Leader June 19

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Council postpones vote on water rate hike

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com Mayor Sylvester Turner and the Houston City Council unanimously agreed to postpone a scheduled vote Wednesday on proposed rate increases that would affect residential water and wastewater customers across the city.

During his opening remarks Wednesday, Turner

said the increases are needed to upgrade the city’s aging infrastructure, meet future demands and also to comply with a recently executed consent decree between the city, state of Texas and federal Environmental Protection Agency that requires Houston to make $2 billion in improvements to its wastewater system during the next 15 years.

But he asked for the agen-

Turner

da item to be “tagged” until next week to allow council members the opportunity to ask questions of the city’s legal team and Houston Public Works, which put together the proposal based on a rate study it commissioned.

Turner also asked council members to solicit questions and feedback from their constituents and explain why the increases are being proposed.

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INSIDE.

Stellar student. Sinclair Elementary’s Krish Kalla received an annual achievement award.

Page 4A

Contributed photo Houston City Council member Abbie Kamin picks up a piece of trash along Washington Avenue during a community cleanup event last Saturday, June 12.

Cleanup calls attention to issues on corridor

Page 8A

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

Sweet treats. This month’s Food & Drink section is all about treats, hot and frozen.

Page 1B

Abbie Kamin wants to clean up Washington Avenue – literally and figuratively.

The Houston City Council representative for District C, which includes the popular entertainment corridor, helped organize a community cleanup event on the street last Saturday morning. Kamin, State Rep. Ann Johnson and more than 20 volunteers picked up trash and debris that had collected near the cluster of restaurants, bars and nightclubs.

Kamin said the event also was a metaphor for some other issues on Washington Avenue, such as a recent uptick in violent crime and nearby residents’ concerns about noise and other disruptive behavior by partygoers and the businesses that serve them.

“What we wanted to do with this event was draw attention to the area, be with residents who are very concerned about this and make somewhat of a statement,” Kamin said. “We’re beautifying and cleaning up on Washington but also making a statement of, ‘These are our neighborhoods and we care about them.’ ”

City to rename park after late local resident Lorraine Cherry dedicated the last several years of her life to protecting green space in her neighborhood.

Her name will now be forever linked to the local park she loved.

The Houston City Council voted unanimously last week to rename West 11th Street Park, a 20-acre city park with wooded trails in the Timbergrove and Lazybrook community, as 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.

“The parks department is pleased to honor the memory of this outstanding Houstonian with the renaming of this park,” Kenneth Allen, the interim director of the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, said in a news release from Friends of West 11th Street Park. “When citizens like Dr. Cherry are invested in making their neighborhoods better, they do the work that needs to be done to make it happen.

That’s what Dr. Cherry did with this park.”

Cherry, who died at age 70, was a California native and University of California, Berkeley, graduate who moved to Houston in 1980 and later founded her own research and consulting service for biomedical professionals, according to her obituary. She served as the environmental affairs chairperson for the Timbergrove Manor Civic Club for more than 10 years, according to Friends of West 11th Street Park, and also was an active See Cherry, P. 4A

Contributed photo A group of volunteers commemorates a community cleanup event last weekend on Washington Avenue.

Washington Avenue has long been a hot spot for nightlife, so coping with noise during the early morning hours as well as with drunk drivers and pedestrians is not new. But See Cleanup, P. 5A

Contributed photo Lorraine Cherry, an area resident who died in 2017, kneels next to the sign for West 11th Street Park, which will be renamed in her honor.

Garden Oaks teen boasts big pipes

New man on campus. A private school near the area has a new athletics director.

By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com

Page 4B

THE INDEX. Church....................................................... 4A Classifieds.............................................. 5A Coupons. ................................................. 3B Food/Drink............................................. 1B Obituaries.............................................. 4B Opinion. ................................................... 3A Public Information......................... 8A Puzzles...................................................... 3A

See Water, P. 5A

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

Your neighborhood living room in The Heights

Project progress. The Inwood Forest Detention Basin project will soon take shape.

