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Local homeless encampments ‘decommissioned’ By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
A man named Joe used to reside in a makeshift shack under the U.S. 290 overpass at West 34th Street. The two-tiered structure was assembled with scraps of wood, cardboard and plastic tarp, among other materials, and was accompanied by belongings such as cleaning supplies, backpacks, lawn chairs and ice chests. There also was an American flag that had been erected nearby.
There were no signs of any of that late Tuesday afternoon, or of any homeless people, for that matter. Joe had accepted an offer to be housed in an apartment and was staying temporarily in a hotel, at no cost to him, according to Marc Eichenbaum, a special assistant to Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner who works on initiatives to assist the homeless. The encampment at 290 and 34th Street was “decommissioned” in early November as part of a joint effort by the city, Harris County and Coalition
for the Homeless, among other organizations, to reduce the region’s homeless population – and their strain on taxpayerfunded government services – by placing them in permanent housing and cleaning up the sites where they used to stay. “It’s the most effective way of solving the issue,” Eichenbaum said. “Everyone else just moves the homeless onto the next corner or further into neighPhoto by Adam Zuvanich borhoods. We’re interested in Al Walker, a homeless man who was sitting at the interseccompletely transitioning them tion of U.S. 290 and Bingle Road on Tuesday, said he would See Homeless P. 5A
like to connect with outreach teams that recently offered permanent housing to homeless people in the area.
THE LEADER. Farewell, friend GUIDE 46th Annual
2021
This year’s edition of ‘The Guide’ coming later this month
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INSIDE.
By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
It takes a village. Mitch Cohen thanks the people who help make his art markets a success.
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Contributed photo Bob, the former stray dog who roamed the streets of local neighborhoods such as Garden Oaks and Oak Forest, died Nov. 24. He spent the last seven months of his life at the home of Shepherd Park Terrace resident Paige Whitton Carter, a volunteer with Cypress Lucky Mutts Rescue.
No monkeying around. Have you been to Monkey’s Tail? If not, you probably should.
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Funny times. Stefan Modrich checked out open mic comedy night at Dan Electro’s Bar.
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Former neighborhood stray passes away By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com When she first started seeing the black Labrador with white chest markings and a lopped-off tail roaming around her neighborhood, in 2015, Linda Sparks did not think much about the dog or his lot in life. It was “kind of a game,” she said, to keep tabs on where the stray was at and who was interacting with him. But Sparks, a 78-year-old Exxon reSee related tiree who lives in Garden Oaks, evencolumn by Linda tually developed a serious relationship Sparks with the skittish dog who became known as “Bob” among area residents. Page 3A She gave him food, water and also shelter at times, letting him sleep on her front porch, and left out medicine for him as well. And when Bob’s regular presence became unwanted by some of her neighbors, Sparks said she ran interference for him to make sure he stayed safe and could continue to roam freely. Bob still ended up being darted and captured by animal control in late April, at the request of another resident, and at that point Sparks helped ensure he would be placed with an animal rescuer instead of being put down. Contributed photo Now that Bob has gone to doggie heaven, having died Garden Oaks resident Linda Sparks feeds a treat to Bob, the Nov. 24 at the estimated age of 11, his ashes and paw print dog she looked after and cared for while he spent about six See Bob P. 5A
Tournament triumphs. Two local girls basketball teams fared well at recent tournaments.
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Local foodie entrepreneurs showcase love of craft By Stefan Modrich
THE INDEX. Church....................................................... 5A Classifieds.............................................. 5B Coupons................................................... 6A Food/Drink............................................. 7A Obituaries............................................... 5A Opinion..................................................... 3A Public Information......................... 8A Puzzles...................................................... 3A Sports......................................................... 7B
years as a stray in the area.
We at The Leader distribute newspapers every week. One of our favorite publications to put together comes out once per year, and that time is fast approaching. The Guide, our annual comprehensive account of life in the Heights, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest and other neighborhoods of North and Northwest Houston, will be included with the Dec. 18 edition of The Leader. And as usual, it will touch on all corners of the community and its wide array of businesses, services, activities and fun things to do. Covering topics such as commercial and residential development, infrastructure, education, recreation, religion, healthcare, the arts and the area’s vibrant restaurant-and-bar scene, we’ll tell you what has emerged and changed during the last year along with what has remained the same. It’s an exhaustive effort on our part, but it’s also enjoyable. We want you, our dear readers, to be as informed as possible while taking full advantage of the opportunities offered within our local neighborhoods. There is no shortage of them. And that makes The Guide a great, well, guide to those who are new to the area. We like to think of it as a welcoming gift of sorts, because it will tell you just about everything you need to know about living and working in what we think is the best part of Houston. And even if you’ve been around these parts for decades, you can still find value in The Guide, because the area is ever-growing and evolving and new places to eat, play, pray and do business are cropping up all the time. And if you’re a local business owner looking to reach new customers, The Guide is a great place to advertise, and there are still spots available. Call 713-371-3533 or email fvasquez@ mcelvypartners.com to inquire about being included in this year’s edition. We’re looking forward to Dec. 18 and hope you are, too.
smodrich@mcelvypartners.com
Maryland native Lavinia Doan has always loved sushi. But it took a stint in the Southwest during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic last year for the Sawyer Yards resident to discover she had a knack for making the popular rolled Japanese dish. “I was working in oil and gas when I first moved to Houston (in 2018),” Doan said. “I was on a rotational assignment that took me to the middle of nowhere New
Mexico. The restaurant scene there, it’s not great. There are no sushi restaurants there. I was there for about a year and I just missed sushi so much that I got the ingredients together and had sushi-making parties at the apartment complex we lived at.” Doan is not the only foodie entrepreneur in the area. Another is Heights resident Alec Williams, who has an upstart homemade salsa business called Aljo’s Salsa. Williams has been relying on social media and local farmers markets to sell his salsa, and he
aspires to open a food truck. “Around here, people love homemade goods, especially when everything’s bought locally,” Williams said. Doan, the daughter of Vietnamese immigrants, considers herself a major foodie and is something of an expert traveler, having visited 32 countries. She usually stays in Airbnbs when traveling. Another feature the Airbnb app offers is the opportunity to partake in “experiences” to help tourists looking for activities to do while exploring See Foodies P. 7A
Contributed photo Lavinia Doan, right, leads a sushi-making class in her Sawyer Yards apartment. Doan has been listing her classes online through Airbnb Experiences.
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THE TOPICS. The Leader • Saturday, December 4, 2021 • Page 3A
A dog named Bob became an urban legend By Linda Sparks For The Leader
Editor’s note: This is a guest column written by Linda Sparks, the Garden Oaks resident who looked after the stray dog named Bob since he began appearing in the area in 2015. Bob, who had been in the care of a local animal rescuer since late April, died Nov. 24 at the estimated age of 11.
S
ome things just happen. Nothing forecasted or planned. You look up one day and think, “When did this start? When did Bob become a legend?” He and a companion somehow made it to Alba and Sue Barnett where they decided to camp in Stephanie Acosta’s yard. In fact, they Linda Sparks stayed there long enough for Stephanie to name him Bob! That is at the end of my block. I noticed them a bit, and then the ladies who trap (they may lunch, too) captured Bob’s first companion and he was on his own -- a state he was to drift in and out of for the
six or so years I tailed him around. Avoiding traps was Bob’s real expertise and any efforts to contain him were futile. I heard more than once, “I have him in my backyard,” only to find that he was gone within minutes. He could dig and was fast. He could climb and was fast. One man snared him and let him loose quickly! I started to put snacks out for him and then I didn’t see him for awhile. I think almost three weeks passed and I was at my computer one morning before daylight. I looked out the window to see Bob standing at the edge of my porch. I was astounded that he had returned. And he returned time and again to Sue Barnett until the last year of his life, when he found his final companion and stayed parked at the scrap yard north of Pinemont. In the six years I tailed Bob around, I saw him as far east as the Barbecue Inn (Crosstimbers and Yale) and the fringes of Acres Homes to the north. Bob is the reason I got to know somewhat how social media works up here. As Bob’s fame grew, he was on radar the moment he crossed Pinemont! He was all over Oak Forest, but never, to my knowledge, west of T.C. Jester. He got around Garden Oaks, Shepherd Park Plaza and Ella Lee Forest. He traveled the train track to the south but didn’t go as
Contributed photo Bob sometimes wore pajamas at the Shepherd Park Terrace home where he spent the last seven months of his life.
far as other strays do. It was as if he had his own imposed limits. Only one time did I lose track of him and that was after Hurricane Harvey. I knew he had made it through Harvey, but shortly after that no Bob for three months! I drove around in all the old places, but no Bob. I never quite gave up hope because of the adventure to date. One morning a post on Facebook mentioned a cold-looking lab on Creekmont with a picture. I studied it and thought the chest markings were Bob’s! I rushed over there and, indeed, it was Bob. He had returned to what he knew because winter was coming. All the folks around there treated his
return like it was a big event! They stopped me and said, “Your dog is back.” One lady came out and asked, “Is that Bob?” I never lost track of him again. As with all legends, some of it is true and some of it is not. He had his following that even likened him to a unicorn! His critics were not nearly as whimsical and thought he should be picked up. I never knew one case of his hurting anyone or anything. Does that mean he should have run loose? I know it is against the law, but then so are firecrackers, running stop signs, speeding, building fires in your backyard (I saw this once) and other assorted rule ignoring or bending. Bob, obviously, with his Urban Legend tag gave us something. There have been 200-plus hits on the Facebook post announcing his death and only sorrow at his passing. We like survivors! Even if it comes in the form of a tailless, not particularly beautiful mutt. This has been an adventure I could never have imagined. I learned a lot because of Bob: How to doctor without ever touching the patient. The distance of just about everywhere within 5-plus miles of my house and how to get there in a hurry. The names of trappers, rescuers, rescue groups. Who you can rely on and who you can’t. How to raise money for animals.
