March 28 Section A

Inside Today: Praise for Lina Hidalgo and Sylvester Turner • Page 3A

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Testing sites up and running

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com The City of Houston’s first COVID-19 testing site opened Friday, and Harris County opened two more FEMA-sponsored locations last week weekend.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said Monday that the county’s free, drive-through sites are open to anyone in the region who is experiencing symptoms of the upper-respiratory disease caused by the new strain of coronavirus, which include fever,

cough and difficulty breathing. Those people can visit ReadyHarris.org and use the online screening tool, which will determine the need for a test and provide further instructions. Those without access to a computer or internet also can call 832-927-7575 to be screened.

“We want folks who are tested to have symptoms,” Hidalgo said. “If we test folks who are not symptomatic, we may get a false negative.”

City and county officials asked that people who want COVID-19 tests first contact their healthcare provider

about testing.

Hidalgo said each county site has the capability to administer up to 250 tests per day.

More than 500 people with COVID-19 symptoms were tested last weekend at the city’s free, drivethrough site, according to a news release from the city. First responders and healthcare workers were tested last Friday, the testing expanded last Saturday to people age 65 and older, and last Sunday the testing was open

Lonely Road

See Testing P. 4A

Photo from Twitter Medical personnel in protective equipment prepare to test for COVID-19 on March 19 in the parking lot of United Memorial Medical Center, 510 W. Tidwell Rd. lot.

Hunt for sense of community keeps area neighbors

connected

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com Jason Knebel (713)232-9712

jasonk@greenwoodking.com GREENWOOD KING

PROPERTIES

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INSIDE. Photo by Adam Zuvanich The sidewalk on West 19th Street in the Heights, typically bustling with customers of the many shops on the street, was empty late Monday afternoon. Some of the businesses were closed, and many neighborhood residents are staying at home.

Stay-at-home order issued for city, county Kids can cook. Looking for ways to keep your kids busy?

Try cooking with them.

Page 9A

Running out of ammo. A local gun and ammo store has been nearly cleaned out.

Page 4A

TP for to-go orders. A local Mexican restaurant is helping to address a toilet paper shortage.

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com Most of the businesses already were closed, and the few that were still open had hardly any customers. There were even fewer people walking down West 19th Street, typically one of the busiest thoroughfares in the Heights, late Monday afternoon.

As for parking along the street, plenty was available.

“It’s sad,” said Heights resident Alex Keys, who had just picked up an early dinner from Torchy’s Tacos at the corner of 19th and Ashland streets. “Super sad.”

The crowds on 19th Street, and throughout the rest of Houston, likely will become even smaller during the remainder of March. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, in a joint announcement with Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, issued a stay-at-home, work-safe order Tuesday morning in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19 and keep the region’s healthcare system from becoming overwhelmed.

The order, which went into effect Wednesday and will last through April 3, limits the operation of nonessential businesses and requires most residents of the county, including the City of Houston, to stay home except to buy groceries and household items,

See Community P. 4A

Photo by Adam Zuvanich A strip center on White Oak Drive, where parking spaces are often hard to find, was empty late Monday afternoon.

obtain medical care and care for family members and pets at other locations. Faith leaders will be allowed to have one-on-one interaction with parishioners, although in-person church services are restricted. People can go outside to exercise and parks will remain open, although people must maintain at least 6 feet See Home P. 4A

Photo courtesy of Jane Buchanan A young Woodland Heights resident points to a shamrock image hanging from the window of a home.

Social distancing for dummies: Yard mannequin promotes safe practice

By Betsy Denson

Page 5A

betsy@theleadernews.com

THE INDEX. Church....................................................... 5A Classifieds.............................................. 6A Coupons. ................................................. 8A Food/Drink/Art................................... 9A Opinion. ................................................... 3A Public Information..................... 10A Puzzles...................................................... 3A Sports. ....................................................... 2B

The COVID-19 crisis has crippled the sense of community in places like Houston, where schools and churches are closed and so are dining rooms and bars.

Social distancing is necessary to slow the spread of the upper-respiratory disease but also makes people anti-social, because citizens have been ordered to stay in their homes most of the time and steer clear of others because they might be sick or carrying the new strain of coronavirus.

In the Woodland Heights neighborhood, however, residents are using creativity to stay connected.

Borrowing an idea she got from her sister-in-law in Chicago, Tracy Smith put together a “Shamrock Hunt” in the Northwest Houston community on March 17, which was St. Patrick’s Day. She and her four children asked neighbors to attach images of shamrocks to windows that face their streets, and then kids walked or rode their bicycles around the neighborhood and counted as many as they could.

Smith said her kids ventured out March 19, because they were hampered by ear infections two days earlier, and still saw shamrocks on 89 homes.

“This thing that we love about living in the Heights is the community,” Smith said. “We’re missing it so much right now that it seemed like the perfect way to sort of be reaching out to each other. We can see these little messages and know we’re all in this together.”

Because last week’s event went over so well, an officer with the Woodland

Contributed photo A dummy in Timbergrove Manor lets people practice proper social distancing.

The COVID-19 creativity continues.

Timbergrove Manor resident Daragh Carter has drawn the attention and approval of neighbors with a creative yard display intended to enforce the concept of social distancing.

A dapper dummy stands in the middle of a 6-foot radius drawn around him, with a sign inviting people to properly practice the current concept of what is ap-

propriate physical space. The guideline has been put into place in Houston and beyond as the world tries to slow the spread of COVID-19, the upper-respiratory disease caused by the new strain of coronavirus.

Carter said the idea for the display just popped into his head.

“Social distancing in response to the COVID-19 threat is a very serious matter, but I wanted to present it in a way that might make people smile, and that they’d remember and perhaps share,” he said.

Gaye Hablinski wrote on the neighborhood’s Facebook page, “I love it. Thanks for keeping us honest.”

Carter said he already had the mannequin, which he bought at a yard sale, “largely to prank my wife by installing it as art in our back yard.”

With the help of his 11-year-old child who aided in the measurement of a proper 6-foot radius for the circle around the mannequin, the project took Carter about 20 See Mannequin P. 8A

Page 2A • Saturday, March 28, 2020 • The Leader

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THE TOPICS. The Leader • Saturday, March 28, 2020 • Page 3A

Raise a banner to beacons we’ve elected O pinions like this usually don’t come in the middle of a national panic. They’re reserved for the post-mortem – the weeks, months, maybe years after tragedy or turmoil strike. I’m sorry, but this can’t wait.

Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve watched two leaders of our community graciously stand in front of podiums with cameras and microphones shoved in their faces.

They’ve answered question after question, perfectly blending empathy with strength. They’ve been conscious of the local discourse while unwavering in their commitment to the greater good.

No matter how you’ve voted in the past, and no matter how much you may agree or disagree with their positions on matters of policy, every honest soul in Houston and Harris County should be boastfully proud of County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Mayor Sylvester Turner.

I’ve never met Hidalgo, and my interactions with Turner have been limited, but while most media remain locked on the next breaking story that might edge up website traffic, I want to pause and waive the banner for our two leaders.

Earlier this week, when Hidalgo and Turner made the decision to

Jonathan McElvy Publisher

issue a work/stay-at-home notice, you could see in their eyes and hear in their voices that they didn’t want to shut down businesses that may never reopen. And despite what some of the tinfoil-hat crowd may think, neither leader pushed the idea until the medical community, and the data, suggested the only way to save lives was to greatly limit the amount of exposure we have with each other for the next 10 days.

If you watched just a moment of that press conference, the emotion on the faces of Hidalgo and Turner was real. Their pain was raw, resilient.

Once their prepared remarks concluded, as they always do, the Judge and Mayor opened the floor to the salivating press. And wouldn’t you know it, the first question was an

arrow shot directly at Turner.

Mayor, the reporter asked, “On Friday you said the city isn’t shutting down. Does [this order] blindside Houstonians you reassured?”

If you ever wondered why so many people have a disdain for media, consider this Exhibit A. This is what we’re asking at a time when the news cycle changes every 30 minutes? This is what a reporter thinks is most important to Houstonians at a time when businesses are closing, layoffs are rampant and, just for kicks, the price of oil has cratered?

“Hey mayor, why did you change your mind?”

Are you kidding? We have a virus we’ve never seen. We have a national reaction that’s unprecedented.

