for a growing family. Efferson works primarily as a listing agent for those in Timbergrove, Lazybrook, Oak Forest, Garden Oaks, Rice Military, and other inner loop neighborhoods. “I got into this business to help people, and it’s evolved into this nice career where I get to help people find and sell homes,� she said. “It’s a challenge every day. There’s always something new to learn – a new personality, change to contracts and disclosures, a unique property

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A former entrepreneur, Efferson takes seriously the responsibility and leadership put upon her in a potentially challenging or trying time for her clients as they prime themselves for change in their lives, ‘Moving is hard and change can be a difficult so I always act as a positive force to guide clients through a sea of potential questions and unknowns . “You need to be the leader. They’re coming to you for your expertise, as they take on a very challenging process...it’s a team effort,� she said. “That camaraderie with the clients putting together a plan to help them be successful [is what I enjoy most].�

Plus, according to Efferson, selling is the easy part; then you have contracts, disclosures, inspections, negotiations over repairs and appraisals – an extremely tedious process for anyone unfamiliar with it. So, she aims to create an environment as stress-free as possible as she guides clients through the process of selling a home. “When you’re a good guide for your client, then the process is easy for them – I’m there to make one of the very hard jobs look like there’s no effort to it. I want the client to enjoy the experience,� she said.

If you’re buying, Efferson will create a free custom search that sends you automatic e-mails of homes that fit a customer’s criteria as soon as they are on the market. For those selling, she will provide a free custom marketing analysis to determine what a home is worth. Efferson also provides all listings with a customized marketing plan, a 24-hour information line, and posts listings on multiple web sites that allow over 1.6 billion buyers viewing access. “I enjoy the challenge, and I enjoy helping people reach the next stage of their lives, it’s a rewarding and fulfilling career.�

Any potential buyers or sellers can contact Pam by email at Pamela@SellingHomesInHouston.com, or by phone at 713-822-8555

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Page 4B • Saturday, August 25, 2018 • The Leader

New principals lead FBMS, Love Elementary into new school year

By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com Earlier this month, The Leader profiled new principals Michael Niggli at Waltrip High School and Sarah McDonald at St. Ambrose. But those are not the only new heads of school in the area.

Rhonda Honore was named the principal at Frank Black Middle School and Melba Heredia Johnson is the new leader at Love Elementary.

Honore said that the reason she wanted to apply for the job at FBMS was because of its previous successes.

“FBMS is an exemplar model of the impact an effective school and community partnership can have on the success of the students and teachers at the school,” she said. “This partnership gives students an amazing middle school experience where academic and social needs are met for every student.”

Honore comes to FBMS from Reynolds Elementary where she was principal, and while she says that there is an obvious difference in the number of students and staff members between the two, there are also commonalities.

“Both levels are different, yet play an important role in a child’s educational journey,” she said. “Elementary school teaches and develops the basic social and foundational academic skills. The middle school builds upon that development by increasing thinking skills and providing a platform for students to take more ownership in their learning and social development.”

Her previous experience includes teaching, and serving as a science content specialist and as a math and science teacher development

Honore

Johnson

specialist. Honore says that she is a coach at heart.

“My previous roles have allowed me to build a skillset of coaching teachers to build their instructional capacity that will improve student outcomes,” said Honore.

“Moving into the leadership role at FBMS, my goal is to continue to increase instructional practices that will lead to increased student achievement. My background experiences will allow me to be the catalyst for continued success at FBMS.” Honore has been praised by colleagues for her ability to improve outcomes for all students, in particular those who come from less affluent backgrounds. She recognizes that as with every school in HISD, there are students who come from all walks of life.

“My theme for the upcoming school year is ‘every kid, every day’,” she said. “This

theme speaks to the work that will be done on campus this year to meet the needs of all of our students no matter their background, socio-economic status, and academic levels.”

