Inside Today: Why the 11th Street Bikeway should happen • Page 3A
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Former local mail carrier accused of stealing credit cards By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
A former U.S. Postal Service carrier who worked in Woodland Heights has been accused of stealing and fraudulently using local residents’ credit cards, according to the Harris County Precinct 1 Constable’s Office. Ashlee Humphrey Williams, 35, has been charged with credit card abuse involving an elderly person, a felony, after allegedly stealing credit cards from two people while delivering mail for
USPS - and then allegedly making fraudulent purchases with the cards while wearing her USPS uniform - according to Harris County court documents. The constable’s office said there is a warrant out for Williams’ arrest and that it is investigating multiple credit card abuse complaints in the Woodland Heights, with the first incident having occurred in 2020. Williams previously pleaded guilty to felony credit card abuse in 2011, according to court records.
Williams
Williams is no longer employed by USPS, according to David Wilsey, a spokesperson for the postal service’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG). “This type of alleged behavior within the Postal Service is not tolerated,” Wilsey said in an emailed statement. Court records show that a woman reported to police Feb. 14 that her Chase United Plus credit card had been stolen and used in 22 transactions totaling more than $2,400 in charges. Surveillance footage
Mad about mudbugs
from the woman’s home allegedly showed that Williams was her regular mail carrier and that Williams had allegedly removed a piece of mail from the woman’s mailbox that included the credit card, according to court documents. Surveillance footage from stores such as Sam’s Club and Academy Sports allegedly showed Williams making fraudulent purchases with the card while wearing her USPS uniform, court records show. See Credit Cards P. 4A
Heights resident departs HCFCD for private sector By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
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INSIDE. Contributed photo Mudbugs are the main attraction at the annual Greater Heights Area Chamber of Commerce Crawfish Festival, which is returning March 5 after being canceled last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Heights crawfish festival to be held at music hall By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
Inspiring artists. Mitch Cohen writes about a recent art exhibition featuring inspiring young artists.
Page 7A
Smokin’ hot home. A Garden Oaks Home with a built-in smoker is for sale.
Page 1B
THE INDEX. Church....................................................... 4A Classifieds.............................................. 5A Coupons................................................... 3B Food/Drink............................................. 7A Opinion..................................................... 3A Public Information......................... 2A Puzzles...................................................... 3A Sports......................................................... 3B
Heaping mounds of mudbugs were not served last year by the Greater Heights Area Chamber of Commerce, which scrapped its annual crawfish festival because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The free community event is back this year and, considering its new setup, might make up for lost time. The Raven Tower at White Oak Music Hall, 310 North St., is hosting this year’s festival, scheduled for 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, March 5. And along with beer, including offerings from local craft brewery Eureka Heights Brew Co., mixed drinks will be sold. Liquor was not available at previous crawfish festivals, which typically were held on a closed-off street or in a parking lot. “We can’t wait to see everybody there,” chamber president James Montalbano said. “Everybody’s welcome.” The festival will feature live music as usual, with Lucid Illusions, a bluesy alternative rock band from Houston, performing this year. There also will be more than 75 vendors on hand as well as a “Kidz Zone.” Among the other attractions will be the finals of the
Contributed photo The Greater Heights Area Chamber of Commerce Crawfish Festival will be held March 5 at the Raven Tower at White Oak Music Hall. There will be live music like at previous crawfish festivals.
“Idol of the Heights” singing competition, with performers vying for a top prize of $1,500. Three preliminary rounds were held earlier this month at local bars.
During his six years with the Harris County Flood Control District, Matt Zeve built a reputation for being accessible, responsive, transparent, collaborative and helpful to fellow engineers, elected officials, members of the news media and Houston-area residents concerned about flooding. He also proved to be knowledgea ble, resourceful and effective in helping to initiate and complete drainage projects. As far as the longtime Heights Zeve resident is concerned, being accountable to the taxpaying public should be a key part of the job for anyone who works for a government agency. “The citizens of Harris County are our clients, right? So I feel like we have an obligation to be open and transparent,” Zeve said. “Their property taxes pay for flood control. I feel like I should be responsive to their questions and answer their questions, because I work for them. “Or I did work for them,” he added. Zeve, 45, resigned from his position as deputy executive director in late January. He had held that job since September 2018, after starting as the flood control district’s chief operations officer in November 2015 before being promoted to director of operations in September 2016. Zeve was the top-ranking official at the flood control after Russ Poppe resigned as executive director in June 2021, but he was not promoted to interim director by the Harris County Commissioners Court, which instead gave that title to Alan Black. Tina Petersen was named as the new executive director on Jan. 25, a few days before Zeve resigned. “I resigned because I sensed that the current administration was going to go in a different direction,” he said, “and I felt I was not part of their plan.” Zeve, who said he’ll start a new job in a leadership role with Gauge EngineerSee Zeve P. 4A
See Crawfish P. 5A
Study: City taxpayers subsidizing county services By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
If you own property within the Houston city limits, you pay annual property taxes not to the city government but to Harris County. Are the people and businesses in Houston, where nearly half of the county’s population resides, getting a fair return on their investment? They are not, according
to a recent property tax equity study published by the Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University. It estimated that during the fiscal years 2019 and 2020, Houston property owners contributed approximately $312 million more in tax revenue than they received in county services. According to the study, “This subsidy amounts to approximately 6 percent of the county’s total expendi-
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tures derived from property tax revenues.” The county collects and spends about $2 billion per year in property tax revenue, according to the institute, while the Harris County Hospital District collects and spends about $700 million per year. The study was commissioned through a city budget amendment made by Houston City Council member Abbie Kamin, who serves the Heights, Garden Oaks
and Oak Forest areas as part of District C. “The study speaks for itself in terms of the disproportionate investment outside of our city that Houston taxpayers are footing the bill on,” Kamin said. “I believed this to be the case, but felt it was important to actually capture it in numbers so that we have something to point to, something to go off of, See Taxpayers P. 5A
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THE PUBLIC. The Leader • Saturday, February 26, 2022 • Page 2A
County medical examiner seeks help identifying man found in Heights area By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences seeks the public’s help in identifying a man who was found dead inside a tent in the Heights area last year. The man’s partially skeletonized remains were found Sept. 8 in a wooded area near the intersection of Interstate 10 and Taylor Street, according to the medical examiner’s office, which said he was white, approximately 5-foot-8 and between 55 and 70 years old. He had surgical rods and screws in the in the bone of the left upper arm as well as
Contributed photo The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences is seeking the public’s help in identifying a man who was found dead inside a tent like this one on Sept. 8 in a wooded area near Interstate 10 and Taylor Street in the Heights.
multiple fillings in the upper and lower teeth. The man was found inside an Ozark Trail tent that was gray with orange lining, similar to the one pictured with
Contributed photo The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences is seeking the public’s help in identifying a man who was found dead Sept. 8 in the Heights area while wearing shoes similer to the one pictured.
this story. He was wearing a dark colored T-shirt, dark colored shorts, a belt and Adidas Ultraboost 19 running shoes that were red and white in color.
Anyone who recognizes the description of the man or can help identify him is asked to call 832-927-5000 or 832-927-5001.
Police searching for men involved in hotel shooting By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
The Houston Police Department says it is searching for two men suspected of being involved in the fatal shooting of another man Monday night at a hotel on the U.S. 290 service road. The victim, a 42-year-old man, was pronounced dead at an area hospital later Monday, the department said. HPD said the suspected shooters, described as two Black men, are still at large. Officers responded to the parking lot of the Red Roof Inn Houston-Brookhollow hotel at 12929 Northwest Fwy. around 6:10 p.m. Monday, police said, to find the victim lying on the ground. Eyewitnesses told investigators they heard gunshots ring out before seeing a white UHaul van with the Arizona license plate AL3-4831 flee the scene, according to HPD. Citing eyewitness reports and evidence found at the scene, police said the vic-
Photos from Houston Police Department This surveillance footage shows two men suspected of being involved in a fatal hotel shooting at a local hotel earlier this week, along with the vehicle they are suspected to have used.
tim initially pulled into the hotel parking lot in his own car alongside the white van that was carrying the two suspected shooters. HPD said one suspect got into a struggle with the victim while holding him at gunpoint, while the second reached into the victim’s car and grabbed a backpack that was thrown into the van. During the struggle, one of the suspects shot the victim, according to HPD. Police said the suspects then hit the victim with the van as they fled the scene south on the 290 service road. Police said one of the suspected shooters was wearing a gray Affliction T-shirt, and the other was wearing a black Rolling Stones hoodie and black pants. Anyone with information on the wanted suspects or the van in this case is asked to contact HPD’s Homicide division at 713-308-3600 or Houston Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477.
Break-in suspect killed at Heights home By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
One person has been arrested in connection to the shooting death of a man who allegedly broke into a Heights home last weekend, according to the Houston Police Department. The man who was found dead outside the residence has been identified as 24-yearold Jason Moore by the Harris County medical examiner. He was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police. According to HPD, 19-yearold Kevin Mejia has been charged with murder in the incident. A second unidentified man remains on the run, police said. HPD said officers responded to a shooting in progress call at a home at 312 W. 9th St. just after 4 a.m. last Saturday, Feb. 19 to find Moore dead near the front door of the home. According to police, three people – two of whom are alleged to have been Moore and Mejia – broke into the home and fired multiple gunshots at a person inside the house. A second person inside the home heard the gunshots, po-
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lice said, and started to return fire himself. Mejia and another unidentified suspect then allegedly fled, according to HPD, while Moore was allegedly hit by gunfire. Police said Mejia was taken into custody later Saturday. The investigation into the incident is ongoing, HPD said. Anyone with information in this case or on the identity of the wanted suspect is urged to contact HPD’s Homicide division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477.
