February 27

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Saturday, February 27, 2021 • Vol. 66 • No. 09

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Plumbing work, materials in high demand

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com Kent and Morgan Shields could not initially get a plumber to come to their Garden Oaks home, where pipes froze and then burst in their garage and also in their pool. And they had trouble finding the materials they needed to cut off the water flow to those damaged pipes, having asked their fellow community members and searched local hardware stores and come up empty.

Then one day last week, Kent saw a plumber’s truck outside his neighbor’s house and pounced on the opportunity. The plumber had what the Shields family needed – copper caps measuring ¾ of an inch.

“We gave him (bottled) water,” Morgan said. “We actually traded water for these caps.”

The copper caps were put to use last Saturday, Feb. 20, when Kent and Morgan got another plumber to come by and seal off the pipes in the garage and pool from the rest of their house. So

they were able to turn their water back on, even though the City of Houston remained under a boil water notice until the next day because of low pressure in its main system.

All in all, Morgan said she and her husband were “so lucky” to have avoided more extensive damage caused by last week’s frigid winter storm, which brought prolonged power outages, water-supply issues and busted pipes to the entire region.

Others were not as fortunate.

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Contributed photo Jeremiah Cooper of Cooper’s Plumbing holds a water pipe that froze and then burst during last week’s winter storm.

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Photo by Zarah Parker A memorial tree honoring Lemuel Bruce, the Houston Arson Bureau investigator who died in the line of duty Oct. 16, was planted earlier this month at the intersection of West 18th Street and Seamist Drive.

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By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com

Photo by Joey Trujillo The aerial photo above, which looks east from Ella Boulevard, shows Shepherd Park Plaza blanketed in snow and ice on Feb. 15.

The Houston region and much of Texas was impacted by a winter storm that brought prolonged freezing temperatures.

At the helm. A local elementary principal recently received a high honor.

Page 4A

Fight on Fisher. Garden Oaks residents are pushing against a planned apartment complex.

Page 1B

Local resident makes most of ice

By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com Last year, The Leader profiled Candlelight Estates resident and Imagination Woodworks owner Nick Pagel and his passion project to build a 16-foot wooden plane.

It is no wonder that inspiration also struck during last week’s snow and ice storm, resulting in an ice hockey rink at his house.

“I built a quick rink out of some leftover wood and a tarp, colored duct tape for lines, then filled it with water on Sunday and waited for nature to handle the rest,” Pagel said.

Pagel modified his sons’ indoor hockey sticks, utilized the indoor hockey goals and borrowed some real hockey pucks from a friend.

“My boys who are 5 and 7 have never been ice skating, so instead of trying to get them ice skates I used some old shoes of theirs and glued sandpaper to the bottom so that they could play on the ice without slipping,” he said.

By Tuesday morning, the boys were playing hockey on a homemade, 2-inch-thick ice rink.

“They had so much fun,” Pagel said. “It was their first See Ice Rink, P. 5A

Greater Heights. The Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs started strong in the hoops playoffs.

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By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

Photo by Landan Kuhlmann Carl Ducena serves barbecue during a meal giveaway at the old Northwest Mall on Tuesday. The effort was one of several in the area dedicated to helping those impacted by Winter Storm Uri.

When local residents fell on hard times during last week’s winter storm, their fellow community members sprang into action.

Like most of the Houston area, neighborhoods such as the Heights, Garden Oaks and Oak Forest coped with widespread and prolonged power outages, problems with the city’s water supply and damages to homes in the form of

frozen water pipes that burst.

Local residents scrambled to keep warm, find clean water and secure food, and See related many did story about local so not just relief fund for themselves and Page 8A their families but also for their neighbors and fellow Houstonians.

Neighborhood social media feeds were filled with exam-

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Community members pitch in to help each other

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

Contributed photo Candlelight Estates resident Nick Pagel constructed a mini-ice rink last week that his sons, ages 5 and 7, used to play hockey in their front yard.

A Shumard Oak was planted Feb. 10 on the esplanade at West 18th Street and Seamist Drive. The tree serves as a memorial to Houston Arson Bureau investigator Lemuel Bruce, who was killed in the line of duty in the neighborhood in October.

As the tree was dedicated, a couple dozen men and women from the Houston Fire Department joined as support, including Houston Fire Chief Samuel Pena, Assistant Chief Michelle McLeod, Fire Marshal Assistant Chief Alfredo Martinez, Chief Investigator Alison Stein and many from the arson bureau.

Bruce’s widow, Rachel, also attended.

“This is a living tribute to Lemuel Bruce and this is going to be here for many decades to come,” Pena said.

“This is going to be forever a testament to the memory of Lemuel Bruce who was tragically taken from us.”

Authorities say Bruce was investigating a series of fires in the Heights area when on Oct. 16, he was shot to death during an altercation with a suspected arsonist, who died at the scene.

A handmade memorial was constructed shortly thereafter by Richard Kercho, who is retired from HFD, and active firefighter John Ortiz, who both

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ples of community members offering electricity through generators, food and water to those without it, supplies for home repairs and even their homes for shelter. Then, when the region began thawing out late last week, many area residents donated their time and resources to help those with more pressing needs.

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Page 2A • Saturday, February 27, 2021 • The Leader

THE TOPICS. The Leader • Saturday, February 27, 2021 • Page 3A

Did utility providers lose our numbers?

T he thirst for vengeance came as fast as the temperature plunged. Homes turned frigid and dark. Moms and dads scoured closets for dusty blankets, scarfs, hats and gloves. And public figures pointed their toasty fingers through social media.

As are most of you, I’m perplexed, upset and sad for what happened during our city’s latest atmospheric calamity. As friends, family and employees scramble for plumbers, contractors and adjusters, I wonder if we’re all chasing the same talking points of politicians, or if we’re focused on things that should have been under control.

It is not within my purview to assign blame for the power outages and ultimate water loss of last week. There are plenty of journalists and a few decent politicians who will tackle the task. There will be hearings, lawsuits, legislation and debate on how to never again put the most vulnerable among us at such lethal risk.

What I can’t understand, and feel perfectly fine debating, is the utterly horrific response of the entities that spend millions upon millions responding to us throughout the year.

As we sat in our powerless homes during this winter storm, we all kept to the same routines. We wrapped our children in clothing.

We found ways to warm food. We

Jonathan McElvy Publisher

scuttled back and forth to the driveway as our cars slowly charged our phones.

While there were cellular network issues in some parts of the city, most of us were still connected to the digital world of endless noise. When we could wrestle our phones away from children, we begged for updates. We texted with friends to find out if they had power. We scanned emails in hopes that our utility providers would offer something, anything.

Instead, we got nothing. Zero. As dark as our frozen homes.

At my house, we have one provider for gas, CenterPoint, and another retailer, TXU, for electricity.

Here’s the extent of the messages I received from those two companies: CenterPoint sent us a message on Feb. 14, at 10:28 p.m. the night the ice arrived: “In anticipation of high heating demand in response to the extremely cold temperatures, we are

asking our Texas customers to temporarily lower their thermostat to help conserve natural gas.”

Of course, I wasn’t checking my email at 10:28 p.m. and didn’t see the message until Monday morning, but the rest of the note was designed to offer tips on staying safe and conserving energy.

The next form of communication I received from CenterPoint came on Friday, Feb. 19. That’s right. Not a single email, not a text, nothing during the entire course of the winter storm. And as you might imagine, the Friday email from CenterPoint let us know everything was OK again.

“Thank you to all our customers for your resilience during this historic winter storm. Once power supplies were available, we were able to resume delivering electricity to our customers… As of today, we’ve restored power to nearly everyone,” the email read.

Things were actually worse from our electricity retail provider. TXU sent me an email in January letting me know it was time to pay my bill. The next email I received from them was on Monday, Feb. 22 – exactly one week after the storm hit and four days after power had been restored. The email gave you such a warm feeling: “As Texas recovers from the recent winter weather emergency, here’s how you can count on us…”

Then they listed things like insulat-

Getting to the point THE LINE – Have you ever stood in a line to get shot?

Not shot, as in a bullet, but by a needle? I am standing here awaiting my Convid-19 vaccination, along with a lot of others. Despite all the stories we have heard and the TV pictures we have seen of long lines of desperate people trying to get vaccinated, this time appears to be going well. Not like my other attempts. I first heard that Phase 1A qualifiers would be vaccinated. That group consisted of firefighters, cops and EMS workers, so I donned a hazmat suit and stood in line. I was turned away when they discovered my fire extinguisher was a can of WD-40.

Nurses were included, so I got all dressed up in a white apron, Red Cross cap and carried a bedpan. How was I to know nurses don’t wear high heels at work? My police uniform was defunded.

Ever since the pandemic vaccinations became available, people have been trying all sorts of ways to game the system, and health authorities have been on the alert to screen out the culprits. I discovered this when I called the Health Department and tried to make an appointment. I tried several (543) times with no luck. Maybe if I set my alarm and called at 3:30 a.m. I could get through. A recording told me to stop bothering them while they were asleep. After a week of trying, finally I got a voice. “Press 1 if you want an appointment and are really important, like an NBA player.

Press 2 if you have discovered a cure for Covid-19. Press 3 if none of this makes sense because you only speak Spanish. Press 4 to leave a phone number so we can call you back. If you actually believe that, press 5 because you need professional help.” Then I got lucky and talked to a real, live person, but she said I sounded too tall to be Dr. Fauci.

There is also Phase 1B, and each state has its own order. In Texas, Phase 1B is for friends of the governor, friends of friends of the governor and rodeo clowns. It also focuses on people who have a strong and consistent evidence that COVID-19 (or Covid-19) makes them more likely to become very sick or die. I qualified because some day I will die. On investigation, I fell into Phase Z, right behind Guantanamo ISIS assassins. Texas’ eventual rollout of the vaccination is a bit checkered. First, Gov. Greg Abbott promised that everyone in the state could get a vaccination immediately.

Then it was discovered that Texas had no vaccinations.

Eventually the doses arrived – both of them. More came later, but they had to be held in minus 120 degree storage, which excluded most facilities except for the beer closets in college frat houses. I found a supply from the Wuhan, China

Lynn Ashby Columnist

Pharmaceutical Factory & Bat Cage Cleaning Plant. Not even veterinarians would touch them.