She said that FBMS will enhance the current systems in place that address the academic and social needs of students with targeted and intensive interventions, meet the social and emotional needs of all students, provide support and resources for teachers to ensure these goals are met, and partner with all stakeholders for input.

In three years, Honore’s goal is for FBMS to be the premiere middle school in HISD. She wants to have more parents represented in the partnership between the PTO and the school and to create more collaboration with community businesses.

“Greater partnerships equate to greater school success,” Honore said. “We will continue to add on to our extracurricular opportunities for students, and provide more advanced courses for our Vanguard students.

FBMS will build our staff with more highly effective teachers and leaders, [and] provide opportunities where all students experience success. These advancements will increase our student enrollment and campus success.”

Melba Heredia Johnson comes to Love from Sherman Elementary, where she served as principal last year.

An HISD press release said that Heredia Johnson has served HISD for 17 years as a bilingual teacher and professional development specialist in early childhood education.

Since 2013 she has worked at Sherman as assistant prin-

cipal, teacher specialist, and teacher development specialist.

In addition, Heredia Johnson has 30 years of experience as a flamenco and folkloric dancer with the Houston Symphony and Houston Grand Opera. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Houston Baptist University and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction and educational leadership from the University of St. Thomas.

Look for a Q & A with Heredia Johnson in an upcoming edition.

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Page 6B • Saturday, August 25, 2018 • The Leader

Area kids did some great things this summer

By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com Summer vacation wasn’t all lounging by the pool and catching up on summer blockbusters for some local students. And if Mattea Rodgers, Miranda Wilkes or Alyssa Caver are tasked with the obligatory back to school essay, they will have plenty to share.

Mattea Rodgers, an eighth grader at Frank Black Middle School, went to North Carolina to compete in the USATF Hershey National Junior Olympics, which is governed

by USA Track & Field.

To get there, Rodgers excelled in a series of preliminary events. First, she was in the top eight in her area’s association – the Gulf Association in Southeast Texas. Then those top eight went to a regional event in San Antonio.

Only the top five in the region qualify for the USATF National Junior Olympics.

Rodgers explains that there are 16 regions in the United States and Texas is its own region, known for being very competitive.

“That means only the top five athletes in all of Texas can advance,” said Rodgers.

The race she qualified for in the Junior Olympics was the 13-14 Girls 3000 Meter Racewalk, and in North Carolina, she placed 12th nationally.

Racewalking is a long-distance discipline. It is a foot race, but it differs from running because athletes must have one foot in contact with the ground at all times. Common distances vary from 3000 meters up to 62.1 miles. At the Summer Olympics, there is a 12 mile racewalk for men and women and a 31 mile racewalk, just for the men. Both are held as road events.

Racewalking isn’t Rodgers’ only competitive event. She also placed 9th in the Gulf Association in the 1500 meter and 3000 meter runs, just missing out on the Regionals for those events.

Rodgers, and her parents, are understandingly proud of her accomplishments.

“I’ve worked very hard to get where I am, and I tried my

hardest during the race,” said Rodgers. “I train three days a week with my coaches and two days on my own.”

She plans on competing in USATF Cross Country this fall, then track again in the spring and summer so she can qualify for the National Junior Olympics again - and hopefully place even higher.

“I also compete for FBMS in track and cross country, which is a lot of fun,” she said.

Rodgers says that for others interested in the USATF Track world, her club team is open for more youth distance runners and racewalkers. For more information visit www. k-texpresstrackclub.com.

‘First Byte’ at a college major Miranda Wilkes, who lives in Antoine Forest Estates and is a senior at Incarnate Word Academy, participated in the First Bytes Program, a oneweek residential camp program for high school girls at UT Austin.

Wilkes explains that First Bytes is a week-long camp for young girls who are interested in learning about having a career in computer science and what it would be like to major in that branch of the sciences.

Wilkes found out about the program from her school counselor. “[She] has gotten to know me really well over the years and knows that UT Austin is my first choice for college and computer science was something I was interested in learning more about,” said Wilkes.

