Leader Guide 2021

THE

THE LEADER.

GUIDE 46th Edition • December 18, 2021 See HCC story on page 7

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60+ Accredited and Licensed Programs Save Time and Cost on Your Education

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The Guide • December 18, 2021 • Page 3

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Entertainment Bowling Private Reserved Parties Weekday League Bowling Full-service Restaurant and Bar

(713) 682-2506

3020 Mangum Rd, Houston, TX 77092 D E L M A R L A N E S. C O M

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The Guide • December 18, 2021 • Page 4

Area shows off resiliency Adam

Zuvanich Editor

The people who live, work and play in the neighborhoods of North and Northwest Houston are a resourceful, resilient bunch.

So when COVID-19 threw us all a big curveball during the early stages of 2020 -- affecting how we learn, do business and interact with each other -- local residents adapted and found ways to continue thriving.

Restaurants and retailers pivoted, putting a focus on online and to-go services to help keep their customers safe, while local families put a premium on outdoor activi-

ties and utilized technology to keep area children educated and entertained. Our schools kept teaching lessons, our churches continued to provide spiritual and physical safe havens, our artists continued to create and inspire, and our hospitals and medical facilities went above and beyond to provide care, vaccinations and support.

It has still been a trying time, with COVID-19 having claimed the lives of some of our friends and loved ones while also forcing the closure of businesses that were valued by the community.

We continue to mourn and cope with those losses, but we’re also a community that is bouncing back and emerging from the pandemic perhaps better and stronger than we were before.

The growth of the Heights, Garden Oaks and Oak Forest areas certainly has not slowed

down. Homes in the area were sold at rapid rates and neverbefore-seen prices during the last year, while townhouses and apartments sprouted up and commerical development continued as well.

The area’s infrastructure is evolving and expanding as a result, with several projects underway or in the works that will transform how local residents get around in the coming years and decades.

You can read about all of that and more in this year’s edition of The Guide, which is an expansive overview of life in our slice of Houston and how it has changed during the last calendar year.

As usual, we touch on many aspects of life in the neighborhood, including infrastructure, development, health, education, recreation, religion, the arts and the area’s bustling food-and-drink scene. So please check it all out.

Thanks to all who voted us

BEST Hardware Store Small-town appeal to meet all your hardware & gift needs

O

wners Jim and Kathy Stratton and Duane Myers purchased C&D Hardware in 1999 from Mrs. Alice Dailey. The store, located at 314 East 11th in the Heights, was once the site of record shop & jukebox business owned

by Pappy Daily and his sons. With its small-town appeal, C&D Hardware still prides itself on being a family-owned and operated business serving the Heights since 1951. The store has grown through

the years and is constantly adding products to keep up with customers’ needs and expectations. C & D Hardware carved out a niche for itself long ago and continues to strive to maintain outstanding customer service.

Although C & D Hardware prides itself on being a full-line hardware store, the store also carries a large selection of home and garden decor. Looking for a gift?

Browse through the unique selection of gifts for wine enthusiasts, Jim Shore collectibles, candles and scented oils, seasonal decorations, crosses

C&D

and more. Recently-added products include Traeger & Green Mountain Wood Pellet Grills, Yeti Coolers, Tumblers and accessories, a Huge selection of light bulbs, Bona Wood and Hard Surface Cleaners, Science Diet Pet Foods. The store also provides services that include: metal screens made and repaired, key cutting, glass cutting, lock re-keying, sharpening service, carpet cleaner rental, pipe cutting and treading, and computer paint color matching.

Call 713-861-3551 for helpful advice, to place an order, or check for a needed item in stock.

Hardware & Gifts 314 E. 11th Street 713-861-3551

Weekdays 8am-6:30pm • Sat 9am-6pm • Sun 10am-5pm

S H O P O N L I N E @ C a n d D H W. c o m

The Guide • December 18, 2021 • Page 5

Heights Dermatology

& Aesthetic Center Services & Products

Summer rays can be harsh, be sure to fall in for a check-up!

Laser Treatments • • • • • • • •

Laser Hair Reduction Laser Resurfacing Intense Pulse Light (IPL) Leg & Facial Veins Vascular Lesions Rosacea Fractional Laser Laser Tattoo Removal

heightsskin.com

(713) 864-2659

Heights Dermatology & Aesthetic Center 2120 Ashland Street Houston, Texas 77008

Cosmetic Procedures • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Botox Xeomin Juvederm Radiesse Sclerotherapy Botox for Hyperhidrosis SkinPen (Microneeding) HydraFacialMD Glycolic Chemical Peel Salicylic Chemical Peel TCA Chemical Peel Jessner’s Chemical Peel Mandelic Chemical Peel

Pharmaceutical Grade Product Lines

The Guide • December 18, 2021 • Page 6

HEIGHTS MOBIL CAR CARE

BUILD

Photo by Adam Zuvanich The Watermark at Houston Heights, a resort-style community for seniors, is under construction and expected to open during the first quarter of 2022.

It features seven stories and 220 units at 1245 W. 18th St. in the Shady Acres neighborhood.

Influx of apartments signal area’s growth

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

Local neighborhoods have long been characterized by having the feel of country life while situated in the heart of a big city.

The Heights, which was Houston’s original suburb in the late 1800s, has historically been full of Craftsmanstyle bungalows and Victorian mansions. In surrounding neighborhoods such as Garden Oaks, Oak Forest, Lazybrook and Timbergrove, which were developed in the 1930s, ‘40s and ‘50s, streets have been lined mostly with cottage- and ranch-style homes.

In recent years, though, the area’s population has become denser. And residential development has expanded

not as much outward as upward.

Clusters of townhomes and apartment complexes, which in many cases enable more people to live more affordably in an area bustling with commerce, continued to sprout up across Northwest Houston in 2021. And more of those developments are on the way.

The heart of the Heights area now includes towering luxury apartment complexes such as Ellison Heights, a 12-story development near the popular West 19th Street shopping district, along with Domain Heights on West 25th Street and Durham Heights on West 26th Street.

A resort-style midrise for seniors, The Watermark at Houston Heights, is under construction on West 18th

Street in nearby Shady Acres and set to open in the first quarter of next year.

More affordable apartment homes, being developed with the help of federal housing tax credits allocated by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, also are going up around the area. A 70-unit, mixedrate complex called Avenue on 34th is being built in Oak Forest at the former site of Doyle’s Restaurant, the longtime neighborhood staple that closed in February 2020, on West 34th Street.

Also being built is a threestory, 108-unit complex in the Shady Acres area called Dian Street Villas, which received housing tax credits in 2020 despite opposition from See Build, P. 8

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The Guide • December 18, 2021 • Page 7

HCC makes list of Newsweek’s ‘Top 150’ online colleges For The Leader Houston Community College has been recognized among Newsweek’s Top 150 online colleges for 2021.

HCC Online College received the honor for its highquality, affordable offerings that include course options for busy students. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic forced many colleges to develop programs to retain their students, HCC had created platforms and infrastructure to drive student success in online learning.

“We were very fortunate to build our platforms in a way that we could seamlessly provide options to our students,” said Dr. Margaret

Ford Fisher, president of HCC Online College. “We worked closely with faculty across the institution to develop outstanding online classes that deliver the same quality instruction as in-person classes.”

Newsweek’s editors said only the best programs across the nation made the top 150 ranking. Institutions on the list included colleges and universities that offer online degree programs, including hybrid programs with online and offline courses. Rankings were based on an online survey conducted by Newsweek and Statista. It factored the responses of 9,000 U.S. residents who have used online

A Top 150 Online College as Listed in Newsweek! f f f

60 online programs 70 online hybrid

80 online subjects

Dr. Margaret Ford Fisher

learning services to obtain an academic degree or acquire knowledge and skills for professional or personal development.

“The pandemic has only

added to the growth of online education,” said Nancy Cooper, Newsweek global editor-in-chief.

By one recent estimate, the number of students enrolled exclusively in online programs jumped 93 percent from 2019 to 2020, Cooper noted. That means about 7 million college students are learning online, so incorporating the best programs on a list students can examine to find the best programs is important for those choosing which institutions to attend.

Currently, HCC offers 60 online and 70 hybrid online programs, including thousands of courses in more than 80 academic and

Enroll today

workforce disciplines. Over 37,000 students are enrolled online this semester among the college system’s overall enrollment.

“Our data from the HCC Office of Institutional Research show that students do equally well in online classes as compared to students in traditional classroom courses,” Ford Fisher said. She added that seasoned online faculty have served as mentors to other instructors in developing online courses.

HCC also allows students to apply for financial aid and receive counseling on courses – all online.

HCC Chancellor Cesar Maldonado, Ph.D., P.E., said the college’s online pro-

hccs.edu/online

grams are pivotal in providing affordable and accessible high-quality education to students, many of whom are working in full-time jobs to earn a living while studying.

“Our team did an exceptional job of transforming many of our programs during the pandemic and we continue to work toward providing the very best online courses possible,” the chancellor said. “Being named to Newsweek’s list indicates we are serving our students well and promoting their success.”

Learn more about HCC online at https://www.hccs.edu/ online.

The Guide • December 18, 2021 • Page 8

Build, from P. 6 many nearby residents.

Another affordable housing complex was planned for the 900 block of Fisher Street in the Garden Oaks area. But in part because of concerns about the project’s impact on flooding and traffic congestion, New Orleans-based developer SBP did not receive a tax credit award from the state this summer and subsequently decided to scrap the effort.

Commercial development With a steady influx of new residents to neighborhoods such as the Heights, Garden Oaks and Oak Forest, there has in turn been a wave of commercial development across the area.

The M-K-T development

by Radom Capitol and Triten Real Estate Partners, which converted a warehouse complex into a modern, mixeduse property with restaurants, retail businesses and

office space at the corner of North Shepherd Drive and 6th Street, opened in the fall of 2020 and has blossomed throughout 2021. More than 40 businesses are operating in the five M-K-T buildings, and the development hosts outdoor events such as yoga classes, a weeknight market and variety show for kids.

The Railway Heights development at 8200 Washington Ave. in nearby Timbergrove is another popular marketplace that opened earlier this year. It includes a food hall, beer garden and farmers market.

Another local development that continues to take shape is the Stomping Grounds, a Revive Development venture located at 1225 W. 34th St. in Garden Oaks. It features more than 17,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space along with an 8,000-square foot green space with artificial turf and a stage.

An ice cream shop, bakery,

hair salon and two boutiques are among the businesses that have opened at Stomping Grounds, where an art studio for kids, a wellness spa and more places to eat and drink are set to open in the coming months.

