Leader December 11

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Inside Today: A new medical clinic opened this week • Page 1B

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Covering the Heights, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest & the neighborhoods of North Houston Saturday, December 11, 2021 • Vol. 66 • No.50

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Construction to start soon on Shepherd, Durham

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

Beginning next month, those who travel along North Shepherd Drive and Durham Drive in the Heights are going to have to cope with road construction – for at least the next five years.

For decades after that, though, driving down the parallel, oneway thoroughfares figures to be smooth sailing. And the same goes for walking and cycling.

Construction is expected to start in late January on the Shepherd and Durham Major Invest-

ment Project, which will overhaul the two north-and-south streets between North Loop 610 and Interstate 10 to the south while adding bicycle lanes, new and wider sidewalks, landscaping and new underground infrastructure for water, wastewater and stormwater drainage. The project could take at least five years to complete, according to president Sherry Weesner of the Memorial Heights Redevelopment Authority, which is spearheading the $115 million initiative and providing a significant portion of the funding for it.

“It’s going to take a lot of patience from all of us, but it’s going to be worth it,” said Houston City Council member Abbie Kamin, who serves the Heights as part of District C. Weesner and Kamin were among several community stakeholders, leaders and elected officials who participated in a groundbreaking ceremony for the project last Saturday near the intersection of the North Shepherd Drive and 6th Street. Also Contributed photo present were Houston Mayor U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, at podium, speaks during a groundSylvester Turner, at-large city breaking event in the Heights last Saturday, Dec. 4 for the ShepSee Construction P. 5A herd and Durham Major Investment Project.

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Contributed photo David Winkel, left, and his wife, Alma Winkel, show off the Volkswagen Beetle for Baja Jag, the team they helped win its division at last month’s Baja 1000 off-road race in Mexico. The couple from the historic Near Northside is putting together their own race team for 2022.

Local couple helps winning team in off-road race

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

INSIDE.

Out of this world. A virtual reality space experience is coming to Sawyer Yards on Dec. 20.

Page 8A

David Winkel has always been an auto buff and used to read magazines as a kid about off-road racing. He was especially intrigued by the Baja 1000, an annual race in Mexico that started in 1967 and is known for being particularly rough and rugged, but taking part in it seemed like a faraway, unattainable dream.

Then, a year ago this Sunday, Winkel’s father died at the age of 78. And he thought of all the things Bo Winkel said he wanted to do in life but never got around to.

“You’ve got to start living,” David Winkel said. “You’ve got to start fulfilling your dreams.”

One of the dreams for the longtime resident of the historic Near Northside started turning into reality last summer, when Winkel and his wife, Alma, made a trip to Cabo San Lucas for her parents’ 50th wedding anniversary. David was reminded of the Baja 1000, which is held north of Cabo on the Baja California Peninsula, and mentioned it to his brother-in-law, Tomas Revesz, who said he also was a fan of the race and had long wanted to experience it.

The Winkels, who both work in the banking industry See Race P. 5A

See Montalbano P. 4A

Lights in the Heights back on this weekend

Scoring machine. Kenneth Lewis has Booker T. Washington off to a good start this season.

By Landan Kuhlmann

Page 4B

landan@theleadernews.com

THE INDEX. Church....................................................... 4A Classifieds.............................................. 5A Coupons. ................................................. 3B Food/Drink............................................. 7A Obituaries.............................................. 8A Opinion. ................................................... 3A Public Information......................... 2A Puzzles...................................................... 3A

Contributed photo David Winkel, a banker who lives in historic Near Northside, served as a co-pilot for a racing team that won its division last month at the Baja 1000 on the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico. He plans to be a driver in next year’s race.

In his four years as the executive director of the Greater Northside Chamber of Commerce, James Montalbano said he helped grow the organization’s membership from fewer than 15 businesses to more than 100.

He hopes to have a similar impact on the Greater Heights Area Chamber of Montalbano Commerce, which already is more established and has even more potential for growth, he said.

Montalbano, a 54-year-old former Heights resident and graduate of Lutheran High North, recently was hired as the new president for the Greater Heights chamber. He started his new job Thursday.

“As much as I love Northside, the Greater Heights is just at a significantly higher level in terms of development,” Montalbano said. “I just see so much potential and see it as a really great opportunity.”

The last full-time president for the Greater Heights chamber was Louie Gill, who served from December 2019 through May 2020. Before Gill, Jacob Milwee served in the role for five years and had helped the chamber grow to more than 500 member businesses at the time he resigned in 2019 to take a teaching job.

Dee Farino, a board member for the Greater Heights chamber, stepped down while serving as interim president since September of last year and will return to the board now that Montalbano has been hired.

“We had several really qualified candidates, and he just stood out above the rest,” Farino said. “He fits the bill. He has the background and has the knowledge. He knows about

Photo by Landan Kuhlmann A fire-breathing dragon was among the unique light displays during Lights in the Heights in 2018. The annual event returns Saturday after being cancelled last year.

One of Houston’s most popular Christmastime events is returning this weekend after taking a break in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The annual Lights in the Heights holiday-themed display, put on by the Woodland Heights Civic Association, is back from 6-9 p.m. this Saturday, Dec. 11.

This year’s featured streets will be Byrne and Euclid streets between Studewood and Beauchamp

streets, according to the event website, woodland-heights.org/lith-1.

Lights in the Heights was last open to the public in 2019, with the 2020 event being held internally within the Woodland Heights neighborhood due to COVID-19.

During the annual event, which has been held for more than 30 years, there will be unique and festive light displays for community members to see as they walk the event route as well as live entertainment from homeowners.

There will be paid parking available to LITH eventgoers at Hogg

Middle School (1100 Merrill St.) and Zion Lutheran Church (3606 Beauchamp St.), while the nonprofit BikeHouston will be offering free monitored bicycle parking on the Norhill esplanade at Bayland Street for the entirety of the event.

This year’s Lights in the Heights honoree is longtime Heights-area resident Paul Carr, the namesake of the Paul Carr Jogging Trail along Heights Boulevard. He has provided free tractor hayrides for local children during December for more than three decades, but is re-

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THE PUBLIC. The Leader • Saturday, December 11, 2021 • Page 2A

Three injured in Acres Homes drive-by shooting

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Two people were hospitalized and another was injured in what appears to have been a drive-by shooting in the Acres Homes area last week, the Houston Police Department said.

According to HPD, a 28-year-old woman and two men ages 35 and 19

were injured in the shooting. Police said the woman and one of the men were taken to area hospitals in critical condition, while the other man was treated for his injuries at the scene.

HPD said officers responded to a home at 9909 Bonazzi Blvd. just before 11 p.m. last Friday, Dec. 3 to find the woman with a gunshot wound to her abdomen, while one of the men had

Man dies in single-car crash near Heights

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

A man died last week after appearing to lose control of his sport utility vehicle on a Loop 610 access ramp near Memorial Park, according to the Houston Police Department.

The victim was identfied as 30-year-old Edward Hilton by the Harris County medical examiner.

HPD said the man was driv-

ing a blue Jeep Renegade at 1300 West Loop South around 5:20 p.m. last Friday, Dec. 3, when he appeared to speed up before losing control of the car. According to police, the Jeep then struck the concrete divider separating the freeway from the West 18th Street exit ramp, before veering to the right and striking a retaining wall.

The driver was thrown from the vehicle, HPD said, and was later pronounced dead at

multiple gunshot wounds to his leg and a graze wound to his head. They were both taken to a hospital, police said, while the other man was shot in the finger and treated at the scene.

There are no known motives or suspects in the shooting, police said, but the investigation remains ongoing.

Boy hospitalized in shooting near Kempwood apartments

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

A teenage boy was hospitalized after being shot near a local apartment complex Monday evening, according to the Houston Police Department.

HPD said the victim, a 15-year-old boy, was taken to a hospital in critical condition after being shot in the chest. An 18-year-old man was also shot at in the incident, but was unharmed, according to police.

Officers responded to the Pine Gardens Apartments at 8650 Pitner Rd. in the Kempwood area around 7:45 p.m.

Monday in response to a shooting call. According to HPD, multiple potential suspects were seen in a white Ford four-door pickup truck, which fled the scene prior to police arriving.

Anyone with information in this case is urged to contact HPD’s Major Assaults & Family Violence division at 713-308-8800 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477.