Cruz (out of) control THE TV – “Saturday Night Live” is on. They usually have a good thrashing of current affairs. Ah, here comes the opening skit. It’s “Sesame Street” with the same-looking set, but wait, that guy seems awfully familiar, standing there -- sneaky eyes, short beard. Good grief. It’s Texas’ own U.S. senator, Ted Cruz! What unfolds next is a complete skit – not just a snarky mention on “Weekend Update” – with Cruz taking on Big Bird. But first, in case you were putting up “Beto for Guv” signs – or tearing them down -- and missed the background, here’s the bit: Big Bird, beloved face of “Sesame Street,” said that he/she/it had received the COVID-19 vaccine. “My wing is feeling a little sore, but it’ll give my body an extra protective boost that keeps me and others healthy. (CNN reporter) Erica Hill even said I’ve been getting vaccines since I was a little bird. I had no idea!” What? Urging children to get vaccinated so they won’t die of COVID-19? Them’s fighting words for the Texas Republican senator who leaped into action, tweeting: “Government propaganda... for your 5 year old!” As you can imagine, everyone took sides. (These days we always do.) The panel on “Fox & Friends” defended Cruz, and Lisa Boothe, a Fox News contributor, said “brainwashing children who are not at risk from COVID” was “twisted.” Steve Cortes, a host on the conservative Newsmax network, said, “This kind of propaganda is actually evil. Your children are not statistically at risk, and should not be pressured into a brand new treatment. Do Not Comply!” Across the aisle, those on “The View” took Big Bird’s side. Hillary Clinton posted a photo of her alongside Big Bird. Her caption read, “It’s a bird that teaches children things. Like how to stay healthy. That’s it.” Mary Trump, former President Donald Trump’s niece and one of his fiercest critics, wrote on Twitter: “Big Bird is kind, compassionate, empathetic, loving, adored, and vaccinated. Ted Cruz is . . . vaccinated.” But the late-night comics had the best time. Seth Meyers and Stephen Colbert joked about Cruz night after night. “Big Bird doesn’t fly south in the winter, unlike Ted Cruz.” Jimmy Kimmel observed: “The latest thing that the anti-cancel crowd wants to cancel is ‘Sesame Street.’” Even late-night comics in Canada made Cruz their punching bag. Then came the opening salvo from “Saturday Night Live.” In the skit, “Cruz” hosts “Cruz Street.”
Lynn Ashby Columnist
The senator is joined in the sketch by several guests — including actors playing that loose cannon from Georgia, Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, and podcast host Joe Rogan. The reallife Greene and Rogan have both pushed misinformation about the virus and vaccine. Big Bird himself, played by Kyle Mooney, also makes an appearance, telling the senator that he has suffered embarrassing side-effects after his vaccination. Cruz recommends he bathe in Borax. Now why would “the senator from Texas” (he’s always introduced that way before the insults) take on an 8-foot, 2-inch yellow bird who has been entertaining and educating children since the 1970s but is perpetually six-and-a-half-years-old? His tweet came less than a week after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended Pfizer’s pediatric vaccine for children ages 5-11. What does Dr. Cruz know that Dr. Fauci doesn’t know? What a humiliation for the Lone Star State. Let’s take a look at our junior senator. He is Texas’ first and only foreign-born senator who, until it was made public during his first race for the Senate, maintained dual citizenship in both the U.S. and Canada. Indeed, he could just as easily run for a seat in the Canadian Parliament. Before he was elected to the Senate most Texans had never heard of him. He had served as Solicitor General of Texas from 2003 to 2008. (Quick question: who is the current Solicitor General of Texas?) In the senate, he soon made a name for himself – names I cannot print. South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, a fellow Republican, said, “If you killed Ted Cruz on the floor of the Senate, and the trial was in the Senate, nobody would convict you.” In an effort to kill Obamacare, Cruz talked on the Senate floor for 21 hours and 19 minutes, one of the longest in Senate history — three hours shy of Sen. Strom Thurmond’s 1957 record, and just short of New York Republican Alfonse D’Amato’s 1986 talkathon when he railed against a defense bill for 23-plus hours. To while away his hours, “the senator from Texas” read from “Green Eggs & Ham” by Dr. Seuss. Later, he sold signed copies of
the book and announced, “We’ve raised $125K in just 24 hours!” If all buyers gave the minimum $60 donation, which was the deal, Cruz would have signed more than 2,000 copies. And talk about politics making strange bedfellows – or pure opportunism – during the GOP presidential primaries, Cruz said, “Donald Trump is a pathological liar.” After Trump ridiculed Cruz’s wife’s looks, Cruz said: “I don’t get angry often. But you mess with my wife, you mess with my kids, that’ll do it every time. Donald, you’re a sniveling coward.” Trump about Cruz’s father: “What was he doing with Lee Harvey Oswald shortly before the death? Before the shooting? It’s horrible.” After Trump got the
nomination, they had dinner together and called it a “love feast.” In Cruz’s last run for the Senate in 2018, he received 4,260,535 votes to Beto Rourke’s 4,045,632. (Neal Dikeman, the Libertarian candidate, got 65,470.) That’s a difference of – wait, math is not my strongest suit – 214,921 votes. It was the narrowest U.S. Senate race since Sam Houston beat Thomas Jefferson Rusk in 1845, I think. (I’m not real good at history, either.) No, actually it was the closest U.S. Senate race in Texas since 1978. Those 4,260,535 Texans who voted for Cruz owe the rest of us an apology.
The names of all the businesses on Creekmont and many people that work there and how animalfriendly most of them are. And, I learned the misery of dogs on the street, but how resilient they can be in spite of it all. Those that get a guardian angel(s) are lucky. Was Bob really one of them? I leave that for you to determine. In spite of the care and help he received, Bob is the real hero in this story. He was smart beyond anything I have seen in the dog world. He didn’t even eat fast foods! He liked dog food! I almost tamed him with Cesar canned food. He crossed busy streets at the lights and learned how to navigate the streets with no lights. He learned to move out of my front yard when the kids came home from school by my just pointing and telling him to go down to the end of the block. He sensed the weather changes and moved before they occurred. And most importantly he deferred to other dogs, even letting them eat first. He loved a buddy and was lonely when he did not have one. Like most of us. “Where is Bob?” the mail carrier (remember when we used to have the same ones all the time?) asked me one afternoon when Bob was out and about. My answer was then and it certainly is now -- God knows!
THE READER. As usual here we go again ... Dear Editor: I just read the November 20 editorial on the Travis Scott concert, and just like the other media out there, it implies that this debacle was held on the actual grounds that Astroworld sat on. If you would do your job as a journalist, you’d learn that this happened in the parking lot of NRG stadium right across the freeway. You would also learn that this show has absolutely nothing to do with Astroworld other than to now tarnish the name of a Houston institution we all love. If you investigate the nature of the show, you’d learn that there is not one word about the Astroworld theme park uttered any time in the show. O there are words uttered all right, but not fit for public reading. Scott is just using this name to get people in the gate, I thought at first glance this was a light hearted celebration of our fun times there, but it a vulgar noise feat that whips people up into craziness, and now here we are.I hope these people are enjoying the millions they made from this, is it a fundraiser to build another Astroworld like facility? No chance of that! Will the millions he made go to help save the Astrodome? No chance of that! Maybe this will wake people up and make people think about their actions. Whatever happened to “maybe i shouldn’t do that “? or “maybe i’d better wait, that doesn’t seem right”? Maybe this will put concerts in a stadium where they belong, where people can SIT DOWN and be controlled! Christopher Daigle Email us your letters: news@theleadernews.com
Ashby reads “Green Eggs & Ham” at ashby2@comcast.net
the leader Puzzlers. Answers found in this week’s Classified section
SUDOKU
aCrOss
1. Actor Damon 5. Resort 8. Low continuous tones 11. Cape Verde capital 13. Abbreviation for clean 14. Shoe retailer 15. Dashery 16. Head covering 17. Canadian flyers 18. A plant fiber used for making rope 20. Prime Minister __ Hirobumi 21. Hani 22. Nonexistences 25. Mexican victory holiday 30. Avowed 31. Ref 32. 2013 Philip. volcano eruption 33. Beard lichen genus 38. Tennis player organization 41. More saline 43. New York City 45. A shipÕs cheapest fare 47. A winglike part 49. At the stern 50. Oral polio vaccine
55. Tatouhou 56. In addition 57. Baltic flat-bottomed boat (alt. sp.) 59. Search for 60. Gray sea eagle 61. Music timings 62. Make a mistake 63. Root mean square (abbr.) 64. Sleeveless Arab garments
dOwn
1. Speedometer rate 2. Turkish/Iranian river 3. Japanese socks 4. Drawstrings 5. Formal separation over doctrine 6. Tableland 7. Word with opposite meaning 8. Cabs 9. 45th state 10. Matakam 12. Macaws 14. Scottish hillside 19. Load for shipment 23. Sleeping place 24. Linking verb 25. Br. University punting river
26. Marsh elder 27. Horse noise 28. Contract research organization (abbr.) 29. Excessively ornamented 34. Engine additive 35. Small bite 36. Snakelike fish 37. They __ 39. Performance arena 40. Enact before an audience 41. Special interest group 42. Grows old 44. ConductorÕs implements 45. A heavy cavalry sword 46. Tropical shipÕs wood 47. A domed or vaulted recess 48. Lascivious look 51. Mentally quick and resourceful 52. La __ Tar Pits, Hollywood 53. Unstressedstressed 54. Celery cabbage 58. Wrong prefix
WORD SCRAMBLE
Page 4A • Saturday, December 4, 2021 • The Leader
TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
EXAMPLE A NOTICE OF RECEIPT OF APPLICATION AND INTENT TO OBTAIN AIR PERMIT RENEWAL PERMIT NUMBER 9630 APPLICATION Martin Marietta Materials Southwest, LLC, has applied to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for renewal of Air Quality Permit Number 9630, which would authorize continued operation of a Bulk Material Handling Operations located at 11913 Farm to Market 529 Road, Houston, Harris County, Texas 77041. This link to an electronic map of the site or facility's general location is provided as a public courtesy and not part of the application or notice. For exact location, refer to application. http://www.tceq.texas.gov/assets/public/hb610/index.html?lat=29.875029&lng=-95.58485&zoom=13&type=r. The existing facility is authorized to emit the following air contaminants: particulate matter including particulate matter with diameters of 10 microns or less and 2.5 microns or less. This application was submitted to the TCEQ on November 12, 2021. The application will be available for viewing and copying at the TCEQ central office, TCEQ Houston regional office, and the Fairbanks Library, 7122 Gessner Road, Houston, Harris County, Texas beginning the first day of publication of this notice. The facility’s compliance file, if any exists, is available for public review in the Houston regional office of the TCEQ. The executive director has determined the application is administratively complete and will conduct a technical review of the application. Information in the application indicates that this permit renewal would not result in an increase in allowable emissions and would not result in the emission of an air contaminant not previously emitted. The TCEQ may act on this application without seeking further public comment or providing an opportunity for a contested case hearing if certain criteria are met. PUBLIC COMMENT You may submit public comments, or a request for a contested case hearing to the Office of the Chief Clerk at the address below. The TCEQ will consider all public comments in developing a final decision on the application. The deadline to submit public comments is 15 days after newspaper notice is published. After the deadline for public comments, the executive director will prepare a response to all relevant and material, or significant public comments. Issues such as property values, noise, traffic safety, and zoning are outside of the TCEQ’s jurisdiction to address in the permit process. After the technical review is complete the executive director will consider the comments and prepare a response to all relevant and material, or significant public comments. If only comments are received, the response to comments, along with the executive director’s decision on the application, will then be mailed to everyone who submitted public comments or who is on the mailing list for this application, unless the application is directly referred to a contested case hearing. OPPORTUNITY FOR A CONTESTED CASE HEARING You may request a contested case hearing. The applicant or the executive director may also request that the application be directly referred to a contested case hearing after technical review of the application. A contested case hearing is a legal proceeding similar to a civil trial in state district court. Unless a written request for a contested case hearing is filed within 15 days from this notice, the executive director may act on the application. If no hearing request is received within this 15 day period, no further opportunity for hearing will be provided. According to the Texas Clean Air Act § 382.056(o) a contested case hearing may only be granted if the applicant’s compliance