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THE TOPICS. The Leader • Saturday, February 26, 2022 • Page 3A
City should move forward with 11th Street Bikeway
T
he 11th Street Bikeway project has had its detractors since the City of Houston first told the Heights neighborhood about it nearly three years ago. The opponents of the plan, which aims to make the east-west thoroughfare safer and more multimodal by reducing the number of vehicular lanes and adding protected bicycle lanes on a 1.5-mile stretch of 11th, among other traffic modifications, seem to have gotten louder and more passionate in recent weeks. A group of nearly 50 residents and business owners gathered early last week at Berryhill restaurant to air their concerns, and there was another meeting Tuesday night at Buchanan’s Native Plants, another 11th Street business that figures to be impacted by the proposed changes. At least some of the meeting attendees don’t understand why this is being done in the heart of what has historically been a car-centric city, and they don’t agree with the idea that cutting the number of driving lanes will make the street safer or come without a significant increase in drive times and traffic congestion. An 11th Street business owner and Heights resident told me there also are many in the neighborhood who feel like this project has been sprung upon them without a fair opportunity to ask questions, provide feedback and express concerns. “These residents are really up in arms about it,” said the business owner and resident, who asked to remain
Adam
Zuvanich Editor
anonymous. “It’s a bad idea.” While I can understand some of the potential issues that have been brought up, and realize that humans have a natural aversion to change, I’m here to tell you that I’m not one of the naysayers. I think the 11th Street Bikeway is a good idea, for multiple reasons, and it needs to happen. For starters, this is not a thrown-together plan the city is trying to sneak past neighborhood stakeholders. It’s part of the 5-year-old Houston Bike Plan and the more recent Vision Zero initiative, which aims to eliminate traffic fatalities in the city by the year 2030, and the city has provided traffic data that shows the street is more dangerous and prone to crashes than other roads with similar configurations. The point of all this is to provide protections for cyclists and pedestrians – think moms pushing strollers along the Heights Hike-and-Bike Trail – and to slow down drivers on 11th who have a demonstrated history of driving too fast and making unsafe movements. Let’s not forget the No. 1 priority for the city employ-
ees working on this project, which is being funded with taxpayer money, is to keep people from getting killed or seriously injured. And as I’ve reported during the last three years, Houston Public Works and the city’s Planning & Development Department have held multiple, regular public engagement sessions in which they’ve explained the project and its finer points to residents, businesses and property owners, giving them the opportunity to provide support or criticism as well as suggestions for improving the plan. The city’s planning and traffic engineers have heeded much of the feedback, too, making several tweaks and even broader changes, including during the last few months. For example, residents did not like the idea of limiting left turns to only two intersections between North Shepherd Drive and Yale Street, because of concerns about increased cut-through traffic on residential side streets. So the city amended the plan and now intends to allow left turns at all but three intersections on that stretch of the project area, which stretches east to Michaux Street and then south toward Stude Park. On most of that eastern stretch, the plan calls for one vehicular lane in each direction with a center, left-turn lane and protected bike lanes on the outsides of 11th. Those bike lanes also will be on the western portion from Shepherd to Yale, where the latest project details call for protected
cyclist and pedestrian crossings at three intersections, the same number of vehicular lanes in each direction but no center, left-turn lane, because the road is not wide enough to accommodate one. This has all been discussed in the open by city officials and to neighborhood stakeholders, such as the Houston Heights Association and the Greater Heights Super Neighborhood Council. So there has been ample opportunity for residents, businesses and property owners to chime in and make their voices heard. It’s time now to take a step back, trust the city’s traffic engineers – who do this stuff for a living – and give the 11th Street Bikeway a chance to work as designed. David Fields, the chief transportation planner with the city and the project co-leader, said they intend to move forward with completing the design phase and starting construction as early as this summer. “We’ve been working hard to get this thing done, because we think it’s really the right thing for the community,” Fields said. “At some point, we have to stand behind our Vision Zero effort and make this place safer.” Fields refuted one of the big concerns expressed about the project, that a street that’s already busy with car and truck traffic will become overly congested. He said traffic counts show that the proposed lane configuration will be more than adequate to move vehicles along 11th, even at peak hours.
Don’t mess with Canada
Headline: “Mayor of Vancouver, Canada, says Texans should make hockey their national pastime.” “Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sends government funds to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s campaign.” That would certainly rile up the masses. Yet Texas’ elected leaders are fanning the flames and hope U.S. truckers start blockading. As you probably know, Canadian truckers are outraged over a new vaccine mandate for those crossing the United States-Canada border, so they have been causing chaos in the capital of Ottawa and several other cities. Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloly called the demonstrations an “unprecedented protest never seen in Canada.” Some cities are practically closed down. Deliveries of food and medicine can’t get to their destinations. For several days the truckers blocked traffic at Ambassador Bridge between Detroit and Windsor, Canada. What are Texas’ leaders doing? They are messing with Canada. Sen. Ted Cruz shared his support for the protesters in an appearance on Fox News and said that that “government doesn’t have the right to force you to comply to their arbitrary mandates.” Cruz suggested the truckers should starve their countrymen as punishment for vaccine mandates. Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Steward fired back writing: “Can someone tell @tedcruz our store shelves are fine thanks to the 90 percent of Canadian truckers who are fully vaccinated.” U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, from the San Antonio area, charged that Trudeau had fled to the United States because of the truckers’ demonstrations. Roy branded Trudeau a “tyrant on the run” and demanded that the U.S. deport Trudeau so he could “face his own people immediately.” Oops! Trudeau wasn’t in the U.S. Others were also making a fool of themselves. Fox News talking heads Sean Hannity and Tucker Carlson not only support the Canadian truckers but call for their U.S. counterparts to begin blockades. A lot of Republicans are getting into the act with our largest trading partner. Donald Trump told a crowd of supporters in Conroe that the convoy participants are “doing more to defend American freedom than our own leaders by far. We want those great Canadian truckers to know that we are with them all the way.” Donald Trump Jr. also expressed his support for the convoy in a video posted to Facebook, saying, “We need to see more of this here in the U.S.” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, backed the truckers. The meddling got so bad that Canada’s leaders began urging Republicans to stay
Lynn Ashby Columnist
out of that country’s domestic affairs. Canadian Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said: “We need to be vigilant about potential foreign interference ... Whatever statements may have been made by some foreign official are neither here nor there. We’re Canadian. We have our own set of laws. We will follow them.” Canada’s minister of intergovernmental affairs, Dominic LeBlanc, blamed the GOP interference for inciting disorderly conduct and helping to fund groups that are in violation of Canadian law. These Republican supporters of the Freedom Convoy don’t understand that the Canadian truck stoppage was hurting U.S. workers, too. A lot of auto parts come from Canada, which were stuck there. Ford, GM and Toyota had to suspend work or cut back hours at U.S. auto factories, waiting for the parts to arrive. The workers’ paycheck shrank. Thanks a bunch, GOPers. Then came the GoFundMe caper. Supporters began raising funds to help the blockaders though GoFundMe. Got up to $9 million before GoFundMe ended the fundraising citing “evidence from law enforcement that the previously peaceful demonstration has become an occupation.” It was initially announced that the funds would be given to organizations approved by Freedom Convoy organizers and verified instead of refunding the donations. That didn’t satisfy the donors, so it was announced that the money would be refunded. In that same interview on Fox News, Cruz said: “Well, listen, it is theft on the part of GoFundMe. Let me say, the Canadian truckers are heroes. They are patriots. And they are marching for your freedom and for my freedom. They are -- those truck drivers, God bless them. They’re defending Canada, but they’re defending America as well.” He went on to say: “Listen, if anyone else did that, that is called theft. And so, today, I sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission asking that the FTC open an investigation into GoFundMe, into whether they have committed deceptive trade practices, because, when people gave money, they gave money under the promise it would go to the Freedom Convoy, not to whatever left-wing political ideology GoFundMe and other Silicon Valley companies support. They are deceiving consumers. And it is wrong.” Not to be outdone, our
own Attorney General Paxton tweeted, “Patriotic Texans donated to Canadian truckers’ worthy cause. This BLMbacking company went woke, froze the funds, and failed to deliver Texans’ money. Today I assembled a team to investigate their potential fraud and deception. Texas donors will get Justice!” (BLM is Black Lives Matter.) Public Safety Minister Mendicino shot back: “It is certainly not the concern of the Texas attorney general as to how we in Canada go about our daily lives in accordance with the rule of law.” Presently, there are about 800,000 Canadians in the United States. Some 20,000 Canadians, about 6 percent, call the Houston area home. Many of them are connected to the oil and gas biz. They must like it here. As of
2018, the latest figures available, despite then-President Trump’s focus on immigrants from Mexico, for the second straight year Canada occupied the top spot for overstaying their standard six-month limit for visas – about 97,000 of them. A young man, applying for a job, walks into the boss’s office. He’s on the phone and says to the applicant, “Sorry, I’m just talking to someone from Canada.” The young man says, “The only people that we get from Canada are hockey players and loose women.” The boss says, “I was talking to my wife.” “Oh, and what team did she play for?” Ashby plays at ashby2@comcast.net
He also challenged the notion that bike lanes are not necessary because people do not frequently ride bikes along 11th, saying that cyclists did not ride along Houston’s bayous until bike lanes were added there. To borrow a line from one of my favorite baseball movies, if you build it, they will come. And why would anyone come while it’s still too dangerous to ride bikes on 11th? The 11th Street Bikeway is part of a broader initiative to make the city more bike-friendly and to reduce its reliance on automobiles and by extension, fossil fuels whose byproducts pollute the air. There’s a reason why Houston often has hazy-looking skies. And this particular project will help provide further trail connectivity in the future, with it slated to link up with the bike lanes going in along Shepherd and Durham as well as along Interstate 10 in the southern portion of the Heights. On the 11th Street project alone, the city already has spent a significant amount of time and effort putting this plan together and then fine-tuning with feedback from the neighborhood. To scrap the plan now would be a huge waste of resources. So let’s allow this thing to happen and keep an open mind about how traffic will flow in the future. If it doesn’t, and if it doesn’t make the street safer for everyone who uses it, then you can come up with all the concerns and criticisms you want.