We have social media spewing all sorts of treachery. Meanwhile, we have hospitals and doctors begging for masks, scientists working on no sleep, and corporations changing their entire manufacturing processes.

And the best question we’ve got to ask is if Mayor Turner is embarrassed because he said one thing on Friday and agreed with another decision on Tuesday?

Five days these days is like five years any other time. Results change by the moment. Data sets are updated by the hour. Testing kits are

Lynn Ashby Columnist

The run was helped when the Hit Man slammed Mercury with a double-double in the ol’ left jaundice. (English subtitles on ESPN 7.) This score came despite the fact that each wife had seven sacks, and all will probably go in the first round of the next NFL draft.

Variety – Hot flash from across the pond: A man – possibly Sean Penn on his way to St Ives, a location for his next box office bingo, met two – some say seven -women. Our snoops think the Pennster may be rendezvousing with Madonna or Charlize. Meanwhile, the Peacock Channel is making prime time for “Sacks & Cats: The #MeToo Story Goes Brit.”

Fox News – A man, probably a member of the deep state, was on his way to that well-known hotbed of treason, St Ives, where they all drive on the LEFT SIDE of the street. He came upon seven women, each one running for the Democratic presidential nomination. Tune into “Fox & Friends” all next week for an objective, fair and balanced discussion of “The Democrats ARE TRYING TO WIN!” Also, check out the Sean Hannity Show when Sean will disprove there are puppet strings running up his back to the Oval Office.

Press release from Plácido Domingo’s lawyer: He never touched those seven women.

PBS NewsHour -- Hi, I’m Judy Woodruff. Smack. Our lead story: A man heading for St Ives met seven women. Each woman had seven smacks, uh, sacks. We’ll have more on this story with two experts, each from some Ivy League college, who will take opposite sides and debate what it all means to western civilization. Later an indepth look at North Dakota, is it necessary? If you are still awake, we’ll hit you up for yet another donation, but you’ll get a tote bag, again.

Press release from the Biden for President Campaign: A man was going to St Ives to vote for Joe Biden, who didn’t mean to say, “My stealth plane is garbage,” but, “My health plan shows courage.” His reference to “I want to have foreign affairs” was clearly a bad choice of words. Joe didn’t doze off during the debate, but was merely meditating. And FDR used a wheelchair, too.

The Rachel Maddow Show – When the dinosaurs first roamed St Ives until the first voters arrived in the Bronze Age, cats were relatively rare.

And speaking of cats, Wall Street fat cats are repress-

There are too many questions like the one Turner fielded (gracefully, I might add), where reporters are more interested in walking out highfiving colleagues because he or she embarrassed the person standing at the dais.

It’s happening at the local level.

It’s happening at the state level. And it’s happening every day in national media outlets, where the constant onslaught of piercing questions is designed to feed a perceived lust the public has for political blood.

I’m normally proud of the role media play in our democracy. We’re needed to celebrate the good and expose the bad. And while I’d never suggest we stop holding elected officials responsible for inaccuracies in their statements, the public would be better served if our only mission was to help steer a nation out of crisis.

Judge Hidalgo and Mayor Turner have done so pristinely; beacons when we needed them most. They should be celebrated for their mettle and applauded for their doggedness.

Any attempt to nit and pick and pry at their motivations don’t deserve another second of media play.

And that’s not just in Houston. That’s everywhere.

Email jonathan@mcelvymedia.com

THE READER.

Without rhyme or reason As I was going to St Ives, I met a man with seven wives.

Every wife had seven sacks.

Every sack had seven cats.

Every cat had seven kits.

Kits, cats, sacks, and wives.

How many were going to St Ives? -- The Weekly Magazine of August 4, 1779 The Wall Street Journal – Stocks dropped across the board in early trading when word swept the floor that the town of St Ives was being evacuated due to the spread of the deadly Cat Virus. “The mayor has ordered everyone to flee for their lives,” a resident said, running from the town. Later, however, stocks rebounded on word that the mayor had ordered the evacuation to loot the empty houses. After hitting a record high, stocks fell to record lows when the kitten crop scored heavily in European markets. But just before the closing bell, some stocks went up and others went down. Wall Street analysts attributed the huge swings to “greedy brokers and dumb investors.”

Local TV – Breaking news!

The seasons are about to change! Wednesday follows Tuesday! Near St Ives, a man met seven wives, each carrying seven sacks that, police say, were filled with seven cats, each cat with seven kittens. Such inhumane crowding could lead to animal abuse. The SPCA may file charges. Near downtown there was a police chase, an apartment fire and a bloody car wreck. OK it was in Singapore last week. So we got a car wreck, apartment fire and a police shooting -- a perfect trifecta. In other news, World War Three has ….

The New York Times -- A man, identified only as “a man,” was going to St Ives, a seaside town, civil parish and port in Cornwall. The town lies north of Penzance and west of Camborne on the coast of the Celtic Sea. See: History of St Ives, pages 23-29. Upon the road he met seven wives, according to a White House official who was not authorized to speak, so he said nothing, but indicated the seven wives were at various times married to President Trump, who stole the election with that squirrely Electoral College plot.

The wives all carried seven sacks which the Mueller Report suggested were emails hacked from the Democratic National Committee. See full Mueller Report, Section 31.

Each sack contained seven “cats,” which sources say is a code name for “tax returns,” “millions of votes” or short for “catastrophe,” the Trump administration’s plans for the next pandemic.

ESPN – Simple Simon, halfback for the St. Ives Cats, broke free for a coast-tocoast TD against the Fightin’ Kittens from Teetering-onthe-Brink to put the Felines 14-zip and give Coach Grinder (Cautiously Optimistic) Leatherhead a win with his Red Wombat Right Swoop.

delivered as rapidly as possible. And test results come as soon as the labs can process them. And our question is whether Mayor Turner blindsided the public?

No, Mr. Reporter. The mayor did not blindside the public. In fact, Turner and Hidalgo have been the last people on the list I would consider to have blindsided the public. To the contrary, they’ve given us every piece of information they responsibly could, and the rigor in which they’ve managed this crisis has risen above any sort of partisan policy imaginable.

Look, I’m a member of the press.

I’ve worked in media for more than two decades, and I’ve stood in front of public figures hoping to ask the most germane question ever posed by a reporter in the history of all reporting. If you don’t think there’s some narcissism in media, you probably don’t believe this virus is real, either.

What sickens me about this entire malady, and what sickens me about the impact this virus has had on our country, our economy and the employees who have lost jobs in the past week is the game of “Gotcha” being played in media.

There are too many stories trying to cast blame one way or the other.

ing the common man – and woman, too, don’t play that misogynist song to me, chauvinist pig. Anyway, this man met seven women who were carrying sacks. Now isn’t that sexist? Why were the women doing all the heavy lifting?

President Trump at a press conference – A man going to St Ives met 500 women, all wearing MAGA caps, carrying 2,000 sacks, the most sacks ever carried by women anywhere, to a rally being held before 30-million of my supporters. In each sack were 700 cats, all avowed supporters. Each cat had 450 kittens, who also plan to vote for me. Any fact check by left-wing journalists is clearly fake news. I’ll be speaking to the rally as soon as I, alone, bring peace to the Middle East, and also, I have a tee time at noon.

Ashby rhymes at ashby2@comcast.net

McElvy: Direct economic help at small businesses

Dear Editor: As a senior in the area with health issues, I have chosen to basically shelter at home. We are not going anywhere unless we absolutely have to. We are cooking all of our meals. We have no visitors. We thought probably a month, but now it may be three months or longer.

Kind of feels like the weeks after Ike when we were all in limbo. The only difference being this virus just keeps infecting! It’s just plain scary.

Those folks that keep doing everything they are not supposed to be doing will make us all pay for it, with our time and with some, our lives.

I hope they wise up.

Jeanette Black

Report: County Judge to issue stayat-home order Tuesday

Dear Editor: While seemingly tragic there should be a way to keep these small businesses open. Like shopping by time reservations. Know what you want and reserve a time with the business to go.

Allowing the owners a chance to stay open and those that want to shop a chance to get out.