history is in the lowest classification under applicable compliance history requirements and if the hearing request is based on disputed issues of fact that are relevant and material to the Commission’s decision on the application. Further, the Commission may only grant a hearing on those issues submitted during the public comment period and not withdrawn. A person who may be affected by emissions of air contaminants from the facility is entitled to request a hearing. If requesting a contested case hearing, you must submit the following: (1) your name (or for a group or association, an official representative), mailing address, daytime phone number; (2) applicant’s name and permit number; (3) the statement “[I/we] request a contested case hearing;” (4) a specific description of how you would be adversely affected by the application and air emissions from the facility in a way not common to the general public; (5) the location and distance of your property relative to the facility; (6) a description of how you use the property which may be impacted by the facility; and (7) a list of all disputed issues of fact that you submit during the comment period. If the request is made by a group or association, one or more members who have standing to request a hearing must be identified by name and physical address. The interests the group or association seeks to protect must also be identified. You may also submit your proposed adjustments to the application/permit which would satisfy your concerns. Requests for a contested case hearing must be submitted in writing within 15 days following this notice to the Office of the Chief Clerk at the address below. If any requests for a contested case hearing are timely filed, the Executive Director will forward the application and any requests for a contested case hearing to the Commissioners for their consideration at a scheduled Commission meeting. Unless the application is directly referred to a contested case hearing, the executive director will mail the response to comments along with notification of Commission meeting to everyone who submitted comments or is on the mailing list for this application. The Commission may only grant a request for a contested case hearing on issues the requestor submitted in their timely comments that were not subsequently withdrawn. If a hearing is granted, the subject of a hearing will be limited to disputed issues of fact or mixed questions of fact and law relating to relevant and material air quality concerns submitted during the comment period. Issues such as property values, noise, traffic safety, and zoning are outside of the Commission’s jurisdiction to address in this proceeding. MAILING LIST In addition to submitting public comments, you may ask to be placed on a mailing list for this application by sending a request to the Office of the Chief Clerk at the address below. Those on the mailing list will receive copies of future public notices (if any) mailed by the Office of the Chief Clerk for this application. AGENCY CONTACTS AND INFORMATION Public comments and requests must be submitted either electronically at www14.tceq.texas.gov/epic/eComment/, or in writing to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Office of the Chief Clerk, MC-105, P.O. Box 13087, Austin, Texas 78711-3087. Please be aware that any contact information you provide, including your name, phone number, email address and physical address will become part of the agency’s public record. For more information about this permit application or the permitting process, please call the Public Education Program toll free at 1-800-687-4040. Si desea información en Español, puede llamar al 1-800-687-4040. Further information may also be obtained from Martin Marietta Materials Southwest, LLC, 1503 LBJ Freeway, Dallas, Texas 75234-6059 or by calling Ms. Alexandra Arboleda, Environmental Engineer II, Martin Marietta at (281) 441-6865. Notice Issuance Date: November 12, 2021
The Leader • Saturday, December 4, 2021 • Page 5A
Homeless, from P. 1A off the streets so that our outreach teams, our solid waste teams, our first responders no longer have to serve that person.” Other homeless encampments under 290, between Loop 610 and Beltway 8, also were decommissioned last month, as were encampments under the North Loop, including at its intersection with Ella Boulevard. They are among 10 sites across Houston that have been decommissioned since 2018, with eight of those having been decommissioned this year as part of the Community COVID-19 Housing Program (CCHP). It’s a $65 million, two-year initiative funded largely by federal COVID relief dollars received and allocated by the city and county. Eichenbaum and Ana Rausch, the vice president of program operations for the local nonprofit Coalition for the Homeless, said the decommissioning effort is the first of its kind in the United States and is providing a blueprint for combatting homelessness for cities across the country. They also said a recent study by Harris County showed that providing housing for the homeless comes at about a quarter of the cost to taxpayers as leaving them on the streets, where they may enter the jail system or require emergency healthcare, shelter services and cleanup services. Rausch said the encampment decommissioning initiative has housed a total of 134 people who previously
Work in progress Rausch said getting someone from a homeless encampment to an apartment is a 4-6 week process that involves landlords and landlord engagement teams, homeless shelters, METRO, the city’s Solid Waste Management Department, the Texas Department of Transportation, the Houston Police Department and Harris County Sheriff’s Office, among others. She said the Houston Humane Society also is a partner, having offered to house homeless people’s pets while they transition from the streets to an apartment.
Encampments are identified and prioritized based on a variety of factors, Rausch said, such as population, location, the presence of structures and criminal activity along with public safety and health hazards. People living at those encampments are offered the opportunity to receive housing and subsequent support services at no cost and, if they agree, they are registered, vetted and either placed directly into an apartment or at a temporary “navigation center,” which for now is a hotel along 290, Rausch said. She said the majority have accepted the offer, and if they decline, outreach teams continue to try engaging them until the encampment is decommissioned, at which point they are asked to relocate. “Having alternative housing is key,” Eichenbaum said. “We can’t decommission encampments without places for those people to go.” Eichenbaum said city and county law enforcement monitors decommissioned encampments to help ensure they do not re-emerge, with a focus on discouraging the presence of structures and personal property. But they cannot physically force the homeless to leave, since it is legal for them to be on public property. A survey of the local decommissioned sites along 290 and 610 late Tuesday afternoon revealed that some homeless people had returned to those areas, al-
suffering, so the decision was made to have him put down. “It’s devastating that it happened, especially the way it happened,” Carter said. “At the same time, there’s comfort in knowing he was treated very well and he had a routine with consistency and medicine and food and attention. He wasn’t hit by a car or shot or attacked by another dog on the streets.” Sparks echoed that sentiment, saying she was glad Bob had a loving home and developed a trustful bond with Jason Carter, with whom the dog liked to cozy up on the couch and get ear scratches. Paige said they also took Bob on occasional walks, and he liked to spend time sunbathing in their backyard. When the Carters kept Bob inside, Paige said he liked to snack on pizza crust, follow the lead of their other dogs – including a series of foster dogs that came and went – and sleep in a soft dog bed placed near the front window so he could look outside. Bob also got periodic visits from a groomer. “He did not have an aggressive bone in his body,” Paige said. “That dog was afraid of his own shadow.” Along those lines, Paige said the dog who could hardly allow himself to be touched by Sparks or any other local residents during his time as a stray remained skittish, quirky and largely on the periphery during his time with the Carters. She said Bob “tolerated” being petted as opposed to being
fond of that type of affection, and he was especially fearful of stormy weather. The Carters now jokingly use the word “Bob” as a verb to describe strange behavior they encounter, Paige said, and they gave him the nickname “Pez Dispenser” because of his habit of pooping on the spot anytime he got scared by something. “We didn’t know what happened in his prior life,” she said. “While we always wanted him to turn around and flip the switch and be this happy, normal dog, that wasn’t in the cards, unfortunately. I think he was happy in his own way, not necessarily in a way that we humans perceive dogs to be happy.” Sparks said Bob was “like a unicorn” in the way he popped in and out of the area during his time as a stray and endeared himself to many local residents, who also provided food and water for Bob and posted photos of him on social media when they saw him lounging in their front yard or trotting down their street. She also described Bob as resilient, resourceful and intelligent, having avoided several attempts to trap him over the years. Sparks said she barely ever touched Bob, who would only come so close to her, but they still developed a bond and had a mutually beneficial relationship. “I did plenty for him and spent plenty of money,” Sparks said. “I had people give me antibiotics from Mexico. I
were homeless, with another 55 or so in the process of being housed, pending the availability of an apartment. More than 3,800 homeless people in Houston have been housed since October 2020 as part of the broader CCHP initiative, according to Rausch. “The outreach that we provide is really about meeting the needs of the community and making sure we connect everyone that’s living unsheltered to housing,” Rausch said. “When we were envisioning CCHP and creating that $65 million program, we knew addressing unsheltered homelessness had to be a piece of that $65 million and put in funding for additional outreach. We knew this was going to be an extraordinary opportunity to really make a dent in our unsheltered homeless population, because we had so much housing come down the pipeline.”
Contributed photo The makeshift shelter that was located on West 34th Street under the U.S. 290 overpass is no longer there, because the man who was staying there is in the process of moving into an apartment through the Community COVID-19 Housing Program.
though their presence and that of their belongings was sparse. “You may notice a few structures still at these locations, and that is still being addressed by homeless outreach teams,” Houston City Council member Amy Peck, whose District A includes the decommissioned sites along 290, wrote in a Nov. 17 email to constituents. “… Please keep in mind that this is a new program, and it might take a little bit of time to work out some issues going forward.” And the effort to house the homeless along 290 did not reach every homeless person who wants to accept the offer of housing. Al Walker, who was asking for food money while sitting at the intersection of 290 and Bingle Road
late Tuesday afternoon, said he had heard about the initiative and was hoping to connect with those doing outreach in the area. Rausch said outreach teams will continue to monitor those locations. Eichenbaum said there are hundreds of other encampments across the city, and the initiative will “get to all of them in due time,” although it’s still being determined which sites will be decommissioned next. In the meantime, at least one local resident is appre-
ciative of the effort that has been made so far. Timbergrove resident Mike Kuchar, who is originally from Detroit, said homelessness is more widespread there, and now it’s a little less widespread in Houston. “It doesn’t bother me, seeing a couple here and there,” Kuchar said. “It doesn’t look very good, but I don’t feel like you need to kick them off the streets and all. If you put them in housing, that’s better.”
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Bob, from P. 1A will remain with the woman who was his biggest advocate, staunchest protector and perhaps the closest thing he ever had to an owner. “I loved him,” Sparks said. “The last time I saw him, he was outside (in a backyard). I said, ‘Hi, Bob,’ and he just wagged his tail.” Sparks visited Bob a few times after he was taken in by Shepherd Park Terrace resident Paige Whitton Carter, a volunteer with Cypress Lucky Mutts Rescue who took possession of him in late April after he was picked up by BARC, Houston’s animal shelter and adoption center. Carter said she and her husband, Jason, had committed to keeping Bob as part of their multi-dog family because his general aversion to humans made him unadoptable. The Carters were in the process of moving to another nearby house during Thanksgiving week and left their four dogs, including Bob, alone in their old house, with three of them crated and Bob in the living room because he did not like to be confined. Carter said she returned no more than an hour later to find Bob laying on the floor and experiencing a seizure. He had tried to jump through a window, Carter said, having broken the glass but been unable to get through a screen that was fixed to the house. Carter said Bob appeared to have another seizure as she rushed him to a veterinarian, who told her he was
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IN REMEMBRANCE
Beverly Witovec Strain 1943-2021
B
everly left this earth September 28, 2021 after a short unexpected illness. We will cherish her memory and miss her forever.
