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Access to care, misinformation accounts for vaccination rate disparity By Stefan Modrich smodrich@mcelvypartners.com
As the Houston region’s leaders urge residents to get vaccinated as more and more people become hospitalized with coronavirus, public health experts say it’s worth noting the disparity in vaccination rates across the area. Misinformation has played a role in stopping some residents from getting vaccinated, but so too has a lack of access of hospitals and healthcare providers, poor transportation and language barriers, among other reasons, according to those who’ve studied the matter.
In the Leader’s coverage area alone, the vaccination rate varied drastically by zip code. For instance, some 70 percent of residents were vaccinated in the Heights zip code, compared to some 36 percent of residents in the zip code comprising Acres Homes. As of Monday, the city had 234,666 total COVID-19 cases, according to the Houston Health Department (HHD). Statewide, 66.88 percent of Texans have been fully vaccinated, and 47.6 percent of Harris County residents have been fully vaccinated. Among them is Jennifer Hilliard, who said she resided within the 77018 ZIP code. She said three out of four
people in her family have been fully vaccinated, except for her youngest son, who is younger than 12 and not yet eligible for the vaccine. “(We got) vaccinated to protect my youngest son who can’t be vaccinated and is vulnerable (due to his asthma), for those that are vulnerable in my community — anyone can spread it, vaccinated or not — and vaccinations are how we get back to ‘normal.’ Plus, over 300 million people have this shot now and we want to reduce our risk of serious illness and hospitalization.” But others, even those who say they have gotten the vaccine, aren’t confiSee Vaccination P. 6A
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Photo by Stefan Modrich Pictured is a sign reading “free COVID-19 vaccines here” in Spanish Friday outside the Acres Homes Multi-Service Center at 6719 W. Montgomery Road.
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INSIDE. Contributed photo Heights High School senior Bridget Martinez stands in front of a fire truck and equipment at Houston Fire Station 62 in the Heights. Martinez is organizing a fundraiser to help the firefighters buy groceries and other necessities.
Local student raising money for firefighters By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
Shooting arrest A man has been accused of shooting his mom’s boyfriend
Page 2A
New face Heights resident Morris Smith was recently named to the Houston Children’s Charity board.
Page 9A
When Heights High School senior Bridget Martinez was assigned a community service project as part of her International Baccalaureate (IB) program at Heights High School, her thoughts immediately jumped to firefighters. “They’re our community protectors,” she said. “I just want to make sure that they feel appreciated and that the community gets an opportunity to give back to them.” Martinez is hoping to raise $400 before Sept. 11 to purchase Kroger gift cards for the firefighters of local Station 62, she said. The hope is this might help them pay for groceries and other needs, she said. “I want to tell them ‘thank you’ for all that they do, and all the hours and shifts they endure,” she said. “I really appreciate all the hard work they give to the community. I look
Contributed photo Martinez, left, said she has made previous stops to Station 62, and wants to honor their efforts in the commnunity.
forward to engaging the community and encouraging them to appreciate them.” The assignment began this past summer, according to Martinez. The Heights IB program is meant to help
students “demonstrate self-discipline and responsibility, develop a serious work ethic, approach tasks with a sense of purpose, learn from fellow students as well as teachSee Firefighters P. 3A
A Houston man is accused of shooting and killing his brother after the two began fighting over a pair of pants a third man bought at the mall the day before, according to court documents. Gregory Johnson, 18, has been charged with murder in conJohnson nection to the shooting death of Damarion McKeever, 21, on Aug. 22, according to the Houston Police Department. Johnson as of Tuesday afternoon was on the run, according to investigators. Officers at about 11:15 a.m. last Sunday responded to a shooting call at the Shenandoah Apartments at 4250 W. 34th St. to find McKeever dead from a gunshot wound, police said. McKeever’s stepfather told investigators he had been in his bedroom when he heard gunshots coming from the living room and walked to the room, where he found McKeever bleeding from his chest, according to a probable cause affidavit filed with the charges. The man called police and performed CPR, but couldn’t revive McKeever, according to the affidavit. A second man told police he had purchased a pair of pants at a mall the day before, and that he’d been talking with McKeever about them while Johnson was allegedly there, according to the affidavit. The man told investigators that Johnson allegedly began calling McKeever stupid for hanging out with the witness while the witness bought the wrong size of pants, according to the affidavit. The man told investigators the two men then began fighting and cursSee Shooting P. 3A
Heights High track reopens to community
Craved cuisine Leader Ultimate Venues focuses on burgers and pizza this week.
By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
Page 3B
THE INDEX. Church....................................................... 5A Classifieds.............................................. 6A Coupons. ................................................. 8A Food/Drink......................................... 10A Opinion. ................................................... 3A Public Information......................... 2A Puzzles...................................................... 3A
Area man accused of fatally shooting brother
Contributed photo The resurfaced Heights High School track is now open to the community.
Heights High School business manager Tracy Hernandez knows that the school’s track is central to many community members, giving them an easy neighborhood spot to exercise. As such, this week’s milestone was a particularly noteworthy one for the community. As Heights joined the rest of the Houston Independent School District in welcoming its students
back for the 2021-2022 school year, the school also unveiled its school track that recently received a facelift almost a year in the making. Over the years, Hernandez said the track had become worn down to the point that it was extremely unsafe for student athletes and community members to use it. During the course of the project, Hernandez said there was a repair or replacement the rubber material in between the concrete and the surface of the track,
which had become exposed prior to its facelift. It was funded using allocated funds from the school’s improvement budget according to Hernandez, who handles the budget and facility management. When asked about the project cost, Hernandez declined to comment and referred questions to the district’s press office. “It was essentially just concrete that was there and needed to be fixed,” she said. “The maSee Track P. 3A
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The Leader • Saturday, August 28, 2021 • Page 2A
landan@theleadernews.com
Police are searching for a man who is accused of shooting and hospitalizing his mother’s boyfriend in the Heights earlier this month, according to the Houston Police Department. Andrew Martinez, 21, has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in connection to the shooting of Hilario Melo, 50, according to the department. Officers at about 10:30 p.m.
Martinez
Aug. 13 received a call about a shooting at a home in the 200 block of E. 28th Street, according to the police. Witnesses at the scene told police Martinez was upset with Melo and demanded he get out of a car, police said. Melo declined, at which point Martinez is accused of shooting Melo through the passenger-side window, according to the department. Martinez then left the scene, police said. Melo was taken to the hospital with gunshot wound inju-
ries to his chest, right arm and abdomen, according to the department, and was said to be in stable condition. A warrant has been issued for Martinez’s arrest, and his bond is set at $40,000, according to Harris County court records. Anyone with information on Martinez’s whereabouts is urged to contact HPD’s Major Assaults & Family Violence division at 713-308-8800 or Crime Stoppers at 713-2228477.
Man injured in Greater Woman killed in Greater Inwood shooting Inwood hit-and-run By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
Houston police are searching for the person who shot and injured a man near a Greater Inwood convenience store last week. The victim, an 18-year-old man, was taken to the hospital with a gunshot wound to his lower back according to police. A 15-year-old boy who was with Sanchez was also taken to the hospital with a large laceration, police said, but was not shot.
The victim told investigators he was leaving Gemaire Distributors in Greater Inwood, police said, when he noticed his vehicle was being followed by a green or tan colored sedan. The man told police someone in the sedan began shooting at him, according to police. Anyone with information in this case is urged to contact HPD’s Major Assaults & Family Violence division at 713308-8800 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477.