Police Reports • November 27 - December 6 NOV. 27

Theft 10 AM 5500 BLOCK ENID

DEC. 2

Arrest 8 PM 1600 BLOCK WALTON Theft 3 AM 4200 BLOCK E CROSSTIMBERS

Theft 9 PM 1100 BLOCK W 20TH Theft 10 PM 600 BLOCK WAVERLY Theft 5 PM 3200 BLOCK KATY FWY Theft 9 AM 100 BLOCK W 20TH Assault 3 AM 1800 BLOCK HARVARD Vandalism 6 PM 1300 BLOCK DOROTHY Theft 11 AM 2900 BLOCK SHEPHERD Theft 7 AM 1800 BLOCK AIRLINE Theft 7 PM 5200 BLOCK LARKIN

DEC. 1

DEC. 3

NOV. 28

Burglary 9 PM 1400 BLOCK N LOOP

NOV. 29

Assault 12 PM 1000 BLOCK 23RD

NOV. 30

Theft 9 PM 700 BLOCK T C JESTER BLVD Theft 11 PM 500 BLOCK W 19TH Theft 7 PM 1300 BLOCK YALE Theft 6 PM 3900 BLOCK NORHILL Burglary 10 PM 1400 BLOCK W 34TH

Vandalism 1 AM 700 BLOCK OF STUDEWOOD Theft 5 PM 1200 BLOCK E 32ND Theft 9 PM 300 BLOCK W 19TH Arrest 11 PM 700 BLOCK N LOOP Burglary 11 PM 600 BLOCK E 8TH Burglary 2 AM 4500 BLOCK CORNISH

Theft 1 AM 100 BLOCK W 20TH Assault 10 PM 200 BLOCK W 20TH Assault 3 PM 800 BLOCK LAWRENCE Theft 8 PM 1500 BLOCK N LOOP Theft 12 AM 400 BLOCK CROSSTIMBERS Assault 12 PM 00 BLOCK E CROSSTIMBERS Other 12 AM 700 BLOCK STUDEWOOD

DEC. 4

Theft 8 PM 2600 BLOCK BEVIS Theft 11 PM 2800 BLOCK WHITE OAK Theft 6 AM 100 BLOCK W 20TH Assault 2 PM 800 BLOCK LAWRENCE Theft 11 PM 600 BLOCK HEIGHTS BLVD

DEC. 5

Assault 12 PM 1100 BLOCK LE GREEN Assault 5 PM 400 BLOCK E 35TH Theft 4 PM 300 BLOCK E 40TH Assault 9 PM 4300 BLOCK

HERRIDGE Assault 9 PM 300 BLOCK W CROSSTIMBERS Theft 12 AM 1300 BLOCK W 21ST

DEC. 6

Theft 11 AM 2100 BLOCK YALE Theft 12 PM 700 BLOCK W 26TH Theft 8 AM 600 BLOCK CORTLANDT Assault 3 AM 4200 BLOCK MARINA Theft 4 PM 7800 BLOCK N SHEPHERD Robbery 7 PM 200 BLOCK HEIGHTS BLVD Theft 8 AM 1700 BLOCK W 27TH Robbery 9 PM 200 BLOCK PATTON Arrest 7 AM 1400 BLOCK OF STUDEMONT Reports are provided by SpotCrime.com based on data from the Houston Police Department.

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THE TOPICS. The Leader • Saturday, December 11, 2021 • Page 3A

The Ice of Texas may soon be upon us

T

HE FRONT YARD – Faucet wrapped? Check. Mailbox and windows sealed? Check.

Need to cover the plants and bring in supplies like bottles of water, vodka and batteries for my radio.

You should be doing this, too. And leave the garage door open. These precautions are because predictions are that after summer comes fall and then comes winter which means we are all going to die of frostbite -- again. Let’s briefly recall those horrid days of the Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre when much of Texas froze because the wind stopped blowing and the sun went behind the moon so that our power was cut off. It got cold, then colder. The stores closed. At home, no electricity which meant no TV, cable, WiFi, no lights and worst, no heat. We wore pajamas and layers of socks. At night we slept fully dressed and under three blankets. No water, so no baths, no shaving, no dishes or clothes washed.

So 4.8 million homes and businesses around Texas were without electricity for days. There were more than 200 deaths. When the ice settled we began the blame game. To this day I cannot find one single person who said, “It was my fault.” You know the drill.

Our leader, Gov. Greg Abbott, charged the fault mainly lay with ERCOT. He never mentioned

Lynn Ashby Columnist

that he appoints the Public Utility Commission which regulates ERCOT. He also blamed power companies, the press and, of course, the tree-huggers. He said on -- where else? -- Fox News, “This shows how the Green New Deal would be a deadly deal for the United States. Our wind and our solar, they got shut down and they were collectively more than 10 percent of our power grid, and that thrust Texas into a situation where it was lacking power on a statewide basis.” His efforts on TV to distract Texans failed to reach millions of his constituents. They didn’t have electricity or the cable.

Gov. Abbott also declared: “This was a total failure by ERCOT... and they showed that they were not reliable. These are specialists, and government has to rely upon these specialists to be able to deliver in these types of situations.” Our guv went on: “This is something that I declared in advance. This is

THE READER. Cruz (out of ) control Dear Editor: I remember when Saturday Night Live was actually funny.

Mobarr Housing provided to homeless as local encampments ‘decommissioned’ Dear Editor: How does that work? “... our outreach teams, our solid waste teams, our first responders no longer have to serve that person.” The only service I can understand being “no longer necessary” is the cleanup. I’m sure it’s better for people to have housing, of course.

Pam Hasker

Dear Editor: “Reduce the region’s homeless population – and their strain on taxpayer-funded government services – by placing them in permanent housing and cleaning up the site.”

So who’s paying for this clean up and permanent housing? Could that be taxpayer‐ funded government services?

Maxx Thrasher Omicron variant detected in city wastewater Dear Editor: Nothing like spreading fear and panic!

This variant has very mild symptoms as I understand.

COVID-19 has a 99.7% survival rate.

The COVID-19 Vaccine (not a vaccine, but modified

something that our team had been talking to them about in advance, knowing, in advance, the ultracold we were going to be dealing with.” It wasn’t his fault. After the Legislature passed some weak bills affecting the power industry, Gov. Abbott said, when signing the bills, “Bottom line is that everything that needed to be done was done to fix the power grid in Texas.” Not exactly. A short time later, ERCOT told us to conserve power because of an on-coming heat wave.

As for the Legislature, in the last session our lawmakers passed bills allowing for more than $9 billion in bailouts for our electric utility companies. We will be paying off those billions over the next 20 or 30 years through charges on our utility bills. The idea is that, by spreading out the costs on our monthly bills, we won’t notice it and won’t complain. Incidentally, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry claimed Texans would rather endure blackouts in freezing weather than have the federal government regulating their power grid.

ERCOT was created strictly within Texas, covering about 90 percent of the state, to avoid crossing state lines and thus falling under federal regulations.

Apparently ERCOT can’t take the heat, so to speak. Due to possible safety threats, state officials

Email us your letters: news@theleadernews.com

DNA) does not prevent contracting COVID-19.

COVID-1984 should be the name of this virus as it is clearly being used by all levels of Government to control we the people, and force lock-downs and mask mandates and “vaccine’ mandates, and the push for vaccine passports. “get an experimental injection (up to 3 now, and many more in the future) or you will be subject to house arrest, denied basic freedoms and even mobility.

This is freedom denied, in the name of public safety. And there is no end in sight. The game keeps changing, continually changing. The public is constantly terrorized by the daily news reports, and people are afraid to leave their homes.

The devastation to America is not being caused by the virus, but by the horrible policies wrought on us by our leaders, our Government. But it is what we deserve. It’s what we voted for.

Disagree with me? Congratulations! You just proved the power of the press to control your thinking, control your opinion. Turn off the TV and live your life without fear.

That’s how to fight COVID. Charlie Walton

A dog named Bob became an urban legend Dear Editor: Great story of a survivor and his tribe.

RIP Bob and thank you Linda for being his advocate for all those years.

Judi Elder Worley

Dear Editor: So sad to hear about Bob... what happened? How did he die? He certainly is a legend!

Melissa Faust Dear Editor: Thanks again to everyone who helped Bob and Linda!

I’m glad Bob enjoyed the good life with Paige and Jason as long as he did.

Sandy Francis Dear Editor: Loved keeping up with his antics in the hood. He knew he was loved!

Jeanette Black

pulled down most of the ERCOT webpage that revealed photos and biographies of each board member. After the storm, they resigned. The only bright spot in this man-made catastrophe was that Ted Cruz got to take a vacation in Cancun.

The feds investigated and found a totally different cause for our misery. The Federal Energy Regulatory Agency, in a more than 300page report, said the disaster was primarily the result of the oil and gas industry’s failure to weatherize its systems, causing nearly 60 percent of power outages to occur at natural gas-fired plants. The sun and the wind were exonerated.

Now let’s talk money. According to other journalists’ work (some call it “plagiarism,” I call it “research”), before the storm in February 2020, line-loss charges cost Harris County about $17,000.

In February of 2021, the cost was more than a half-million dollars, a 2,800-percent increase. In Tarrant County (Fort Worth), electricity charges jumped nearly 6,000 percent — from $5,000 in February 2020 to more than $300,000 over the same period in 2021. Our public facilities were hammered. In February 2020, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice -- our prisons --paid about $1.2 million for natural gas. This February the cost soared to nearly $8.5 million.

The University of Texas-Austin paid $940,000 for gas in February 2020. In 2021: $3.65 million. This means you and I paid.

But it gets worse. Nothing our lawmakers did will prevent another blackout from happening like the one in February. So get ready for another freeze. I have already listed a few precautions to take.