She was a selfless person always thinking of others. Beverly remembered birthdays and anniversaries by sending numerous notes & cards. She also made daily phone calls to loved ones and friends which revealed her loving and caring heart.
Beverly and her Example B husband Mack supported others with
hospital and doctor visits. Together they brought food to family, friends and neighbors, and to church funerals.
Mack and Beverly Strain were married 47 years and faithful members of Saint Ambrose Catholic Church. Elsewhere in the Newspaper:
TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS AND PARTIES: Martin Marietta Materials Southwest, LLC, has applied to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for renewal of Air Quality Permit No. 9630, which would authorize continued operation of a Bulk Material Handling Operations located at 11913 Farm to Market 529 Road, Houston, Harris County, Texas 77041. Additional information concerning this application is contained in the public notice section of this newspaper.
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his message and Paul got frustrated with them and told them that he Arise Baptist Church would no longer minister to them. 803 Curtin St. Houston TX 77018 Shortly after this God blessed 713-659-9697 • www.arisebaptistchurch.org Paul with encouragement through the success of his work as well as his isMinimum a crazy season of thewidths 2 column or 4 inches encouragement that God was with year as we wrap up another him and that God still had a plan year, visit family, shop for for his life. gifts, endure the company parties, This story may not mean much and eat too much food. It is a time to you or me as we aren’t the of year that can be fun for many ones that experienced what Paul but it can be discouraging for went through. I think the same others. The sting of a lost family thing is often true when we don’t member or friend can be especially fully understand the struggles of hard during the holiday Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn season. the people around us because we not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, I and amyou thankful that God gives us haven’t walked in their shoes. The will be forgiven... so much even encouragement that I see in this R.S.V. Lukeencouragement 6:37 during times of struggle in our story of the Apostle Paul is that lives. Even great “heroes of the God was with Him and was faithful faith” like the Apostle Paul needed even when the circumstances were encouragement. In Acts 18, Paul hard. God knows and cares about travelled to Corinth to continue the every detail and He is working ministry God had for him. When even when the situation seems he got to Corinth he needed money impossible. I want to encourage and so he went to work making you during this crazy season of life tents to provide for himself. Each that you can trust God. He is able. week he went to the synagogue to He is at work whether or not you teach about Jesus. The people in feel it or see it. the synagogue didn’t want to hear
I
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learned to doctor him strictly by mouth. “But you know what? I got a lot out of it,” she added. “I learned things I never knew. I know rescue groups and trappers. I know this neighborhood. I know Acres Homes like the back of my hand.” Paige said Bob clearly recognized Sparks when she visited and brought things for her favorite rescue dog, such as treats like rotisserie chicken. Bob would allow Sparks to hand-feed him and wag his tail when Sparks called his name, Paige said. That’s why the Carters decided to give Bob’s ashes, and a print of one of his paws, to Sparks. “She deserves that,” Paige said. “Linda’sPublication been through thick and thin with this dog. He will live eternally with Linda.”
By Pastor Will Cover
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.”
T
mi
Page 6A • Saturday, December 4, 2021 • The Leader
Dog-friendly holiday event set for Saturday Take steps to help feral cats this winter By Adam Zuvanich
azuvanich@theleadernews.com
Dear Tabby, We have several feral cats that we care for in our neighborhood. With the weather getting colder, I worry about their comfort and safety. What can we do to help them stay as warm and healthy as possible this winter? Worried about Feral Friends in Forrest West Dear Worried, Bless you for taking care of the feral cats in your area! Feral cats can certainly “earn their keep” in a community by keeping the rodent population down, and caring for them offers an outlet for the humans who take on this responsibility. Thank you for considering their health and safety as the weather turns colder because winter is especially difficult on these small members of your community. Here are a few things that you can do to help make their lives a little easier
come wintertime.
during the winter months.
Offer shelter Go to www.friends4life.org to learn more about the feral cat shelters that our local animal shelter makes and teaches people to build out of plastic storage containers. These shelters are inexpensive, easy to make and make a huge difference in the health of our feral cat friends.
Trap/neuter/release Be sure to stay on top of new arrivals to your feral community and get them neutered and released as soon as possible to keep from having extra litters of kittens come springtime.
Keep fresh water available Having water available is almost more important than food for feral cats. If we’re having a long spell of freezing temps, consider ways to keep outside water sources thawed for feral cats to drink. Bird bath heaters work well and keep outside water flowing during even the coldest of temperatures. Put out extra food Feral cats can use all of the caloric help they can get to stay warm in cold weather. Consider adding extra dry food to their feeding stations or even incorporating canned food into their diet to give them extra fat and moisture
Use caution when getting in your car Cats will climb into the engines of cars to seek warmth, so be sure to give your car a quick knock on the hood before climbing inside and starting it, just in case there is a cat inside. Feral cats are often misunderstood and undervalued. They don’t often require much from humans, but during colder weather, they can certainly benefit from some extra attention and care. In turn, they will help keep our neighborhoods free from rodents and they might even enrich the lives of those who care for them in all four seasons.
Do you have a question for Tabby? Email her at deartabby questions@gmail.com.
Pet of the Week
The Pup Stop on Wakefield, in conjunction with American Legion Post 560, is hosting a dog-friendly, holiday-themed event called “Here Comes Santa Paws” from 1-4 p.m. Saturday at the Legion post, 3720 Alba Rd. The event is free to attend and will feature vendor booths, raffle baskets that include donated items from businesses in the Garden Oaks and Oak
Forest area as well as an “Ugly Sweater Contest for Dogs” that will be held at 2:30 p.m. There also will be a professional photographer on hand to take holiday photos with or without dogs in exchange for a donation of $20. Proceeds from “Here Comes Santa Paws” benefit Paws for Heroes, a nonprofit that rescues stray dogs and trains them to be companion animals for war veterans. The Pup Stop on Wakefield, located at the corner
Fetch your Leader
of Wakefield Drive and Alba Road, provides free treats and potty bags to neighborhood residents while also accepting donations for local rescue groups. It was founded in 2020 by Garden Oaks residents Rebecca Bridges, Jo Dunham and Cheryl McCleary, who manage the stop along with fellow area resident Tricia Hrapmann. For more information, visit facebook.com/thepupstoponwakefield.
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The Leader • Saturday, December 4, 2021 • Page 7A
Art Valet: It takes village to help others showcase their work Mitch Cohen Art Columnist
As 2022 impatiently stares us down with still an entire month of 2021 left, I am reminded of how very thankful I am to live in Houston, for you, this newspaper and especially the arts community. Looking back at recent Art Valet columns, I’ve lightheartedly written about the makings of an art market. I wrote about what’s in my “toolbox,” do-it-yourself graphics while simultaneously lamenting the trade-off of bulletin boards and telephone poles for social media, how to unsuccessfully predict the weather, the artists that ignore me anyway and parking problems. The final First Saturday Arts Market of the year is this Saturday and thus a real ap-
preciation for how others help out are at the forefront of my mind. Quite a few years back, a neighbor and friend volunteered his army of teenagers to help artists unload. I was unaware that my friend, Steven Messa, was in fact the Recreation Supervisor at Montie Beach Community Center. The teens that help out get extra credit and the market is recognized by the parks department for it. I call Messa the Godfather of the Heights because everyone knows him. Everyone. Speaking on behalf of the artists and myself, we are very thankful for the many teens that have helped out over the years. I’m thankful that attending artists like to pitch in and help, too. Sometimes they’re husbands, wives and daughters of artists. They booth sit, hand out water, help with setting up and breaking down and sometimes help me direct artists to their spaces.
Contributed photo Ron Ford, left, is a regular at the First Saturday Arts Market, where John Stoll, right, will perform with his band this Saturday.
Mike Baker makes chainmaille wear and jewelry and has some mad spreadsheet skills. After volunteering at both markets, he emailed me a site map that I thought only existed in my head. Baker seriously lowered my stress levels with his maps. Give him a follow on Instagram at https:// www.instagram.com/brucia_
jewelry. Luis Carlos has been helping me direct artists to their spots at setup for a couple of years now. Luis’ wife, Jess, attended fairly regularly with her crocheted creatures. They own The Whimsy Artisan Boutique at 1802 Yale St. The Heights Santa will be at their shop Sunday, Dec. 12.
Speaking of the Heights Santa, I wrote about the man behind the beard (real) last week, Steve Sellers. I often call him my Santa Uber this time of year because Sellers is my ride when I pick up rental vans for the markets. I am truly appreciative, for the rides and good conversations, Mr. Sellers. Ana Guzman isn’t a volunteer but she definitely goes above and beyond as the social media manager at the market. She came on during a hiatus from film production work in the space industry, and has stayed with us even after returning full-time. Guzman makes us look good on social media and from behind her camera. When I wrote about my “toolbox” at the beginning of November, I mentioned a borrowed tool. My good friend Ronald Ford is the man behind the sawzall that rescued unsuspecting tents from lowhanging branches. Ron and wife Joyce Ford are regular at-
tendees at the market. Thanks you two! Finally, my girlfriend, Lynn Marie Bevis, set up a database for the market. I couldn’t believe what I had been missing out on for so many years. Seriously, that system still amazes me. Thank you! Saturday at noon, John and Rebecca Stoll will be performing their original high-energy roots music. The couple has performed at the market for 11 years and go by their band name Grifters & Shills. Check them out at griftersandshills. com. First Saturday Arts Market is located at 540 W. 19th St. An online roster of the fine artists attending is at firstsaturdayartsmarket.com. Thank you readers for checking in here every so often. I’ll be back here next week! Cohen is an artist and founder of the First Saturday Arts Market and the Market at Sawyer Yards. Find him at ArtValet.com
Review: Monkey’s Tail dishes out high-quality, low-price comfort food Stefan Modrich
Fulton Street in the Northside neighborhood runs along the METRORail Red Line and has become a hub for quirky bars and cafes. Monkey’s Tail may just be the best of the bunch. It has a laid-back feel, with warm, wooden accents and modern touches like a red neon sign with the Spanish words “buena vibra,” or “good vibes,” in a sleek cursive font. I was disheartened by the news the bartender delivered that the “dollar dog” special listed on the restaurant’s website was only a temporary pro-
motion coinciding with Houston Astros’ playoff games. But I quickly warmed up to the rest of the menu, including a 3-ounce chango burger ($5) that was as delicious as it was simple. This “smashburger” patty was served with American cheese, grilled onions, relish and valentina mayonnaise (mayo blended with sriracha) on a soft sesame seed bun. I added mushrooms for 50 cents extra. Alongside this, I ordered a Tommy’s Margarita ($6 during happy hour, $9 otherwise) and had my glass speckled with tajin. It’s as pure as it gets: Hornitos Blanco tequila, lime and agave nectar. While I’m not the world’s biggest tequila fan, I found this refreshing drink to be the best possible flavor pro-
file to match the spicy burger and the biggest treat of the evening: the nachos ($7). I paid $2 extra to top them with barbacoa (a blend of lamb, beef and goat), and the price is the same for chicken, beef or al pastor (pork). I was immediately whisked away to the time my dad made nachos from scratch at home with fresh cheese, refried beans and avocados that redefined what my expectations were for this humble snack. This was the first time I ever had great nachos, and it was following a terribly disappointing experience in my youth that you’ve likely also had if you’ve ever ordered the scratchy, salty cardboard that passes for tortilla chips and the melted plastic they pour atop them at concession stands at
public pools or Little League baseball games. The nachos from Monkey’s Tail have only the essentials: melted chihuahua cheese and fresh diced tomatoes and jalapeños. The delectable, tender and smoky barbacoa provided the proverbial chef’s kiss that completed this outstanding meal. It’s rare to find quality comfort food in such a welcoming setting at an almost ridiculously low price, and that is something worth celebrating, even on an otherwise mundane Tuesday afternoon. Monkey’s Tail Address: 5802 Fulton St. Dining Options: Dine-in, takeout Hours: 4 p.m.-1:15 a.m. Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-1:15 a.m.