True story: Because minorities were particularly hardhit by the pandemic, Dallas County officials had a plan in January that would have ensured certain ZIP codes and communities of color received priority. When state health officials found out, they objected and threatened to reduce the number of vaccines it gave the county. Dallas dropped the plan. Way to go, state health officials. The Valley had the same problem of high virus rates. A convoy of trucks carrying vaccines was stopped at Trump’s wall, which had inadvertently been built just south of Corpus Christi. The latest plan is for three mega-sites to administer the vaccine at NRG Stadium, where the NFL’s Texans play. In Dallas, it will be set up at Fair Park, home to the Texas State Fair. In Arlington, officials will set up a site at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys. So in the 268,820 square miles of Texas, two of the sites will be within a few miles of each other. Tough luck, El Paso.

By saying I was an “essential worker,” – if adopting a highway isn’t essential working, what is? – I finally got an appointment to get my first shot. I must say it was easy and painless, except that they kept using the same needle.

After receiving my shot, they gave me a 9-page fact sheet in both English and Spanish, including what is the virus, who to sue and side effects: “You may suffer from leg cramps due to standing in line for six hours.” And this actual warning: “Please arrive 15 minutes before your designated appointment time. If you arrive before your appointment time, you may be asked to leave and return at your appointed time.” Huh? I am supposed to arrive 15 minutes before my designated appointment time, but if I arrive before my designated appointment time, I may be asked to leave. Does that make any sense? Whoever wrote up this fact sheet must be the same person who said 20 million Americans would be vaccinated by New Year’s Day – and Mexico would pay for it.

The first shot, heard ‘round the room – I scream a lot – had to be followed by a second shot four weeks later. Make that five weeks, maybe six.

Rumor has it that there was a shortage of vaccines. I finally

got that second dose, and was handed yet another bunch of info, this one only five pages long (both sides.) “Notice of Privacy Practices.” It is long and opaque about privacy laws. I think my Health Department has more lawyers than doctors. In any event, I am now safe. I can go to bars and restaurants, tattoo parlors and destruction derbies without getting sick. But I still should stay 6 feet apart from all other humans lest they come down with my vaccination. And I need to wear a mask, although that is hard to do while smoking a cigar. My only other problem is what to do with this pair of high heels.

Ashby is shot at ashby2@comcast.net

ing our rates, payment flexibility, peace of mind and, my personal favorite, “Here for you 24/7.”

Except TXU was not there for us 24/7. Except we couldn’t count on TXU, or CenterPoint for that matter, for what we all needed most: Information.

You see, in times when people are at their lowest, when they’re worried and freezing and hearing six different answers to the same question, you know what people want the most? Information. They want communication.

When the people of Houston were confused, when they heard phrases like “rolling blackouts” and assumed power would turn off and on in determined intervals, and then those same people went 48 or 68 hours without power, you know what we wanted most? Information. We wanted communication.

Instead, we got nothing. The same companies that store our social security numbers, hold a deposit in case we skip town, text us the moment a bill is late, email us when they need us to turn down our thermostats, those companies can’t do us the courtesy of a quick note to tell us something? Anything?

It wouldn’t have mattered what they said. They could have told us the power might be out another three days, and at least we would have known.

They could have told us they knew absolutely nothing, and we

THE READER. Local homebuilder saves family’s fishes

Dear Editor: This is awesome and saving fish is great but Jason Feldman and his wife Beth went above and beyond during the freeze. He’s a mechanic by trade and and fixes anything with a small engine however this time he did more than that. He started people’s generators to make them warming centers. He help the elderly and disabled after the freeze with over to turn water on, fix leaks, and anything else he could do to help. They worked from 8 in the morning until midnight until today after the freeze. Someone needs to do a story on them. They spent six hours at my home fixing leaks from the exterior shut off to the attic yesterday. And that was only part of it.

They offered to bring me water, food, and I never took a dime. I gave it to them and gave it back when they were done. He’ll be back again with an honest plumber to give my insurance company a estimate.

We won’t know all the damage until the outside water pipe in the exterior wall and the rest of my home until those are fixed and then we’ll have to move down the house for more leaks which there will be I’m sure. In the meantime I sell my water with drain water from my neighbor toilet tank, boil for food-related or shower. Jason and Beth will be back.

They help so many people it was a standing. Someone posted about them on Nextdoor and I contacted them. They were so busy they had to come the day after I called. But they came twice. They’re VIPs in my mind and many others.

Jane Mostowitz

would have felt some assurance they would let us know when they did.

Instead of something so basic, we got absolute zero direct communication.

After the winter blast, and after the lights were again lit, someone told me a number of CEOs of energy companies were at press conferences that were televised. I also learned CenterPoint did update their Twitter account. So for the millions who don’t have Twitter accounts, or the 1.3 million who had no power, it makes no sense they chose to communicate that way.

Especially when they have the ability to reach all of their customers individually.

Look, I have a decent understanding of how this whole power supply thing works. It’s not CenterPoint’s fault we didn’t have power – they are not allowed to generate. I know it’s not TXU’s fault – they just buy the power, mark it up, and sell it to us, wrapped in a fancy logo.

I also know CenterPoint and TXU and every other provider have massive marketing budgets and systems that allow them to reach their customers any time they need us.

Apparently, those budgets don’t cover the times when we need them.

Email com

jonathan@mcelvypartners.

Email us your letters: news@theleadernews.com MytiBurger proves heroic during winter storm

Dear Editor: That was dinner for us on Monday. Thankful for them being open and handling the crowds well.

Ryan Jared

Dear Editor: You can always count on the MytiBurger crew to step up for the community during hard times. It was great to see all the support pouring into the parking lot next door to Lucky 13’s. Although, it was a challenge on Monday getting in and out of the station while dealing with our iced over front slab and the never ending line of cars.

Brian Schrader Dear Editor: One of my family’s favorites that we miss so much. We moved out to Cypress about three years ago and miss their burgers!

Jessica Santos-Rodriguez Dear Editor: My dude Shawn Salyers was clutch on my birthday. No water or power and he was there, with no jacket on in freezing weather taking orders. Love to see it from him and his crew. Much love brother!

Christopher Alvin Sanchez

the leader Puzzlers.

Answers found in this week’s Classified section

SUDOKU

aCrOss

1. Powder mineral 5. Ten million (in India) 10. Culture medium and a gelling agent 14. Cain and __ 15. Bullfighting maneuvers 16. Baseball’s Ruth 17. Venice beach 18. Infirm due to old age 19. Attentiveness 20. Mortify 22. Whale (Norwegian) 23. Family Bufonidae 24. “A Passage to India” author 27. Ocean 30. Dad’s partner 31. Owned 32. Swiss river 35. Female golf star Gibson 37. Base 38. A way to summons 39. Acquit 40. Male parent 41. Brendan Francis __, author 42. Rattan 43. Aromatic hot beverage 44. Inflorescence 45. Former CIA 46. Make lace 47. Airborne (abbr.)

48. Thieving bird 49. H. Potter’s creator

52. Frequency 55. Nothing 56. More lucid 60. Riding mount 61. Deducted container weight 63. Molten rock 64. In this place 65. Ancient upright stone slab bearing markings 66. Rumanian Mures River city 67. Mentioned before 68. An heir (civil law) 69. Without (French)

dOwn 1. W. Samoan monetary unit 2. Baby’s feeding apparel 3. Queen of Sparta 4. Shut 5. Certified public accountant 6. Payment for release 7. Red twig dogwood 8. Basked in 9. Midway between E and SE 10. A way to detest 11. Mother of Cronus 12. In bed 13. Bolsheviks 21. Farro wheat 23. CNN’s Turner

25. Farmers of America 26. Small amount 27. __ and Venzetti 28. Hers in Spanish 29. Belongs to sun god 32. Expressed pleasure 33. Small terrestrial lizard 34. Regenerate 36. Own (Scottish) 37. The cry made by sheep 38. Chest muscle (slang) 40. Explode 41. Notice 43. Pitch 44. Run due to the batter 46. Fight referee declares 47. Alternate forms of a gene 49. Shifted in sailing 50. One who cables 51. Elaborate celebrations 52. Expresses pleasure 53. Carbamide 54. Persian in Afghanistan 57. 1st capital of Japan 58. Welsh for John 59. Radioactivity units 61. Tanzanian shilling 62. Hyrax

WORD SCRAMBLE

Page 4A • Saturday, February 27, 2021 • The Leader

Helms leader named elementary principal of the year

By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com

A local Houston ISD principal has once again been selected as the school district’s elementary principal of the year.

Helms Elementary’s Dolores Perejón-Lasheras received a surprise visit Feb. 11 from HISD interim superintendent Grenita Lathan, who announced the campus leader as the 2021 HISD Elementary Principal of the Year. In 2019, Amy Poerschke, then the principal at Durham Elementary, re-

ceived the honor.

Principal Gretchen Kasper-Hoffman at Tanglewood Middle School was named the Secondary Principal of the Year.

“Each of these veteran educators began their careers in the classroom where they became deeply invested in the academic success of the students of HISD,” Lathan said in a news release.

“They lead with integrity, knowledge and, above all, they have the heart to make a difference.”

At the event, Lathan also praised Perejón-Lasheras for

increasing enrollment at the dual-language school at 503 W. 21st St. in the Heights.

Perejón-Lasheras has been the principal at Helms since 2016. According to the district, the school has a B rating from the Texas Education Agency.

Perejón-Lasheras has been in education for 25 years, starting her teaching career in Spain at the elementary level. In 2000, she moved to Houston and worked in HISD as a kindergarten bilingual teacher at Katherine Smith Elementary. PerejónLasheras also has taught

Perejón-Lasheras

first, fourth and fifth grades.

She became a math coach in 2007 and an instructional coordinator in 2011. In 2012,

Perejón-Lasheras moved to work as a math curriculum specialist in the elementary curriculum department in HISD. She said it was while working there she realized she was missing the direct work on a campus. Before becoming principal at Helms, Perejón-Lasheras was the school’s magnet coordinator.