Houston-based Gulf Coast Commercial Group, which is developing the 24-acre, mixed-use Lower Heights District in the Sawyer Yards area and also operates a fairly new strip center near the intersection of West 34th Street and North Shepherd Drive, debuted another development this year to the north side of the Oak Forest area.

The Common, which reimagined a 1980s-era strip center at 1102 Pinemont Dr., was unveiled this fall with the opening of physical therapy business Unify PT. Among the features of the modernized shopping center is an outdoor mural called the “Sugar & Cloth Color Wall.”

Photo by Stefan Modrich Railway Heights, which includes an expansive food hall at 8200 Washington Ave., is among the new commerical developments in the area.

Commitment to Reliable, Neighborhood Service

John Ferrata

COMPLETE AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE ON ALL MAKES & MODELS WE DO IT ALL!

NLine Automotive is a 3rd Generation Family owned & operated auto repair business established in 1995. Located at 3030 Ella Blvd. just off Loop 610 West, Nline is convenient to Garden Oaks, Oak Forest and the Heights. We specialize in Alignments, Brakes, CV Axles, A/C & Engine Diagnostic, Suspension and Ride Control. NLine is an A+ rated businesses and accepts most extended warranties as well as the Car Care One Card. Our staff is comprised of some of the best suspension and diagnostic technicians in Houston, many with more than 20 years of experience in our shop! We grew up in the Garden OaksOak Forest area and we plan to be here for the long haul. We realize our success depends upon the perception of our neighbors. We want to be the preferred shop in your area, providing great customer service in a timely manner. If you would like, come by and check us out. Our service writers Kevin and John will answer any questions you may have. We also serve a very good cup of coffee! Things are changing in our neighborhood, out with the old and in with new and we want to continue to provide old fashioned service in the future. Stop by if you have any questions, we are here to help. Our Core Service Offer....

Nline Automitive is committed to serving you, our customer, with professional automotive repair at a reasonable cost with qualified technicians. We use quality auto parts, guaranteed coast-to-coast. We stand on sound business principles and uphold high ethical standards. Our goal is to make your automotive repair experience friendly and successful. Visit our Pictured: John 3, Vinny Ferrata, Chad Little, Jose Galdamez, Raul Cruz, Kevin Simmons, Antonio Toxqui, John 4 website to schedule a morning or afternoon appointment.

3030 Ella Blvd. @ Loop 610

Monday - Friday 8 am-6 pm. • Saturday 8 am-5 pm

713-862-5544

2018 BBB Gold SStar Certificate NLine Automotive

The Guide • December 18, 2021 • Page 9

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Dining scene thrives amidst pandemic, supply chain challenges

By Stefan Modrich smodrich@mcelvypartners.com

The dining landscape across the Greater Heights faced some of the most daunting challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021.

Business owners have continued to adapt by increasing to-go and delivery options and struggled with inflation and supply chain crunches in the latter half of the year.

Local restaurant owners like Ashley Lai of Dumpling Haus, 2313 Edwards St. Ste. 180 in Sawyer Yards, have seen dramatic increases in prices of produce and essential supplies over the last year, especially in the last few months.

Lai and her mother, Elaine Lai, like many Asian restaurateurs, are weekly customers of Sun’s Wholesale Club near Chinatown, one of her main suppliers for the vegetables and goods that she can only source from overseas. She said in October she had seen a 100 percent increase in the price of meat. Prices have spiked 20-30 percent for the dry and paper goods she uses, like takeout

3410 Ella Blvd. at 34th St. (713) 682-4343

Photo by Stefan Modrich Jellyfish Sushi & Grill, 3434 Ella Blvd., is among the many places to eat and drink throughout the Heights, Garden Oaks and Oak Forest areas.

boxes and napkins.

The same is true for many other products the Lais depend on. Ashley said her noodle distributor has had trouble getting their products to Houston at all and the mushrooms she uses in her restaurant shot up overnight from $1.59 to $7.99 per pound.

While meat prices have soared, Greg Gatlin, owner of Gatlin’s BBQ, 3510 Ella Blvd.

Bldg. C Ste. A, said his primary concern is a labor shortage as he prepares to open a new restaurant.

“We’re kind of used to the pain of it all,” Gatlin said. “It’s getting to be a war of attrition, of how much more can you take.”

Many local businesses have been pushed to the brink by the economic circumstances of the pandemic. In September, when a neighborhood bakery announced it was shutting its doors, it received an outpouring of support from local residents.

Angela’s Oven, 204 Aurora St., announced in a Sept. 4 See Eat, P. 10

Dedicated to providing cycles and service to the neighborhood since 2006

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t iCycle Bike Shop, we don’t A A just want to sell you a bike, we want to help you develop and grow

t iCycle Bike Shop, we don’t just want to sell you a bike, we want to help you develop and grow your cycling lifestyle! your cycling lifestyle!

OhOh sure, iCycle sure, iCyclehas hasover over600 400bikes bikesin in stock, stock, everything everything from kid’s first bike with training wheels to titanium and from kid’s first bike with training wheels to titanium carbon fiber dream machines.

But we also fix flats, adjust and carbon fiber dream machines. But we also fix flats, seats, and will show youshow how you to shift gearsthe or gears fix your adjust seats, and will howthe to shift or helmet. fit your helmet.

Bikes are complicated sometimes and there are a lot of Bikes complicated and there areShop a lot choices so are it’s nice to go to asometimes big shop like iCycle Bike of choices so it’s nice to go to a big shop like iCycle Bike that has a lot of variety and selection and has expert staff Shop that has a lot of variety andtoselection and has expert staff to help you. help you.

Our mechanicsstay stayup uptoto date latest technology SRAM, SHIMANO, Our mechanics date onon thethe latest technology fromfrom SRAM, AVID,AVID, SHIMANO, ZIPP, ZIPP, and MAVIC to service your pro-level bike.

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Open 7 days a week, the White Oak Bikepath, stop at in,the fill shop! your Open water estimate or Shop & Buy on our websiteonwww.icycletexas.com and pickup bottle say on Hi! the White Oak Bikepath, stop in, fill your water bottle and say Hi! 7 days and a week,

Bike Shop ◆ Houston, TX

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Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Sunday Closed

The Guide • December 18, 2021 • Page 10

Eat, from P. 9 Facebook post it would be closing the brick-and-mortar bakery and sandwich shop Angela and Jerry Shawn have operated since 2006. Angela’s Oven has reopened from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturdays.

“We will not have the kitchen open at this time,” the Shawns wrote, “but we will still offer bread, pastries and amazing coffee! We are excited and looking forward to seeing our neighbors and friends.”

Another example of resilience came from chef and restaurateur Felix Florez, whose Cherry Block concept planned for Garden Oaks at Stomping Grounds, 1225 W. 34th St., raised $399,600 from investors on NextSeed, a Houston-based investment platform. Florez’s team offered a free burger for life for anyone who invested $1,000 or more. Investors who did so will receive one burger per week once the restaurant opens.

In the interest in creating

shared spaces for communities to gather and support local restaurants and vendors, markets like Stomping Grounds as well as Railway Heights Market and M-K-T have not only opened but continue to add new tenants serving a wide variety of cuisines and goods crafted by local artisans.

And in that same vein, local residents like Lavinia Doan and Alec Williams have turned their love of food into promising businesses. Doan runs a sushi-making class through Airbnb experiences at her Sawyer Yards apartment and Williams operates Aljo’s Salsa out of his home in the Heights.

Another rising star in the Houston food scene is Tony Castillo, who has become one of the area’s most exciting young chefs.

In July, the 33-year-old executive chef of Mastrantos, 927 Studewood St. #100, was promoted to the role of partner, along with restaurant founders

Mari and Xavier Godoy. One example of Castillo’s innovation and the creative freedom he has been able to unleash with the blessing of the Godoys is the Chorizo Carbonara, a dish he said was inspired by the rich Mexican-American cuisine scene in Houston. “(The Chorizo Carbonara) infuses two types of cultures that you would probably never see anywhere (together),” Castillo said. “It’s not so much a Mexican dish, and it’s not so much an Italian dish. I would call it a Houstonian dish. You can’t go anywhere without eating chorizo in Houston. We took a traditional Italian dish and made it our own.”

Another highlight of the year for Heights foodies was the success of Truth Barbecue, 110 S. Heights Blvd. In October, Truth was ranked No. 3 on Texas Monthly’s 2021 list of “The 50 Best BBQ Joints.”

See Eat, P. 11

Photo from Facebook Angela’s Oven, 2404 Aurora St., initially decided to close this year but reopened on Saturdays.

Phyllis A. Oeser Attorney at Law

Your Neighborhood Attorney P

hyllis Oeser practices general civil law and has been serving your neighborhood for over 20 years providing legal services with an emphasis on Wills, Probate, Real Property, and laws affecting the Elderly.

Her services cover everyone’s needs including those who do not realize the need to have or probate their Will. Phyllis is good at explaining the necessity of having a professionally drafted Will and necessity to probate one’s Will. With her thorough knowledge, experience, and explanations, she can win over those

who incorrectly believe these services are not necessary. She has been voted as the Readers’ Choice Best Attorney with The Leader for the years 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021.

Working as a legal assistant in earlier years provided her the experience and knowledge to allow her to open her own office. Early in her practice, she realized Wills, Probate, Estate Planning, and Real Estate are the areas of the law that allow greater interaction with clients, which is what she enjoys and what drives her.

Her approach to being an attorney is to be a problem solver. Phyllis enjoys getting to know her clients as it helps her to better serve their needs so that they do not have to worry and are assured their matters are being taken care of. Phyllis’ goal is to offer her clients personalized service at affordable rates. Her office is located at 5005 W. 34th St., Suite 104A, Houston, Texas, 77092. Give Phyllis a call at 713-692-0300 to assist in getting your affairs in order.

Probate • Wills • Estate Planning • Real Property and other General Civil Matters

5005 W. 34th Street, Suite 104A 713-692-0300

THE LEADER Readers’ Choice For Best Attorney

Eat, from P. 10

The Guide • December 18, 2021 • Page 11

Chase M.

Baker, DDS

3515 Ella Blvd., Houston, TX 77018

Photo by Stefan Modrich De Gama Canteen, which serves tandoori roots in the M-K-T development at 600 N. Shepherd Dr., Ste. 520, is among the places where local residents can experience international flavors.

From pasta to tacos to Southern fried chicken and an ever-evolving vegan scene, there’s plenty of bites in the Heights for eaters of all types.

Opened this year - Al Quick Stop, a Montrosebased Mediterranean and Middle Eastern restaurant, launched its second location in the Heights Nov. 4 at 518 W. 11th St. Ste. 300.