“She was always on the lookout for coding classes and opportunities for me to explore technology fields.”

Wilkes said that the application process for the camp consisted of a teacher recommendation, a transcript, and a short essay on why she wanted to attend.

“The camp was only for girls who lived in Texas,” she said. “As a junior, it was nice to get a taste of what applying for college would feel like senior year.”

Wilkes said that they were able to learn about different subjects in computer science

Contributed photo Alyssa Caver, appointed by Senator John Cornyn, did her fair share of walking, and learning about our government, during her time as a U.S. Senate Page.

from UT professors, tour tech companies in downtown Austin, and spend time coding a light show to display to parents by the end of the week.

“It was probably one of the best weeks I’ve ever had,” said Wilkes. “Before going to First Bytes I knew computer science was something I was interested in, but I wasn’t 100 percent sure if it was a good fit.

After my week in Austin, I felt that I could see myself doing this for my career. I learned that week that while there may not be a lot of women in STEM, it doesn’t mean it can’t be done.”

A U.S. Senate page Shepherd Park Plaza’s Alyssa Caver is also a senior at Incarnate Word Academy, and this summer she was one of just two students in Texas accepted into the U.S. Senate Page Program in Washington, D.C. A United States Senate Page is a non-partisan federal employee. However, pages are assigned to serve senators of the sponsoring senator’s party.

Appointed and sponsored by

U.S. Senator John Cornyn, Caver said that the application process consisted of filling out the application and completing a 300-500 word essay on why she wanted to be a Senate page. Later, she did a short phone interview in the office conference room during her lunch period.

“I was a page for three weeks that consisted of working from an hour before the Senate convened each day to either 6 p.m. — when I was on early shift — or until the senate adjourned, and often later if completing a particularly lengthy amendment run.”

The page’s daily duties consisted of running papers to various locations throughout the Capital and Senate office buildings, holding doors open for votes, and running amendments and roll call votes throughout the capital.

“Often after a vote, we would receive a large number of amendments to run,” said Caver. [We would also] set up senators’ desks before they would speak [because] each senator had a specific water order and lectern height pref-

Contributed photo Mattea Rodgers competed in the USATF Hershey National Junior Olympics this summer where she placed 12th nationally in her event.

erence. Most of our time not running around the Capital was spent in either the back lobby reading or sitting on the rostrum in order to be available and to watch the senators speak.”

Caver lived in the Daniel Webster Senate Page Residence, known as Webster Hall and named for the man who appointed the first senate page. Caver said it was built specifically for the program, and housed not only the dorms but also the senate page school for pages during the semester-long program.

Highlights of her time in D.C. include listening in on the Senate floor during votes and watching some really exciting speeches in person, which were later broadcast on the news. And, of course, meet-

ing her sponsor, Senator John Cornyn.

“In addition, we were able to brush shoulders with most of, if not all, the senators including some recent presidential candidates,” she said.

“Senator Booker from New Jersey would often ask us for jokes and make an effort to ride in the subway car with us if we were going to lunch.

I was [also] able to attend a bible study with Senator Inhofe from Oklahoma. A small number of the senators would also make a point to talk to us pages, which was always nice.”

One regret was missing Bill Gates, a former house page, who visited.

“He likes to take a picture with pages when he visits,” she said.

The Leader • Saturday, August 25, 2018 • Page 7B

The Classifieds.

Wanting to run a classified ad? CALL 713-686-8494 Monday - Friday. We accept credit cards.