By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
Police are searching for the driver of a car accused of fatally striking a pedestrian last weekend in Greater Inwood. A woman at about 10 p.m. Aug. 14 was attempting to cross the street at 6300 Antoine Drive when an older white Chevrolet pickup truck struck her and then
Residents lose power during overnight outage By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
Many residents in the Heights and surrounding areas saw their power go out overnight on Tuesday. It especially caught the attention of Houston city council member Abbie Kamin, whose District C represents the Heights as well as parts of Greater Inwood, Central Northwest and Lazybrook/Timbergrove. “The outage (I’ve been told) is due to equipment failure,” she Tweeted just after 10:30 p.m. “CenterPoint crews are out in the area for repairs. They do not believe this is
an all-night situation.” As of 10 a.m. Wednesday, CenterPoint Energy’s outage tracker indicated that power had been restored to all of its customers in the 77008 zip code (Greater Heights) as well as Garden Oaks/Oak Forest, Shepherd Park Plaza and Central Northwest neighborhoods in the 77018 zip code. Rice Military in the 77007 zip code and Northside/Northline in 77009 also had no outages as of Wednesday morning There were still four total customers without power in Greater Inwood (77091) and Langwood (77092) as of 10 a.m. Wednesday.
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THE TOPICS. The Leader • Saturday, August 28, 2021 • Page 3A
Abbott in race to bottom of Texas governors
I
s Greg (“Covid Carrier”) Abbott Texas’ worst governor ever? The competition is pretty tough. Let’s look at his record. He called local rules “a form of collectivism,” and signed laws curtailing local governments’ ordinances on Uber, Lyft, plastic bags and cutting trees. More recently and more importantly, Abbott terribly mishandled our February ice storm tragedy. He blamed windmills and solar panels, and kept saying the disaster wasn’t his fault. His move to re-write our election laws to transparently limit Democrats from voting has generated nationwide ridicule of Texas. Abbott changed his anti-virus orders constantly. Now as the delta variant is sweeping across Texas, he issued a sweeping executive order that bans mask requirements by governments and public school systems, and outlaws vaccine requirements by anyone receiving public funds. This includes UH, UT and Texas A&M. Have I left out anything? Oh, yes. In 2015, Abbott ordered the Texas State Guard (not the National Guard) to monitor a federal military exercise called Jade Helm 15 because of rumors the exercise was a step towards the feds taking over Texas. Even “Doonesbury” had a ball with that. So let’s compare Abbott with other Texas’ leaders, both presidents and governors. We’ve had ranchers, lawyers, a former pris-
Lynn Ashby Columnist
oner of war, fervent Rebels and equally fervent Unionists, oil drillers and, worst of all, journalists: Gov. Will Hobby was editor of The Houston Post. Another governorto-be, Ross Sterling, owned that same paper. Both Price Daniel and Oscar Branch Colquitt were newspaper publishers. Colquitt was considered a reformer when, after his election in 1910, he abolished use of bullwhips in Texas prisons. W. Lee O’Daniel was a flour salesman turned radio star who fired the Light Crust Doughboys, including Bob Wills. O’Daniel was the only governor who could not vote for himself, having refused to pay the required poll tax. Dolph Briscoe, Jr. was the largest individual land owner in Texas. Bill Clements was so wealthy he paid to have the Governor’s Mansion redone. Jim Hogg was so poor when he left office he had to borrow money to move. Later he invested in the Spindletop oil field and became enormously wealthy. John Connally
was shot by Lee Harvey Oswald but survived. Beauford Jester was the only one to die in office. He died in a Pullman as the train came into Houston. George W. Bush was the only Texas governor to become a U.S. president, but Sam Houston was elected president (of Texas) before he was elected governor. We’ve had a couple of Indian fighters. Another prosecuted murdering Indian warriors in court, won and they wound up in Huntsville. One lost his bid for re-election due to Mexican bandits, another governor had been a Forty-Niner but didn’t like California. Gov. David Burnet challenged Houston to a duel. James P. Henderson was governor when the Mexican-American War broke out. He turned the state government over to his lieutenant governor and led Texas troops in the war. Sul Ross was a Texas Ranger (he was in the raid that rescued Cynthia Ann Parker) and Confederate general. Pendleton Murrah was born in South Carolina. His parents’ birthplace and dates are unknown. Throughout his life, there was a rumor that Murrah was illegitimate. In a case of irony, after Texas’ secession, President Lincoln offered to send Union troops to keep Houston (an anti-secessionist) in power as governor. Houston refused, and was forced out of office. Later a scalawag governor, Edmund Davis,
called on President Grant to send in Union troops so that Davis could stay in power even though he had lost his re-election bid to Richard Coke. Grant refused, but Davis wouldn’t leave. So for several days Coke and his legislature held forth on the second floor of the capitol while Davis and his old legislators passed their own laws on the first floor. James “Pa” Ferguson was impeached for using state funds for his own expenses. He was kicked out of the governorship with the legal decree that Ferguson could never hold state office again. No problem. A few years later he ran his wife, Miriam (“Ma”), who won, and Pa Ferguson was back in the Governor’s Mansion. Only five have been Republicans, but all have been Protestants. The youngest governor was Dan Moody, 33. Several held degrees from Harvard, Yale, William and Mary, Virginia Military Institute or the University of Virginia. George W. Bush was only one of three governors born north of the MasonDixon Line, and is our only recent governor not to have graduated from a Texas public high school. Preston Smith, who owned a string of movie theaters and was our first governor from West Texas, succeeded John Connally as governor, becoming the first lieutenant governor to go directly to the gov-
ernorship by election since 1857. Rick Perry doesn’t count because he was elevated to the governorship after Bush won election to the presidency, then Perry was elected on his own. Gov. George T. Wood rode a mule around Texas. At night Wood took a rope and tied one end to the mule and the other end to his ankle. Wood refused to wear socks. The Constitution of 1876 put the governor’s salary at $4,000. Today it is $153,750, and they get free housing. (The Texas Constitution states that the governor also has the use of the Governor’s Mansion’s furniture.) In 2007, the Perrys moved into a gated community while the Mansion was being re-built. Taxpayers paid $9,900 a month in rent. While the Perrys were touring Europe, an arsonist burned down a goodly chunk of the Mansion, so they stayed on in their rented digs. Fortunately for the taxpayers, the rent was cut to $9,000 a month. While the office of governor of Texas is not as strong as in some other states, the Texas Constitution used to give the governor specific powers to call out the troops to chase Mexican bandits and marauding Indians. They lost that authority in 1999. Yes, indeed, in 1999. Ashby governs at ashby2@comcast.net
Track, from P. 1A jority of our school uses it, and then a lot of our community members use it as well. So, it needed to be repaired.” The lane lines were also repainted on the track earlier this month, returning the track once again to its former glory. It is once again available for community use, and walk-through gates have been installed on both 13th and 14th streets. Those gates are unlocked after school is over and the Bulldogs’ athletes have finished using the field for their practices, Hernandez said, and will remain open each weekend. “When you improve your property, it makes it looks nice, and it makes the students proud that they have a nice
track which is safe,” she said. “With the damage it had before, it was not safe to use and (this project) took care of that.” It is a worthwhile project, Hernandez said, and the school is trying to keep it that way. A post on Heights High School’s PTO website said the school is encouraging community members who use the track to refrain from using strollers, bicycles, or skateboards on the track. No pets are allowed, according to the school. “In order to preserve the condition of the track for the next decade, the school is asking that everyone assist in taking care of it,” the PTO said on its
Shooting from P. 1A ing at each other, and McKeever eventually punched Johnson several times, according to the affidavit. The witness said Johnson then allegedly went into a nearby bedroom, retrieved a handgun, came back and shot Johnson three times, according to the affidavit. The witness told police that McKeever wrestled with Johnson after the shots, and the witness took the handgun, according to the affidavit. Johnson then fled the apartment, according to the affidavit. Another person also told investigators they had heard the argument about the pair of pants, and that they saw Johnson shoot McKeever, according to the affidavit. Anyone with information on Johnson’s potential whereabouts is urged to contact HPD’s Homicide division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477.
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Call to get started
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the leader Puzzlers.