Photo by Stefan Modrich Pictured are the barbacoa nachos ($9) from Monkey’s Tail.
Saturday-Sunday Entree prices: $3-$19 Kid-friendly: No Senior discount: No Alcohol: Yes
Healthy options: None Star of the show: Barbacoa nachos Rating: 5 out of 5 bites
Nibbles & Sips: Ring in holiday spirit at local bars By Stefan Modrich
nog, and other Christmas and winter-themed specials. Catch Holiday in Paradise at Lei Low from 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Tuesday-Saturday through Dec. 31. For more information, call 713-380-2968.
smodrich@mcelvypartners.com
Local bars in the Heights are getting into the Christmas spirit as the holiday approaches. Johnny’s Gold Brick, 2518 Yale St., will host “Miracle at Johnny’s,” a Christmasthemed cocktail pop-up market. And tiki bar Lei Low, 6412 N. Main St Ste. C, will celebrate the holiday season with “Holiday in Paradise.” Miracle, an international pop-up market, serves holiday cocktails in a festive setting, according to miraclepopup.com. Miracle at Johnny’s runs from 4 p.m.-midnight Monday-Friday and 2 p.m.midnight Saturday-Sunday through Dec. 30. Guests can make reservations online at resy.com. For more informa-
Photo from Facebook Johnny’s Gold Brick, 2518 Yale St, will host “Miracle at Johnny’s,” a Christmas-themed cocktail pop-up market, through Dec. 30.
tion, call 832-582-5454. Holiday in Paradise will feature Lei Low’s classic coquito, or Puerto Rican egg-
Local bakeries serve up Hanukkah offerings Bakeries in the Heights are serving traditional Jewish favorites for those observing the Hanukkah holiday. Hugs & Donuts, 1901 N. Shepherd Dr., Ste. 4, is offering sufganiyot, a traditional Israeli donut deep-fried and topped with powdered sugar. The bakery is offering a $9 special for a dozen donuts preordered between MondayThursday. For more information, call 713-485-6443. Three Brothers Bakery, 4606 Washington Ave., is
serving sufganiyot ($2.25 each) and an assortment of sugar cookies and decorated cookies and cakes. For more information, call 713-5222253. Padre’s Wine Shop to open next spring An online wine seller plans to open a brick-and-mortar location in the Heights next year. Construction is scheduled to begin on a new liquor store Jan 1. at 3522 White Oak Drive, according to a filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). Completion of the $1 million renovation of the 5,149-square foot space is scheduled for May 1. It will feature a tasting room and retail space. For more information, call
669-281-1381. Mala Sichuan coming to M-K-T next year A popular Chinese restaurant with several Houston-area locations is soon going to call the M-K-T development home. Mala Sichuan Bistro is expected to open early next year at 600 N. Shepherd Drive Ste. 453, according to a report from CultureMap. The high-end Sichuan restaurant is famous for its spicy regional cuisine. For more information, call 832-767-5402.
St. Ste. 300, held its soft opening Nov. 4. The casual purveyor of gyros, shawarma and hummus is open from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday. For more information, call 713-393-7066.
Al Quick Stop opens in Heights A Montrose Mediterranean and Middle Eastern restaurant launched its second location in the Heights last month. Al Quick Stop, 518 W. 11th
Wicklow Bites debuts in Shady Acres A new food truck opened last month in Shady Acres. Wicklow Bites, 1027 W. 19th St., opened Nov. 18 outside Wicklow Heights, a dogfriendly patio and cocktail bar. The menu features upscale bar food like truffle quesadillas, a buffalo bleu chicken sandwich and more. For more information, email info@wicklowheights. com. Follow Stefan Modrich on Twitter @StefanJModrich
cal farmers markets, Williams said he may go beyond salsa and open a food truck. Aljo’s offers 16-ounce mason jars full of different flavors,
including mild and hot salsas and a jalapeño ranch dip for $8 each. For more information, call 936-239-6211.
Foodies, from P. 1A a new place. After switching jobs and becoming a business operations and strategy analyst for Yelp, Doan said she wanted to find other opportunities in the technology industry that were linked to her love of food. “I’ve done cooking classes in Thailand, I’ve gone surfing with locals in Costa Rica,” she said. “I saw that the Airbnb experiences in Houston didn’t have a ton of options. So I thought, ‘Why don’t I use this platform to do something that I enjoy doing?’” She said she sources her high-quality seafood from the same distributors that sell sushi to high-end restaurants like Uchi and Kata Robata. Calista Silletti of Toms River, New Jersey, said she visited Houston and one of Doan’s first classes with two of her friends. “Lavinia was so friendly and open to us,” Silletti said. “She also went extremely out of her way to shop for what foods we liked. We got to remake our favorite rolls and also try some of her favorites. She was
hands-on and helped all of us. We felt more like her friends than her students.” Kaprisa Davis said she took the class while visiting from Boston with her boyfriend for her birthday. “We loved the experience so much that we are planning a get-together with a few friends to have sushi night,” Davis said. “It’s something we know we’ll be able to pass on to our friends who can then pass that on to friends and family.” Doan said she encourages her guests to try new combinations. “When people go out to a sushi restaurant they get intimidated to order things that they don’t want,” Doan said. “No one likes to spend $12-$15 on a roll that they’re not going to like. That’s the nice thing about this class is that you can get out of your comfort zone and try new things. Salmon and avocado go together. Well, why not salmon and sweet potato?” Doan’s sushi-making classes start at $59 per person, and the next available class is Tuesday, Dec. 7. Classes can be booked
at the following link: https://www.airbnb.com/ experiences/2189472. Heights resident strikes gold with salsa Williams always loved eating his mother’s salsa when growing up in Jasper in East Texas. But it wasn’t until he took off to college in 2018 to Sam Houston State University in Huntsville and moved to the Heights after graduation last August that he started to listen to his friends who told him he should start to do something more besides making jars of salsa and holding cookouts with smoked ribs and pulled pork on weekends. After he got laid off from his job as a contractor building conveyor belts at Amazon and UPS facilities, he said he saw an opportunity in the foodierich environment of the Greater Heights. Thus, Aljo’s Salsa was born. “I’d really like to find a nice farmers market to go buy all my vegetables from,” Williams said. “Right now I’ve just been going to a local meat market
on Shepherd Drive (La Michoacana).” Williams said he used some of his mother’s recipes and some of his own, but he is a self-taught cook from his days at SHSU. “I just kind of started tweaking things and seeing what other flavors go well together,” Williams said. “I’ve done mango habanero sauce. It’s a fun thing to try the recipes and try to see which you can make into a sweeter sauce, maybe sweet and spicy salsa. And some people like their salsa hot as hell.” Williams said he sold 70 jars of salsa during his first week of business, which coincided with Halloween and the Houston Astros’ World Series run. He said he has mainly relied on Nextdoor and Facebook to attract customers. Williams said he also received an informal invitation from restaurateur Federico Cavatore on Facebook to sell Aljo’s at Eleanora’s Market on Saturdays in the parking lot of Cavatore Italian Restaurant at 2120 Ella Blvd. After expanding Aljo’s to lo-
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The Leader • Saturday, December 4, 2021 • Page 8A
Cyclist killed in overnight Inwood collision By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
A man has been arrested in connection with a fatal crash that left a bicyclist dead in Greater Inwood early Monday morning. The Houston Police Department said 24-year-old Ronald Sariles has been charged with intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault for his alleged role the incident. The identity of the vic-
tim, a 38-year-old man, according to police, is pending verification by the Harris County medical examiner. He was pronounced dead at the scene. A 19-year-old passenger in Sariles’ vehicle was treated for a laceration to his face and a broken ankle, police said. Police said Sariles was driving his white Toyota Tundra pickup westbound near 3100 W. Little York Rd. around 2:15 a.m. Monday, and was allegedly seen
Man struck by stray bullets while driving near Forest West By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
A man was hospitalized following an incident in the Central Northwest area earlier this week in which he was struck by wayward bullets, the Houston Police Department said. The victim, a 25-year-old man, was taken to an area hospital in stable condition, according to police. HPD said the victim was driving south at 5300 Antoine Dr. just after 7 p.m. Monday
when he saw a fight break out between multiple people. Gunshots were fired moments later, according to HPD, and the victim was struck by multiple bullets. HPD said it did not know who was responsible for the shooting or why shots were fired. 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.
Sariles
swerving. The victim was on a bike in the road’s farright bike lane, according to HPD, when Sariles allegedly swerved and hit the bicyclist. The truck then struck an electricity pole and brick wall, police said, and the 19-year-old passenger was thrown from the vehicle. Sariles was detained at the scene, HPD said, where police allege he was impaired and later charged him for his alleged role in the incident.
Man found dead behind Northside-area motel By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
A man was found dead behind an area motel with an apparent gunshot wound on Nov. 23, according to the Houston Police Department. Police said the victim, identified as 35-year-old Marquise Stewart by the Harris County medical examiner, was pronounced dead at the scene. HPD said officers responded to the Motel 6 at 4965 Airline Dr. in the Northside/ Northline area around 4:30
p.m. Nov. 23 to find the victim unresponsive in the back parking lot of the motel complex. He was pronounced dead at the scene, according to HPD. According to police, a preliminary investigation determined there was a fight in the back parking lot of the motel with an unknown number of people immediately prior to the victim being shot. Anyone with information in this case is asked to contact HPD’s Homicide division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477.