TUTORING

ESTATE SALE

NICE BELLAIRE

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ESTATE SALE

Friday and Saturday 8:00am – 4:00pm

SEll uS your AntiquES FrEE EStAtE ConSultAtion

Kam

EndEavors LLC

Antiques & Collectables Buy - Sell - Estate Sales 713-416-5872 kamendeavorsllc@gmail.com

# 9 Town Oaks Pl. 77401 (Off Newcastle at Bellaire Blvd)

*parking is very limited in this Cul de Sac* Country Pine Sideboard & Cupboard, Wing Back Chairs, Wrought Iron & Glass Dinette Set, Large Quan Yin Garden Statue, Lots of Flower Pots, Grandfather Clock, Sterling Flatware, Waterford Crystal, Limoges and Russian Boxes, Spode “Colonel� China, Housewares, Linens, 3 Old Quilts, Lots of Books, Office Equipment, Ladies Clothing, Designer Purses, Ethnic Jewelry, Real & Costume Jewelry

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FOR RENT

PEST CONTROL

APARTMENTS FOR LEASE

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Free Termite Inspection

FOR SALE

TOP CASH PAID FOR YOUR GUNS: FFL concealed handgun classes.

713-694-4867.

We Buy Guns!

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WE BUY/SELL GUNS: Top cash paid. FFL concealed handgun classes. 713-6944867. (TF)

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CHARMING VENUE FOR YOUR NEXT GATHERING: Houston Heights Woman’s Club’s Historic Bungalow, perfect for small events.

Recitals, luncheons, fundraisers - events up to 100 people. Grand piano, stage, round tables, small catering kitchen. Call Shea Hill, 713449-1850, regarding this Heights landmark. (TF)

are you looking for additional work?

A new Home Services company is opening in the area and we’re looking for quality home repair professionals who are dependable and reliable.

Specifically, we need contractors on a per-job basis. Our company will provide the insurance coverage for the work, the jobs, and set up the job times. You provide the tools, work and dependability. All jobs on paid on a per-job basis with repeat work for the best contractors. Full-time work is a possibility

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FOAM store

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Thanks for reading The Leader.

The Leader is your newspaper.

COMPUTERS

• AT T E N T I O N •

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Cantu Pest Control Services

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Lawn Service • Landscape Drivers Foreman Helpers • Irrigation Tech apply 6:30 am 5608 Hoover

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Penny Millican - Owner

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Bus Driver NeeDeD

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GARAGE SALE - OAK FOREST: Saturday, 9 a.m.-?

4135 Lou Anne Ln. Teenage size girls and boys clothes and shoes, band and scroll saws, etc.

Town & CounTry EsTaTE salEs

the

TIMBERGROVE ESTATE SALE: House full of furniture, decor, vintage items, mink, appliances, and lots of miscellaneous. 2215 Haverhill at Seamist. Thursday-Saturday, Aug. 23-25. 8 a.m.

Don’t miss it!

RETIRED TEACHER OFFERING TUTORING K-8: Flexible hours at your library location. 281-964-9901.

Our Savior Lutheran School, located at 5000 W. Tidwell Rd, is accepting applications for a daily bus driver. The job would require 4 hours per day: two hours every morning and two hours every afternoon. Qualified applicants must possess a commercial (class B) license with passenger endorsement. Interested parties may contact Lance Gerard at 713-290-8277.

Help Wanted for Landscaping Company

WORK WANTED

Insured

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832-890-5453.

        

Interior and exterior minor painting Door install/repair Minor tile and caulking repair Drywall and window repair Appliance repair Gutter cleaning repair TV wall mount installation Fence and gate repair Honey-do lists

If this sounds like a fit for you and if you have experience in any of these areas or other home services, call us at

713.628.1689

Need a little help around the yard? Our Lawn and Garden Guide has just the professionals you want.

LAWN & GARDEN GUIDE Fantastic Tree Service Commercial/Residential Insured/Free Estimates Affordable prices

¡ Tree trimming ¡ Removal ¡ Stump Grinding ¡ Mulching ¡ Sprinkler System

Est. 1987

832-391-1576

012*$/&+!&+$

Residential/Commercial FREE ESTIMATES/Credit Cards

1/""

• Mow • Edge • Blow • Flower Bed Cleaning • Mulching • Tree Trimming, Cutting & Stump Grinding Free Estimates

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& Irrigation Co.