- Mediterranean food truck Big Bite, 5335 Washington Ave., opened in October serving falafel, shawarma, gyros and other popular Middle Eastern dishes.

- BOH Slice opened Oct. 6 inside Railway Heights Market, 8200 Washington Ave. The fast-casual pizzeria from chefs Ben McPherson and Chris Zettlemoyer serves Romanstyle slices.

- Casa Nomad, an intimate coastal Mexican restaurant serving Tulum-inspired upscale cuisine and cocktails, opened Sept. 23 at the M-K-T development, 600 N. Shepherd Drive Ste. 499.

- Chivos, 222 W. 11th St., a project of Night Moves Hospitality, opened Oct. 28.

The New Mexican restaurant replaced Calle Onze in the

Heights space. Chivos tapped chef Thomas Bille to lead its kitchen.

- Churros, dawg!, a churro and refresqueria food trailer, opened March 19 at 3401 N. Shepherd Drive. The food truck serves artisan hot dogs and gourmet churros.

- Cochi’s Taqueria, 2155 Durham Drive, opened Nov. 10 selling Mexican street food.

Owner Victoria Elizando also owns Cochinita & Co., 5420 Lawndale St. Ste. 400.

- The Coffee House at West End, 802 Shepherd Drive, opened Oct. 29 on the campus of the West End Church.

- Common Bond launched a Garden Oaks on-the go location March 4 at 3210 N. Shepherd Drive.

- Fort Worth-based concept The Cookshack opened at 4015 Washington Ave. in February serving Southern favorites like chicken and waffles.

- Da Gama Canteen opened May 15 at the M-K-T development, 600 N. Shepherd Drive, serving Anglo-Indian cuisine.

The restaurant draws inspiration from the cuisine of the Portuguese-Indian territories of Goe, East Africa and Portugal.

- D’Alba Craft Kitchen and Cocktails opened at 3715 Alba

Road in mid-September, featuring an extensive cocktail list and an eclectic menu of pizzas, pastas, and shareable plates.

- Elder Son Brewing Company, 946 N. Shepherd Drive Ste. A, held its soft opening Oct. 23.

The brewpub was founded by Robert Frye.

- Fegen’s, the revamped concept of F.E.E.D. Restaurant Group, opened April 6 at 1050 Studewood St. It features a menu of classic American fare and cocktails.

- Graze, a handcrafted charcuterie and cheese board purveyor, opened a retail store in October at 1135 E. 11th St. Owner Alyssa Case, a Heights resident, founded Graze in 2019 and began as a deliveryonly service.

- Highline Park, 600 N. Shepherd Drive Ste. 499, opened in October. It is the latest concept from the group behind Casa Nomad, Wicklow Heights and the forthcoming Picnic Supply Co. - Homestead Kitchen & Bar, an all-day café that focuses on brunch and lunch options, opened June 4 at the M-K-T development at 600 N. Shepherd Drive Ste. 440.

Honeychild’s Sweet See Eat, P. 12

CALL US TODAY!

713-682-4406 thehoustondentist.com

Dr. Baker is a member of the American Dental Association, the Texas Dental Association, the Greater Houston Dental Society, and the Seattle Study Club of Houston. Dr. Baker is dedicated to continuing education for dentistry, as he is constantly striving to provide the finest possible treatment for his patients. His conservative approach and gentle touch show his devotion to his patients’ care.

Living in the neighborhood, Dr. Baker is proud to serve his community of friends and neighbors, and has been honored by The Leader as “Readers’ Choice Best Dentist” in 2013, 2014, and 2020.

Specializing in metal planter boxes, metal trellises, iron/wood fences and gates, metal cages, metal sculptures, iron railing and custom p projects. j

CONTACT JEREMY SALAS at

832-549-5780

The Guide • December 18, 2021 • Page 12

Eat, from P. 11

CASA RAMIREZ FOLKART GALLERY

Celebrating the rich and vibrant Hispanic culture of Mexico and the Southwest.

Visit us for folk art, clothing, decorations, books y mas!

241 W. 19th St. • 713-880-2420 www.casaramirez.com

Photo by Stefan Modrich Railway Heights, which opened earlier this year at 8200 Washington Ave. in the Timbergrove area, includes a market where visitors can grab a bite to eat from a variety of businesses.

Creams, 600 N. Shepherd Drive Ste. 450, held its grand opening Nov. 26. The shop sells pecan praline, buttermilk, coffee and birthday cake in cones, cups and 4-ounce takehome containers.

- Jamaica Pon Di Road, 2213 S. Victory Drive, opened its doors in early August.

The Acres Homes restaurant serves traditional Jamaican favorites like jerk chicken, pork and oxtails, as well as newer creations like jerk chicken nachos.

- Kale Me Crazy, an Atlantabased health food chain serving juices, smoothies and salads, opened Aug. 5 at 718 W. 18th St. - Little Dreamer Coffee, a kiosk serving specialty coffees, opened Oct. 1 at 1227 W. 34th St. in the Stomping Grounds development.

- Mendocino Farms, 600 N. Shepherd Drive, Suite 184, opened Dec. 14. The sandwich shop has an array of bowls featuring ingredients like smoky chicken elote and chimichurri steak and shishito peppers as well as vegan banh mis and Impossible burgers.

- Persian restaurant Miri’s Kitchen opened in early De-

cember in the Rice Military neighborhood at 5801 Memorial Drive Ste. A in Park Plaza Memorial retail center. The space formerly housed Hurts Donut Co. - Pacific Coast Tacos, 6329 Washington Ave., opened its second location in March. The menu reflects a blend of Asian, American and Mexican flavors.

- Los Angeles-based chain Rakkan Ramen opened a franchise May 3 at the M-K-T development, 600 N. Shepherd Drive Ste. 515. The Japanese restaurant is known for its vegetable broths and pearl ramen, which is made with Japanese rock salt and white soy sauce.

- Sao Lao Thai Kitchen, 5013 N. Shepherd Drive, held its soft opening for its Thai-Mexican restaurant concept Oct. 21.

- Scoop, a Clear Lake-based ice cream parlor, opened Oct. 22 at 8200 W. Washington Ave. The ice cream shop serves cold brew coffee, milkshakes and novelties like ice cream nachos along with traditional cups and cones of small-batch ice cream.

- Selam Ethiopian Kitchen opened Nov. 5 at 2632 N. Durham Drive. It is a food truck selling Ethiopian fare.

- Las Vegas-based Shokku Ramen opened in June in the former space of BCK at 933 Studewood St. The ramen restaurant is serving its fusion bowls as well as its build-yourown bowls.

- Space Cowboy, a restaurant at the Heights House Hotel, 100 W. Cavalcade St., opened April 24. The tropicalthemed restaurant serves up fruit cocktails and food options like huli huli chicken and grilled octopus.

- Sweetgreen, the popular fast-casual destination for healthy salads and bowls opened up its latest Houston location June 15 at the M-K-T development at 600 N. Shepherd Drive.

- Sunday Press, a drivethrough cafe serving breakfast, sandwiches and pastries, opened Oct. 1 at 3315 Ella Blvd.

- The Taco Stand, a concept from The Burger Joint owners, opened Jan. 27 at 2018 N. Shepherd Drive with a patio and full drive-through service.

The menu includes street-style tacos such as pastor, barbacoa, lengua and carnitas all served See Eat, P. 14

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The Guide • December 18, 2021 • Page 13

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The Guide • December 18, 2021 • Page 14

Eat, from P. 12 with onions and cilantro on house-made corn and flour tortillas.

- Tablitas opened Oct. 28 at 8200 W. Washington Ave. Tablitas crafts charcuterie boards with a variety of artisanal meats, cheeses and fruits in partnership with Ginn’s Gourmet Catering.

- Tight Squeeze Juice Bar opened in October at 600 N. Shepherd Drive Ste. 456. Tight Squeeze serves handcrafted cold-pressed smoothies, juices and acai bowls.

- The Tipping Point Coffee, which has a location downtown, opened in November at 4721 N. Main St. Ste. M. - Trattoria Sofia, 909 W. 11th St., a project of Berg Hospitality Group, opened Nov. 26. The new Italian restaurant specializes in the flavors of Tuscany.

- Whitmeyer’s Distilling Co., formerly of Spring Branch, opened Aug. 18 at 5301 Nolda St. Whitmeyer’s bar and tasting room offers Bourbon & Rye Whiskey, Single Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey, Single Barrel Straight Bourbon Whiskey and Texas Peach Whiskey.

- Food truck Wicklow Bites, 1027 W. 19th St., opened Nov. 18 outside Wicklow Heights, a dog-friendly patio and cocktail bar. The menu features upscale bar food like truffle quesadillas, a buffalo bleu chicken sandwich and more.

Still to come - Baso, a new Spanish restaurant, is set to open next spring inside the new Braun Enterprises development at 627 W. 19th St. Baso is named for the Basque word for “forest” and will draw on Basque and Spanish influences.

Jacques Varon, a Houston native, and Fernando Recio are the chefs spearheading the new restaurant.

- Bayou Heights Bier Garten, 3905 Washington Ave., is the latest creation of the Kirby Group, which runs the Heights Bier Garten, 1433 N. Shepherd Drive.

- Bluestone Lane, a New York City-based, Australiastyle coffee shop, is expected to open in 2022, taking over the space at 115 W. 19th St.

that Becks Prime used until it closed in September.

- Arizona-based chain Cheba Hut is set to open a stonerthemed sandwich shop Jan. 17 at 2150 Edwards St. According to the restaurant, nothing it serves will be infused with marijuana.

- Coastline Artisan Pizza, a new upscale pizzeria, is set to open next year at the corner of Houston Avenue and Crockett Street. The location, 1720 Houston Ave., was formerly occupied by Cafeza.

- A Fourth Ward restaurant serving Southern and Indian fare has set its sights on expanding to the Greater Heights. Cowboys & Indians Tex-In Kitchen is adding a location in Rice Military at 519 Shepherd Drive.

- Austin-based Chi’lantro, 1324 N. Shepherd Drive, is set to open next year. Chi’lantro serves a variety of dishes that combine elements of both Korean barbecue and Mexican cuisine.

- The remodeled Houston Farmers Market will have a Viet-Cajun restaurant, Crawfish & Noodles, open in the space at 2520 Airline Drive.

- Daddy’s Chicken Shack of Pasadena, California, is opening its first location in Texas in February at 1223 W. 11th St., Ste. 100. Daddy’s is owned by Heights native Pace Webb.

- Drip’d Donuts, a project of Don Bowie and Amir Ansari, is expected to open at 5909 Washington Ave., just east of Memorial Park. Bowie, a Houston native, also owns Taste Bar + Kitchen in Midtown.