Alice

Art Valet: COVID-19 cancellations crippling art community

Dear Editor: Surviving as an artist has always been precarious at the best of times. Yet our world needs

the beauty and magic of Art – perhaps more now than ever before. It saddens me greatly that our government will do little (if anything at all) to protect this vital resource to our minds and souls.

Jane Broyles

Country music legend Kenny Rogers, who had Heights roots, dies at 81

Dear Editor: I met him once one evening while he was on a break in a small venue in Columbus Ohio. We talked for awhile. We laughed at how his voice and beard created a classical image (he was not very famous yet in 1968).

One of his many hobbies was photography —- I own all his books (I think).

A wonderful talent and I think of him often.

Robert Hall

Reader urges dog walkers to not dispose of dog poo-filled bags in trash

Dear Oak Forest Dog Walkers: Please do not throw your dog poo-filled bags into people’s emptied trash cans. On the occasions in which I wasn’t able to remove the bin from the curb immediately, I’ve found your reeking “deposits.” I don’t know if it’s because you’re ill-mannered or feel self-entitled or both (whatever), but please STOP! Thanks.

Marilyn K.

Email us your letters: news@theleadernews.com

the leader Puzzlers.

Answers found in this week’s Classified section

SUDOKU

aCrOss 1. Short tributary of the Seille 5. Where you sleep 8. Crinkle 12. Regions 14. United States 15. Icelandic poetry books 16. Transferred property 18. Electrocardiography 19. From here 20. Hunting or observation expedition 21. Used to make cabins 22. Containers 23. Famed patriot 26. Makes less intense 30. Forced to take refuge 31. Campaigner 32. Special security team 33. Egyptian city 34. The Muse of lyric and hymns 39. What newlyweds just said 42. Pain 44. Norwegian village 46. Produced on paper 47. Acceptance 49. Semite

50. Detective Ventura 51. Martens 56. Small mammal related to rabbits 57. Airsick 58. Itinerant 59. Has spotted 60. Garland 61. Search engine 62. Former Knick and Bull Curry 63. Student selected components 64. Norwegian island

dOwn 1. Fathers 2. Region 3. The Great Barrier ___ 4. Father 5. Civil War general Don Carlos 6. Bodyguards 7. Knives 8. Member of U.S. Navy 9. English prince 10. Expression 11. Giants great Willie 13. Curving 17. Actress Keaton 24. Deploy 25. Medicine that treats animals

26. We all have it 27. Greek goddess of the dawn 28. Kevin Smith film ‘Chasing __’ 29. City in India 35. Went jogging 36. What thespians do 37. One and only 38. Largest English dictionary (abbr.)

40. Obstructs from a course 41. Prophets 42. Prefix meaning on or above 43. Got up 44. Drenched 45. N.Y. State capital 47. Sampled 48. Tending to an end 49. Architectural recess 52. Undergarments 53. Ethnic group in China 54. Reactive structure 55. Greek portico

WORD SCRAMBLE

Page 4A • Saturday, March 28, 2020 • The Leader

Local gun store running out of ammunition

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

Business has been booming at Black Gold Guns & Ammo, where sales increased by about 800 percent earlier this month.

But Gordon Taylor, who owns the local firearms store at 2001 Karbach St. Suite F, isn’t shooting at the sky in celebration. He said most of his handgun and ammunition stock has been depleted since the “fear-buying” started March 13, and the warehouses that supply with him with products don’t have more to send his way.

“It’s been rocking,” Taylor said. “But next week, when I have no inventory, then what?”

Much like people have flocked to grocery stores to stock up on food, water, hand soap and toilet paper amidst the COVID-19 pandemic – which has prompted much of Houston to stay home and away from crowds – Tay-

Home, from P. 1A distance from each other, and the use of high-traffic areas such as playgrounds, benches and sport courts will be prohibited.

Hidalgo and Turner said their decision was guided by the region’s healthcare community, which is seeing a sharp uptick in patients infected with the upper-respiratory disease caused by the new strain of coronavirus.

“To be honest, it was not a hard decision based on the data,” Hidalgo said. “If we follow this, we will save lives.”

Businesses in essential industries -- including public works, law enforcement and government functions, transportation and manufacturing businesses, healthcare services, news media and several types of retail businesses -- will be allowed to continue operating and must adhere to social distancing guidelines. Restaurants can remain open as long as they are restricted to carryout, drive-through and delivery services, which has been the case since March 17.

See the complete list of essential businesses, as outlined by Hidalgo, accompanying this story.

“We want the people in our region … to recognize this situation is serious, to recognize that if we don’t act now, then the situation will get worse,” Turner said.

Since Fort Bend County officials announced the Houston area’s first positive test for COVID-19 on March 4, the number of cases in the region has steadily risen as testing capacity has increased. The City of Houston reported 31 new cases Tuesday, bringing its total to 55. Harris County reported 25 new cases, bringing its total to 79. One of those 134 people has died, while 15 have recovered.

According to the World Health Organization, which

lor said they also have been rushing to shops like his to stockpile weapons and ammunition. Taylor said the outbreak’s negative impact on the economy could lead to desperation and an increase in crime, so some citizens are bracing for the worst and making sure they can protect themselves.

A spokesperson for Harris County Precinct 1 Constable Alan Rosen said his officers have seen “no uptick in crime and don’t expect any.”

“We are prepared, as always, to respond as necessary to protect our communities,” the spokesperson said.

It is unclear how Tuesday’s stay-athome, work safe order by Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo will impact businesses such as Black Gold. Taylor said he isn’t sure if his business qualifies as essential, per the order, but he plans to stay open because he regularly sells guns and ammo to law enforcement officers and first responders, who can continue working during the order that expires April 3.

earlier this month declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic, there have been more than 375,000 confirmed cases in 195 different countries, including more than 42,000 cases in the U.S. The disease has led to more than 16,300 deaths globally.

“We can defeat this virus,” said Dr. Esmaeil Porsa, president and CEO of Harris Health System. “We can prevent the devastating impact of this virus by coming together by staying part. We can do this.”

While the stay-at-home order may very well save lives, it also could upend the livelihoods of several business owners and workers whose employers must close at least temporarily.

Multiple local restaurants already had closed because of the dining-room restrictions, and shopping centers that typically are bustling have been sparsely visited.

The group of restaurants and bars on White Oak Drive in the Heights was virtually empty on Monday afternoon, with plenty of parking spaces available.

Strip centers around the Garden Oaks and Oak Forest neighborhoods looked much the same.

Two business owners on 19th Street — Erica Del Gardo of Erica Del Gardo Jewelry Designs and Crystal Kirksey of boutique Jubilee — both said Monday afternoon that they expected a stay-at-home order to be issued. Now that it’s happened, it could have a significant impact on their businesses.

Kirksey said foot traffic already was down about “95 percent” along 19th Street, where there are clothing stores, bookstores, antique shops and hair salons that are considered non-essential and must close.

“Hopefully we won’t lose our store,” Kirksey said.

Contributed photo The display cases at Black Gold Guns & Ammo, located at 2001 Karbach St. Suite F, are more bare than usual. Owner Gordon Taylor said most of his stock has been depleted during the last few weeks.

“If they came out and told me I had to close, I’ll close,” Taylor said. “But supplies for police and first responders, I think they need to keep that place open. Worst-case scenario, I will go to appointment only. I’m not going to leave it where I can’t fill their needs.”

Taylor has a lower supply than usual, though, saying he is nearly out of

Essential Businesses The following is a breakdown of essential businesses that can continue to operate under the stay-athome, work-safe order issued Tuesday by Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo: Essential Critical Infrastructure Work necessary to the operations and maintenance of the 16 critical infrastructure sectors identified by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security National Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), provided that they carry out those services or that work in compliance with social distancing requirements of six feet to the extent possible. Essential Businesses providing essential infrastructure should implement screening precautions to protect employees and all activities shall be performed in compliance with social distancing guidelines.

Essential Government Functions All services provided by local governments and municipalities located in Harris County needed to ensure their continuing operation to provide for the health, safety and welfare of the public, including law enforcement, jail operations and other services. Further, nothing in this Order shall prohibit any individual from performing “Essential Government Functions”. All Essential Government Functions shall be performed in compliance with social distancing requirements of six feet to the extent possible.

