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Saturday, November 14, 2015 • Vol. 60 • No. 54

Everyday Challenges

Voting by the Numbers

With National Diabetes Awareness Month underway, we sat down with a few residents who deal with the challenges of diabetes every day.

See how people voted in your community with our in-depth breakdown of the 2015 elections.

About Us 3500 East T.C. Jester Blvd Suite A (713) 686-8494 news@theleadernews.com www.theleadernews.com Facebook/THE LEADER.

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Zoned In

Little Thicket annexation approved by city officials By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com

Ê , < 832.419.9969

INSIDE.

Heights Central A new health facility will be calling the Heights area home in the coming year and will offer 15,000 square feet of space for medical offices and physicians. Read about the new plans for Heights Central in this month’s edition of Our Health.

Photo by Betsy Denson (Above) While Stevens Elementary school principal Jennifer Barrientez looks forward to having an influx of parent support along with an increased enrollment, she is going to have to get creative with her existing space to accommodate more students (Left) The proposed rezoning would remove a sizeable portion of Katherine Smith’s current school zone, in turn alleviating an ongoing overcrowding issue there.

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INSIDE.

Area schools, parents face challenges with rezoning Walking for MS Last weekend marked the annual Walk MS: Houston event, attracting people from across the region to help raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to help raise awareness for multiple sclerosis. Turn to Our Health to find out about how one woman participated in honor of her uncle.

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INSIDE.

By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com When the HISD Board of Education voted 5-4 last spring against adjusting neighborhood attendance boundaries at certain elementary schools, including Katherine Smith, Stevens, Sinclair, Love, Memorial, Crockett, Travis and Harvard, HISD Board President Rhonda Skillern-Jones resolved to revisit the matter again. “There are communities that did want their lines adjusted to level out enrollment for the greater good,” said SkillernJones, who told The Leader last May that Katherine Smith Elementary was overenrolled by 100 children, with even more from the school zone who have been turned away. “The [current] effort was driven by the community and principals were included in the process.” The new plan on the table will go to a vote on Nov. 12. The proposal shifts the boundaries for Katherine Smith, Wainwright, Stevens and Highland Heights. Part of Katherine Smith’s zone would shift to Stevens, Wainwright and

Highland Heights. Stevens also picks up a little of Wainwright’s existing school zone and Katherine Smith takes a small portion back from Wainwright. Residents of one neighborhood – Candlelight Estates – have been vocal about wanting a zone shift. The portion of the neighborhood west of Rosslyn Road is currently split between Stevens and Katherine Smith. Jennie Sciba, who lives in Section 1 of Candlelight Estates, has been talking to Skillern-Jones about having her neighborhood rezoned for Stevens Elementary for the past year. “I wanted [Skillern-Jones] to know that she had our support,” said Sciba in May. While the rezoning, if approved, would alleviate the problems at Katherine Smith, it is not without its issues. Stevens Elementary’s Jennifer Barrientez said that while the district will fund any extra teachers who are needed, she’s responsible for coming up with classroom space for the estimated 65 kids who will eventually be added to her See Zoning P. 7A

The news that city council approved the annexation by the Memorial Heights Redevelopment Authority and Tax Increment Reinvestment of 18th through 21st streets from TC Jester to Shepherd, as well as Durham and Shepherd Drive from I-10 to I-610, along with nearby areas including Little Thicket Park, was most welcome to former Shady Acres Civic Club President Nancy Wilcox. “We will be able to do a massive plan,” she said. “With all the active young families who bike and run, there is a need for green space.” Wilcox notes that with all the vertical development in the area, the green spaces that exist are “everybody’s backyard.” With the upcoming groundbreaking of Wright-Bembry Park on W. 23rd St., people in the area will have a new and improved place to get outdoors. Wilcox said that there is a need for different kinds of park space in the area and that Little Thicket Park could be a less manicured option for residents. “There could be an upgrade to the [Little Thicket] play park but we don’t need anything major because WrightBembry is getting ready to open so we’ve got a formal play area,” Wilcox said. “With Little Thicket Park, we could enhance it but leave it natural. It would be more of a conservation effort.” She notes that many people have expressed a desire for trails from the park that lead to White Oak Bayou. Others want a dog park at Little Thicket, but with no parking and not a lot of space to work with, that may be See Annexation, P. 2A

Photo by Betsy Denson Former SACC President Nancy Wilcox said that the approval of the TIRZ annexation opens the door to creating a master plan in the area.

Heights school carries on tradition of helping challenged youth By Jonathan Garris jgarris@theleadernews.com

The Stevens SPARK Park nears completion

Find it on 4B

The INDEX. Church

5B

Classifieds

7B

Coupons

8A

Food/Drink/Art Obituaries

9B 10B

Opinion

4A

Public Information Puzzles

2A 4A

Jeanette Salinas says the inside of Resurrection Church in the Heights is perfect for her students. Here, there is very little noise throughout the week, and for those attending the relatively new Journey School of Houston, that’s a good thing for children who may have social and emotional developemental issues. “We have absolutely loved our space here,” Salinas said. “The church has been great for us and we really feel like we can grow here.” Salinas formerly served as the education director at New School of the Heights. After the school closed several months ago, however, Journey started up after Labor Day to serve the same type of student – from 5 years old up until eighth grade – those who

are performing well academically but who might need help or more time to develop when it comes to dealing with social situations or handling their emotions. “What typically happens in their school life is they get to a point where their social and emotional development doesn’t keep up,” Salinas said. “Traditionally, that will start to overpower what teachers see in the classroom and they are usually yanked out of any sort of advanced achievement class they might be in or have a chance to be in.” Salnias, along with two other teachers, work with students and parents to identify ways to help students identify their own feelings and rise above them while meeting their needs academically. Salinas stresses the students here are bright, but anxiety issues or even trauma can create issues in See School, P. 9A

Photo by Jonathan Garris Officials with the Journey School of Houston hope to continue with a mission not unlike that of the former New School of the Heights by working with students who may have high academic achievements, but might struggle with complex emotions or social situations.