In a 2016 interview, Perejón-Lasheras said that as principal, she thought she could be a difference maker coaching and helping teachers to provide quality instruction to the students due to her strong background in

curriculum and instruction.

During the surprise visit, which followed COVID-19 protocols, Perejón-Lasheras made a Facetime call to her parents in Spain to share the good news.

“I am overwhelmed and completely surprised by this honor,” Perejón-Lasheras said. “I want to thank all our students, parents and teachers. My parents were ecstatic to hear this news, especially my father who is a career educator. He is a university professor in Spain.”

Follow us on social media @FromTheLeader

Waltrip students tackle problems through Capstone

By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com

When a class showed up on Miranda Noonan’s schedule last year that the Oak Forest resident did not recognize, it was the start of a fantastic experience for the Waltrip High School student. Noonan, then a sophomore, was enrolled in the Advanced Placement (AP) Capstone project at Waltrip, one of 10 high schools in Houston ISD that offer the program.

As Waltrip teacher and Capstone instructor Lauren Power explained, AP Capstone is a new program from the College Board that launched nationally in 2014. It is a seminar and research program that requires participants to take at least four AP courses in addition to the AP Research and AP Seminar class.

At the culmination of the program, students write a 20-page research paper which is presented to a panel of Waltrip teachers, similar to a dissertation.

The Capstone program has been available at Waltrip since 2017, after the school applied to participate.

While initially students like Noonan were selected through their grades, test scores and teacher recommendations, now students can apply on their own. However, the other criteria still count, and the program is capped at two classes of 15 students each.

Power went through a weeklong training to be able to teach the AP

Research class. Her counterpart is Waltrip teacher John Haponik, who went through a similar training to teach the AP Seminar class.

“What I really enjoy (about Capstone) is the discovery aspect,” Power said. “The idea of breaking ground.”

She said the research project is the students’ choice from their fields of study, but it should delve into a gap in the field of existing literature. The research and seminar classes help students learn how to design a scientific study as well as how to present their findings.

“They’ll carry this experience with them,” Power said. “It will help them in college and through their whole lives.”

Now a junior, Noonan is working on her project, which looks at gerrymandering in Harris County. She will present her research this spring.

Noonan focused on the map of Texas state representatives and considered the 1964 U.S. Supreme Court case on the issue. Because she is in the Geographic Informational Systems (GIS) track at Waltrip, Noonan will lean on those skills in her preparation.

“I didn’t understand the logic of (the existing map),” Noonan said.

So she made a new one based on zip codes using ArcGIS, a geographic information system for working with maps and geographic information.

Noonan, who is interested in continuing to study GIS and political

science, hopes to attend either the United States Air Force Academy or Colorado State University in Fort Collins.

She said she liked the way Power structured the research class and that the experience helped her with her writing.

“It was a lot of academic work,” Noonan said. “It will make college easier.”

Senior Ainsley Van Dyke is also doing her presentation this spring.

Because she started this year as an online student, she wanted to look at ways students could be successful in a new learning environment. More specifically, she wondered if writing a daily to-do list could increase motivation and grades in remote learners.

“Students just are getting overwhelmed,” Van Dyke said.

Van Dyke used social media to recruit fellow students for her study and said she is pleased with the data she has collected so far. She hopes the AP Capstone diploma will be an asset in her college search.

Tiffany Scott presented her project last spring as a junior and has completed the program. She will receive the distinguished diploma at her graduation this year.

Scott examined if extracurricular activities and fine arts courses could alleviate stress in female AP students.

She said the project was inspired by her own stress levels and struggles taking science classes in high school.

Contributed photo Waltrip High School student Miranda Noonan discusses gerrymandering in Harris County as part of her AP Capstone presentation.

Scott, who is taking all AP courses this year, plans to pursue a career in the sciences. She hopes to attend Texas Tech University, Texas A&M University or the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Anna Plascencia, Ainsley’s mom, said her daughter’s participation has helped with her independent and higher-level thinking.

“It is a mindset change,” she said.

“It is getting them organized and ready for college.”

She surveyed a number of students about the classes they were taking and their stress levels – as measured on a scale of 1-5 – as well as their coping mechanisms. There were only a handful of those surveyed who said they were below a 3.

What Scott learned was student activities outside of school indeed make a difference. Students who participated in music, art and sports had lower stress levels than those who did nothing outside of school.

Latest PPP news won’t help small businesses

By Jonathan McElvy jonathan@mcelvypartners.com

No matter how much economists, bureaucrats and politicians try to fix the problem, the latest Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) news about changes announced Feb. 22 by the Biden Administration means absolutely nothing to battered small businesses across the nation.

As an aside, I hope this article is completely wrong and I’m forced to come back and apologize to all interested parties in a month from now. Of course, I wrote something similar just two weeks ago, and I’ve told you about other problems with PPP, and those things are still true today.

Politicians and political advisors, please take note: The latest PPP news about changes you have made do not address the real problems with the program. Let’s look at some common-sense numbers: - In the first round of PPP, the program ran out of $349 billion in about two weeks.

Congress then added another $310 billion to the fund.

- Despite the early success, $147 billion of that additional $310 billion was never claimed. In fact, Congress should know better than everyone, since that body had to pass legislation that rescinded the remaining $147 billion and put it back in government coffers.

- In this second round of PPP, Congress allocated $249 billion for small businesses, changed criteria, and even set aside money strictly for minority-owned business. After six weeks of the program, only about $134 billion has been claimed.

None of those facts can be disputed. They are not political statements. If our politicians would think beyond their enclaves in D.C., maybe they’d come to some logical conclusions.

PPP news doesn’t address issues What conclusions can we make about this second round of PPP? Consider this: 1. Politicians have argued that money wasn’t acces-

sible to the smallest and minority-owned businesses in the first round. If that’s the case, can anyone explain why there was $147 billion remaining?

2. If there was all that money left over from the first round, did the smallest and minority-owned businesses get rejected or ignored? Finding that answer is nearly impossible. In fact, Politico had an article that said the Treasury’s reporting was an absolute debacle.

Isn’t it important to know how many businesses were rejected?

3. Why are we having such a hard time giving away this second round of “forgivable” money? Has anyone in D.C. considered there may be other issues that have nothing to do with access?

The real problems with PPP If you want to know what’s really wrong, I can give you exact reasons, and it really has nothing to do with small businesses being turned away from PPP loans.

Our company works with thousands of small businesses each year, and we have heard from very few who couldn’t get a meeting with a lender.

No, the problems are difficult to solve and that’s probably the reason the Trump Administration and now the Biden Administration won’t address them.

Problem 1: Criteria was wrong When Congress passed this second version of PPP, they set the qualifier that a business had to show a loss of 25 percent of revenue in any given quarter of 2020 compared to the same quarter of 2019. Why such an arbitrary and big number?

According to one survey, small businesses in North America run at a profit margin of about 7 percent.

So if a business lost 15 or 20 percent of revenue, and that business happens to increase margins the higher the revenue (that’s called “scale” and it happens a lot), then they’re as dead as a business that lost 30 percent of its revenue.

Jonathan McElvy

Problem 2: SMBs don’t have accountants There is little data out there, but a survey published a couple of years ago said 45 percent of small businesses don’t have an accountant or a bookkeeper.

Guess what? The smaller the size of your business, and the fewer employees you have, the more likely you are to not have someone who manages your books.

And if you don’t have someone properly filing payroll taxes and year-end taxes, you won’t have the forms needed to apply for PPP. Guess what else? The businesses the Biden Administration wants to target with this latest PPP news are the smallest among us. This is why the changes will not work.

Applying for these PPP loans is not easy work. My company has a CFO and we still have had issues with two of our sister companies.

Imagine what it’s like for a four-person shop with a messy check register.

Problem 3: There’s a lack of trust in big brother This isn’t a political statement, but if we’re talking about the smallest of small businesses, and based on Problem 2, has Congress ever considered that many small businesses don’t necessarily want to turn over their financials to the federal government?

It’s not that these businesses are trying to commit fraud. It’s that they don’t have a full-time bookkeeper, they’re concerned about turning in documents that might get them in further

trouble. Many are worried they may get slapped with a big tax bill if they apply for this loan.

And here’s the doublewhammy: Not only are business owners worried about getting punished, a number of them are also concerned that some of the funding won’t be forgiven. And you know what small businesses really don’t want right now?

Any more debt.

Problem 4: Forgiveness is way too hard After the first round of PPP, businesses had to fill out applications to receive forgiveness. These things were monstrous, which takes us back to Problem 2. Half of small businesses don’t have accountants.

The misery of filling out the forgiveness applications in the first round has absolutely discouraged small businesses from applying for the second round.

or two, members of Congress and the Biden Administration would do well to at least consider ways we can overcome these problems.

Setting money into different pots, doing a PR campaign to attract the most vulnerable businesses, and adding folks like convicted (not for fraud) felons and Green Card holders will not solve the underlying problems.

There may not be a solution to the problem, as we have to stop fraud and we have to account for the money. But it can’t be lost on administrators of PPP that this served as a detriment to reaching the smallest and minority-owned businesses most in need of this stimulus.

As the PPP news continues to roll over the next week

IN MEMORIAM

A

Dale Chaffin Box

fter two difficult years of battling the effects of liver cirrhosis, Dale Box was called home by our Heavenly Father! His Life Celebration Service will be at Houston's First Baptist Sanctuary, 7401 Katy Frwy., 77024, on Monday, March 1, visitation at 10 a.m. and service at 11 a.m.

Dale Chaffin Box, 73 years old, passed peacefully into Heaven on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021, with his beloved wife, Dee Dee, at his side in their home in Tomball, TX.

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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 mus we should forg the coming da as well as our them; that is, repeatedly mu the phrase “fo the only way t more divine, is the offense. vindictive, sh it! Corrie ten prison camp s to realize that

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The Leader • Saturday, February 27, 2021 • Page 5A

Ice Rink, from P. 1A

Tree, from P. 1A

time on ice.”

Eventually the ice cracked, making the rink unusable, but because of the City of Houston’s lack of water pressure, the melting ice served a new purpose.