Essential City of Houston Government Functions All services provided by the City of Houston that the Mayor of the City of Houston determines to be essential Government Functions. Further, nothing in this Order shall prohibit any individual from performing “Essential Government Functions”. All Essential Government Functions shall be performed in compliance with social distancing requirements of six feet to the extent possible.

Essential Healthcare Operations Healthcare operations, including hospitals, clinics, dentists, pharmacies, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies,

Community, from P. 1A Heights Civic Association is expanding on it. Melissa Sternfels, the association’s vice president of deed restriction enforcement, organized the “Great Rainbow Hunt” this week and plans to hold a “Sunshine Hunt” and “Flower Hunt” the following weeks.

Following the format of the “Shamrock Hunt,” residents were asked to attach rainbow images to their front windows on Tuesday, and the rainbow hunt was held the next day.

There will be a search for sunshine images the following Wednesday and flower images the Wednesday after that.

For each upcoming event, Sternfels said she plans to leave care packages on her front porch so kids can get a toy or treat after completing their hunt. She said she might also leave out beers for the parents.

“It’s just a fun activity in the afternoon,” Sternfels said.

“We’re going to do that weekly until the coronavirus pandemic at least subsides or we at least get back to life as usual again.”

With the number of COVID-19 cases climbing in the Houston area, local government and health officials issued a stay-at-home, work-safe order on Tuesday, meaning citizens must stay at home except for essential reasons and only essential businesses are permitted to operate. But parks remain open and people are allowed to go outside to exercise as long as they maintain a distance of at least 6 feet from each other.

Rafael Lemaitre, a spokesperson for Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, said last week that people should be “very careful” when venturing out, because even those who feel healthy could be infected with COVID-19 and spread the disease to others. Families have been ordered to avoid gathering in groups with other families.

“If folks want to walk down sidewalks and look for things as part of a walk around the neighborhood, that should be OK as long as they’re not making contact and maintaining social distance between themselves and other folks,” Lemaitre said. “It’s good for (kids) to be outside and get exercise as long as they’re not coming in close proximity to other schoolchildren and other family units.”

Sternfels said Woodland Heights residents are doing other things to stay connected without getting too close to each other. Families have been drawing and writing messages in colorful chalk on their sidewalks and driveways, and some are hanging Christmas lights to brighten spirits.

Sternfels said some in the community also are engaging in “street porch parties” in which they stay on their front porches or driveways and talk to neighbors who are doing the same. Several residents were out walking and cycling Monday afternoon, with many some visiting the Norhill Esplanade.

“You have all the space here so that you can walk around

handguns and ammunition for those weapons. All 60 boxes of 9-millimeter bullets he received on March 16 were sold by the end of the following day.

Federal background checks required for gun purchases usually take a few minutes, Taylor said. But because of a backlog in the online system, Taylor said they’ve been taking a few hours.

“It’s just unbelievable,” he said. “It’s craziness.”

Taylor said semiautomatic rifles such as the AR-15 haven’t been selling as frequently, so he still has a good number of those in stock. He said those kinds of guns were big sellers in the aftermath of the school shooting in Sandy Hook, Connecticut, in 2012.

The recent gun-buying frenzy is comparable to that, Taylor said, and could lead to a similar spike in ammunition prices. But Taylor said he does not intend to increase his prices or engage in price-gauging.

Taylor said he’s reserving one box of ammunition per corresponding gun. That way, someone who purchases one of his remaining guns can have some bullets for it as well.

“It’s down to that point,” he said. “I can’t just sell ammo, because then I can’t sell guns. It would be like going and buying a car that you can’t get a tank of gas for.”

and not run into anybody,” said Woodland Heights resident Ward Pennebaker, who went for a walk with his wife.

“I think people are going stir crazy.”

In addition to the weekly hunts, in which people can paint, print or sculpt images of rainbows, suns and flowers, Sternfels said she’s also organizing a “photo safari” in which residents search for a list of recognizable things around the neighborhood, take photos of them and then submit those photos along with the corresponding addresses.

Whoever photographs all the places first will receive a gift certificate to a local restaurant, Sternfels said.

“I think it gives us a little sense of humanity and makes us feel like a neighborhood,” Sternfels said. “Even though we can’t be together, we can share something together.”

Sternfels said she hopes the events in Woodland Heights inspire other neighborhoods as they cope with the effects of COVID-19. She said those with questions about the events and how to organize them can email communications@ woodland-heights.org.

The spread of the disease has caused people all over the country and the world to limit physical contact with each other, but they can still connect with other.

“I think it’s great for each of our little communities to start doing things like this,” Sternfels said.

other healthcare facilities, healthcare suppliers, mental health providers, substance abuse service providers, blood banks, medical research, laboratory services, or any related and/or ancillary healthcare services. Home-based and residential-based care for seniors, adults, or children are also considered healthcare operations. Healthcare operations also include veterinary care and all health and welfare services provided to animals.

This exemption shall be viewed broadly to avoid any impacts to the delivery of healthcare.

Essential Retail Food producers and service providers, including grocery stores, warehouse stores, furniture suppliers, big box stores, bodegas, liquor stores, gas stations and convenience stores, farmers’ markets that sell food products and household staples. Food cultivation, including farming, ranching, fishing, and livestock. Food production, including the production of canned goods, bottled beverages and other grocery items. Businesses that ship or deliver groceries, food, goods or services directly to residences.

Restaurants and other facilities that prepare and serve food, but only for delivery, drive-thru or carry-out. Schools and other entities that typically provide free services to students or members of the public on a pick-up and take-away basis only. The restriction of delivery or carryout does not apply to cafes and restaurants located within hospital and medical facilities.

Laundromats, dry cleaners, and laundry service providers. Gas stations, auto supply, auto and bicycle repair, hardware stores, and related facilities. Businesses that supply products needed for people to work from home.

Providers of Basic Necessities to Economically Disadvantaged Populations Businesses that provide food, shelter, and social services, and other necessities of life for economically disadvantaged or

otherwise needy individuals.

Essential Services Necessary to Maintain Essential Operations of Residences or Other Essential Businesses Trash and recycling collection, processing and disposal, mail and shipping services, building cleaning, maintenance and security, warehouse/distribution and fulfillment, storage for essential businesses, funeral homes, crematoriums and cemeteries. Plumbers, electricians, exterminators, yard and maintenance crews, housekeepers, janitorial staff, pool cleaners and other service providers who provide services that are necessary to maintaining the safety, sanitation, and essential operations of residences and Essential Businesses. Professional services, such as legal or accounting services, when necessary to assist in compliance with legally mandated activities. Businesses that supply other Essential Businesses with support or utilities needed to operate. Caregivers and helpers who provide services to seniors and disabled individuals.

News Media Newspapers, television, radio, and other media services.

Childcare and Adult Care Services Childcare and adult care facilities providing services that enable employees exempted in this Order to work as permitted.

Infrastructure, Development, Operation and Construction For example, public works construction, construction of housing or other types of construction including commercial, manufacturing, airport operations and aircraft manufacturing, maintenance or repair, water, sewer, gas, electrical, oil refining, roads and highways, public transportation, solid waste collection and removal, internet, and telecommunications systems (including the provision of essential global, national, and local infrastructure for computing services,

business infrastructure, communications, and web-based services).

Transportation Businesses related to the operation, maintenance, construction, and manufacture of transportation services.For example, (a) vehicle manufacturers, automotive suppliers and parts departments, car dealerships, parts distributors, maintenance and repair facilities;(b) public transportation;(c) businesses supporting airport operations;(d)street and highway maintenance and construction;(e) gas stations and other fuel distribution businesses;(f )vehicles for hire, including public transportation services, Uber, Lyft, and taxicabs, that enable persons to travel to or from employers, service providers, or businesses exempted in this Order. People riding on public transit must comply with the six-foot social distancing requirements to the greatest extent feasible.

Labor union functions Critical labor union functions, including the maintenance of health and welfare funds and checking on the well-being and safety of members.

NASA and Port of Houston Activities of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Port of Houston.

Airports and related operations Airport and airline activities, operations, maintenance and repairs, and the hotels that serve these Essential Businesses.

Professional services Professional services, such as legal or accounting services, insurances services, and “real estate services” when necessary to assist in compliance with legally mandated activities or to further Essential Businesses, Essential Government functions, or Critical Infrastructure.