- Esther’s Cajun Cafe & Soul Food announced Oct. 9 it plans to open another restaurant at 5007 N. Shepherd Drive that is nearly equidistant from its original location at 5204 Yale St. and its facility for catering and private events at 1102 Pinemont Drive.

- Fat Boots Trailer Park Bar plans to open May 5 at 4218 Washington Ave. - Sharif Al-Amin, Jessie Gonzales and Greg Perez plan to open Grease Monkey, a new restaurant and bar concept in Garden Oaks where the former Petrol Station space was at 985

La Fondita Michoacan moved in October from 1010 N. Shepherd Drive to 1520 N. Loop East Fwy. Ste. 3 in Northside Village.

Honest Eats, a purveyor of paleo, ketogenic and plantbased meals, is relocating from 6906 Airline Drive Ste. 108 to open a retail storefront in the M-K-T development.

Photo by Stefan Modrich Fine food does not have to come from a fancy restaurant. The breakfast tacos at Taqueria Durango, a food truck at 2807 N. Shepherd Dr., are flavorful and affordable.

Wakefield Drive.

- Kinokawa, a new Japanese restaurant, will open at the former site of Golden Bagels & Coffee, 3119 White Oak Drive.

- La La Land Kind Café, a coffee shop and café, will also plant roots in the M-K-T development at 600 N. Shepherd Drive. La La Land describes itself as a “socially conscious” café that prioritizes kindness, ingredients and altruism.

- Layne’s Chicken Fingers, a College Station cult favorite, is bringing its chicken fingers, crinkle cut fries, and Texas toast to Garden Oaks. Layne’s is expected to open early next year at 3008 Ella Blvd., Ste. B. - Loro Asian Smokehouse & Bar is coming early next year to 1001 W. 11th St. Loro was founded in 2018 by famed Austin pitmaster Aaron Franklin and Tyson Cole, and also has locations in Austin and Dallas.

- Popular Chinese restaurant Mala Sichuan Bistro is expected to open another Houston location early next year at 600 N. Shepherd Drive Ste. 453.

- A transformation of the Ritual space at 602 Studewood St. is in the works. Ritual will become the Korean BBQ concept Mapojeong Galbijib, a project of the Delicious Concepts Restaurant Group.

- Moon Rabbit, a contemporary Vietnamese restaurant, is replacing the former Vietnam Restaurant at 605 W. 19th St.

Moon Rabbit is set to open Jan. 5.

- Nettbar, dog-friendly neighborhood bar along the Washington Avenue Corridor at 4504 Nett St., is opening in a larger space at 1717 W. 22nd St. in Shady Acres.

- Old Sixth, a shop that plans to sell sweets and soda via an old-school soda fountain, expects to set up at 2111 Washington Ave. - Ovinnik Brewing has been in the works for over a year.

It will soon take root at 7201 Wynnpark Drive in the Timbergrove area.

- Padre’s Wine Shop, an online wine seller, plans to open a brick-and-mortar location in the Heights next year at 3522 White Oak Drive.

- Pepperoni’s Pizza, 946 N. Shepherd Drive Ste. B, will add a Heights location next year.

- The Rabbit Hole is an upcoming bar planting roots in the Heights at 1317 E. 29th St. It plans to open in January.

- Reata Cellar, a boutique wine seller, is opening its storefront at 633 W. 19th St., Ste. B, within a retail plaza built by Braun Development. Reata Cellars will offer wine tastings and have bottles of wine for purchase.

- Saigon Hustle, now operating in Blodgett Food Hall, will open a flagship drive-through in the remnants of the gas station at the corner of West

34th Street and Ella Boulevard, owned by Revive.

- Trendy Dumplings, a Chinese dumpling purveyor in the Greenway area, is expanding to the Greater Heights. A second location is under construction at 107 Yale St., Ste. 600.

- YoYo’s Hot Dog, a popular hot dog cart, has plans to open a brick-and-mortar restaurant at 4620 Washington Ave., according to its website.

On the move A local institution and popular doughnut purveyor is moving its headquarters away from the Heights next year after nearly half a century in the neighborhood.

Shipley Do-Nuts, 5200 N. Main St., is packing up its Heights headquarters and heading south on Interstate 45 to Third Ward, according to CEO Clifton Rutledge.

The new location at 4001 Gulf Fwy. is on the site of a former Finger Furniture warehouse and Buff Stadium, the former home of the Houston Buffalos, a minor league baseball team that played there from 1928-61. The company broke ground Oct. 28 on its new headquarters, which is expected to open late next year.

Bellissimo Ristorante, 902 E. 33rd St., opened Oct. 15 in its new Independence Heights location after moving out of its prior home on Airline Drive.

Closed this year - BCK, 933 Studewood St., closed April 30. The Heights spot originally opened serving nostalgic foods with elevated twists, like Spaghetti-Os. Over the last three years the restaurant refocused its menu, eventually pivoting to specialty burgers.

- Becks Prime, 115 W. 19th St., closed Sept. 30 after the Houston-based burger chain spent a decade operating in the neighborhood.

- Cafeza, 1720 Houston Ave., became a staple in the Houston jazz and arts scene known for encouraging new artists to perform in its intimate, Latin-style venue. Its five-year run ended July 31 due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

- Calle Onze, 222 W. 11th St., closed Oct. 1 to make way for Chivos, a new MexicanAmerican restaurant.

- A popular Heights brunch spot, Down House, closed Feb. 21 at 1801 Yale St. - Golden Bagels & Coffee, 3119 White Oak Drive, closed permanently Sept. 26. The New York-style bagel shop first opened in 2018. It served classic sandwiches like a bagel and lox, fried egg and pastrami and also offered unique ingredients like maple pecan and vegan sunflower spreads.

- Mellow Mushroom, 1919 N. Shepherd Drive, closed in October. The Atlanta-based pizzeria chain opened in the Heights in 2016.

- Taqo Mexican Kitchen y Tequileria, 1343 Yale St., closed last month. The fastcasual and modern taqueria opened in February 2020.

- Tres Amigos Cafe Y Cantina, 3402 N. Shepherd Drive, shuttered its doors Oct. 9 after opening in April.

IMPROVE

The Guide • December 18, 2021 • Page 15

Area under construction, with more work coming

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

Progress comes with a price, and local residents are in the process of paying bills for multiple infrastructure projects that are underway or in the works across the Heights, Garden Oaks and Oak Forest areas.

Taxpayer money is funding several initiatives that aim to make the rapidly growing area safer and easier to navigate, more multimodal and more resistant to flooding, which is as much of a concern locally as it is across the Houston region.

Area residents also are paying a figurative price in terms of having to deal with construction, some of which is ongoing and some of which will be starting in the near future.

The following is a rundown of some of the most significant infrastructure projects in the area that were recently completed, are now underway or are in the proverbial pipeline. They figure to further transform a community that has been expanding and evolving for decades, and their effects will be felt for generations.

Shepherd-Durham Major Reinvestment Project Elected officials from Downtown Houston to Washington D.C. have helped secure funding for the Shepherd and Durham Major Investment Project, which will overhaul transportation on the parallel, one-way streets that run north and south through the Heights. Federal grant money is covering a significant chunk of the $115 estimated price

tag for the initiative, which is a joint venture between the City of Houston and Memorial Heights Redevelopment Authority, which was created by the city and is allocated a portion of municipal tax revenue for improvement projects.

The plan calls for replacing the water, sewer and stormwater drainage infrastructure beneath both roads between North Loop 610 and Interstate 10 to the south, reducing the number of vehicular lanes from four to three and adding designated turn lanes, bicycle lanes, wider sidewalks and trees that will beautify the area while providing some shade for those who are not traveling in air-conditioned vehicles.

And construction is coming soon.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held Dec. 4 in the Heights, and construction is expected to start in late January on Phase I, which will span the stretches of Durham and Shepherd between 610 and West 15th Street to the south.

The second phase will be from 15th Street to I-10.

The work will take at least five years in total, according to Sherry Weesner, the president of the Memorial Heights Redevelopment Authority, who said the plan is for both Durham and Shepherd to remain open and passable throughout construction.

“This thing is a big deal,” said Houston City Council member Abbie Kamin, who represents the area and helped secure some of the funding for the project. “It’s going to take a lot of patience from all of us, but it’s going to be worth it.”

Construction for a related

infrastructure project south of I-10, along Durham and Shepherd between Washington Avenue and Dickson Street, began earlier this year and is expected to be complete by next fall. Much the same work is being done in terms of making the streets more multimodal while replacing the underground infrastructure, with Houston Public Works handling the project with a budget of a little more than $12 million.

See Improve, P. 18

Contributed photo U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, at podium, speaks during a Dec. 4 groundbreaking event in the Heights.

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Improve, from P. 15 Garden Oaks-Shepherd Park Drainage Project Residents of the Garden Oaks neighborhood also are coping with construction as Phase 2 of the Garden OaksShepherd Park Drainage & Paving Project started late this summer and is expected to be complete by the fall of 2023. An estimated $23.7 million is being spent by the city to improve road and sidewalk conditions in the two adjacent communities while installing new drainage infrastructure that aims to reduce structural flooding.

The Phase 2 work is being done in sections, starting on Golf Drive between the southern edge of Garden Oaks and West 41st Street to the north, along with the 900 block of Wakefield Drive, which is between Golf and Alba Road to the east.

That block features popular bars, breweries, distilleries and other businesses and saw significant flooding during Tropical Storm Imelda in 2019 – less than a year after the first phase of the project was completed immediately to the east and north.

As a result, that stretch of Wakefield was added to the second phase at the urging of Kamin, who represents the area as part of District C. It will be repaved and receive new drainage infrastructure like the other streets included in the project, along with curbs, gutters and 5-foot-wide sidewalks on either side of the road.

Phase 3 of the project, which will include the eastern part of Shepherd Park Plaza as well as the southeast part of Garden Oaks, is in the design phase and does not yet have a construction timeline. That phase will cover the eastern part of Wakefield along with stretches of West 43rd Street and Sue Barnett Drive.

Representatives from the city said during an Aug. 26 public engagement meeting that every resident and business in the Phase 2 project area would briefly lose water services at some point and

would not be able to access at least part of their driveways for a period of 21 days. When the work is done, though, those who live and work in the community should have an easier time getting around and less of a concern about flooding.

“Most of us in Garden Oaks have experienced a remodel or construction project. We get it,” said Tonya Knauth, president of the Garden Oaks Civic Club. “It’s not easy to live through, but the end result is hopefully going to be a major improvement.”

METRO work on Studewood METRO, the public transit authority for the Houston region, did extensive work in the Heights earlier this year in an attempt to better serve bus riders and pedestrians.