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Page 8B • Saturday, August 25, 2018 • The Leader

PLUMBING

GENERAL HOME IMPROVEMENTS

Daniel’s Plumbing & Drain Experts

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A PLACE FOR MOM has helped over a million families find senior living. Our trusted, local advisors help find solutions to your unique needs at no cost to you. Call 855-741-7459.

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Since 1976

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STATEWIDE ADVERTISING DISCLAIMER: This publication does not warrant nor guarantee the accuracy of any advertisement, nor the quality of the goods or services offered. Readers are cautioned to thoroughly investigate all claims made and to use good judgment and reasonable care when dealing with persons unknown to you.

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The Leader is your newspaper.

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Repair Specialist

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295

$

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20 Yrs. Exp. - 30 Yr. Resident

Painting - Exterior

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thank you for your continued business Free Estimates on Fencing Compare us.

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Cell (281) 221-0637

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w w w. h o u s t o n h e i g h t s r o o f e r s . c om

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you read this, then classified ads work.

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J&D HANDYMAN SERVICE

For Your Home Repair Needs:

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Gilbert 281-948-4879

Martinez Concrete Works

713-680-2019

ALL HOME REPAIR • Termite/Water Repair

Since 1992

Repairs & Remodeling Commercial / Residential • Cabinets 832-661-4491 • Doors 832-896-0743 • Fences

“Insured For Your Protection� Warranted Workmanship

• Commercial • Residential • New Roof • Re-Roof

GOT LEAKS? NEED REPAIR?

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ELECTRICAL SERVICES

ELECTRICAL SERVICES

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WOOD WORKS

¡ Carpentry Repairs ¡ Trim ¡ Siding ¡ Fence ¡ Lawn & Garden ¡ Electrical ¡ Trash Hauling ¡ Pressure Wash

ELECTRICAL SERVICES

ELECTRICAL ď‚Ť Couch SERVICES Cushions

02)-% 2//&).'

Interior/Exterior

Power Wash

Free Estimates

• Sheetrock • Painting • Texturing • Roofing Repair/Replace • Shower/Bath Redo • Tile • Flooring/Carpet • Ceramic Tile • Fence Repair

35 Yrs. Exp. & Leader Advertiser

Cell: 832-584-0725

Call Sam 713-582-5500 713-686-2285

Ramiro Garcia

ROOFING

House Painting • Interior/Exterior • Sheetrock Repairs • Door Reďƒžnishing • Wood Repairs • Pressure Washing

713.206.5965 Frank Montes

Painting

BRAVENEC ELECTRIC

Since 1953 - TECL 19210 Res./Comm. Wiring

281-808-5686

ELECT

HAR BINGER

electric

Lights-Plugs-Breakers Cover all electric needs Licensed-Insured

TEL. 713-721-5490 17823

cc accepted bravenecelectric@gmail.com

ELECTRICIAN All types of new

Electrical Services

Commercial & Residential New Install and Repairs 832-628-2837

wiring and repairs

D&E Electric

TECL 31803

Since 1975 Low Rates

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The Leader • Saturday, August 25, 2018 • Page 9B

ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR Hot wing eating contest 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 24 Eureka Heights Brew Co 941 W. 18th St. Do you have what it takes to chew through the gauntlet of chicken wings for the first ever Eureka Heights Burnout Challenge? Test your taste buds with some of Houston’s hottest sauces from Bravado Spice, Hoppy Heat, and Big Daddy’s Hot Sauces. With your entry, you will receive: two Eureka Heights beers, seven furiously hot wings, and a chance to win a Eureka Heights prize pack. For those not brave enough to take the challenge, come cheer on the contestants while sampling and shopping sauces from all the local vendors.

Texas art car rally 1 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 25 Art Car Museum 140 Heights Blvd.