Here are some more. I still have gallons of bottled water left over from the hurricane season. Now I need to keep them for the Son of Uri. Buy water. Fill your bathtub and get a bucket so you can refill your toilet tanks. Remember during Uri how dry your hands got when washing them – when you had water? Buy moisturizers. Get a manual can opener because your electric opener won’t work. Stock up on Sterno and matches. You ask why you should open your garage door? It operates on power.

On the other hand, why drive? The roads will be slick and the stores will be closed. Check on your elderly neighbors. (Remember those 200 Texans who died in the cold.)

They may need help – and they may have extra Sterno. Finally, take a vacation in Cancun.

Ashby freezes at ashby2@comcast.net

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This camp will consist of instructions from high school coaches, college and high school players. Also, we will have snacks and drinks for sale daily. Water will be provided each day of the camp.

the leader Puzzlers.

Answers found in this week’s Classified section

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Page 4A • Saturday, December 11, 2021 • The Leader

I-45 project delayed as federal investigation continues

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

The controversial plan to overhaul Interstate 45 near and north of downtown is inching forward but remains largely stuck in a traffic jam of local, state and federal interests, which has pushed back the timeline for the project by at least two years.

According to a community advocacy group called Stop TxDOT I-45, Stephanie Pollack of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and U.S. Department of Transportation visited Houston earlier this week to continue the FHWA’s investigation into complaints about the Texas Department of Transportation’s North Houston Highway Improvement Project, an estimated $7 billion initiative that calls for widening I-45 between downtown and Beltway 8 while displacing more than 1,000 homes and businesses in communities such as Acres Homes, Independence Heights and Northside. The FHWA in March asked the

Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to pause the project while it investigates complaints made under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and audits TxDOT’s implementation of federal environmental review requirements.

The FHWA said in a Nov. 29 letter to TxDOT, which was publicized by Stop TxDOT I-45, that it is open to a voluntary resolution of the concerns raised about the project. The letter also says the FHWA is “comfortable allowing TxDOT to proceed with detailed design work” for one segment of the project, although TxDOT must continue to refrain from any right-of-way acquisition activities or discussions.

“While the partial release on the pause is good news, the project has been on pause by the FHWA now for nine months and still largely remains under pause,” TxDOT executive director Marc Williams said during the Nov. 30 meeting of the Texas Transportation Commission, which oversees

TxDOT. “This delay has set the project back a couple of years, at least. The original design-build procurement from last year has been cancelled. TxDOT is reassessing our schedule and delivery approach.”

Among other changes to the existing freeway, which was built more than 50 years ago, TxDOT’s plan calls for expanded express-lane capacity on I-45 between downtown and Beltway 8 along with re-routing the freeway near downtown, including making it parallel with I-10 on the north side.

TxDOT has said the purpose of the project is to improve traffic flow, hurricane evacuation routes and stormwater drainage, along with accommodating high-occupancy, electric and self-driving vehicles.

But the plan has drawn criticism because it will displace homes and businesses in low-income communities of color, and because of its high cost at a time when the Houston region is taking steps to expand alternate

HISD hosting food, supply distribution Saturday

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Local families with students in Houston ISD will have the chance to get holiday meals and school supplies this Saturday at the district’s headquarters.

HISD is hosting a drive-thru holiday giveaway providing turkeys, food boxes, STEM kits, books and household supplies for up to 1,000 HISD families this Saturday, according to a news release from the district. The event will run from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. in the

east parking lot of the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center, 4400 W. 18th St. No pre-registration is required for the giveaway, which will be first-come, first-served until the supply runs out, according to HISD.

Drive-through ‘Winter Wonderland’ events to be held at local schools

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

If families in Northwest Houston and surrounding areas are looking for a familyfriendly Christmas event, two local schools are providing that this weekend.

There will be two drivethrough Winter Wonderland

events at local schools from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Saturday. Residents and their families can go to Frank Black Middle School (1575 Chantilly Ln.) or Stevens Elementary (1915 Lamonte Ln.) to experience the holidaythemed fun. The second annual event will include Christmas lights and decorations as well as holiday entertainment,

gift bags and holiday meals at both campuses. Families will stay in their vehicles while gift bags and/or food is placed in their trunks.

For more information, community members can email northwestcommunityresources@gmail.com. If they wish to donate items for the event, they can text 713-540-5315.

Montalbano, from P. 1A the Heights and knows about Houston. I think we’re very lucky to have him.”

Montalbano, the son of a small business owner who grew up in the North Lindale neighborhood, worked as a marketing representative in the music industry in the 1990s before a 20-year career in the IT industry.

He said his experiences as a member of other chambers of commerce helped shape his philosophy for leading such an organization.

Some chambers can be cliquish and more about social events than helping businesses and business owners grow and be successful, Montalbano said, so he wants to put together events and services that provide networking opportunities as well as education for a wide range of members. At the Northside chamber, for example, he said he utilized a mix of morning, lunchtime and evening events to cater to the differing styles and schedules of members.

Montalbano said he likes to serve in a coaching and mentoring role as well and wants to help local businesses put together a strategic plan upon becoming chamber members. And he wants to help the Greater

Heights chamber – where membership has dwindled to about 350 businesses during the pandemic, according to Farino – attract more members from neighborhoods such as Garden Oaks, Oak Forest and other adjacent communities.

Another idea of Montalbano’s is to tailor events to specialized groups of business professionals, such as a women’s group.

His overarching vision for the chamber is to make sure members are getting a return on the investment they make with their annual dues.

“It’s very important to me and was very important here in Northside,” Montalbano said. “People should view this as an investment. And if somebody makes an investment in something, what should they reasonably expect? A return, right?

“That’s what it’s all about,” he continued.

“I really took it upon myself to try to create as many opportunities for members as possible to get as much of a return on their investment as possible. I think that’s lost on a lot of chambers.”

Resolving conflict

By Pastor Will Cover

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

H

ow can you make your life count? Can you really make a difference in someone else’s life? One of my favorite stories in the Bible is the story of Aquila and Priscilla.

They were a couple who owned a business making tents. Paul the Apostle worked with them making tents in Corinth. The next time we meet this couple they are living in Ephesus and helping a man name Apollos to understand the gospel. Their ministry to one man made a difference in his life and in the lives of all of the people that Apollos ministered to.

Your life can make a difference for other people. It is not a question of your ability, education, or the number of people that you know. Being a difference maker for good means intentionally listening to others, being careful to love people where they are at, and being willing

to take the time necessary with someone to see them change.

Change doesn’t happen overnight. To be able to encourage someone else to change requires that you actually care about the person and that you are willing to listen to them and not just tell them what you think they need to hear. Acts 18:26 says about Apollos that “he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscila had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. This couple that made tents helped a preacher to understand God and His Word correctly. They heard what he had to say, they cared enough to take him aside and get to know him personally, and they spent enough time with him to help him have a more complete understanding of God. Will you take the time to make a difference in someone else’s life? Will you listen? Do you love them enough to help? Will you take the time to encourage them and teach them?

rights concerns raised by the county and its residents. But Harris County Commissioners Court voted in November to direct county attorney Christian D. Menefee to negotiate a temporary pause of the lawsuit so county and TxDOT officials could discuss the project.

Menefee and Pollack were among the officials to attend a Monday public meeting about the project that was facilitated by U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, according to Stop TxDOT I-45. Also in attendance, according to the project opposition group, were local elected officials such as Houston City Council member Karla Cisneros, Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis, State Reps. Christina Morales and Senfronia Thompson and State Sen. Borris Miles.

“Expanding I-45 is important, but it has to be done thoughtfully with minimal repercussions to the surrounding area,” Miles said Monday on Twitter.

Photo by Adam Zuvanich Businesses such as H.E.R.O. Performance, which operates an exercise gym at 4114 North Fwy., figure to be impacted by the I-45 expansion project proposed by the Texas Department of Transportation.

modes of transportation and reduce its reliance on gasoline-powered automobiles. Concerns also have been raised about the project’s potential impacts on air quality and flood mitigation.

Texas Transportation Commission chairman Bruce Bugg said during an August meeting that if the FHWA’s pause was not lifted before Nov. 30, then the commission would remove the I-45 project and its funding from TxDOT’s 10-year plan for

the state’s highway system.

Bugg backtracked from that statement during the Nov. 30 meeting, saying the project would remain on the longterm plan for the time being because discussions are ongoing between TxDOT, the FHWA and local leaders in the Houston region.

Harris County sued TxDOT over the project in March, asking a federal judge to require TxDOT to give greater consideration to environmental and civil

OHFA putting on holiday movie night

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

The Oak Forest Homeowners Association (OFHA) is showing two free movies outdoors this weekend to help neighborhood families get into the Christmas spirit.

OFHA will host a Holiday Movie Night event at 6 p.m.

Saturday at Hope Episcopal Church, 1613 W. 43rd St. “A Charlie Brown Christmas” will be shown beginning at 6 p.m., with “Home Alone” slated to begin at 6:30 p.m. Both movies are free and open to the public, while drinks and popcorn will be on sale for those wanting movie snacks.

Those coming to the movie night are encouraged to bring their own blankets and chairs to the event, where security will be provided.

