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Trees For Houston takes root in Oak Forest

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews. com For four decades, Trees For Houston has remained dedicated to its mission of providing trees for the city and region despite the lack of a permanent home.

But the nonprofit is not lacking anymore and hopes its new home will bolster its impact on the community. Trees For Houston broke ground on its new Oak Forest headquar-

ters, called the Kinder Campus, on Wednesday morning at 2001 W. 34th St. “This is going to allow multiple generations of Houstonians to come here and for us to go to them any day of the week,” Trees For Houston executive director Barry Ward said. “It’s going to up our game.”

Sitting on 1.5 acres of land along West 34th Street, right across the street from Waltrip High School, the 7,800-square foot office building will be

named after major donors Kyle and John Kirksey Sr., while the campus will also have an indoor/outdoor education center called the Bauer Education Center with facts and education about different types of trees. Additionally, there will be an onsite tree nursery.

The $9 million facility was funded thanks to the Taking Root capital campaign, Photo by Landan Kuhlmann according to the organiza- Trees For Houston executive director Barry Ward speaks during the See Trees P. 4A

organization’s groundbreaking Wednesday morning at 2001 W. 34th St. The nonprofit has begun work on its headquarters in Oak Forest.

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INSIDE.

Old meets new. An emerging software company is moving into a historic Heights building.

Page 4A

Contributed photo A young Heights-area resident participates in an Easter egg hunt in 2019 at Marmion Park. Village Heights Church is holding another egg hunt there from 10:30 a.m.-noon Saturday.

Easter celebrations held across community

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

Market art. Suzanne E. Sellers’ artwork is featured at the newlook Houston Farmers Market.

Page 7A

Tacos for ‘Stros. A restaurant inside a Heights hotel is serving Astros-themed tacos.

How does the Easter Bunny leave the building?

Through the egg-sit door, of course.

That was among the Easter-themed jokes written on notes and stuffed inside the 500 plastic eggs delivered to American Legion Post 560 in Garden Oaks last week. They were dropped off by students from St. Rose of Lima Catholic School as part of See related story on ..................

“Operation Bunny Tale,” which aimed to brighten PAGE 8A the Easter holiday for local war veterans.

The students from St. Rose of Lima, 3600 Brinkman St., also put hard candy in some of the eggs it delivered to Post 560, located at 3720 Alba Rd. Some of the eggs were subsequently delivered to veterans at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center.

The Easter event was one of many that already See Easter P. 5A

In the aftermath of racist and antiSemitic flyers being distributed in the central and northern parts of the Heights last month, a recent community meeting attempted to address residents’ concerns and detail what steps they should take in the event of similar incidents in the future.

Between 15-20 community members gathered inside the Heights Fire Station at 107 W. 12th St. last Wednesday, April 6, for a meeting hosted by Houston City Council member Abbie Kamin in partnership with the Houston Police Department and the Southwest Regional office of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).

“Residents are coming together to stand against hate and white supremacy,” Kamin wrote on Facebook after the meeting.

During the meeting, representatives from HPD and the ADL spoke to residents about how to handle the dissemination of divisive, hateful material in their neighborhood. Among their primary focuses was reiterating to residents to contact local law enforcement or the ADL if similar incidents occur in the future, and they discouraged residents from posting images of the flyers on social media in order to minimize the spread of the hateful information and also to prevent the people or groups responsible from gaining attention they can use to recruit and raise money.

Houston Heights Association executive director Emily Guyre said she has heard from multiple residents asking whether police had identified or arrested anyone in connection with distributing See Meeting P. 5A

Contributed photo Students from St. Rose of Lima Catholic School visit with a war veteran last week at American Legion Post 560, where the students delivered 500 Easter eggs as part of “Operation Bunny Tale.”

Photo from Twitter Abbie Kamin, at podium, speaks to residents during a community meeting in the Heights last week in the aftermath of racist flyers being distributed in the area.

SPX student receives prestigious college scholarship

By Landan Kuhlmann

Page 1B

landan@theleadernews.com

THE INDEX. Church....................................................... 4A Classifieds ............................................. 5A Coupons .................................................. 3B Food/Drink ............................................ 1B Obituaries.............................................. 7A Opinion .................................................... 3A Public Information......................... 4B Puzzles ..................................................... 3A Sports ........................................................ 2B

Community meeting addresses racist flyers in Heights

Contributed photo St. Pius X High School student Alymuhammad Bijani, second from left, stands with his family while holding a large check.

He received a prestigious scholarship to attend college.

Alymuhammad Bijani said he understands what it’s like to struggle with financial hardships, which can hinder students in pursuit of their academic and life goals.

As part of what has been a nearly lifelong passion for pouring back into his community, he is using a recent scholarship honor to encourage fellow students to stay the course and keep pushing toward their goals.

“I’ve learned to take the obstacles day by day,” Bijani said.

“Through that, I’ve realized that it’s you who sets up the future not only for yourself, but for your community. That’s exactly what I’m trying to do.”

Bijani, a senior at St. Pius X High School, is one of 49 high school students nationwide named as a Cooke College Scholars for next fall. Through the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholarship program, the foundation provides scholars with up to $55,000 per year for up to four years to complete a bachelor’s degree. Selected students entered the Cooke Young Scholars Program during their

eighth-grade year, according to a news release from foundation, and have spent the last five years receiving mentorship from advisors and attending summer programs on college campuses while participating in enrichment programs.

Cooke Young Scholars and their families work one-on-one with educational advisers to create an individualized learning plan and maximize their high school experience, the foundation said. There were more than 5,300 applicants for the scholarships, according to the foundaSee Bijani P. 5A

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Page 2A • Saturday, April 16, 2022 • The Leader

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THE TOPICS. You can’t run from father time The Leader • Saturday, April 16, 2022 • Page 3A

The idea was to turn over a new leaf.

I had purchased a treadmill as a Christmas present to my lovely and loving partner, Christine, who wanted us to get in better shape, partly because we have two little children to chase around. She also signed us up for a 5K run, which neither of us had ever attempted, in her hometown of San Antonio.

New year, new beginnings, new possibilities. Perfect for springtime as well as the Easter season, right?

Well, as it turns out, I’m an ancient oak who can’t do nearly as much as I used to, at least in terms of physical activity.

Once upon a time, I was a halfway decent athlete and a pretty good runner. And although my exercising routine as an adult has been infrequent at best, pounding the pavement on a trail or even a neighborhood street had become a preferred workout over the years.

It had been a few years since I went on a run, but I thought it would be just like riding a bike. So I

ADAM

ZUVANICH Editor

decided to start training for the 5K - which was last Saturday - on the Tuesday beforehand.

As of press time this Wednesday, my overweight, out-of-shape and 41-year-old body is still regretting this decision by my out-of-touchwith-reality brain.

You see, I didn’t have any issues during my practice run on the treadmill, which lasted 15 minutes and spanned 1 mile. But two days later, and two days before the planned race, I woke up with a right ankle that was stiff, swollen and in pain every time I put pressure on it.

Needless to say, I was reduced to

the role of cheerleader during our weekend trip to San Antonio, where Christine killed it on a crisp, beautiful morning, beating her stated goal of completing the 3.1-mile course in fewer than 45 minutes.

Meanwhile, as I write this more than a week after my fateful tryst with the treadmill, I’m still hobbling around and still trying to recover from my injury. I even scheduled a doctor’s appointment for later this week, to make sure my ankle isn’t too messed up.