Come meet Haider Ali, internationally famous and Pakistan’s finest truck artist. He is creating a museum in Pakistan and has one of his masterpiece trucks in the Smithsonian Museum. Meet at the Art Car Museum at 1:00 pm (park your cars on the median due to limited parking) and after a short visit everyone will depart the Museum to have an Art Car Rally/Procession. Destinations will include The Beer Can House, Rothko Chapel, The Bubble, Smithers Park, and The Orange Show.

Cooking class 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 25 A 2nd Cup 1111 E. 11th St. Join A 2nd Cup and local cooks to explore the diversity of Houston’s cuisine.

On August 25 the theme will be American Farm to Table with Skyler Hanka. After that, they have more classes on the menu. On September 22 the theme is Indian with Sowmya Balasubramani, on November 3 is Macedonian with Olivera Jankovska, and on November 17 is Thai with Evelyn Garcia. Be prepared to get your hands dirty, learn new dishes and techniques, and hear more about the upcoming culinary aftercare program. All proceeds directly benefit A 2nd Cup’s culinary aftercare program, Brazen Table.

Open mic night 9 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 28 Heights Vinyl 3301 Cline St. Come get out of your comfort zone with Heights Vinyl’s open mic night. It will be a managed music free-for-all where musicians can jump in and out as mics are passed around to singers. People with positive and collaborator vibes should definitely come out.

First timers are welcome as well as seasoned musicians wanting to try out new material. Any and all type of instruments are welcome as well.

Art Valet: A Harvey Retrospective

We Survived, Changed Mitch Cohen Art Columnist

This time of year I’m generally writing from the road, or my column is missing from these fine pages. I do have plans for a day excursion or two soon but alas, my fall/ winter season of shows starts in just one short week.

Last year at this time we were all watching Hurricane Harvey of which the devastating aftermath is still felt by many. Hardy and Nance Street Studios, in the shadow of downtown Houston, took on water, and this Friday and Saturday the studios will host an art exhibit appropriately titled, We Survived, Changed: A Harvey Retrospective.

The featured artists include: Brandi Untz, Dan Perez, Diana Simonetta, Elena Sandovici, Mortimer Ex, Stäcy Smith and Vince Blasco.

It was Elena Sandovici’s watercolor painting of the City of Houston skyline that graced nearly half the page in the issue that covered the aftermath of Harvey. I bought that painting at the First Saturday Arts Market, a very slow September market. We needed the camaraderie and distraction of “normalcy� from the previous weeks of heartache. I was blessed to escape any personal damage, that

Heights duo brings the heat with cultured hot sauce Zarah Parker

Top Right) Maria Elena Sandovici - Watercolor painted in reaction to Harvey by artist Maria Elena Sandovici, one year ago. Right) Vince Blasco - one of the damaged prints that inspired Blasco to organize We Survived, Changed: A Harvey Retrospective.

certainly doesn’t mean we should forget our neighbors. A portion of all profits will go to the Rebuild Texas Fund, RebuildTX.org, a collaborative project of the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation and the OneStar Foundation. Hardy & Nance Street Studios is located at 902 Hardy St., Houston, TX. 77020 The reception is both Friday and Saturday evening 5 - 10 p.m.

The over 40 artists representing many mediums will have their studios open in conjunction, light refreshments will be served! Â hardyandnancestudios.com.

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

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Managing Editor

Cultured Heat takes hot sauce to the next level by not just making things spicier, but more flavorful. Founders Francesco Conti, the chef, and Mandy Trichell create fermented hot sauce, which give their spice something unique.

For years Conti has worked in the food industry, which led him into working with wild fermentation, a traditional method that encourages the yeast and microorganisms in the air to produce and develop to eat the sugars and ferment the vegetables. “I was doing that, and I really got into it. I thought, ‘I wonder if anyone has ever done this with hot sauce,’ because I enjoy hot sauce but I’m not a big fan of the ton of vinegar that they tend to put into hot sauce because it works great as a preservative,� Conti said.