“Little did I realize how useful it would be to tap into the water under the ice to flush our toilets and boil it to wash dishes,” Pagel said. “My neighbors came over with buckets as well.”

The family was able to flush toilets, boiled the water to soak dishes and even get a sponge bath.

“The water was perfectly clean and was water that came from the tap on Sunday, prior to the storm,” Pagel said. “It’s still in my yard, mainly being used to see which toys float and for boat races. But I’m pretty confident it was the only ice hockey rink in anybody’s front yard in Houston.”

live in nearby Shepherd Forest.

The memorial they constructed is on one side of the intersection of West 18th and Seamist.

The tree, which was donated by the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, is planted on the opposite esplanade.

Carolyn Lehnert, beautification chair for the Lazybrook Civic Club, said this is because the tree had to be 80 feet from the intersection.

“The members of the civic club asked what they could do and I suggested a tree,” Lehnert said.

Lehnert then reached out to Houston City Council member Abbie Kamin to help in contacting HFD because the closest fire station to the esplanade, Station 62, was interested in adopting the tree.

“Our office reached out to the fire department on the civic club’s behalf and worked

with Chief Pena to approve the adoption agreement for Station 62,” said Julia Retta, who works for Kamin’s office.

Station 62 will be responsible for the maintenance of the tree, including watering it for two years while it takes root.

Kamin’s office, the fire department and the civic club will continue working together to get a memorial plaque placed by the tree. A community event will be scheduled later this year for when the marker is dedicated.

“The gesture is certainly special,” Stein said. “It’s a place we can always come and any of these guys, if they come to the memorial marker, if they need to reflect on their investigator friend, they have a place they can come honor him, recognize him and remember him. So it’s another token to remember our friend.”

served basis Tuesday through Friday on the south side of the Northwest Mall property at 9500 Hempstead Rd., with service starting at 10:30 a.m. each day and continuing until the daily suppy runs out.

“COVID already put a lot of people in a difficult position financially, then last week the weather event didn’t help,” said Peck, who represents part of the area in District A. “People are still struggling to get a hot meal, so this is important for anyone who needs that right now.”

The food distribution is a joint effort between Kamin and Peck, the city at large, Operation BBQ Relief, the Salvation Army and CrowdSource Rescue, which is delivering meals to the homes of seniors and people with disabilities. Those who need meals but lack reliable trans-

portation can sign up at www. c r o w d s o u r c e r e s c u e. o r g / freeze to receive a barbecue meal and bottled water.

Operation BBQ Relief, which is based in Missouri, was part of a similar initiative in 2017, when it served nearly 400,000 meals to Houstonians in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.

Kamin thanked the “thousands of volunteers” who have helped provide food and water during the last week.

“This is a Texas-sized disaster, and true to Houston’s spirit, we are seeing a Texassized outpouring of generosity and grit as we come together to help others,” Kamin said. “Launching this effort helps ensure our residents have the resources they need during this ongoing crisis.”

Staff writer Landan Kuhlmann contributed to this report.

Help, from P. 1A and how they’re helping other individual people,” said Tonya Knauth, the president of the Garden Oaks Civic Club.

Along with neighbors helping neighbors, the area has played a key in role in citywide recovery efforts. The City of Houston held a mass bottled water distribution last Friday, Feb. 19 at Houston ISD’s Delmar Stadium - while the city was under a boil water notice and bottled water was scarce at grocery stores - and smaller water distributions were held locally by Houston City Council members Karla Cisneros, Abbie Kamin and Amy Peck.

Kamin and Peck also helped organize a multi-day initiative this week to provide free barbecue meals to Houstonians impacted by the winter storm.

The hot meals were being distributed on a first-come, first-

Winter weather delivers blow to plants

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

Last week’s arctic blast left local residents cold and stressed out.

It was just as difficult for people’s plants.

Vegetation was especially vulnerable during a nearly weeklong stretch in which temperatures dropped below freezing on a nightly basis. So there was little that could have been done to salvage decorative outdoor plants and residential gardens at a time when many Houstonians had recently planted fruits and vegetables in anticipation of the upcoming spring.

“I have friends I know who have huge yards with extensive landscaping,” said Pam Parks, the beautification chair for the Garden Oaks Civic Club. “They’ve lost thousands of dollars’ worth of plants.”

The frigid weather was equally problematic for the businesses that help area residents with their gardening needs. Buchanan’s Native Plants at 611 E. 11th St. lost about $50,000 worth of plants, or roughly 10 percent of its inventory, according to operations manager David Alvarado.

The popular nursery in the Heights was without power and forced to close from Feb. 15-18, during which time it was unable to heat the plants it had put in its greenhouse.

Alvarado said the casualties included tropical plants, marigolds, herbs such as oregano and rosemary as well as winter vegetables such as asparagus, broccoli and kale.

Alvarado said plants that are native to the region, such as the Yaupon holly, fared better in the cold.

“It taught us some things,” Alvarado said of the winter storm. “We’re going to have some new nursery protocols. If it’s going to be below 20 degrees, everything needs to get inside.”

Owner Ken Cousino of Quality Feed & Garden, located at 4428 N. Main St., said the tropical plants and bonsai trees in his greenhouse “took a pretty good hit” but were mostly saved. That’s because he used a kerosene heater while the power was out at the store – until he ran out of kerosene – and also because sunlight during the day provided just enough heat to the greenhouse until electricity was restored.

Cousino said Tuesday that a bigger issue is restocking the depleted shelves at Quality Feed & Garden after it was cleaned out

Contributed photo About $50,000 worth of plants at Buchanan’s Native Plants, 611 E. 11th St., perished during last week’s winter storm.

of heat lamps, freeze cloths and bales of hay used for covering and insulating gardens. The store also has a shortage of feed for animals such as dogs, cats, chickens, cattle and horses, Cousino said, because his suppliers in other parts of the state were experiencing a shortfall of feed ingredients at least partly because icy roads last week limited travel.

“It was a mess for agriculture, for Houston, let me tell you,” Cousino said.

Alvarado said he had not yet seen an impact on local growers that supply to Buchanan’s, because they “tend to be insulated from these issues if they have a greenhouse setup and keep all their plants hidden and out of the cold.” He also said local plant lovers should not be too quick to discard or trim vegetation they think may have died during the freeze.

Plants need time to heal and recover, Alvarado said, and cutting them so soon after a freeze could be a potentially fatal shock. He recommended waiting until March 1 before making a final assessment.

Alvarado said Buchanan’s to bounce back quickly as well, even after incurring a significant loss of inventory. Spring is still approaching, which means it’s still prime planting season, and now many local residents may need to restock their gardens.

“Overall, we feel very lucky,” Alvarado said.

“We’re looking to make that up quickly.”

Plumbing, from P. 1A Many residents in area neighborhoods such as Garden Oaks, Oak Forest and the Heights were plagued by busted pipes, which in some cases caused water leaks and damage inside their living areas. That left them scrambling for plumbing materials and professional help.

Jeremiah Cooper, whose Cooper’s Plumbing company serves local neighborhoods, said he and his small team of plumbers received about 3,500 calls last Wednesday, Feb. 17. Cooper said it got to the point that they were overwhelmed and stopped answering the phone.

He said he’s booked for more than two months with jobs, which in many cases are proving more ex-

tensive once work begins.

“Every job we go to, we go in there and we think there’s only one burst,” Cooper said. “By the time we’re done with that house … we’ve seen upwards of 20 copper bursts in the attic in one house.

The problem there, when you have that many burst, it can be almost a whole-day process. These jobs take a while to do.”

Cooper said he’s encountering lots of busted copper pipes as well as those made from CPVC, which is more chlorinated than PVC pipe and can withstand hotter temperatures. He also said he’s seen holes in galvanized steel pipes, which he called a first as well as an indication of how severe the cold weather was

last week.

With such a demand for their services, Cooper said he and the other plumbers he works with are prioritizing customers without running water in their homes as well as elderly residents and families with children. He said his company also is having to put jobs on hold because there is a shortage of plumbing materials in the region.

Cooper said Tuesday that some plumbers he knows in other states, including as far away as New York, were in the process of driving to Houston to bring more supplies and manpower.

Considering the lack of materials and available plumbers, Morgan Shields said she and her husband

plan to wait a few weeks before having their garage and pool pipes reconnected to the rest of the home.

Cooper said he had charged between $400-$4,500 for the jobs he had completed since the storm, depending on the extent of the damage.

“We understand the situation, so we’re keeping the prices the same (as before),” Cooper said. “Even though (the cost of) copper has gone up like double, and fittings have gone up like double, we’re still charging the same prices.”

Cooper and Whitfield Sprinklers owners Lorenzo Whitfield, who repaired some damaged sprinkler systems in Timbergrove on Tues-

day, both said the havoc wreaked by the winter storm is a boon to their businesses. Cooper said his staff was forced to move out of the garage it used because of the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, but he hopes they can move back in with this uptick in work.

Whitfield said the damage he’s witnessing, although widespread throughout the region, is not necessarily unusual.

“Every winter, it’s always like this. It’s just not this bad,” he said.

“You have people that do not winterize. They just think it’s not going to get as cold. But it happens.”

Follow Adam Zuvanich on Twitter @AZuvanich

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The Leader • Saturday, February 27, 2021 • Page 7A

Art Valet: Winter weather spurs storm of creativity Mitch Cohen Art Columnist

Last week was definitely another “character-building” moment for us Texans. That phrase “character building” is one we use at the outdoor markets to describe those challenging days. I credit friend and Heights jewelry artists Steve Sellers for coining the phrase and he credits me.

I put the word out via email seeking column ideas because I was short on time and ideas, having spent the past week shuffling, boiling and seeking new sources for fresh water.

Stacy Gresell responded first, suggesting photos of the art created by artists during the blackout, which shows the

intense need so many artists have to create.

Gresell, whom I’ve interviewed here before, creates primarily with encaustic wax, paint and collage found objects. She told me how a friend’s lessons with colored pencils and water-soluble pastels have now saved her artistic sanity.

