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Saturday, June 4, 2016 • Vol. 62 • No. 23

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Timbergrove Manor pair turn frustration with voter turnout into local civic duty

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By Jonathan Garris jgarris@theleadernews.com

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Retirement affords many people a chance to engage with new opportunities or experiences in and around their community. For Kenneth Williams, he saw an ample chance to perform a civic duty with his wife by volunteering as a deputy voter registrar. Williams, a Vietnam veteran, said he became frustrated at the number of people that choose not to vote or otherwise believe that votes don’t count. “I think we’re seeing that, when you have Donald Trump as one candidate and Bernie Sanders as

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another contender, people are really upset with the status quo,” Williams said. “A lot of people have made a lot of sacrifices to preserve our liberties.” The Timbergrove Manor resident isn’t the only one taking notice of low voter registration and, by proxy, low voter turnout. According to the Texas Secretary

of State, less than 22 percent of residents 18 and older voted in this year’s March 1 primaries. Williams spoke with his wife and they elected to become volunteers and took part in a short training session with county officials, where candidates learn the process for assisting voters in the registration process. “The process takes about three hours or so in one day,” Williams said. “The biggest surprise to me is that it’s not our position to determine whether anyone is qualified or not. We make sure to help See Registration P. 2A

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City selects firm for developing historic district guidelines For The Leader

The mission of Girls Incorporated of Greater Houston, also called Girls Inc., is to inspire young girls to be strong, smart and bold. The agency is recognized as a premier, nationwide organization dedicated to helping girls realize their potential. “The construction of the Little Free Library was a STEM project,” Cari explained. “Sometimes girls are intimidated by science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, but we used it throughout. It was difficult, but the girls were determined. Now they are proud. It was very empowering for them and a thrill to watch.” Cari and the three students started building the library in March. They budgeted the project, sought donors, de-

City officials announced they have selected Winter & Company, a planning and urban design firm, as the consultant for the Historic District Design Guidelines. The city’s Planning & Development Department first embarked on revamping the Historic Preservation Ordinance following a series of articles by The Leader, culimating in a yearlong review of the ordinance and the process involving homeowners making changes to historic structures. The new ordinance calls for the adoption of new design guidelines for districts within 16 months. Phase 1 of the design guidelines project will include 7 historic districts: Houston Heights Historic District East, Houston Heights Historic District West, Houston Heights Historic District South, Norhill Historic District, Freeland Historic District, Woodland Heights Historic District and the Old Sixth Ward Historic District, which will receive an update to its existing guidelines. Phase 2 is expected to begin in 2017

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Contributed Photo Hogg Middle School sixth graders show off the Little Free Library they constructed with Girls Inc. after school. (Clockwise lower left to right) Student Feye Smith, volunteer Lisa Cari, student Tara Lewis, Girls Inc. representative Avery Suber, and student Alison Caradine.

INSIDE.

Hogg Middle School students complete Free Little Library project By Kim Hogstrom For The Leader

Success on the mat Discover Gymnastics has attracted gymnasts of all skill levels, including two Olympic gymnasts. Find out about these athletes as well as Oak Forest’s own Sophia Butler who has an eye on the 2020 Olympic Games and is competing in an upcoming USA Gymnastics competition.

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As a member of the Houston Heights Woman’s Club, Lisa Cari was thrilled when she discovered the programs offered to students by Girls Incorporated of Greater Houston. Ever-busy and tremendously energetic, Cari quickly signed on to volunteer with the nonprofit agency at Hogg Middle School, helping with a project that will bring hours of learning and joy to many kids. Cari and three Hogg Middle School sixth grade girls built a Little Free Library, so that others kids can continue to read throughout the summer vacation. “It was a challenge to construct, but it was a wonderful experience for all of us,” Cari stated with a knowing laugh.

Progress continues steadily for Memorial Park Master Plan By Jonathan Garris jgarris@theleadernews.com Intense rain and flooding haven’t put a damper on the Memorial Park Master Plan as it continues its steady march forward, according to officials. Memorial Park Conservancy president Shellye Arnold said officials have done a “great job” preparing the park for some of the anticipated rains seen so far this year. The Conservancy took over a number of large areas in the park beginning Feb. 1 and the team’s response to flooding received commendations from other city officials and nearby community members, Arnold said. The Master Plan does take into account “major disturbances,” and the intense rains do have a silver lining, she said.

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“Nothing has changed per se in the Master Plan,” Arnold said. “It’s more because of the rain and the flooding that we learn more about how to better implement and prepare for the work ahead.” Arnold said that the project is also still on pace to to utilize a system to capture and use stormwater. The system would utilize existing wetlands throughout the park while creating a new one for purifying the water, and stormwater would also be diverted into other bodies. Late last year, crews broke ground on the Eastern Glades – the inaugural project of the Master Plan – which includes a 113-acre area north of Memorial Drive between MeSee Park P. 2A

Contributed Art Despite heavy rains and flooding, officials with the Memorial Park Conservancy have high hopes for preliminary work at the park in the coming months.


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