I’m encouraged by the fact it felt better when I awoke on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday - I iced my ankle for at least 30 minutes on each of the preceding nights - but I’m still kicking myself for being so overconfident and hard-headed the previous week. I should have started running sooner, I shouldn’t have gone so hard so fast, and I should have worn more appropriate footwear. (Did I mention I ran in Crocs?)

This experience has been eyeopening in that it’s forced me to come to grips with aging as well as

my own physical limitations at this stage of my life. I can no longer operate as if I’m 25 or even 35.

It’s also been frustrating, because I really wanted to run the 5K with Christine and feel like I let her down in that regard. She’s also had to shoulder more of the load around the house while I try to stay off my feet and allow my ankle to heal, and I can’t go on the evening walks we’ve come to enjoy.

But that’s also led me to feel motivated and inspired, mostly for the sake of my kids, Pablo and Rachel, who are 2 and not quite 1. I was fortunate to have had young parents who could run around and play with me when I was a frenetic and energetic youngster, and I want my children to have the same experience or at least a semblance of it.

If they show an interest in sports, I want to teach them how to play and be able to practice with them.

And if they end up being runners, I want to join them and push them and make them earn it when they beat me.

Texas’ new voting law leads to spike in rejected ballots THE MAIL BOX – Here is the usual junk mail, some Realtor wants to buy my house, a bunch of charities seeking donations -- I swear if you give to one they put the word out to all the others – and this, from the Office of Isabel Longoria Elections Administrator to my wife.

Longoria is probably looking for a job since she resigned after that fiasco in the primaries. She must have gone to the LBJ School of Ballot Counting. My wife opens the letter and sees: “Notice of Rejected Ballot.” One month after the March 1 primaries, Longoria tells her they won’t count her ballot. (For some unknown reason, I have not receive a rejection notice – yet.)

We don’t take elections lightly, having cast ballots in every election since Sam Houston defeated Stephen F. Austin for president of Texas. (I wrote in Quanah Parker, he being one of my favorite chiefs.) We had listened to all the news about the upcoming primaries and read the candidates’ literature, like who supported the Campaign to Spade Democrats. Some of the candidates also asked for donations. Being slightly over 65, we asked for and received mail-in ballots. When they arrived, we dutifully filled in a little black box beside the candidates not yet indicted, hoping our two votes would tilt the outcome.

The notice read: “Your Carrier Envelope did not contain…” and then listed 45 possible reasons her ballot was not counted, like no driver’s license number, no voter ID, no DNA sample, no fingerprints. The rejection letter had a phone number to call “if you have any questions.” Yes, I did. So I called the Election Administrator, expecting to get a recording and being put on Hold while listening to music from “The Best of Polish Polkas.” Sure enough, I got a recording, but within a minute a nice lady answered and asked for a name and then quickly said, “She didn’t fill out the box for her voter registration number.” But she did.

And she had also listed her fingerprints and a photo of her birth certificate. Didn’t matter.

Has this happened to you?

Don’t feel alone. Nearly 1 in 5 mail-in ballots in Harris County -- Texas’ most populous county -- were rejected because they did not meet requirements set by the state’s new voting law, according to election officials.

Specifically, of the 36,878 mail-in ballots received for the March 1 primary in Harris County, a total of 6,888, or almost 20 percent, were rejected. This is a huge jump from previous years. For

LYNN ASHBY Columnist

comparison, in 2018, Harris County rejected only135 mail-in ballots of 48,473 received. Other counties had the same problem. In El Paso the rejection rate was 15 percent. In Travis County (Austin), the rejection rate was 8 percent but back in 2018, that county’s rejection rate was about 2 percent.

And in the 2020 elections, statewide, fewer than 1 percent of mail-in ballots -- or about 8,300 -- were rejected.

But in our primary elections in March, the Associated Press found that 23,000 Texans’ ballots were tossed out, roughly 13 percent.

Those 23k uncounted votes could have easily changed the outcome of several elections. Hani Mirza at the Texas Civil Rights Project told the AP, “These are more than enough votes to swing state and local elections. We are talking about a number of votes that is incredibly troubling. You can’t throw out that many ballots based on a technicality that was a part of a very convoluted process and say that the process was democratic.”

Why this huge increase in rejections? As a Harris County election official said, it was “a direct result of Senate Bill 1.” That’s the notorious legislation passed

by Republicans in the legislature that transparently made it harder to vote in Texas, which already had the toughest voter restrictions in the entire nation. Gov. Greg Abbott said no one eligible to vote would be denied the right to vote, and Lite Gov. Dan Patrick said it would make it “easier to vote.”

Beto O’Rourke, who is trying to unseat Abbott, told Newsweek: “This voter suppression is on purpose and by design, working exactly as Greg Abbott intended.”

There is another hurdle.

These restrictions include new paperwork that must be filled out to disclose any help given to a voter, and an oath that must be recited under penalty of perjury expressing they did not “pressure or coerce” the voter.

If the GOP legislators’ plan was to limit participation by Black voters, who usually vote Democratic, it worked. The New York Times found that in Harris County “areas with large Black populations were 44 percent more likely to have ballots rejected than heavily white areas.” Of the nine ZIP codes with the most

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ballot tossed, Black voters were the majority in six of them. Here’s an interesting fact: The rejection rate was higher in counties that lean Democratic (15.1 percent) than Republican (9.1 percent). In the most populous Texas counties won by Donald Trump, mailed-in ballots were rejected at 10 percent.

For counties won by Joe Biden, the rejection rate was 15.7 percent. So we must conclude that either the vote counters were biased or Republicans can follow instructions better than Democrats.

What happens in Vegas may stay in Vegas, but what happens in Texas is getting spread around. We held the first primary in the nation, and now at least 17 other states in the coming months are following our

lead with tougher election laws. These states are citing Donald Trump’s non-ending claims of rampant fraud in the 2020 election. So they need to stop the fraud. But, for example, while nearly 2 million people voted in Harris County during the 2020 election, a bipartisan task force found only 20 cases of wrongdoing required investigation. The fact that very little voter fraud has been discovered, including in Texas, doesn’t matter.

Republicans got the accusations straight from the Easter Bunny, Paul Bunyan and a majority of leprechauns.

Beto was right.

I certainly don’t want to be stuck on the couch or in a chair and reduced to the role of spectator.

So when my ankle feels up to it again - please keep your fingers and toes crossed on my behalf - I’m going to get back on the proverbial horse and start running again. But I’m going to ease into it this time, and I’m also going to make sure I’m wearing running shoes.

Then maybe next year, or even sooner perhaps, I’ll sign up for another 5K with Christine.

I won’t be any younger, but hopefully lighter and fitter. I certainly will be wiser, more prepared and more in tune with the old man I’m becoming.

And while I’m training, maybe I’ll see you on a trail along White Oak Bayou. I’ll make sure to wave and get out of the way as you zip past me.

Getting to a point where I can run fast without hurting myself could take a while.

Email azuvanich@theleadernews.com

THE READER.

Email us your letters: news@theleadernews.com

Kids’ best friend

Dear Editor: I read the article “Kid’s best friend” about a stray dog named Buster that has become the mascot of St. Pius X High School rugby team. The dog is being fostered by Grant Stringfellow’s family.