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The public. Saturday, November 14, 2015 • Page 2A

Police Reports • Nov. 1 - Nov. 5 NOV. 1 Theft 9:16 AM 1300-1399 W 11TH Theft 8:57 AM 2500-2599 SUMMER Theft 9:15 AM 0-99 WAUGH Burglary 11:36 PM 1200-1299 W 43RD Assault 9:14 PM 1300-1399 N LOOP Theft 5 PM 800-899 FISHER Theft 7 AM 1300-1399 CROSSTIMBERS Theft 5:30 PM 2800-2899 W T C JESTER Burglary 2:56 PM 400-499 OXFORD Robbery 11:47 AM 5400-5499 WASHINGTON Theft 3:12 PM 4300-4399 ELLA

LAWRENCE Burglary 1:00 PM 4200-4299 SCHULER Robbery 3:36 AM 1000-1099 HARVARD Burglary 6:28 AM 1800-1899 NORTHWOOD Theft 7:59 AM 2900-2999 WHITE OAK Theft 6:15 AM 4100-4199 N SHEPHERD Theft 8:51 AM 700-799 E CROSSTIMBERS Burglary 11:38 AM 100-199 E 27TH Theft 1:40 AM 200-299 S HEIGHTS BLVD Theft 7:16 PM 200-299 W 30TH Theft 4:55 AM 800-899 E 25TH Theft 11 AM 0-99 E CROSSTIMBERS Theft 11 AM 200-299 T C JESTER Theft 2:15 PM 0-99 WAUGH

NOV. 2 Burglary 3 AM 500-599 W 27TH Theft 6:44 AM 1100-1199

Theft 12 PM 3000-3099 N LOOP W Theft 12:48 PM 400-499 S HEIGHTS BLVD NOV. 3 Theft 5 PM 2300-2399 N SHEPHERD Theft 1 PM 400-499 W 23RD Theft 1:30 PM 1200-1299 W 20TH Theft 7:01 PM 3900-3999 WASHINGTON Theft 5 PM 1200-1299 CHESHIRE Theft 3 PM 3000-3099 N LOOP W Assault 7:07 AM 10300-10399 HEMPSTEAD Theft 9:13 AM 1800-1899 HEIGHTS BLVD Burglary 5:01 AM 500-599 E 23RD Theft 5:35 AM 900-999 N LOOP

W Assault 1:39 AM 800-899 LOUISE Theft 7:59 AM 4800-4899 YALE Theft 1:30 AM 3700-3799 CENTER Theft 12 PM 500-599 NORTHWEST MALL NOV. 4 Theft 1 PM 1000-1099 E 27TH Theft 7:30 AM 900-999 STUDEMONT Theft 10:25 AM 4700-4799 DICKSON Theft 1:41 PM 1900-1999 JOHNSON Theft 11:10 PM 2300-2399 W 18TH Theft 7:30 AM 300-399 W 19TH Theft 8 AM 2500-2599 CENTER Theft 1:30 PM 2300-2399 N SHEPHERD Theft 6:16 AM 1500-1599 N

LOOP W Theft 9:57 AM 1600-1699 SHEPHERD Theft 6 AM 3200-3299 MANGUM Theft 8:34 AM 4800-4899 W 34TH Burglary 3 AM 200-299 HEIGHTS BLVD NOV. 5 Burglary 6:06 AM 400-499 E 28TH Assault 10:41 AM 200-299 E 37TH Theft 8:31 AM 1100-1199 W 19TH Theft 9:41 AM 700-799 WORTHSHIRE Theft 5:34 AM 100-199 YALE Burglary 5:26 AM 2100-2199 TANNEHILL

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Photo by Jonathan Garris One person was taken to Ben Taub General Hospital following the attempted robbery of an armored vehicle at the Bank of America in the 5200 block of North Shepherd Nov. 6. According to FBI officials and Leader news partner KHOU, a guard with a Loomis armored truck left the Bank of America at around 3 p.m. A robber, armed with a rifle, walked out from the side of the bank and began firing at the guard. The guard was shot but managed to get into his vehicle and return fire. The robber fled the scene without any money in a blue Honda vehicle with others inside of it. The guard was rushed to Ben Taub Hospital.

Precinct One: Deputies seek robbery suspect Garden Oaks

patrol contract recognized the suspect in the photo and used that information to locate the vehicle and file charges.

• On Wednesday, Nov. 4, a car stolen in an Oct. 16 robbery in the 700 block of West 43rd Street was recovered and the robbery victim identified the robber from photos. Deputies are working to arrest the robber on a warrant. In the robbery, the suspect held a Garden Oaks resident at gunpoint and stole the vehicle after a brief struggle. A witness followed the suspect and took a photo of him. On Oct. 18, deputies assigned to the Garden Oaks

Heights • Around 11 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, 2015, deputies were dispatched to a meet with a man who said the tailgate of his truck had been stolen two to four hours earlier in the 400 block of Cortlandt Street. The thief or thieves had tried unsuccessfully to enter the truck cab. No suspect infor-

mation was available and a report was referred to HPD for investigation. • Deputies responded on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2015, when a juvenile was seen taking packages from the front porches of homes around the 600 block of E 8th ½ Street. They found the juvenile, who was identified as the culprit by several witnesses. He admitted using a stolen bicycle and provided information that allowed the deputies to recover the stolen packages, which were returned to their

“We are looking forward to working with Council Member Cohen and the annexed neigh-

destinations. The juvenile was cited for several violations and released to the custody of his parents pending action by juvenile court.

Please report any suspicious activity to local law enforcement.

Annexation from P. 1A more problematic. TIRZ #5 Board Chair Ann Lents is also excited about the approval and ready to move forward. Lents said that Councilmembers Ellen Cohen and Ed Gonzalez both spoke in favor of the annexation and that Nancy Wilcox was “very effective� when she spoke to Council earlier in the process. Lents said that the planning starts now for projects in the area but that the “intense planning� will happen next spring in advance of city, and TIRZ, budget meetings. “We’ll begin to identify what projects should be on the Capital Improvement Plan,� she said, noting that first the final costs for existing TIRZ projects need to be nailed down. With regard to Little Thicket Park, Lents said she needs to go look at the physical space and also visit a civic club meeting to gather input. Lents said the idea of more trails is one that has great appeal. “Connectivity is a great interest of ours,� she said. “We’ll try and come up with a plan everybody would like. It’s best done with solid input.� She said that people from the annexed area came to this week’s TIRZ meeting and invites others to join the public meetings too. The email contact to be put on the TIRZ 5 email list is demiany@sklaw. us.

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Spotlight: National Museum of Funeral History offers different views of burial culture, heritage By Jonathan Garris jgarris@theleadernews.com

Tucked away just off of Interstate 45 on Barren Springs Drive is a gateway into the history and rituals associated with funeral services – while it may sound a bit morbid, this decades old museum focuses on the funeral services industry but also the cultural rituals surrounding the celebration and mourning of all things end-of-lifetime. The National Museum of Funeral History, located at 415 Barren Springs Dr., has been part of Houston since 1992 and current president Genevive Keeney has served with the museum since 2007. Originally designed to capture the history of the funeral industry and how it evolved, Keeney said the museum is more than a collection of hearses or a look back at how coffins have changed and said it highlights the importance of caring for the dead. “We have to be able to care for our dead, not only for closure, but also to keep disease in check and keep the world clean,” Keeney said. “It’s a necessity but a lot of people I don’t think realize how much work goes into that and how it’s changed over the years.” Among some of the permanent exhibits includes a chronicle of the history of embalming, Presidential funerals throughout US history, 19th century mourning customs and international exhibits like extravagant “fantasy coffins” from Ghana and an exhibit showcasing Japanese funerals and Dios De Los Muertos customs. As part of its seasonal exhibits, the museum recently highlighted myths surrounding graveyards, showcasing the iconography and techniques behind caring for graves, Keeney said. Of course, the exhibit came with a rather spooky element to it, as the exhibit was anchored by Halloween season. As part of its Veteran’s Appreciation Week, the museum will offer all veterans and active military servicemen and women with free admission from Nov. 7 to 15, in honor of Veterans Day. “We also have a big hearse collection with the oldest be-

Photos by Jonathan Garris The museum also features an extensive look into the funerals of the Pope throughout history, complete with recreations of burial ceremonies, statues, photos and educational videos.

