Inside Today: Revive has two new tenants • Page 1B
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Saturday, November 24, 2018 • Vol. 63 • No. 43
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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Project delay prompts paranoia among homeowners By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com The red, white and blue post with “METRO” at the top has not been removed. Neither has the adjacent pavilion nor the “Pinemont Park & Ride” sign sitting next to an entrance gate that has long been locked. There still is a spacious slab of concrete inside the fence surrounding the property, although in some spots grass and weeds are sprouting up through cracks in the pavement. “It’s the same as it was when they
closed it down,” said Sandra Cirone, president of the homeowners association for the nearby Pinemont Park neighborhood. “It looks exactly the same. They haven’t done anything with it.” The lack of activity at the old parkand-ride location at the corner of Pinemont Drive and Federal Plaza, which closed in 2013 and was sold to Harris County two years later, has sparked speculation among nearby homeowners. Some have worried the land will be used for a low-incoming housing project, even after they helped to thwart such a plan in 2015.
Photo by Adam Zuvanich The vacant Pinemont Park & Ride lot.
METRO was persuaded to back out of an initial agreement with the Houston Housing Authority and sell the property to the county for the purposes of constructing an office building. That plan
Holiday Blessing
Braun buys strip center in Heights By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com
Jason Knebel (713)232-9712
jasonk@greenwoodking.com
GREENWOOD KING
PROPERTIES
INSIDE.
’Tis the season for Holiday markets: A rundown of places for you to score the perfect Christmas gift.
Page 1B
ON THE WEB.
Contributed photo Joshua Baggett holds his newborn daughter immediately after her birth on Memorial Day. The Baggetts welcomed Clarice after two years of trying to get pregnant and multiple miscarriages along the way before the joyful conclusion.
Oak Forest couple’s nightmare is now a Thanksgiving dream
The Baggetts, who both work in the craft beer industry and are in their mid-30s, were elated. “I picked his favorite restaurant to tell him I was pregnant and everything,” Lene said. “We didn’t hide it at all.”
By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
Listing for Santa Sightings: Visit theleadernews.com for a listing of “Santa Sightings” in the area. We’ll tell you when and where Santa will be so he can receive your kids’ Christmas wishes.
FIND IT. FOUND DOG: Near Mytiburger, Glebe at 43rd. Gray/white, large dog. Call to identify. 713412-4338. YOLANDA’S HOUSE CLEANING: Background checked. 713-553-4983, 281-435-4205. Trash hauling available. BUSINESS ACCOUNTING Personal Financial Asst. IRS Notices, All Tax Filings. M&C Consulting, 713-862-7971, m.c.consulting@hotmail.com.
Page 4B
THE INDEX. Church....................................................... 6A Classifieds.............................................. 4B Coupons. ................................................. 5A Food/Drink/Art................................... 7B Obituaries.............................................. 6A Opinion. ................................................... 4A Public Information......................... 2A Puzzles...................................................... 4A
Clarice Baggett is celebrating her first Thanksgiving this week. It will be an occasion for which her parents are eternally grateful, because she almost never joined them. After two years of attempted pregnancies and three miscarriages, the Baggett family added to their blended family when they welcomed a baby girl on Memorial Day 2018 – the pot of gold at the end of what once was a rainbow of emotions. Lene Baggett already had an 11-year-old daughter upon meeting her husband a few years ago, but something was still missing. Joshua Baggett didn’t have any children of his own, and the allure was powerful. At first, all went according to plan
Contributed photo Oak Forest resident Lene Baggett in the hospital with daughter, Clarice, who is celebrating her first Thanksgiving this week.
for the Oak Forest couple. Within a month of beginning to try to become pregnant, it happened.
First dominoes fall But when Baggett and her husband went to the doctor for a standard six-week checkup, heartbreak struck – there was no heartbeat. One week later, the couple returned for hormonal blood testing, but still no heartbeat. “My hormone levels had gone down, so we knew we had lost it,” Lene said. “Like so many people in this position, we didn’t know why
Contributed photo The existing development will undergo an eight-month renovation.
UT head coach Pierce returns to SPX roots By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com In life, and in sports, all it takes is one bad hop to alter a chain of events. University of Texas baseball coach David Pierce knows that all too well and took some time last week to impart lessons he learned at his alma mater off West Donovan. Pierce, a 1981 St. Pius X alumnus and native Houstonian, returned to familiar halls Friday morning to speak to a new generation of Panthers as they prepare for life outside the St. Pius X walls.
“I just wanted to help these kids realize that they have great potential. We all have gifts, and they can use those to make themselves better and to make their classmates around them better.”
-David Pierce
“We’ve got all these plans for after high school, but there come some hiccups in the road,” Pierce said to an auditorium full of hundreds of St.