From looking at the pictures of the dog’s face, it looks like a pit bull or a pit bull mix. If so, they should get rid of the dog. Pit bulls are the most dangerous of dogs. It does not matter how much the boys shower it with love. Pit bulls are bred to be aggressive. History shows that they may be fine for years and then one day viciously attack, without provocation. Recent attacks include Kyleen Waltman (SC, Mar. 2022) who lost both arms and may lose a leg. Jacqueline Durand (TX, Dec. 23, 2021) had her ears, nose and lips bitten off. Sometimes the victims die.

Internet research can confirm this and other horrific attacks.

There are people that defend the breed. However, pit bull attacks are a fact. Human life is precious. Please do not take a risk.

Annette Glod

Ashby votes at ashby2@comcast.net

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Page 4A • Saturday, April 16, 2022 • The Leader

Emerging software company leases space at Heights Clock Tower

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

An enterprise software company is moving into a historic building in the Heights.

Eleox, a Houston-based company that aims to reimagine commodity posttrade processing in the energy industry, has signed a lease for a 4,300-square foot office space in the Heights Clock Tower, according to a news release from commercial real estate services firm JLL. The Heights Clock Tower, located at 611 W. 22nd St., was built in 1894 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. It was purchased in late 2020 by Heights-based developer Radom Capital, which has converted the property into office space with outdoor communal areas and walkable access to nearby restaurants.

“This is the perfect spot to inspire creativity for our team as well as a great location to recruit from the area’s diverse, educated talent pool,” Eleox CEO Kirk Coburn said in the news release. “Our mission is to transform the established commodity trading industry by bringing the possibilities of web3 technology, and we feel that this creative space in the Heights provides a recruiting advantage in the battle for talent.”

Eleox was created last year as a joint venture between six companies that trade natural gas in North

America - BP, Castleton Commodities International, Koch Energy, Macquarie Group, Mercuria Energy America and Shell. It aims to create an “enterprise-grade application based on distributed ledger technology to replace many existing, siloed post-trade systems with a unified, full lifecycle platform,” according to the news release.

Web3 is the idea for a new internet service built with decentralized blockchains, similar to those used by cryptocurrencies.

“While we are focused on natural gas today, we have ambitions to expand into power and to build a platform to track carbon emissions data across a range of commodities, from the source to the end user,” Eleox says on its website. “Our vision is to support broader energy markets and the transition to a lower carbon future.”

Terms of the lease were not disclosed in the news release by JLL, which represented Eleox in the transaction. Radom Capital was represented by CBRE. The Heights Clock Tower, which has more than 107,000 square feet in building area, is valued at more than $7.1 million, according to the Harris County Appraisal District.

As witnessed with other clients, we expect this location to become a destination for employees to live, work and play,” JLL’s Bryant Lach said.

Contributed photo Eleox, a Houston-based enterprise software company created by six North American companies that trade natural gas, has leased a 4,300-square foot office space in the Heights Clock Tower, 611 W. 22nd St.

Contributed photos The Heights Clock Tower, constructed in 1894, was purchased by Heights-based developer Radom Capital in 2020 and remodeled into office space.

Trees, from P. 1A tion. The Kinder Foundation provided the lead gift of $3 million for the campus and building, while Kyle and John Kirksey Sr. donated $ 1 million. Chevron gave $750,000, while the Ruth and Ted Bauer Family Foundation and C.T. Bauer Foundation provided $500,000 each. The rest was provided through community donations.

Taking Root co-chair Larry Nettles said the organization was initially unsure whether it would be able to raise enough money to support its vision for the 34th Street property. The campaign began in March 2020 – the day after local elected officials canceled the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo to signal the local onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

But its vision has come to fruition after all.

“There are millions of people that are going to be blessed by your generosity due to the increase in capacity that this facility is going to give to Trees For Houston,” Nettles said.

For most of its existence, Trees For Houston has partnered with companies such as Chevron, CenterPoint Energy and others on donated sites and temporary homes in order to further its mission, according to Ward. That consisted of cycling through new sites – never having a place to call its own.

But the organization can now call Oak Forest home, and brings with it a hope that the Oak Forest, Garden Oaks

Rendering courtesy of Kirksey Architecture and Lauren Griffith Associates Pictured is an artist’s rendering of the site of the new Trees For Houston campus at 2001 W. 34th St. in Oak Forest. The site will serve as the tree-growing nonprofit’s headquarters.

cate, we’re going to teach and we’re going to celebrate our successes with the community right here.”

Trees For Houston is officially home.

“We’re very fortunate to have been able to obtain this property,” Ward said. “It will make a profound change in what this city looks like for future generations.”

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business is our business.

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Rendering courtesy of Kirksey Architecture and Lauren Griffith Associates The outdoor and indoor tree nursery, visualized in this artist’s rendering, is one of several amenties to be featured at Trees For Houston’s Kinder Campus when it opens at 2001 W. 34th St.

and Heights-area neighborhoods will embrace Trees For Houston as a neighbor.

“It’s not just about bricks

and mortar. It’s not just about a building. It’s a place for us to energize around our mission to continue to transform our

Resurrection Celebrations

By Pastor Will Cover

Arise Baptist Church 803 Curtin St. Houston TX 77018 713-659-9697 • www.arisebaptistchurch.org

E

This facility gives us a visible flag that we’re planting in the ground.”

That’s not to say the nonprofit has been unable to operate. The organization plants about 50,000 trees per year, according to Ward, and has hosted multiple community giveaways while providing thousands of trees from the lot on 34th Street over the last year. The nonprofit’s trees line locales such as White Oak Bayou, Candlelight Park and the esplanade on East T.C. Jester Boulevard in Shady Acres.

But Trees For Houston wants more. Ward said the goal is to eventually be planting 100,000 trees per year around the city and region.

As part of the city’s goal of bringing 4 million new trees to the area over the next 10 years, Trees For Houston will aim to provide 1 million of those from its Oak Forest headquarters in the next decade.

“We’re going to be able to lead from this place,” Condon said. “We’re going to edu-

very year from the times of the Pharaohs and ancient Egyptians the Jewish people have celebrated the Passover feast.

This feast is a memorial of the time that God set them free from slavery in Egypt and sent them on the way to their Promised Land in Canaan. When Jesus Christ and His disciples entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday the Jews welcomed Him in thinking He had come to overthrow the Romans. A few days later, Jesus celebrated the Passover with his disciples. As they ate together He took the bread and broke it and said, “This is my body which is broken for you, this do as oft as ye eat it in remembrance of me.”

Jesus then took the cup and said, “This cup is the New Testament in my blood, this do in remembrance of me.”

Jesus was showing His disciples that the Passover was not just a memorial of Israel’s deliverance from slavery, it was also foreshadowing the death of Christ on the cross. As Jesus gave the cup to His disciples to drink from, He told them that he would not drink of that cup until His kingdom was come.

Jesus was looking forward to the resurrection of all believers when they would join Him in heaven for eternity.

In the Passover and the Lord’s Supper there is a unity of focus and purpose. The Lord’s Supper/Table/ Communion is what believers today continue to celebrate as we look back and remember Christ’s death and as we look forward to Christ’s return! There is coming a day when the resurrection of the dead will be complete. Christ rose again! We will celebrate that this weekend. We who have trusted in Jesus Christ will also rise again!

What a great reason to celebrate the Resurrection this weekend! Join us if you can!

10001 Westheimer Rd 1040, Houston, Harris, Texas 77042.

city and region into a more lush and green place,” Taking Root co-chair Sheila Condon said. “It’s about quality of life.