Firefighters from P. 1A ers and to share with – and contribute to – the community,” according to the program’s mission statement. And with the 20th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001 fast approaching, the soon to be 17-yearold senior said the idea of helping firefighters was one of the first things that jumped to her mind as a perfect fit. So she began researching fire stations in the area and their shift schedules to see what she could do. “As soon as I got the opportunity, I knew this was what I wanted to do and how I wanted to engage the community,” said Martinez, who said she has made the habit of occasionally stopping by the station at 1602 Seamist Drive in the Heights on 9/11 anniversaries as well as random visits to drop off pies and other goodies in previous years. Right up until Sept. 11, community members can donate any amount they would like to the GoFundMe that Martinez has set up to help with the effort. “I encourage you to give back to our firefighters by donating $5 or more to help gift four Kroger gift cards,” the description reads. “As they all power through hardworking shifts and countless calls, firefighter’s grocery trips can become quite expensive.” Martinez is hoping to make the effort as much of a surprise to the firefighters as possible, but that she is excited to see the look on the first responders’ faces when they open up her gifts. She said she plans to do so as soon as possible after receiving all the necessary funds, and is adding her own special touch to the surprise. “I’m going to put in a ‘thank you’ note, package them nicely and then go ahead and run down to the station to give them their gifts,” she said. Ultimately, she believes it is the least she can do for the ones who she said are the best of them. “Our heroes in our community play a huge part in our safety and making sure every-day Americans can continue to live in that confidence,” she said. To find out more about Martinez’s fundraiser or to donate to the cause, community members can go online to https://gofund.me/cf955470.
website. What’s more, Hernandez believes the rejuvenated track will be a draw for Bulldog athletes, supporters and community members alike. She said that when it is in use, there are several hundred Houstonians from around the area coming to utilize the asset. “Not only do people who live in the neighborhood use it to walk and run, but I have seen numerous organizations like running clubs come and use it as well,” she said. “We’re so central (in the community), so I think that makes it a lot more convenient for a lot of groups.”
Answers found in this week’s Classified section
SUDOKU
aCrOss
1. Crooned 5. Luck 8. Cosecant function 11. Rock bands play here 13. Surrounds the earth 14. Jessica __ 15. A type of clique 16. No seats available 17. Greek sophist 18. Stiff hair 20. Recipe measurement (abbr.) 21. Legal periodical 22. Saloons 25. He tricks you 30. Closing over 31. Man’s best friend is one 32. Distinguish oneself 33. Immoralities 38. Marsh elder 41. Blasts 43. A discerning judge 45. Avenge for a wrong 48. Doctors’ group 49. Jerry’s friend 50. Type of sword 55. Swedish rock group
56. Black tropical American cuckoo 57. Blatted 59. Cain and __ 60. Strong liquor flavored with juniper berries 61. Cocoa bean 62. Get free of 63. Cardiograph 64. A cargo (abbr.)
dOwn
1. A baglike structure in a plant or animal 2. Bird genus 3. One point east of northeast 4. A type of fly 5. Hurry 6. Lighter-than-air craft 7. Ask to marry 8. Thick rope made of wire 9. Imposters 10. Central nervous system 12. Pie _ __ mode 14. Robert __, poet 19. Dwelt 23. Firewood 24. Voices 25. Water in the solid
state 26. Superman’s foe 27. Chris Paul’s team (abbr.) 28. Employ 29. Mineral 34. Vessel 35. Nigerian City 36. Romania 37. Sirius Satellite Radio (abbr.) 39. Potential difference 40. A class of synthetic detergents 41. Drunkard 42. Doesn’t win or lose 44. Appellative 45. Spiritual leader 46. Implant 47. Language (Afrikaans) 51. Basics 52. A one-time Giants center 53. Every one of two or more 54. A way to gather 55. Swiss river 58. Small spot
WORD SCRAMBLE
Page 4A • Saturday, August 28, 2021 • The Leader
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The Leader • Saturday, August 28, 2021 • Page 5A
Oak Forest resident helps find fulfilling careers By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com
Oak Forest resident Jessica Ciosek is dedicated to helping people step out of their comfort zone to find a career they can be truly passionate about. Next month, Ciosek is launching a new group coaching series, Design Your Life, through her business Wilder Coaching Collective, that will help people do just that. “It is really easy to get in the habit of living the life we’ve created without wanting to make a change,” Ciosek said. “Coaching gives people the space to reflect and gives them ability to come up with the answer to their own challenges.” Design Your Life was created by Stanford professors Dave Evans and Bill Burnett, and Ciosek is using their methodology in her series, which begins Sept. 15 and has five weekly sessions on Wednesdays. “(Evans and Burnett) applied designed theory to life, focusing on career because we use so much of our life working,” Ciosek said.
Ciosek explained the first session starts by participants defining what they want to do now, or in five years and what is stopping them from acquiring that goal, or keeping them stuck in the same place. One of the tools used in the coaching is having participants journal their daily activities to begin noticing what give them energy and what deflates them, she said. In group coaching they will share what aspects of their daily life they most enjoy and the group will help brainstorm possible career options that will benefit them the most. “There’s a lot of limiting beliefs, and in this framework we call them dysfunctional beliefs,” Ciosek said. “If someone does have a limiting belief, how can someone reframe that belief to get them unstuck. (A limiting belief) can be as simple as just thinking you have to have a career that only fits your degree.” Another tool used during the series is mind mapping, which starts with the data collected from journaling, and participants will take what they found to give them the
most energy during the day and build upon it using word association. “It helps to not censor yourself and helps dig up what you”re most excited about,” Ciosek said. “In a group setting you share and that generates ideas and questions about potential careers.” The pandemic has given people a chance to consider that maybe they want to do something else with their life, Ciosek said. The ideal candidate for the Design Your Life group coaching is someone who is committed to creating a life and career that they love, she said. “Someone who wants to make change now,” Ciosek said. The Design Your Life group coaching series is $640, but Ciosek offers a 10 percent discount to those who sign up before Sept. 1, which can be done here: https://www. wildercoaching.com/dyl. The series will be held at Sesh Coworking, 1210 W. Clay Rd. Wilder Coaching Collective also offering one-on-one career and leadership coaching.
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Sunday Bible Classes 9am Ministries forour All Ages Please website at: Sund visit Wednesday Bible Study 7pm Home of Johnson Memorial School for Little Children www.lazybrookbaptistchurch.org for the following: Rev. Nathan Lonsdale Bledsoe, Pastor 4215 Watonga Blvd. • 713-681-9365
◆ 713-686-8241 ◆ s t s u m c . o r g 2003 W. 43rd St.Wed Sunday Services: In-person @ 11 AM
1822 W. 18th
Houston, TX 77092
(Live stream during service) Bible Studies: From Homepage, click on • 713-864-1470 Connect/Small Groups
Gethsemane Lutheran Church Pastor Jerry McNamara 4040 Watonga • 713-688-5227
We invite you to worship with us! Weekly Worship Services 9:00a.m. Online services can be reached through the website below at 9:00 am. www.gethsemanelutheran.org
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Contributed photo Oak Forest resident Jessica Ciosek, owner of Wilder Coaching Collective, is offering a new group coaching series to help people find a more fulfilling career.
t goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway: “we have all made mistakes.” As Alexander Pope so aptly put it: “To err is human, to forgive, divine.” We should remember this the next time we make a mistake. Most certainly, we must learn from our mistakes, and hopefully not continue to repeat them, but we should also forgive ourselves. While it can be hard enough to forgive others for their mistakes, it can sometimes feel almost impossible to forgive ourselves. We sometimes cannot bring ourselves to forgive something we’ve done, and we may punish and harangue ourselves for years, or even decades, over youthful indiscretions. In addition, some of us may not be able to forget the sins of our past. And although that may prevent us from repeating them, we must be charitable and forgive ourselves, just as we should forgive others. So, we should make a real effort in the coming days and weeks to forgive the offenses of others as well as our own. Sometimes, it helps to just forget about them; that is, to try to put them out of our mind and stop repeatedly mulling over them. One of the reasons we use the phrase “forgive and forget” is because sometimes that is the only way to forgive, i.e., by forgetting. But far better, and more divine, is to be able to forgive even while remembering the offense. So, we should let go of those unforgiving, vindictive, shameful feelings about the past, and get over it! Corrie ten Boom, who survived incarceration in a Nazi prison camp said, “Forgiveness is to set a prisoner free, and to realize that the prisoner was you.”