Police Reports • November 25 - 30 NOV. 25
Theft 10 PM 3500 BLOCK YALE
NOV. 26
Theft 3 AM 900 BLOCK W 25TH
NOV. 27
Theft 11 PM 300 BLOCK E 39TH Burglary 1 PM 700 BLOCK W 25TH Assault 5 PM 800 BLOCK DOROTHY Theft 10 AM 1200 BLOCK E 32ND Assault 9 PM 2200 BLOCK W T C JESTER Arrest 4 AM 1800 BLOCK W T C JESTER Theft 12 PM 1500 BLOCK N LOOP
Theft 3 PM 500 BLOCK CROSSTIMBERS Robbery 11 PM 700 BLOCK CROSSTIMBERS Vandalism 7 PM 200 BLOCK W CROSSTIMBERS Theft 7 PM 1400 BLOCK SHEPHERD Burglary 12 AM 7200 BLOCK N SHEPHERD Assault 2 AM 7500 BLOCK N SHEPHERD Assault 11 AM 5700 BLOCK N SHEPHERD Vandalism 3 PM 2500 BLOCK SHEARN
NOV. 28
Burglary 4 AM 300 BLOCK W 19TH Assault 8 PM 400 BLOCK W
19TH Assault 3 PM 200 BLOCK E 31ST Other 1 AM 1200 BLOCK W 20TH Theft 3 PM 2800 BLOCK AIRLINE Arrest 12 AM 1800 BLOCK W T C JESTER Theft 1 PM 4400 BLOCK AIRLINE Assault 6 PM 300 BLOCK VICTORIA Vandalism 1 AM 7400 BLOCK N SHEPHERD
FWY Theft 12 PM 3900 BLOCK N SHEPHERD Theft 3 PM 3900 BLOCK N SHEPHERD
NOV. 30
Theft 1 AM 100 BLOCK W 20TH
Reports are provided by SpotCrime.com based on data from the Houston Police Department.
NOV. 29
Other 1 PM 1400 BLOCK YALE Theft 12 AM 700 BLOCK 26TH Assault 3 PM 4100 BLOCK DELHI Theft 11 PM 1700 BLOCK THOMPSON Arrest 9 PM 5200 BLOCK KATY
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The Leader • Saturday, December 4, 2021 • Page 1B
National spa chain sets up shop in Oak Forest By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
After the anxiety of the last couple of years with the COVID-19 pandemic, Greg and Cara Green know that a little de-stressing is likely in order for most residents of Garden Oaks, Oak Forest and other local neighborhoods. It was with that idea of making personal care and decompression affordable and convenient to their neighbors that they decided to become franchisees for a national spa chain that set up shop in the area late last month. The Greens opened the Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa in Oak Forest at 2009 W. 34th St. Suite B on Oct. 25. “It’s a place that people can get away without having to leave the neighborhood,” Cara Green said. The Hand & Stone in Oak Forest brings professional massage services, including Swedish, Himalayan Salt, sports, deep tissue, oncology and prenatal massages. Guests can also try their hot stone massage and facial treatments, with services available for women, men and teenagers. Hand & Stone also offers skincare and spa services that incorporate new technologies in efforts to enhance each guest’s overall experience, such as a Decompression Therapy massage, Dermal infusion facial, NuFACE microcurrent facial and an LED Phototherapy facial along with CBD oil enhancements. “I’ve been here for a long time, but the limitation for me is that it’s just a two-man team (with me and my massage therapist). We can only help so many people – and this is a natural extension of what I’m already doing,” said Greg Green, who also runs Green Chiropractic less than a block away. “It felt like a way to help more people with similar services to what’s been offered all the time – there’s just more of it.” Green also said the Oak Forest community simply needed a place for residents to be able to decompress from the hustle and bustle of the workday and all of the stress presented during the pandemic, which served as the driving force behind deciding to take the plunge.
Photo from Facebook Multiple types of massage are available at Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa in Oak Forest, which opened Oct. 25 at 2009 W. 34th St. Suite B. Local couple Greg and Cara Green are the owners of the location, which is part of a franchise.
“As active members of the community, Cara and I think this area is a perfect match for the kind of services we provide at Hand & Stone,” he said. “Plus, after the stress of the last couple of years, we could all use a little pampering in our lives. … The Oak Forest area just needs something like this. A lot of people are still working from home, so people are looking for a way to de-stress and work out the kinks that are
inherent to sitting in front of a computer all day and not moving around as much.” The area is their home, and Cara said the goal is to make the community as comfortable as possible. “We live here, we have our school here, and our multiple businesses here,” she said. “This is our home, so we wanted a place that we’d want to be as well.”
Oak Forest Hand & Stone Spa is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m-9 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. For more information about Hand & Stone’s massage and facial services such as pricing or to schedule an appointment, community members can call 713-955-3450 or visit their website at handandstoneoakforest. com.
Business Briefs: Kidcreate Studio opening in first quarter of 2022 By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
A kid-centric art studio franchise has set a tentative opening date for early next year at the Stomping Grounds development in Oak Forest. According to Waltrip High School graduate and area resident Jennifer Collins, who cofounded and runs the studio at Stomping Grounds along with her husband, Brian, construction on Kidcreate Studio is nearing completion and the store has set its grand opening date for Feb. 26, 2022 at 1223 W. 34th St. Suite A-500. “At Kidcreate Studio, students will create fridge-worthy art masterpieces while learning about art history, concepts and techniques in a positive, self esteem-building atmosphere filled with fun,” Collins said. There will be activities during the grand opening open house from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., which will include free chil-
dren’s art activities, drawings to win an art party and family membership discount coupons. Kidcreate, which The Leader profiled in a story this past April, specializes in children’s art classes, camps and birthday parties for kids ages 18 months through 12 years old. Its curriculum is packed with kids’ art activities such as clay classes, drawing lessons, painting and messy time. Classes teach children about art concepts and techniques while exposing them to many different kinds of art materials, according to Collins. Local gym hosting Texas Children’s fundraiser
Yellow Rose Fitness will host a fundraiser for the Texas Children’s Hospital at the gym, located at 3514 W. T.C. Jester Blvd. in Oak Forest on Dec. 11. Nonprofit organization Battle Buddy 57, which is operated by Oak Forest resident Chad Stevens, will put on the event, which raises funds for the neonatal ICU at Texas Children’s. Battle Buddy 57 was founded to positively impact newborns born into difficult circumstances. The annual event is in honor of Stevens’ daughter Olivia, who he said was born with a rare genetic condition and spent 57 days in the NICU before coming home. “Texas Children’s literally saved her life,” Stevens said. Teams of two in men’s, women’s and coed divisions will take part in a workout competition that includes burpees, lunges, squats and more. For more information on the event, visit eventbrite.com/e/ battle-buddy-57-yellow-rosefitness-texas-childrens-hospi-
Photo from Facebook Young children will have another creative outlet in the area in the first quarter of next year as Kidcreate Studio has plans to open its Stomping Grounds location at 1223 W. 34th St. Suite A in February.
tal-tickets-160223365399. Follow us on social media @ FromTheLeader
‘Tis the season for estate planning For The Leader For many, estate planning seems like Scrooge at the beginning of “A Christmas Carol.” They think it’s about minimizing taxes, protecting wealth, and keeping a close count on the family treasure. But in reality, estate planning is an embodiment of the holiday spirit. It’s prioritizing your loved ones, their futures, and your shared values. However, not only can your estate plan provide for your loved ones’ support and success in the future, it has much more immediate effects as well. If something unexpected happens to you, your estate plan should be able to provide for your loved ones’ immediate and long-term care. Especially if you have minor children or loved ones with special needs, your estate plan can make sure they are looked after and safe. An estate plan also does something very important that is often overlooked: it creates a clear communication of your wishes. This can help avoid any potential conflict that arises from a lack of communication and unclear instructions. All too often, a family that loves each other and wants what’s best for one another can find itself in conflict over how to interpret un-
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clear or missing last wishes. It truly is a gift to have a clearlystated set of plans to follow if and when the time comes. Start the New Year Fresh For many, estate planning is a pot sitting on the back burner, threatening to bubble over. We all know we need an estate plan, but many of us just keep putting it off. It never quite feels like the right time. You are always too busy, you are about to go through a big change, or something keeps you from taking the leap. Here’s the best-kept se-
cret about estate planning: it’s not a leap, it’s strategic. You don’t need everything in your life to be perfect, complete, or even organized before beginning your estate plan. Having any plan is better than no plan at all. And the process can help you become more organized, and allow you to amend and adapt the plan as your family changes and your assets grow.
erations to come. If you have been waiting for a sign, here it is. To learn more about the best tools to use when planning your estate, please visit our helpful videos at: tinyurl.com/SolakLegal to learn about effective tools to use when planning your estate or call 713-5885744 to schedule time for a consultation to get started on the plan for your family today.
Incorporate Charitable Giving into Your Plan When you create your estate plan, you can also capture the spirit of giving if that is important to you. By incorporating charitable giving into your estate plan, you can pass on your values. Not only can you use your hard-earned assets to further a cause that is important to you, but you can use your charitable gift as a way to create a legacy and share your values with gen-
The information in this column, which was sponsored by Solak Legal as part of The Leader Expert Series, is intended to provide a general understanding of the law and not legal advice. Readers with legal questions should consult attorneys for advice on their particular circumstances. Jennifer Solak provides legal advice for families and businesses and may be contacted at jennifer@solaklegal.com or 713588-5744.