Pius X students. “We’ve got coping mechanisms to deal with those, and that’s what you learn at a place like St. Pius X. The greatest thing of be-
ing part of a team is watching those around you maximize their potential.” Realizing and maximizing potential was a prime theme of Pierce’s address to the Panther student body. He addressed several of his coaching stops – such as his appointment to Wayne Graham’s staff at Rice in 2003, when he became the hitting coach and threw batting practice – in the light that he believes they occurred primarily because he was left-handed. It was a simple, typically unremarkable attribute, but it was See Pierce P. 5A
Happy Thanksgiving
lue
3802 Ella
Braun Enterprises has announced the acquisition of a shopping center at 1002 N. Shepherd directly across from the Kroger. The new development is being branded as Shepherd Row in the Heights. The existing center is approximately 18,506 square feet. Zach Wolf with Braun said they plan to completely renovate and seek out additional tenants to appeal to the surrounding community. Existing tenants include Ideal Bakery, La Fondita Michoacan, MetroPCS, Jo’s Liquor, Speedy Mart, Esmeralda’s Jewelry, Farmers Insurance and Houston Aquatics. Wolf said that any talk about which tenants will remain is premature as the deal to purchase closed very recently. “As always, we want to try and keep tenants,” Wolf said. The center joins many other new developments on N. Shepherd, including the new H-E-B scheduled to open in early 2019 and the recently announced M-K-T which will be a 200,000 square foot retail and office development at the northeast intersection of North Shepherd and 6th Street. To help with traffic flow at Shepherd Row, Braun Enterprises has acquired a house directly behind the center to get additional parking. The renovations on Shepherd Row should take approximately eight months to complete and Wolf expects new tenants to begin work during the construction period. Any existing tenants will remain open during the construction. “We are very excited to acquire an existing shopping center in such a high-traffic area in the heart of the Heights,” Wolf said.
See Birth P. 7A
Call or Come In
a Lot V
OAK FOREST SEC 1
remains in place, with the county having hired a new architectural firm for the project in August. Still, there have been recent discussions within the homeowners associations for Pinemont Park and Forest West that an apartment building was in the works instead. “That’s a rumor,” said Wayne Norden, president of the Near Northwest Management District. Dimetra Hamilton, a spokesperson for the Harris County Engineering Department, said the project for a multiSee Pinemont P. 8A
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THE PUBLIC. The Leader • Saturday, November 24, 2018 • Page 2A
Property tax bills in the mail due Jan. 31 and can be made by mail, in person at any Harris County tax office location, by phone at 713-274-2273 or online at www.hctax.net. The website also can be used to view and print a copy of the bill or to sign up for e-billing
From Staff Reports Annual property tax bills are being delivered to Harris County property owners, Tax Assessor-Collector Ann Harris Bennett announced this week. Property tax payments are
in future years. Taxpayers are encouraged to review their statements to ensure they are receiving the proper exemptions. For more information regarding exemptions, contact HCAD at 713-957-7800 or www.hcad.org.
Police Reports • Nov. 9 - 12
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Robbery 7:50 PM 1500-1599 N SHEPHERD Robbery 12:04 PM 1000-1099 N SHEPHERD Theft 3 PM 1000-1099 FUGATE Robbery 3:45 PM 2800-2899 EASTMAN Theft 12 PM 1000-1099 BAYLAND Theft 10:15 AM 1000-1099 TEMPLE Burglary 5 PM 1800-1899 BONOVER Theft 6 AM 4300-4399 N SHEPHERD Robbery 10 PM 1300-1399 CROSSTIMBERS Theft 4:17 PM 4400-4499 NORTH Theft 11:51 AM 4400-4499 NORTH Assault 9:55 PM 600-699 SHEPHERD
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Black Gold Guns & ammo Licensed FFL/Class III Dealer NORTH Theft 12:37 PM 4400-4499 NORTH Theft 2:30 PM 5600-5699 ALLEN Theft 11:30 AM 1100-1199 MOY Theft 7:15 AM 100-199 HEIGHTS Theft 9 AM 400-499 OXFORD Robbery 2:14 AM 3000-3099 ELLA
NOV. 11
NOV. 12
Theft 12:45 PM 100-199 N LOOP Theft 3 PM 4000-4099 AIRLINE Theft 12:45 PM 4400-4499
Theft 1 PM 2400-2499 OXFORD Burglary 4:30 PM 1900-1999 N SHEPHERD
Theft 4:24 PM 1400-1499 N SHEPHERD Theft 9 AM 1000-1099 HEIGHTS Robbery 2:03 PM 1100-1199 NADINE Theft 3 PM 1000-1099 W 20TH Theft 5 PM 800-899 E 40TH Theft 3:10 AM 3300-3399 WHITE OAK Theft 12 PM 600-699 N SHEPHERD Theft 6 PM 600-699 ENID Theft 10:30 AM 400-499 OXFORD Theft 4:30 PM 1400-1499 SHEPHERD Theft 3:15 PM 1400-1499 SHEPHERD Theft 7:10 AM 4400-4499 NORTH Theft 2:58 AM 4400-4499 NORTH Theft 3:19 AM 4400-4499 NORTH Theft 1:30 AM 3500-3599 CENTER Theft 7:30 AM 4700-4799 NORTH Theft 4:11 AM 5200-5299 AIRLINE Theft 7:40 AM 2600-2699 FULTON
Reports are provided by SpotCrime.com based on data from the Houston Police Department.