THE READER. Creek Karma
Dear Editor: The irony of the recent theft and break in at two Creek establishments is probably not lost on the legion of patrons of these establishments that have had their vehicles burglarized while visiting these watering holes. The problem is so rampant at Cedar Creek that the signs warning visitors to not leave valuables in their vehicles are 20 feet off the ground so they too will not be stolen. However- is there any security provided- NOPE. Maybe now that it’s costing the owner, he will care that its been costing his customers for over a decade. Pete Nordloh
Reader would have liked candidate information earlier
Dear Editor: It would also be nice if the candidates running would send out information on their positions on policies earlier. I usually have to do my own research as I’m preparing my mail-in ballot. Thank you for The Leader! Deborah Thornton
Email us your letters: news@theleadernews.com When IRS eyes are smiling, it’s time to frown
Dear Editor: If the IRS were to get a “cut” of illegal income, wouldn’t that make them a party to the crime? George Butel
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the leader Puzzlers. Answers found in this week’s Classified section
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WORD SCRAMBLE
Page 4A • Saturday, February 26, 2022 • The Leader
Small business expo rescheduled for May 17 By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
McElvy Partners, the Houston-based company that publishes The Leader and other community newspapers, is hosting an upcoming event that will connect small businesses to the resources and knowledge they need to ignite their ventures in 2022. The Ignite Small Biz Expo, originally set for March, has
been rescheduled for 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday, May 17, at The Revaire, 7122 Old Katy Rd. It will feature educational masterclasses, impactful networking opportunities and a variety of resources and vendors that can help small businesses grow and thrive. “Small businesses, now more than ever before, need access to resources and information,” said Adrian Garson, the vice president of events
and promotions for McElvy Partners. “We aim to provide that with an in-person event that allows small businesses to interface with companies who can not only serve but improve the small business community.” The Ignite expo is free to attend for community members and will include free refreshments as well as giveaways and raffle prizes. Registration is required and can be com-
pleted at mcelvypartners. com/ignite, with those who sign up automatically entered into the raffle contest. Participating small businesses can purchase tables or other vendor spaces by visiting mcelvypartners.com/ ignite. Early bird pricing is available. The event is expected to include a couple hundred attendees, Garson said, and the state’s latest public health
guidance for COVID-19 will be followed. “One of our goals, as a company that has been in the Houston market for more than 65 years, is to find ways to connect small businesses with their customers,” said Jonathan McElvy, the president and CEO of McElvy Partners. “In our newspapers, we’ve done that through advertising, but before the pandemic, we had developed wonder-
Construction to start soon on Heights-area infrastructure project By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
Construction will soon begin on a $14.5 million infrastructure project in the southern part of the Heights area, which will be overhauled with new concrete paving, stormwater drainage, street lighting and underground utilities. Houston Public Works has scheduled a pre-construction virtual public engagement meeting for 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 3, where information will be shared about the upcoming work and attendees can participate in a live question-and-answer session. The meeting can be accessed at engagehouston.org/houstonheights, where other project information is available.
Construction for the Houston Heights, John Brashear and Memorial Heights Paving and Drainage Project is expected to take 20 months, weather permitting, according to the website. The target completion date is the fall 2023. In addition to the aforementioned stormwater drainage infrastructure, street lighting and underground utilities, the project also calls for new curbs, sidewalks and driveways. Most of the streets to be upgraded are between White Oak Bayou to the north and Washington Avenue to the south, between Heights Boulevard to the west and Studemont Street to the east.
Graphic from engagehouston.org The above map shows the project area for the Houston Heights, John Brashear and Memorial Heights Paving and Drainage Project.
Zeve, from P. 1A ing in late March, expressed pride about the work he did at the flood control district and in helping the county agency work toward completing three federally funded flood mitigation projects that he said had been in the works for two decades. Among them is an ongoing project to widen White Oak Bayou from Cole Creek just south of Tidwell Road to FM 1960 to the northwest. He also had a hand in the $2.5 billion flood bond passed by Harris County voters in 2018, in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. Zeve said he also helped create a “culture change at the flood control district where we became a very efficient, very effective government agency with a sense of urgency.” Houston City Council members Abbie Kamin and Amy Peck, who serve local residents, were both effusive in their praise for Zeve. Kamin
said, “Gratitude alone does not seem to suffice when I think back on all he has done to protect residents during his tenure with HCFCD.” “The knowledge and attention to detail that he brought to the job was exceptional,” Peck said. “The way he worked to find solutions to flooding problems both big and small was unparalleled. Mr. Zeve’s departure from Harris County Flood Control District is a huge loss, and I am truly grateful for his service.” Zeve, who has served as a board member for Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone 12, a taxcollecting entity formed by the city to provide infrastructure improvements to an area that includes the Timbergrove neighborhood, also won over Timbergrove resident John Zavala, who has served as the vice president for Super Neighborhood Council 14. Zeve helped facilitate two cleanup projects in the neighborhood,
on Turkey Gully and Shelterwood Gully, after residents expressed concerns about potential flooding in those waterways. Zavala called Zeve “extremely responsive,” even replying to emails on weekends at times. On at least one occasion, Zeve answered a reporter’s early morning call to his cell phone while he was on vacation. “Matt by far is the shining light for how I think an employee within the city or the county should be,” Zavala said. “We’ve dealt with hundreds of people over the last few years. … You name the (government) organization, and we’ve dealt with them. But Matt just shines. He’s like a ball of energy, endless energy. There’s no quit in him.” Zeve said he “loved” his job at the flood control district and the people he worked with and felt like they were producing flood-mitigation
ful events in this community that brought people together. The world of marketing is so complex today, but there’s still nothing better than getting in front of people and talking. We’re happy we can start doing that again.” Visit the aforementioned event website or email adrian@mcelvypartners.com for more information.
Credit Cards, from P. 1A Williams also is accused of stealing the Sears MasterCard of a 74-year-old man and allegedly using it to make thousands of dollars in purchases between Nov. 8 and Dec. 19 – including a charge at Home Depot for more than $1,700, according to court records, which show that investigators recovered a shipping order on the Home Depot charge that allegedly showed items being shipped to Williams’ home address. The constable’s office said the Office of the Inspector General is working with authorities on the case, and they are seeking information about other potential victims regarding the theft or fraudulent use of credit cards or critical documents. Anyone who thinks they may be a victim or has information relevant to the investigation is asked to call 713-755-7628 or submit a hotline complaint at uspsoig.gov/hotline.
solutions for residents of both the city and county. Now he’ll channel his effort and expertise to the private sector with Gauge Engineering, a Houston-based consulting firm that specializes in providing civil engineering planning, design and construction management services to public sector clients. “Matt has made a tremendous impact in our area and much of what we have accomplished has been with his help, from assisting us with the purchase of lots along neighborhood waterways that will now help surrounding homes, to remediating sinkholes we’d find along our bayous, to helping me get the ball rolling on critical multi-million dollar flood mitigation projects for our neighborhoods, including Turkey Gully,” Kamin said. “I could always go to Matt and he would find a solution.”
PUBLIC NOTICE: Plumbers Local Union No. 68 Community Improvement Fund, which is a 501(c)3 tax exempt charitable organization, is opening the fund’s records for public inspection at 502 Link Road in Houston, Texas. Interested parties may review the records during the hours of 1 p.m. – 4 p.m., Monday – Friday.
Time is short By Pastor Will Cover
Arise Baptist Church 803 Curtin St. Houston TX 77018 713-659-9697 • www.arisebaptistchurch.org
I
have been really challenged lately about the brevity of life. Maybe this is the reality of getting a little bit older. Maybe this is a result of having a child who is almost as big as me now. Maybe this is a result of being a pastor and having to preach funerals and help people who are grieving. Perhaps it is the sum of all of the above. Either way, I know that life is short and I want to live a life that counts. God’s Word says in James 4:14, “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away.” When you live with the perspective that life is short
it can cause you to feel stressed out by your inability to accomplish everything that needs to be done or you can realize that you have an eternity after this life to think about. God’s Word teaches us that you will either spend eternity with God in Heaven or you will have eternal death in Hell. Eternity in heaven is possible through because of the work of Christ on the cross to pay for your sin. Without Christ, every person is doomed to Hell as a result of their sin. Time is short and you must trust in Jesus. As a believer in Jesus Christ, I want to live each day with an eternal focus. I don’t want to waste time because every moment is precious as it is another opportunity to live for Christ and to point others to Him. Are you living in the reality that time is short?