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Page 2B • Saturday, December 4, 2021 • The Leader SPECIAL ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
Last State Silver Bank Rolls up for grabs Fortune of old Silver Coins issued by the U.S. Gov’t sealed away in the only State Restricted Bank Rolls known to exist are actually being handed over to Texas residents STATE RESTRICTION: Only residents of TX get the $19 state minimum - non state residents must pay $57 per coin TEXAS - “We’re bracing for the flood of calls,” said Laura Lynne, U.S. Coin and Currency Director for the National Mint and Treasury. That’s because the next 2 days the last remaining State of Texas Restricted Silver Bank Rolls loaded with rarely seen U.S. Gov’t issued Silver Kennedy Presidential Half Dollars are actually being handed over to Texas residents who call the National TollFree Hotlines listed in today’s newspaper publication. “National Mint and Treasury recently spoke with its Chief Professional Numismatist who said ‘Very few people have ever actually seen one of these rarely seen Silver Kennedy Presidential Half Dollars issued by the U.S. Gov’t over 50 years ago. But to actually find them sealed away in State Restricted Silver Bank Rolls is like finding buried treasure. So anyone lucky enough to get their hands on these Bank Rolls had better hold on to them,’” Lynne said. And here’s the best part. If you are a resident of the state of Texas you cover only the $19 per coin state minimum set by the National Mint and Treasury, that’s twenty rare- Q FLYING OUT THE DOOR: Calls are pouring in from state residents who are trying to get their hands on the last State Restricted Silver Bank Rolls known to exist sealed away in the secured packages pictured above before the deadline ends. That’s because residents who beat ly seen U.S. Gov’t issued Silver clad Kenne- the 2-day deadline printed in today’s publication are cashing in on the lowest ever state minimum price set by the National Mint and Treasury. dy Presidential Half Dollars worth up to 60 times their face value for just $380 which is a real steal because non state residents must pay $57 per coin which totals $1,140 if any coins remain after the 2-day deadline. “Now that the State of Texas Restricted Q: How to claim the last State Restricted Silver Bank Rolls Silver Bank Rolls are being offered up we A: If you are a Texas resident read the important information below about claiming the won’t be surprised if thousands of Texas resState Restricted Silver Bank Rolls, then call the State Toll-Free Hotline at: 1-800-233-5658 EXT: JFR1190 beginning at precisely 8:30 A.M. this morning. idents claim the maximum limit allowed of 6 Kennedy Presidential Silver Bank Rolls per resident before they’re all gone,” said Lynne. “That’s because the dates and mint marks of the U.S. Gov’t issued Silver clad Kennedy Q: Are these Silver Kennedy Presidential Half Dollars worth more than others? Presidential Half Dollars sealed away inside A: Yes. These U.S. Gov’t issued Silver Kennedy Presidential Half Dollars were minted in the mid 1900’s. the State of Texas Restricted Silver Bank That makes these silver coins extremely collectible. The vast majority of half dollars minted after 1970 Rolls have never been searched. But, we do have no silver content at all. In fact, these Kenndy Presidential Half Dollars were the last silver coins know that these coins date back to the mid minted for circulation. That’s why many of them now command collector values of many times their 1900’s and some are worth up to 60 times face value so there’s no telling how much they could be worth in collector value someday. their face value, so there is no telling what Texas residents will find until they sort through all the coins,” Lynne went on to say. “Rarely seen U.S. Gov’t issued silver coins Q: How much are the State Restricted Silver Bank Rolls worth? like these are highly sought after, but we’ve A: It’s impossible to say, but some of these U.S Gov’t issued Kennedy Presidential Half Dollars dating back to the never seen anything like this before. Accordmid 1900’s are worth up to 60 times the face value and there are 20 in each Bank Roll so you better hurry if you want to get your hands on them. Collector values always fluctuate and there are never any guarantees. But we do ing to The Official Red Book, a Guide Book know they are the only Texas State Silver Bank Rolls known to exist and Kennedy Presidential Half Dollars are highly of United States Coins many Silver Kennedy collectible so anyone lucky enough to get their hands on these State Restricted Silver Bank Rolls should hold onto Presidential Half Dollars have nearly douthem because there’s no telling how much they could be worth in collector value someday. bled in collector value in just the last several years,” Lynne said. “We’re guessing thousands of Texas residents will be taking the maximum limit of Q: Why are so many Texas residents calling to get them? 6 Bank Rolls because they make such amazA: Because they are the only State Restricted Silver Bank Rolls known to exist and everyone wants their ing gifts for any occasion for children, parshare. These are not ordinary bank rolls. These are full Bank Rolls containing 20 Silver Kennedy Presidential ents, grandparents, friends and loved ones,” Half Dollars dating clear back to the mid 1900’s some worth up to 60 times their face value. Remember this. Only Texas residents are guaranteed to get them for just the $19 per coin state minimum set by the National Lynne continued. Mint and Treasury for the next two days. Non state residents must pay $57 per coin. “We know the phones will be ringing off the hook. So make sure to tell everyone to keep calling if all lines are busy. We’ll do our best to answer them all,” Lynne said. Q: How do I get the State Restricted Silver Bank Rolls? The only thing readers of today’s newspaA: The only thing Texas residents need to do is call the State Toll Free Hotline at 1-800-233-5658 per publication need to do is make sure they Ext. JFR1190 before the deadline ends. Everyone who does is getting the only State Restricted Silver are a resident of the state of Texas and call Bank Rolls known to exist. That’s a full Bank Roll of 20 Silver Kenndy Presidential Half Dollars for just the National Toll-Free Hotlines before the the $19 per coin state minimum set by the National Mint and Treasury, which totals just $380 for the 2-day deadline ends full Bank Roll. That’s a real steal because non state residents are not permitted to call before 5 pm tomorrow and must pay $1,140 for each Texas State Restricted Silver Bank Roll if any remain. midnight tomorrow. Q
Answering Your Questions
IMPORTANT FACTS: The dates and mint marks of the U.S. Gov’t issued Silver Kennedy Presidential Half Dollars sealed away inside the State of Texas Restricted Silver Bank Rolls have never been searched. Coin values always fluctuate and there are never any guarantees, but any rare, scarce or highly collectible coins, regardless of their value that state residents may find inside the sealed Bank Rolls are theirs to keep.
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The Leader • Saturday, December 4, 2021 • Page 3B
Wakefield Wonderland event to be held Saturday By Adam Zuvanich
Wakefield Dr., along with William Price Distilling Company, 970 Wakefield Dr., and Ship Channel Trading Company, a coffee roastery at 923 Wakefield Dr. It is being sponsored by Led Well Realty, State Farm insurance agent Aitu Taube and home loan officer Shane Davis of Guaranteed Rate. Event wristbands for adults and children ages 3 and up can be purchased
azuvanich@theleadernews.com
Wakefield Crowbar and other local businesses are teaming up to host the third annual Wakefield Wonderland Holiday Party from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, with proceeds benefitting a revitalization project for nearby American Legion Park. The event will be held at Wakefield Crowbar, 954
for a suggested donation of $10 in advance or $15 at the door, with family four-packs available for $30 in advance only. Wristbands are available online through the event Facebook page at https:// w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / events/584081316249609. The family-friendly party is geared toward kids, who will receive gift bags on a first-come, first-served basis that include goodies and
supplies to write letters to Santa Claus, with a Santa mailbox on site. Santa and the Grinch will be on hand, and activities include a sand box and playground, bounce house, face painting and balloon artists. There will be train rides in the morning in the parking lot for Ship Channel, where there will be fitness classes and cookie decorating, and in the afternoon between Crowbar and
William Price, where local vendors will be set up. The event schedule also includes live music from noon-4 p.m., and for an additional cost, adults can sign up in advance for sand volleyball and cornhole tournaments to be held at Crowbar in conjunction with the Houston Sports & Social Club. Teams can register online at houstonssc.com. There also will be a $1 dis-
count on draft beer and wine at Wakefield Crowbar. Proceeds will go toward the master plan fundraiser for the American Legion Park Revitalization Project. “We’re looking forward to a successful event that’s going to benefit the park,” said Andrea Rafiei, Crowbar co-owner, event organizer and chair of the Friends of American Legion Park committee.
revive
FBI warns public to stay wary of online scams By Landan Kuhlmann
million in 2020, according to its Internet Crime Complaint Center, while credit card fraud accounted for $129 million in losses. “The IC3 receives a large volume of complaints in the early months of each year, suggesting a correlation with the previous holiday season’s shopping scams,” the news release said. Among other cautions, the FBI warned shoppers to not click on any suspicious links or attachments in emails, on social media or on websites as phishing and similar scams use those links to get someone’s personal information such as their name, password, bank account number and more. Residents are also advised to check each website to make sure the URL is legitimate (using “https” in the web address) before inputting per-
landan@theleadernews.com
The Christmas season is swinging into high gear, prompting many to start browsing online stores in order to find that perfect gift for a friend or loved one. However, there are also risks whenever one is shopping online, and the FBI’s Houston office is warning both buyers and sellers to stay alert and abreast of possible scams this holiday season. The two most prevalent of these holiday scams are nondelivery and non-payment crimes, the office said. This happens when either payment is rendered but no product is received, or when goods are shipped but the seller is never paid. A news release from the FBI said such scams cost people more than $265
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sonal information, and verifying the legitimacy of a buyer or seller before proceeding with an online transaction. Shoppers should also avoid wiring money directly to sellers or using pre-paid gift cards for online shopping, the FBI said. Once an item has been purchased, the FBI said people should also monitor the shipping process to ensure nothing has happened, which can be done by getting a tracking number for online purchases. The FBI said residents should call their bank or credit card company to dispute a fraudulent charge, contact local law enforcement and report the scam to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at www.ic3.gov if they believe they might have been victimized.
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Page 4B • Saturday, December 4, 2021 • The Leader
Have a laugh at Dan Electro’s open mic night By Stefan Modrich
GOOFy GETTING
smodrich@mcelvypartners.com
We’ve covered several family-friendly activities since we launched our Getting GOOFy in the Greater Heights series. I just want to get it out of the way that open mic night at Dan Electro’s Bar, 1031 E. 24th St., will not be one of them. But if you’re looking for a night to get out and leave the kids with a babysitter, if you derive pleasure from making people laugh or you enjoy having a good chuckle yourself, then you might want to consider making a quick stop at this neighborhood dive bar for the weekly comedy night hosted by Pedro Delhi of Comedy Hub Houston. If you’re looking for an audience to test the bit that you’ve been workshopping because you always thought it was funny even though your friends insist it isn’t, sign-up is officially at 8
Stefan Modrich
in the
GREATER HEIGHTS See related video at
theleadernews.com p.m. and the event begins at 8:30 p.m. each Tuesday. The event is pretty relaxed. There’s no dress code or cover charge, and you might be able to get a 5-minute set in without even signing up. I settled in and ordered a Karbach beer and played darts while I waited for the show to start. Comedians from as close by as Sugar Land and Pasadena and as far-flung as St. Louis and Philadelphia took to the stage to a small, but engaged audience of about 15 people.
Will Lund, a Mississippi native, opened with a crack about what he felt was his own stereotypically southern outfit. “I just got back from Arkansas,” Lund said. “That’s why I’m dressed in their traditional garb — Carhartt and Walmart.” During his set, Lund recounted a previous relationship with a German girl. “We just met swapping stories about losing wars,” he said. “She and I dated for a long time, like we were trying to build the next great white offensive lineman.” A diverse group of young and middle-aged comedians recounted other stories of dating and sexuality, their experiences with
race relations, the subject of Southern hospitality and politeness versus East Coast honesty, religion and other topics. Delhi, who is Black and gay, made a foray into politics, making this observation about former President Donald J. Trump: “I honestly think that Donald Trump was, like, mediator for us to just realize we can govern ourselves,” Delhi said. “You know, like, I hate that man so much. But him being the voice of my country, it was enough for me to be, like, ‘Oh, right. So I got my back.’ And I can only lean on this iron curtain for so much longer. So we should all start learning how to farm.” Dan Electro’s also regularly hosts a wide variety of live music events and is open from 3 p.m.-2 a.m. daily. For more information about upcoming events, call 832-538-1635.
Photo by Stefan Modrich Pedro Delhi of Comedy Hub Houston hosts an open mic night at Dan Electro’s Bar each Tuesday.