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THE TOPICS. The Leader • Saturday, November 24, 2018 • Page 4A
Thanksgiving is for gratitude, not gratification
W
e aren’t grateful for much anymore, are we? Can’t stand our politicians, hate our commute and puke when we look in the mirror. Come to think of it, we’re a rather miserable lot. This doesn’t seem like a fetching way to start the Thanksgiving holiday, but I’ve wondered if our country’s sordid state of stupor doesn’t have a whole lot to do with how much we can’t stand just about everything in our lives. Oh sure, we’re all going to sit around a dry turkey this week and offer our gratitude to the Pilgrims and Amazon, but we’re not going to mean a word of it. We’ll be mad about something. We’ll curse the Pilgrims because they used too much fossil fuel when they cooked their corn. We’ll find a reason to blame Amazon for executing the most brilliant business model this world has ever seen. We’ll find something to bemoan, because that’s what we do. It’s not my intent to build a pulpit and start screaming, but I’ve thought a lot about gratitude these days because I’m trying to teach a 5- and 2-year-old how to say
Jonathan McElvy Publisher
“thank you.” My oldest son, Hank, believes the world is his gumball dispenser. No matter how hard I try to ingrain the precepts of gratitude into his stubborn mind – I demand he say thank you for all things handed to him – he doesn’t get it. Not to indict my precious son, but true story: I am writing this week’s column from a hotel room. My wife and two sons are all asleep, because we’ve made it halfway to our destination in Alabama, where my parents live. Earlier today, as I prepared for this road trip, I went to a super store and picked up a few extra items that might ease the trip. Among those items was a box-set DVD of the classic “Home Alone” movies, which Hank
loves because, apparently, nothing excites him more than terrorizing older people – namely, his parents. Included in the set was “Home Alone” and “Home Alone 2,” in which the writers and poor Macaulay Culkin changed the cities but not much else. As we prepared to set off on our trip, I pulled out the plastic bag and told Hank I had a surprise for him. I showed him that I had bought both movies, thinking his eyes would glitter with affection for his perfect dad. “Why didn’t you buy Home Alone 3?” I kid you not. That was Hank’s response to my gift for him. Oh sure, you may blame me for being a terrible parent, and you’d be right. But from the moment my oldest son has been able to utter a vowel, I have taught him gratitude. It doesn’t matter if I hand him a stack of pennies or a piece of burnt toast, Meghan and I have drilled thankfulness into this stubborn child’s mind. But you know what? I’m not sure Hank is any different than the rest of us. If we’re honest, haven’t we built a society that spends more
THE READER.
Time of the Signs THE STREET CORNER – There should be a law requiring all political candidates to put down a deposit of, say, $500 to pay for cleaning up their campaign signs that litter the town. Look, here are signs for Beto and Cruz, for Abbott and Patrick, although not many for these last two, they sailed back into office with hardly a sweat. Lots of signs close to voting sites like schools and government buildings. OK, the losers whine: “I lost, so who cares? Take down the signs yourself.” The winners bluster: “I won, get over it.” Now that this past Election Day is done, we can mull over what we have learned. We learned that all the pundits were right – after the results were in. “As I predicted…” “It’s clear that, as I said….” Notice that ever since President Hillary Clinton stormed to victory, pundits have shied away from predicting anything, but afterwards are extremely wise. We learned that Texans prefer to just vote a straight ticket. Every single judgeship and countywide position in Harris County was won by Dems. Even Republican County Judge Ed Emmitt, who did an excellent job after Hurricane Harvey, got defeated by a Colombian immigrant who is now in charge of flood control. The biggie, of course, was the Beto-versusTed race for the U.S. Senate. It generated a lot of interest. Travis County cast 50,000 more votes compared to the last midterm. Texas, which traditionally has the lowest percentage turnout among the states, saw the nation’s biggest increase this year: 63 percent more than in the last midterm elections. In a nutshell, Beto (I call him Beto because I can never learn to spell O’Roark, O’Roarick, O’Roraic) won the cities and the Valley; Cruz got the white suburban and Farmer Jones vote. The counties home to Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, El Paso and Corpus Christi all voted for Beto, most not even close. Dallas was twoto-one. El Paso three-to-one. Austin three-to-one. Fort Worth is an interesting story. It has traditionally been the lone red among Texas’ blue cities. Fort Worth went for Mitt Romney, Rick Perry, Greg Abbott, Donald Trump and, in the 2012 race, Cruz stomped his opponent by16 percentage points. This time Beto won, but only by a sliver: 49.27 to 48.89 percent. There are 254 counties in Texas and Beto won 31. We learned that farmers and ranchers vote Republican, and apparently so do their cows. Loving County is the second least populous county in the U.S. after Kalawao County, Hawaii, which has a population of 88. Loving has a population of 134. Of these, 53 voted: 87 percent for Cruz, 11 percent for Beto. Normally Loving County has more voters than people. Statewide, Cruz won by 50.9 to 48.2 percentage points. (These percentages never
Lynn Ashby Columnist