For more information, community members can

go to the event’s Facebook page at facebook.com/

events/462743275260843.

Lights, from P. 1A tiring from that role this year, according to the event website.

For more information on Lights in the

Heights, such as directions and a route map for this year’s event, community members can visit woodland-heights.org/lith-1.

LEGAL NOTICE Application has been made with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission for a WINE AND MALT BEVERAGE RETAILER’S ON-PREMISE PERMIT (BG) by BE KIND ENTERPRISES CORPORATION dba CENTRAL CITY CO-OP, to be located at 420 E 20th St SUITE A, HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY, Texas.

Owners of said corporation are: ERICK E. NAVAS (MANAGING DIRECTOR)

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Please website at: Sund visit Ministries for our All Ages 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 cIn-person Sunday Services: @ 11 AM 2003 W. 43rd St. Wed .org Houston, TX 77092 (Live stream during service) Bible Studies: From Homepage, click on 1822 W. 18th • 713-864-1470 Connect/Small Groups

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OV

t goes with made mista err is huma this the next t must learn fro to repeat them it can be hard can sometime We sometimes we’ve done, a for years, or e addition, some our past. And them, we mus we should forg the coming da as well as our them; that is, repeatedly mu the phrase “for the only way t more divine, is the offense. S vindictive, sha it! Corrie ten prison camp s to realize that

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The Leader • Saturday, December 11, 2021 • Page 5A

Race from P. 1A and are self-described thrill-seekers, then started running the idea by other family members and friends. They decided to put a race team together for the Baja 1000 in 2022, and David bought an old Volkswagen Beetle – or “Baja Bug” – that had previously been used in the annual race that spans roughly 1,000 miles through desert terrain.

They also made plans to attend this year’s race as spectators, and David reached out to race teams he found on Facebook and asked if any of them needed volunteers for support. The only response he got was from Jorge Gutierrez, who said the Winkels could help with his Baja Jag team that was competing in the Class 5 1600 division that features customized Beetles.

Last month, David Winkel served as one of the co-pilots for Gutierrez, meaning he took turns sitting in the passenger’s seat and navigating for the driver of the open-air, off-road vehicle. Alma and one of their friends from the Houston area, Neil Chawla, were part of the “chase” team that followed in a truck on a parallel route, with another off-road vehicle in tow, and stood ready to help in case something went wrong.

Things mostly went right as Gutierrez and Baja Jag earned their first victory in the Baja 1000, winning

their division by more than three hours with a time of 35 hours, 48 minutes, 19.576 seconds. Only one of the other six teams in the division finished the nonstop race, which winded more than 1,200 miles from the town of Ensenada to La Paz, crossing desert terrain that was rocky, sandy and at some points mountainous.

“It was exciting, exhausting,” Alma said. “I want to say we ended up sleeping about one hour in two days.”

David, who co-piloted for the first 155 miles of the race and later did a 75-mile stint, said he imagines the experience was similar to being an astronaut. He said he initially felt overwhelmed by bobbing up and down as they passed over rocky terrain – all while monitoring gauges and maps and communications equipment to essentially serve as the eyes for Gutierrez and the other drivers – but ended up settling in and getting a rush when he was in the vehicle.

The 45-year-old David said he previously completed four Ironman triathlon races and the Escape from Alcatraz – the San Francisco-area triathlon that starts with a 1.5-mile swim – and had also been skydiving and scuba diving.

“None of that can compare to the experience of the Baja 1000,” David said. “It’s one of the most violent things I’ve ever done in my entire life.

… It’s you against the environment.

You can plan the best you can until the race starts. Then it’s you against the Baja.”

The Winkels said their experience as support-team members for Baja Jag should help them in next year’s race, when they’ll be leading their own team, called Baja Goats. David plans to be one of the drivers, and the 46-year-old Alma said she wants to be a driver as well.

They’ll be attending the Houston Auto Show in late January to seek out potential team members and sponsors, and they plan to use next year’s Baja 1000 as an opportunity to raise money for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Houston/ Galveston. Alma serves on the board of directors for the charity.

Each driver and co-pilot on the Baja Goats team will be required to make a donation, the Winkels said, and any prize money they win will go to the charity. So will the money they receive from sponsors, whose logos will appear on their race vehicle. The Winkels said they and their team will cover all the costs associated with participating in the race, which figures to be an investment of at least $50,000, they said.

“Alma and I never had children.

We tried for years and years,” David said. “Doing an event like this, people

of that cost. TIRZ 5 was created by the city and is allocated a portion of municipal tax revenue to be used for improvement projects.

The aforementioned Build Grant and an additional $40 million in federal dollars, allocated by the HoustonGalveston Area Council, will cover a bulk of the cost. Weesner said the city is paying for the new water and sewer lines that will be installed.

“We have been working on this for a very long time,” Weesner said. “We’ve worked with a number of entities, and we are very, very pleased that we’re finally getting to start work.”

Construction work started earlier this year on the city’s related project to the south, which has a budget of a little more than $12 million, according to information on engagehouston.org.

Houston Public Works announced in November that it was modifying the project to include protected bike lanes at the urging of concerned residents and stakeholders, such as the cycling advocacy nonprofit BikeHouston.

The city’s initial plan called for

unprotected bike lanes. It was formulated before the implementation of the Houston Vision Zero Action Plan, which aims to eliminate traffic-related fatalities by 2030.

“I am very grateful to BikeHouston and Public Works,” Kamin said. “Public Works should get a lot of credit for going back in to fix the issue to make sure we’re getting protected bike lanes.”

Protected bike lanes have been part of the plan for the TIRZ 5 project between 610 and I-10, where they will be on the east side of both Shepherd and Durham, according to Weesner.

METRO bus stops on Shepherd also will be on the east side of the street because there is room to accommodate both, she said, while the bus stops on Durham will be on the west side.

New, wider sidewalks will be installed on both sides of Shepherd and Durham, where vehicular traffic lanes will be reduced from four to three on both streets with the addition of designated turning lanes at select intersec-

Contributed photo Near Northside residents David Winkel (wearing red shirt and standing behind flag) and his wife, Alma Winkel (wearing green jacket), celebrate with Baja Jag, which won the Class 5 1600 division at the Baja 1000 last month in Mexico.

bring their kids along with them. And since Alma and I don’t have kids, the Ronald McDonald House Charities is a way to bring the kids we never had along for the ride.”

Doing next year’s race also is a way for David to continue honoring his late father. And Alma said her brother, Tomas Revesz, who will be part of the Baja Goats team, has drawn inspiration from his best friend and business partner, Seth Birnbaum, who died the day after Thanksgiving

in 2020.

The Winkels and Baja Goats figure to need all the inspiration and motivation they can muster to complete a dangerous race in which many of the entrants do not finish.

“Whenever you have a loss like that, you look at your life and say, ‘Is there something I keep putting off ?’

David said. “You never want to have regrets in life.”

Follow Adam Zuvanich on Twitter @ AZuvanich

tions with typically heavy traffic, such as West 11th Street. Weesner said two different traffic studies showed that congestion on Shepherd and Durham was caused mostly by the absence of turn lanes at busy intersections, so there does not figure to be a negative impact on traffic flow even with the overall reduction in lanes, she said.

In addition to the work on Shepherd and Durham, the project also calls for improvements on several of the cross streets that connect them – 11th, 12th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 18th, 19th, 20th and 24th streets.

Weesner said two other features of the project are city-owned street lights and an underground bioretention system – called the Silva Cell Tree and Stormwater Management System – that will be beneath the trees planted on each side of Shepherd and Durham. The idea is to capture stormwater to help both drainage and promote the growth of large trees.

“This is a really great project, because it can do so much,” Weesner

said. “The area is really changing. The area has lots of new restaurants and other facilities, and people want to be able to walk there. People need to be able to walk from one business to the next business. Improving all modes of transportation is very important.”

Of course, the long-term benefits of the project will come with a shorter-term cost – construction. Weesner said the plan is to expedite the process by working on different portions of the streets at the same time.

She also said the plan is to keep Shepherd and Durham open and passable throughout construction, even though lanes will reduced at times.

“I’m hopeful that at the end of the project we will have a beautiful and more functional pair of streets,” said Mark Williamson, the land use chair for the Houston Heights Association and president of the Greater Heights Super Neighborhood Council. “But the next five years will be inconvenient as most reconstruction projects are.”

Construction from P. 1A council members Sallie Alcorn and David Robinson and U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, who helped secure a $25 million federal Build Grant for the first phase of the project, which will cover the stretches of Durham and Shepherd between 610 and West 15th Street.

The first phase is expected to be complete within three years, according to Weesner, while construction for Phase 2 between 15th and I-10 to the south is expected to start early in 2023 and take another three years. An already-underway related project to the south, which will similarly transform Durham and Shepherd between Washington Avenue and Dickson Street, is being undertaken by Houston Public Works and is expected to be complete by next fall.