Officer of said corporation is Juan M Fukuda - Member

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April 15 Good Friday Service 7PM Wednesday Bible Study 7pm Home of Johnson Memorial School for Little Children www.gethsemanelutheran.org April 17 - Easter Sunday Worship 9AM Rev. Nathan Lonsdale Bledsoe, Pastor 4215 Watonga Blvd. • 713-681-9365 2003 services W. 43rd St. s t s u mthe c . owebsite rg Houston, TX 77092 Online can713-686-8241 be reached through below at 9 AM

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Say a Prayer Today

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t goes made m err is h this the n must lear to repeat it can be h can some We somet we’ve don for years, addition, our past. them, we we should the comin as well as them; tha repeatedly the phrase the only w more divin the offen vindictive it! Corrie prison cam to realize

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The Leader • Saturday, April 16, 2022 • Page 5A

Meeting

Easter

from P. 1A

the flyers. In response, an HPD representative said that because such flyers are categorized as free speech, distributing them cannot be classified as a hate crime seeing as no criminal act was knowingly committed against a person or their property.

HPD’s website defines a hate crime as “any crime that is committed against a person or property that is motivated, in whole or in part, by an offender’s bias against a race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender or gender identity.” A spokesperson for the Harris County Precinct 1 Constable’s Office previously said there were no

indications that anyone’s person or property was damaged in association with distribution of the flyers in the Heights.

However, both HPD and ADL representatives said that doesn’t mean residents should not take action if they see something they believe could be motivated by any of the aforementioned biases.

In addition to reporting non-emergency incidents or perceived threats to HPD by calling 713-884-3131, residents can also make an online report on the Anti-Defamation League website at adl.org/reportincident or by calling the regional ADL office at 713627-3490.

have been held in the Heights, Garden Oaks and Oak Forest areas, with Shepherd Forest having conducted its annual Easter egg hunt for neighborhood children last Saturday, April 9, and the Timbergrove Manor Civic Club hosting an egg hunt the weekend before.

More holiday celebrations are scheduled for this weekend, including Easter Sunday services at churches throughout the area.

American Legion Post 560 was set to host a fundraising fish fry for Good Friday, starting at 5 p.m. The price for plates was set at $12, which includes fried fish, French fries, coleslaw and hush puppies.

Village Heights Church is inviting community members to attend the Heights Egg Hunt from 10:30 a.m.-noon Saturday at Marmion Park, 1800 Heights Blvd., where there will be cotton candy, balloons and photos with the Easter Bunny. Then on Sunday, Village Heights is holding gatherings at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. at HITS Theatre, 311 W. 18th St. Another Saturday egg hunt is scheduled for 10 a.m.-noon at Lovebug’s Playground, a play space, party venue and toy store for children age 6 and younger, located at 965 Pinemont Drive. The cost is $25 per child, which will include bubbles, crafts, indoor playground time and giveaways.

A member of the Houston Police Department, left, addresses Heights community members last week. (Photo from Twitter)

Bijani

from P. 1A

Contributed photo Families are invited to an Easter egg hunt from 10:30 a.m.-noon Saturday at Marmion Park.

from P. 1A

tion.

“It is exciting to see our young scholars move on in their academic journeys as they navigated through the complexities of hybrid learning and the hardships of COVID-19,” Cooke Foundation executive director Seppy Basili said. “We remain deeply committed to the continued support of our high-achieving students and look forward to witnessing their accomplishments along the way.”

The scholarship is financially possible, the foundation said, through a partnership with QuestBridge National College Match. As a recipient of the award, Bijani will receive a full four-year scholarship. He plans to study computer science and electrical engineering at Washington University in St. Louis.

“To me, computer science and engineering are vehicles

for tackling larger social problems, and will provide me with the best opportunity to integrate ethical responsibilities and values with scientific inquiry,” he said. “These areas of study inspire critical thinking, design and problemsolving to solve the socioeconomic issues communities face today and prevent the effects of climate change consequences in the future.”

More than money For Bijani, the scholarship represents more than a free ride to college.

He knows about financial struggles, he said, as his parents own a small business that has been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. But those struggles don’t have to be a hindrance to students, he said. Instead, he encourages them to use it as an opportunity to set even higher aspirations for themselves and apply

for scholarships like the Cooke Young Scholars Program.

Since 2000, the foundation has awarded over $230 million in scholarships to nearly 3,000 students from eighth grade through graduate school and donated $120 million to organizations that support those students.

“I just want to tell them to not give up,” Bijani said.

“Have a mindset that you’re going to take things day by day so that you can focus on (each thing) and grow from it.”

And though the receipt of the Cooke Young Scholars honor is a prestigious individual one, one of the biggest things on Bijani’s mind is continuing to pour back into those around him by using his passion for computer science and engineering as well as the opportunities he might gain from the scholarship.

Remembering roots

Bijani said he wants to help provide resources for those who might not get them otherwise. And according to his family, that passion he displays for serving others has never been in question.

As part of the Shia Ismaili Muslim community in America, he has helped in numerus capacities at the Ismaili Jamatkhana and Center in Houston since his early childhood.

He has served as a teacher, volunteer and management member for the Jamatkhana’s Religious Education Center and Saturday School.

“As a first-generation student, I relied heavily on these youth programs for guidance, and now, after managing projects, I emerged a strong leader,” he said. “To me, strong leaders are not only vocal, but collaborative, seeking to uplift those around them.”

He also said he’s learned

the importance of displaying empathy, identifying barriers and limitations for those he works with and serves and adapting to multiple perspectives and personalities as a result of helping to organize settlement for Afghan refugees.

Bijani also helped families recover after Hurricane Harvey by volunteering at shelters. “(That passion for service) started when I was really young, now it’s cultivated into this, and it’s the reason I want to give back,” he said. “That’s the same thing that was taught to me, so I want others to be able to experience that.”

That’s just who he is, according to his older brother, Alykhan Bijani.

“For him it’s all about ‘what can he do, once he has an education, to make sure he can give back,” Alykhan said. “For our family, education has been our way of being able to get

out there and make a living for ourselves – and once we make a living, for us to give back.

Now, he can simply focus on his education, which will allow him to accomplish his goals and give back.”

The younger Bijani is not blind to the struggles that students and community members around him may face.

And for as long as he’s able, he plans to help and encourage others in efforts to help them reach their own goals the way he has.

“I think (St. Pius X) has taught me not only to be yourself, but also to not forget your roots,” he said. “Giving back to those communities who helped make you is what’s important.”

For more information on the Young Scholars Program and how to apply, go online to jkcf.org/our-scholarships/ young-scholars-program.

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The Leader • Saturday, April 16, 2022 • Page 7A

Art Valet: Sellers’ latest work graces farmers market MITCH COHEN Art Columnist

Upon entering the central hallway at the revamped Houston Farmers Market, 2520 Airline Dr., visitors are greeted by 12 paintings depicting a farm-to-table theme in close up, from the planting of seeds, sowing, reaping and finally to eating at the table, all done by Heights artist Suzanne E. Sellers.

The paintings are 5x5 feet on steel and overlook the farmer merchants that Houston’s oldest farmers market is known for. Sellers sat down with me at the bar at Wild Oats, Chris Shepherd’s newest addition to the growing complex of businesses, to fill me in on her Houston career as a muralist and artist.

There was a time not long ago when you could identify Houston murals and the artists that created them on one or two hands, tops. Sellers’ work may have been the most visible, considering some of those murals were multiple stories tall.

Sellers’ murals were literally the most visible at the time starting with her trompe l’oeil mural on the Houston Press building downtown.