The National Museum of Funeral History features a big hearse collection, with the oldest dating back from 1832.

ing from 1832,” Keeney said. Another exhibit captures the memories and lifetimes of pop culture icons and other major figures. Keeney stresses they aren’t focusing on their death but rather celebrating their life. “For some people, even though they are dead, they are still very much alive through their music or through some of their movies that endure,” Keeney said. “It just goes to show everyone that they are just as human as the rest of us and I feel we capture that in our exhibits.” The museum even offers

rental opportunities, and can accommodate gatherings big and small, Keeney said. According to their website, the museum has frequently hosted memorial services, Halloween parties, Scared Straight programs, birthday parties, corporate events and even nontraditional weddings. A canned food drive will also be held through Dec. 31, and donors will receive discounted admission into the museum as well, Keeney said. Tickets can be purchased online at www.nmfh.org or in person. Adult tickets cost $10, seniors over 55 years old and

veterans cost $9, children ages 6 to 11 cost $7 and children 5 and under are free. SCI employees can enter for $8 and group rates at $8 per person at a minimum of 25 guests is also available. The museum is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call 281-876-3063.

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The Topics. Saturday, November 14, 2015 • Page 4A

Texas has unique laws when it comes to its flag

Stuck between a rock and HERO Cutting off your nose to spite your face is never a good strategy. With the dust (somewhat) settling from the whirlwind that was the 2015 Houston election, I think it’s fair to say that there are plenty of people feeling a bit of disappointment right now. Whether it’s a specific candidate not making it on the runoff ballot or a proposition not passing, there’s always going to be disappointed constituents in any democratic process. I’m sure there are also plenty of people, like myself, feeling quite disappointed that the equal rights ordinance failed miserably, making Houston stand out like a sore thumb among cities that have laws safeguarding sexual orientation and gender identity in everything from employment to housing. It’s hard to believe that a slogan like “No men in women’s bathrooms,” something that I found silly at best and insulting at worst, could ever rouse anything other than a giant question mark, but in the end it appears fear of the unknown succeeded. While I’m sure equal rights activists will continue their fight (as they should) I’m always a bit concerned when people automatically start wishing for misfortune to befall this city and its plans for the future. It’s understandably frustrating to have laws that are in place across so many other cities shot down in an election – and even more frustrating that any civil rights issue should ever be dictated by popular vote – but is championing the loss of jobs, business opportunities and some of the infrastructure improvements that come with them the right approach? It seems these days the best way to get anyone’s attention is by making a point where it counts most in this country – the wallet. It sounds cliché, but it seems like everyone loses in this situation. The LGBT community gains no protection, Houston’s image suffers on the national stage and some rather extreme members of the religious community continue perpetuating a culture of fear and misinformation that will sadly keep them locked in a bubble, tucked away from even beginning to attempt to understand what transmen and transwomen go

Jonathan Garris Editor

through in their daily lives. Hitting a state in its coffers is certainly one way to affect change. The Religious Freedom Restoration Act saw swift condemnation from the business community in Indiana and beyond, much like what has happened here in Houston. However, unlike Houston, Indiana saw many major businesses not only outright speak against the laws and their precedent but in the case of Angie’s List actually canceled a $40 million expansion. Numerous conferences have either threatened or outright removed their events from Indianapolis and some cities and states even (temporarily) banned state-funded and city-funded travel to Indiana. Given the wide support HERO had from the business community on a national level, it remains to be seen what could potentially happen should groups decide to pull the plug on any plans in particular here. The NFL has already indicated it won’t be moving the Super Bowl, which will undoubtedly bring at least some measure of an economic boost for the city. With the oil market still going through its crunch and thousands without jobs, losing that economic boon might be bad for everyone. As much as I know hitting people in their wallets will make them think a bit harder about the decisions they make, particularly in regards to equality, I have to wonder how many jobs and how much money could be lost if companies react with the same revulsion they did to Indiana. If it comes down to the extremes in any situation, I’d still wager boycotting one’s own city might not be the best choice.

The reader.

Email us your letters: news@theleadernews.com

Election Analysis: Easy predictions; so long Parker - readers comment Dear Editor: I just wanted to say that you nailed it perfectly with the article; “Election Analysis: Easy predictions; so long Parker.” Thanks for putting in-print the thoughts and feelings of so many area residents. That coupled with the broadcast of the mayor’s epic meltdown after the results of Houston’s Prop-1 were announced, it appears that there is a resurgence of life in the conservative majority of this great city, and hopefully across the entire United States. Thanks to the voters of Houston for sending a strong message to the nation by defeating the HERO ordinance, and thanks to you Mr. McElvy, for your tireless work publishing The Leader! R. Bement Dear Editor: Regarding the nondiscrimination HERO ordinance that was defeated, you stated that Mayor Annise Parker,” basically begged businesses and major sporting events to punish her city for not supporting an ordinance that could have easily passed.” This is a very skewed and biased interpretation of what Mayor Parker said and is an affront to your readers’ intelligence. You even quoted her exact words, “I absolutely fear there will be a direct, economic backlash as a result to this ordinance going into defeat.” This is a real fear as this ordinance gained worldwide attention and major businesses including Apple and others supported it. She has promoted business and economic growth in Houston during her entire tenure in office and she simply does not want the city to suffer as a result of this ordinance not passing. Federal law does not protect all classes of citizens from non-discrimination, and I’m very interested to know which laws you are referring to other than the American With Disabilities Act. Your bashing of Mayor Parker in numerous editorials is offensive. I have been very pleased with Mayor Parker’s leadership and evidently so have the majority of Houstonians who have elected her thrice. Kim Bowman P.S. Let’s see if you dare print this rebuttal. Dear Editor: HOORAY! You hit it square on the head..... If I could I would give you a BIG hug. I opened my mouth and out came your words. I only wish I had your talent. Too bad you couldn’t write for the “Chronicle,” but then you would be censored, just as they, (all of the staff ) are. Even the Sports, Business section wrote articles FOR Hero before the election day. Boy you talk of the “Liberals.” Even the Thumbs up/down articles in today’s paper is telling us what “bad people” we are to have rejected the horrible ordinance that was forcibly shoved down our throats. I used to write letters to them all the time and got published, until, I started