Weesner said construction for the two Heights phases is slated to cost a total of about $100 million, with the Memorial Heights Redevelopment Authority, also known as Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone 5 (TIRZ 5), covering about $35 million

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The Leader • Saturday, December 11, 2021 • Page 7A

Art Valet: Looking for art in all the right places Mitch Cohen Art Columnist

Houston is incredibly big.

Anyone that has to drive one end to the other knows this. I wonder sometimes, just how many skylines does Houston have anyway?

Imagine deciding for the first time you’d like to explore the art scene. Where in the world would you begin to even look?

Well, I’m going to tell you how to find art in Houston’s vast 600-plus square miles.

Call this my annual shoutout column to the arts organizations that I like to frequent the most for my own art-seeking adventures.

I’m old school. I still like receiving email newsletters.

Fresh Arts sends out Art on Tap weekly about area art events submitted through its

website and also sponsored by the Fresh Arts organization.

When artists inquire about how to get started in Houston, I send them here first. Fresh Arts has educational programs that teach artists about business, a skill surprisingly lacking in the creative world.

Fresh Arts also runs the fairly new Arts District Houston, a state-recognized arts district that covers the First and Sixth Wards. Follow Arts District Houston on Instagram (https://www.instag ram. com/artsdistricthou/) to get the skinny on events in the district or its website (http:// artsdistricthouston.com).

Arts District Houston alone can keep you busy for weeks with cultural art programming, theater, Buffalo Bayou Park, Sawyer Yards (hey, I’m there!) and a gazillion art studios!

Glasstire is the oldest online-only art magazine in the country. I swiped that line right off its website, Glasstire.com.

Glasstire covers Houston and other major cities in Texas, and what I love about it is the

David Maldanado stands in front of his mural, “Art Is In The Making.”

editorial content. They also host a video rundown of top five Texas events weekly, podcasts and have an extensive event calendar on the website.

Artists will find opportunities to showcase their art, grants and more on Glasstire.

I barely touched on the

scope of cool things the aforementioned organizations do.

Explore their websites for more.

In 2004, at my very first art market, a couple introduced themselves to me as having just arrived from Los Angeles that morning. I was astounded

Contributed photo

when they told me they found the market on the internet before leaving L.A. At the time, the world wide web was still only accessible by those really big boxes with small TV monitors attached by a nest of snakes.

The internet is still fine for

searching, but if you want to have fun and shorten the hunt, try hashtags on Instagram. Instagram is the best place in my opinion to find art, artists and many related events in a city.

If your eyes just crossed, relax, this is easy. In the Instagram search bar enter the # followed by your search terms without spaces. Start with these -- #houstonart #houstonartist #houarts -- and when you follow an organization or artist, check out the hashtags they use, too. Follow the tags and they will turn up in your “feed” when they are included in posts.

Here’s a fun example to get started. On Saturday, find me, #ArtValet, at my #TheFolkMarket at #SawyerYards in the middle of #ArtsDistrictHou! See ya there.

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: Highline Park combines ambiance, ambitious flavor Stefan Modrich

Tyler Barrera, Keith Doyle and Roland Keller know a thing or two about putting together a good patio bar and restaurant.

The trio have successfully launched Wicklow Heights and Casa Nomad, and now the latter has a new nextdoor neighbor at M-K-T: Highline Park.

Highline Park features a 1,500-square foot covered outdoor patio with plush, comfortable seating and views of Lawrence Park and the adjacent M-K-T hike-and-bike trail. It’s perhaps a combination of both luck and smart planning that this prime real estate was available for this concept within the M-K-T development. It’s hard to envision a place like this with a view of a parking lot.

The interior is floored with black and orange tile patterns that resemble pyramids and warm wooden accents. Both indoors and out on the patio,

Photo by Stefan Modrich The aromatherapy from Highline Park ($13) is made with Deep Eddy vodka, lime juice, ginger syrup, demerara (large grain cane sugar) ginger juice and lavender syrup.

Highline Park has a southwestern, desert chic feel.

Smashburgers are all the rage nowadays, and you can try Highline’s rendition of this classic beef patty with caramelized onions and “Highline sauce” for $22. The burger comes with fries, which I began to dip in the thick, velvety loaded queso ($12) I had ordered moments earlier.

The queso contains pickled

peppers, cilantro and achiote oil, which is made from annatto seeds and olive oil to provide a hint of bitterness. The accompanying tortilla chips were satisfyingly crunchy and salty, some of which had an oily residue suggesting that they had been fried to order.

I was most impressed by Highline’s Bang Bang Shrimp ($14), which are fried and coated in a sweet chili sauce. It

Photo by Stefan Modrich Highline’s bang bang shrimp ($14) which are fried and coated in a sweet chili sauce.

is served alongside Vietnamese shredded cabbage, chives and a spicy mayonnaise for dipping. The shrimp were both succulent and sharp, and it was among the most creative presentations of seafood I’ve seen.

Of course, you can’t go to a patio bar without having a drink or two. Some of Highline’s most popular cocktails are the Violette Gin and Tonic

Nibbles & Sips: Chi’lantro returning to Houston

By Stefan Modrich

Pepperoni’s Pizza expanding to Heights The former home of a massage therapy studio will soon become a new location for a local pizza chain.

Pepperoni’s Pizza, 946 N. Shepherd Drive Ste. B, will replace O.D. Wellness, according to a filing from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

(TDLR).

Renovations on the 1,525 square foot space are scheduled to begin Dec. 15 and end May 1 at an estimated cost of $140,000, according to the TDLR filing.

smodrich@mcelvypartners.com

A Korean-Mexican fusion restaurant that got its start as a food truck in Houston before becoming a brickand-mortar chain is returning to its roots.

Austin-based Chi’lantro, 1324 N. Shepherd Drive, is set to open next year in the Heights Forum shopping center, according to loopnet. com, a commercial real estate marketplace.

Chi’lantro serves a variety of dishes that combine elements of both Korean barbecue and Mexican cuisine, from kimchi fries to quesadillas, wraps, tacos, burritos and Korean fried chicken wings along with rice and noodle bowls.

For more information, call 512-800-9098.

Photo from Facebook A sampling of the Korean-Mexican fusion fare from Chi’lantro, which is opening next year in the Heights.

New tenants at M-K-T A purveyor of homemade frozen custards and baked goods opened last month at M-K-T, and a Californiabased sandwich shop will join them next week.

Honeychild’s Sweet Creams, 600 N. Shepherd Drive Ste. 450, held its grand opening Nov. 26.

The shop sells pecan praline, buttermilk, coffee and birthday cake in cones, cups,

and 4 ounce take-home containers.

Honeychild’s is open from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. TuesdayWednesday, 11a.m.-10 p.m.

Thursday-Friday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday.

For more information, call 832-280-7854.

Mendocino Farms, 600 N. Shepherd Drive, Suite 184, is opening at 11 a.m. Dec. 14, according to the restaurant’s website.

The sandwich shop has an array of bowls featuring ingredients like smoky chicken elote and chimichurri steak and shishito peppers as well as vegan banh mis and Impossible burgers.

Customers who sign up for a My Mendo account at mendo.myguestaccount.com and select Houston Heights as their favorite store will earn a free entree.

For more information, call 713-595-8972.

Miri’s Kitchen opens in Rice Military A new Persian restaurant opened last week in the Rice Military neighborhood.

Miri’s Kitchen, 5801 Memorial Drive Ste. A, opened in the Park Plaza Memorial retail center in the space that once housed Hurts Donut Co. Parvaneh Miri, the former head chef of Garson, 2926 Hillcroft Ave., is the owner of Miri’s.

Miri’s Kitchen is open 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. MondayFriday and 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Saturday-Sunday.

For more information, call 713-301-8737.

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The Leader • Saturday, December 11, 2021 • Page 8A

Virtual reality space experience coming to Silver Street Studios

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

What’s being billed as an “out-of-this-world” virtual reality experience will be available to local residents starting Dec. 20 in Sawyer Yards.

The Infinite, a multi-sensory, interactive experience that will allow visitors to virtually tour a life-scale replica of the International Space Station and go on a spacewalk, will take place in a 12,500-square foot exhibition at Silver Street Studios, 1505 Silver St. A preview period is scheduled from Dec. 20-Jan. 12, while the experience’s regular run will be held from Jan. 13-Feb. 20.

The producers of The Infinite, who chose Houston for its U.S. debut after initially running in Montreal, Canada, are Montreal-based PHI Studio and Felix & Paul Studios. The experience is an extension of the Emmy Award-winning series “Space Explorers: The ISS Experience,” which was produced by Felix & Paul Studios, in association with TIME

Photo courtesy of The Infinite Visitors to The Infinite, an immersive virtual reality experience that debuts Dec. 20 in Sawyer Yards, will get a sense of being in space.

Studios and in a partnership with NASA, the ISS National Lab and international space agencies, according to a news release. ““The exploration of space and the unknown is an endless source of fascination to us,” said Felix Lajeunesse, cofounder of Felix & Paul Studios. “We are thrilled to bring The Infinite to Houston – the global epicenter of human

space exploration – to share this massive, fully immersive exhibition, and we look forward to virtually transporting thousands of people off the Earth to enjoy the joy and wonder of space with audiences in the U.S.” Tickets for The Infinite, which is a 1-hour experience, are $29 between Dec. 20-Jan. 12 and $36 between Jan. 13Feb. 20. They can be pur-

chased online at https://www. sawyeryards.com/events/theinfinite. According to the website, children under age 8 will not be admitted, and guests are asked to remain silent during the experience.