By Pastor Will Cover
Arise Baptist Church 803 Curtin St. Houston TX 77018 713-659-9697 • www.arisebaptistchurch.org
T
his time of the fact that God never year is always changes. Hebrews busy and full of 13:8 says, “Jesus change. Going back Christ, the same to school is fun for yesterday, today, and Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn many but forbe others itforgive, forever.” James 1:17 not, and you will not condemned; and you will be forgiven... is also a time of great says, “Every good gift R.S.V. Luke 6:37 apprehension. and every perfect gift Mothers and fathers is from above, and saying good-by to cometh down from their children on the the Father of lights, first day of school will with whom is no in many cases shed a variableness, neither few tears. Children shadow of turning.” meeting their new God is faithful and teachers for the first never changes. When time may feel unsure life gets crazy, keep of how well they will your focus on the get along in their new Lord. When things class. Making new friends and meeting old friends has a way of bringing stress and anxiety to many a young person. Many things are changing right now but for the child of God, they can take great comfort in
change, refocus on Christ. God’s Word gives us the answers that we need for the questions around us. Even when we struggle with the answers or with the unknown we can trust in the promises of God. Your world may be changing and you may be unsure of tomorrow. Trust in the God who holds tomorrow in His hands. He is faithful. He never changes.
Page 6A • Saturday, August 28, 2021 • The Leader
Vaccinations from P. 1A dent in the efficacy of the shot, like Garden Oaks resident Mike Brown. Brown is a production manager for The Human Jib, a film and TV production equipment company. “Two of my family members both got COVID and ended up in the hospital after being fully vaccinated two months earlier,” Brown said. On Monday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for individuals 16 years of age and older. It remains under emergency use authorization for people from age 12 to 15. Of the six ZIP codes served by The Leader, 55.6 percent of approximately 116,368 residents have been fully vaccinated. But within the individual zip codes, the rates varied. Several factors help account for the lower vaccination rates in some areas compared to others, said Porifirio Villarreal, a spokesperson for the health department. “There are barriers to transportation,” Villarreal said. “In some cases, there may be linguistic isolations. You have different Spanish-speaking populations that may live in the Near Northside and Independence Heights.” According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 39 percent of residents in the 77091 zip code are Hispanic or Latino and 26 percent of all families are below the poverty line. In 77092, 64 percent of residents are Hispanic or Latino and 23 percent of all families are below the poverty line. Similarly, 20 percent of families are below the poverty line in 77009, where 66 percent of res-
idents are Hispanic or Latino. By contrast, in 77007, 77008, and 77018 more than 70 percent of residents are white. Meanwhile, neighborhoods like Lazybrook and Garden Oaks or Oak Forest will have more access to the healthcare system, Villarreal said. Memorial Hermann Health System is one of several healthcare providers with a location in the Heights and in close proximity to the rest of the Greater Heights. There are four vaccine providers within a mile of the 77007 ZIP code and five within one mile of the 77008 and 77018 ZIP codes, according to vaccines.gov. There is just one provider within a mile of the 77009 ZIP code (including the Near Northside) and one each within a mile of the 77091 and 77092 ZIP codes. People who have a primary care doctor or a clinic they regularly visit will be more likely to receive notifications and reminders to get their first or second vaccination dose, Villarreal said. “And then you compare that to the people who are in poverty, and they don’t have a medical home,” Villarreal said. “They’re not getting those prompts. And so that certainly is a barrier.” Since the vaccine became more widely-available in April, members of the health department have gone door-to-door offering information about vaccination sites and in-home vaccination appointments, according to Villarreal. The elderly and military veterans are among those who can call 832-3934301 to see if they are eligible for an in-home vaccine, he said.
Local Vaccination Rates Below is a zip code-by-zip code breakdown of COVID-19 vaccination rates in the area served by The Leader, with estimated 2019 populations from the U.S. Census Bureau and the number of fully vaccinated residents from the Texas Department of State Health Services as of Monday. Zip Code 77007 77008 77009 77018 77091 77092 TOTAL
Vaccinated Population 29,400 40,080 25,403 34,895 20,136 36,147 14,893 28,229 10,024 27,750 16,512 38,458 116,368 205,559
More recently, some local officials have taken steps to try to incentivize residents to get vaccinated. On Aug. 17, Harris County Judge Hidalgo announced a $100 cash card incentive for residents who receive their first COVID-19 vaccine dose at any Harris County Public Health site. The program runs through Aug. 31 and will be funded using American Rescue Plan dollars, according to Rafael Lemaitre, Hidalgo’s communications director. Residents can find more information at http://readyharris. org or by calling 832-927-8787. On Aug. 2, HHD began offering $25 gift cards to people who complete their vaccination series within 42 days of receiving their first dose at a health department health center or multi-service center clinic. The gift card incentive program was funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) according to a news release from the city. Villarreal said the delta variant has caused an uptick in cases and some “breakthrough”
Percentage 73.3 72.8 55.7 52.8 36.1 42.9 56.6
cases of positive COVID-19 tests after being fully vaccinated. The delta variant is more than twice as contagious as other COVID strains and may cause more severe illness, particularly among the unvaccinated, according to the CDC. But the number of breakthrough cases among the fully vaccinated that have resulted in hospitalizations among the 168 million fully vaccinated Americans is almost nonexistent, measuring up at 7,887 non-fatal hospitalizations (0.0046 percent) and 1,829 deaths nationwide, according to the CDC. “Fully vaccinated people with delta variant breakthrough infections can spread the virus to others. However, vaccinated people appear to be infectious for a shorter period,” according to a CDC report. Among adults from age 65–74 the effectiveness of full vaccination for preventing hospitalization was 96 percent for Pfizer-BioNTech, 96 percent for Moderna, and 84 percent for Janssen COVID-19 vaccines, according to another recent CDC report.
Oaks residents commented on a post seeking comments from area residents for this story with a widely-debunked claim that 14,000 people had died within 72 hours of receiving the vaccine. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), only three deaths have been linked to blood clots caused by the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. While some people have died from COVID-19 after being vaccinated, there is no evidence that the vaccine caused those deaths, according to the CDC. Achari also said low-income families may not have time to go and get a vaccine because they are working multiple jobs to support their household and others may not know the vaccines are free and covered by the federal CARES Act. She said cultural differences in a multicultural city like Houston could be responsible for some forms of vaccine hesitancy. “In Houston, we are the most diverse city in the country,” Achari said. “And so, people come from places in the world to here and those other places in the world were suspicious of vaccines, those other places in the world still continue to be suspicious of vaccines. So, we need to overcome our vaccine hesitancy here. But then the world will also have to overcome its vaccine hesitancy in order for us to get through this pandemic.” Achari said she believes the city needs to rally around achieving herd immunity like the community did in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey in 2017.