As part of its “BOOST” project on the 56 Airline/ Montrose route, METRO spent more than $1.18 million to improve a 1.5-mile stretch of Studewood Street between White Oak Drive to the south and Cavalcade Street to the north.

Perhaps the most notable features of the project were the installation of three median refuge islands – which are raised concrete slabs that provide pedestrians with protection from vehicles at the midway point of a crosswalk – near Studewood’s intersection with East 10th Street, East 13th Street and East 17th Street. Each of those spots is near a bus shelter and a school.

Additionally, 14 bus stops along Studewood were augmented with features such as lighted shelters, digital signage and expanded loading and unloading pads. METRO also improved pedestrian crossings and sidewalks along that stretch and adjusted traffic signals in an attempt to improve bus speed and reliability by reducing the time they spend at red lights.

“Customers will experience a better walk, a better stop and a better ride,” METRO spokes-

Photo by Adam Zuvanich METRO did work along Studewood Street in the Heights this year as part of its “BOOST” project for the 56 Airline/Montrose route. Three median refuge islands were installed along the street.

person Tracy Jackson said.

“There’s improved sidewalks near the routes and improved crosswalks and pedestrian safety.”

Pedestrian signal on 43rd The Leader shined a spotlight on the dangers of West 43rd Street in a September 2020 report, which prompted community and school stakeholders to advocate for increased traffic-calming measures on a street that borders both Oak Forest Elementary and Frank Black Middle School.

This summer, after conducting a traffic study at the request of concerned residents and consulting with the principals at the two Houston ISD schools, the City of Houston made the decision to install a pedestrian signal at the intersection of 43rd and Curtin Street, which is between the two campuses.

Houston Public Works spokesperson Erin Jones said in July that a construction date had not been set for the pedestrian signal, which will be a flashing yellow light that turns red when activated by a pedestrian who wants to the cross the street. When it is installed, it figures to make walking to and from a school a safer venture for neighborhood children.

Jones said the traffic study

revealed an average daily traffic count of more than 10,000 vehicles along that stretch of 43rd, with an average speed of 41 mph. The posted speed limit is 35 mph.

“The Houston Public Works traffic study in Oak Forest looked at data related to traffic volume along 43rd Street, the speed limit and actual speed of drivers, the locations of existing traffic signals, stop signs, sidewalks and marked crosswalks,” Jones said. “…

The study found the need for a new midblock crosswalk with a pedestrian signal along 43rd and Curtin.”

11th Street Bikeway A plan to reconfigure traffic on 11th Street in the Heights and make it safer for cyclists, pedestrians and motorists, which first was presented to the community in March 2019, continues to inch along.

The design phase is 60 percent complete for the project, which calls for the addition of protected bike lanes on both sides of 11th between North Shepherd Drive and Michaux Street to the east, along with a reduction in vehicle lanes and the installment of at least two median refuge islands to provide protection for cyclists and

pedestrians as they are crossing 11th. The work is being funded by the Houston Bike Plan, and construction could start in 2022.

Project co-leader Lauren Grove of Houston Public Works said the city is still finetuning the plan and considering feedback from community members. The latest details were presented to the Greater Heights Super Neighborhood Council in November.

The original plan called for converting the entire 1.5mile stretch of 11th from two vehicular lanes going in each direction to one lane each way with a center, left-turn lane, but that configuration is only feasible between Yale and Studewood streets, Grove said. The city is considering a different setup for the 1,100-foot section between Studewood and Michaux as well as the stretch between Yale and Shepherd to the west – because 11th is narrower in those spots – with the latest version of the plan calling for a solid concrete median between Yale and Shepherd.

Grove said in November that left turns onto and from 11th will be limited to only two intersections between Shepherd and Yale, likely at Lawrence and Rutland streets. Left turns also will be eliminated at 11th and Heights Boulevard, according to the latest rendiSee Improve, P. 19

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Improve, from P. 18 tion of the project plan.

The city also plans to employ a shared bike lane, meaning cyclists and motorists share the road, along Michaux between 11th and Stude Park.

The median refuge islands are planned for the intersections of Michaux and White Oak Drive, which is just north of the park, and 11th and Nicholson Street, where the Heights Hike-and-Bike Trail crosses 11th.

Antoine upgrades An approximately 5-mile stretch of Antoine Drive, between U.S. 290 and West Mount Houston to the north, will be getting upgrades in the coming years. The Houston City Council in March approved an advance funding agreement between the city and Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) for the reconstruction and widening of the road, pushing the project forward after it had been stagnant for a few years.

A traffic study will determine whether lanes will be added to Antoine and at which points along the road, according to managing engineer Parmjit Kang of Houston Public Works. The plan calls for repaving a road that has deteriorated over the years, along with adding bicycle lanes, new sidewalks and new underground utilities and stormwater drainage infrastructure.

The estimated construction cost is $99, according to engagehouston.org, but there is no concrete timeline for it.

Kang said construction would not start until after the Harris County Flood Control District completes its Inwood Forest Stormwater Detention Project, in which 12 interconnected detention basins will be constructed on the former golf course just west of Antoine.

“It’s necessary for mobility and drainage,” Houston City Council member Amy Peck said. “This area is growing really, really fast, and we want to make sure the streets are ready to account for that.”

I-45 expansion TxDOT’s estimated $7 bil-

lion plan to widen Interstate 45 near and north of downtown has largely grinded to a halt amidst pushback from community stakeholders and local elected officials, which prompted a lawsuit filed in federal court by Harris County and an ongoing investigation by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) into environmental and civil rights concerns raised about the project.

The FHWA asked TxDOT to pause the project in March, and while that pause was partially lifted recently to allow TxDOT to continue design work on one section of the project, the state transportation agency must continue to refrain from land-acquisition activities or discussions. As a result, TxDOT executive director Marc Williams said during the Nov. 30 meeting of the Texas Transportation Commission that the I-45 project would be delayed by at least two years.

Among other changes to the existing freeway, which was built more than 50 years ago, TxDOT’s plan calls for expanded express-lane capacity on I-45 between downtown and Beltway 8 along with re-routing the freeway near downtown, including making it parallel with I-10 on the north side. TxDOT has said the purpose of the project is to improve traffic flow, hurricane evacuation routes and stormwater drainage, along with accommodating highoccupancy, electric and selfdriving vehicles.

But the plan has drawn criticism because it will displace more than 1,000 homes and businesses in low-income communities of color such as Acres Homes, Independence Heights and Northside, and because of its high cost at a time when the Houston region is taking steps to expand alternate modes of transportation and reduce its reliance on gasoline-powered automobiles. Concerns also have been raised about the project’s potential impacts on air quality and flood mitigation.

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The Guide • December 18, 2021 • Page 20

Local schools, students continue to shine bright

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

The last couple of years have not been easy – to say the least – on the area’s students, teachers and families. But Houston ISD superintendent Millard House II has called the state’s largest school district “resilient” on multiple occasions, and its schools and students have continued to shine.

Perhaps most notably, Hamilton Middle School in the Heights was recognized by Texas nonprofit Children at Risk as one of the Houston area’s most resilient campuses to the educational challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The school located at 139 E. 20th St. was ranked as the Houston region’s seventh-most pandemic-resilient middle school by the organization.

Hamilton was one of 107 Houston-area schools classified as “pandemic resilient.” These are campuses with at least 75 percent of their students classified as economically disadvantaged that also received A or B performance ratings in 2018-19, and had maintained or improved their academic performance since the local onset of the pandemic in March 2020.

Hamilton also was one of 15 HISD schools, including five at the middle school level, to be ranked among the Houston area’s top 10 at either the high school, middle school or elementary level.

“When I think of the words ‘pandemic resilient,’ our HISD community immediately comes to mind,” House said. “Our communities came together during this tough time and worked diligently to put our scholar’s education and safety

first.”

In other school highlights, the Heights High School marching band made it to the area round of the UIL Class 6A competition for the first time in school history, while Waltrip’s marching band made it to the 5A area round for the 24th straight year.

The area also saw new leadership enter the fold this year, with new principals named at more than 10 local public and private schools.

What follows is a directory of area schools. For more in-depth information about a particular school – including summary information regarding student performance and outcomes, demographics and enrollment, and school programs for each HISD campus – visit http://www.houstonisd. org/Page/38525.

The HISD schools are organized by zip code. The private schools listed are in the Heights, Garden Oaks and Oak Forest area or were submitted by local residents.

77007 Crockett Elementary Magnet for Performing and Visual Arts, Vanguard Neighborhood, ESL, Transitional Bilingual, Structured Learning Class (SLC) – Standard/TREK (Special Ed) 2112 Crockett St. (713) 802-4780 Principal: Alexis Clark Harvard Elementary Int’l. Baccalaureate – PYP, Vanguard Neighborhood, STEM, ESL, Preschoolers Achieving Learning Skills (PALS) 810 Harvard St. (713) 867-5210 Principal: Laura Alaniz

Photo from Facebook Hamilton Middle School in the Heights earned statewide recognition earlier this year for its resiliency to the pandemic.

Memorial Elementary Dual Language, Vanguard Neighborhood, ESL, Transitional Bilingual, Preparing Students for Independence Classes (PSI) and Structured Learning Class (SLC) – Alternate Curriculum 6401 Arnot St. (713) 867-5150 Principal: Jose Hilario Cordova 77008 Field Elementary Vanguard Neighborhood, ESL, Transitional Bilingual, Preschoolers Achieving Learning Skills (PALS), Skills for Learning and Living Class (SLL) 703 E. 17th St. (713) 867-5190 Principal: John Hendrickson Helms Elementary PK-5 Dual Language, Vanguard Neighborhood, ESL, Preschoolers Achieving Learning Skills (PALS), Structured Learning Class (SLC) – Alternate Curriculum 503 W. 21st St. (713) 867-5130 Principal: Alexander Gonzalez Love Elementary Dual Language, Vanguard Neighborhood, ESL, Transitional Bilingual, Preschoolers Achieving Learning Skills (PALS), Skills for Learning and Living Class (SLL) 1120 W. 13th St. (713) 867-0840 Principal: Eden Bass Sinclair Elementary Vanguard Neighborhood, STEM, ESL, Preschool-

ers Achieving Learning Skills (PALS), Structured Learning Class (SLC) – Alternate Curriculum, Structured Learning Class (SLC) – Standard/TREK 6410 Grovewood Ln. (713) 867-5161 Principal: Lee Mashburn