Visitors can take a self-guided virtual tour of the International Space Station and walk outside of it, utilizing footage from the aforementioned “Space Explorers” series as well as new footage that was shot outside the space station in September. The experience also will include artwork by Japanese artist Ryoji Ikeda.

“Visitors’ senses will be enriched through the interactivity between physical objects, virtual reality, multimedia art, soundscapes, light design and even the subtle scents of a forest -- evoking memories of stargazing while lying on the grass,” said the news release about The Infinite. “... In essence, it is the closest the vast majority of people will ever get to being able to experience the singular sensation of being in space.”

Theatre Suburbia to perform women-centric comedy

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

“The Wild Women of Winedale,” a comedy that focuses on three women at crossroads in their lives, will be performed from Jan. 7-Feb. 5 at Theatre Suburbia, 5201 Mitchelldale St., Suite A-3.

The play, written by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten, is billed by Theatre Suburbia as “joyful and exuberant, yet ultimately touching.” It focuses on a “feisty and fun-loving” trio of sisters, with the last name Wild, who are coping with old age, widowhood, the clutter of family keepsakes and in one case a house “at the bottom of a Florida sinkhole,” according to a news release from Northwest Houston’s longest-running volunteer playhouse.

Performances are scheduled for 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays between Jan. 7-Feb. 5, with Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Jan. 23 and Jan. 30. Tickets are $18 for adults on Fridays and Saturday, while the price for students, seniors and all Sunday matinee seats are $16.

Reservations and masks are encouraged but not re-

quired, with reservations available online at theatresuburbia.org or by phone at 713-682-3525.

The play will be directed

by Judy Reeves and Pamela Branstetter while featuring Marjorie Johnston as Fanny Wild Cantrelle, Janye Anderson as Willa Wild and Dixie Cooper as Johnnie Faye “Jef ” Wild, among other performers.

For more information, visit theatresuburbia.org.

Local business is our business.

Send your story of interest news@theleadernews.com

Kenneth Ripkowski

Specializing in First Time Home Buyers Move Up Buyers - New Construction 713-240-1893 hrbailey@cbunited.com har.com/hrbailey H.R. BAILEY

IN MEMORIAM

Lucille Kacal Sydow March 31, 1937 - December 1, 2021

L

ucille (Lucy) Sydow, 84, of Lampasas, passed away surrounded by her loved ones on December 1, 2021. Lucy became a resident of Lampasas two years ago moving from Pontotoc, Texas after the passing of her husband, Robert.

Lucy (Kacal) was born on March 31, 1937, in Hillje, Texas to Joseph and Mary Sliva Kacal along with nine brothers and sisters. She was raised in El Campo, Texas graduating from El Campo High School. After graduating she moved to Houston, Texas where she met her future husband, Robert.

Lucy and Robert married on October 6, 1956, in Houston.They lived in Houston in the Timbergrove area where they raised their two children.

Lucy worked at American General Insurance and Mustang Tractor during her time in Houston. In her later years Lucy and her husband moved to their ranch in Pontotoc, Texas located in the Texas Hill Country just outside of Llano. The ranch had many pet deer which she enjoyed feeding by hand, including a special doe names “Sue” who lived to 18 years. Lucy was a strong, hardworking woman with an enormous heart and was loved by everyone that knew her. She enjoyed spending time with her family, especially during the holidays as her passion was baking and cooking for everyone, especially her grandchildren. Lucy was proud of her Czech/ Bohemian heritage and Catholic faith. All of which included her love for kolaches and dancing. She is preceded in death by her husband, Robert and siblings, Clem, Raymond, Della, Evelyn, Mary, Bill, Martha and one infant brother, John. Lucy is survived by her daughter, Deborah Sydow-Jennings, and husband Wayland of Lampasas, her son, David Sydow, and wife Heather of Houston, one sister, Millie Kacal Burt of Sugarland and one brother, Joe Kacal of Alvin and her lab, Buck. She had eight grandchildren: Chris (wife, Laina), Jenny (husband, Matt), JR (wife, Kristian), Kayla, Zach, Brooke, and Cheyenne. Lucy was also blessed with seven great grandchildren. There will be a family visitation time from 5-7 PM on Thursday, December 9, 2021, at Heritage Funeral Home in Lampasas. The funeral service will be at 1:00 PM on Friday, December 10 with Pastor Paul Allen officiating, also at Heritage Funeral Home. The brief graveside service will be held at the Pontotoc Cemetery, off Highway 71, following the funeral. Maps to the cemetery will be available at the funeral home. Afterwards, family and friends are invited to the Sydow Ranch for food and beverages. Pallbearers serving include Chris Schielack, JR Sydow, Jason Kacal, Tracy Lee, Tommy Klovenski and Zach Fountain. Arrangements are entrusted to Heritage Funeral Home of Lampasas, Texas.

IN MEMORIAM

Ethel Marie Van Namen Hogue July 30, 1927 – November 30, 2021

June 23, 1946 December 3, 2021

A

funeral service for Kenneth Lee Ripkowski, of Jacksonville, TX, is scheduled at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, December 9, 2021 at Sterling Funeral Home in Dayton, TX, with a visitation one hour before. Connie Ramos will officiate. He will be laid to rest at Magnolia Park Cemetery in Dayton, TX. Visitation will be on Tuesday, December 7, 2021 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Autry Funeral Home, Jacksonville.

Mr. Ripkowski passed away December 3, 2021 in Jacksonville. He was born in Liberty, TX on June 23, 1946 to Felix and Ann (Zaruba) Ripkowski.

Kenneth was a loving and devoted family man. He was a CPA and held a BA in accounting from the University of Houston. Kenneth worked for ESM Satake of Houston, as well as City of Jacksonville. In his spare time, he enjoyed fishing, songwriting, playing his guitar, and singing.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and a sister Patricia Rose Ripkowski.

Left to cherish Kenneth’s memory are his loving wife of 47 years, Susie Ripkowski, of Jacksonville; son, Kenny Ripkowski and wife Stacie of Cypress, TX, and daughter, Jenni Cudd and husband Stephen of Gallatin, TX. He is also survived by five grandchildren: Abigail, Caleb, Bethany, Ethan, and Canyon; and several nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Caleb Ripkowski, Stephen Cudd, Reed Touchstone, Roland Anderson, Jim Norwood, and Ed Barnett.

Rather than customary condolences, donations in memory of Kenneth Ripkowski can be made to Houston Area Parkinson Society @ 713-313-1621.

Come and See A Drive-Through Nativity

Our Savior Lutheran Church 5000 W. Tidwell Rd. Houston, TX 77091

ACC R E D I T E D B U Y E R R E P R E S E N TAT I V E

Contributed photo Women are the stars and focus of the comedic play “The Wild Women of Winedale,” which will run from Jan. 7-Feb. 5 at Theatre Suburbia, 5201 Mitchelldale St., Suite A-3.

IN MEMORIAM

Saturday December 11th, 2021 5:30-8:30 pm

H.R. BAILEY

Join us for our free drivethrough Nativity! Come and see the events of the first Christmas in an evening of lights, live illustration, and music.

L

ong-time Oak Forest resident, Ethel Hogue, was born July 30, 1927 in Chicago, Illinois. Her family moved to Mississippi where Ethel graduated from Courtland High School. She graduated from the Army School of Nursing in Vicksburg, MS in 1948. Her roommate in nursing school introduced Ethel to her brother, William Guy Hogue, Jr., who was a Marine serving during WWII. Guy & Ethel married and moved to Kentucky where Guy earned his Bachelor’s in accounting from Bowling Green College. They worked briefly in Nashville, TN. The family then moved to Houston, TX in 1953 and purchased their first home on Chantilly in the Oak Forest neighborhood, then moved to Candlelight Plaza and lived there for 54 years.

Ethel worked as a nurse at Heights Hospital while working on her Bachelor of Science degree. After earning her Master’s in Public Health, she worked as a school nurse. Ethel started playing the piano for church at the age of 12 and continued as a church pianist and organist throughout her life. She was a Bible Study Fellowship discussion leader and Sunday School teacher for many years. She loved music, traveling and spending summers at their mountain home in Colorado.

Anyone who knew Ethel, knew she loved Jesus, her husband, her family and friends. The Hogues showed their hospitality by opening their home to missionaries, family friends and others.

Mrs. Hogue was preceded to Heaven by her husband, Guy Hogue Jr. and two of her daughters-in-law, Sarah Hogue and Liz Hogue. She leaves her children and in-laws, Sandra Carruth and husband Doug, William (Bill) Hogue III, Sharon Luedtke and husband Dale, and Mark Hogue and wife Trish, seven grandchildren and spouses: Jennifer & Kevin Brumfield, Sandie Kefi, Alice & Mike Kay, Ashley & Zac Stover, Lacy & Andrew McDonald, Grayson & Jenny Hogue, and Nicole Kruse. Great grandchildren, Brooke, Britt, Leila, Sonia, Faris, Belle, Wyatt, Haven, Hazel, Eli, Sadie, Poppy, Sheridan, Campbell, and Della.