The same report said for adults 75 or younger, the effectiveness of full vaccination for preventing hospitalization was 91 percent for Pfizer-BioNTech, 96 percent for Moderna, and 85 percent for Janssen COVID-19 vaccines. Mary Krueger, an Oak Forest resident and pediatrician at Blue Fish Pediatrics, said it is important to have a primary care physician to discuss and recommend which vaccine might be best for them. “If you don’t have (a primary care doctor) who you can bounce those ideas off,” Krueger said, “or someone who they can discuss their reservations with, they might just say ‘hey, I’m not going to deal with this.’” Reeta Achari, a physician who both lives and operates her medical practice in the Heights, said there is “a lot of vaccine hesitancy” locally. “There’s a lot of misinformation and disinformation surrounding the vaccine,” Achari said. “And it’s become very difficult to convince people anymore, because most people have good information. But some people don’t have good information. But they are all basing their determination on the information they have, whether it’s real or not. And so, as physicians, we are fighting the vaccine hesitancy with all the tools we can, and respectfully trying to so convinced people that by getting the vaccine, you’re helping yourself, you’re helping your community and you are protecting our future generation, the children who are not able to be vaccinated.” For example, one member of a Facebook group for Garden
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The Leader • Saturday, August 28, 2021 • Page 7A
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Page 8A • Saturday, August 28, 2021 • The Leader
Taking a whiff at why dogs sniff butts New Well Puppy & Kitten Exam Dogs have a sense of smell that is somewhere between 10,000 and 100,000 times more sensitive than a human’s sense of smell. Located in the rectum of a dog are his anal glands. The anal glands secrete a substance that tells the world everything it needs to know about the dog. Each dog has unique smelling anal gland secretions that help other animals to quickly identify who the dog is, if they’ve met before, if they’re healthy or sick, etc. Think of your dog’s anal secretions as his Facebook profile, if you will.
Dear Tabby, I have a rather embarrassing question. Why does my dog sniff the butts of other dogs? He does it every time we encounter another dog and he’s, um...a very aggressive butt sniffer. It’s so embarrassing! Is there anything I can do to make him stop? Butt Sniffer in Timbergrove Dear Butt Sniffer, When your dog sniffs another dog’s butt, what he’s doing is 100% completely natural and normal. Sure, it’s embarrassing to humans, but rest assured that your dog isn’t embarrassed by it, nor is the dog whose butt he’s sniffing. But first, let’s back that thang up and parse out why your dog is sniffing butts. The butt holds a treasure trove of information
It’s their main source of communication When you run into another human, in order to determine 1. If you’ve met them before and 2. Who they are, you use language and deductive reasoning. For dogs, their noses guide them through this process. By sniffing another dog’s butt, a dog can tell everything he needs to know about the other dog. Typically, a more dominant dog will initiate the sniffing, while the more sub-
FREE Routine Male
missive dog will wait its turn. Many dogs even tuck their tails to cover their rectums, denying access to their butts and seemingly saying, “That’s enough with the sniffing, man!” Should you allow it? Exploring the world through scent is what dogs do. For many dogs, sniffing butts is (strangely) calming, as it is a ritual that provides them with the information that they need to navigate relationships with other dogs and the world around them. Think of your dog sniffing butts as his way of catching up with his friends. Sure, it’s not what humans do, but that doesn’t make it any less normal for a dog. Trust me when I say, yeah, it’s awkward, but your dog is doing just what he’s meant to do and he’s probably at his happiest when he’s sniffing butts all over the neighborhood!
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The Leader • Saturday, August 28, 2021 • Page 9A
Heights resident named to Houston Children’s Charity board of directors By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernws.com
Heights resident Morris Smith has been named to the board of directors for Houston Children’s Charity, according to an Aug. 23 news release from the organization. The release said Houston Children’s Charity is dedicated to “improving the quality of life for Greater Houston’s underprivileged, abused, and disabled children,” according to the release. Since its inception 25 years ago, the release said the organization has provided 3.5 million children with their own bed, clothing, school supplies, transportation, health services and more. “Smith brings unique talents, expertise, and enthusiasm that will further our mission of improving
Smith
the quality of life for underprivileged, abused, and disabled children,” Houston Children’s Charity President and CEO Laura Ward said. “Houston Children’s Charity and our children are fortunate to have (him) serving our community.”
Smith currently serves as the director of public affairs, communications and sustainability for Arca Continental Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages, the news release said, where he is responsible for managing the core public affairs and communications accountabilities for Houston, San Antonio and Austin. A graduate of Valparaiso University, Smith has previously been recognized with the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boys and Girls Club Legacy Award, The YMCA Black and Hispanic achievers award, and Dollars and Cents Magazine’s best and brightest business and professional men and women award. For more information about Houston Children’s Charity, visit www.houstonchildrenscharity.org.
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The Leader • Saturday, August 28, 2021 • Page 10A
Art Valet: Gallery Skye presents ‘Brave Art’ Mitch Cohen Art Columnist
Gallery Skye is a new gallery making waves in the art community and will host a reception titled “Brave Art” from 6-9 p.m. Sept. 4 at 6423 Richmond Ave Suite H Houston TX 77057. Gallery Skye was founded by artist Amy Cummins and gallery director and curator Robyn Crowell. Both have realized a dream come true in creating this new space. In addition to providing a space for artists, the gallery will host education classes for children, adults and visual artists. Cummins is a Sugar Land police officer and has been a visual artist since 2017. As an artist, Cummins has been featured at Hardy and Nance Studios and Art Machine Gallery. Cummins was also recognized as the artist of the year by Hero Art Gallery that benefits
Fort Bend Women’s Center. The Spanish Cubists influence Crowell’s latest paintings. She’s spent half her life supporting and promoting the arts in her Fort Bend community. As a professional artist, Crowell is also an award-winning illustrator, gallery show director, artist consultant and a recent resident artist at Art Machine Gallery. I asked Crowell about her decision to start an art gallery. “I have been painting since I was 5 years old,” Crowell said. “What I now know was severe anxiety was always calmed by crayons, pencils, markers and watercolor. I have always disappeared into my art to escape.” After spending a lifetime working across the arts – from theatre, art, design and even illustrating a children’s book – Crowell returned to school to study fine art and history. She then began teaching art to children, and helping nonprofit art groups organize. “And here I am again, working my dream job with my partner/owner Amy Cummins,” Crowell said. “Amy is
Contributed photo Gallery Skye Director Robyn Crowell with her number one fan.
Director of Victims Services for Sugar Land Police Department. She is also an artist and friend. We are both survivors
of sexual assault and believe in using our gifts to give back. She asked me to join her and I said YES. Gallery SKYE was
born.” Art Valet: Did you hesitate at all because of COVID-19? “COVID has been interesting for me,” Crowell said. “Pretty sure I had it two years ago before quarantine and they thought it was the flu. Afterwards, I began to experience vision loss. Super scary. After many doctor’s appointments of every kind, I was diagnosed with Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein associated disease (MOGAD)at Baylor College of Medicine Neurology. I’m currently on a treatment called CellCept, which stops the body from attacking itself, which means I have no or very little immune system. So, I’ve had to be very cautious with COVID but I have not given up on my artistic endeavors and dreams. It’s actually made me work harder.” AV: Where did the name for the gallery come from? “Gallery Skye was inspired by owner, Amy Cummins, Native American background and my optimistic, always look up attitude,” Crowell said. “I started creating smaller art
pieces of birds, feathers and bird nests in watercolor just for myself, but posted them on social media almost every day through quarantine. The response was unbelievable. Gallery Skye just made sense. So we had a feather Skye logo created that represented both of us. Gallery Skye artists participating in the opening September 4 include Alejandro Gutiérrez, Aliza J. Bejarano, Allison Fox, Andrew Fox, Alpa Khandwala, Amy Cummins, Artista Elisabet, Braven Brazil, Carolyn Holloway, Gene Barron, George Lenaghan, Glen Carpenter, Joanne Kendall, Jr. Fonseca, Rob Marchand, Robyn Crowell and Rodney D.Butler. Find more Information about Gallery Skye on their Facebook page, facebook. com/galleryskye. 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.