Testing, from P. 1A to those with chronic illnesses -- including heart disease, asthma, chronic lung disease, cancer or HIV/AIDS - as well as transplant recipients, people with weakened immune systems and pregnant women.

Anyone in those aforementioned groups who is experiencing symptoms may call the Houston Health Department’s COVID-19 call center at 832-393-4220 between 9 a.m.-7 p.m. to be screened. Those who meet testing criteria will be given a unique identification code as well as instructions about where to go for testing, according to the city.

The city and county testing sites will only accept people who have been screened.

The city said those who show up without an identification code will not be tested and could risk infection.

“If you are a healthy person with mild symptoms and not seriously ill, please self-quarantine at home,” Dr. David Persse of the Houston Health Department said.

“Most people infected with COVID-19 recover. It’s important we first focus our limited testing resources on the most vulnerable.”

The city said the testing sites are operating in a partnership with members of the Texas Medical Center, including Memorial Hermann Health System, Houston Methodist Hospital, HCA Houston Healthcare and Baylor St. Luke’s Medical

Center. Workers at the sites will not accept payment and only collect insurance information, according to the city, which also said “information obtained through testing, treatment or services will not be used against immigrants in their public charge evaluation.”

Dr. Umair Shah of Harris County Public Health said the goal is to have tests results available within two days after they are administered.

A privately operated free testing site that is open to the public opened March 19 at United Memorial Medical Center at 510 W. Tidwell Rd. The drive-through location was scheduled to be open until 6 p.m. Friday and then again next Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

Legacy Community Health also is administering COVID-19 tests at three Houston locations -- 3811 Lyons Ave., 1415 California St. and 6441 High Star Dr. For more information, call 832-548-5000.

COVID-19 tests also are being conducted at My Family Doctor at 6430 Hillcroft Ave., according to Houston Public Media. For more information, including costs, visit covid19drivethru.com.

Houston Public Media also reported that MD Anderson patients and employees can be tested at MD Anderson Diagnostic Imaging at 6602 Mapleridge St. As testing capacity increases in the Houston re-

gion, more and more cases of COVID-19 are being reported by local officials. As of Tuesday, Harris County had reported a total of 54 cases, which includes a man between 80 and 90 years old who died last week. The Houston Health Department has reported 24 cases of COVID-19 within the city limits.

The Harris County Sheriff’s Office reported four cases among its staff last week -- three deputies and one office employee. None have contact with county jail inmates as part of their duties, the sheriff’s office said.

According to the World Health Organization, which last week declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic, there have been more than 372,000 cases in 194 different countries as of Tuesday, including more than 42,000 cases in the U.S. The disease has led to more than 16,200 deaths globally.

“People have been saying you prepare for the worst and hope for the best. I’m going to change that around a little bit, because this is a tough, gritty city,” U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee said last week during a news conference at Houston City Hall.

“The worst may be in front of us, but we’re going to be prepared, not only with hope, but with hard work. I think together we will be a very unified community and will get through this together.”

The Leader • Saturday, March 28, 2020 • Page 5A

Tony’s restaurant provides toilet paper with to-go orders

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

Are you having trouble finding toilet paper at your local supermarket?

If so, a local Mexican restaurant has you covered.

Tony’s Mexican Restaurant, 2222 Ella Blvd., started a promotion last week aimed at boosting business and helping members of the community as area grocery stores struggle to keep essential items – including toilet paper – on their shelves. Starting March 17, every to-go order placed at Tony’s comes with one roll of TP and a $5 gift card.

City of Houston and Harris County officials have restricted local restaurants to carryout, drive-through and delivery services in an attempt

to promote social distancing and slow the spread of COVID-19, the upper-respiratory disease caused by the new strain of coronavirus. “What we were trying to do is bring a little humor to a bad situation,� Tony’s manager William Torres said last week. “We’re giving with each order a thank-you note. One of the lines says, ‘Help the people in your life find the toilet paper they’ve been looking for.’ �

Like restaurants all over the region, Torres said the restrictions are affecting Tony’s business in a “big way.� A Heights-area staple since 1992, Torres said many of his 55 employees are not working regular shifts because the dining room is closed until at least early April.

But the light-hearted promotion

has helped. Torres said March 20 that Tony’s had already gone through two boxes of toilet paper — there are 60 rolls in a box — meaning the restaurant had more than 120 to-go orders in the first few days of the promotion. “It’s been pretty good, thankfully,�

Torres said. “Word started spreading.

People were like, ‘We’re here for your toilet paper.’ Everybody knew it was a joke. It was good.�

Tony’s is open daily from 11 a.m.8 p.m. and is offering free delivery.

Margaritas and six-packs of beer can be delivered or carried out with food, Torres said. “Everybody’s been really supportive of us,� Torres said. “We’re trying to stay in business and do what’s possible.�

Photo from Facebook A Tony’s Mexican Restaurant customer, right, leaves with an order of food and a roll of toilet paper.

‘Free the Margaritas’ petition seeks further relaxation of state liquor laws

By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com

While local restaurateurs lauded Gov. Greg Abbott’s relaxation of Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission rules regarding “to-go� alcohol sales as well as alcohol deliveries to consumers, there is now a movement to further relax the restrictions on mixed drinks.

The “Free the Margaritas� petition asks the state to allow restaurants to mix, seal and sell all mixed drinks – not just margaritas - as the industry copes with social distancing restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19. All restaurants in Texas are temporarily limited to carryout, drive-through and delivery service.

Per Abbott’s relaxtion of the state’s liquor laws, res-

taurants with mixed beverage permits can deliver or sell hard liquor to-go in bottles that are 375 millimeters or smaller, and they must be sealed by the manufacturer.

One area restaurant owner who has signed the online petition is Alli Jarrett of Harold’s Restaurant, Bar & Rooftop Terrace on 19th Street in the Heights.

Jarrett said many restaurants had stocked up for St. Patrick’s Day and, in a lot of cases, if only one bottle had been opened from an order, suppliers would not accept returns. “There is all this liquor, along with draft beer and keg wine,� Jarrett said.

It’s sitting on the shelf, Jarrett explained, because of the rules still in place for mixed drink sales.

Beers, ales, wines and/or

Get your groceries at new midweek outdoor market

By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com

While grocery stores are regular restocking to meet consumer demand, Eleanora’s Market is making an effort to continue supporting farmers during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic by hosting an additional market.

Eleanora’s Market is a weekly Saturday farmers market that takes place from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. in Cavatore Italian Restaurant’s parking lot at 2120 Ella Blvd. The new market will be held from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday. Both market days will feature essential food vendors only.

After a stay-at-home, work safe order was issued on Tuesday morning by Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo -- going into effect at midnight and lasting through April 3 -Eleanora’s still plans to host the markets while putting all

of the recommendations from the city into effect.

All vendors will be placed 10 feet apart and will use hand sanitizer and gloves. Shoppers must stay at least 6 feet apart. “We feel it’s important to stay open during this time to provide our customers with essential products,� a representative of the market said. “We also agree with the city’s health department that (openair markets) is a safer environment than a grocery store.�

Scott Packard, chief communications and public affairs officer for the Houston Health Department, previously said outdoor environments pose a lower health risk than indoor settings for contracting the upper-respiratory disease caused by the new strain of coronavirus, provided that people maintain a safe distance from each other.

Eleanora’s Market will feature vendors whose offerings include fresh, local produce, eggs, meats and canned foods.

The flyer for the “Free the Margaritas’ petition seeking the further relaxation of Texas’ alcohol laws during the COVID-19 pandemic.

distilled spirits can be delivered to customers only when accompanied by a food order that was prepared on the

business’ premises. That the alcohol must be delivered in its original container that was sealed by the manu-

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• Down House, 1801 Yale St., announced on social media last week that it would be temporarily closed. The restaurant also posted ways to support its staff during this time. You can visit rallyforrestaurants.com and search “Down Houseâ€? and buy a gift card. Also, a Venmo account was set up under the username @DownHouse1801. Any donations made on either platform will go to the Down House staff.