total 100 because Neal Dikeman, the Libertarian candidate, got a few votes.) This is the first time any U.S. Senate race in Texas has been decided by fewer than 10 points in 40 years. The GOPers also swept the state-wide races, including Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is under indictments for fraud. If he is convicted, do we have to vote again? Forget the ID test, do you ever get the idea there should be an IQ test? The Texas senate race was the most expensive senate race in our history. Beto raised $59 million; Cruz raised $34 million, but the final figures aren’t in. Virtually all of this money went to TV ads. One of the bright spots for the Dems was in Houston’s Congressional District 7, whose first representative was a little-known oil man from Connecticut by way of Midland, George H. W. Bush. A Dem, Lizzie Fletcher, beat nine-term Rep. John Culberson, whose track record was underwhelming. Most defeated or retired members of Congress hang around Washington as lobbyists. It will be interesting to see what gig Culberson lands. So what now for the Dems? It will be hard for them to generate the enthusiasm, much less the money, for another attempt to match the Beto campaign. Those deeppocket donors have nothing to show for their investment. On the other hand, when Beto announced he was running to unseat Ted Cruz, the news was met with a big yawn throughout most of Texas, who had never heard of the congressman. Most Texans thought Beto was the UT mascot. But he visited every county, and became the darling of both Dems and the media. Of course, remember so was Wendy Davis, she of the pink tennis shoes and filibuster. She ran for governor against Greg Abbott and was creamed by 20 percentage points. But maybe there is another Beto we have never heard of who will come from nowhere to take on an entrenched Republican. Recall that when Jimmy Carter announced he was running for President, the leading newspaper in his home state ran a headline the day after his announcement that proclaimed, “Jimmy Who Is Running For What!?” When Bill Clinton announced his presidential candidacy, one poll showed Clinton had 3 percent recognition among Americans. Texas’ next U.S. senator could be someone we never heard of today. Besides, I’m getting tired of the same old faces. Beto may run again, this time against John Cornyn, and we know Cruz is
time hoping for what’s next? Isn’t our every decision based on gratification over gratitude? The irony in my observation is that I work in the industry that does more to promote collective anger than any agent around. Once upon a time, the day’s information came from a morning newspaper and an evening newscast. Today, we scroll feeds, set alerts and stream press conferences. We’re malcontents for social vulgar. From our constant news streams evolved a social stream of consciousness, where professional journalists were traded for social media citizen reporters, sharing tidbits from life, death and cooking recipes. We couldn’t get enough of constant cable, so our society created a feed of friends who told us how wonderful their lives were, how terrible ours still are, and in the process, we teeter between connectivity and manic depression. We aren’t grateful anymore because we can’t know it all, we can’t do it all, and we can’t be happy until we can and we do. I don’t know about you, but I’m tired. Tired of always want-
Donald Trump first president to call out biased mainstream media
already planning his next run for the Oval Office. Meantime, take down all those campaign signs, so we can make room for the new ones. This was an unusual election when the blue wave was more like a moderately high tide, when George H. W. Bush’s district turned donkey for the first time, when someone who has never attended a meeting of the Harris County Commissioners Court beat a seasoned pro. The U.S. House flipped while the most influential pol, Donald Trump, wasn’t even on the ballot. Finally, Dennis Hof easily won a seat in the Nevada Assembly -- unusual because Hof was a brothel owner. And he had been dead for a month. Ashby pundits at ashby2@ comcast.net
ing more when what I have works fine. Tired of being told that some friend in Phoenix took a trip I’ll never take. Tired of being told that I live in the worst country on Earth when I get to make my bed and eat my breakfast without thought or threat. Tired of being told that things must be better when better things don’t really matter. It’s Thanksgiving this week, and we’re all going to make a wish for something else. But here’s what I’ve learned: Thanksgiving is a reflection on the past, not a hope for what’s next. It’s a time for gratitude, not self-gratification. It’s a moment to appreciate what we have, not deconstruct what we don’t. There’s no chance in a trillion Tweets we’ll do this, but what if, for just one day, we tuned out the voices that create our national angst? What if we spent a few minutes, a few hours, reflecting on those who make our lives better, not those who prosper from the worst. I bet we’re more grateful than we think. Email jonathan@theleadernews.com Email us your letters: news@theleadernews.com
Sheila Jackson Lee ignores e-mails
Dear Editor: Democratic Party advocate/cheerleader -- not “journalist” -- Lynn Ashby’s undergarments are in disarray over Donald Trump’s bold verbal scoldings of our blatantly biased mainstream media. Reality is that Donald Trump is the first GOP president to boldly call out these Democrat spinflacks disguised as reporters. They are accustomed to GOP politicians simply caving, cringing into defensive postures and exuding weakness, abiding the media’s practice of printing/broadcasting the most unflattering possible interpretations of facts related to Republicans. The media squeals like Ned Beatty in reaction to Trump’s mere words. Well, what recent president actually wielded genuine government force against the press -- did not simply criticize, but went banana republic on them -- for instance, putting reporter James Rosen under surveillance for publishing info he received from a State Department source, officially labeling Rosen an “aider, abettor and/or co-conspirator”? Whose administration seized Associated Press reporters’ personal and work phone records? Which president’s communications personnel vigorously endeavored to ban an entire network from White House coverage, denouncing it as a “wing of the Republican Party?” Where, pray tell, was Lynn Ashby’s righteous indignation when, yes, Barack Obama was in office, not just talking but truly trampling on the First Amendment? J. Reynolds