CHURCH D I R E CTO RY
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St. James Lutheran Church, ELCA Bible Studies For All Ages ... 9:30am In light of theSunday COVID-19 outbreak, please check with each •church below for updated Morning Worship ............... 10:45am Worship (English) ..... 10:00 am - 11:00am Wednesday Bible Studies For Youth, Children • Learning Hour........... 11:00am - 12:00pm information about services and events. In-person services temporarily restricted. MANNA are • Worship (Spanish) .... 12:30 pm - 1:30pm and Adults............................ 6:15pm 1822 W. 18th • 713-864-1470
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We invite you to worship with us! Weekly Worship Services 9:00a.m. Online services can be reached through the website below at 9:00 am. www.gethsemanelutheran.org
O
t goes with made mist err is hum this the next must learn fro to repeat them it can be hard can sometime We sometime we’ve done, a for years, or e addition, som our past. And them, we mu we should for the coming da as well as our them; that is, repeatedly m the phrase “fo the only way t more divine, i the offense. vindictive, sh it! Corrie ten prison camp s to realize that
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The Leader • Saturday, February 26, 2022 • Page 5A
Taxpayers, from P. 1A
Crawfish, from P. 1A
when we have discussions about this with our partners at the county level.” What will happen as a result of the study, if anything, is unclear. Kamin said the data can be used in discussions among city and county leaders regarding shared government services that would reduce costs for taxpayers, adding that she’ll advocate for additional investments for Houston property owners. The study notes that Harris County provides many services to all residents of the county, including those in Houston, such as justice administration and hospital care. But in the unincorporated parts of the county, which include nearly 2 million of the county’s total population of 4.8 million, the county government is responsible for costly services such as law enforcement and road maintenance that generally do not benefit those inside the city limits. “For this reason, the question of whether city taxpayers subsidize services outside the city has long been debated,” the study states. For both fiscal years 2019 and 2020, the study found that Houston property owners receive more in services from the county hospital district than they pay to that entity,
to the tune of about $128 million. But in terms of general property taxes collected by the county, city taxpayers paid about $440 million more than they received in services during those fiscal years, according to the study. The Kinder Institute said it retained Maryland-based consulting firm TischlerBise to conduct the technical analysis. The study was financed by both the City of Houston and Arnold Ventures, with Harris County’s Budget Management Office and the Commissioners Court Analyst’s Office providing information and advice, according to the institute. Kamin said the administration of Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo as well as county commissioners Rodney Ellis and Adrian Garcia supported the study and “worked with the city and Kinder to ensure transparency.” Kamin also said there was bipartisan support for the study within the city government, with Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin among those who advocated for it. “I will continue to work with city and county leaders as we discuss not only shared services to reduce costs for residents, but advocate for additional investments for Houstonians,” Kamin said.
“It’s going to be a tough competition,” Montalbano said. “I’ve been to all the preliminaries, and there’s really good talent out there.” The stage will be under a covered, open-air pavilion, and the festival will be held rain or shine. And while the event is free to attend, food and drinks must be purchased. “Crawfish Festival Bucks,” with $1 equating to 1 crawfish buck, must be used for food items and kids attractions and can be purchased in advance at a discounted rate. Crawfish plates including potatoes and corn can be purchased for $20 through Feb. 25 or $25 afterward. Montalbano said other food items, including hot dogs and sausage on a stick, will be available for $5 apiece. Crawfish bucks and event Tshirts can be purchased online at https://heightschamber.org/ heights-chamber-crawfish-festival-2022/, where free admission tickets as well as vendor and sponsorship information also are available. Event proceeds benefit the chamber of commerce as well as the Greater Heights Area Community Fund.
Contributed photo Among the attractions at the Greater Heights Area Chamber of Commerce Crawfish Festival, scheduled for March 5 at the Raven Tower at White Oak Music, will be a “Kidz Zone.”
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The Leader • Saturday, February 26, 2022 • Page 7A
Art Valet: Dining out led to finding out about inspiring young artist Mitch Cohen Art Columnist
There I was, clear across town having a nice dinner with my girlfriend, and who do we meet? A young emerging artist, of course! A short conversation about the art scene with our server, Amy, led to her saying her son, also her assistant, is an artist. Gianni Casebere is a recent high school graduate who has been helping out his mom at the family restaurant, Luigi’s Ristorante Italiano, 12779 Jones Rd. (Not around the corner from the Heights, but worth the drive!) We left Luigi’s with happy tummies and an invitation to Casebere’s first art show, which took place Monday at Sandal Gap Studio, 9434 Katy Fwy. Suite 380. My girlfriend, Lynn, and I were there and had a great time. I can’t recall
if I’ve ever left an art show feeling more inspired. Casebere said he is a new but very committed and fulltime (emphasis on full-time) artist as he explained his creative technique. Casebere’s 2D wood wall hangings are more conceptual than representative, but his explanations were on point and in hindsight, the subject matter should have been obvious to me. He cuts his designs out of flat sheets of wood, smooths out the edges, assembles and finally paints them using rollers and spray paint. Casebere only had six pieces of art in his first show, but all of them sold! In fact, reviewing the live auction website, Charity Auctions Today, where anyone could bid on the art, it looks like almost all of the art sold from Monday’s reception, which featured artists with Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities. DJ Carlson’s artwork are phrases from song lyrics he wrote spelled out with electrical tape on board. My favorite
Contributed photo Gianni Casebere, left, embraces some of his artist friends during a recent reception at Sandal Gap Studio, 9434 Katy Fwy. Suite 380.
was Left Side Best Side, which read, “Every Night i Be Sleepin On The Left Side Of The Bed.” Amy Morby’s sculptures
are found objects, wrapped in yarn, string and other fibers. Looking closely, a multitude of objects can be found hiding underneath.
Sandal Gap Studio is a nonprofit charitable organization whose mission is to fill the gap of knowledge and understanding between society and
individuals with disabilities. They’ve got a great story about how this all got started, and I hope that co-founder Lisa Eichen and Studio Director Katie Keener can tell you more in an upcoming interview. As our new friend Casebere states on his Instagram page, “I have Down Syndrome, it doesn’t have me!” Casebere and all the artists at Sandal Gap Studio have an unbridled passion for their creations, and it shows. All the art was simply amazing and I can’t wait to visit again. Oh, and hugs are free! Learn more about Sandal Gap Studios programming and open studios on Second Saturdays https://www.sandalgapstudio.org. Follow Gianni Casebere on Instagram h t t p s : / / w w w. i n s t a g r a m . com/down_syndromestud Cohen is an artist and founder of the First Saturday Arts Market and The Market at Sawyer Yards. Find him at ArtValet.com for additional highlights and artist’s stories.
Review: Thai Lanna provides more than meets the eye By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
There were no signs of any customers, or even employees, when I walked up to Thai Lanna at about 8 p.m. on a recent weeknight. I wasn’t even sure the restaurant was open until I pulled on the front door and discovered it was not locked. This is typically a bad sign, because a crowd of people in a dining room is generally a good indicator that a place is pretty good. But in this case, I ended up feeling like I had stumbled upon a secret that was oblivious to the line of drive-thru customers at the neighboring fast-food burger chain. Thai Lanna, 1714 W. Loop N., provided a fresh and flavorful meal while satisfying a craving for authentic Thai food. And even though I got my order to go instead of sitting down in the quaint dining room with Asian decor, it traveled well and stayed warm until I got home and unwrapped the plastic bag with two Styrofoam boxes inside. I opted for the Thai Dumplings as an appetizer at the suggestion of the employee behind the counter, and they proved to be the best part of my meal, partly because I got six sizable dumplings for $8. They were steamed
Photo by Adam Zuvanich Among the appetizers at Thai Lanna are the Thai Dumplings, which are steamed wonton noodles stuffed with chicken and garnished with garlic and cilantro.
wonton noodles stuffed with seasoned ground chicken and garnished with cilantro and what I think were carmelized pieces of chopped garlic. It smelled like garlic, at least, although I suppose it could have been onions (the menu did not specify). Either way, the dumplings were delicious and just as good by themselves as they were when dipped in Thai Lanna’s “special house soy sauce.” My main dish was the Pad See Ew, which is what I almost always order at Thai restaurants. You could call it
the dish by which I judge a Thai restaurant. This one was solid, although not spectacular. Thai Lanna’s take on Pad See Ew included the standard ingredients of flat noodles, broccoli, scrambled egg and the meat of your choice, which for me was pork, along with a light, brown sauce. Many Thai restaurants I’ve been to ask how spicy you want the dish, whereas Thai Lanna made it mild and put some Thai chili sauce on the side. I used all they gave me, which gave the dish a gentle kick as well as some sauci-
Photo by Adam Zuvanich The Pad See Ew at Thai Lanna, 1714 W. Loop N., features flat noodles, broccoli, scrambled eggs and the meat of your choice.
ness that it lacked otherwise. Along those lines, some of the noodles were clumped together, which was a bit of a drawback, but I cleaned my to-go box nonetheless. I washed it all down with a cup of Thai iced tea, which was similarly good to others I’ve had. It’s a spiced, slightly sweet Ceylon tea mixed with sugar and milk, giving it an orange color and creamy consistency. Thai Lanna offers an array of appetizers and dishes,
including soups, salads, vegetarian options and entrees with beef, chicken, pork or seafood, in addition to curry and noodle dishes. The employee who helped me said the Ginger Chicken, available fried or sauteed for $13, is the most popular item on the menu. Perhaps I’ll try that on a return trip to Thai Lanna, which is open six days per week and beats a fast-food burger chain on any of those days.