“It’s become a real love of mine, mostly because I can do it without electricity and the torch I normally need and I can do it while I’m sitting in a chair at shows,” Gresell said, referring to her pencils and pastel work. “So during the blackout, I was fortunate that I had several substrates already made up. I was able to sit by the window in the sunlight or in front of the fireplace and work for hours - it made the lack of electricity and the cold much less frustrating. Making art scratches an itch I just can’t explain.”

Find Gressell’s work at sta-

Contributed photo Houston artist Lauren Luna paints by candlelight last week.

cygresellfineart.com.

Oil painter Lauren Luna, being a native of Ohio, used this “character-building” week to teach her son, Canaan, how it’s done up north.

“We closed all the doors and camped out in my room, the warmest one in the house,” Luna said. “Lit a few

candles and played Monopoly, gin and solitaire. Read, watched DVDs until the portable’s battery died and took naps. One night, I pulled out my battery-operated lanterns (from the night art markets) and more candles and painted a little bit until my hand and nose got too cold.”

See Luna’s creations at artistaluna.com.

For years people asked artist and illustrator Angie Spears if she would ever write and illustrate a children’s book. The year 2020 became the perfect year for that when her busy schedule was diminished.

“I would think about it a lot, but never had the time to dedicate myself and give the project the time it needed,” Spears said. “However, once the pandemic hit, art shows cancelled and what I did have was some time. The pandemic was also having an enormous impact on kids, so I thought the time was right. I needed to write the book.”

For most of 2020, Spears holed up in her home studio and spent her time illustrating scenes from 23 classic children’s stories with her own heroine playing the starring role. She linked the images together with a charming rhyme that promotes the joy of read-

ing.

Spears chose to self-publish after frustrations with traditional publishers and is scheduled to print in March. Spears is raising the publishing costs through Kickstarter, a crowdfunding platform. Launching the campaign just as a natural disaster struck Texas was just so 2020 - even though it’s now 2021.

You can support Angie’s project by pre-ordering copies of the book for yourself or to be donated to local schools or libraries. You can even commission Angie to re-create an illustration from the book with your child featured in the illustration!

Visit angieartwork.com for more on her and her art.

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: Luna serves out-of-this-world pizza

By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com

Toppings can make or break a pizza.

But the dough is just as important. Great toppings can become a negative with crust that’s too soggy. So when I’m looking for a new pizza spot, I’m looking for a combination of toppings and bread that tastes great.

Luna Pizzeria hit the nail on the head for both — for the most part.

The space has a cool vibe.

Its walls are decorated with geometric shapes, stripped and colored with wood paneling and paint.

Luna serves personal-sized pizza for $10 and larges for an additional $8. Patrons can also create their own, which starts at $9 and has upcharges for toppings ranging from $0.50

to $2.

I ordered two of Luna’s personal-sized signature pizzas, including the pepperoni and the margherita. I also built my own with arugula, hot honey drizzle, chicken and prosciutto. And because I’m always up for trying desserts, I grabbed a slice of Italian cream cake.

The pizzas were for carryout and kept warm all the way home.

The pepperoni came with mozzarella, provolone and parmesan. The pepperonis were the size of a quarter. As the pizza cooked, many of the pepperonis curved into a bowl shape and came out nice and crispy at its edges. There wasn’t much sauce on the pizza. It was mostly a layer of cheese and pepperoni.

The dough was the same on all. It was thin without being crispy. The crust of the pizza was small because the top-

pings took most of the room.

The bread was soft and not at all soggy, even after the car ride.

The margherita came with tomato sauce, mozzarella and fresh basil. Tomato sauce dominated this pizza and the mozzarella was melted in dollops around the pie. The fresh basil was scattered in cut strips, but while eating the pizza I often forgot they were even there. I actually love a pizza with lots of sauce, so this one was a quick favorite for me.

The pizza I built myself came with the arugula, hot honey drizzle and prosciutto in a container on the side. I liked that I could decide how much of it to add to the pizza.

However, after one bite of the prosciutto I took it off.

Prosciutto is an Italian drycured ham that is thinly sliced.

It wasn’t my first taste of the

FOOD BRIEFS:

New restaurants to hit Heights, Timbergrove

meat, but the combination of a cold, almost slimy meat on top of the warm pizza was a turn-off for me. My favorite addition ended up being the hot honey drizzle, which was instantly spicy against my tongue. I really enjoyed the sweet tang it gave the pizza.

The Italian cream cake, which is usually made with a vanilla cake, coconut and pecans with a cream cheese frosting, was the perfect ending to my meal. The cake was moist and the icing wasn’t too much. It’s definitely a dessert I would get again.

While the personal pizzas are about 9 inches, the three I brought home more than fed three of us. The leftovers amounted to one personal pizza. Plus, I liked the small slices.

Luna also has salads and sandwiches available on its menu.

Zarah Parker

zarah@theleadernews.com

There are two new concepts set to take root in the Heights area by the company Berg Hospitality, according to CultureMap. The hospitality group owns multiple restaurants, including B.B. Lemon at 1809 Washington Ave. and The Butcher Shop at B&B at 1814 Washington Ave. One of the new concepts is Trattoria Sofia, which will open at the former Presidio space that closed due to a fire at 911 W. 11th St. The spot will serve Italian food.

The other concept hasn’t been named, but will open at the mixed-use development The Docks at Timbergrove at 2505 W. 11th St. This concept’s focus will be woodfired grilled steaks.

Photo from Instragram The Burger Joint, 2002 N. Shepherd Dr., is serving beer-battered fried cod with seasoned potato wedges until April.

Tea and succulents mix this Saturday Teapresso Bar, 718 W. 18th St., is hosting Front Porch Succulents this Saturday from 4-6 p.m.

Patrons who take part in the event with Front Porch Succulents will get a free drink from Teapresso. Participants will select a handmade pot, their favorite succulent, pack it with soil and add some rocks on top.

Fish available at The Burger Joint Looking for a place to eat during Lent? A new fish special is now available at The Burger Joint, 2002 N. Shepherd Dr. Until April, patrons can grab an order of beer-battered cod and seasoned potato wedges with a side of green chile tartar sauce.

Photo from Instagram Front Porch Succulents is partnering with Teapresso Bar, 718 W. 18th St., for an event scheduled for 4-6 p.m. Saturday.

Luna Pizzeria Address: 107 Yale St. Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. daily Pricing: $6-$18

Kid-friendly: Yes Alcohol: Yes Healthy options: Yes Star of the show: Margherita pizza

Be thankful for amenities of living in modern times Managing Editor

By Zarah Parker

Photo by Zarah Parker Clockwise from top left are the margherita pizza, pepperoni pizza and a pizza with prosciutto, arugula and hot honey drizzle from Luna Pizzeria, 107 Yale St.

There’s something very post-apocalyptic about walking down the empty aisles of grocery stores.

After last week’s freeze, when I visited a store last Saturday, there was hardly anything worth grabbing. Even though technically the worst of the event was over, seeing empty shelves felt eerie. Much like how the shelves were at the start of the pandemic last March.

Like for every Houstonian, the week of the freeze was a startling experience for me.

I’ve hunkered down during hurricanes my whole life, and yet I’ve never felt more jarred than spending half of the week without electricity, running water and the inability to cook normally.

I will go ahead and mention that on Feb. 17, late in the day my family and I pulled a Ted Cruz, just not as extreme, and got out of Houston. We stayed in a hotel in Bryan, where the snow didn’t melt until Friday but we were able to take showers.

Still, the glimpses I did have — and am still seeing as my house won’t have hot water for at least another week — made me more thankful than ever for modern amenities, like indoor plumping when the water runs.

There’s an old hymn called “Count Your Blessings,” and last week much of Texas was face-to-face with all the blessings we never really thought about because they were already such a part of our everyday lives, like electricity. The night I spent without electricity, I could almost see my breath even with piles of blankets.

I know people had it worse than I did, but at the end of the day I think we can all look back and be thankful for the

things we don’t often think to be thankful for.

This is especially true when it comes to food and water.

When the boil water notice went out last Wednesday, Feb. 17, it worried me. I wasn’t sure how long it would last, and I knew bottled water would be hard to come by. Since the notice was lifted last Sunday, I can’t help but think about how blessed we are to have water so easily accessible.

I mean, people used to have to carry water to their house from the river, or bring it out of a well. There’s people still alive who lived this way, and there’s people in different parts of the world who live that way.

But when is the last time you looked at your faucet and were thankful that when you turned the knob, it worked?

Probably last Friday or Saturday, if I had to guess. But before then? I would say not often. Going forward, I think recognizing these seemingly small things as blessings will be good for us.

When it came to food supply, last week my house wasn’t the best prepared. Even with the warnings, I definitely didn’t think it would be nearly as bad as it was and I definitely didn’t think it would last much of the week.

I’m pretty sure there was a day last week when I survived mostly on snacks, like chips and donuts. I knew I would be fine. I was mostly worried about my dad, who is diabetic.

Without the right food, or a way to prepare it correctly, things could have gone south pretty easily.

So, I’m thankful for a gas stove, on which we made spaghetti one night. Later that same night I learned that trying to wash dishes with water collected in the tub is just plain awful.

One thing I did love to see last week was the selflessness of neighbors helping neighbors, even though they themselves weren’t in the best position.

But that’s easy to be thankful for.

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The Leader • Saturday, February 27, 2021 • Page 8A

Relief fund established to help with storm recovery

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

The City of Houston and Harris County have teamed up to create a relief fund that aims to help residents of the region recover from last week’s winter storm.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said Monday that the Houston Harris County 2021 Winter Storm Relief Fund will focus on helping the region’s most vulnerable residents repair their homes. Prolonged freezing weather last week, coupled with extended power outages, caused water pipes to burst at many homes.

“We cannot forget about the people who feel like they have been left behind and in the dark while the rest of the area is moving on, or at least

attempting to move forward,” Turner said during a Monday afternoon news conference.

“Many have homes that are uninhabitable.”

Online donations to the fund can be made at winterstormrelieffund.org.

Residents in need of assistance can call 211 or text “HoustonFreeze” to 898211, while Spanish-speaking residents can text “HoustonAyuda” to 898211. When assistance is available, the city said those residents will be contacted with information about eligibility requirements and how to apply.