Dear Editor: I had an interesting discussion with Rep. Jackson Lee’s Washington D.C. office on Nov. 16. I started the conversation by asking her staff what actions SJL plans to take to stop the Central American caravan and whether she supports funding the border wall. After being placed on hold, I was told that nobody in her office could answer the question and that the Congresswoman planned to release an announcement soon. When I asked them why I never get at least an automated response to opinions that I submit to her congressional website, I was told that emails to that site are “rarely read.” They said that they could not provide her direct email address to me, and that opinions were best handled by phone or USPS mail! It amazes me that she got 70% of the vote in the last election, yet displays this level of isolation from her constituents. R. Johnson
After 36 years in one place, The Leader is moving
Dear Editor: Jonathan, this sounds very exciting! I do have one question though, can you elaborate on this comment? “ … but we’re going to use that space to house all of our wonderful artists.” I was unaware The Leader had “artists,” and now that I do, I’m interested in the “housing” part! Congratulations on the purchase and move! Mitch Cohen
the leader Puzzlers. Answers found in this week’s Classified section
SUDOKU
aCrOss
1. Plural of ascus 5. Repents 11. British School 12. Adhesive to catch birds 15. Male children 16. Oil company 17. Intestinal 19. Money slogan 24. 2nd tone 25. In actual truth 26. Belgian-French River 27. Rural Free Delivery 28. Point midway between S and SE 29. Texas armadillo 30. 2nd largest Hawaiian island 31. Pile up 33. Changes liquid to vapor 34. Yemen capital 37. Byways 38. V-shaped cut 39. Painting on dry plaster 42. Daminozide 43. Papa’s partner 44. __ -fi: fiction/movie genre 47. 1st Soviet space station 48. Latvian capital 49. Come into view
52. Blue Hen school 53. Maine water company 55. Picture & word puzzle 57. Atomic #18 58. Xiamen dialect 59. Being overzealous 62. One who did it (slang) 63. Night breathing noises 64. A minute amount (Scott)
dOwn 1. Race of Norse gods 2. Large pebbles 3. Latin line dances 4. The inner sole of a shoe 5. A French abbot 6. Moves stealthily 7. An alternative 8. 39th state 9. Lotus sports car model 10. River fill 13. Of I 14. Many noises 18. Ghana monetary units 20. Actor Hughley 21. The Cowboy State 22. Jests at 23. America
27. Surprise attack 29. Daddy 30. Extinct flightless bird of New Zealand 31. Express pleasure 32. Cellist Yo-Yo 33. Bronx cheer 34. A more firm substance 35. Essential oil obtained from flowers 36. Company that rings receipts 37. Largest church in Christianity 38. Capital of Wallonia 39. Heroic tale 40. Send forth 41. The Golden State 43. 1/1000 of an inch 44. Angel of the 1st order 45. Ukrainian peninsula 46. Disregard 48. Colophony 49. Spanish be 50. Military policeman 51. Cleopatra’s country 53. Br. drinking establishments 54. Removes moisture 56. Liberal Arts degree 60. Execute or perform 61. Atomic #77
WORD SCRAMBLE
Page 5A • Saturday, November 24, 2018 • The Leader
Holiday travel and your pet: Now is 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? Traveling in Timbergrove Dear Traveling, November is an exciting month. Not only is it “Adopt-A-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’ve 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 wellcared for this holiday season. Pet Sitters Are Best for Homebodies 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. Boarding Is Better For Some Pets 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 ranch-style 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. Let Rover Ride ‘Shotgun’ on a Road Trip 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 Facetime 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. Do you have a question for Tabby? If so, email her at dear tabbyquestions@ gmail.com
Pierce, from P. 1A then that he realized what maximizing opportunity is all about. “Our gift from God is truly just potential, and our gift back to God is in how we utilize that,� Pierce said. “I just wanted to help these kids realize that they have great potential. We all have gifts, and they can use those to make themselves better and to make their classmates around them better.� Pierce’s journey has been a winding one, from not receiving a scholarship offer until midway through the summer following his senior season – and from a junior college – to rising through the coaching ranks after his playing career was done. And from his indoctrination as an assistant at SPX to the 40 Acres (where he was named 2018’s Big 12 Coach of the Year and Baseball America’s Coach of the Year), his coaching career has endured its share of curveballs. As such, he also preached adaptability and grabbing life by the horns, imploring students to be unafraid of seizing any moment. “Don’t give up, and don’t be afraid to fail. I’ve made more mistakes in my life