Her large vertical historical mural that was on the back of the Houston Club building may have been the most iconic, and just around the corner, Sellers also painted the very colorful fruit market mural in Market Square.

Sellers told me she’s lived in Woodland Heights since 1985 and bought her current home in 1994. She was in her early 20s when she moved to the Heights and reflected on the neighborhood at the time.

“The homes were small

historical bungalows and the people that lived in them were predominantly elderly, artists, fewer children and a very diverse group of people,” Sellers said. “I still live in a renovated bungalow and my home is only one of three left on our block. It is kind of sad to see these old homes go because they had history, but I realize you can’t stop growth.

“On the other hand, with change comes more desirable amenities,” Sellers added. “I loved this neighborhood then and still do today.

I have wonderful neighbors and many friends.”

Before taking on art fulltime, Sellers was a teacher.

With a bachelor’s degree in art education and then acquiring a master’s in art while teaching in the public school system for nine years, Sellers decided to take the plunge into her lifelong dream of creating art for a living.

“In the beginning, I was working on my own individual work, showing at outdoor festivals and searching for the next step in my development of becoming a professional sustainable artist,” Sellers recalls. “During that first year in 1994, I was commissioned by Medallion Oil Co. to paint a trompe l’oeil mural on the Houston Press building in Downtown Houston.”

Her second big job for JP Morgan Chase was her largest to date at Capitol and Milam streets. She told me she worked with the public relations department, which helped her with public speaking engagements related to the mural. The company liaison became her husband.

While most large-scale murals are a collaboration between client and artist, Sellers’ own art is at once recognizable for the tile patterns she incorporates into her illustrator-like style paintings. Sellers paints fa-

Contributed photo One of Suzanne E. Sellers farm to table paintings at The Houston Farmers Market.

Contributed photo The Heights Theater on W. 19th St. by Suzanne E. Sellers.

Contributed photo

Contributed photo Suzanne Sellers with husband David Byford in Colorado.

Front porch painting by Suzanne E. Sellers.

miliar neighborhood scenes and daily life.

“Over the last 30 years, I was awarded numerous opportunities to paint and complete tile murals for individuals as well as corporate clients such as JPMorgan Chase, Exxon U.S.A., the City of Houston and many others,” Sellers said. “Each of these projects granted me

new opportunities to expand my portfolio and further develop my style and skill set as a muralist.

“I have continuously worked on developing my own personal works,” she added. “Primarily using acrylic, watercolor or collage, I have shown my pieces at local private or group shows in the city of Hous-

ton. My career has given me the fortunate opportunity to continue to work on some very fascinating projects.

Creating is a very independent pursuit. It has been an exciting and very rewarding journey.”

View Sellers’ art on her website, www.suzannesellers.com, and see her recent work at the Houston Farm-

ers Market, open daily from 5:30 a.m-6 p.m., and online at thehoustonfarmersmarket.com.

Cohen is an artist and founder of the First Saturday Arts Market and the Market at Sawyer Yards. Find him at ArtValet.com for additional highlights and artist’s stories.

Zydeco band to play free concert at Marmion Park

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

The Houston Heights Association is continuing its outdoor concert series next weekend with an afternoon performance by the Zydeco DOTS. The free community con-

cert, part of the Music @ Marmion series, is scheduled for 3-5 p.m. Saturday, April 23 at Marmion Park, 1800 Heights Blvd. The Cajun and zydeco band will perform from the gazebo at the park.

Attendees can bring their own lawn chairs and blan-

kets as well as food and drinks.

The Music @ Marmion series is sponsored by the Houston Heights Association, which serves residents and businesses in the neighborhood, and underwritten

by Greenwood King Properties.

In Memoriam

ROBERT (BOB) HEMPHILL

Robert (Bob) Hemphill, son of Earl and Lena May Hemphill, was born February 10, 1930, in Nocona, Texas, the youngest of four children. Robert departed this life April 7, 2022, at the age of 92.

Robert was reared in Nocona and Houston, Texas.

On July 26, 1950, Robert entered the United States Army where he served with distinction in the 2nd Armored Division, stationed in Germany, attaining the rank of Sergeant. On June 28, 1952, Robert was Honorably Discharged from the Army and then began a 5-year commitment to the U.S. Army Reserves. Over the years, Robert fondly spoke of his commander, General Eisenhower, both proudly hailing from Texas.

Robert was united in marriage to the love of his life, Marie Kopycinski, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Rosenberg, Texas, on June 6, 1953. Thereafter, they lived in Houston, Texas, where together they embraced life and lovingly reared three children. Robert and Marie enjoyed 67 years of marriage before she passed in September of 2020.

Robert was employed by Humble Oil / Exxon for 42 years, starting his career as a “Roustabout” at the Katy Gas Plant and completing his career as a Project Manager for Exxon USA, downtown Houston. Robert possessed an intrinsic creativity for building whatever he wanted, from engines and welding machines to gooseneck and utility trailers, and barbecue pits, a talent which led him to teaching a welding class in the evenings at the University of Houston. He was an ardent fan of University of Houston football.

Robert loved his family and enjoyed all the wonderful times together at their Houston home or at the family farm in East Texas. Robert had a passion for riding his horses and delighted in watching his grazing cattle from the front porch in East Texas. Robert enjoyed trail rides in Polk County and was a lifetime member of the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo. He was full of stories of Lisa B, his favorite horse, and ostensibly one of the best horses ever. He was enamored by the dedication of his childhood pit bull, Ol’ Blue, who actually saved Robert from the clutches of an angry bull. He and his wife Marie were enthusiastic fans of the Houston Astros from their founding in 1962. Robert possessed an innate mechanical mind and was a consummate tinkerer at the barn. He relished hunting and the outdoors, having taught his son hunting at a very young age. Robert was an active and successful deer hunter through his 80s.

Robert was an active member of the St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church for over 30 years, having celebrated many of life’s milestones there.

Robert is survived by his three children: Robert A. Hemphill (Joy) of Spring, Texas; Terri Picard (Chris) of Sugar Land, Texas; Donna Hemphill (Jana Ostergrant) of Pearland, Texas; eight grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

Robert’s family would like to thank Visiting Angels for their care, especially the kindness and dedication of Patsy and Katrina.

Visitation will be Thursday, April 21, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with a Rosary starting at 7:00 p.m., at Pat H. Foley Funeral Home, 1200 W. 34th Street, Houston, Texas.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, April 22, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, 3600 Brinkman, Houston, Texas.

IN MEMORIAM

Anna Schwieterman May 7, 1941 - March 22, 2022

A

nna Schwieterman (née Temmer) 80, was born in Radikovci, Croatia (formerly Yugoslavia) on May 7, 1941. She grew up in Graz, Austria until 1952 when she and her family immigrated to the United States.

Anna is survived by her husband Daniel, whom she met in Chicago and married in Mexico City in 1978. She is also survived by her 3 dedicated children Lisa Schwieterman, Marie (Ford) Robertson and Joseph (Karen) Schwieterman and siblings Rose Mason, John (Pat) Temmer, and Elizabeth Gothier, 3 grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Anna is preceded in death by her parents Johann and Anna, her brother Andreas Temmer and sister Katherine Basgall.