to go “political.” No more! I probably have written five or six letters. None of them published. Too conservative. Now I understand Ms. Mayor is bound and determined to “shove” another ordinance down our throats before going out of office. What don’t they (her and her minions) and the Houston Chronicle understand about the majority of the people (in this case 61% and in the previous two elections) saying NO to these proposals! I think it’s time for us to vote out all of the liberals on city council. It’s too bad our elected officials lose sight of the fact, we, are the ones that elected them. They serve at our pleasure. They are there to serve us or represent us. They are not there to serve themselves or to line their pockets! Why does she (Ms. Mayor) think she can do anything she wants? and not give us a say so? “Too Obama ?” Anyway I just wanted to say that was a GREAT article you wrote and to keep up the good work. John McMichens

biological differences between men and women, and gender. The word, gender, is not found in the dictionary under the meaning of, sex. Hopefully, a new administration will be able unite our citizens and get the City of Houston out of debt and the pension plan out of its unfunded liability of 3.2 billion dollars. Jim Descant Dear Editor: Your article in today’s Leader was just great. In fact I look forward to reading all of your publisher comments. Bill Fronek

THE FRONT YARD – Time to run it up the flagpole and see if anyone salutes it, to quote from “Twelve Angry Men.” My flagpole is actually an aluminum pipe sticking out of a tree, and, like most of you, I change flags according to the seasons and anniversaries. National holidays like the Fourth of July, Armistice Day and Black Friday get the U.S. flag. Texas state holidays such as Texas Independence Day, San Jacinto Day and LBJ’s birthday (no kidding -- look it up) are celebrated by my running up the Lone Star Flag. I put out a scarlet and gold (not red and yellow) Marine Corps flag every November 10, the Marines’ birthday. To celebrate the Longhorns’ victorious football season I run up my orange and white UT banner – lately at half staff. And I can tear, burn, stomp on or toss in the street any of them to express my feelings. Yes, once again our courts have decreed we have the right to make fools of ourselves. The latest incident came recently when the Texas State Court of Criminal Appeals, in a 35-page decision, ruled that a state law prohibiting anyone from messing with the U.S. or Texas flag is invalid. Why? Because it is “overbroad” and thus is in violation of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. So Terence Johnson, a resident of the East Texas community of Bedias, can breathe easier. Johnson, who is black, said he became quite angry when a store clerk made some racial comments to his mother. The 20-year-old (at the time in 2012) saw a U.S. flag hanging outside a hardware store and threw the flag onto a highway. There the flag was run over and damaged. Johnson was arrested for destruction of a flag and spent four and a half weeks in the Houston County Jail (that’s in East Texas, not the Houston city jail) until released on bond. His case was dismissed, the state of Texas appealed, dismissed, appealed. You know how our legal system works, and I say “our” because you and I were paying for all of this. It will only

Lynn Ashby Columnist

be a matter of time before we see all of this again: Texas trying to prosecute someone under a state law that prohibits anyone from damaging, defacing, mutilating or burning the U.S. or Texas flag. And court after court – literally from small-county DAs to the U.S. Supreme Court -- saying the law is too broad. In 1989 the Texas Legislature even rewrote the law to make it more specific and thus pass scrutiny from the courts. Didn’t work. No matter what the courts say, Texans have always been very protective of our flags, especially that of the Lone Star persuasion, and display them everywhere. It used to be that the Texas flag could only be shown in respect and honor. But somehow the law is no longer in force. Now we see the Lone Star flag used in beer ads, car dealerships and made into jogging shorts covering somebody’s sweaty behind. Seeing our flag against a background of trees, green grass, and graffiti on the railroad overpass, it really is a beautiful sight. Actually, we have a very beautiful flag and was so declared by a vexillologists society in 2001 as the second prettiest state flag in the nation or Canada. (A vexillologist is one who studies flags.) New Mexico was first, but the judges had spent the previous night getting loaded at an Albuquerque casino, or at least that’s the story I’m putting out. As I found out years ago, and wrote about, Texas has some unique laws dealing with its flag. For example, there is a much-ignored law that says all trains traveling in or through Texas have to display the Texas flag. We also have a law stating that, when displayed in Texas, the Lone

Star flag will take precedence over all others. The only exception is when the U.S. flag is also on display. Contrary to popular myth, there is no law requiring that the Texas flag be displayed on a separate but equal pole alongside the Stars and Stripes. That’s often the way it is done, but put that story alongside the Easter Bunny, Sasquatch and you can keep your doctor. We feel very protective of our state flag. There is a story that in 1908 Texans hanged a man for desecrating the Lone Star flag. Historians can find no record of such an instance although there is an old story that the Texas Legislature once passed a resolution congratulating someone for beating up a man who desecrated the Texas flag. Finally, a few items to know: The Texas flag is known as the “Lone Star Flag” which, in turn, gave Texas its nickname, “The Lone Star State,” not the other way around. Our pledge of allegiance is to the state flag first and then to the state. “Honor the Texas flag; I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one state under God, one and indivisible.” The Texas flag flies permanently above both doors of the Texas State Capitol, under the U.S. flag at the south door, but only the Texas flag flies at the north door. The law also requires that the state flag be flown at or near any International Port of Entry. Does that include the Sabine and Red Rivers? And because of our usual legislative efficiency -it’s a long story -- Texas had no legal flag from 1879 to 1933. Not until 1993 did the Legislature specify that the red and blue colors are defined by the “Standard Color Reference of America.” That law also specifies that the finial, or top of the pole, should be a lone star or a spearhead. Is yours? Sometimes we see the Texas flag flown upside down. The red is on the bottom and the star’s top spike is upward. Remember that the next time you throw a flag on the highway. Ashby gets flagged down at ashby2@comcast.net

the leader Puzzlers. Answers found in this week’s Classified section

SUDOKU

Dear Editor: I am disappointed and offended by editorials in your newspaper concerning HERO. To me, they’re one-sided, hateful, non-objective propaganda. I do not want to continue to receive your newspaper on my property. Charles W. Pizzitola Dear Editor: Jonathan, you hit the nail on the head with your article about the HERO ordinance being defeated. I applaud you for having the courage to print the true facts about the proposed ordinance whereas Mayor Parker and 11 council members tried to ram this ordinance down the decent citizens of Houston without a vote of the people. It was a blessing that the Texas Supreme Court recognized what they were trying to do illegally and forced them to put it on the ballot so ALL citizens of our great City of Houston had a chance to vote on it. Even Sylvester Turner, Adrian Garcia and all the mayoral candidates were for it except Bill King and Ben Hall who understood how bad this ordinance was for our city. I also applaud the council members who tried and voted against it in the beginning, the six members being Stardig, Boykins, Martin, Pennington, Kubosh and Christie. At least they were voting in line with the majority of the will of the people. It is so sad that Mayor Parker, in her defeat, is calling the opponents of HERO, (majority voters), “small” and “deliberate liars.” I believe the real liars are those proponents who tried to deceive the voters by expanding the true meaning in the dictionary of the wording, sexual orientation, gender identity and sex listed in the definition section of the ordinance as written. In their list of definitions they listed the term sex, as meaning