The city also encouraged impacted residents to apply for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance at https://www.disasterassistance.gov.

McMillian

The Greater Houston Community Foundation and United Way of Greater Houston have been tasked with managing the local relief fund, which will provide grants to smaller nonprofit organizations that can help residents. The fund also has an advisory board consisting of corporate and commu-

nity leaders, with CenterPoint Energy CEO Dave Lesar serving as chair of the board.

Heights resident Amanda McMillian, the president and CEO of the United Way of Greater Houston, said the fund aims to help community members whose needs are not met by other forms of government assistance.

“We want to fill the gaps, we want to do it with speed and we want to do it with transparency,” McMillian said.

The city also encouraged residents with homes damaged during the winter storm to submit “Personal Property Damage Reporting” forms to the city, which will help the city accurately convey the scope of the damage as it seeks state and federal assistance. Damage forms are

Police Reports • Feb. 16 - Feb. 23 FEB. 16

Theft 4 PM 5100 BLOCK N SHEPHERD Theft 3 PM 1700 BLOCK W 34TH Burglary 8 PM 3400 BLOCK TIMBERGROVE Theft 5 PM 1200 BLOCK E 34TH Vandalism 2 PM 2900 BLOCK MICHAUX Burglary 10 PM 1400 BLOCK DURHAM Assault 6 PM 4100 BLOCK FULTON Assault 2 PM 100 BLOCK COTTAGE

FEB. 17

Assault 1 AM 100 BLOCK E 32ND Assault 3 PM 1100 BLOCK NICHOLSON Vandalism 5 AM 700 BLOCK YALE Theft 12 PM 5100 BLOCK N SHEPHERD Assault 12 AM 1200 BLOCK RUTLAND Assault 10 AM 1200 BLOCK CROSSTIMBERS Assault 12 PM 2400 BLOCK SHEARN

FEB. 18

Burglary 6 PM 2500 BLOCK AIRLINE Other 9 PM 1500 BLOCK HARVARD

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BLACK GOLD GUNS & AMMO Licensed FFL/Class III Dealer Theft 1 AM 900 BLOCK NADINE Assault 4 PM 600 BLOCK BARKLEY Theft 2 PM 300 BLOCK HEIGHTS BLVD Vandalism 5 PM 1900 BLOCK E CROSSTIMBERS Assault 7 PM 100 BLOCK W CAVALCADE Theft 5 PM 4000 BLOCK KOEHLER

FEB. 19

Theft 1 PM 6900 BLOCK MAIN Theft 3 PM 6900 BLOCK MAIN Theft 11 PM 2800 BLOCK WHITE OAK DR Assault 9 AM 900 BLOCK NADINE Assault 2 PM 700 BLOCK E 41ST Theft 1 PM 1500 BLOCK N LOOP

Theft 9 AM 400 BLOCK S HEIGHTS BLVD Assault 8 PM 5200 BLOCK PETTY

FEB. 20

Robbery 8 AM 600 BLOCK E 20TH Assault 12 AM 8500 BLOCK N BAYOU Arrest 10 PM 1900 BLOCK RUTLAND Theft 1 PM 900 BLOCK W 20TH Theft 5 PM 1800 BLOCK AIRLINE Assault 11 PM 300 BLOCK E 39TH Assault 11 AM 3800 BLOCK AJAX Theft 2 PM 1500 BLOCK N LOOP Robbery 2 AM 100 BLOCK W 20TH Assault 2 AM 1200 BLOCK W 20TH

FEB. 21

Theft 3 PM 200 BLOCK HEIGHTS BLVD Theft 9 PM 800 BLOCK ARLINGTON Theft 6 PM 500 BLOCK E CROSSTIMBERS Theft 12 AM 5500 BLOCK KANSAS Theft 1 PM 1600 BLOCK BEVIS Other 6 PM 2000 BLOCK N SHEPHERD Robbery 4 AM 900 BLOCK CROSSTIMBERS

Arrest 5 AM 300 BLOCK CAVALCADE Theft 12 PM 7400 BLOCK N SHEPHERD Theft 11 AM 4500 BLOCK WASHINGTON

FEB. 22

Theft 7 PM 1800 BLOCK ASHLAND Other 7 PM 1200 BLOCK W 12TH Theft 11 AM 300 BLOCK NEYLAND Theft 1 PM 3100 BLOCK WHITE OAK Robbery 7 PM 6700 BLOCK E CROSSTIMBERS

FEB. 23

Theft 12 AM 3000 BLOCK YALE Theft 1 AM 800 BLOCK W 19TH Assault 12 PM 800 BLOCK DOROTHY Arrest 12 PM 2900 BLOCK AIRLINE Assault 4 PM 1500 BLOCK N LOOP Burglary 12 PM 400 BLOCK SIKES Assault 10 AM 4500 BLOCK OLD YALE Assault 1 PM 6700 BLOCK FULTON Reports are provided by SpotCrime.com based on data from the Houston Police Department.

available in English at http:// bit.ly/damagereporten and in Spanish at http://bit.ly/damagereportes.

Submitting such forms is not a means of requesting aid, according to the city.

Regarding the relief fund, Turner asked those who are able to contribute.

“I want to encourage everyone who wan, particularly corporate leaders and business leaders and of course philanthropic people, please, please donate,” he said.

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IN MEMORIAM

Gerald William Henry

G

erald [Jerry] William Henry, 87, of Houston, TX was taken into God’s loving arms Feb. 5th, 2021. Jerry was born on Jun. 7th, 1933 in Lockport, NY to Percy William Henry and Ruth Henry-Lowe.

After graduating from Vancouver High School in 1952, Jerry enlisted in the US army and served during the Korean War. After his discharge, Jerry went on to attend Clarke College.

In 1961 Jerry left Vancouver for Harlingen, TX with his 2 little boys, Peter age 11 months and Tracey age 2 ½, in a Volkswagen bus, pulling a trailer with everything he owned. He laughingly said he was probably the only man that ever stopped in Reno, Nevada for a washing machine (to wash diapers), instead of a slot machine.

On June 6, 1964 Jerry married the love of his life, his soulmate and best friend, Beth Henry. Along with Beth, Jerry welcomed into his world his loving daughter Michelle, age 3. Together they raised their blended family. Through Beth Jerry also gained another whole family who embraced him and loved him.

In 1969 Jerry sold his interest in Southcoast Surgical and moved his family to Houston. Jerry spent many years in surgical supply, then owned and operated B&J Vending Co., was warehouse manager for Har-Con Corporation and was the Safety Director for NCI Building Systems.

Jerry was a longtime member of St. James Lutheran Church where he sang in the choir and served on the property committee. Jerry loved hunting, fishing, camping, dancing, trips to the casino, Sudoku, but most of all family gatherings and time spent with family and friends. Jerry was kind, loving, and selfless. Jerry always put the needs of others before himself. He was the best friend you could ever have. He loved animals and they loved him. He grieved deeply over the loss of his dear Sophie this past summer.

Jerry is preceded in death by his father Percy William Henry, his mother Ruth Lowe, and his daughter Michelle. After the death of his daughter in 2006, Jerry became a dad again at 73 years of age when he and Beth adopted their granddaughter Noelle, the light of his life.

Jerry is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Beth Henry, sons Tracey Henry (Maria), Peter Henry, daughter/granddaughter Noelle Henry, numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and two sisters-in-law, to mourn his loss. A committal service will be held March 2 at the Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77038.

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LEADER LISTING The Leader • Saturday, February 27, 2021 • Page 1B

Residents protest proposed apartment complex

By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com

Heather and John Collins first found out about a proposed 60-unit apartment complex planned for 909 Fisher St. — across the street from them — when a neighbor met State Rep. Penny Morales Shaw walking on their street.

“Our understanding was that (Shaw) was trying to determine whether to support the project,” Heather said.

Further digging and a conversation with the Super Neighborhood Council 12 president garnered more information about the Fisher Street Apartments and its New Orleansbased developer SBP, formerly the St. Bernard Project, a nonprofit disaster recovery and housing organization.

What the Collins couple learned has them and a number of other Garden Oaks-area neighbors concerned about the project’s potential impact on the community, with regard to increased flooding risks and traffic in the already highly developed area.

More than 600 people have signed an online petition in opposition to the project.

Because SBP is applying for 9 percent federal housing tax credits allocated by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) as a funding source for the development, the project is competing against several others in the Houston area. Housing tax credits are awarded based on a scoring system outlined by the TDHCA, which gives points for support from elected officials as well as community engagement.

The Houston City Council voted to support the project and a few others planned for the area on Wednesday, a day after area residents voiced their opposition to the council and SBP representatives also offered their input. The other local housing projects supported by the city council are the Houston 150 Bayou Apartments at 6970 Portwest Dr., Harvard Street Lofts at 15 Harvard St., the Campanile at Minimax SEC on Minimax Drive as well as Jackson Hinds Garden at 607 Thornton Rd. According to SBP spokesperson Foofie Schaefer, the proposed Fisher Street development would feature 60 apartment units, including 15 twobedroom and 43 one-bedroom units.

According to the project’s application with the TDHCA, the plan calls for 54 low-income units and six market-rate units.

Schaefer said the development

Photo by Betsy Denson Garden Oaks residents have expressed opposition to the Fisher Street Apartments, a development planned for 909 Fisher St.

would also feature a leasing office, adequate gated off-street parking and a community center open to neighborhood residents. The 9 percent tax credits would be one funding source for the development, with other sources coming from conventional financing and grants.

“We are still in the planning phase of the development,” Schaefer said.

“We are identifying financing and working on architectural design concepts.”

The Harris County Appraisal District valued the property at a little more than $1.4 million in 2020.

Schaefer said the mission of SBP is to shrink the time between disaster and recovery and fortify people against their breaking point. It wants to offer resilient, energy-efficient housing to low- and moderate-income households.

“However, it is important to us that we create mixed-income communities that attract people from different walks of life,” she said. “For perspective, the deeply affordable units will be affordable to three-person households with the head of the household in professions like fast food cook, making about $21,000. The mid-level

units to professions like school bus driver, making about $34,000, and the remaining affordable units to professions like news reporters, making about $42,000.”