So, he gave making hot sauce with the fermentation method a try and it created such a great sauce he had to share it with others.

Trichell began taking bottles to her day job as a personal trainer. They received positive feedback and many people telling them they should sell the sauce. “[Conti] was very resistant to the idea of selling,� Trichell said.

Conti defended himself by saying because he’s familiar with the industry he knows how hard it can be to launch a product and create a business. “When we started there was no other known fermented hot sauce commercially available in Texas,� said Trichell.

At the beginning of the year the pair took a goal setting class together where they had to write and share their goals for that year. When Trichell read aloud that one of her goals was to create a hot sauce company, all Conti could do was give a nervous laugh.

Since they already knew what kind of bottles they needed from giving the hot sauce away during Christmas time, they started small by simply buying another box. It sold out on the first day that Trichell took it to her job.

Top Left) Brandi Untz - digital artist and resident artist at Hardy & Nance St. Studios

Photo by Zarah Parker Francesco Conti and Mandy Trichell, founders of Cultured Heat Hot Sauce.

Then as Conti put it, they put the cart before the horse.

Conti was able to give Alison Cook, a lead restaurant critic for the Houston Chronicle, a sample of the hot sauce and she raved about it on social media.

Suddenly they were delivering hot sauce orders around town before they even had branding.

The licenses required to operate a food manufacturing company were acquired, but to be able to sell at farmers markets they would need to produce their product out of a commercial kitchen. Luckily, things fell into place and they’ve been able to use the commercial kitchen at Harold’s Restaurant & Tap Room.

But what makes their hot sauce different than what’s on the shelf at a grocery store? “The thing that makes it really unique is that you really get to taste all of the ingredients that’s in it,� Conti said, “I can’t stand when a hot sauce is so intense that it just burns your mouth and you can’t taste anything. I do have a spicier one, which is the red one, but even that is tamed down because the whole point of it is to add spice to your food but not overwhelm it so that you can’t taste it.�

When other hot sauce producers use vinegar to preserve it, that flavoring gets into the food. By not using vinegar, Cultured Heat’s hot sauce is more food compatible because it accentuates your food and not overwhelms it. “The other thing that happens with the fermentation process it really puts a lot of umami into your food.

[Umami is] the fifth flavor profile,� Conti said.

Traditionally in food there are four flavor profiles, sweet, salty, bitter, and sour. Japa-

nese scientists discovered that a fifth one existed naturally in food that enhances the flavor.

Umami is also known as “savory taste.� “When you ferment food, the way we make the sauce, it has sort of that umami quality to it,� Conti said.

Cultured Heat features three types of hot sauce. The green, which is inspired by salsa verde, contains green jalapeĂąos, serranos, shishitos, chilaca peppers, yellow onions, garlic, fresh cilantro, oregano, and pink Himalayan salt.

The yellow has Caribbean flavors with orange habaneros, caribe chilis, banana peppers, yellow onions, garlic, Caribbean spices, and pink Himalayan salt.

And lastly the spiciest is the red, which contains red habaneros and jalapeĂąos, cherry bomb chilis, fresnos, red and yellow onions, garlic, Szechuan peppercorns, and pink Himalayan salt. “Every batch is going to be a little bit different than the last one because were getting our food from local farmers and just like you get a peach that’s really sour and sometimes you get a peach that’s really sweet, peppers are the same way,â€? Trichell said.

Producing fermented hot sauce is a labor-intensive process, as the team spends hours in the kitchen chopping, blending, hand bottling, and hand labeling. It takes a lot to create a small batch handmade product.

For your own bottle of hot sauce, you can catch Cultured Heat at Eleanora’s Market and Blue Field Market on Saturday and Heights Morning Market on Sunday. Or stop

by The Height Grocer at 4525 N. Main Street where you can buy a bottle.

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Page 10B • Saturday, August 25, 2018 • The Leader

our Labor day SaLe endS September 8