aCrOss

1. Cleopatra’s viper 4. Cuneiform writing 10. Dekaliter 11. Groaned 12. For instance 14. Wave in spanish 15. Arabian gulf 16. Written in red 18. Denouncements 22. Eat one’s heart out 23. Survive longer than 24. Take priority over 26. Foreign service 27. Russian king (alt. sp.) 28. Stinkheads 30. Old name for Tokyo 31. Box (abbr.) 34. Red rock in Australia 36. Not old 37. Enlarge hole 39. Difficulty walking 40. The high point of something 41. 101 42. Hunting expeditions 48. Unusual appearing

ghostly figure 50. Without civilizing influences 51. Heartbeat 52. Morning juice 53. Wicket 54. Head louse egg 55. 40th state 56. Pleasing to the eye (Scot.) 58. Nickname for an anorexic 59. Engaged in a game 60. Household god (Roman)

dOwn

1. Admirer 2. Mouth secretion 3. Afterbirth 4. Initials of “Bullitt” star 5. Family crest 6. Forearm bone 7. Unable to move 8. Loss due to a rule infraction 9. Touchdown 12. Accordingly 13. Spiritual teacher 17. A bridal mouthpiece

19. Dress up garishly 20. Cleverly avoid 21. S.E. Asia goat antelope 25. Fla. state dessert 29. Popular legume 31. Two-die gambling game 32. Easily annoyed (alt. sp.) 33. Khoikhoin peoples 35. Cyclic 38. Flavor of Newport cigarettes 41. Jamestown was the 1st English 43. Fine meal made from cereal grain 44. Incarnation 45. Norse goddess of the sea 46. Ignores or snubs (slang) 47. Tiny glass bubble 49. Chinese mahogany genus 56. Deepwater Horizon Co. 57. -__, denotes past

WORD SCRAMBLE

* Numbers per thousands

Saturday, November 14, 2015 • Page 5A

Election Day 2015: Breaking down votes by precinct On this page, you will find a breakdown of the 2015 elections by precinct throughout The Leader area. In each graph, totals represent the total number of votes combined with those outside of the precinct (where applicable). While many of the area’s

voting habits fell in line with much of the city, the majority of Leader area voters casted votes in favor of Proposition 1, in support of the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance. According to voting data, 4,014 voted ‘yes’ on Proposition 1 versus 2,132 ‘no.’ Pre-

cinct 0204, which includes neighborhoods like Timbergrove Manor, had the highest number of votes opposing the ordinance at 792. Precinct 0057, in the heart of the Heights, had the highest votes in favor of the ordinance at 910.

In the mayoral election, the highest number of votes for Sylvester Turner came from Precinct 0576, north of the Oak Forest & Garden Oaks areas, with 587 votes. The highest votes for Bill King came from Precinct 0204.

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Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy As To Students

Eternity Christian School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, priviliges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does 0890 not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admission policy, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. Eternity Christian School announces the sponsorship of the Child Care Food Program. All children enrolled, who meet the eligibility criteria, will be offered the same free meal with no physical segregation of, or other discrimination against, any child because of race, color, handicap, sex, age or national origin. Eternity Christian School today announced its policy for free and reduced-price meals served under the Child and Adult Care Food Program. Each facility and Eternity Christian School has a copy of the policy, which anyone may review. “The following household size and income criteria will be used to determine eligibility: (Please refer to household size and income guidelines as prescribed by USDA for free and reduced-price meals). “Children from household whose income is at or below the levels shown are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. “Application forms and a letter to parents or guardians are being sent to all homes. To apply for free or reduced-price meals, households should ll out the application and return it to the contractor. Additional copies are available at the contractor’s ofce. The information provided on the application will be used to determine eligibility; it may be veried any time during the contract year by the contractor or other program ofcials. “Households must provide the following information on

the application: all household member’s names; the Social Security number of the head of the household (or other responsible adult); and all household members’ incomes by source; OR the household’s food stamp or AFDC case number, if appropriate; and the signature of an adult household member certifying that the information is correct. “Applications may be submitted any time during the year. “According to the free and reduced-price policy, the Director will review applications and determine eligibility. Parents and Guardians dissatised with the ruling of the ofcial may discuss the decision with Ms. Bashinski. Parents may request a formal appeal either orally or in writing by contacting Eternity Christian School, 1122 West Road, 281999-5107. “Households must report increase of over $50.00 per month or $600.00 per year in household income, and decreases in household size. If a household member becomes unemployed or if the household size increases, the household should contact the contractor. These changes may qualify children for reduced-price meals or for free meals if the household’s income falls to or below the levels shown above. AFDC/Food Stamp household must report termination of benets. “Some foster children are also eligible for free or reduced-price meals. A household with foster children should contact the contractor for more information. “The information that households provide is condential and will be used only to determine eligibility and verifying data. “In the child nutrition program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, no child will be discriminated against because of race, color, sex, national origin, age, religion, political belief, or disability. If you believe you have been discriminated against, write immediately to the Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250.

Page 6A • Saturday, November 14, 2015

HFD celebrates newly renovated Fire Station 13, thanks Oak Forest residents for contributions By Elizabeth Villareal

Photo by Jonathan Garris The new fire station in Oak Forest was part of a community effort to revitalize the aging structure and provide better accomodations for firefighters and residents alike.