Review: Homestead serves breakfast, bliss all day Stefan Modrich
The bustling M-K-T development at 600 N. Shepherd Drive has a dizzying array of options, so it’s only fitting that one restaurant there stands out as a place you can slow down and savor comfort food — especially if your idea of comfort food is breakfast, whenever you feel like it. That place is Homestead, and it may be the best brunch spot in the Heights. While you can find most of your southern and American breakfast fare at Homestead, both the brunch and the “lunch and later” portions of the menu have a decidedly Mexican flair to them, which is welcomed. For breakfast, you can opt for abuelita chocolate pancakes ($12), creamy spinach & rajas omelet ($13) or Entomatadas de Queso ($11). For more traditional American or southern dishes, try the fried chicken and waffles ($16) or apple bourbon bacon pancakes. For lunch, which is served
11 a.m. until close, a robust selection of enchiladas and seafood dishes are available, as are Texas and Gulf Coast classics: the brisket sandwich ($15), Texas burger ($15), which is served on a brioche bun with roasted poblano peppers, queso, bacon, lettuce, tomato, onions and pickles. I was craving French toast, and if you are too, you can choose from three variations on this timeless breakfast classic. I went with the brioche French toast ($11). The bread was toasted flawlessly, with beautiful golden tinges crisping around a soft pillow of deliciousness. The French toast is drizzled in strawberry sauce and peach crème anglaise and topped with fresh strawberries. For a richer, heavier alternative, Livia’s chocolate hazelnut stuffed French toast ($13) is stuffed with Nutella and topped with raspberries and local honey. Ella’s chocolate banana bread French toast ($13) is chocolate chip banana bread topped with caramelized bananas and served with Homestead’s signature buttermilk syrup.
As a sweet capper to an ideal breakfast, I had an order of beignets ($7). The famed New Orleans-style fried dough pastries dusted with powdered sugar are always a treat and dipping them in a dulce de leche sauce was no exception. Homestead Address: 600 N. Shepherd Drive, Ste. 440
Dining Options: Dine-in, pickup Hours: 7:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday Entrée prices: $9-$36 Kid-friendly: Yes Senior discount: No Alcohol: Yes Healthy options: None Star of the show: Brioche French toast
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By Stefan Modrich
31 of next year, according to project details filed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Masroor Fatany, the franchisee behind the Garden Oaks location of The Halal Guys, has franchised the new Layne’s location. He also opened a Layne’s franchise in Katy in June. For more information, visit https://www.layneschickenfingers.com/.
smodrich@mcelvypartners.com
Layne’s Chicken Fingers expanding to Garden Oaks A College Station cult favorite is bringing its chicken fingers, crinkle cut fries, and Texas toast to Garden Oaks. Construction on Layne’s Chicken Fingers, 3008 Ella Blvd., Ste. B, is expected to begin Oct. 15 and end Jan.
Photo from Facebook Layne’s Chicken Fingers, 3008 Ella Blvd., Ste. B, is expected to open in Garden Oaks early next year.
Photo from Instagram Shown is a sampling of the food on offer from the tasting menu from Tatemó. The Montrose tortilleria and restaurant has found a permanent home in a space near Karbach Brewing Company at 4740 Dacoma St.
Nettbar opens second location in Shady Acres A dog-friendly neighborhood bar along the Washington Avenue Corridor is adding a second location which is expected to open next summer, as reported in The Leader back in April. Nettbar, 4504 Nett St., is opening in a larger space at 1717 W. 22nd St. in Shady Acres, according to an article from Eater Houston. Muiishi Makirrito chef Matt Mui will lead the restaurant’s new full kitchen and create a full menu. The founders have launched a NextSeed campaign to help secure funding for the second spot and have raised $97,100 of their $150,000 minimum target as of Aug. 18, according to Eater Houston.
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Nibbles & Sips: Tatemó tortilleria moving into permanent home near Karbach Brewery Tatemó, the Montrose tortilleria and restaurant, has found a permanent home in a space near Karbach Brewing Company, 4740 Dacoma St., according to an article in CultureMap. Chef Emmanuel Chavez wrote in an Instagram post that Tatemó, 4100 Montrose Blvd., will have its final tastings in its current space in October, and reservations can be made via email by contacting info@tatemohtx. com. Chavez said Tatemó will extend its seven-course tastings to three nights per week, Thursday-Saturday, and eventually offer brunch on Sundays as well as a togo service. He said the tortilleria will continue to supply masa and Tortillas to Houston restaurants.
Photos by Stefan Modrich
Shown are the brioche French toast and the beignets from Homestead, 600 N. Shepherd Drive, Ste. 440.
For over 80 years, we’ve cared enough to think about the very worst. Through tornadoes, earthquakes, hurricanes, and more, Farmers has been on the scene helping people start rebuilding since 1928. No one wants to think about all the things that can go wrong. But at Farmers, that’s what we’ve been doing for the last 80 years.
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LEADER LISTING The Leader • Saturday, August 28, 2021 • Page 1B
Two new developments coming to Heights By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com
The longstanding warehouse Party Boy, 1515 Studemont St., was a go-to for many locals to buy their party supplies. Soon it will be replaced by a mixed-use development that will bring the Heights more store outposts, dentists offices, restaurants and more. Owned by Oxberry Group, the development will be called 10 and Heights, and is in the beginning stages of development. Joshua Jacobs with The Blue Ox Group, the leasing agent for the development, said that the Party Boy building is in bad shape and will be torn down to make way for a building. Jacobs said 10 and Heights will have a variety of tenants like office spaces, medical offices, fitnessrelated businesses and other tenants that make the most sense for the property. But 10 and Heights isn’t the only development soon to be a destination in the Heights. The upcoming Durham Row, which will be at 1239 N. Durham Dr. between West 13th Street and West 12th Street, is owned by Brinker/ Sloan Properties and The Blue Ox Group is also its leasing agent. “Durham Row is a great property,” Jacobs said. “The vision is to build something more restaurantcentric. The vision is to fill the whole thing with restaurants. We have the ability to do that because of parking space.” With a planned spacious parking lot and building full of restaurants, Jacobs said that Durham Row will become a hub of activity for the area it’s in. For both properties, adding to the architecture of the neighborhood was important, Jacobs said. Both developments are designed by Identity Architects and have a modern vibe. “They both have different looks
Shown are artist renderings of 10 and Heights (above) and Durham Row, which are two mixed-use developments coming to the Heights.
and feels but will be made with high quality materials,” Jacobs said. Durham Row will be made up of two building. Building A will be 8,370 square feet and building B will be 6,400 square feet. Jacobs described
Durham Row as community-based and quaint with well-lit patios and a comfortable atmosphere. He said that the freeway visibility of 10 and Heights was taken into more consideration while designing
the building. It will be bigger than Durham Row at 28,110 square feet with a taller facade where business can use that space to have their signage visible from the freeway. Neither development has start-
Contributed by Joshua Jacobs
ed construction, but The Blue Ox Group is beginning the marketing phase of the projects to bring in potential tenants. Construction is expected to begin soon.
Real Estate Roundup
Luxury salon and spa moving into Heights By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com
Yale Street will soon be home to the E L L E E salon + spa at 707 Yale St., founded by Lesha Wincher, who is Miss Houston USA 2018. With plans to open in mid-September, E L L E E is designed to bring a luxury experience to the Heights. The salon and spa will have a modern design and partner with brands like Biologique Recherche and ORIBE. The staff will be dedicated to catering to its clients every request with a unique and personal approach, along with the
spa’s treatment menu, according to a news release. A great place to live According to TIME Magazine, Houston is one of the world’s greatest places to live. In the 100 places listed, Houston made the list for being both a food and cultural destination. Houstonian Magazine notes that the worldwide listing comes from nominations in TIME’s international network of correspondents and contributors who highlight different countries, regions, cities, and towns that offer new and exciting experiences and rate these places based on ingenuity, creativity, revitaliza-
tion, and reopenings across the world. Adults-only mini golf coming to Sawyer Yards Puttery, 1818 Washington Ave., is an upcoming two-story miniature golf and entertainment venue that will plant roots in Sawyer Yards. The venue will feature four nine-hole putting courses, multiple bars and rotating DJs. It will be an adults-only spot. The golf courses will be themed and there will also me a food and cocktail menu. Details are still scant, as timeline for construction and completion are unknown.