Child Evangelism Fellowship

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https://www.ourpvbc.org

The Leader • Saturday, December 11, 2021 • Page 1B

Kelsey-Seybold opens local clinic

Preferred Health

By Landan Kuhlmann

DIRECTORY

landan@theleadernews.com

A new healthcare option for the Greater Heights and surrounding communities is now open for business.

The Kelsey-Seybold ClinicGreater Heights was set to open Wednesday on the fourth floor of the Physician Specialty Center at 1900 North Loop West, Suite 400, according to a post to Kelsey-Seybold’s Facebook page and its website.

It is Kelsey-Seybold’s sixth new location to open this year. KelseySeybold, a multispecialty group practice with more than 500 physicians and allied health professionals practicing at 26 locations in the Greater Houston area, initially announced plans for the clinic in May. The Heights clinic will offer onsite services such as X-rays, ultrasounds, lab work, echocardiograms and a pharmacy as well as other diagnostic testing services. The 22,000-square foot space supports 10 providers offering comprehensive care such as pediatrics, internal medicine and more, according to its website.

Kelsey-Seybold’s Greater Heights clinic accepts more than 50 health insurance plans such as Aet-

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NORTHWEST CHIROPRACTIC George G. Junkin, D.C. D.A.C.B.N. Nutritionist 11500 NW Frwy - Suite 201 Houston, Texas 77092 Tel: 713-686-0828 www.drjunkin.com Internal Medicine

Dr. Jaclyn Harrison

Photo from LoopNet.com Kelsey-Seybold Clinic-Greater Heights opened Wednesday on the fourth floor of Physician Specialty Center, 1900 North Loop West. It will offer on-site medical services such as X-rays, ultrasounds, lab work and other diagnostic testing services.

na, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna and UnitedHealthcare, according to its website, as well as Medicare Advantage plans such as KelseyCare Advantage, WellCare Texan-

Plus and more.

The clinic will be open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For more information on the clinic or to schedule an appointment,

Heights Health Tower 1900 North Loop West Suite 580 713-714-5376 www.whiteoakmedicalassociates.com

community members can go online and visit kelsey-seybold.com/finda-location/greater-heights-clinic.

Follow us on social media @FromTheLeader

Obstetrics / Gynecology

Omicron variant detected in Houston

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

The Houston Health Department announced Monday night that the omicron variant of COVID-19 has been detected in the city’s wastewater.

Earlier in the evening, Harris County Public Health said a woman from northwest Harris County had tested positive for the new variant, which was first identified in South Africa in November. The variant is being studied by federal health officials to determine whether it is more transmissible, causes more serious illness or evades vaccine protection compared to other variants of the coronavirus, according to the city.

“Omicron in Houston is cause for concern but not panic,” Dr. David Persse, the chief medical officer for the city, said in a news release. “It’s important to remember that vaccination is our best tool to reduce cases, prevent serious illness and death, and slow the emer-

gence of new variants.”

The city, which as of Monday night had not had a confirmed case of the omicron variant among a Houston resident, said wastewater samples collected Nov. 29-30 showed the variant in eight of the city’s 39 wastewater treatment plants. Two of those sites, Turkey Creek and West District, are west of the Greater Heights near the Energy Corridor.

Harris County Public Health said the woman who tested positive for the omicron variant is in her 40s, fully vaccinated and has not required hospitalization, although she has experienced COVID-19 symptoms.

The health departments for both the city and county encouraged residents to get fully vaccinated if they are not already and also recommended booster shots for those who are eligible, per the latest guidance from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Booster

DR. STEPHANIE FULTON Stephanie Fulton, M.D. 1740 W. 27 St. Suite 301 Houston, TX 77008 713-880-2727 www.fultonobgyn.com Major Hospitals

Memorial Hermann Greater Heights

Photo by Adam Zuvanich Dr. David Persse, the chief medical officer for the City of Houston, speaks about COVID-19 during a March 2020 news conference.

shots can be administered to those who are age 18 and older who have gone at least six months since their second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or two months since the single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Those ages 5 and up are eligible

Memorial Hermann hosting local bike ride, toy drive

to be vaccinated.

For information about free vaccines from the city, visit houstonhealth.org or call 832-393-4220.

Information about free vaccines from the county can be obtained by visting vacstrac.hctx.net or calling 832-927-8787.

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By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Fitness enthusiasts who want to participate in the giving spirit of the holidays can combine both at an event hosted by one of Houston’s largest healthcare providers this weekend.

Memorial Hermann Community Benefits Corporation is hosting a combination bike ride/toy drive this Saturday afternoon to collect toys for families in need during the holiday season. The 3-mile bike ride will begin at T.C. Jester Park (4201 T.C. Jester Blvd.) in Oak Forest, then go north to Highland Park (3400 De Soto St.) in Acres Homes and return to T.C. Jester Park.

Riders can check in beginning at 12:30 p.m., and the ride is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. The registration fee is one new, unwrapped toy. Toy donations will also be accepted at the Highland Park Basketball Pavilion at 3316 De Soto St. from 1-4 p.m. Saturday.

The toys gathered this weekend will be distributed to approximately 50 families in need from the Acres Homes neighborhood at the Highland Park Community Center on Dec. 18, according to Memorial Hermann.

For more information or to register for the bike ride, visit its event page at eventbrite.com/e/highland-park-

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Live your best life 281-886-7888 Graphic from eventbrite.com Pictured above is the route map for the Holiday Bike Ride & Toy Drive to be hosted Saturday afternoon in Oak Forest and Acres Homes by the Memorial Hermann Community Benefits Corporation.

The event aims to collect donated toys that will be distributed Dec. 18 to Acres Homes families in need.

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Page 2B • Saturday, December 11, 2021 • The Leader

Behavior change a holiday gift that keeps giving

By Shana Tatum RD, LD www.shanatatumrd.com

It’s here. The holidays have arrived. Filled with traditions, smells and tastes of past holidays.

Hopefully you’re not one of the many people that started eroding your healthy habits in October when the candy corn showed up! It can be a downward spiral for some.

When you start to get off track with your eating, it feels like permission to just keep making poor choices. Before you know it, you are staring at January with an extra 10 pounds and 30 days you missed at the gym.

No one wants to hear all the nutrition advice about healthy holiday eating. Why would I load up on veggies over a piece of pecan pie, or eat dinner before I go to the party? While these can be helpful and I usually am recommending more veggies to my patients, it simply is not too realistic that you will always pass on the indulgent treats that encircle the holi-

Tatum

day table.

What if instead, we focus on the behavior changes rather than counting calories or grams of fat? It may permit more progress during the festivities.

Make a list, check it twice It has been shown that tracking and self-monitoring leads to weight control during the holiday season in a study

by Baker et al in the Journal of Health Psychology. For

many, tracking food intake in an app like MyFitnessPal or Lose It can be time-consuming and annoying. For others, it can be a helpful tool.

If you record and witness to yourself all foods consumed over the course of a day or week, it may influence a different choice. Consider taking a week or two to log your food into one of these apps and see what you are eating. It may cause you to choose a green tea rather than a cinnamon vanilla frappe or give you the evidence that you are making more of the healthier choices than you think you are.

Run, run Rudolph Sticking to your exercise schedule can also be a way to flex your healthy habits.

Choosing a behavior change like daily active movement may feel an easier way to actively reach your goals.

While you can’t outrun a poor diet, creating consistency with your runs, walks or lifts can set you up for success when you feel like making healthier dietary choices

would be harder. Look for the “low-hanging fruit” when it comes to behavior change.

Starting with something like exercise that can build confidence through discipline may lead to more healthy choices on your plate.

Silent night The wearable device company Whoop recently released data from users that shows sleep patterns rise during the holidays. Analyzing sleep information from over 10 million records suggests that people are using the holidays to “catch up” on rest.

More data show that when we sleep in, it may make sleep more difficult the next night.

Humans are creatures of habit and the circadian rhythm has a strong pull on our biology. Keeping your bedtime routine to no more than one hour off your regular schedule can help. With interrupted sleep comes higher stress hormones like cortisol.

It can raise our craving for quick energy (cue the pecan pie). Review your calendar

Stock photo Calorie-tracking apps can help promote healthy eating habits during the holiday season.

for holiday engagements and plan ahead to honor your sleep schedule as best you can.

Prioritizing your self-care may be challenging during the holidays. The speed of things seems to be moving so fast, the list of to-dos is long, children will soon be out of

school and not to mention we are still in a pandemic.

Keep yourself on Santa’s nice list by honoring your exercise, your sleep and behaviors that exhibit who you are and want to be in the New Year. Happiest holiday wishes to you!

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The Leader • Saturday, December 11, 2021 • Page 3B

Gift ideas for the pets on your list Dear Tabby, We will be buying Christmas gifts for many of our family’s dogs this year. Any tips on choosing the right gifts for each dog?