Thai Lanna Address: 1714 W. Loop N. Dining Options: Dine-in, takeout Hours: 11 a.m.-2 p.m., 5-8:30 p.m. Monday-Friday; noon-2 p.m., 5-8:30 p.m. Saturday Entree prices: $11.50-$16 Kid-friendly: Yes Senior discount: No Alcohol: No Healthy options: Salads, vegetarian dishes Star of the show: Thai Dumplings Rating: 3.5 out of 5 bites
Nibbles & Sips: Beloved Heights bar gets second chance By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
A longtime Heights-area bar has a new lease on life after previously being forced to shut its doors due to economic effects from the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a report from Houston Food Finder, the former Alice’s Tall Texan at 4904 N. Main St. in the Heights recently reopened under new ownership as Tall Texan II. Jesse Botello, who also co-owns Glitter Karaoke in Midtown, has been running a soft opening for the new concept over the last few weeks, according to Food Finder. The bar hosted a watch party for the Super Bowl on Feb. 13. Much of the Tall Texan’s previous selection of beers, such as Shiner Bock and Lone Star, will continue to be available, per the bar’s new Facebook page. There will also be an added selection of liquor such as Jack Daniels and Jim Beam whiskey, according to Food Finder. The bar is open from 3 p.m.-midnight Monday and Tuesday, 3 p.m.-2 a.m. Wednesday through Friday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-midnight Sunday. For more information, community members can
Photo from Facebook The Tall Texan 2 recently opened at 4904 N. Main St.
call 713-242-8113 or visit the bar’s Facebook page at f a c e b o o k . c o m / Ta l l - Te x an-2-108913165051891. Ghost kitchen concept opens at Heights Kroger New ready-to-eat meal options are available for shoppers at the Kroger at 1035 N. Shepherd Dr. in the Heights following a partnership between the grocery giant and a nationwide operator of the “ghost kitchen” concept. According to a news release from Kroger, Kitchen
United MIX has opened its newest ghost kitchen concept inside the store. The release said food from more than 10 Houston-area restaurant brands such as Fuddruckers, The Rustic, Buca di Beppo, Dog Haus and more will be available at the Kroger. Food will be available for pickup, to-go or delivery, according to Culture Map, and customers will be able to order food from Kitchen MIX’s app or via on-site kiosks. The location will be open Sunday through Thursday from 10
Photo from Facebook Esther’s Cajun Cafe and Soul Food recently opened a new location at 5007 N. Shepherd Dr.
a.m.-9 p.m. as well as Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Esther’s Cafe opens location on North Shepherd A locally-based spot for Cajun seafood and soul food has expanded its footprint in the area. Esther’s Cajun Cafe and Soul Food opened its new restaurant at 5007 N. Shepherd Dr. on Feb. 15. It is the third Esther’s venue in the area, joining the original location about a mile away at 5204
Yale St. in Independence Heights as well as a private venue at 1102 Pinemont Dr. According to an October report from Eater Houston, the new restaurant is more than twice the size of the original and has new menu items such as beef tips, lamb chops and a full-service bar with southern and Louisianathemed cocktails. For more information, visit the restaurant’s website at estherscajunsoul.com. H-E-B Quest for Texas
Best accepting submissions An annual statewide competition for products that will be put on the shelves at H-EB will soon begin accepting submissions. H-E-B, which has local stores in the Heights and Washington Avenue areas, announced Feb. 18 that entries for the 2022 H-E-B Quest for Texas Best competition will be accepted from Feb. 23-April. The company said qualified participants will compete for a combined $70,000 in cash prizes and the opportunity to feature their product on H-E-B shelves across the state. The competition entails primarily food and drink creations, but H-E-B said beauty items, toys, home goods, household necessities, gardening supplies, coolers and more will be accepted this year. Interested participants must submit a 2-minute video explaining or showing how and where the product is made, imagery of the product, and why H-E-B should select their product for the competition. For more information and to read more about submission requirements, visit heb. com/quest.
Page 8A • Saturday, February 26, 2022 • The Leader
4th Wall debuting newest show next month By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
A prominent local theatre company is preparing to debut its newest show next month, one that was a Pulitzer Prize finalist. 4th Wall Theatre Company will showcase the Houston premiere of “Gloria,” written by Branden JacobsJenkins, at its studio, 1824 Spring St. Suite 101. The show will run from March 25 through April 16, with evening performances at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinee performances at 3 p.m.
The two-hour satirical show follows an ambitious group of editorial assistants at a notorious Manhattan magazine who want to hit it big before turning 30 years old, according to a news release from the theatre. “But when an ordinary humdrum workday becomes anything but, the stakes for who will get to tell their own story become higher than ever,” the theater said in the release. Tickets for the show range from $17-$53 and can be bought online at www.4thwalltheatreco.com
or by calling the theater at 832-767-4991 All guests are required to present proof of a negative COVID-19 test obtained within three days of the event in order to enter the theatre, or show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination. Masks must also be worn while inside the theater during the performance. For more information on 4th Wall Theatre Company, visit its website at 4thwalltheatreco.com and follow @4thwallhouston on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Theatre Suburbia to debut ‘An Evening With Sherlock Holmes’ By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
A local volunteer theatre is hosting a trio of one-act plays about the adventures of one of the most recognizable fictional detectives. It will make its debut to the public later this week. Theatre Suburbia, 5201 Mitchelldale St., just west of U.S. 290, will debut its presentation of “An Evening with Sherlock Holmes,” a trio of mysteries written by Jules Tasca, on Friday. The first play, “The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor,” is the tale of a British aristocrat who marries an American millionaire because his fortune has run out, then has Holmes and Watson investigate his wife’s disappearance on their wedding day. The second performance, “The Milverton
Adventure,” pits Holmes and Watson against Charles Milverton, who is blackmailing one of Holmes’ clients. Then, in “The Disappearance of Adam,” a news release from the theatre said Holmes must solve one of the existential mysteries in the show’s finale. The show will run each Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. through March 26, with select Sunday performances at 2 p.m. March 13 and March 20. Tickets are $18 for adults and $16 for students and seniors. Reservations are encouraged, the theatre said, and can be made online at theatresuburbia.org or by phone at 713682-3525. Masks are optional for attendees, but are encouraged. For more information on Theatre Suburbia and its shows, visit the theatre website at theatresuburbia.org.
Photo by Gabriella Nissen
4th Wall Theatre Company is debuting “Gloria” next month.
All Saints Catholic Church to host Friday fish fries By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
Contributed photo “An Evening with Sherlock Holmes” opens at Theatre Suburbia, 5201 Mitchelldale St., on Friday.
Beginning next Friday, March 4, the All Saints Knights of Columbus council will host three Lenten fish fries at the All Saints Catholic Church, 215 E. 10th St. in the Heights. Meals will be served on March 4, March 18 and April 1 from 5-8:30 p.m. in the parish hall. Plates will be $10 apiece with fried catfish, hush puppies, french fries and coleslaw, and other food and drinks will also be available to buy. The church said the fish fries will help raise funds for the All Saints Knights of Columbus’ charitable activities conducted throughout the year. For more information, visit the church’s website at allsaintsheights. com or follow its Facebook page @ allsaintshouston.
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LEADER LISTING The Leader • Saturday, February 26, 2022 • Page 1B
Garden Oaks home boasts smokin’ hot history By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
The Texas flag is painted on the front of a backyard storage shed that was built to look like a barn, which is situated next to a covered patio that would be great for hosting a barbecue. Enough meat to feed multiple families could be cooked in the four-compartment smoker that’s built into the back wall of the Garden Terry Jeanes Oaks home, which is sky blue on the outside with white trim and a red front door. “Everything about this place just exudes Texas,” said Terry Jeanes, a longtime Garden Oaks resident and real estate agent for Led Well Realty. Jeanes is representing the property owner as the listing agent for the three-bedroom, two-bathroom home at 1034 W. 43rd St., which was built in 1947 and measures 1,713 square feet of building space on an 8,280-square foot lot. It has been on the market for more than two months, but Jeanes said she expects it to sell soon. The asking price has twice been reduced and is now $399,854 – the only active, available listing under $400,000 in the entire Garden Oaks neighborhood, according to Jeanes – and she said interest in the unique home has gradually increased. The fact it includes a built-in smoker led to it being featured earlier this month in the Houston Chronicle, and a post about the home on the Facebook page Zillow Gone Wild got about 2,500 likes, 1,300 comments and more than 800 shares. “It’s at a reasonable price point, and I think it’s got a fun story,” Jeanes
Photo from HAR.com A four-compartment smoker, to the left of the fireplace, is built into the back wall of a Garden Oaks home that is for sale.