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Photo from Instagram The inside of E L L E E salon + spa at 707 Yale St., which has plans to open in the Heights in mid-Septemnber
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Page 2B • Saturday, August 28, 2021 • The Leader
Heights paces July area home sales By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
For most of 2021, home sales in the local area have consistently shown year-over-year increases based on monthly data. This month, however, was a different story. Some markets, such as 77008, 77091 and 77092, continued to ride the way. Others such as 77009, 77018, and 77007 saw a rare dip in their neighborhoods. However, each of The Leader’s six zip codes continued to be ahead of last year’s sales pace through the end of July. On the pricing front, five of the six local zip codes saw both average and median home prices continue rising. Zip code 77009 was the lone area to see a drop, which occurred in both average and median figures. 77018 The area including Garden Oaks, Oak Forest, Shepherd Park Plaza and more was one of the three lo-
cal zip codes to see its sales dip last month. Its 73 home sales in July was down 18 percent from the 89 sold last year. However, it remains 43.2 percent ahead of last year’s sales pace, having seen 570 sales through the end of July. On the pricing front, the average buyer paid 2.1 percent more for a home here last month ($530,484) compared to July 2020. Median home price ended the month up 11.1 percent to $439,000 77091 Up on the northernmost portion of the local area, neighborhoods such as Acres Homes, Greater Inwood and Northside showed the largest year-over-year percentage increase in home sales last month. There were 19 homes sold in the zip code, a 58.3 percent rise. On a yearto-date basis, there have been 168 homes come off the market since the beginning of the year – 35.5 percent more than the 124 sold in the same stretch in 2020.
The average home price for a buyer in this zip code last month was up to $272,443 last month – a 20.6 percent spike, which was the second-highest rise among area neighborhoods. The median home price also saw the largest spike in the area, rising 24.1 percent to $289,990. 77092 The zip code including the western portion of Central Northwest and Langwood showed much the same tendencies as last July, with 29 homes coming off the market compared to 27 the previous year. However, this area has seen the largest year-to-date spike, with its 211 home sales to date representing a 63.6 percent increase over the same time frame last year. Average home price in the area rose to $345,709, a 6.1 percent rise compared to same time last year, while the zip code’s median home price was up 7.1 percent to $332,000 at the end of the month.
77008 Down in the Heights, Shady Acres, and Lazybrook/Timbergrove, yearover year home sales also held fairly steady with 119 houses coming off the market compared to 116 last July – a 2.7 percent increase. Year-to-date, the 822 sales through the end of July represent a 47.6 percent increase compared to the same period in 2020. This zip saw the most dramatic increase in average home price, with buyers paying 25 percent more in July 2021 ($654,318) compared to the same month in 2020. Median prices in this area rose 9.9 percent last month up to $509,880. 77009 On the eastern edge of the Heights, the zip code including Woodland Heights, Norhill Heights was the final of three local areas to experience a year-over-year drop in sales. There were 58 homes sold in this zip code last month, down 10.8 percent from the 65 sold the previous July. Through the end of the month, the area’s 397
home sales represent a pace that is 39.7 percent ahead of last year’s mark. Last month’s local pricing outlier came in this particular zip code, with both average and median prices falling from last year’s mark. Average buyers paid 4.8 percent less for a house last month ($517,342), while the zip code’s median home priced dipped a whopping 18.4 percent down to $408,000. 77007 The southernmost portion of the area was the biggest sales faller last month, with just 66 homes coming off the market – a 25.8 percent dip from the same month last year. Despite the dip, however, the 617 sales through the end of the month was 33.5 percent ahead of last year’s mark (462) during the same time period. Home prices remained fairly flat in the area in July, with average price going up 1.7 percent to $618,432 and median home price edging up 0.7 percent to $483,425.
REALTOR SHOWCASE
Clark/Kotzur Real Estate Team still going strong By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
For the last 10 years, Debbie Kotzur and Mike Clark have worked together to make sure their clients are being given the best service possible. That does not look to be changing anytime soon, as the dynamic real estate duo continues to go strong in Northwest Houston and has their eyes set on the future. “Between the two of us, we’re willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done. There’s not any big egos. We see what’s got to be done and do it,” Clark said. “We work well together, we both have our own strengths and weaknesses. We realize and know that, and depend on the other one for their strengths.” It was a bit of a winding road for their paths to cross. Clark jumped from corporate IT work into the world of real estate back in 2007. Kotzur, on the other hand, worked for a real estate appraiser for years before diving in more than 30 years ago. Focusing primarily on Garden Oaks, Oak Forest, the Heights, Shepherd Park Plaza, Candlelight Plaza, Candlelight Estates and other inner loop neighborhoods of north Houston, the pair has worked together with RE/MAX Metro for about 10 years. Kotzur is a native Houstonian and has lived in Garden Oaks and Oak Forest, while Clark grew up on the Southwest side of Houston in Westbury and has lived in Shepherd Park Plaza/Timbergrove for more than 30 years. Kotzur is also a graduate of St. Pius X High School. The two now combine to form a prime real estate team with RE/MAX Metro serving buyers and sellers in northwest Houston and beyond, as they can bounce ideas off each other with regards to marketing, pricing or other aspects of a transaction to pass on to their clients. “We are here for them from first contact to closing, and even when one of us goes on vacation or out sick, they’re still covered,” Kotzur said.
Mike Clark and Debbie Kotzur Over the last 18 months, the pair has had two of their bestselling years in 2020 and thus far in 2021 despite the pandemic. They are continuing to do primarily in-person showings, though
Kotzur said they continue to provide masks and other preventative measures. However, both said that despite the uptick in sales volume, their focus continues to be to treat each client the same. The main priority, they say, is to keep the lines of communication open at all times and always work hard for every client and their individual needs. They want a personal relationship with their clients, even though personal connection may have been at a bit of a premium over the last 18 months. “When I was working for the real estate appraiser, I was putting in long hours”, said Kotzur. “When you work hard you reap the rewards. I thought, I could work with the same diligence to help folks find their dream home! I have loved every aspect of it for the past 31 years!” Through their 10-year partnership, that sentiment of service has never wavered for the duo. Whatever the need, whether it’s buying or selling, the pair believes they bring every aspect to the table, and never fail to be there for their clients. And it appears to have paid off. “Very patient, and made a stressful process much easier,” client Keith M. said. Both Kotzur and Clark know that the process of buying or selling can be tedious and stressful for those unfamiliar with it, and that’s where they come in – to take away as much of that stress as possible. “One of the best things about this job is helping people with their largest investment that they’ll ever make, seeing the smiles on their faces and joy whenever they buy their first home – or even their second or third home,” Clark said. “Being able to help people out and seeing the excitement they get from buying or selling is my favorite part.” To buy or sell a home with the Clark/Kotzur RE/MAX team, email info@clarkkotzurteam.com.