Anna taught math and German for over 35 years, first in the Catholic schools of Chicago, IL while serving as a nun and then later in Houston ISD and Spring ISD. Anna also coordinated the Sunday preschool program for 8 years in several Catholic parishes in Houston. As a young adult she programmed early computers. She loved to travel and visited over 30 countries around the world. She was a dedicated spouse, mother, and grandmother ‘Oma’ who instilled a love of music, education, travel, languages and faith with her family and friends.

The family would like to thank the Texas Liver Center and Houston Hospice for their care and support for Anna. Many dedicated and longtime friends were Anna’s regular visitors and supporters and their care and kindness are greatly appreciated by her family.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, April 25 at 6pm at All Saint’s Catholic Church, 215 E 10th St, Houston, TX. In lieu of flowers, please support: St. Vincent de Paul Society, Casa Juan Diego, or New Horizons, a Ukraine orphanage at https://nhfc.org/

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Page 8A • Saturday, April 16, 2022 • The Leader

Inclusive Timbergrove church celebrates 50 years

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

Annette Beall grew up going to a Free Will Baptist church in Fort Worth. When she came out as a lesbian, in her 30s, she said the congregation “did not particularly appreciate my participation.”

But her Christian faith remained important to Beall, who within a few years afterward connected with Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church in Houston.

The family of Metropolitan Community Churches was founded by a gay man and as an affirming ministry to members of the LGBTQ+ community.

“I felt cared about and welcomed, like, right away,” said Beall, now 74. “People were friendly and encouraging and supportive, and the worship experience just felt right for me. It was an inclusive kind of worship.”

As it celebrates its 50th anniversary on April 20, Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church remains inclusive, accepting and committed to promoting the teachings of Jesus Christ, according to Rev. Elder Troy Treash, the senior pastor for the last nine years. And Beall, who became a member when she started working at the church in the late 1970s, said

its membership has become even more diverse in terms of gender, race and ethnicity.

Resurrection, which since the early 2000s has operated at 2025 W. 11th St. in the Timbergrove neighborhood, also prides itself on being socially conscious and politically active, having served as a polling place for Harris County elections. Its members have pushed for same-sex marriage equality, protested the separation of migrant children from their families at the Texas-Mexico border, held a vigil for slain Houston native George Floyd and, most recently, collected donations for Metropolitan Community Church members in Ukraine, which was invaded by Russia in February.

“Our mission statement is to demonstrate God’s unconditional love of all people through Christ-like actions.

I shorten that to ‘Love in Action,’” Treash said. “We believe that the gospel commands us to physically put love into action. That’s about people getting fed and clothed and having enough and being out of harm’s way.”

The church has withstood threats to itself throughout its half-century of operation. It first held services at a member’s apartment and later at a bicycle shop and a

bar before securing its first sanctuary in the Montrose neighborhood, according to Treash.

Beall said a cross was burned on the church lawn in the late 1970s.

“I hadn’t experienced anything like that boiling anger that people decided to share with us,” she said. “The hate was scary to me, but the church leadership was calm and engaged in keeping the congregation aware of what was happening and providing a safe place for worship.

There was enough confidence that people didn’t stop coming (to church).”

There also was the AIDs epidemic, starting in the 1980s, which claimed about one-third of the church’s membership at the time, Treash said. And Resurrection’s building on 11th Street has flooded twice – first during Tropical Storm Allison in 2001 and again during Hurricane Harvey in 2017.

The COVID-19 pandemic presented the latest challenge, but again, Resurrection and its members have persevered. Treash said the church’s membership has remained steady throughout, with about 425 people, and it has utilized online services to serve its congregants and expand its reach.

Treash said the makeup of

the church’s membership has evolved over the years, at least partly because of the influence of the late Rev. Vickey Gibbs, who died in 2020 from COVID-19, according to Treash. He said Gibbs, a Black woman, helped Resurrection became a place for Christian Houstonians of different races as well as different gender identities and sexual orientations.

The church and its members continue to fight for social equality and against

discrimination, with Treash saying in recent years there has been “permission given for hatred out there.”

Through it all, Beall said Resurrection has remained a church rooted in love, and not just for the LGBTQ+ community. Its membership includes families with children, she said, and Resurrection operates a food pantry and clothing closet in addition to providing Christmasgift baskets to residents in need.

Beall said Resurrection has made it 50 years “by the power of God” and also because of the unwavering support of its members, both financially and through their active participation.

“I think the church strives to be there and be available for all people, to be totally inclusive,” Beall said. “I can say that’s true from the day I walked into Resurrection.

That was in my 30s, now I’m in my 70s, and the church lives up to that.”

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Contributed photo Fighting for social justice and condemning discrimination is part of the ministry for Rev. Elder Troy Treash, right, and Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church, a Timbergrove place of worship that is celebrating its 50th anniversary this month.

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The Leader • Saturday, April 16, 2022 • Page 1B

Great Taste of the Heights set for return

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

An annual community event hosted by a local church celebrating the eclectic cuisine in the Heights is gearing up for a return following a twoyear hiatus.

The Great Taste of the Heights food-and-drink festival will make its return from 5-10 p.m. Saturday, April 23 after being canceled the past two years due to the coronavirus pandemic. All Saints Catholic Church hosts the festival on the church grounds at 215 E. 10th St. Back this year will be food tents from more than 10 Heights-area restaurants, including BB’s TexOrleans, Bluestone Lane, Christian’s Tailgate Bar & Grill, Honeychild’s Sweet Creams, Shandy’s Cafe, La Vibra Tacos and Sonoma in the Heights. There will also be live entertainment for community members to enjoy, with performances from classic rock band Checkered Past as well as the awardwinning band from Waltrip High School.

Other activities to be available will be a craft beer tent as well as a silent auction.

“It’s just a really good neighborhood entertainment event that’s been going on for 15 years,” said Kerry Mooney with All Saints Catholic Church. “A lot of families like to come. They can come as a family, park, hang out, dance … and enjoy the evening.”

The event, which serves as All Saints Catholic’s largest fundraiser, generally drew between 1,0001,200 people in the years immediately before the pandemic, according to Mooney. And though she is not sure whether attendance will match that mark in the event’s return next week, she said she expects the community will still respond in force.

“The best part about the whole event is the overall community response and ambiance,” she said.

“Every single walk of life is there – we have such a diverse population in the Heights and at All Saints.

It’s so wonderful to have everyone come together and just enjoy a good old-fashioned time.”

What’s more, Mooney said the event is hosted in a large enough open-air space that community members can come out and participate in the festivities however they’d like.

“If you want to stay socially distant, that’s fine.

It’s come one, come all – enjoy it under any circumstances that you want,” she said.

The event also gives the church the chance to introduce itself and its mission to the community, Mooney said. She praised the Knights of Columbus

for helping set up the event as well as its sponsors.

All proceeds from the event will be used to fund the church’s ministries.

Tickets for the event are $25 per person if purchased online through April 22 or at select retail stores - C&D Hardware, 314 E. 11th St.; and Eclectic Home, 345 W. 19th St. Tickets can also be purchased the day of the event for $35, while kids age 10 and younger will get in free.

Upon entry, community members will exchange the ticket for a wristband that grants them free tastings and live music for the event’s entirety.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the event page at greattasteoftheheights.com.

“We just want to have a safe, happy, positive, open-air environment where people can come out and enjoy each other along with the eclectic nature of the Heights community,” Mooney said. “It’s just super exciting … to see this all come together for the public in such a fun one-day event.”

Contributed photos In top photo, two attendees to Great Taste of the Heights in 2019 carry trays full of food samples. In bottom photo, community members relax on the lawn at All Saints Catholic Church, 215 E. 10th St.