Secret Santa Shopping in The Heights Dear Secret Santa, It’s the holiday season and with that comes shopping ‘til you’re dropping for all of your two-legged and even four-legged family members.

While it can be daunting to try and find the perfect gift for the humans on your list, it can often feel just as stressful to find gifts for the pets as well.

The good news is that most of the pets on your list will just be excited to be remembered this season, but finding fun, engaging and personalityappropriate gifts for the dogs in your life will make opening gifts on Christmas morning that much more fun.

Here are a few things to consider when shopping for the various dogs on your list.

Consider the pet’s age

Whether you’re shopping for puppies, seniors or middle-aged dogs, there are special toys and treats that will suit each during the various stages of a dog’s life. For instance, the puppies or younger dogs on your list would probably enjoy a teething or chewing toy (as will their pet parents, who are dealing with a “mouthy” puppy). Older dogs might not care much for a chew toy but would really appreciate a nice, supportive new bed or other pet supplies made for the older dog.

What is their activity level?

If you’re buying for highenergy dogs, consider action toys, such as ball launchers or other toys that encourage them to run and burn off steam. Alternatively, a lessactive dog might prefer a cuddly stuffie or treats (perhaps low-calorie).

Who does the dog live with?

If the dog you’re shopping for lives with kids and is active, it might be fun to look into buying a gift for the dog that the whole family can appreciate. Agility sets are a fun way to get the kids involved in exercising a dog, as are hiking supplies, so the whole

family can enjoy the outdoors with the family dog. If a dog on your list lives with a lessactive family or older people, consider a gift that will fit their lifestyle, such as a gift card for a pet-friendly eatery.

What is the owner into?

Since most dogs will love any treat or toy, it might be fun to consider a special interest of the dog owner and get the dog something that reflects that interest. Is the dog owner a huge sports fan?

Find gear with his or her team name for the dog, such as dog jerseys, or toys with the team logo. Because, really? Sometimes pet gifts are more for the human than for the pet, right?

Don’t forget the kitties!

Lastly, cats love gifts, too, so don’t forget to include the kitties in your family this holiday season! The good news is cats don’t need fancy toys.

A bag of catnip, some treats and maybe a feather toy will delight any cat on your shopping list!

Happy shopping and happiest of holidays to you and yours!

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

Pet of the Week Fetch your Leader

Meet Teddy This 5-year-old chocolate charmer with soulful eyes is hoping for a new home for Christmas. Teddy arrived to rescue in rough shape, but he’s now on the road to recovery and learning to love and trust. Teddy loves going on walks and learning new tricks.

He can be shy at first but warms up quickly once he knows he’s safe.

Teddy has a sweet personality and just needs a lucky break to start his new beginning. To learn more, go to www.friends4life.org.

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Page 4B • Saturday, December 11, 2021 • The Leader

Music, magic take center stage at ‘Trail Mix’

By Stefan Modrich smodrich@mcelvypartners.com

It isn’t always easy to find quality entertainment for young children — especially when said entertainment is free.

If you’re looking for something engaging and educational for your little ones, Andrew Karnavas, Dave Rangel and Jake Rangel may provide what you need.

Karnavas, who performs under the moniker Andyroo, has created a niche for himself with fun and educational programs for kids. His latest album “Roocycle” is part of the “Andyrooniverse” where his five other albums reside, a collection of stories and experiences that is likely as inspiring for children as it is nostalgic for their parents.

Dave and Jake Rangel are a father-son magician team performing with a group called Curiously Enough.

The three have been collaborating at a first-Saturdayof-the-month outdoor variety show called “Trail Mix” at the M-K-T development, 600 N. Shepherd Drive. I tagged along for their most recent event, held last Saturday, Dec. 4.

Mendocino Farms sold boxed lunches and Union Stu-

GOOFy GETTING

in the

Stefan Modrich

GREATER HEIGHTS See related video at

theleadernews.com dio Yoga provided crafts for kids.

Dave and Jake performed several illusions and sleight-ofhand tricks, turning a French flag into an American flag and making fake snakes jump out at unsuspecting children.

Karnavas’ interactive, calland-response style, warmth and enthusiasm seemed to resonate with parents and their toddlers, many of whom danced excitedly to his music, which encourages literacy and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) proficiency through songs like “R-E-A-D” and “Reduce Reuse Recycle.”

But others such as “Playground Dreams” and “Hopscotch” encourage kids to keep their imaginations active outside the classroom as well.

Rachel Tate and her son, 3, live within walking distance of M-K-T. “I really liked how (Karnavas) engaged with the kids and asked them to participate,” Tate said. “(My son) was really enjoying the clapping and the marching. It was our first time, actually. I definitely think we’ll be back because he had so much fun.”

Svetang and Diana Desai, a Bellaire couple, said it was also their first time attending a Trail Mix event. Their daughter Serena, 7, and son Shawn, 5, said they enjoyed the music and magic show.

“We came up here for a haircut and we stayed,” Svetang said. “So we had a great time.

This is a really nice environment.”

Karnavas said Trail Mix will take New Year’s Day off and return from 10-11:30 a.m. Feb. 5.

For more information, visit andyrooniverse.com and rangelmagic.com.

Photo by Stefan Modrich Andrew Karnavas performs Dec. 4 during “Trail Mix,” an outdoor music and magic variety show for children that is held on the first Saturday of every month at the M-K-T development, 600 N. Shepherd Drive.

Lewis, McDermott pace Booker T. Washington hoops

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

On the heels of a third consecutive playoff appearance and with leading scorer Kenneth Lewis returning from last season, the Booker T. Washington High School boys basketball team looked primed for another solid campaign.

At least so far, the Golden Eagles appear to be following through on that potential. Led by Lewis and forward Chris McDermott, the Golden Eagles went 2-0 with wins over District 23-4A foes Kashmere and Furr last week. They also beat Clear Lake 72-62 on Tuesday to run their record to 5-1 on the young season.

Lewis poured in a seasonhigh 48 points to go along with seven rebounds in the Golden Eagles’ 93-52 victory over Kashmere on Nov. 30, then followed up with 23 points and five rebounds in a 63-56 win over Furr on Dec. 3 and 27 points against Clear Lake on Tuesday. McDermott had 19 points, 23 rebounds and three blocks against Kashmere, followed by a 17-point, 21-rebound performance against Furr.

Lewis (28.3 points per game) and McDermott (21.8) are two of the state’s top five scorers in the Class 4A classification so far this season, according to MaxPreps, while McDermott leads the pack with 15.2 rebounds and

is third in 4A with 2.8 blocks per game.

The Scarborough Spartans fell to 0-7 following losses to Houston Worthing and Yates last week, while the Waltrip Rams were 2-5 following tournament losses to Bryan, Klein Cain and Cleveland.

Heights started off last week with a 69-55 victory over Sharpstown, but dropped consecutive games to Texas City (46-26) on Dec. 2 and Clear Creek (6849) on Dec. 3 to fall to 3-4.

In private school action, the St. Pius X Panthers split a pair of games at the Mustang Classic on Dec. 2, taking down HYCA Homeschool Academy 52-45 in overtime before losing 56-52 to Fort Bend Christian Academy. They are 4-4.

Lutheran High North moved to 11-1 with an 8158 victory over Houston Homeschool Academy on Dec. 3 and a 76-65 win over Alpha Omega Academy on Tuesday.

St. Thomas dropped to 3-3 on the season following a 55-54 loss to Kinkaid on Tuesday.

Girls Sophomore Zachara Perkins led three St. Pius X Lady Panthers in double figures during their 59-25 win over St. John’s on Nov. 30 with 21 points and 10 rebounds, while Mila Rossini had 15 points and Erica D’Souza had 11. Perkins had

another double-double for the Lady Panthers (10-1) in a 56-34 win over Booker T. Washington on Dec. 2 with 25 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks.

Lutheran High North dropped its only game last week, a 60-54 overtime loss to the Village School, which entered the game as the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches’ eighth-ranked team in TAPPS 6A. Dalanna Carter had 24 points and 11 rebounds for the Lady Lions (7-5), who are ranked first in TAPPS 3A, while Jade Miller had 13 points. Lauren Vela added seven rebounds and three blocked shots.

In public school action, Janiya Johnson paced the Heights Lady Bulldogs with 21 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in a 68-64 loss to Pasadena Memorial on Nov. 30. Tatianna Brown had 17 points to go along with seven rebounds and six steals.

The Booker T. Washington Lady Eagles split a pair of games last week, losing 56-34 to St. Pius X on Dec. 2 and beating Scarborough 83-4 on Dec. 3.

Waltrip’s Lady Rams were 3-5 on the season after winning via forfeit against Scarborough on Nov. 30 and dropping a 48-15 decision to Northside on Dec. 3. Scarborough is 0-3 following the forfeit and loss to Washington.

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Photo from Twitter Booker T. Washington guard Kenneth Lewis, left, drives to the basket during a game last season. Lewis averaged nearly 33 points per game last week as the Golden Eagles won all three of their games.

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