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are not made with distilled spirits. “A number of places didn’t understand the rule,� Jarrett said. “[But] there’s a lot of empathy for everyone.�

For now, Jarrett is stocking mini-bottles of vodka, whiskey and tequila for takeout and delivery. And she also signed the petition at bit.ly/freethemargs. “I’ve signed my name to so many things in the last couple of days I can’t even count,� Jarrett said. “So many are hanging by a thread.�

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The COVID-19 pandemic, and corresponding social distancing measures put in place by local government officials, has been especially difficult for the restaurant industry. Those businesses are temporarily restricted to carryout, drivethrough and delivery services, which is easier for some than others. Here is a list of area restaurants that have been compelled to close, at least temporarily:

In light of the COVID-19 outbreak, please check with each church below for updated information about services and events. In-person services are temporarily restricted.

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facturer has been a sticking point for many restaurant owners. “It needs to go to the guests the way you received it,� Jarrett said, noting that non-alcoholic mixers can be packaged by the restaurant.

The grumbling of some on social media this week about TABC crackdowns may have been because restaurants sold mixtures they had made and sealed themselves – partly due to confusion caused by early wording of the guidelines, which was later corrected.

Also, the fact that drivethrough margarita establishments in town, which have different permits, were selling pre-mixed drinks might have encouraged restaurants. The drive-through businesses sell drinks with a lower alcohol content that

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been one thing after another and we know there is probably e are entering a time of holidays and celebrations more to people come. inIt our is overwhelming to consider the for many country. Thanksgiving is a holiday thateffects we as of Americans enjoyed for short-term what ishave happening around us generations. Many people are looking forward to time spent nottime to mention the long-term fallout from this virus. with family, off from work, a big feast, watching football, catchingIfthe biggest of the years, probably manysomeone you are sales struggling rightand now or know others things during this Thanksgiving weekend. There will be who is struggling (which probably includes all of us), some people who will struggle during the this time of holiday would challenge pray!

Inlost, Philippians as they Iremember loved onesyou whotothey have or close 4:6 the companions that are “Be unable to befor together because of Bible says, careful nothing, but in the everything schedule or the logistics. Either way, Thanksgiving will be a by people prayerareand supplication, thanksgiving, let time when either thinking happywith thoughts or sad thoughtsyour aboutrequests something.be made known unto God, and the When I was a boy, I remember my mother saying, “Don’t forget peace of God which passeth shall to say thank you.�

She was reminding me toall beunderstanding, thankful to my grandmother the hearts wonderful Thanksgiving meal, or Christ to my Jesus.� keep for your and minds through family member that gave me a special gift, or to my friend who Worrying about party. your situation help you or invited me to their birthday Most peoplewill wantnot to teach their children to beelse. thankful. people would agree anyone TheI think bestmost thing to do right now as is that being thankful is important, it is also true that it is not truly the best thing to do all of the time is to pray! always to be thankful depending on what we are going through.

Pray ceasing.

The Bible sayswithout in Ephesians 5:20 “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and Fatherask, in the name of our Lord   Now youthe might “What good doesJesus prayer do?�

Christ.� I would encourage you, no matter how you feel during Prayer is toa remember created that human being acknowledging this holiday season you can be thankful to God. Hedependence gave up His only Son toHis die acreator. cruel death upon It on is the an cross opportunity so that anyone who trusts him can be forgiven of their sins and to give yourforget burdens God and your privilege to have eternal life. Don’t to sayto thank you!

If you would like to this further or have questions, ask him fordiscuss what you need. We serve a God who has Pastor Will Cover can be reached at Arise Baptist Church at promised to supply all of our needs.

Our challenge 803 Curtin St., or www.arisebaptistchurch.org, or 713-659-9697. is that we often don’t need much so we don’t pray much. God is using this time to remind us of our need for complete dependence on Him not just in times of need but all of the time.   Don’t worry, pray to the God who loves, cares, and can do all things. If there is something I can pray with you or for you about, please let me know!

W

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Page 8A • Saturday, March 28, 2020 • The Leader

Schools launch online learning Is COVID-19 a programs during campus closures concern for pets?

By Adam Zuvanich

azuvanich@theleadernews.com

Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Some coronaviruses that infect animals have become able to infect humans and then spread between people, but this is rare.” The CDC adds that it does not have evidence to suggest that imported animals or animal products pose a risk for spreading COVID-19 in the United States, nor has the CDC received any reports of pets or other animals becoming sick with COVID-19.

However, using some basic caution as well as some common sense during this time will only help you and your pets to emerge from this threat healthy. For instance, be sure to wash your hands after handling your pet’s waste, food and supplies. Clean up after your pets well and contact a vet if you notice a sudden change in your pet’s health.

Dear Tabby, With the outbreak of COVID-19 impacting our world, I’ve been concerned about its impact on pets. Can pets get the disease or can humans get it from pets?

Concerned about Corona in Cottage Grove Dear Concerned about Corona, What a strange time we’re living in, isn’t it? The good news is that pets all over the country are likely enjoying having their humans at home so much more, and also enjoying some extra dog walks to help break up the monotony of quarantine! However, your concerns about COVID-19 are rational and I have a few answers for you as I hope to put your mind at ease.

Have plenty of pet food and supplies on hand At this time, the most impactful ways that you can keep your pets healthy and happy is to make sure that you have plenty of pet supplies and medications on hand to

Use common sense caution According to the Centers for

sustain your pet through the threat of extended quarantine.

Stock up on plenty of pet food, kitty litter and medications so that, in the event of more stringent quarantine rules, you can continue to keep your pet’s routine as stable as possible. Also, have a plan in place to cover your pet’s care, in the event that you become ill with the virus. These precautions will help keep yours and your pet’s anxiety at bay during an already uncertain time.

Consider using this time to foster Also, especially now, many shelters are in dire need of foster homes. What better way to make use of your extended time at home than to take in a pet who could benefit from the added human interaction?

Contact your local shelters to see how you can help. Helping in little ways can make all the difference during this time in our history. Best wishes for you and your pet’s continued health and happiness!

Do you have a question for Tabby? Email her at deartabby questions@gmail.com.

Meet Ace This 7-month-old cutie is about as playful and cuddly as they come! Found living in a cat colony in a church thrift shop, lucky Ace was brought into foster care and is flourishing! Ace would make a great companion for another cat, and a great friend for any human. He also plays fetch with his favorite mouse and soft ball. What better way to weather a quarantine than with a playful and cuddly kitty? To learn more, visit www. saveacatrescue.org.

Mannequin, from P. 1A many are feeling.

“I told a lady waiting behind me in line at Kroger to step back and give me some space for her safety and everyone looked at me like I was crazy,” a commenter wrote. “She was literally so close I could feel her breath on my neck. That same lady continued to follow me around the store and berate me like it’s some kind of joke.”

each school’s main webpage or by visiting houstonisd.org/ HOME. This week, HISD said students will be able to log in and interact with digital resources. Beginning next week, curriculum-based lessons and activities will go live.

Also this week, HISD said teachers will reach out to families to assess the digital access needs of each student so campuses can determine the number of paper-based resources schools will need to provide. An online survey also is being conducted at https://www.surveymonkey. com/r/9VPFZ5Q. HISD said webinars will be held to help parents with accessing digital instructional

materials, with a webinar schedule to be announced soon.

HISD also said its Social and Emotional Learning department is working to upload online lessons, activities and videos that students and parents can engage in at home. HISD Wraparound Services is working on similar communications and virtual supports, according to the district.

At least one area private school also is teaching students while they are at home.

St. Pius X High School said it began distance learning on Wednesday, with online classes scheduled to run through April 9. The school at 811 W. Donovan St. tentatively plans to reopen April 14.

St. Pius X promoting Ware to principal From Staff Reports

Pet of the Week

minutes to create.

He said the response has been overwhelmingly positive.

“People (stop) their car to snap a photo, (or I get a) thumbs up from people out for a walk to kill time,” Carter said. “Someone shared the photo of the Houston Subreddit, and the comments are generally favorable.”

The comments on Reddit also reflect the anxiety that

With its 200,000-plus students stuck at home while the city copes with the COVID-19 pandemic, Houston ISD announced Monday that it is launching an online learning program aimed at keeping kids educated while schools are closed.

All HISD campuses are closed until at least April 13 in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19, the upper-respiratory disease caused by the new strain of coronavirus. The district said all of its high school students (grades 9-12) have districtissued laptops.