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Learn, from P. 20 Hamilton Middle School Vanguard Magnet, Pre-AP, Dual Language, ESL, Behavior Support Class (BSC), Skills for Learning and Living Class (SLL), Structured Learning Class (SLC)–Standard/TREK 139 E. 20th St. (713) 802-4725 Principal: Robert R. Michaels-Johnson Heights High School Int’l. Baccalaureate - Diploma Programme, Vanguard Neighborhood, Computer Technology, Pre-AP/AP, Dual Language, ESL, Career & Technical Education, Behavior Support Class (BSC), Skills for Learning and Living Class (SLL), Structured Learning Class (SLC) – Standard/TREK 413 E. 13th St. (713) 865-4400 Principal: Wendy Hampton 77009 Browning Elementary Vanguard Neighborhood, Dual Language, ESL, Behavior Support Class (BSC) 607 Northwood St. (713) 867-5140 Principal: Annie Marie Garcia Travis Elementary Vanguard Magnet, ESL, Structured Learning Class (SLC) – Standard/TREK 3311 Beauchamp St. (713) 802-4790 Principal: David Church

(713) 613-2527 Principal: Carrie Flores

PRIVATE SCHOOLS

Oak Forest Elementary Vanguard Magnet, ESL, Transitional Bilingual, Structured Learning Class (SLC) – Standard/TREK 1401 W. 43rd St. (713) 613-2536 Principal: Andrew Casler Stevens Elementary STEAM, Vanguard Neighborhood, ESL, Transitional Bilingual, Behavior Support Class (BSC), Preschoolers Achieving Learning Skills (PALS) 1910 Lamonte Ln. (713) 613-2546 Principal: Erin Trent Garden Oaks Montessori Magnet PK-8 Montessori, Vanguard Neighborhood, ESL, Transitional Bilingual, Preschoolers Achieving Learning Skills (PALS) 901 Sue Barnett Dr. (713) 696-2930 Principal: Amanda Sebba Frank Black Middle School Vanguard Magnet, Pre-AP, ESL, Skills for Learning and Living Class (SLL), Structured Learning Class (SLC) – Standard/TREK 1575 Chantilly Ln. (713) 613-2505 Principal: Rhonda Honore

Hogg Middle School Int.’l. Baccalaureate – MYP, Vanguard Neighborhood, STEM, Pre-AP/AP, ESL, Behavior Support Class (BSC), Preparing Students for Independence Classes (PSI), Skills for Learning and Living Class (SLL) 1100 Merrill St. (713) 802-4700 Principal: Vanessa Saldaña

Waltrip High School Vanguard Neighborhood, Research & Technology, Pre-AP/ AP, ESL, Career & Technical, Behavior Support Class (BSC), Skills for Learning and Living Class (SLL), Structured Learning Class (SLC) –Alternate Curriculum, Structured Learning Class (SLC) – Standard/TREK 1900 W. 34th St. (713) 688-1361 Principal: Michael R. Niggli

77018 Durham Elementary Int’l. Baccalaureate – PYP, Vanguard Neighborhood, Dual Language, ESL, Transitional Bilingual 4803 Brinkman St.

Booker T. Washington High School Vanguard Neighborhood, Pre-AP/AP, Engineering Professions, ESL, Career & Technical, Behavior Support Class (BSC), Preparing Students for

5000 W. Tidwell Rd., 77091 (713) 290-8277 http://www.oslschool.org/

Principal: Lilly G. Rincon

Awty International School PreK 3-12th grade 7455 Awty School Ln., 77055 (713) 686-4850 http://www.awty.org/ Assumption Catholic School PreK 3-8th grade 801 Roselane St., 77037 (281) 447-2132 http://www.houstonassumption.org/ Contributed photo Alexis Clark was named this year as the new principal at Crockett Elementary after previously working at Harvard Elementary.

Independence Classes (PSI), Skills for Learning and Living Class (SLL) 119 E. 39th St. (713) 696-6600 Principal: Carlos Phillips Crossroads/Frances Harper HISD Alternative Program 4425 N. Shepherd Dr. (713) 802-4760 Principal: Raymond Glass 77091 Highland Heights Elementary Vanguard Neighborhood, ESL, Transitional Bilingual, Behavior Support Class (BSC) Skills for Learning and Living Class (SLL) 865 Paul Quinn St. (713) 696-2920 Principal: Bettina McKinney High School Ahead Academy (Middle) Vanguard Neighborhood, ESL 5320 Yale St. (713) 696-2643 Principal: Ericka Austin MC Williams Middle School Vanguard Neighborhood, STEM, Pre-AP, ESL, Behavior Support Class (BSC), Skills for Learning and Living Class (SLL), Structured Learning Class (SLC) – Alternate Curriculum 6100 Knox St.

(713) 696-2600 Principal: Juanette Green 77092 Katherine Smith Elementary Vanguard Neighborhood, ESL, Transitional Bilingual 4802 Chrystell Ln. (713) 613-2542 Principal: Melinda Daugherty Wainwright Elementary Vanguard Neighborhood, Math and Science Magnet, Dual Language, ESL, Transitional Bilingual 5330 Milwee St. (713) 613-2550 Principal: Marcie Coleman Clifton Middle School Vanguard Neighborhood, Pre-AP, STEM Magnet, ESL, Skills for Learning and Living Class (SLL), Successfully Aiming for Excellence (SAFE) 6001 Golden Forest Dr. (713) 613-2516 Principal: Maria Dolores Perejón-Lasheras Scarborough High School Vanguard Neighborhood, Pre-AP/AP, Network & Computer Administration, ESL, Career & Technical, Preparing Students for Independence Classes (PSI), Skills for Learning and Living Class (SLL), Structured Learning Class (SLC) – Alternate Curriculum 4141 Costa Rica Rd. (713) 613-2200

Clay Road Baptist School PreK-8th Grade 9151 Clay Rd., 77080 (713) 939-1023 http://www.crbs.org/ Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart PreK-12th Grade 10202 Memorial Dr., 77024 (713) 468-8211 http://www.duchesne.org/ First Baptist Academy Houston PreK-8th Grade 7450 Memorial Woods Dr., 77024 (713) 290-2500 http://www.fbahouston. org/ Houston Christian High School 9th-12th Grade 2700 West Sam Houston Pkwy N., 77043 (713) 580-6000 http://www.houstonchristianhs.org/ Incarnate Word Academy 9th-12th Grade 609 Crawford St., 77002 (713) 227-3637 www.incarnateword.org Lutheran High North 9th-12th Grade 1130 W. 34th St., 77018 (713) 880-3131 http://www.lutheranhighnorth.org/ Our Savior Lutheran Pre-School through grade.

8th

St. Ambrose Catholic School Pre-K-8th 4213 Mangum Rd., 77092 (713) 686-6990 http://www.sashornets.org/ School of The Woods Pre-K-12th 1321 Wirt Rd., 77055 (713) 686-8811 www.schoolofthewoods.org St. Mark Lutheran Pre-K-8th 1515 Hillendahl Blvd., 77055 (713) 468-2623 gostmark.org St. Rose of Lima Catholic School Pre-K-8th 3600 Brinkman St., 77018 (713) 691-0104 http://www.stroselima.org/ school/home St. Pius High School X 9th-12th 811 W. Donovan St., 77091 (713) 692-3581 http://www.stpiusx.org/ St. Theresa Catholic School Pre-K-8th 6623 Rodrigo St., 77007 (713) 864-4536 http://school.sttheresa.cc/ St. Thomas High School 9th-12th 4500 Memorial Dr., 77007 (713) 864-6348 http://www.sths.org/ The Kipling School Pre-K-8th 620 Shepherd Dr., 77007 (713) 861-6743 http://www.thekiplingschool.com/ The Regis School of the Sacred Heart Pre-K-8th 7330 Westview Dr., 77055 (713) 682-8383 http://www.theregisschool. org/

The Guide • December 18, 2021 • Page 22

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Combating the COVID-19 pandemic continues to remain a priority for healthcare facilities in the Heights, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest and surrounding areas.

Following the local emergence of the Delta variant in July and the Omicron variant in early December, healthcare providers in hospitals, clinics and private practices have implemented strict safety protocols and limited visitors in an effort to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.

There are multiple healthcare facilities that serve area residents, including Northwest Community Health Center at 1100 W. 34th St. in Garden Oaks.

Memorial Hermann Health System, the largest hospital chain in the Houston area, operates Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital at 1635 North Loop West, urgent care facilities at 300

North Loop West #100 and 4500 Washington Ave. #300 as well as a convenient care center at 1431 Studewood St. and Neighborhood Health Center–Greater Heights at 1800 W. 26th St., Suite 103.

Some hospitals have weathered the pandemic better than others. The company that owns The Heights Hospital, 1917 Ashland St., filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on June 1 – nearly five months after its doctors, nurses, support staff and even patients were locked out of the building because of alleged financial delinquency.

On Dec. 8, a new healthcare option for the Greater Heights and surrounding communities opened for business. The Kelsey-Seybold Clinic-Greater Heights opened on the fourth floor of the Physician Specialty Center at 1900 North Loop West, Suite 400.

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The 22,000-square foot space supports 10 providers offering comprehensive care such as pediatrics, internal medicine and more, according to its website.

A demand for general preventative care, both virtual and in person, has persisted throughout the pandemic.

Treatment and diagnostics for other illnesses and ailments is available, from elective surgeries to chemotherapy and MRIs. Vaccination rollout People age 16 and older became eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in Texas beginning March 29. City and county officials offered incentives for residents to get vaccinated and drivethrough clinics were held at local hospitals, houses of worship and community centers.

On Aug. 2, the Houston Health Department (HHD) began offering $25 gift cards to people who completed their vaccination series within 42 days of receiving their first dose at a health department health center or multiservice center clinic. On Aug. 17, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo announced a $100 cash card incentive for residents who received their first COVID-19 vaccine dose at any Harris County Public Health site.

The program ran through Aug. 31 and was funded using American Rescue Plan dollars, according to a spokesperson for Hidalgo.

Memorial Hermann Health System said in an Aug. 24 news release that third doses of the fully-approved Pfizer vaccine as well as the Moderna vaccine that is still under emergency use authorization – or coronavirus booster shots – were being administered at hospitals and clinics throughout the Greater Houston area to immunocompromised individuals as judged by criteria from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Two local healthcare centers offering the booster

Photo from Twitter The Houston Health Department as well as Harris County Public Health administer free COVID-19 vaccines at multiple locations.

shot are Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital and Memorial Hermann’s Neighborhood Health Center– Greater Heights.

On Oct. 29, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it had authorized the emergency use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11. Children ages 12 and up were deemed eligible for the vaccination on May 12.

The vaccination picture locally has changed in the last few months. As the Houston

region’s leaders urged residents to get vaccinated as more and more people became hospitalized with coronavirus, some public health experts said it was worth noting the disparity in vaccination rates across the area.