Photo from HAR.com The three-bedroom, two-bathroom home at 1034 W. 34th St. is listed for $399,854 and has been on the market for more than two months.
Photo from HAR.com A Texas flag is painted on a storage shed in the backyard of the Garden Oaks home at 1034 W. 43rd St.
said. “There’s been so many hits on it, it’s crazy.” Jeanes, who said she represented a previous owner when the home was sold in 2007, has researched its history as well as the origin of the built-in smoker. An elderly woman who grew up in the home showed up at an open house earlier this month and said her father, Macon Petty, fabricated the iron for the smoker and installed it in what at the time was a screened back porch, according to Jeanes. The porch was converted into a back den in 1952, Jeanes said, at which point the original attached garage was converted into the home’s third bedroom. Jeanes said she also determined that it’s been decades since the smoker, which is situated next to a wood fireplace on the same back wall, has been used. In her listing on the Houston Association of Realtors website, she suggests that the brick wall could be covered and converted into an entertainment center – or the smoker could be repurposed into a pizza oven. Although the built-in smoker is a unique, perhaps quirky feature that has long gone unused, Jeanes said it has not been cited as a drawback among potential buyers. She said she suspects the home has remained on the market so long because it’s on one of the busiest streets in the neighborhood and is zoned to Durham Elementary and not Garden Oaks Montessori Magnet. Still, Jeanes said she expects it to sell at its current price. She also said the home and its history embodies the charm of the Garden Oaks neighborhood, which has a friendly, smalltown feel in the heart of a big city. The publicity the home has received, largely because of its built-in barbecue pit, figures to help as well. “I’m thrilled about all this,” Jeanes said. “The more people talk about it, the more people get directed to it.”
REAL ESTATE ROUNDUP
For over 80 years, we’ve cared enough to think about the very worst.
HHA accepting nominations for Community Improvement Awards
Personal attention. Call 713-699-8669 today! Lane Lewis Your Local Agent
By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
The Houston Heights Association (HHA) is accepting nominations through Friday for its annual Community Improvement Awards. Each year, the HHA recognizes recent commercial and residential construction or renovations in the neighborhood that helps preserve or improve the building character and living experience in the Heights community. The HHA is looking for nominations of residences and businesses that were either built or renovated in 2019, 2020 or 2021. Nominations are being accepted for four categories: • Commercial New Construction • Commercial Renovation • Residential New Construction • Residential Renovation The complete eligibility criteria can be found online at houstonheights.org/about/ community/. For more information on the awards or questions about submitting a nomination, community members can email awards@houstonheights.org. Kidcreate opens Saturday at Stomping Grounds A burgeoning development in the Garden Oaks and Oak Forest area will welcome its newest tenant to the neighborhood this weekend. Stomping Grounds’ Face-
Through tornadoes, earthquakes, hurricanes, and more, Farmers has been on the scene helping people start rebuilding since 1928. No one wants to think about all the things that can go wrong. But at Farmers, that’s what we’ve been doing for the last 80 years.
Photo from Facebook Kidcreate Studio will host its grand opening this weekend at Stomping Grounds, 1223 W. 34th St.
book page said Kidcreate Art Studio will hold its grand opening event this Saturday at 1223 W. 34th St., Suite A-500. The studio, which will be Stomping Grounds’ 13th tenant, was co-founded by Waltrip High School graduate and area resident Jennifer Collins along with her husband Brian. Kidcreate specializes in children’s art classes, camps and birthday parties for kids ages 18 months through 12 years. Its curriculum includes kids’ art activities such as clay classes, drawing lessons, painting and more. For more information and to stay up-to-date on Stomping Grounds, community members can visit the development’s website at stomping-
them into low-carbon fuel and 2200 North Loop W. Ste. 136, Houston, TX 77018 describes itself as one of the LLewis@FarmersAgent.com largest renewable natural gas producers in the United States. For more information on Archaea and what it does, visit archaeaenergy.com. Local realty office launches website to recognize small businesses Boulevard Realty, 927 “Integrity, Experience and Results” Studewood St., introduced a Call for a free consultation new website Feb. 17 that aims to recognize and bring attenH.R. BAILEY tion to Houston small businesses. Specializing in First Time Home Each Thursday at belocalBuyer’s-Move Up Buyers-New Construction houston.com, Boulevard Realty will curate a list of its favorServing Houston Buyers since 1998 ite businesses and local spots residents should visit when 713-240-1893 they get the chance based on hrbailey@cbunited.com their experiences. For Februhar.com/hrbailey ary, the list recognized seven Black-owned businesses in honor of Black History Month. 713-861-6735 “We love Houston! This is IF I COULD WALK... heightschamber.org one of the ways we want to show our appreciation for this great city,” the office wrote on713-861-6735 an ad in The Leader heightschamber.org Facebook. 713.686.8494 To learn more, visit belocal713-861-6735 houston.com. Get Your Business Up and Running heightschamber.org
groundshtx.com/. Energy firm moving headquarters to M-K-T According to a report from the Houston Chronicle, Pittsburgh-based Archaea Energy is in the process of moving its headquarters to Houston and the M-K-T mixed-use development, 600 N. Shepherd Dr., this fall. Archaea Energy spokes713-861-6735 person Megan Light told heightschamber.org the Chronicle that the company plans to move into a 40,000-square-foot spot at MK-T, and that the company has 89 employees in Houston. According to its website, Archaea has more than 20 operating sites across the country where they work to capture waste emissions and convert
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Page 2B • Saturday, February 26, 2022 • The Leader
Eastern part of area paces first home sales charge of 2022 By Landan Kuhlmann
wood (77092), meanwhile, all experienced year-over-year sales dips. Average prices rose as much as 24.7 percent (zip code 77007) across the area, as did median prices with the exception of the Heights (77008).
landan@theleadernews.com
Many months out of the year 2021 were characterized by consistently modest or significant sales growth in the local residential real estate market. While that remained true for a few parts of the area during the first month of 2022, it was not a uniform trend. Local zip codes were split down the middle in terms of sales results, according to the most recent data compiled by the Houston Association of Realtors. The Heights (zip code 77008), Rice Military/Washington Avenue (77007) and Woodland Heights/Sunset Heights/Northside (77009) continued to see growth compared to January 2021, with the 77009 zip code standing out with a year-over-year sales spike of nearly 26 percent. Real estate agents in areas such as Garden Oaks/Oak Forest (77018), Greater Inwood/Acres Homes (77091) and Central Northwest/Lang-
77018 The Garden Oaks/Oak Forest/Shepherd Park Plaza area was one of the local neighborhoods to see a slight yearover-year sales dip as the 49 homes sold in this zip code was a 5.8 percent dip from the 52 sales the previous January. On the pricing front, average price on a home in this area was up 13 percent to $528,925, while the median price rose 7.6 percent yearover-year up to $425,000. 77091 Just to the north, the zip code encompassing much of Greater Inwood and Acres Homes saw the sharpest percentage drop among local markets. This zip code had 11 homes come off the market in January, a 31.3 percent dip
booming with sales last month as its 25.9 percent year-overyear spike was the largest in the area and nearly four times the rate of the Houston region as a whole. Agents closed on 34 homes in this area last month, compared to 27 sales the previous January. The average buyer paid $452,785 for a home in this zip code last month, a figure that was up 6.7 percent from January 2021. Meanwhile, median price jumped 13.7 percent up to $409,250.
from last year and the lowest mark in the area. The average price buyers paid for a house in this area was up 7.7 percent to $307,991. Meanwhile, the median figure ended the month at $346,000 – a 20.3 percent year-over-year spike compared to last January. 77092 On the western edge of The Leader’s coverage area, a zip code including Central Northwest and Langwood as well as part of Oak Forest also experienced a slight sales dip to open the year. Agents closed on 17 sales last month, down 10.5 percent from the 19 homes sold in January 2021. Buyers paid an average of $314,721 for a home in this area last month, a 1.6 percent year-over year increase, while median price spiked 25.2 percent compared to last year – the largest jump among local zip codes – and ended the month at $319,888. 77008
Photo from HAR.com This 4,610-square foot home for sale on Morrison Street in Woodland Heights is listed for $1.95 million.
In the central portion of the Heights, it was another solid month of production to start 2022. There were 66 homes sold in the zip code last month, an 8.2 percent increase from last January’s mark of 61 sales. Average home price showed a 1.3 percent year-over-year
increase up to $562,460, while the median home price was down 4.4 percent to $465,500 – the only local zip code to see a year-over-year dip on the pricing front. 77009 The Northside and Woodland Heights zip code was
77007 On the southernmost edge of the area, the Rice Military/ Washington Avenue zip code also had a strong month. Sales were up 12.2 percent as there were 46 homes sold compared to 41 in the same month last year. Pricing-wise, the average buyer paid 24.7 percent more ($642,699) for a home in this area compared to last January. The area’s median price, meanwhile, was up 8.7 percent to $475,000.