According to a frequentlyasked-questions document released by the city, residential customers with 3,000 gallons of monthly water usage would see an increase of $4.07 to their monthly bills, beginning July 1, with additional rate increases during each of the next four years.

Turner said the city also is exploring the possibility of

Contributed photo Ian McDaniel, an 18-year-old Garden Oaks resident, has been playing the bagpipes since he was 15.

Some kids play piano and some take up guitar, but Garden Oaks’ Ian McDaniel went a different direction after attending the Sherwood Forest Faire near Austin.

“I would sometimes go up there for the fair, but I went to the summer camp held there for several sessions over the years,” McDaniel said.

“One of the staff there played the bagpipe, and at the camp he would wake everyone up with them in the morning, which I always thought was neat. On the way out one year,

I became interested and asked him where I could learn more about the bagpipes.”

The staff member told him about a group in Houston that played. After going to a few of the meetings, McDaniel was hooked.

“My mom bought me a practice chanter and a book of music,” he said. “After playing the practice chanter enough, my mom bought me a set of actual bagpipes.”

McDaniel explained that a bagpipe has a mouthpiece; the three drones, which are the pipes that stick out the top of the bag; and the chanter, which is the part

that plays the music where the player’s fingers are.

“All of the drones and the chanter on the bagpipe have a reed in them, but the most important one is in the chanter as that reed makes the signature bagpipe sound,” he said.

“A practice chanter is similar to the chanter on the bagpipe, but it is smaller than what is on the bagpipe and is meant to be played by itself, similar to a recorder.”

The former Oak Forest Elementary student got a chanter when he was 12 and an actual set of pipes See McDaniel, P. 5A

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Page 2A • Saturday, June 19, 2021 • The Leader

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THE TOPICS. The Leader • Saturday, June 19, 2021 • Page 3A

Travis crossing guard lived life worth celebrating

J

ohn Davis had a major heart attack in September of last year and had to be revived by a police officer who was at the Heights convenience store where it happened.

Afterward, he had a sobering conversation with his oldest brother.

“He said he wasn’t worried about it if he didn’t come back,” Ronnie Davis said. “He was OK with that.”

The elder Davis said he and his family are taking some comfort in that conversation as they mourn the death of John Davis, who had spent the last 11 years working as a crossing guard at Travis Elementary. And perhaps it can also help ease the pain of the Woodland Heights community, which rallied around Davis after he suffered another apparent heart attack about a month ago, according to his brother.

Ronnie said a Travis teacher found John unconscious near his car on the morning of May 18, and he remained in a coma until his death on June 1, at age 64. During that time, a GoFundMe page set up by the president of the Travis PTA raised more than $32,000 to help John and his family cover medical expenses.

The Davis family was deeply touched by the outpouring of support, Ronnie said, and they did not realize John – or Mr. Davis as he was known at the school – was so beloved and had made such a big impact on Travis students and their parents. In turn, Ronnie said his family wants to work with the PTA and set up some sort of foundation in his

Adam

Zuvanich Editor

brother’s honor.

“He would talk about how nice the people were, how they’d bring him cookies and stuff or give him a care package,” Ronnie said. “And he said the kids adore him. But he was just doing his job. He didn’t see anything he did that was different than any other crossing guard. I think it was just the conversation he made with them.”

John Davis, who is survived by his wife, Denise, two adult children and three grandchildren, grew up in a family of eight kids and was known amongst his relatives as being laidback and quiet, so much so that he earned the nickname “Johnny Cool.” Ronnie said his brother, who spent some of his early years in the Heights before moving to the Third Ward and graduating from Yates High School, liked to work out and served as a handyman within his family.

He also was a devout Baptist who at one time was a member of Resurrection Life Fellowship, a church that operated in the old Stude Theatre building that was demolished late last year. Ronnie said John’s commitment to his faith, and the religious

Contributed photos At left, late Travis Elementary crossing guard John Davis has a portrait taken while wearing a school T-shirt. At right, he has a picture taken with a young student during his decade-long tenure at the school.

teachings he discussed, helped Ronnie turn his life around when they were younger.