elizasgarden@outlook.com

Thanks to the Oak Forest community, the City of Houston and the Houston Fire Department, Fire Station 13 has a brand new station along with shiny new appliances and furnishings, and the firefighters who live there in three separate shifts love their new home away from home. The Oak Forest Homeowners Association 2014 Board played a substantial role in the renovation, but several area women were the driving force behind the new building and some of the interior and exterior amenities. Lucy Fisher Cain, Alicia Nuzzie, Mary Margaret Carroll, and Terry Webb did a great deal of legwork and fact finding early on and just did not give up. It all began when Fisher Cain kept bringing up FS 13 during 2013 OFHA Board meetings. Nuzzie, Legislative Liaison of the OFHA Board at the time, started to listen and take notes, making visits to the station. Carroll, a neighbor very near to FS 13, was already taking brownies and treats over to the Fire Station because that’s just the kind of person she is; therefore, she was already acquainted with the firefighters who live and work there as well as the condition of the station. Both ladies knew FS 13 was in bad shape. The firefighters were sleeping in cramped quarters, making do with work space as well as recreational space, and dealing with constant drainage and ventilation issues. Nuzzie ended up being linked with Chief Mark Donovan and asked him if Oak Forest could form some type of partnership with the City, something that had never been done before. At the same time, FS 13 was reaching out to the City for some help with drainage and a few other pressing issues. “We have a candidate list for stations that need renovation,” Donovan said. “We have a department within the City called General Services and their job is to take care of all the facilities. FS 13 was not at the top of the list. FS 13 called us and reached out to say, ‘Hey, we’ve got a few issues, can you take a look?’ We evaluated it and looked at the totality of the issues and FS 13 was bumped up on the list.” Donovan said communities have adopted fire stations in the past, but not to the magnitude of what Oak Forest had done. Nora Loera had been planning a crawfish boil fundraiser at 50/50 Acorn Golf but did not yet have a specific use for funds raised in mind, and she realized it was the perfect fundraiser for the FS 13 project. The event raised a whopping $24,000 for the FS 13 project. Houston Fire Department, funded by the General Fund, does not have a way of accepting donations directly to the Department and some corporations can only donate to a 501(c)(3) organization. Assistant Fire Chief David Almaguerre of EMS and president of Medilife of Houston, a 501(c)(3) organization created for this purpose, received the funds directly from the OFHA and directed 100% of those

funds to the HFD’s General Services Dept. for the FS 13 renovation specifically. “As long as Medilife has been helping people to donate, [the OFHA] has done more and well above and beyond anyone else,” Almaguerre said. “It’s heartwarming. Having a community come together like that was just wonderful. Medilife was happy to be a part of that.” St. Stephen’s United Methodist Church offered space for parking the fire truck and ambulance as well as bunk space during the renovation, and then the Sea Scouts offered additional living space inside their meeting area, part of which was already being used for the temporary fire station kitchen. Homeowners and neighbors donated a variety of household goods for the new firestation such as a coffee maker and heavy duty copperbottomed pots and pans. Architect Greg Ryden, coincidentally an Oak Forest resident, was hired by the City to design the new FS 13. Ryden loves doing community projects and he was already working on FS 80 out on Chimney Rock. When he was asked to shift gears in a phone call and hop in the car and go out to take a look at FS 13 in Oak Forest, he chuckled because – he was actually only 5 minutes away. The old fire station did not have a hallway and the captain’s room, the EMTs’ room

and the dormitory had doors leading directly into the garage, creating a security risk as well as privacy issues. Because Ryden’s grandfather was a firefighter, he has been in many different firestations. He already had a grasp of the floorplan challenges of an older firestation built in a different era. When FS 13’s original footprint was constructed, the fire trucks were smaller, and there was no air conditioning, so hanging out in the fire truck bay where one could catch a breeze was the norm. Living space was minimal. With 1,000 added square footage, the interior circulation is much improved and it has made a world of difference to the firefighters. The changes have also created a more secure environment which was important to everyone. “This project would have never happened without Alicia Nuzzie,” Carroll said. “She started the wheels rolling with the COH. Lots of the neighborhood pulled together to make this happen and donated money.” Nuzzie called it a group effort. I may have gotten the ball rolling, but these women took it to the end and then some! And really, what could truly have been achieved without our wonderful community? They responded in such a huge way.”

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Saturday, November 14, 2015 • Page 7A

Pet of the week

Holiday travel and your pet: Now’s the time to plan

Dear Tabby, We are planning to travel for the holidays. What are your thoughts on how to make sure your pet is taken care of when you’re away? Thanksgiving trekking in Timbergrove Dear Thanksgiving Trekking, November is an exciting month. Not only is it “AdoptA-Senior-Pet� month across the country, (most shelters have promotions with reduced adoption fees for pets over a certain age--check it out!) but it’s also the beginning of a busy travel season. I’m sure you have already made your travel plans but have you made plans for your pet? The clock is ticking, but there’s still time to make sure that everyone is happy, healthy and well-cared for this holiday season. If your pet is more of a homebody (like, yours truly) I’d recommend finding a pet sitter to come to your home to care for your pet. A good pet sitter will be bonded and insured and come over before your trip to meet the pets that he or she will be caring for during your absence. You can have the pet sitter come as many times a day as you’d

like--however many pet sitters have a strict rule to come at least once a day, in order to make sure that everyone is healthy and happy at all times--so keep that in mind when planning your pet sitter budget. Many pet sitters will bring in your mail, open and close your blinds and alternate lights, in order to give the appearance of someone being at home while you’re away. Visit www.petsit.com to locate a pet sitter in your area. If your pet would prefer to go somewhere else and hang out while you’re away, look into pet boarding facilities. Here in Houston, the options range from serene, cat-only boarding all the way to ranchstyle fun for critters of all shapes and sizes. Plan to book early and have your pet’s vaccination records on hand if you plan to board. Your vet might be able to recommend a boarding facility that will suit your pet’s needs. Perhaps your pet would enjoy traveling with you this holiday season. If you prefer not to burden your hosts with the addition of your precious pet, look into hotels that are pet friendly. Many of the large hotel chains are pet friendly. Go to www.tripswithpets.com to see a comprehensive listing of all pet friendly hotels. No matter which route you take, by ensuring that your pet is cared for while you’re traveling, you’ll both rest easy knowing that he is in the best of care. Many boarding facilities and pet sitters will

send photos, email updates and sometimes even facilitate a Skype session between you and your pet. The best news is that you’ll be able to enjoy your time away from home this holiday, knowing that your favorite animal companion is happy and content as well. CAP Gala CAP (Citizens for Animal Protection) is holding its 29th annual charity gala. This year, West Houston Subaru has donated a BRAND NEW

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more animals.� A good example of the AJL’s work is beautiful, gentle Rose. A medium-to-large dog now, she was staving and whelping puppies when rescued running down Pinemont Dr. “She was on death’s door when we caught her,� said McAlister. Today, Rose is healthy, spayed, easy going, housetrained and great with children. It will be a lucky family that adopts her. “She is a wonderful dog,� Rose’s foster mom, Jan Ward, said. “We were in the backyard yesterday, and I closed the door on the shed, then Rose stated barking at it. When I opened the door, a cat sprang out. I had locked the cat in and Rose was telling me. It was so funny - sort of ‘come quickly, Timmy fell down the well.’� Another example of the AJL’s work is the help they’re providing the residents of a trailer park in Independence Heights. Here, the women

Do you have a burning query for Tabby? If so, email her at deartabbyquestions@gmail. com.