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than anyone, but I don’t have any regrets about making those mistakes,� he said. “If you don’t dream like you’re going to be great, or that you can be wherever you want to be, it’s never going to happen. If you don’t think that you can do absolutely anything in this world, it’s not going to matter. You’ve got to dream about it. You’ve got to visualize it. “Be a problem-solver and a decision-maker. Don’t be reliant on other people for the rest of your life. You’ve got to grow up and make good decisions.� As students prepare for life beyond high school, whether in athletics or in general, Pierce also encouraged them to simultaneously live in the moment and enjoy their formative years. “They’ve got to stay in the present and realize how fortunate they are to be at St. Pius,� Pierce said. “I hope they cherish that and remember to be a part of that as they prepare. I want to see them be ready for what life throws at them, but they can’t forget that these are four of the best years of their lives right here.�
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The Leader • Saturday, November 24, 2018 • Page 6A
THE CALENDAR. SANTA’S MAGIC TIMEPIECE Theatre Suburbia Theatre Suburbia, 4106 Way Out West, presents “Santa’s Magic Timepiece,” a new holiday classic by Ann Richie. Santa is busy getting ready for the big night, but soon realizes he has a problem: too many good boys and girls, and not enough time to make all the stops on his way. The show runs through Dec. 1. Friday and Saturday evening performances are 8:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. Sundays (Nov. 18 and 25). Tickets are $18 for adults, $15 for students and seniors, and $16 for matinees. Information: 713-6823525, theatresuburbia.org. CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOP Kinder HSPVA
The High School for the Performing and Visual Arts Creative Writing Guild welcomes all middle school students (grades 6, 7 and 8) to participate in a creative writing skills workshop taught by current Kinder HSPVA Creative Writing students, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Dec. 1. Participants will receive a T-shirt, pen and notebook. Snacks will be provided. The cost is $65 per student. The workshop will be held at Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, 4001 Stanford. Information: hspvafriends.org/workshops. THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK St. Pius X High School St. Pius X High School, 811 W. Donovan St., will feature The Diary of Anne Frank at 7 p.m. Dec. 6
Local business HCC West Loop Art Gallery, 5601 is our business. and 7, and 2:30 p.m. Dec. 8. The West Loop South, 77081, Dec. 7, cost is $10 for adults and $5 for Send your story of and will be on display throughany other. students. Information: 713-579The promise of an experience unlike interest Jan. 31. Opening and closing re7514, www.stpiusx.org. ceptions will be held on the first and last day of the show from 6 p.m.- 8 p.m. Ciosek artistically reproduces a prevalent visual algorithm of the natural world. Information: www.jamesciosek. com.
WHITE CHRISTMAS THE MUSICAL HITS Theatre HITS Theatre Presents Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas the Musical,” will be 6:30 p.m. Dec. 7, 8, 13, 14, and 15; and 2 p.m. Dec. 8, 15, and 16. Tickets are $15 for adults, and $5 for students. The theatre is located at 311 W. 18th St. Information: 713-861-7408.
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Post-Thanksgiving dinner at St. Matthew's St. Matthew's will host a Post-Thanksgiving Dinner from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Nov. 23 (or until food runs out). This is a great opportunity for those with no family or a way to come and be part of the St. Matthew's family. The meal is free and will consist of turkey with all the trimmings, and plenty of desserts and drinks. St. Matthew's offers a wide variety of activities including Sunday School at 9:17 a.m. and worship at 10:17 a.m. Other activities include the quilters, knitters and crochet
group, exercise class, Weight Watchers, Boy and Girl Scouts, Youth Choir, a fabulous Chancel Choir and Pipe Organ. St. Matthew's United Methodist Church is located at 4300 N. Shepherd Dr. Call 713697-0671 or visit stmatthewsmethodist.org for information. Christmas concert at St. James Lutheran St. James Lutheran Church, 1602 W 43rd St., will hold a Christmas concert Dec. 1. Come and enjoy the sounds of the season with popular Christmas songs, hymns and carols. Performances include Houston Symphony musicians. Dinner starts at 6 p.m. consisting of tamales, rice and beans for $10. The free concert begins at 7 p.m. For information, call 713686-1577. Christmas program at First Church Heights The senior event will be from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Nov. 27. The program is "Adult Protective Services." A Christmas program will be at 7 p.m. Dec. 7, in the sanc-
events in December. AD Players will perform two plays Dec. 16. They will present "Improv in a Pear Tree." They will also perform "The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe," at 6 p.m., followed by a Christmas party. There will be a 6 p.m. candlelight service on Christmas Eve. For information, call 713869-9070 or visit houstonvineyard.org.
tuary. The Donna Davis Talk Show is a play written and performed by church members. The event is free and the community is welcome. First Church Heights is located at 201 E. 9th St. Call 713-861-3102 for information. Upcoming December events at Vineyard Church of Houston The Vineyard Church of Houston, 1035 E. 11th St., announces three upcoming
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FROM THE PEWS. Holiday Artisan Market at St. Stephen's More than 40 vendors will be present at the Holiday Artisan Market just in time for Christmas shopping. There will also be a Blessing of the Animals at the event, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 24. St. Stephen’s United Methodist Church is located at 2003 W. 43rd St. For information, call 713-686-8241 or visit stsumc.org and the church’s Facebook page.