“He would definitely put the word on you. He would talk about God in a heartbeat,” Ronnie said. “He was very good at telling somebody about God and talking about Jesus and trying to get them on the right path if somebody was having a problem.”

John lived in an apartment at the southwest corner of Studewood Street and East 7th Street along with his wife, whom he had been

caring for since she suffered a stroke, Ronnie said. He also worked as a security guard at NRG Park, with Ronnie saying his brother used that part-time job and the one at Travis to make ends meet.

Even though John Davis was not rich in terms of material possessions, he enriched the lives of others through his friendly and caring demeanor. He also lived righteously, according to his brother, who said John was “at peace with himself.”

Knowing that might provide some

A league of our own Play ball! After suspending play in the 2020 season due to the Covid-19 virus, Minor League Baseball is back in Texas. Sort of. Sure, there are minor league teams across the Lone Star State, but there is one important part missing.

After 133 years, the Texas League that gave fans sweaty, mosquito-filled nights watching Don Sutton, Rogers Hornsby, Duke Snider and Maury Wills was killed off. Fans saw Tris Speaker, Hank Greenberg, “Dizzy” Dean, Frank Robinson and Brooks Robinson. In more recent times, the Astros’ dugout was a Texas League reunion with Lance Berkman, Roy Oswalt and Brad Lidge.

Now the newspapers list the organization as “DoubleA Central.” Catchy title, eh?

If you grew up in Texas, you grew up with the Texas League. The Houston Buffs, the Dallas Eagles, the Longview Cannibals and who can forget the Texarkana Casket Makers? OK, some of the teams didn’t last long. What happened was that Major League Baseball took advantage of the 2020 virus to suspend Minor League Baseball, then consolidated leagues and eliminated some 42 minor league teams. Those that were left became farm teams for the majors. The Texas League teams survived in the DoubleA Central, divided into the north and the south, but every team plays all the others. Only half the teams in the Texas League were actually in Texas.

A little background music, please, maybe “Take Me Out to 1888,” when the immortal Dallas Hams won the first league championship. The admission price was 25 cents.

Over the years franchises were scattered alphabetically from Albuquerque to Wichita Falls, geographically from Kansas to the Rio Grande Valley, but they always kept the same league name, maybe because it was one of the oldest minor leagues in the nation.

Some interesting items about the league: On April 30, 1983, the El Paso Diablos (as they were called then) and the Beaumont Golden Gators ended up: El Paso 35, Beaumont 21. Back then, if a Diablo hit a home run, his helmet would be passed around in the stands and the fans would put money in it. The players did well that night. A hit that drops between the infielders and outfielders has been called a Texas Leaguer since the 1890s, despite no evidence that it originated in the Texas League, or was any more common there than elsewhere. In 1930 Katy Park in Waco became one of the first stadiums in organized baseball to install lights for night games. When Fort Worth’s LaGrave Field was rebuilt in 1950, it was the first new baseball park

Lynn Ashby Columnist

to include a television booth.

Homer Rainey pitched for several league teams and eventually became president of The University of Texas. (He was fired.) John Alton “Al” Benton, later, in the majors, gave up home runs to both Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle. The Dallas Eagles played in the Oak Cliff part of town, which voted dry. Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks, but no beer.

Today’s Alphabet and Geographical Meaningless Title for a League retains some great history and stories, gathered mostly by Benjamin Hill, who writes about Minor League Baseball. Let’s start with: Northwest Arkansas Naturals -- Arkansas is known as the Natural State, and the team is owned by the Rich family, which also owns the Buffalo Bisons. In 1983, significant portions of Robert Redford’s The Natural were filmed at the Bisons’ stadium. The Natural’s popularity raised the profile of the Bisons so much they soon moved up a level and then to a new ballpark.