Stop by your Local #1 Provider

Finding Homeless Pets Fur-Ever Homes Last weekend, a group of pets and people from the Animal Justice League spent the day introducing themselves to the patrons of Krieser’s Natural Pet on 20th St. in the Heights. The joy was palpable. All the pets in attendance had, at one time, been homeless, but on this glorious day they were being adopted and going to loving homes. Many pets in the US are not so lucky. An amazing group of local citizens have stepped up to help. Formed by a handful of women a year ago, the Animal Justice League was founded by Garden Oaks and Oak Forest residents Jennifer Graves, Jennifer Hayes, Diana McAllister, Melinda Gleghorn and Amanda Van Adrichem. In a short time, the women have secured a nonprofit tax status, and grown into a network of 40-plus volunteers. “At first, we were all rescuing animals independently,� said Melinda Gleghorn, one of founders. “Then we met on Facebook and started helping each other. We soon realized how much more we could do together. When it comes to our community’s homeless pets, it really does take a village.� According the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, (ASPCA) 7.6 million unwanted pets enter animal shelters nationwide annually. Of these, approximately 2.7 million are euthanized. Houston’s Bureau of Animal Regulations and Care, (BARC) takes in about 2,000 unwanted pets each month and estimates that there are 300,000 stray dogs and 950,000 stray cats in the city. While BARC is Houston’s official shelter, there are at least four additional private shelters and one county shelter assisting. Still, the homeless pet tidal wave continues. “Now, we have volunteers and fosters all over the Heights and as far as Sugar Land and Kingwood,� said Diana McAllister, another of the AJL founders. “It was really difficult when it was just the five of us. Now, with more people, we can help

2016 Subaru Forester for the GALA raffle. The tickets are only $50 each and since only 1,500 tickets will be sold, your chances of winning are very, very good! The CAP Gala will be held at the Royal Sonesta Hotel on Nov. 21 at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available online at www.cap4pets.org.

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Meet Mitzy. Poor Mitzy drew the short Milkbone and was the chosen girl to be surrendered to the shelter when her previous owner got in over her head with pets to care for. Mitzy’s misfortune might be your good fortune though because this little lady is the perfect dog. A 7 year old Pug/Boston Terrier mix, Mitzy is a breeze to care for, is very quiet, friendly and minds her manners. Find out more about Mitzy by visiting www.cap4pets.org.

found cats and dogs roaming freely. As it turned out, the residents owned some of them, but others were hungry strays. All the animals have now been spayed or neutered, and treated for health issues by the group. The pets that were not claimed by residents are in the AJL’s foster pipeline for adoption, including five kittens and three puppies. Dogs are $150 and cats cost $75 to adopt. All the pets are spayed or neutered and micro-chipped, as well as health and temperament tested. In most cases, the adoption fee does not even cover the veterinary costs. To better serve our community, the Animal Justice League could use more help: fosters, adopters, volunteers, donations and the list goes on. To find out how you can help, please visit www.animaljusticeleague.org.

www.scoopLepoop.com

Zoning from P. 1A enrollment according to the district’s demographer. The district says the school’s capacity is 815 and Barrientez has asked them to verify that number. “I’d need two additional classrooms,� said Barrientez, who noted that there was currently no open space available and that her pie in the sky dream is a new building. Current options include making ancillary teachers – like the art or physical education teacher – mobile. It’s not ideal as the PE teacher is already in a temporary building and in rainy weather, there would be no place for kids to exercise. “Or take classrooms away from the Interventionist and Counselor, which are essential to our student’s academic and socialemotional success.� An additional temporary building would be expensive and besides, Barrientez doesn’t know where she would put it. A third option involves the school’s special education programs. There are four programs which each have their own classroom. Barrientez said that they get a lot of students from Durham and Garden Oaks who don’t have the same programs, and although she doesn’t want to lose those existing students, a more even dispersement would open up classroom space. Increased car traffic is a concern for Barrientez as well since none of the new students would come from more than 2 miles away and so wouldn’t qualify for free bus transportation. Houston Metro used to travel down Rosslyn and pick up, but the routes have changed and they don’t anymore. As for many schools in a booming area, it’s been a wild attendance ride at Stevens for the past few years. For the 2014-2015 school year, 625 students were projected, and they ended up with 765, prompting Barrientez to hire five teachers. In 2015-2016, the district projected 765 and attendance ended up at 728 due to capping at grades K-2 bilingual and fourth grade. Because the district is striving to meet the state mandated 22 to 1 ratio of student to teacher, Stevens sends overflow students to both Love Elementary and Wainwright. “The goal is to know which kids are coming,� said Barrientez. She said Stevens has one of the highest mobility rates in the district. In a given year they’ve had as many as 1,000 students who cycle through. Barrientez adds that it has been an ongoing effort to get

parents involved, so the added parent volunteers from the rezoning would be welcome. Wainwright Principal Christina Aguirre-Oliva doesn’t foresee a larger enrollment initially, since students can be grandfathered into their old school, but if there is, she says they can accommodate them. “We have a 650 enrollment, and our capacity is 700,� said Aguirre-Oliva. “There’s plenty of classroom space.� In the 2014-2015 school year, Wainwright was a HUB school, or overflow campus, for both Katherine Smith and Stevens. In the 2015-2016 year, the majority of their overflow was from Katherine Smith. “We’re the only magnet school [of the four proposed for rezoning],� said AguirreAd # 27049

Oliva. “We don’t fill with just neighborhood students. We take kids anyway if they qualify.� Aguirre-Oliva sees the consistency that rezoning will provide as a welcome thing so “families don’t get bounced around.� Regardless of the result of this vote, a major changes are on the horizon for Houston’s school zones. “If the demographers are correct, a large scale rezone is inevitable,� said SkillernJones. “In a perfect world HISD would invest equally in all schools so they are equally as desirable and well attended. It still baffles me that we build ‘relief’ schools while there are half empty ones that could be filled with simply adjusting attendance boundaries.�

Responsible Cat Owners and Basic Vet Care

From ancient times cats have been our long time friends. For many reasons they help us more than we realize. Besides companionship, comfort and joy, they drop our blood pressure and extend our life span. They protect our homes from wildlife such as bats, rats, snakes and insects. Even larger intruders prefer to go elsewhere when they scent a cat around. Despite the beneďƒžts of cats, they also carry some risks such as bites, scratches and zoonotic disease. Cats depend on us to care for them. We have put them in a position where they can not survive well or long on their own. A cat’s life is full of avoidable risks and as owners of cats we are responsible for their well being. Vaccine preventable diseases are very common in Houston. Some vaccines have improved along with some cat’s lifestyles. For these reasons vaccine protocols have changed and this has confused many well-meaning cat lovers. The truth is that we need to vaccinate ALL cats with core vaccines. How often core vaccines are given depends on the cat’s lifestyle. Other vaccines need to be given according to the individual cat’s risk and/or testing. Only your community veterinarian can consult with you on area risks to recommend a vaccine protocol along with your preference. Lifestyles do change, so all cats need some protection. Parasites have probably hidden in the majority of all Houston indoor and outdoor cats at some point. Even with intense testing, your veterinarian cannot ďƒžnd some parasites. Strategic deworming and monthly parasite preventative is the best way to prevent the ongoing discomfort in your cat whether you recognize it or not.