SBP also wants to serve veterans.

Schaefer said their rental developments include a unit preference for veterans and their families.

Residents voice concerns John Collins said he is supportive of bringing affordable housing to the area and recognizes the neighborhood has been transforming over the past decade.

John and Heather both grew up in the neighborhood and were high school sweethearts at Waltrip. After living in El Paso for several years after attending college and graduate school, they moved back home to be closer to their families and live where they grew up.

John said he finds the proposed development on Fisher to be different than Avenue on 34th, the affordable housing complex that Houston nonprofit Avenue is building on the site of the former Doyle’s Restaurant.

“That is 70 units over two acres,” John said. “(Fisher Street) is 60 units

on less than half the amount of land.

The only access to this development would be off Fisher Street. It is boxed in on three sides. My concerns would be exactly the same if the proposal was for 60 luxury apartments, and I just don’t think that site can support such a large complex.”

Heather understands some people may think that with all the townhomes being built in the area, there is no concern with further development. However, recent flooding, especially during Tropical Storm Imelda in 2019, has her wary about future construction in the area.

John added that flooding on their street has been worse after the first phase of the city’s Garden Oaks/ Shepherd Park Drainage Project, which was completed in 2018.

“We are concerned that water from other parts of the neighborhood has been diverted to our area,” he said.

Added Heather: “(The Fisher apartments) location is one of the last green spaces on the street. I feel like there’s almost an anything-goes aspect to development in the city.”

At the city council’s public session Tuesday, only one person, aside from the developers, spoke out in support

of the project. Those who were in opposition echoed the Collins’ concerns, with a few noting there were other larger plots of land in the neighborhood that would be more conducive to a larger development.

Speaker Callie Ritter characterized the land as a “funky trapezoid oneacre lot” and wondered how 60 units might fit there. She also said Garden Oaks Montessori Magnet, where the apartments would be zoned, was already at 176 percent capacity.

Ritter said the Fisher Street project, on the heels of the already-permitted 382-unit multi-family structure that Hines is building on 34th Street, would only add to overcrowding in classrooms.

Speaker Jane Granahan told the city council she felt like the community engagement process had not been respected. Another speaker said the apartments would be SBP’s second project of this type and that they typically take over a year to plan such developments.

Heather Collins said she felt the project was being rushed through, especially since there were no renderings available yet. She explained that the Super Neighborhood and the Garden Oaks Civic Club are still gathering information regarding the development and have not had an opportunity to hold meetings on the community’s concerns.

Process not over Mayor Sylvester Turner told the callers that the council’s affirmative vote on the proposed projects was just the first step. The second would be another public hearing and approval by the TDHCA, which plans to award the housing tax credits in July.

Securing the support of Shaw, who did not respond to an email seeking comment, figures to be critical for the project.

City council member Abbie Kamin, who represents the area and voted to support the project, said the city remains under a consent decree with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which requires the city to use an objective scoring process to determine which housing tax credit applications will receive its support.

Kamin said when she recently learned the Fisher project had been included in the city’s package of applications, her office immediately notified the Super Neighborhood to ensure community awareness and engagement. She said she also had

See Fisher, P. 3B

Real Estate Roundup

Braun buys retail center that includes Juanita’s

By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com

A marketing flyer from Braun Enterprises is promoting a “new redevelopment coming soon to the entrance of Oak Forest” at 2740 W. T.C. Jester Blvd. That is the retail center that includes Juanita’s Mexican Restaurant, Supreme Sandwiches and, until a few years ago, the Solid Platinum Gentleman’s Club.

The flyer said the two-building project is “nestled between Oak Forest to the north, and Timbergrove/Lazybrook to the south. The surrounding neighborhoods have quickly become hot neighborhoods for young professionals with families not looking to stray far from the ‘inner loop.’ ” Building 1 is the segment of the center running parallel to Ramus Street, and Building 2 contains the former Solid Platinum and Juanita’s.

The flyer indicates that Juanita’s, Supreme Sandwiches and the dry cleaners are leasing on a month-to-month

basis, with other spaces becoming available between now and December 2022.

CXRE, which had the property listed for sale, said in a listing that it was in “average” condition and that the estimated rental income from the property over the last year was projected to be $136,300.

La Calle Tacos moving in on Ella Revive’s Monica Danna announced that it has signed a lease with La Calle Tacos for its last available space at Ella Boulevard and West 34th Street. The address is 3323 Ella Blvd., where RJ’s Boot Shop used to be.

“We are thrilled to have this well-known taco spot in Oak Forest,” Danna said.

La Calle Tacos, a fast-casual Mexican concept specializing in food from Mexico City, already has locations downtown at 909 Franklin St. and in Midtown at 401 Gray St. “We are also very excited with this new project,” La Calle’s Fernando Villegas said.

Previously, the owners of La Mexicana in Montrose were going to open a second location of the restaurant, called La Mex, at 3323 Ella. Zulema Gonzales said they made the decision not to proceed during the COVID-19 shutdown last summer when their main concern was to keep the original restaurant going.

“We do hope to be able to work with Revive again in the future,” Gonzales said. “All doors were left open amicably.”

Space remaining at Shepherd Row The current tenants at 1002-1028 N. Shepherd Dr. include Crawfish Café, Lornhorn Liquor, Metro PCS, La Fondita Michoacan and Cozy Nail Lounge.

A marketing flyer for the property from Braun Enterprises lists three available spaces for lease, all about 2,000 square feet, including the spot La Fondita Michoacan currently occupies.

Restaurant spaces available in Washington Heights Streetwise Retail lists two second-generation restaurant spaces for lease at I-10 and Yale Street/Heights Boulevard.

A 1,750 square foot space is available on Heights Boulevard next to Salata. The other is a 2,551 square foot space on Yale next to Luna Pizzeria.

Ground lease offered for 1015 W. 19th St. Streetwise also has a flyer in circulation regarding a 2,827 square foot redevelopment

opportunity for ground lease at 1015 W. 19th St. It was formerly a used car lot.

The flyer says the property

offers a “creative opportunity for gardens, grills, cafe’s, lounges or club” and has “large parking capacity.”

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Contributed rendering Pictured is an artist’s rendering of Braun Enterprises’ renovation plan for the shopping center at 2740 W. T.C. Jester Blvd.

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Page 2B • Saturday, February 27, 2021 • The Leader

Strong starts characterize local January home sales

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

As the new year began, home sales in local markets went soaring to get the market off to a good start in 2021.

Year-over-year home sales in January jumped anywhere from 22 to more than 111 percent, according to the most recent data from the Houston Association of Realtors, while local home prices showed varying results.

On the whole, local markets mirrored – and in some cases exceeded – the Greater Houston region’s sales trends.

77018 In the zip code encompassing Garden Oaks/Oak Forest, Shepherd Park Plaza and others, there were 52

homes sold last month – a 33.3 percent spike from January 2020.

On the pricing front, this was one of two local markets in which homeowners paid less than last January.

The average home price was down 3.8 percent to $468,044, while yearover-year median price was $395,000 – an 8 percent drop from last January.

77092 Just to the west, the zip code which includes parts of Oak Forest and Greater Inwood showed the greatest year-over-year increase. The 19 homes sold here last month represent a 111.1 percent spike over January 2020, when just nine homes came off the market.

Pricing-wise, this zip code showed a slightly similar trend to its neighbor.

Its median price dropped 11.6 per-

cent to $255,475. However, homeowners paid $309,846 – a 12 percent increase over January 2020 – for a home in this area.

77091 An area containing much of Greater Inwood and part of Acres Homes also had a strong sales month, with agents seeing 16 homes come off the market. That figure is a 45.5 percent year-over-year increase compared to last January.

The sharpest spike in the area’s year-over-year pricing trends was here as well. Homebuyers paid $286,026 in this zip code last month – a 45 percent rise. Meanwhile, median home price soared 59.7 percent from last January and was at $287,498 at month’s end.

77008

In the Heights, the year-over-year sales spike was the second-largest in the area. There were 61 homes sold here last month, a 48.8 percent increase over the 41 sales last January.

Additionally, this market was one of only two in the area to see an increase in both average and median home prices. The average home went for $555,395 – up 1.3 percent from last year – while the median price ended the month at $487,000. That figure represented a 4.8 percent yearover year rise.

77009 On the eastern edge of the Heights, the zip code including Woodland Heights, Norhill Heights and Northside saw 27 homes come off the market. The marked a 22.7 percent yearover-year increase for the area, which

sold 22 in the same period last year.

Both average and median home price fell from their 2020 marks, one of only two local markets to demonstrate such a trend. The average price of a home dipped 5.3 percent to $424,548, while median price came was down 10 percent at $360,000.

77007 Home sales stagnated on a yearover-year basis on the southern portion of the area, with the 41 homes sold last month matching the January 2020 total.

It was also one of three markets to see a year-over-year increase in home pricing. Homebuyers paid 9.9 percent more than in January 2020 ($515,379), while the median price of a home in this area rose 4.8 percent to $437,000.

REALTOR SHOWCASE

McCormick’s clients in win-win situations

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Kasia McCormick with Compass Real Estate knows the key to any real estate transaction is finding the perfect melding of data, market analysis and personal touch in order to overcome challenges.

Luckily for Houston buyers and sellers, she brings a wealth of such experience to the table to help them find the perfect forever home or sell their house for the best price.

“Home buying and selling is a huge investment, often the biggest, and (clients) want to make sure they hire the best consultant for the job. My clients research and hire top accountants and attorneys to guide them with major decisions and expect the same level of service and analysis from their real estate agent,” she said. “I strive to bring a high level of experience, analysis and resources to all my transactions coupled with superlative customer service.”

That higher level perspective, she said, comes from her previous work in the United States Government. McCormick served in the Peace Corps in Senegal, West Africa. Afterward, she graduated with a Masters from Columbia University and was chosen as a Presidential Management Fellow by the U. S. Department of State/USAID in Washington, D. C. where she worked as a diplomat/international cooperation specialist for seven years before settling in Houston in 2009.

A few years later, McCormick said it was a daunting experience searching for their second home that first piqued her interest in a real estate career – which came as a natural transition from her family history.