“HISD @ H.O.M.E.,” which stands for home-based online mobile education, will include grade-level curriculum and subject matter “designed to maintain productive instruction for students using computers, laptops, tablets, iPads or smartphones,” the district said in a news release.

It will be accessible from

In addition to the social distancing that already was being promoted, a stay-athome, work-safe order was issued Tuesday morning by Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo. The order, which allows only essential businesses to operate and forces people to stay home except for essential reasons, takes effect at midnight and lasts through April 3.

Rachel Ware, an Oak Forest native who has spent the last four years as a teacher, dean and co-curricular advisor at St. Pius X High School, has been appointed as the school’s next principal.

A spokesperson for the school said Ware will succeed Diane Larsen, who is retiring at the end of this school year, on July 1. Ware was selected by a search team that included administrators, board members, support staff, teachers and the Dominican Sisters of Houston, according to a news release from St. Pius X. “She is a gifted, hardworking, creative and dedicated educator,” St. Pius X head of school Carmen Garrett Armistead said. “I genuinely look forward to working with her as she leads us into a new era.”

Ware, who has two sons with her husband, Jimmie, grew up in Oak Forest and attended St. Ambrose Catholic School as well as Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Texas Tech and a master’s in special education from Grand Canyon University.

Ware taught language arts at St. Ambrose from 200916 before joining the staff at St. Pius X. During her time there, the school said she has

Contributed photo Rachel Ware, an Oak Forest native who has worked at St. Piux X High School for the last four years, will take over as principal in July.

co-created and implemented a behavior management system as well as restorative justice practices and led a charge to digitize behavioral referrals and detention assignments along with uprading and managing attendance reporting procedures. She also has served as a coordinator for student advisors.

“It is with great excitement and gratitude that I accept this leadership opportunity,”

Ware said. “This area is my home; my heart. Serving the SPX community is not only a professional honor, but seeing its success is an incredibly personal one. I look forward to working with Mrs. Armistead and our faculty, staff, and families. I am confident that together we will further develop a thriving community of leaders and scholars for today and tomorrow, right here at home.”

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The Leader • Saturday, March 28, 2020 • Page 9A

Art Valet: Creatives finding art in captivity Mitch Cohen Art Columnist

There’s a popular meme being shared by artists on social media of Ray Liotta and another man laughing in the movie “Goodfellas.” The caption reads, “Could you survive a 14-day self-quarantine?”

Artists and designers are captioned under the laughing men.

Most artists are no strangers to self-isolation. That’s just how we work. On the flip side of that is the social interaction that we crave -- need, really -but now must social distance.

As I wrote last week, art events have been canceled en masse due to COVID-19, the upper-respiratory disease caused by the new strain of coronavirus. Art studios, galleries and now retail stores are closed. The art festival cancelation count is at 143 nationwide after just 34 last week.

Watching artists and other small businesses innovate to

accommodate very hungry captives (because we are all captives in our homes now) is inspiring, for me. The light at the end of the tunnel, you could say.

Here’s a look at some of the creative ideas that caught my eye over the past week to shrink that social distance stigma.

Artist Jo Edwards’ work is predominantly large oil paintings on canvas. Her iconic tree series always catches my eye.

To capture a wider audience, Edwards began offering mini versions of her larger paintings. They are the same as the big paintings but much easier to mail!

She also has a “No Show” art sale on her website, reflecting the four art festivals she had on her schedule until recently. For the minis, visit etsy. com/shop/myotherstore. Her ”No Show” art sale is at www. texasgalgallery.com.

Kate O’Conner creates primarily abstract paintings for markets and festivals. She’s finding new inspiration in today’s uncertainties. On the Facebook group page, First Saturday Arts Market Artists,

Contributed photo “Mask On For A Cause” by the team at Magpies and Peacocks.

O’Conner posted a recent painting she’s been working on titled “Decisions - Where to go.” In the foreground is a large tree with inviting blue double doors in the trunk. Below the doors is a dark cave hidden within the roots.

“Life is full of different paths and journeys,” O’Conner

wrote. “We can choose to just meander through life and be satisfied, open the door to uncertainty to discover a new avenue or follow the cave below that is filled with little light. I enjoy finding new paths and would open the door. Where would you go?”

I liked this part the best:

Free distance-conscious delivery available in the Houston area. Visit www.alluvionart. com.

Everyone who can sew, it seems, has been making masks for our medical community.

“Mask On For A Cause” by the team at Magpies and Peacocks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit design house, announced Tuesday that its efforts paid off.

“We worked tirelessly over the last two days to get the prototype and pattern ready to create the non-woven polypropylene masks needed right now in our medical and essential services industries and we are happy with the finished results,” the organization said.

Houston has some seriously cool nonprofits. Visit them at https://magpiesandpeacocks. org.

Finally, nothing puts a smile on our faces quicker than a popsicle by KICPOPS. They are a local family-owned company that has taken the market and event scene by storm the past few years. At the beginning of this year, they began a fundraising campaign to help boost their production of a new product and then, well,

you know.

Their award-winning flavors are now available online, offer contactless next-day delivery and curbside pickup at Pinkerton’s Barbecue, 1504 Airline Dr. Visit kicpops.com. These pops aren’t just for the kids either. They have vegan, glutenfree options and boozy pops.

Yes, I wrote boozy!

I encourage you to shop local when you can. That oftenused phrase is more relevant today than ever.

Visit SaturdayArtMarkets. com to find the artists that attend my markets. Many have online shops, and we set up public Facebook groups to interact., Bayou City Art Festival, originally scheduled for this weekend, has a complete artist list online, too. Visit artcolonyassociation.org.

Artists, I know you’re hurting. For the best resources on where to get help visit, https://ready.haatx.com and FreshArts.org.

Cohen is an artist and founder of First Saturday Arts Market and the Market at Sawyer Yards.

Find him at ArtValet.com.

Let kids get creative in kitchen while stuck at home Zarah Parker Managing Editor

Over the past week of working from home, children have busted into my little home office quite a few times. Weird thing is, I don’t have kids.

During this uncertain time of COVID-19 and social distancing to help slow the spread of the upper-respiratory disease caused by the new strain of coronavirus, I’ve been fortunate (or unfortunate) enough to be in close proximity to my brother and his family of six. The mini hoard are my next-door neighbors and in the world of perfect tim-

ing, the coronavirus concerns entered Harris County when my brother was remodeling his kitchen.

For the time being, we’re sharing a kitchen and food supplies.

Like most of us who find ourselves bored, my nephews and niece find themselves standing in the kitchen, gazing at a multitude of snacks, wondering which one they should eat that hour. Their choice is usually the Oreos.

After it rained last week, I thought it would be a good idea to do something productive and cookie-related with them. Because once they couldn’t go outside due to the rain and then the mud, I was about to go crazy watching them run in circles. And they

Photo by Zarah Parker Zarah Parker’s niece Natalie eating the dinosaur egg sugar cookie she decorated.

started eating way too many of my snacks.

I’ve seen a few posts of people selling cookie-decorat-

ing kits in Facebook community groups, and thought it was a good way to spend time with the kids indoors. I bought two different kits from Underwater Oven, which usually sells cookies at Eleanora’s Market.

Each kit came with six sugar cookies, three bags of icing and sprinkles. One kit had a dinosaur theme, while the other was rainbows and unicorns.

These kits gave the fun of cookie decorating without the mess of making the cookies and icing.

The kids also surprised me while decorating the cookies.

During Christmas, my family always makes and ices sugar cookies, but the icing usually looks like scribbles. When icing the sugar cookies in the kits, the kids were more con-

Heights eatery determined to fight uncertainty

By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com

Wake up and fight.

That has become the motto for Heights restaurant Mastrantos since local government officials placed social distancing restrictions on restaurants, making dining in unavailable.

During this uncertain time, small businesses everywhere are trying hard to continue striving forward despite restrictions, which are aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19.

Luckily for the restaurant industry, when a stay-at-home, work safe order was issued Tuesday morning by Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, restaurants kept the ability to conduct carryout, drivethrough and delivery service.

The order went into effect Wednesday and lasts through April 3.

“We remind ourselves that if we keep a smile on our face and bring positivity every day, we will make it through,” said Xavier Godoy, owner of Mastrantos. “Fortunately, the goal of Mastrantos has always been to provide a platform for every person we touch — employees, guest, suppliers, etc.— to become the best we can be tomorrow.”