Review: Tony’s epitomizes family-friendly neighborhood eatery

By Marianna Jayson news@theleadernews.com

Tony’s Mexican Restaurant has been on the corner of Ella Boulevard and West 23rd Street for 30 years. Tony’s is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year as the blue and gold banners hung throughout the restaurant proudly remind us.

So, it has to be asked, “What keeps a restaurant thriving for 30 years while others struggle to survive?” Yes, the food must be delicious and consistent, but what keeps people coming back year after year?

Tony’s started as a local restaurant popular with the lunchtime crowd and as an unpretentious dinner spot for area residents. Prices were reasonable and food was tasty, plentiful and served quickly. It remains a lunchtime and dinnertime favorite as evidenced by the crowded parking lot, which now also offers valet parking.

This past Friday, April 8, we decided to start the weekend

at Tony’s. As we drove up to the restaurant we questioned our decision. A small stage was set up in the parking lot and a combo (J A Music) was providing entertainment to diners on the outside patio and folks waiting for inside seating.

There was a long wait list, but the music was good and the drinks were cold.

After about a half-hour we were seated and served the obligatory chips and salsa.

The chips were fresh and the warm salsa was spicy. Actually it was delicious as the heat worked as a perfect counterpoint to our margaritas. My mango margarita was refreshing without being too sweet, while the strawberry margarita tasted of fresh strawberries. Other margarita options include watermelon, lime and banana as well as other popular bar drinks.

For our entrees we ordered the shrimp enchilada platter, which was served with white rice and refried beans, along with the fajita tacos al carbon platter. Juicy, tender beef fa-

Photo by Marianna Jayson The fajita tacos al carbon from Tony’s Mexican Restaurant, 2222 Ella Blvd., come with guacamole, pico de gallo, rice and refried beans.

jita meat spilled out of two house-made tortillas, which came with spanish rice, guacamole, pico de gallo and refried beans. The freshly made guacamole had chunks of avocado and the perfect amount of lime juice. Yum! The shrimp enchiladas were bathed in a salsa verde that was bright and seasoned with

the perfect amount of citrus (I’m assuming also lime). It is hard to wax poetic about enchiladas, but these shrimp enchiladas were perhaps the best I’ve ever eaten. The sauce complemented instead of overpowering the shrimp.

Melted Monterey jack cheese then bestowed a creamy blessing to the dish. Amen!

Previous dining occasions included several of the combo dishes which provide samplings of Tex-Mex favorites, fajitas for two, enchiladas and quesadillas. Most dishes are served with rice and beans.

There was no room for dessert, although the churros, ice cream and chocolate sauce that passed by on their way to an adjacent table were very tempting. Note to self: Next time, go light on chips and salsa and have dessert!

There are lunch specials for $9.95 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Monday through Friday and a $5.95 children’s menu. Friday night usually features live music and a very talented person amusing the kiddos with balloon animals.

Tony’s started as a small family restaurant and has grown exponentially at the same location. You can choose indoor or outdoor dining or eating at the bar if there is available seating. Service is friendly and prompt but not rushed. The dining room can get noisy during busy hours.

On this particular evening there were young couples, older couples, families and ”the regulars.” Exactly the mix of diners you would expect at a neighborhood restaurant.

Tony’s is closed on Sunday in keeping with his philosophy that Sunday is a family day.

Founder Tony Vega died two years ago, but his restaurant is his legacy to his heritage and the city he loved.

Tony’s Mexican Restaurant Address: 2222 Ella Blvd.

Phone: 713-862-6516 Dining options: Dine-in, carryout, delivery, catering Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Friday-Saturday Entree prices: $10.99-$18.50.

Kid-friendly: Yes Senior discount: No Alcohol: Yes Healthy options: Soups, salads Star of the show: Shrimp enchilada platter Rating: 4.5 out of 5 bites

Nibbles & Sips: Space Cowboy debuts Astros-themed tacos

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

As the Houston Astros’ season got underway last week, a restaurant and bar in a Heights-area hotel debuted new food as the start of what it says will be a season full of promotions.

Space Cowboy, located inside the Heights House Hotel at 100 W. Cavalcade St., debuted chef Adriana Maldonado’s “triple play” of tacos inspired by MVP second baseman Jose Altuve, All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman and Gold Glove first baseman Yuli Gurriel.

The “Altuve” features Venezuelan pulled beef, black refried beans, red bell pepper, pico de gallo and a slice of sweet plantain on a corn tortilla, while the “Breggy Bomb” has New Mexican green chile chicken, tempura fried avocado and shredded red cabbage topped off with queso and a flour tortilla. “La Piña” is topped with roasted citrus pork, black

Photo from Facebook The new “Breggy Bomb” tacos at Space Cowboy, 100 W. Cavalcade St., feature New Mexican green chile chicken, tempura fried avocado and shredded red cabbage topped with queso in flour tortillas.

refried beans, shredded red cabbage and pineapple pico de gallo on a corn tortilla.

In addition to the new tacos, a news release from the eatery said guests sporting Astros attire will receive a 15 percent discount during

any game throughout the 2022 baseball season.

Space Cowboy is open from noon-2 a.m. daily, and the Astros-themed tacos are served starting at 7 p.m. according to the restaurant’s website.

For more information on Space Cowboy, visit spacecowboyhou.com or follow the restaurant on Instagram.

Patterson Park opening along White Oak Bayou Patterson Park, a new patio bar along White Oak Bayou, announced on Facebook that it is opening Wednesday at 2205 Patterson St. just south of Interstate 10.

The patio bar’s website says the 4,000-square foot, multi-level building will have skylights as well as large garage doors that open onto a 5,000-square foot patio deck that will overlook the trees along the bayou. The dogfriendly spot will also have more than 40 TV screens all around the patio for guests to watch, according to the website.

For more information on Patterson Park and stay upto-date, community members can visit its website at pattersonparkhouston.com, email hello@pattersonparkhouston.com or follow it on Facebook.

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Page 2B • Saturday, April 16, 2022 • The Leader

BASEBALL/SOFTBALL ROUNDUP

Winkler, Evans pace SPX in undefeated week

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

The St. Pius X High School baseball team has become used to strong pitching from its top two starters in Casan Evans and Kyle Winkler.

Both stood out again last week, with each hurling complete-game shutouts to help the Panthers to an unbeaten week. SPX defeated Beaumont Kelly Catholic 2-0 on April 5 before toppling topranked Concordia Lutheran 4-0 on Friday. With the wins, SPX improved to 11-8-1 on the season and 4-3 in TAPPS district play.

Winkler did a little bit of everything against Kelly Catholic, striking out eight and allowing three scattered hits while also contributing a tworun single at the plate to account for all the scoring. Evans then was even better against the Crusaders on Friday, spinning a two-hit shutout while striking out 10 hitters against a lone walk.

Austin Brown hit a two-run home run against Concordia Lutheran, and Jackson Mobley had two hits of his own.

The Panthers were slated for a rematch with the Crusad-

ers on Tuesday night.

Other action In other private school action, the St. Thomas Eagles have won three straight games following a 5-3 victory over Beaumont Kelly Catholic on April 7. Joshua Caldwell had two hits for St. Thomas (11-131, 3-4), while Sam Mahlberg drove in a run.