Misinformation has played a role in stopping some residents from getting vaccinated, but so too has a lack of access to hospitals and healthcare providers, poor transportation and language barriers, among other reasons, according to those who’ve studied the matter.

Local Vaccination Rates Below is a zip code-by-zip code breakdown of COVID-19 vaccination rates in the area served by The Leader, with estimated 2019 populations from the U.S. Census Bureau and the number of fully vaccinated residents from the Texas Department of State Health Services as of Dec. 6 Zip Code 77007 77008 77009 77018 77091 77092 Total

Vaccinated 32,784 27,177 23,651 17,493 13,298 20,887 135,290

Population 40,080 34,895 36,147 28,229 27,750 38,458 205,559

Percentage 81.8 77.9 65.4 62.0 47.9 54.3 65.8

Your Community’s Full Service JJeweler Locally in Northwest Houston, vaccination rates have varied drastically by zip code. For instance, more than 70 percent of residents were vaccinated in the Heightsarea zip codes of 77007 and 77008 compared to some 36 percent of residents in 77091, a zip code including parts of Acres Homes and Inwood back, as of Aug. 23, according to statistics from the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS).

But the data has changed since then.

Overall, the area saw a 9.2 percent increase in fully vaccinated residents since August, with the 77091 and 77092 zip codes seeing the largest gains — 11.8 and 11.4 percent, respectively.

Free, in-home COVID-19 vaccinations are available to qualifying older adults, people with disabilities and veterans. To check for eligibility and schedule an appointment, call the Houston Health Department at 832393-4301.

For all other eligible residents ages 5 and up, schedule an appointment via hhdvaccinations.org or vacstrac. hctx.net.

Testing still available Houston ISD announced Sept. 23 it would administer free COVID-19 tests to students and staff on the school district’s campuses in collaboration with HHD. In January, HISD offered free rapid COVID-19 testing to staff and some students as part of a collaboration with the Texas Education Agency and Texas Division of Emergency Management.

Free COVID-19 tests are available through covidcheck.hctx.net.

In-home testing can be scheduled by calling 832-393-4301.

HHD’s Acres Homes Multi-Service Center, 6719 W. Montgomery Road, offers drive-through or walkup testing from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

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Photo by Adam Zuvanich Donovan Park in the Heights reopened in March after being closed for a year because of concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. It reopened with some upgrades.

Residents have plenty of places for recreation

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

As things are gradually getting back to normal amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Houstonians have continued utilizing the area’s parks, trails and multiple modes of transportation in an effort to safely traverse the sprawling city.

The area’s parks and recreation scene has long offered an abundance of options for residents of Garden Oaks, Oak Forest, the Heights, and other north Houston neighborhoods, and not much has changed in that regard.

However, there were a few upgrades to existing spots, new attractions and re-openings that have the local parks and recreation scene well-positioned for the months and years to come.

The popular pedestrian bridge on the MKT Trail in

the Heights remains closed after construction crews discovered additional damage from the 2020 fire that damaged the century-old bridge, but the area’s recreational options are otherwise robust.

The Houston City Council approved construction of the MKT Spur Trail Connector, which will close an 850-foot gap between the MKT and White Oak Bayou Greenway trails with a 10-foot wide reinforced concrete path. The trail connector will cover existing green space along the north side of White Oak Bayou, connecting to the MKT Trail just north of the aforementioned pedestrian bridge.

A significant portion of the Bayou Greenways 2020 project was also completed this year as Bayou Greenways Park opened to the public at the intersection of White Oak Bayou Greenway and the Heights Hike-and-Bike Trail

in late May. Houstonians also have even more local options by which to get to these parks and traverse these trails, too, as Houston BCycle further expanded its bike-sharing offerings in the area.

The city also elected to name a popular park on West 11th Street in the Lazybrook/ Timbergrove area after former resident Lorraine Cherry, who dedicated the last few years of her life to preserving it prior to her death in 2017.

The proposed East Sunset Heights Park at 6000 N. Main St., received an $898,000 grant, while the popular Donavan Heights Park reopened in the Heights in late March for local residents.

Bayou Greenways Park opens to public In late May, the Houston Parks Board announced the

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Play, from P. 24 opening of the 1.47-acre space as part of the Bayou Greenways 2020 Project aimed at beautifying and transforming underutilized land along Houston’s major waterways into linear parks.

The park features trail connections to the White Oak Bayou Greenway and Heights Hike-and-Bike Trail as well as views of White Oak Bayou from an overlook and shaded boardwalk area. There also is a trailhead and parking lot located at 1648 Studemont St. in the Heights. Additional attractions of the park include eating areas with custom benches and brick-clad seating walls, bike racks and plantings of native trees, wildflowers and bioswale.

“The opening of the beautiful new Bayou Greenways Park is another example of the united effort to make Houston one of the nation’s most park-accessible cities,” Houston Parks and Recreation director Kenneth Allen said.

MKT trail connector approved The Houston City Council voted in early September to award a construction contract for the MKT Spur Trail Connector, which will close an 850-foot gap between the MKT and White Oak Bayou Greenway trails with a 10foot wide reinforced concrete

Contributed photo West 11th Street Park was renamed as the Lorraine Cherry Nature Preserve earlier this year.

path.

“Connecting the MKT Trail with White Oak Bayou Greenway addresses a critical gap in the off-street system,” Houston Public Works director Carol Haddock said.

“This connection is progress toward creating a safer and more equitable transportation network for all users.”

The trail connector will cover existing green space along the north side of White Oak Bayou, and will branch off the MKT Trail just northwest of the pedestrian bridge across the bayou that has been closed since August 2020 because of a fire. Of-

ficials say it will provide a handy shortcut for cyclists and walkers/runners when construction on the $1.18 million project, which was previously estimated to take at least five months, is complete.

“In order to make Houston a truly bike-friendly city, connectivity is key,” BikeHouston executive director Joe Cutrufo said. “By filling a gap in the city’s bike network, this trail connector will make getting around by bike a safer and more attractive option for more Houstonians.”

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mains closed Repairs were set to be done on the popular MKT Bridge in the Heights, where work had been ongoing to repair damage caused by a fire in the summer of 2020. However, officials announced in early September that additional deficiencies were found, thus keeping the popular pedestrian bridge closed for the foreseeable future.

While in the process of replacing damaged bridge piles, the abutment backwall and a deck expansion joint that were damaged in the August 2020 fire that started in the wooded area underneath the

bridge, the Houston Parks Board said contractors discovered additional damage that was not visible during an initial assessment. The parks board said there also is damage caused by wear and tear that it would like to address while the bridge is closed.

There is not a yet a revamped timetable for the bridge’s reopening. A spokesperson for the parks board said in June that the bridge had an average of 1,200 users per day prior to the fire. Data for May of last year indicated that nearly 64,000 people used the White Oak Bayou Greenway Trail, which is near the bridge, on a weekly basis.

“We appreciate the continued patience as we work diligently to restore the bridge so that it is safe for public use,” the parks board said.

East Sunset Heights Park project gets boost In late June, more details were revealed about the plans for East Sunset Heights Park, where the Houston Parks and Recreation Department is transforming the former Heights METRO Transit Station at 6000 N. Main St. The plan received a boost in May when it received a grant of nearly $900,000 from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission.

The grant funds will go toward upgrading the exist-

ing pavilion and restrooms, building a small stage and making an ADA-accessible playground. A splash pad will be added along with new landscaping, a walking path, a tricycle track, a perimeter fence, a bioswale or rain garden and benches and picnic tables, while the existing native trees will also be preserved, according to officials.

“When this project is complete, this park will undoubtedly become a popular neighborhood gathering space and another Houston Parks Department success story,” Allen said.

Donovan Park reopens in Heights After being closed for more than a year due to concerns over COVID-19, the popular Donovan Park reopened for Heights residents at the northeast corner of Heights Boulevard and 7th Street. The park has also gotten some upgrades in consultation with Nick Pagel, a Candlelight Estates resident and the owner of Imagination Woodworks.

The Houston Heights Association spent nearly $9,000 to lay new mulch throughout the playground, replace the swings and the trash cans and improve the park’s drainage system by cleaning out its inlets. The park is also in

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Play, from P. 25 the midst of a regrouping phase for “Reimagine Donovan Park” initiative, which launched last year but has had fundraising efforts impacted by the pandemic.

BCycle expands in Heights Houston BCycle, the city’s bike-sharing program, added

The Guide • December 18, 2021 • Page 26 three more stations in the Heights over the course of the last year for area residents who want to pedal around the city instead of fighting vehicular traffic.

BCycle, which previously had about 10 stations in the Heights area, added a new location at 249 W. 19th St. on Aug. 23 with funding help

from Houston City Council member Abbie Kamin, who serves much of the area in District C. It was one of three new locations to open in the area in 2021, joining locations at the H-E-B at 2300 N. Shepherd Dr., which opened in April, and the Heights Waterworks location at 449 W. 19th St. that opened in July.

West 11th Street park named after late resident In June, a popular Lazybrook/Timbergrove park was named after a local resident who dedicated the last few years of her life to preserving and beautifying it. Houston City Council voted to rename the park as the Lorraine Cherry Nature Preserve.

Local officials said Cherry was instrumental in helping to raise the funds that allowed the city to purchase the property from Houston ISD in 2007, and she served as president of the Friends of West 11th Street Park since founding the group in 2005 until her death in 2017.

Starting in 1998, she also led

a group of volunteers that coordinated with community leaders, government officials and the Houston Parks Board to help raise the money to purchase the 11th Street Park. In the aftermath of her death, nearly 800 community members signed a petition asking the city to rename the park in her honor.

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Contributed photo Restore Houston pastor Justin Gingrich preaches during one of the church’s services at Walking Stick Brewing Co. in Garden Oaks. The church also has held sermons at the Harriet and Joe Foster Family YMCA on West 34th Street.

Faith institutions look to foster sense of community

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Everyone looks for a place to call home, whether it be someone who just moved in to the area or longtime residents searching for a change of pace or meaningful connection.

And while that may have been a little harder to find over the last couple of years due to the ongoing COVID19-pandemic, that does not mean there are any shortages of worship options for those in Garden Oaks, Oak Forest, the Heights and surrounding neighborhoods looking to find their own spiritual home amidst the uncertainty still gripping the region.

Many places of worship such as the ISKCON of Houston-Temple and Cultural Center at 1320 W. 34th St., Garden Oaks Baptist and St. Andrew’s Episcopal have resumed inperson weekly services. However, some have been seeing declines in attendance. And

in response, institutions such as Village Heights Church and Heights Christian Church have launched new initiatives that are attempting to bring its congregations and communities back together.