Arkansas Travelers -- The first professional baseball team bearing the Travelers moniker debuted in 1901.

As such, it is one of the oldest unique team names in all of Minor League Baseball. In 1957, the Travelers changed their geographical signifier from Little Rock to Arkansas. In doing so, they became the first team in professional sports to name itself after a state.

Springfield Cardinals – In 1941, a player batted .379 -Stan Musial.

Tulsa Drillers -- When a team relocates to a new city and keeps its name, some strange combinations can result (see: Jazz, Utah and Los Angeles, Lakers). But this franchise was established in 1975 as the Lafayette (Louisiana) Drillers, before moving to equally oil-dependent Tulsa in 1977. So they kept the name.

The Sod Poodles – That’s Amarillo’s team. I have no idea what the name means, but it marked the return of Minor League Baseball to Amarillo after a 36-season absence.

Corpus Christi Hooks – When the Houston Astros bought the Corpus franchise, Hooks, line and sinker, they pumped millions to upgrade the facilities, Whataburger Field, which had already been

named by USA Today among the top 10 minor league parks in the nation. Prior to the 2019 season, the ballpark’s roof was painted in Whataburger’s orange-and-white colors. The Hooks, along with the Sugar Land Skeeters, is where Astros go to get well.

Frisco RoughRiders -- The first Minor League team in the history of Frisco. (Frisco is a suburb of Dallas, which is always behind the curve ball.) In 2005, Frisco began its 15-season run of Texas League attendance dominance. In 2016 the RoughRiders adopted a Teddy Roosevelt-style uniform – bully for them.

San Antonio Missions -One of the charter members of the Texas League back in 1888. At one point the Missions were a farm team for

the worst team ever in the majors: the St. Louis Browns.

Still, nearly 250 Missionaries reached the major leagues.

Wichita Wind Surge-- A reluctant member of the league.

The team was all set to join the Triple-A Eastern League and play in its new $75-million Riverfront Stadium. And it’s a long bus trip from Wichita to San Antonio.

Midland RockHounds – We can only assume the players moonlight as Exxon geologists.

So there we have it. There is still a website for the league, but when I called its headquarters, I heard: “The phone number you called is not valid.” Strike three.

Ashby bats at ashby2@comcast.net

peace to the neighborhood students and parents who walk to and from the Travis campus twice per day when school is in session. They will no longer see Mr. Davis at the intersection of Omar and Florence streets, or be able to talk to him, but they can hold on to his memory and the way he made them feel.

“We’re not going to hang our heads,” Ronnie said, “because we know John lived a real good life.” azuvanich@theleadernews.com

THE READER. The Leader lets me be nosy in my neighborhood

Dear Editor: The Leader is a very important part of this community.

From keeping area residents informed about new restaurants, shops, real estate news and crime info, to helping promote small business through ads, articles and the Reader’s Choice contest, it is all helpful info for both new and long term residents. It still gives me goosebumps remembering when Betsy Ladner Denson and also Elizabeth Villarreal wrote articles about the Stevens Elementary Sewing Club students. The kids were SO thrilled to read about themselves and see their photos in the Leader every year! Memorable for sure.

Thanks for all that you do!

Susan Ericksen Kostelecky

Central Texas barbecue joint looking at Heights

Email us your letters: news@theleadernews.com sausage, beef rib and sides of all the barbecue joints I’ve been to. They are a welcomed business in my opinion. Lower prices too. If they are not using prime grade beef for brisket, they will be just another barbecue joint in Houston. Or another Gabby’s shoe leather.

Tim Lassiter

Deed restriction bill leaves residents wanting more

Dear Editor: I think we all welcome an inexpensive method of removing these old unenforceable racial (I always thought Hispanics WERE Caucasian) restrictions.

We have to be careful though that it does not open up our restrictions for developers to alter building restrictions (2 floors), lot use (single family no lot splitting) etc. Definitely a ‘Be careful what you ask for’ moment.