As soon as the City of Houston mandated restaurants to stop dine-in service, Mastrantos’ strategy was simple: create a menu that was affordable, family-focused and made it easy to travel hot while maintaining quality.

Their idea was to create a “no brainer” option. For example, if a family of five needed dinner three times a week, instead of going to a fast-food chain, they could choose Mastrantos.

“Our Ragu Bolognese, which we typically sold at $18 per person during normal service, it has now been doubled in size and reduced to $16 per order, with enough for two people during this time,” Godoy said.

Photo by Zarah Parker Xavier Godoy and his wife, Marisol Chacon, own Mastrantos.

Mastrantos is working with a skeleton crew of Godoy, his wife and co-owner, Mari, chef Tony Castillo, one cook and two drivers for delivery that were previously servers.

“We’re trying our best to keep them busy,” Godoy said.

“The more they have to do, the least they have to think. In this industry we are not used to be at home doing nothing.

We’re a high-pace industry, so the busier we are the better we feel.”

With a small crew, there’s more than enough to do to keep everyone busy, which boosts their morale, according to Godoy. Some team members are even able to take this time and learn something new.

Godoy said one server was able to learn how to bake, use a knife properly, use the dishwasher machine and make coffee with the espresso machine.

While the city practices social distancing and self-quarantining, being able to wake up each day and go to work has become a social outlet for the Mastrantos team.

“I won’t lie, the longer this goes, the easier it will be,” Godoy said. “It may become tougher physically, as we are here all day without stopping for a minute, but mentally it is the place where we have fun, where we share ideas, feelings, through jokes, help each other, in other words. It’s the only place right now where we can do what we do best as a society: be social.”

A way Mastrantos is helping to spread positivity beyond

its own crew is through social media. Last week it posted an Instagram story of the crew singing and dancing to “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor and encouraged other local restaurants to take part.

On top of that, the team posts daily videos updating customers while thanking them for their continued support.

Godoy said the Mastrantos team is also taking precautions to stay safe and reduce the risk of potentially spreading COVID-19, the upper-respiratory disease caused by the new strain of coronavirus. While Godoy said it’s almost impossible for the crew to keep 6 feet between them, he said there’s no direct contact between employees and anyone feeling a little under the weather is asked to stay home.

Mastrantos provides breakfast, lunch and dinner to those working each shift to reduce the consumption of food at their houses, therefore making it less likely for the team to need to go out to grocery stores to restock.

“We are using our supply chain to support our employees and prevent them from going to the stores,” Godoy said.

“We create a list of items we need for our personal homes and buy all products from our distributors. This way we become the supermarket for all working at Mastrantos and therefore we don’t have to get exposed by going to stores with large gatherings.”

If social distancing is re-

quired for a longer time, Godoy said Mastrantos may also begin providing that option for the neighborhood.

Other precautions include sanitizing the restaurant 3-4 times a day, placing to-go orders at a table in front of the restaurant to make for an easy grab-and-go option for customers and taking most payments online or by phone, meaning there is little contact with credit cards, and gloves are used at all times. For deliveries, drivers call before arrival for guidance on how to drop off food.

“We just need to get through this together so we can go back to do what we do best, serve and take care of people through our amazing food and service,” Godoy said.

centrated and conscious of what their cookies were going to look like in the end.

This made me realize that having the kids at home opens doors for them to develop other interests. For example, now that my 8-year-old nephew can no longer scour antique stores and thrift shops for old sports cards, he’s taken more of an interest in kitchen activities. He even helped make pancakes last Saturday morning.

So if you’re looking for something to do with your kids that will keep them entertained and get their creative mind rolling, cooking and baking could be the answer.

It might be especially helpful if other craft supplies dwin-

dle down and the only place you can shop is a grocery store.

Kids can learn how to make their favorite dessert, like making homemade ice cream in a bag or making your own candy.

Let the kids decide what’s on the menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Have them guess how to make it (without wasting supplies) and then make it together.

I’ve learned through having the kids in the kitchen that while it can be a bit hectic and there’s more than one time I have to say, “Please don’t touch that” and “Put that back,” it’s also built a new connection between my nephews and niece and me.

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THE PUBLIC. The Leader • Saturday, March 28, 2020 • Page 10A

Primary runoff delayed until July From Staff Reports On account of the COVID-19 pandemic, runoffs for the March 4 primary election will not be held until July.

Harris County Clerk Diane Trautman announced this week that, per a proclamation

by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, the runoffs scheduled for May 26 have been postponed until July 14. Early voting for the runoffs is now scheduled for July 6-10, and the deadline to register to vote is June 15.

A race important to Northwest Houston voters is the Democratic primary for the District 148 seat in the Texas House of Representatives.

Heights resident Anna Eastman, who in January won a special election runoff for the seat vacated by Jessica Farrar, was the leading vote-getter

March 4 and will compete in a runoff against Penny Morales Shaw, who has been endorsed

by Farrar.

Joe Danna and Paul Day are in a runoff for the Republican nomination for Harris County Sheriff. The winner will face incumbent Ed Gonzalez, a Democrat, in November’s general election.

Another Republican runoff pits Wendell Champion against Robert M. Cadena in District 18 of the U.S. House of Representatives. The winner will face incumbent Sheila Jackson Lee in November.

In District 2 of the U.S. House, Democrats Elisa Cardnell and Sima Ladjevardian are competing for the right to face incumbent Dan Crenshaw in November.

In the race for U.S. Senator

from Texas, Democrats MJ Hegar and Royce West are in a runoff, with the winner to face incumbent John Cornyn.

“We will continue to work with the Secretary of State and keep our residents informed about additional updates regarding the runoff elections,” Trautman said in a news release. “We encourage voters to take advantage of early voting and ballot-by-mail options.”

To be eligible to vote by mail, voters must be 65 years or older, have a disability or illness, be out of the county during the election period or be confined in jail without a conviction. The last day to apply for a ballot by mail is seven days prior to an election. Voters can visit www. harrisvotes.com to print out the application or request one by calling 713-755-6965.

HISD, parks department distributing meals to kids

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

The Houston Parks and Recreation Department is distributing free food to children at 47 sites across the city this week, including nine locations in the near northwest part of town.

Houston ISD and the Houston Food Bank have teamed up on another series of food distribution events this week, with locations at five area campuses.

The meal distribution program for the parks department, funded by the Texas Department of Agriculture as well as the Child and Adult Care Food Program, is providing one lunch and one snack to all children between the ages of 1-18 who visit the sites. Parents cannot pick up food for children who are not present at the time of pick-up, and food will be placed in the trunk of recipients’ vehicles to ensure social distancing.

The distribution sites are open from 1-3 p.m. through Friday. The locations in or near the area include Candlelight Park Community Center, 1520 Candlelight Ln.; Highland

Park Community Center, 3316 De Soto St.; Independence Heights Community Center, 6603 E. 35th St.; Love Community Center, 1000 W. 12th St.; Montie Beach Community Center, 915 Northwood St.; Moody Park Community Center, 3725 Fulton St.; Proctor Plaza Park Community Center, 803 W. Temple St.; Stude Park Community Center, 1030 Stude St.; and Woodland Community Center, 212 Parkview St. The food distribution program by HISD and the Houston Food Bank also lasts through Friday. Meals will be served from 9 a.m.-noon Thursday at Clifton Middle School, 6001 Golden Forest Dr., and from 9 a.m.-noon Friday at Frank Black Middle School at 1575 Chantilly Ln. and at Booker T. Washington High School at 4204 Yale St. The meal distribution events, which are being held in campus parking lots and utilizing curbside pickup service, are open to all families. HISD said on Twitter that families will receive “approximately 30 pounds of food, which includes apples, oranges, potatoes, cabbage, cau-

liflower, chicken, beans, peanut butter, eggs, water, and juice.”

Families are encouraged to bring their own forms of storage, including bags and totes.

“Families who do not have transportation and must walk to the site can continue to stand in line but will be required to stand six feet apart from each other,” HISD said in a news release. “HISD Police and staff volunteers will be on site to enforce these measures and help with crowd control.”

For more information and a map of all 39 food distribution sites around HISD, visit www. houstonisd.org/HealthAlerts.

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