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THE OBITUARIES. Kathryn Niemann Cooper, 59, born Jan. 12, 1959, died Oct. 30. Cooper grew up in the Timbergrove area, where she enjoyed Girl Scouts and playing softball. She attended Waltrip High School. She is survived by her mother, Dorothy Niemann, her loving husband of 39 years, John Cooper, daughter Janis Day, brothers Barry, David and Kenneth Niemann, and a grandson. Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice.
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Jimmie Ruth Jones, 78, born March 28, 1940, died Nov. 8. She was employed at Harris County Oil Company until retirement. She is survived by her children, James and Norma, and four grandchildren. Dorothy Joann Lero, 82, born Aug. 28, 1936 in Bremond, Texas, died Nov. 14. She graduated from Bremond High School, moved to Houston where she raised her family and retired from Texas Commerce Bank. Lero was a member of St. Ambrose Catholic Church for more than 50 years. She served in her church community and the parish school. Survivors include her loving husband, Tommy J. Lero, daughters Jeannine Tusa, Monica Grissom, Cheryl Miksch, sister Gertrude Widacki, six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
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Mary Margaret McDowell, 64, born Sept. 27, 1954, died Nov.
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Warren Frederick Paulsen, 84, born April 27, 1934, died Nov. 9. Paulsen served in the Army National Guard and was honorably discharged in 1961. He was a longtime member of Gethsemane Lutheran Church, serving as both an usher and elder. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Marilyn Paulsen, sister Arline Jones, son Michael, daughter Kathryn Doll, and two grandchildren.
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W
e are entering a time of holidays and celebrations for many people in our country. Thanksgiving is a holiday that we as Americans have enjoyed for generations. Many people are looking forward to time spent with family, time off from work, a big feast, watching football, catching the biggest sales of the years, and probably many others things during this Thanksgiving weekend. There will be some people who will struggle during the this time of holiday as they remember loved ones who they have lost, or close companions that are unable to be together because of the schedule or the logistics. Either way, Thanksgiving will be a time when people are either thinking happy thoughts or sad thoughts about something. When I was a boy, I remember my mother saying, “Don’t forget to say thank you.” She was reminding me to be thankful to my grandmother for the wonderful Thanksgiving meal, or to my family member that gave me a special gift, or to my friend who invited me to their birthday party. Most people want to teach their children to be thankful. I think most people would agree that being thankful is important, it is also true that it is not always to be thankful depending on what we are going through. The Bible says in Ephesians 5:20 “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” I would encourage you, no matter how you feel during this holiday season to remember that you can be thankful to God. He gave up His only Son to die a cruel death on the cross so that anyone who trusts him can be forgiven of their sins and have eternal life. Don’t forget to say thank you! If you would like to discuss this further or have questions, Pastor Will Cover can be reached at Arise Baptist Church at 803 Curtin St., or www.arisebaptistchurch.org, or 713-659-9697.
The Leader • Saturday, November 24, 2018 • Page 7A
Birth, from P. 1A it had happened. You just go with it.” And not more than a few months later, Baggett was pregnant again. But amidst the joy, a silent voice lingered. “It was exciting and so fun, but we were still very cautious about (telling people about it),” she said. “We didn’t tell anyone super early this time around.” At the six-week mark, all signs checked out positively. The first hurdle was cleared. But a month later, an undersized heartbeat indicated the couple’s worst nightmare was recurring. The Baggetts did not know or understand why there was another miscarriage, so they were at a loss for both words. “We still didn’t know what was happening,” Lene said. Questions, trepidation abound Undeterred, the Baggetts stayed the course. And six months later, it was again a time of simultaneous joy and trepidation – despite a semicrisis of faith along the way until the couple was emotionally prepared to give it another go. “At that point, we were just extremely cautious and unsure of whether we really wanted to keep trying this,” Lene said. “It’s so heartbreaking, and it gets to a point where you don’t want to have to go through that all again.” But onward the journey went. Six-week ultrasound? Check. But an uneasy feeling still nagged at Lene, prompting her to request another ultrasound. “They did a scan and everything was there, but the bleeding just kept getting worse, and I was so stressed out that I
kept going back to the doctor,” she said. At 12 weeks, her doctor performed the ultrasound – and it was another loss. Following a six-month wait, they discovered that Trisomy 22 – a rare chromosomal disorder in which there are three copies of chromosome 22 rather than two – was responsible for this third occurence. By that point, according to Lene, the couple was no longer trying. Still without a medical explanation for the other two miscarriages – both had tested negative for any genetic defects – it had become a wearisome. “We were just so over losing everything, every time,” she said. Eventually, however, the pull was simply too strong. “We thought, ‘We really want a kid, and if we don’t try we’ll never know if it works.’ So we got pregnant again. We never had an issue there,” Lene chuckled. The kicker? Clarice is a Hurricane Harvey baby. Not by
plan, but the Baggetts didn’t care. And on Memorial Day 2018 – three days early – the couple’s tiny miracle entered the world. “It wasn’t on purpose, that’s just the one that stuck,” Lene said. “We just kept on going.” Lene praised her husband, and now 13-year-old daughter Madeline, for staying the course, when any one of them could have been thrown off the roller coaster. Joshua Baggett called Clarice the couple’s “rainbow baby.” This will be six-monthold Clarice’s first holiday season, and she is old enough to munch on some special Thanksgiving Day food. And for that, the Baggetts are counting every blessing – because they were not sure it would ever come. “We always talk about, ‘What if we didn’t try again, what if we would have given up?” Lene said. “We’re officially one big family. We had our own issues with it, but we’re very lucky.”