New places of worship such as Restore Houston have opened amidst the pandemic this year and are looking to make their mark in the community by holding weekly services that can also be viewed online.

And though attendance might be down in some places of worship, that hasn’t dampened their desire to bring communities together in service. Those such as St. John Northwest Church (6696 Antoine Dr.) and New Day Church (3615 Mangum Rd.) were among local institutions to reach out to the community through projects such as food drives, COVID-19 vaccinations and sheltering during the winter storm in February.

Church initiatives aim to support community Pastor Hannah White of Village Heights Church in the Heights said her congregation saw a decline in participation after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. And in an attempt to re-engage the community, the church came up with several new initiatives over the past year.

In part, she said it is to draw people back in. But more importantly, she said the goal is to support their community during this trying time.

In addition to preaching a relevant sermon series during the pandemic, Village Heights began a campaign called “What do you need?” in August. Over the past several months, residents may have seen posters around town, ads on social media, and postcards in their mailbox asking them to share their needs. It can also be done by going online to VilSee Pray, P. 28

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The Guide • December 18, 2021 • Page 28

Pray, from P. 27 lageHeights.church/myneed.

“Yes, we can absolutely continue to develop our faith by watching messages or listening to podcasts online,” White said. “But there is something so beautiful about having a family of believers who know you, support you and continually cheer you on. Remaining focused on other people ensures that we each feel seen, find our tribe and can accomplish incredible things together.”

New Day Church also had an “Awesome August” initiative that included a new sermon series every week, an adult social hour before the service and activities for kids, including a kids’ water Olympics alongside a 17-foot water slide and bounce house.

Meanwhile, Heights Christian Church’s new pastor is looking to make a splash to get the church back in the community’s purview and foster a community of compassion. Rev. Amber Mattingly took over at Heights Christian Church, 1703 Heights Blvd., in May. And when speaking to members of the community, she said there were a number who did not realize the church was even a thing – so she set out to change it.

The church and its new leader began steps in that direction by beginning in-person services this past Easter Sunday. Weekly services are held at 10 a.m. Sunday, and there also is an adult Bible study on Wednesday nights that is held virtually through Zoom, among other regular events.

Mattingly is also planning to organize a community-wide event planned for next May called “Heights Got Talent,” a showcase at Lambert Hall showcasing talent of the community’s children.

“I think really we are entering into a new season of ministry, where our focus truly is on celebrating the beautiful diversity of our community,” Mattingly said. “That’s something I bring, but also the church is really uniquely positioned to see that as their mission.”

Restore Houston setting down roots

Up until August, Restore Houston’s congregation met every first Sunday of the month at Walking Stick Brewing Co. before moving into a building a few months ago. For now, the church calls the Harriet and Joe Foster YMCA at 1234 W. 34th St. its home, and is welcoming all comers as it looks to make its mark in the local community.

Pastor Justin Gingrich said that “people over production” is a major emphasis for church leadership as they seek to be a place that someone can call “home.”

“I think that even in a city full of churches there’s a lot of us who haven’t found a place we can really belong,” Gingrich said in June. “I think a lot of us are weary of big production.

We were wanting something that went back to the simplicity of loving Jesus and loving others.”

Given Houston’s diverse backgrounds and cultures, Gingrich said Restore’s goal is to foster an environment of acceptance through both sermons and small groups that are under the church’s umbrella of services.

“Ultimately, I don’t think my preaching is going to change anyone’s lives, or anyone’s preaching. I think people’s lives are changed with community,” he said.

Restore Houston meets every Sunday at 10 a.m. at the Harriet and Joe Foster YMCA for in-person services.

The sermons can also be viewed on YouTube, Facebook, Spotify, or iTunes. For more information on the church, visit its website at restorehouston.org.

Faith institutions serve as beacons of assistance St. John Northwest Church at 6696 Antoine Dr. in Greater Inwood hosted a free vaccination event for the community this past May, while New Day Church at 3615 Mangum Rd. opened its doors as a shelter for Houstonians in need.

New Day served as a warming center for community members in Oak Forest

Contributed photo Rev. Amber Mattingly became the pastor at Heights Christian Church in February. The church is located at 1703 Heights Blvd. and has served the community for more than 100 years.

and surrounding areas who were without power as a result of the winter storms. More than 30 people between the ages of 1-70 took advantage of the shelter over the course of two days before the church itself lost power and water.

“We are always looking for ways to practically show the

love of Jesus, and so when we saw countless people posting online that they had no heat in this historic winter storm, it was an obvious way to help out people who desperately needed it,” said John Wethington, a pastor at New Day Church.

Contributed photo New Day Church pastor John Wethington, right, welcomed Michelle Diaz and other residents when the Mangum Road church served as a warming center during the winter storm in February.

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www.LaHaciendaEscondida.com Contributed photo Elizabeth Akamatsu’s sculpture titled “Cumulus” is among the new installations for True North, the outdoor sculpture exhibit on the Heights Boulevard esplanade.

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Art making multifaceted impact across area Mitch Cohen Art Columnist

Now that our 2022 calendars are beginning to fill with events, here are a few lesserknown venues and local sites for art that can be visited anytime.

True North The grand entrance to the Heights is Heights Boulevard.

The picturesque esplanade has been a testament the past few years to the area’s love of the arts with True North, the yearly sculpture project.

True North is led by an allvolunteer team that installs eight sculptures at designated sites alongside the Heights Boulevard esplanade’s walk-

ing trails. Curators choose a range of sculptures by renowned Texas artists based upon medium, theme, color and visibility, and each exhibition is in place from midMarch until mid-December, pursuant to a nine-month temporary public art permit with the City of Houston.

As of the 2021 exhibition, True North has shown works by 66 prominent Texas artists.

True North was founded by Gus Kopriva and Chris Silkwood in 2014.

It is seen by hundreds of thousands of residents, visitors and passersby to the Heights community and is wildly popular on social media.

The eight unique works may be seen from passing vehicles or the boulevard’s designated bike lane, but you’ll also want to experience them up-close while walking along the winding, forested trail to

truly appreciate the complex designs, mix of materials and vivid imaginations of the gifted artists.

The Houston Heights Association (HHA) is True North’s nonprofit sponsor and the esplanade’s longtime custodian. Thanks to the HHA and extensive community activism and fundraising over the years, the esplanade is home to architectural gardens, pavilions, old-growth treescapes and one of the most popular walking/jogging trails in the city.

Watch for new installations by eight sculptors to be installed ahead of the next official opening on March 15.

This year’s featured artists (by name, city and sculpture title) are: Elizabeth Akamatsu, Nacogdoches, Cumulus; Art Fairchild, Dallas, Sphericity; Rachel Gardner, Houston (Heights), Night Hare; Guadalupe Hernandez, Houston,

La Pesqueria; Suguru Hiraide, Wichita Falls. Maneki Cat Altar; Will Larson, Austin, the sun will always find you here; See Create, P. 30

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The Guide • December 18, 2021 • Page 30

Create, from P. 29 Israel McCloud, Houston, Everybody Me; and Jim Robertson, Trinity, Zig Zag. ‘Little Galleries’ The Heights has had an unprecedented four art galleries open during the latter part of this year.

There is a twist, which may explain why this might be news to most readers: The galleries are small -- so small that each contains art by only one artist, and most have only one piece of art.

With four locations and expansion plans in the works, the “Little Galleries” are small, colorful wooden boxes on a simple wooden pole, in the spirit of “Little Free Libraries.”

For observation only, each box has one or two clear windows to view the small-scale art.

Three are located in the Heights at the intersection of Heights Boulevard and West 11th Street; 713 Heights Blvd., in front of Lululemon and The MendCenter; and 519 Heights Blvd. The fourth is at Axelrad, 1517 Alabama St. The “Little Galleries” program was created by Artists for Artists, a nonprofit founded in early 2018 as a grassroots organization, advocacy group and safety net for visual artists experiencing career-threatening emergencies. Co-founder Amber Slaughter is the executive director.

It has been two years since the Artists for Artists last hosted a fundraiser. The next one is a show called “Mind:Full” scheduled for 6-9 p.m. Feb. 12, with a focus on “Little Galleries.”

“During the pandemic Artists for Artists launched three new charitable programs, expanded its reach to include support for performance artists, raised funding for and distributed over 525 emergency relief grants totaling nearly $600,000 to artists and musicians across the country,” Slaughter said. “We are so very excited about the upcoming weekend of cultural activations, which includes the group art show ‘Mind:Full,’ a silent auction, VIP cocktail event, art walk, plus additional

Photo by Morris Malakoff Karen Navarro created the artwork inside the “Little Galleries” installation at the intersection of Heights Boulevard and West 11th Street.

Contributed photo “Little Galleries” program director Megan Olivia Ebel, left, and Daniel Roca stand outside the installation created by Amber Slaughter, who is the co-founder and executive director of “Little Galleries.” There are three installations in the Heights.

art and music activations.”

Artists for Artists has partnered on the fundraiser with a Heights-based, nonprofit mental health organization, the MendCenter, a creative wellness program that was created to bridge the gap between artists and healthcare providers with a focus on mental healthcare. Artists for Artists is working closely with the MendCenter on the Mind:Full show and together building out a new nonprofit gallery that will be located in the Heights.

More details are on the website, artistsforartists.org.

Follow the Little Galleries on Instagram at https://www. instagram.com/txlittlegalleries/.

Art in action The performing arts has been making a comeback and

2022 offers plenty of opportunities to engage.

“Sojourns on the Silk Road: From the Orient to the Occident,” is a musical journey of French and Spanish art song on themes of the “Orient” featuring mezzo-soprano Jessica Blau, pianist Katherine Ciscon, guitarist Marc Rosenberg and flamenco dancer Fanny Ara. Sojourns on the Silk Road is fiscally sponsored by Fresh Arts, and the performance will take place Feb. 4-5 at the MATCH, 3400 Main St. Tickets and other details are available online at https://matchouston.org.

The Houston Contemporary Dance Company states on its website that they are Houston’s repertory dance company. Its mission is to ignite passion for contemporary dance by providing world-class

professional repertory concert performances and community engagement activities that are accessible to all regardless of race, culture, sexual orientation, gender, gender variance or nationality.

Performances are ongoing at its studio on Houston Avenue where adult and youth dance classes are also offered as part of the Institute of Contemporary Dance. Founder and executive and artistic director Marlana Doyle founded both in 2019.

Next on its calendar is “New Creation” from choreographer Josh Manculich from Jan. 4-6.

Performances take place at the dance company studios, 1302 Houston Ave. Suite #300.

Details are on the website, https://www.houstoncontemporary.org.

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