“I wasn’t really satisfied with the level of data and analysis I was getting in my search. I’m the daughter of a general contractor and my parents renovated and sold homes growing up, so figured I would get a real estate license for myself to get access to all the data for my own search,” she said. “I didn’t anticipate it being a full-time gig in the beginning, as I had just had my second child, but quickly realized that it plays on all my strengths, I really enjoy it, and it offers me some more flexibility to be with my three young children. So it’s been super

Kasia McCormick rewarding.”

Focusing on both buyers and sellers in her home neighborhood of the Heights, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest as well as her other inner loop spots, McCormick said she aims to give her clients the entire picture as opposed to a segmented view.

“Diplomacy and high-level analysis of statistics has transferred to real estate really well…I still use that experience toward all my transactions. I’m not here just to do paperwork and shuffle through ‘A to Z,’” she said. “When I’m with a couple, I look at with the holistic view. I look at as a diplomat, examining all the players and making sure I’m best representing my client

so it’s a win-win situation for everyone.”

Her clients mostly, she said, tend to be families looking for their first or second homes. And by combining her knowledge of the neighborhood – where all three children attend school and she is involved in several neighborhood organizations – with her negotiation and diplomacy skills, she has carved out a niche in this slice of North Houston.

That has led to several recognitions, including McCormick being named a Top Seller in 2018 and in the top 1% of Houston Realtors the last couple of years.

“I pretty much try to be who I wanted to hire,” she said. “I’m always trying to add value – if I’m not adding value to my client in an email or phone call or as a realtor, then I’m not doing my job. I stay on top of the latest marketing and tech offerings, always trying to be at the forefront of tools.”

Over the course of the last year during COVID-19, McCormick said her markets have seen a rise in demand as more people work from home and uncertainty evolves around many jobs.

“The home is the number one priority for everyone this past year,” she said. ““People don’t really know where they’re going – whether they’re going to have their jobs or whether jobs will change. Is it going to allow for remote work or will they be going back to the office? And not every seller can capitalize on the fact that it’s becoming a buyer’s marker, because they don’t even know where they’re going to be.”

But through all of it, McCormick said what she loves most about her job is that she has been able to keep interacting with people in a socially distanced and safe manner – an aspect she called the best part of the profession.

Her clients become friends, she said. And what’s more, she becomes their consultant through Closing and hopefully for life to help buyers and sellers through any important real estate decision in their lives.

“My biggest fear is that people would move into a house and hate it,” she said. “I want to make sure it’s the right house for them, and that they’ll be happy in the end.”

To buy or list a home with McCormick, email her at kasia. mccormick@compass.com or give her a call at 773-332-0087.

Julie O’Neill

Neighbor. Mother.

Community Advocate. REALTOR® Kasia McCormick knows the Heights.

Kasia.McCormick@compass.com www.kasiamccormick.com 773.332.0087

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The Leader • Saturday, February 27, 2021 • Page 3B

Kibble or canned: What’s the best food for your dog? lar feeding option for pets in America. Dry food is more economical and has a much longer shelf life. Dry food is also good for your dog’s teeth, as the act of crunching up the hard pellets helps to keep your dog’s teeth clean. In fact, researchers theorize that the act of crunching on kibble is a stress reliever for dogs. However, dry food also tends to have more grains in it, making it higher in carbohydrates, which isn’t always ideal for all dogs. Dry food also often has lots of additives and preservatives.

Dear Tabby, Should we feed our dog dry food (kibble), wet food, or a combination of both? He seems to like it all, but we want to do what is best for his long term health.

Dog Food Decisions in Woodland Heights Dear Dog Food Decisions, There are several feeding options for dogs on the market these days. Dry food has its benefits, as does wet food, so in large part, it’s a matter of your dog’s preference as well as yours. We’ll quickly break down the pros and cons of each here though, to help you make a decision.

Wet Food While dry food is probably good enough for most dog’s palates, wet food is the icing on the cake when it comes to dog food. Most dogs love the flavor of wet food and the added moisture in wet food is good for dogs. Wet food also often contains more meat than its dry counterpart, so for dogs needing a high protein/low carb diet, wet is the way to go.

However, wet food can also contain fillers and additives that are harmful in the long term, as well as more fat, so if your dog is on a diet, wet food might have too many calories for him.

Dry Food (Kibble) (The more that I typed the word, “kibble,” the more I began to puzzle about why we use that word and what it actually means. As it turns out, “kibble” is an 18th century word that means to grind grains, cereal and meat into little pellets. ) Kibble is the most popu-

Feeding both You can possibly give your dog the best of both worlds by feeding him a combination of dry food with a dollop of wet on top. The wet food will entice your dog to eat and before he knows it, his bowl will be empty. By offering a combination of both wet and dry, you can figure out what your dog likes the best. Your dog can enjoy the health benefits of each type of food and probably really enjoy his dinner time.

Plan to slowly introduce new foods into your dog’s diet so that you don’t inadvertently cause any digestive distress.

Also, keep his portions in check to keep your dog from gaining too much unhealthy weight.

A quick consultation with your vet can advise you on the appropriate portion sizes and nutritional makeup of your dog’s ideal food. Whatever method of feeding you choose, be sure to read labels thoroughly and purchase the food with the best ingredients that you can afford to ensure his long-term health.

Fisher, from P. 1B multiple conversations with Turner over the past weekand-a-half, sharing questions and concerns voiced by residents.

“We also put the nonprofit applicant, SBP, in direct contact with residents to answer questions about the project,” Kamin said.

In the aftermath of last week’s winter storm, which has Kamin working to address the ongoing disaster response, she said she is also committed to keeping the lines of communication open regarding the development.

Kamin said she continues to address flooding in the area, including through involvement in the ongoing Garden Oaks/ Shepherd Park Drainage Project. Kamin said she advocated for the 900 block of Wakefield Drive, which experienced flooding during Imelda after the first phase of the project was complete, to be added to the project’s scope.

SBP’s Lauren Avioli reiterated Tuesday that the council vote was “just one step” in the

process.

“I look forward to a public hearing,” she said.

SBP co-founder Liz McCartney said she welcomed additional concerns and comments about the project, for which Gensler is the architect.

“I am excited about city’s new stringent draining requirements,” McCartney said.

Schaefer said the developer is working with residents to discuss concerns and how the development can address them.

“We are still in the design phase so there is ample time to work with the neighborhood to identify solutions to these issues,” she said. “We recognize that Fisher Street is a residential street, and we will be building adequate off-street, gated parking for residents.”

Schaefer said the disaster resilience measures they will implement with regard to flooding include above- and below-ground detention, biofiltration and permeable pavement. She also said since the apartments would include

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only 15 two-bedrooms units, they don’t think the development would have much impact on the nearby school, but they have notified Houston ISD. When the vote was held Wednesday on the proposed resolution, several council members voted in favor of removing the Fisher Street development from the list of supported projects.

However, Turner and a majority of the council members, including Kamin, voted in favor of the development.

“We still feel that the project is being rushed through without adequate planning by the developer and without adequate input from the community,” John Collins said after the vote. “We’re disappointed that we weren’t able to speak to Council Member Kamin directly about these issues, but we look forward to expressing our concerns to (State Rep.) Penny Morales Shaw and making sure our voices are heard on this issue.”

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Page 4B • Saturday, February 27, 2021 • The Leader

Heights hoops teams advance to regional quarters

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Both of the Heights High School basketball teams recently continued their stellar seasons with Class 6A playoff wins.

The boys team has so far made the most of the program’s second playoff appearance in the last three years. The Bulldogs beat CyFair 64-54 on Feb. 20 for their first playoff victory since the 2012-13 season, then followed it up with a 57-52 overtime win against Fort Bend Bush in an area-round playoff Tuesday night at Hopson Field House in Missouri City to advance to the their first regional quarterfinal since 1993.

In the area-round win over Bush, the Bulldogs mounted a furious fourth-quarter rally to send the game to overtime after trailing 37-27 entering the final stan-

za, thanks in part to six points in the quarter from Chris Smith. In the overtime period, Sir Roberts scored seven of the Bulldogs’ 12 points, going 5 of 6 from the freethrow line.

“They just kept fighting and there was no quit in them,” Heights coach Ralph Barreras said. “It makes my job really easy when you’ve got kids that are hungry, want to play for each other and want to play for the school.”

Heights will next face the winner between Memorial and Fort Bend Elkins, which were scheduled to play Wednesday night.

The Lady Bulldogs, ranked 14th in 6A by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches, held off a tough challenge from Fort Bend Ridge Point on Feb. 20 at Houston ISD’s Delmar Fieldhouse, winning 61-58 to advance to a second straight regional quarterfinal.

Tierra Simon was a force in the middle for Heights (24-4), securing a double-double with 26 points and 11 rebounds. Gracelynn Alvarez had 20 points, five rebounds and six assists to go along with four steals for the Lady Bulldogs.

Heights was scheduled to play Wednesday against District 17-6A champion Cypress Creek (28-0), the TABC’s top-ranked team in 6A. It is a rematch of last season’s regional quarterfinal, which Cy Creek won 104-65. Heights also dropped this season’s earlier matchup 90-59 on Dec. 29.

Other playoff action In its first playoff game since 2015, Waltrip lost 100-43 to thirdranked Fort Bend Hightower in a Class 5A bi-district game. The Rams finished with an 11-10 overall record – the school’s first winning season since the 2013-14

PLAYOFF SCORES GIRLS Feb. 20 Class 6A: Heights 61, Fort Bend Ridge Point 58

BOYS Feb. 20 Class 6A: Heights 64, Cy-Fair 54 Class 5A: Fort Bend Hightower 100, Waltrip 43 Class 4A: Navasota 78, Booker T. Washington 72 Tuesday Class 6A: Heights 57, Fort Bend Bush 52 (OT)

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In Class 4A, Booker T. Washington fell 78-72 to Navasota in a bi-district matchup Feb. 20. The Photo by Landan Kuhlmann Eagles finished the season with a Heights’ Sincere Roberts, right, drives to the basket 15-11 record. during a Feb. 20 playoff game at Delmar Fieldhouse.

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