Know when to harvest fall plants Amy Williams
G
arden uru
Dear Garden Guru, My husband and I planted a fall garden, but we aren’t sure how to tell when to harvest. We planted typically fall plants like broccoli, cabbage and greens as well as carrots and radishes. Can you give us some advice? Thanks! Unsure in Oak Forest
Dear Unsure, Fall provides us with a season to grow a wide range of plants with differing harvest times, leaving many gardeners with the same questions you are facing. Let’s begin with the most commonly grown flowering brassicas, broccoli and cauliflower. You will want to wait to harvest until a distinct “head” forms at the center of the plant. The broccoli head is composed of a cluster of flowers and should be harvested when the average measure from one side to the other (the diameter) reaches 4 to 8 inches. If you notice yellow flowers opening, be sure to harvest immediately. Note that the stalk and small tender leaves of the plant
are also edible, and once the large head is harvested, you can expect to enjoy many smaller shoots off the broccoli stalk. Cauliflower will form a firm, white, compact head and should be harvested at 6 to 8 inches In diameter. Cut on the main stem while leaving a few outer leaves on the base of the head, which serve to protect it. Though it is less prolific than broccoli, you may expect a secondary harvest of smaller shoots off the stalk. The leaves are also edible, similar to kale in flavor, and are a great addition to stir fry. Cabbage will form a head in its center and should be harvested when the head is firm and about 6 to 8 inch-
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Saturday December 11th, 2021 5:30-8:30 pm Our Savior Lutheran Church 5000 W. Tidwell Rd. Houston, TX 77091
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.
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es in diameter. To harvest, make a clean cut just below the base of the head. It’s not widely known, but if you make your cut closer to the base of the cabbage, leaving a few of the outer leaves in tact, you will get a secondary harvest. This could yield several smaller heads of cabbage, similar to the size of Brussels sprouts! Harvesting greens gives you a little more leeway. Greens can be harvested and eaten just about any time in their development. This includes leafy greens like collards, chard, kale and mustard greens as well as lettuces. If you started them from seeds, you should expect a harvest roughly two months after planting. I rec-
ommend harvesting early in the day, or in the evening when it’s not too hot, and also harvesting when you have enough that you can use them in an intended dish. Greens are the plants that keep on giving, so expect to harvest frequently and for an extended period of time. Kale and chard are a biennial, with a two-year life cycle. Though not widely considered a biennial, collards may behave the same in our mild winter climate. Root vegetables can be tricky as it’s difficult to tell what exactly is happening below the surface. Here are a few clues to help you know when to harvest: If you planted carrots, radishes and beets from seed,
begin checking for readiness about two months after planting by checking the stems for dark green leaves, and a diameter similar to the size of a quarter. Because these vegetables grow partly above the soil, you’ll notice they tend to “pop up” when ready. This will give you a clear indication of the size and if it’s ready to be harvested. The leaves are also edible, so if you find yourself impatient, snip a few of the top leaves off and add them into a salad! See you in the Garden! Do you have questions for the Garden Guru? Email Amy at underhillurbanfarmco@ gmail.com.
The Leader • Saturday, December 4, 2021 • Page 5B
County judge lowers COVID-19 threat level By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced Nov. 26 that the county’s COVID-19 threat level had been downgraded from Orange (Level 2) to Yellow (Level 3) based on a further decreases in cases, hospitalizations and positivity rates for COVID-19.
The 14-day average of positive COVID-19 cases had decreased by 24 patients per day, while usage of hospital ICU beds were down nearly 9 percent, according to the county. “With key trends moving in the right direction we’ve reached another encouraging milestone,” Hidalgo said. There have been 585,792 confirmed COVID-19 cases in
Houston and Harris County, according to the county’s COVID response dashboard, and there were more than 10,000 active cases as of Tuesday afternoon. At least 569,221 patients have recovered, while 6,523 deaths have been attributed to COVID-19, according to county data. Under the new threat level, the news release said fully
Hidalgo
City testing wastewater for Omicron variant By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
The City of Houston is testing its wastewater for the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus, the city announced Tuesday. A news release from the city said the Houston Health Department tests wastewater weekly for COVID-19 and its variants and the Omicron variant, which recently emerged in
South Africa, was not detected in the most recent round of samples collected the week of Nov. 22. The city also said no cases attributed to the variant have arisen in Houston and any variant detected will prompt an immediate announcement. Health officials and the scientific community are in the process of researching whether Omicron is more transmissible, causes more serious illness or evades vaccine pro-
tection compared to other variants, according to the city. “Testing wastewater will help us stay fully aware and prepared for the Omicron variant presence throughout Houston,” Mayor Sylvester Turner said. “… Although our team has not detected Omicron in Houston, we should anticipate it arriving, and the health department is prepared to scale its operations as needed to respond.”
Get Your Business
vaccinated individuals can resume regular activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing, except where required by law, rules or regulations. “As the holiday season moves into full swing, I encourage everyone to do their part to help us avoid a winter spike other areas are facing,” Hidalgo said. “Celebrate this
amazing time with the peace of mind that you’re doing what is right to protect yourself, your family and your friends by getting vaccinated.” For more indicators, guidance and COVID-related information for Harris County, visit ReadyHarris.org. Follow us on social media @ FromTheLeader
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The Leader • Saturday, December 4, 2021 • Page 7B
SPX, LHN hoops teams enjoy strong tournament showings By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
A couple of the area’s private high school girls basketball teams are off to strong starts and continued their winning ways during tournament play last week. St. Pius X and Lutheran High North went a combined 7-1 in tournament play before Thanksgiving last week and are looking to keep the good times rolling this week. The St. Pius X Lady Panthers went 4-0 in winning the Rosehill Christian Tournament in Tomball, moving to 8-1 on the season entering Tuesday night’s game against St. John’s. Zachara Perkins had 15 points, 13 rebounds and six blocks in the Lady Panthers’ win over San Antonio Incarnate Word Academy on Nov. 22, while Perkins (14 points), Farren Donald-Wright (14 points) and Erica D’Souza (13 points) all reached double figures later that day in a 53-28 win over San Antonio Lutheran. Perkins then had double-doubles in a 56-41 win over Round Rock Christian (22 points, 10 rebounds) on Nov. 23 and in a 46-38 win over San Mar-
cos Homeschool (19 points, 10 rebounds) in the second game of the day en route to being named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. LHN (7-4) went 3-1 at the Lake Country Christian Tournament in Fort Worth Nov. 22-23 before dropping a 46-42 decision to undefeated Houston Christian on Saturday. Lauren Vela had 14 points along with 10 rebounds and two blocks in a 62-45 win over Grapevine Faith Christian on Nov. 22, then grabbed 13 rebounds later that day in a 47-45 victory over Ursuline Academy. Imry Shrout-Jordan had 12 points and nine rebounds against Ursuline Academy, while Dalanna Carter had 18 points against Houston Christian. Waltrip’s Lady Rams dropped to 2-4 with a 5228 loss to North Forest on Nov. 23, while the Booker T. Washington Lady Eagles dropped a 76-15 decision to Summer Creek on Nov. 23 to fall to 2-6 on the season. The Heights Lady Bulldogs were scheduled to return to action Tuesday night against Pasadena Memorial. Boys
The Booker T. Washington Golden Eagles went 1-1 last week, taking down Scarborough 105-26 on Nov. 19 before losing 78-56 to Louisiana’s Dumas Academy 78-56 on Nov. 24. Kenneth Lewis had 34 points against Scarborough, while Chris McDermott poured in 26 points of his own. Lewis also led the Eagles with 25 points against Dumas Academy, while McDermott posted a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Waltrip is 2-2 on the season following a 1-1 week, losing 58-43 to La Marque on Nov. 19 before beating Scarborough 69-40 on Nov. 22. Scarborough is 0-5 on the season following last week’s two losses. The Heights Bulldogs are 2-2 on the season following consecutive defeats to Channelview on Nov. 19 and Houston Christian on Nov. 22. In private school action, Lutheran High North went 3-1 in Grace Christian Tournament play on Nov. 22-23, dropping a 65-63 decision to Fort Bend Christian Homeschool Academy on Nov. 22 before winning the last three. They also beat Kinkaid 7154 at th Texas High School
Photo from Twitter The Lutheran High North Lady Lions went 3-1 at the Lake Country Christian Tournament Nov. 22-23, finishing as the tournament runners-up.
Jamboree on Friday. Junior forward Zion Harper had at least 20 points in four of the five games last week for LHN (8-1), including a 23-point, 14-rebound performance against Kinkaid. St. Pius X went 2-1 at the Saints Thanksgiving Clas-
sic Nov. 22-23 to improve to 3-3 on the season, defeating Katy St. John XXIII (46-39) and Covenant Christian (4930) before dropping a 74-70 decision in overtime against Katy Westpark International Leadership School. St. Thomas beat Lutheran
South 58-53 on Nov. 23, then dropped a 48-32 decision to San Antonio Sam Houston on Nov. 26 before losing 41-39 to Houston Lamar on Nov. 27. The Eagles will be idle this week before returning to action Dec. 7 against Houston Kinkaid.
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Page 8B • Saturday, December 4, 2021 • The Leader
“Santos’ connection to the district is deep. Her dedication to students shines through. As a board member, she helped get raises for teachers and staff as a vocal champion for better pay in the district.”
Dear Neighbor, Thank you for giving me the honor of serving as your HISD Trustee. Because of your support, we have had many successes on the policies you elected me to advance four years ago. We have pushed millions of dollars to the classrooms that need them the most, raised teacher pay, and ensured our support staff earns a living wage. Join us as we vote to ensure that your representative has the experience—ten years teaching and four years governing—to keep our district moving forward. Together we will continue building up our schools so that all children in our city have access to an education that will empower them and enrich their lives.
Elizabeth S antos
WE SUPPORT ELIZABETH SANTOS FOR HISD DISTRICT 1 Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, AFL-CIO Houston GLBT CAUCUS Community Voices for Public Education Greater Heights Democratic Club Houston Stonewall Young Democrats Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia Commissioner Adrian Garcia Senator John Whitmire State Senator Carol Alvarado
DEDICATED TEACHER LIFE-LONG COMMUNITY ADVOCATE
Representative Penny Morales Shaw Representative Christina Morales Constable Sylvia Trevino Councilmember Robert Gallegos Councilmember Abbie Kamin HCC Trustee Monica Flores-Richart HCC Trustee Adriana Tamez Representative Ana Hernandez HISD Trustee Myrna Guidry Honorable Juliet Stipeche
Born and raised in District 1 Graduate of all District 1 schools 10-year veteran of teaching in District 1 schools Supported district-wide mask mandate Fierce advocate for democracy Has never accepted HISD vendor contributions — and never will
RUNOFF ELECTION IS
DECEMBER 11, 2021 EARLY VOTING: NOV 29 – DEC 7
GO TO WWW.HARRISVOTES.COM TO FIND YOUR POLLING LOCATION. @santos4hisd Facebook: Elizabeth Santos, HISD Trustee D1
POLITICAL AD PAID BY ELIZABETH SANTOS CAMPAIGN. GABRIELLA MINDIOLA, TREASURER. | EBS2101