REALTOR SHOWCASE
Sara Black team tailors service to client’s needs By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
After more than 15 years in the real estate business, Sara Black knows that every client needs that personal touch to be a little more comfortable with the buying or selling process – an experience and interaction that is unique to their own individual concerns or needs. That is exactly what she has tried to provide for buyers and sellers in the Houston area since getting her real estate license nearly two decades ago, and she doesn’t plan to stop anytime soon. Black, who is a Houston native, runs the Sara Black Team as part of Nan and Companies along with Clayton Simms serving much of the inner loop neighborhoods and the rest of the Houston region. She worked in retail cosmetics prior to getting her real estate license in 2007, and has not looked back. From guiding sellers on how to best price their properties to negotiating for her buyers, Black does it all. She has accumulated a number of honors during her 15-year career in real estate, such as previously being included in Berkshire Hathaway’s President’s Circle, and is currently a Top Producer at Nan & Co Properties. “Our hands-on, concierge style approach is so important because everyone deserves great customer service,” Black said. “I’ve learned that not every client is the same and that they each need something a little different.” For the last 15 years, Black has primarily worked with sellers, but said that 2021 saw the split run a bit more even between buyers and sellers. Her primary target neighborhoods include the Heights, Garden Oaks, Montrose, and more in the Greater Houston region. And as the 2022 market starts to take shape, she
Sara Black said her target markets have thus far kept up last year’s improved sales pace – one which she previously said made it one of her best sales years in recent memory. “The market is still strong…especially as we are moving into Spring, which is one of the busiest seasons in real estate. Properties are still receiving multiple offers and there are still a lot of buyers actively looking,” she said. “It’s hard to predict whether
The home is just the beginning.
the ‘hot housing market’ will continue through the year. I am seeing no signs of it slowing down, as of now. But you never know.” But regardless of how the market changes, Black said one thing that will always stay the same is her desire to go the extra mile for her buyers and sellers and ensure that their experience is as painless as possible. From making beds and cleaning homes to taking pets out of the house to allow for last-minute showings, Black said her team is prepared to do it all in service of their clients. Their hands-on style, she said, has been especially crucial over the last several years as buyers and sellers deal with so much uncertainty. “Although we have our very organized systems, we definitely modify as needed,” she said. “…Buying and selling homes can be very stressful, so we try very hard to make the process as seamless as possible. Helping our clients is our number one priority.” And ultimately, she said, that’s what drives her and makes the job fulfilling. As a Houston native and current Heights resident, Black knows the area and what makes it tick. And if she doesn’t know something, she pledges to find the answer to get the job done. It’s all in the name of helping her clients, she said, as many of her clients are referral and repeat customers. And it’s a trait that has continued to make her a trusted realtor in the Houston area for more than 15 years. “At the end of a deal, I always hope that our clients are happy,” she said. “…giving the best customer service and acting in the best interest of my clients is extremely important to me.” To buy or list a home with Black, community members or interested clients can email sara@sarablackteam.com or give her a call at 832-289-9245.
TEXAS RESIDENTIAL SPECIALISTS
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Put our 43 42 years of experience to you! experience to work work for for you! Serving Oak Forest • Heights Shepherd Forest Shepherd Park Plaza Candlelight Plaza Timbergrove Lazybrook Garden Oaks
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The Leader • Saturday, February 26, 2022 • Page 3B
BASKETBALL ROUNDUP
Washington boys, LHN squads win playoff openers By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
In a week that was chock full of playoff action for local high school basketball teams, three emerged victorious. Both the boys and girls teams from Lutheran High North made quick work of their first-round opponents in the private-school playoffs, while the Booker T. Washington boys team won its opening-round game in the publicschool playoffs. The LHN girls routed Hill Country Christian 82-28 on Tuesday to begin their statetitle defense in TAPPS 3A. Dalanna Carter paced LHN with 35 points – her fifth 30-point performance this season – while Jade Miller had 16 points and Kiara Williams and Aaliyah Macias scored 10 apiece. The Lady Lions (17-8), who entered the playoffs as the top-ranked TAPPS 3A team according to the Texas Asso-
ciation of Basketball Coaches, will take on Beaumont Legacy Christian Academy (14-13) in the regional round this Saturday. On the boys side, the Lions defeated San Juan Diego Catholic 98-62 on Tuesday night to advance to the regional round. Playing as the TABC’s third-ranked school in TAPPS 3A, the Lions (253) advanced to take on New Braunfels Christian Academy (27-6) this weekend. Washington’s boys dominated most every opponent during the regular season, and Tuesday night was more of the same. The Eagles began their playoff run by blowing past Brookeshire Royal 120-61 on Monday night. It was a season high in points scored for Washington and the sixth time this season the Eagles have eclipsed the 100-point mark. Five players scored in double figures for the Eagles’ high-flying attack (83.2 points per game) on Monday,
with the usual culprits leading the charge. Kenneth Lewis had 26 points, while Chris McDermott (25 points, 14 rebounds, four blocks) put together another strong performance. Andre Walker II had 16 points and eight assists, while Davion Smith scored a season-high 18 points to go along with six rebounds and six assists. The Eagles (26-4) were scheduled to face HamshireFannett (24-11) on Thursday in an attempt to reach their third Region III-4A quarterfinal in the last four seasons. Other action On the boys side, St. Thomas rallied from a 14-point second half deficit against San Antonio Christian before dropping a 57-56 decision to end their season. Shaffer Henderson had 19 points for the Eagles, while Jake Pike had 13 points of his own as St. Thomas ended the 2022 season with a 14-11 overall record. Elsewhere, St. Pius X lost
a 72-41 decision against San Antonio Antonian Prep Tuesday night to bring their season to a close with an 8-16 overall record. Freshman Bryson Wheatfall had 15 points, six rebounds, and four assists for SPX, while Nathan Alvarez had 12 points and four blocked shots. The Heights Bulldogs saw their season come to an end with a 55-39, bi-district loss to Cy Creek on Tuesday night. Heights finished the season with a 16-16 overall record. St. Pius X’s Lady Panthers’ season came to a close at the hands of top-ranked Antonian Prep by a score of 58-38. Sophomore standout Zachara Perkins capped a stellar season for the Lady Panthers with a 21-point, 10-rebound performance to go along with three assists and three blocked shots. The Lady Panthers concluded 2022 season with a 2111 overall record, which tied for the program’s most wins in the last decade.
Photo from Twitter Booker T. Washington’s Kenneth Lewis dunks the ball during a game last season. He scored 26 points in the Eagles’ bi-district playoff win Tuesday night.
Washington’s Lady Eagles dropped a 56-55 decision to Little Cypress-Mauriceville in
the area round on Feb. 18 to end their season with a record of 17-13.
Is your cat holding New Well Puppy & Kitten Exam a grudge?
Dear Tabby, Please help us to understand our crazy cat! I swear that he holds a grudge against us when we’re away from home too long or if we have guests over. He’ll act out by climbing the curtains and just generally acting super crazy. Is he mad at us? How can we make this better, because he’s making us crazy! Holding a Grudge in Garden Oaks Dear Holding a Grudge, Cats get a bad rap for being moody and malicious, but that is just not always the case. Often, depictions of cats in entertainment only perpetuate this theme, too. Remember those horrible Siamese cats in Lady and the Tramp? The fact of the matter is that cats just aren’t as complicated as you think and definitely don’t have the ability to hold a grudge, but they do have the capability to act out when they need something, which is likely what you’re experiencing with your cat. Cats are complex creatures Researchers have discovered that cats have better memories than dogs do, so it’s not out of the question that your cat might hold onto perceived injustices (like you hav-
ing the audacity to spend a Saturday away from home) longer than a dog would. Dogs, on average, have a memory that lasts about 5 minutes, whereas cats’ memories can last up to 16 hours! Cats are also capable of complex emotions and feelings and are said to be able to read facial expressions in humans in the same way dogs can. So, why Is your cat acting out? Experts agree that when a cat is acting out, he’s trying to tell you he needs something. If he’s rambunctious and climbing the curtains, perhaps he needs more active playtime from you. Grab a feather wand or laser pointer and run him ragged to help him expend some energy. If he’s using the bathroom outside of the litter box, firstly, get him to the vet to rule out illness, then consider this his plea to you to keep the litter box a bit clean-
er. Cats typically act out for a reason, so spend some time watching and observing and I’ll bet you’ll be able to figure out what your cat is trying to tell you. Cats are not spiteful Experts agree that bad behavior in cats isn’t driven by spite, so spend some extra time with your cat and see if this doesn’t alleviate some of his wacky behaviors. Cats are more social than people make them out to be and most love to be with humans. Just spending some extra time with your cat might help to calm him down and this time together can also give you some insight into what’s going on in his head. I’m sure you’ll crack the code quickly and figure out how to ensure your cat is content and understood in no time. Do you have a question for Tabby? Email her at deartabby questions@gmail.com.