Always call your Vet if you have any concerns or questions

WWW.FAIRBANKS.VETSUITE.COM 7151 Fairbanks N. Houston (1 mile North of HWY 290)

(713)-937-7274

LS SEARCHER LEADER

www.LeaderSearcher.com

Your local business and community directory

Page 8A • Saturday, November 14, 2015

W

%#2 @IL 13," # IHFS With purchase of another Sundae of equal or greater value.

With this coupon. One coupon per customer. This location only. Expires Expires 11-27-15 11-14-14

5?MN L>

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

weekdays & saturdays 3:00-6:00 pm. sunday - all day

AdolfHoepfl.com 713.960.4538

7 OFF OIL CHANGE

* For faster services, please call ahead for an appointment. Most cars/light trucks. Oil change includes up to 5qts. of motor oil and standard oil filter.

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

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with shrimp

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14

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Mexican Restaurant

Mexican Restaurant

with this coupon • expires 11-30-15

$

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valid mon.-fri. 3 pm til closing this coupon also good saturday and sunday 11:00 until closing. and all day sat. and sun.not excludes alcholic beverages valid with other offers. not valid with other offers. offer expires 11-28-15 offer expires 11-28-15

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expires expires11-14-14 11-27-15 Shepherd

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Great Breakfast Menu Too!

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2211 West 43rd 713-686-7078

610

281-888-4876

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Maria’s Cafe SpecialS everyday

3103 ella Blvd.

Mon-Sat 7:30am-4pm

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• catering available • cash payment Only

call For Orders To Go

713-823-5938

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Additional parking across street on Stonecrest in back of Popeye’s

(713) 680-0825

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We have Opened the cafe inside dr. Gleem car Wash

(Between Hwy. 290 and Mangum)

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Between Shepherd & Ella in Home Depot Parking lot

Š 2015 CFA Properties, Inc. Valid during breakfast hours only. Coupon not valid with any other offer. Coupon not for sale. One coupon per person per visit. Closed Sundays. Chick-fil-AŽ, C Stylized & DesignŽ and Chick-fil-A Chick-n-MinisTM are trademarks of CFA Properties Inc.

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3410 Ella Blvd. at 34th St.

(713) 682-4343

Saturday, November 14, 2015 • Page 9A

School from P. 1A some classrooms. To accomplish this, the Journey School works with therapists and other professionals who in turn meet with families and talk to them about their child. This one-on-one help assists parents with coming to terms on how to best take care of their child in a positive way, Salinas said. “Often times, students have been in multiple classrooms or even schools,� Salinas said. “It takes a toll on the parents, and they start to feel like they did something wrong or start to internalize that they’re not good enough.� The program uses Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills as a guide for its curriculum, with one-on-one lessons for reading, math, science and a thereapeutic approach for social and emotional development, Salinas said. The school also has a language therapist to work with students with various reading difficulties like dyslexia. Right now the school has four students enrolled, but Salinas hopes their new home at Resurrection Church will

Where you can find gifts for any occasion or any holiday!

Photo by Jonathan Garris Students at the Journey School of Houston can receive one on one help for various roadblocks they might face in academia.

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“We’re starting small, but that really helps us identify what we are doing well and what we are doing that we need to work on,� Salinas said. “The most daunting task has been on the business side of things. I’m an educator, so it’s not my forte, but we have business advisors helping us.� The support for the young school has been “overwhelming,� however. “People want us to continue what we’re doing, particularly because they realize the need for what we’re doing,� Salinas said. For more information, visit www.journeyschoolofhouston. org or call 713-269-0757.

help them as they grow. Moving into an established facility made it far easier for the school to settle and also offers a gymnasium and community work that works to students favor. “This has really been a supportive community for us and the church here understands our mission and what we’re doing,� Salinas said. “It’s been a great experience so far to work with them.� On restarting and moving on following the abrupt closure of New School of the Heights, Salinas said it has been tough in some ways and good in others.

Stop By Any of our 14 Convenient loCAtionS Monday - Saturday | 9:30am - 9pm* Sunday | 12pm - 6pm*

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3515 Ella Blvd. 713-682-4406 Bring the whole family

Breakfast

Lunch

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2?R +?R !;@?

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713-861-9423

Hoity Toity Salon & Spa

38 years proudly serving the Heights

Where Reindeers Houston’s Favorite Get Pedicures Dog Spa

3ANTA CAME FOR OUR (OLIDAY 4AMALES

PORK CHICKEN VEGGIE

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• Grooming • Baths • Nail Trims • Pet Supplies 701 West 11th 713-505-1404 Walk ins welcome

Bike Shop ď ˇ Houston, TX

WE CATER

the official

Have A Holiday Event?

Santa Supplier

Give us a call for pricing and menu selections

working closely with his elves since 2006

! 4!34% /& -%8)#/

(/523 ! $!9

2040 E. T.C. Jester

Stop in we have really great Wheels for the holiday!

(Just across the bayou from previous location)

713-862-8520

www.icyclebikeshop.com

4701 NORTH MAIN

713-869-1706

www.spanish-owers.com

OPEN 24 HOURS EXCEPT TUES. - CLOSED TUES @10PM REOPEN WED. 9 AM

THIS HOLIDAY, DRESS TO IMPRESS Come

Visit

Our Expanded Costume Shop

In a separate building in back of our Party Boy complex, allowing us to offer customers even more in the way of costuming for the holidays and special events. We now have over 75,000 costumes to choose from. • Specialty, upscale accesories to buy or rent. • Costumes of all varities from Santa to Mrs. Claus. • Elf costumes, funky and fun Santa hats. • Shoes, hoisery, short & sexy costumes and much more.

THE COSTUME SHOP 1515 Studemont off of 1-10 713-868-3344 (Ext. 114) • Fax 713-868-7523

AT

Party Boy partyboycostumerental@yahoo.com

WE’RE OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Mon - Sat 9 am - 8 pm & Sun 10 am - 6 pm

Holiday Open House

Darlene’s Flower & Gift Shop and D Boutique.... A Dazzling Division of Darlene’s would like to invite you to our annual

Holiday Open House

Monday, Nov. 16th - Saturday, Nov. 21st Enjoy refreshments and register for a $100.00 Gift Certificate Shopping hours for this event will be Mon. - Fri. 9am -7pm and Sat. 10am - 5pm

Come experience the Magic of Christmas!

We have centerpieces and holiday decorations along with cute Glasses for Sippin’ and Dishes for Dippin’. Candles and Potpourri to set the mood, snacks, treats and gourmet food. Comfy slippers for Him & Her, and pretty clothes with Bling and Fur! These are just a few of the gift ideas to help you start your shopping!

Flower & Gift Shop

Susan Tate A.I.F.D. Judy Bankhead

10570 Northwest Freeway 713-680-2350

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