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Page 8A • Saturday, November 24, 2018 • The Leader Pinemont, from P. 1A
Answering Questions You May Have About Our Move
purpose county annex building values. Along with Forest West remains in the design phase, and Pinemont Park, nearby subwith no timeline for the start divisions include Forest Pines, of construction or completion. Mangum Manor and Oak ForShe attributed the three-year est. delay to multiple factors, includKirk Waldron, vice president ing changes in contractors and of the Forest West homeowners county staff, prioritizing within association, said residents were the county government and the “alarmed” by rumors that aneffects of Hurricane Harvey. other apartment complex was The county initially hired in the works. There already are Q. Why is The Leader moving after so many years Joiner Partnerships, Inc., to some on Pinemont Drive east design the project. According of the former park-and-ride loat the same location? to Harris County Commission- cation. On Dec. 1, The Leader is becoming part of MVR ers Court records, Joiner was “Either there’s something Publishing, which owns the Greensheet. It now awarded contracts of $250,000 going on,” Waldron said of the makes sense for most of The Leader staff to be in July 2015 and $220,000 in county’s construction plan, “or September 2016. they’re all liars. I don’t know located just down the road at the Greensheet Hamilton said the county which one to think.” office, T.C Jester and Loop 610. Publisher Jonasubsequently severed its agreeAfter the county purchased ® ® ® ® McElvy remains the majority owner of The than ment withiPhone Joiner, adding iPad that the iMac MacBook property from METRO, Air she did not know when said she heard about Leader. ® or Hamilton ® MacBook Pro Macproject Proon® Accessories why. Court records show Mac the a Mini potential housing county entered into a one-year, nearby land. But that appears to Q. Where is the new location of The Leader? $429,790 agreement with a new have been a rumor as well. design contractor, PGAL, Inc., Donna Dixon of the Houston 2020 North Loop West, Suite 220. on Aug. 14. Housing Authority and Horace “The process is in place and fiRSt Allison ofPURchASe the Harris County YoUR Q. Will I still get my newspaper at my normal being worked on,” Hamilton Housing Authority said they BRing in athiS to Receive 10% off time? said. “But because there’s new coUPon know of no such plans for the AnY RePAiR in-Stock UP to $50. consultant, that’s basically start- oRarea near the olditeM park-and-ride Yes. You will notice no difference in delivery times. Can not be combined with any other offers or discounts. Valid for in-store purchases only at the Heights location. ing the process of design work site. Neither does John Werover.” ner, a longtime property owner Q. Is the phone number of The Leader changing? Norden, whose district helps and developer in the area who facilitate developments such as sold the park-and-ride land to No. It remains 713-686-8494. the county annex building, said METRO. switching contractors is not unAfter METRO sold the land Q. I get my paper at The Leader office each usual. He also said it is typical to Harris County, Werner said SATISFACT O for governmental construction he sold an additional five acres 0% week. ICan I still do that? projects to be drawn out over of adjoining property to the Yes. Our newsstand it front of the current building multiple years. county for its upcoming annex will not be moved. The idle time has nonethe- building. He doesn’t foresee anless caused restlessness among other apartment complex being savings customers nearbyAverage homeowners whoexperimac are constructed in the area. Q. Where do I go now if I need to pay my bill? get on Apple® desktop products U concerned about their property AR E E just dropping off a check, you can go IfAyou over big-box retail stores. N Tare
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The Leader office is now located just 6 blocks south of the former location. The new office is at 2020 North Loop West, Suite 220, in The Preserve office complex.
Here is how to reach our new office if you are coming from the old location on East T.C. Jester. ➘ Go south on East T.C. Jester toward Loop 610. ➘ Cross 34th Street ➘ As you near Loop 610 look for the second to last esplanade crossing and turn left or east into The Preserve.
➘ Go straight or east into The Preserve and buildings 2050, 2040 and
2030 will be on your right. Our building, 2020, is the last one on the right. Parking is available all around our building. ➘ Enter the building and go to the second floor. There are stairs and an elevator. ➘ Look for The Leader signage, enter our reception area, ring the bell, and someone will greet you.
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Turn left off TC Jester into The Preserve.