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Page 4B • Saturday, February 26, 2022 • The Leader
Chaos can be fun, but organization’s ideal Amy Williams
G
arden uru
Dear Garden Guru, I’m thinking I might try a chaos garden this year. A friend of mine did one last year. He does have a big “regular garden” but I’m really just trying to get away with doing as little work as possible. Have you ever tried? Lazy in Lazybrook
Hey Lazy, I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase, “You reap what you sow.” That phrase literally applies to gardening. I’m going to need you to sort those seeds, and trust me when I tell you gardening is not as much work as we are made to believe it is. For our readers that are not aware of how chaotic gardening can be, let me give you a little background. The term “chaos gardening” is a fun project for experienced gardeners. It is not intended to be used as a substitute for a main garden, or in certain circumstances, an actual, viable garden. Typically, after planting a crop you end up with extra
seeds. When planting multiple crops, you end up with a variety of multiple seeds. So, when seasoned gardeners find themselves with a variety of extra seeds and a patch of open garden, they plant the mixed seeds, sit back and wait to see what happens. Let me save you the suspense. Chaos happens. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a fun project. However, seeds get lost in the mix. For example, beans that need to be trellised to grow, produce and to be harvested end up lost under big squash plants. Squash and zucchini seeds mixed together and planted together end up with hybrids that you may not want. While we all love a good surprise, chaos gardens
Stock photo Planting chaos gardens can be an enjoyable experience, but a local gardening expert advises against it.
provide more than enough and sometimes seeds are just wasted. When you are investing in quality seed, you want quality results. A chaos garden is not the best route for this. To easily get the best results I recommend the following: Invest in high-quality, disease-
resistant seeds of vegetables that you want to eat, use nutrient-rich soil and use an organic fertilizer during the growing season. You will also want to make sure you are planting seeds according to their growing season. For instance, now is not the time to start broccoli
seeds. Hold off on those until late summer. Focus on spring crops such as cucumbers, carrots, edible flowers and summer squash. If you want to mix it up, I highly recommend companion planting, not only for the sake of your garden, but also for your own enjoyment. Grab my book “City Seeds” on Amazon for an easy guide to gardening, companion planting, plant care and so much more! See you in the garden! Do you have questions for the Garden Guru? Email Amy at underhillurbanfarmco@gmail. com. Also visit underhillurbanfarmco.com and follow them on Facebook and Instagram @UnderhillUrbanFarmCo.
BASEBALL/SOFTBALL ROUNDUP
St Pius X baseball throws no-hitter to open season By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
The baseball season could not have started much better for St. Pius X High School last week as it was nearly spotless in a season-opening win. The Panthers defeated Second Baptist 4-0 last Friday, with Cason Evans and Kyle Winkler pitching a combined no-hitter. Evans did much of the heavy lifting on the mound, striking out nine hitters against one walk in five innings before Winkler came in to finish it off. And in addition to striking out three hitters in two innings, Winkler also shined on the offensive side. The Sam Houston State commit went 2 for 3 with a home run, a double and two RBIs. St. Pius X was slated to return to action on Wednesday against Friendswood. Elsewhere in private school action, the St. Thomas Eagles beat Homeschool Christian Youth Academy 4-1 on Feb. 15 before going 2-2 at the John Cooper Tournament
Feb. 17-19. Pitchers Jackson Ward and Billy Theroux combined for eight strikeouts in a 7-0 shutout win over the John Cooper School on Feb. 17, and St. Thomas later added a 7-4 win over St. John’s. However, the Eagles (3-2) lost 7-6 against Kinkaid and 5-2 against Houston Christian to close out the tournament. Jacob Cueva had two RBIs for St. Thomas against Kinkaid, while Anthony Equale had two hits and drove in both runs for the Eagles against Houston Christian. Softball Heights’ Lady Bulldogs bounced back from a seasonopening loss to Bellaire on Feb. 15 by sweeping through the Katy ISD tournament Feb. 17-18. They took down Northbrook 13-3 and Dekaney 14-1 on Feb. 17 before wins over Aldine Davis (17-0) and Katy Jordan (9-2) on Feb. 18. Finally, they beat Sealy 5-2 and Hightower by a score of 16-3 on Feb. 19 to close out the tournament. Freshman outfielder Helen Maddux got her high school
circle for the Lady Bulldogs (6-1). She pitched eight innings during the tournament, racking up 11 strikeouts while allowing three earned runs. She also went 4 for 7 at the plate with three RBIs while hitting safely in all three games. Sophomore Haylie Jaime dominated against Sealy on Feb. 19, throwing a complete game and allowing one run while striking out 10 batters. On the private school side, the St. Pius X Lady Panthers opened their regular season with a 3-3 week. Following a 16-14 loss to Bellaire Episcopal in the opener on Feb. 15, they went 3-2 in the GCCISD
Tournament Feb. 17-19. Following a 6-4 win over Baytown Lee on Feb. 17, they split a pair of games with a 10-1 win over Sam Rayburn and a 3-1 loss to C.E. King. The Lady Panthers then dropped a 7-5 decision to New Caney on Feb. 19 Freshman Sara Paniagua had a stellar offensive game against Episcopal in going 4 for 5 with a walk and two doubles, driving in three runs and scoring three more. Emily Irwin had four RBIs, while University of Texas commit Victoria Hunter reached base four times. Hunter also homered against New Caney on Saturday.
Jennifer M. Solak Photo from Twitter St. Piux X High School pitcher Kyle Winkler delivers during a game for the Panthers.
career started strong in Katy, going 7 for 10 at the plate with a triple and a five RBIs while reaching base eight times. Senior Ava Martinez went 8 for 12 with three doubles and
a team-leading seven RBIs, while freshman Flora Moreno was 5 for 14 with three doubles and five RBIs. Marissa Gonzalez was strong at the plate and in the
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SOCCER ROUNDUP
Photo from Twitter Entering play this week, the Waltrip High School girls soccer team had won eight consecutive matches without allowing a goal.
Streaking Lady Rams earn regional recognition By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
Waltrip High School’s Lady Rams are used to regular-season success in soccer, having made the playoffs in each of the last eight seasons while winning three district titles in the last four seasons. However, that run has yet to parlay into any postseason success, with no playoff wins in that span. The drought could end this year for the Lady Rams, who reeled off two more wins last week as they continued another dominant run through District 23-5A. Waltrip has won eight consecutive matches following a 9-0 victory against Northside on Feb. 17 and a 3-0 win against Madison last Saturday. Five different Waltrip players scored goals against Northside, with senior Janelle Naumann scoring four times to lead the charge. Waltrip (11-3-2 overall, 7-0 district) has not allowed a goal during the winning streak, outscoring opponents 48-0. The run has vaulted the Lady Rams up to 15th in Region III-5A, according to Texas Lethal Enforcer Soccer, which compiles rankings with input by coaches from around the region. Other girls action Scarborough ran its winning streak to six matches last week, beating Booker T. Washington 4-2 in overtime on Feb. 14 before earning an 8-0 win on Saturday against North Forest. Yulianna Saavedra and Genesis Urquia each scored
four times for the Lady Spartans (6-5, 6-0) on Saturday, while goalkeeper Aisha Khan had her third clean sheet of the season. The Lady Eagles’ overtime loss was their only match of the week. In private school action, the St. Pius Lady Panthers had a trio of victories last week, taking down the Village School 6-0 on Feb. 15 before racing past Beaumont Kelly Catholic 11-1 on Feb. 17 and defeating Incarnate Word Academy 1-0 last Saturday. Sophomore Emma King was the star of the match for the Lady Panthers against Kelly Catholic, scoring seven goals and dishing out assists on two more. Margo Matula added a goal and two assists. Matula also had two goals and an assist against the Village School, while Avery Nick netted two goals of her own as part of an effort that saw four players find the back of the net. Then on Saturday, Matula netted the only goal of the game for either side. SPX (11-3, 9-2) was slated to finish off the regular season with a home match against St. Agnes Academy on Tuesday night. Boys The St. Thomas Eagles polished off a perfect run through TAPPS district play with a trio of wins last week. Following a 6-0 win over Katy St. John XXIII on Feb. 15, St. Thomas (23-3-3, 10-0) beat rival St. Pius X 3-2 on Feb. 16 and defeated Beaumont Kelly Catholic 2-0 on Friday to run their unbeaten streak to 16
matches. Andrew Cantoni scored twice against St. John XXIII as part of a balanced effort that saw five different players score, while Santiago Labarthe had a goal and an assist. Labarthe also had a goal and an assist against SPX, while Andre Meza and freshman Mambo Tello also scored. Labarthe ended the regular season as the team leader in goals (21) and assists (15), while Tello had 18 goals of his own. SPX defeated Concordia Lutheran 2-1 on Feb. 15 before losing to St. Thomas, then defeated the Village School on Friday to close out the regular season at 10-9-1 overall and 6-4 in TAPPS district play. Scarborough beat Booker T. Washington 6-1 in their only game of the week on Feb. 14. Diego Argueta had a hat trick, while Jesus Gamez scored two goals. The Spartans (10-1, 6-0) were scheduled to play Kashmere on Wednesday night looking to stay undefeated in district play. The Eagles bounced back from that loss to beat Mickey Leland College Prep on Saturday, moving their record to 3-2 overall and in District 23-4A competition. Waltrip improved to 4-81 overall and 4-3 in district play with a split last week. The Rams lost to Northside in penalty kicks on Feb. 14 before beating Madison 2-1 last Saturday. Heights also split a pair of matches last week and is 4-6 on the season and 4-3 in District 18-6A competition. The
Bulldogs lost to Westside 3-1 on Feb. 16 before taking down Bellaire in penalty kicks on Saturday.
U N D E R H I L L U R B A N FA R M C O . P R E S E N T S
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underhillurbanfarmco@gmail.com