On the public school side, Waltrip split a pair of games last week. The Rams took down Sterling 21-1 on Saturday, then lost 10-5 against Kinkaid in a non-district contest later that day. With the win against Sterling, the Rams (8-6, 5-2) moved into a tie for second place in District 23-5A. Heights defeated Humble 15-4 in a non-district matchup on April 4 before dropping a pair of district games to Lamar later in the week. Charlie Maddux had two hits for the Bulldogs (12-7-1, 6-2) against Humble, while Eduardo Lopez drove in the lone run in a 10-1 loss to Lamar on April 9.

The Booker T. Washington Eagles defeated Scarborough 9-6 on Saturday to move to 8-3 on the season and 5-3 in District 23-4A. Scarborough fell to 3-8 overall and 3-5 in district play with the loss.

Softball On the public school side, Heights’ Lady Bulldogs won a pair of games last week. They defeated Westbury on Friday before taking down Memorial 13-2 in a non-district contest on Saturday. Kennedy Hill and Sarah Salas each homered for the Lady Bulldogs (21-10, 7-3) against Memorial, while Sydney Palomo went 3 for 3. Hayley Jaime threw a complete game in the circle, scattering five hits and striking out seven.

Booker T. Washington lost its second consecutive game with a 13-2 defeat at the hands of Furr on Friday. The Lady Eagles were slated to play Worthing on Wednesday afternoon.

In private school action, St. Pius X’s Lady Panthers have won three straight games following an 11-10 victory over Katy St. John XXIII on April 7.

SPX was 10-12 overall and 3-1 in TAPPS district play ahead of Tuesday’s game against Bellaire Episcopal.

The Lutheran High North Lady Lions are still searching for their first win of the season following a 15-0 defeat to Alpha Omega Academy on April 7.

Photo by Wayne Donnelly Kyle Winkler of St. Pius X High School lays down a bunt during a game. He also pitched a three-hit shutout with eight strikeouts during an April 5 win against Beaumont Kelly Catholic.

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The Leader • Saturday, April 16, 2022 • Page 3B

Fat cat problems New Well Puppy & Kitten Exam

Dear Tabby, How much should we be feeding our cat? We just adopted a teenage cat and I’m afraid that I’m over feeding her because she’s getting pretty fat pretty quickly.

Fat Cat in the Making in Forest West Dear Fat Cat, Assuming that your cat is an indoor gal, it’s important to keep her caloric intake in check since she won’t get quite as much exercise as an outdoor cat would. Feline obesity is the number one health concern around the world, so the quicker you get her food consumption in check, the healthier she’ll be and the longer she’ll be around.

Lazy kitties Unfortunately, cats have a tendency to be lazy. In a cat’s

perfect world, they would nap all day, bask i¬n the sunshine and eat as much as they want. In the wild, cats get their food from hunting, which is a great source of exercise. For house cats, there’s no hunting required, so it’s easy to get fat. It’s important for you to help your cat with portion control and encourage her to play to help keep her weight down and her energy levels up.

How much should you feed?

You can calculate how much food your cat needs based on its weight. Your cat’s ideal healthy weight will determine how many calories they need a day.

An adult cat requires about 25 calories per pound of body weight. An 8-ounce cup of dry food averages in at about 500 calories. So, if we estimate that the average 10-pound cat needs about 250 calories per day, your cat will need about -½ cup of food, maybe less if your cat is particularly lazy.

Wet or dry?

Wet food is more caloriedense but also contains much-needed moisture for

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Exercise If your cat loves to play you might need to feed her a bit more to compensate for her active lifestyle, but be sure to play with her and keep her activity levels commiserate with her caloric intake.

It’s certainly difficult to deny your sweet kitty food when she’s begging for food, but as long as she is healthy and eating the portions of food that you’re providing her, trust that she has plenty to eat. The best way to love our pets is to keep them healthy and to be the authority on when and how much to eat, so take control of your kitty’s diet and help her to lead a long and healthy life in the process.

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THE PUBLIC. The Leader • Saturday, April 16, 2022 • Page 4B

Social Security offices reopen to public

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

The Social Security Administration (SSA) reopened its local offices for in-person services April 7, after leaving them closed for a yearand-a-half because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The closest SSA office to the Heights, Garden Oaks and Oak Forest areas is located at 16200 Dillard Drive in the Jersey Village area. It is open from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Monday through Friday.

In an April 4 statement about the reopening of local offices, SSA acting commissioner Kilolo Kijakazi encouraged those who need Social Security services to schedule appointments by phone (800-772-1213) in advance instead of walking in without an appointment, to avoid long wait times. He

also encouraged the use of online services at www.socialsecurity.gov.

Kijakazi said SSA offices tend to be busiest first thing in the morning, early in the week and during the early part of the month.

“Throughout the pandemic, millions of people have used our secure and convenient online services and received help by phone,” Kijakazi said. “People who have access to the internet should first try our online services before calling us or visiting an office.”

Social Security offices will require masks, physical distancing and self-health checks for COVID-19 symptoms, according to Kijakazi, who said masks will be provided to members of the public as well as employees if they do not have them.

“Given that many of the

HFD investigating fire that damaged house in Acres Homes

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

Firefighters from seven different stations responded to a house fire last weekend in Acres Homes, where they found significant damage but no one inside, according to the Houston Fire Department.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, accord-

ing to HFD, which said a live power line was on the ground near the front gate of the one-story home in the 900 block of Granville Drive.

HFD said no injuries were reported in the fire, which caused an estimated $47,500 in damages. Firefighters arrived on the scene a little before 2 a.m. and found the home on fire, according to the department.

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Stock photo The Social Security Administration reopened its offices to the public for in-person services April 7. They were closed for more than a year.

people we serve have health vulnerabilities, and consistent with our union agreements, we are continuing to require certain safety measures,” Kijakazi said.

For more information, visit www.socialsecurity. gov/coronavirus/gethelp/ or www.socialsecurity.gov/ onlineservices/.

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The fire came from the second floor of a two-story home and was extinguished with the assistance of firefighters from nine different stations, according to HFD.

Police Reports • April 6 - April 12 APRIL 6

Forest Pines

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Arrest 2 AM 4800 BLOCK OF EIGEL

APRIL 10

Theft 3 PM 1800 BLOCK OF HARVARD ST Robbery 4 PM 900 BLOCK OF 23RD ST E Burglary 1 AM 1100 BLOCK OF 23RD ST E Assault 3 PM 1100 BLOCK OF 23RD ST W Assault 11 AM 4100 BLOCK OF DELHI ST Arrest 10 AM 400 BLOCK OF HEIGHTS BLVD S Theft 11 AM 1500 BLOCK OF 18TH ST W Arrest 12 AM 4900 BLOCK OF NETT ST Theft 1 AM 5200 BLOCK OF CORNISH

APRIL 11

Arrest 2 PM 1500 BLOCK OF

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AIRLINE Theft 2 PM 1500 BLOCK OF AIRLINE Theft 3 PM 4000 BLOCK OF RUTLAND Theft 12 AM 900 BLOCK OF STUDEWOOD Assault 12 PM 2800 BLOCK OF AIRLINE Theft 4 AM 4300 BLOCK OF HERRIDGE ST Theft 7 PM 00 BLOCK OF CROSSTIMBERS ST E Assault 10 PM 1500 BLOCK OF 25TH ST W Theft 3 PM 300 BLOCK OF HEIGHTS BLVD S

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APRIL 12

Assault 3 AM 2600 BLOCK OF CROSSTIMBERS ST E Reports are provided by SpotCrime.com based on data from the Houston Police Department.

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