Julie O’Neill
YOUR OAK FOREST, GARDEN OAKS AND SHEPHERD PARK PLAZA EXPERTS
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HOME SERVICES PREMIER PROPERTIES • 713-686-5454
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ULTIMATE VENUES The Leader • Saturday, August 28, 2021 • Page 3B
Pizza, burger options abound in area By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
Have you ever had the urge for a thick, juicy burger cooked to perfection, or that gooey cheese and thick crust on that slice of pizza just out of the oven? You probably have had such a craving at least weekly, as hamburgers and pizza are two of the more popular comfort food choices. So, it’s a good thing that the local area is bustling with places to get your fix. This week’s Leader Ultimate Venues (LUV) section is focusing specifically on burgers and pizza joints. Whether it’s traditional spots like Domino’s for pizza or Burger King for a burger or those under-the-radar and independentlyowned spots that give this area its vibrancy, there are a plentiful number of options for those in Garden Oaks, Oak Forest, the Heights and other northwest Houston neighborhoods. In Ella Plaza at 3452 Ella Blvd., The Union Kitchen has provided an eclectic menu since opening in October of 2016. Included in its offerings are everything from burgers and pizza to fresh fish and steaks. Some of the more popular dishes are Union Kitchen’s brick-oven pizzas, which are made to order. One of the main offerings is the margherita pizza, which is fresh mozzarella, shredded mozzarella, parmesan cheese, basil pesto, fresh tomatoes and fresh basil. There is also Katie Mae’s fourmeat, which is ground beef, Italian sausage, pepperoni and bacon, as well as a traditional pepperoni. Its Union Burger has sharp cheddar and swiss cheese, along with Applewood smoked bacon with a barbecue aioli. On top are some onion strings that give it a little bit of a crunch, all surrounded by a sweet sourdough bun. Union Kitchen also offers the occasional specialty burger. Local chain Pink’s Pizza has two area locations for residents to get fresh pizza pies, one at 1403 Heights Blvd. in the Heights and another at 3404 N. Shepherd Dr. The small spot serves both by the slice and full pies of their hand-tossed pizzas for residents to enjoy. Mellow Mushroom, which sets up shop at 1919 N. Shepherd Dr., has a funky twist to its service. Customers can enjoy their pizza while looking at artwork, sculpture, and design tributes to NASA, Bob Marley, trolley cars, longhorns and train stations. One of the more popular burger spots is Miller’s Café, located in the Garden Oaks
Shopping Center at 3830 N. Shepherd Dr. For nearly 30 years, the family-owned café has been a mainstay for Houstonians to get their classic hamburgers, sandwiches and comfortfood sides such as fries in a casual, nostalgic environment. Another longtime community staple is MytiBurger at 2211 W. 43rd St., which has been serving Houstonians “Texas-style” burgers since 1967 along with homemade onion rings and “just about anything else you can put bacon and cheese on,” according to the company. “People here are very committed to their community,” owner Shawn Salyers says on MytiBurger’s website. “You see second- and third-generation families and new residents. It made me want to have a business here and put down roots here.” Down in the Heights, there are also several popular spots. The Burger Joint at lets you customize your burger however you’d like at 2002 N. Shepherd Dr., while Hubcap Grill at 1133 W. 19th St. and Hopdoddy Burger Bar at 449 W. 19th St. serve up specialty burgers. So, whether it is one of the options listed above, or another favorite spot within the neighborhood, the residents on Garden Oaks, Oak Forest, the Heights and northwest Houston have shortage of options by which to enrich their palates on a daily or weekly basis.
Miller’s Cafe is one of the primary burger spots in the area at 3830 N. Shepherd Dr.
Pies from Pink’s Pizza (left) and Mellow Mushroom are among the offerings available to residents of northwest Houston.
Photo from Facebook
Photos from Facebook
Page 4B • Saturday, August 28, 2021 • The Leader
The Union Kitchen serves up ready-made comfort By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
Since opening The Union Kitchen in Ella Plaza in October 2016, Paul Miller had one thing in mind. “Very specifically, we have chosen to be a neighborhood-oriented restaurant,” he said. “My first one was down in Bellaire, and we became that go-to spot where you can get what you wanted.” Miller said when he originally created The Union Kitchen franchise in 2010, it was with the very specific goal to become that same go-to-spot for the neighborhood. According to the restaurant’s website each location – including Ella Plaza – has its own executive chef, with about 20 percent of its menu being unique to whichever neighborhood it sits in. “We’re driven by regulars – I want people to come back not once a month but twice a week,” he said. The Union Kitchen has an eclectic menu, which includes everything from burgers and pizza to fresh fish and steaks. The restaurant also unveiled a new happy hour program earlier this week. From 3-6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. anywhere in the restaurant, the restaurant is offering a special group of happy hour cocktails and a special price of $2.50 for all draft beers. There will also be $3 well cocktails and half-price appetizers, while all loyalty members will get double points during happy hour. It’s all part of Miller’s mantra of treating each customer like family.
“If you tell the manager you really like something, you come in a few times and I’ll bring it in for you,” Miller said. Some of the more popular dishes are The Union Kitchen’s brick-oven pizzas, which are made to order. One of the main offerings are the margherita pizza, which is fresh mozzarella, shredded mozzarella, parmesan cheese, basil pesto, fresh tomatoes and fresh basil. There is also Katie Mae’s four-meat, which is ground beef, Italian sausage, pepperoni and bacon, as well as a traditional pepperoni. However, there are also alternative options. The Union Kitchen offers a cauliflower crust, and any of the ingredients listed under the pizza can be ready made into a unique pizza at the diner’s request. “We can do just about anything,” Miller said. “Everything is made to order.” The secret to the delectable pizzas? The brick oven it’s made in. “We have pizza ovens in the restaurant that we heat to about 600 degrees Fahrenheit,” Miller said. “They have an Italian stone on the bottom that cooks the pizza crisp on the bottom, but keeps the crunchy/chewy texture that a lot of people like in a crust.” He chose to bake pizzas that way, he said, because it keeps the crust chewy and crisp while maintaining the distinct flavor of whatever topping is chosen by each customer. “That’s the way pizza was originally cooked in Italy when it came over to the United States. I’m a bigger fan of having ingredients,” he said. “I like to be able to taste what’s on top of the
Photo by Victoria Christiensen Pictured is the Union Burger with a side of chips, one of The Union Kitchen’s most notable offerings.
pizza, and I love to get that crunch. So that’s what we’re shooting for.” The same sentiment goes for The Union Kitchen’s Union Burger – its main burger offering. In Miller’s words, they are going for the feel of a “backyard burger,” or one that is cooked to perfection at whatever temperature the customer wants as opposed to a welldone dry patty. The Union Burger has sharp cheddar and Swiss cheese, along with applewood smoked bacon with a barbecue aioli. On top are some onion strings that give it a little bit of crunch, all sur-
rounded by a sweet sourdough bun that is baked in Texas. “I like the idea of hitting your palate in a different way,” Miller said. And while it may be the primary burger, Miller said The Union Kitchen also offers specialty burgers throughout the year. “It’s a good size burger – you better come hungry,” he said. So whether it’s one of The Union Kitchen’s pizzas, the Union Burger, or something else on its unique menu, there is always ready-made comfort awaiting each meal.
“That’s the biggest thing for me – seeing the smiling faces and getting to know people,” Miller said. “We’re here to take care of the guests.” For more information on The Union Kitchen, visit its website at theunionkitchen.com or follow it on Instagram at @theunionkitchenhou. This article is part of The Leader Experts series, where companies pay for editorial content on topics important to the community. If you’d like to be a Leader Expert, contact 713-686-8494.
Whataburger piloting large-order burger box By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
For at least the next few months, burger lovers will have the option for more of their favorite juicy patties at one of the most recognizable chains in Texas. Whataburger, which has five locations in local neighborhoods, is testing a new large order box at participating locations in the Houston area over the next few months. According to the company, the large-order box can be customized to include either 10 single meat Whataburgers with or without cheese or 10 double meat Whataburgers with or without cheese. Any toppings (lettuce, tomato, pickles and onions) and condiments (such as mustard, mayo and ketchup) are included on the side, the company
said. Customers can also add a gallon of tea or lemonade to their order for an additional charge, which will serve about 10 people. “The large order box is an easy and convenient way to feed a large group and allow everyone to build their burger just like they like it,” the company said. “From birthday parties to family gatherings to tailgates to office events, the large order box can feed them all.” To get the large-order box, which starts at $39.99 community members can order online at Whataburger.com or use the Whataburger app to get it with just a touch of the finger. This article is part of The Leader Experts series, where companies pay for editorial content on topics important to the community. If you’d like to be a Leader Expert, contact 713-686-8494.
Facebook photo Whataburger, which has several area locations, is conducting a test run of its large-order burger box.
theunionkitchen.com
3452 Ella Blvd • Houston, TX 77018 • (713) 681-0022
Complimentary Dessert with purchase of two entrees
This coupon is valid for one complimentary dessert with the purchase of two entrees. Not valid for tax or gratuity. One coupon per ticket. No cash value. Cannot be combined with any other offers or promotions, including loyalty program. Not valid on holidays or special events. Expires 10/31/2021.