Katiemad

Dear Editor: Black’s BBQ has the best

the leader Puzzlers.

Answers found in this week’s Classified section

SUDOKU

aCrOss 1. Angling worm 5. Tissue that conducts food in plants 11. 1937 Steinbeck novella 14. Feed storehouse 15. Raised pattern cotton cloth 18. Prophetic signs 19. Cowboy competitions 21. Ophthalmic products company, ______ Worldwide 23. Prefix meaning inside 24. Arousing or provoking laughter 28. Plant spike 29. Atomic #94 30. Himalayan goat 32. Patti Hearst’s captors 33. Rock TV channel 35. Pen point 36. Tiny bite 39. Organized work group 41. Atomic #58 42. Food fish of the genus Alosa 44. Fleshy slice of meat

46. Shallowest Great Lake 47. Tapered tucks 51. Winter muskmelon 54. Isaac’s mother 56. Picasso’s birthplace 58. Lowest hereditary title 60. Streisand/Reford film 62. Verb states 63. Soluble ribonucleic acid

dOwn 1. Sink in 2. Hairdo 3. Muslim leaders 4. Ringworm 5. Oppresses or maltreats 6. Cut fodder 7. Natural logarithm 8. Not divisible by two 9. Independent Islamic ruler 10. Written proposal or reminder 12. Tilt or slant 13. Nests of pheasants 16. Portable shelters 17. Swiss singing 20. Body of an organism

22. Opposite of “yes” 25. 41st state 26. 007’s Fleming 27. They speak Muskhogean 29. Payment (abbr.)

31. “Spud Papers” author’s initials 34. Large vessel for holding liquids 36. Nanosecond (abbr.)

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Page 4A • Saturday, June 19, 2021 • The Leader

Sinclair’s Kalla wins Nell Baham Achievement Award

By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com

This was the 21st year the Nell Baham Achievement Award has been given to an outstanding Sinclair Elementary fifth-grader. Krish Kalla was this year’s recipient.

The award recognizes a student who exhibited good citizenship traits, excelled in academics and made worthy contributions to Sinclair and within the community. It was established in 1999 by thenPTA president Jill Hlavinka to honor longtime educator Nell Baham, who taught at Sinclair for a number of years.

Baham also gives the beneficiary a monetary prize. She said the award is special to her because it is rewarding to see students excel in school and

the community.

“It warms my heart to see this award given now for 21 years to deserving students,” Baham said. “Many thanks to the teachers for observing fifth-graders all year and then choosing the one they feel meets these requirements.

Students should be recognized for their contributions in the community (as well as) excellence in academics.”

Kalla’s teachers describe him as “a well-rounded student, who is polite, eager and aims to please.”

“Krish is an all-around great student,” Sinclair Principal Lee Mashburn said. “He has a super attitude, is positive and engaged. We are anticipating great things from him in the future.”

Homeroom teacher Mimi

Chan said Kalla not only excels academically but is kind and humble.

“I can always count on him to be a classroom volunteer or mentor other students,” Chan said.

Kalla is the son of Dr. Subhash and Pavani Kalla and has a younger brother, Kanish. He is active in choir and enjoys the basketball club and is a volunteer and tutor who has had perfect attendance since kindergarten. He will attend Frank Black Middle School in the fall.

Baham remains actively involved with neighborhood schools as well as St. Matthews United Methodist Church and Delta Kappa Gamma, an organization for key women teachers.

Contributed photo From left to right, Sinclair Elementary’s Mimi Chan, Krish Kalla, Nell Baham, Katie Chambers, Barbara Smith and Greg Railsback participate in an award ceremony for Kalla, a fifth-grade student who received the Nell Baham Achievement Award.

HISD hires House as superintendent

New principals tabbed for local HISD schools

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

The Houston ISD Board of Education, with the possibility of a state takeover looming over its collective head, voted unanimously Monday to hire Millard House II as the district’s new superintendent.

House’s hiring was formalized when he signed a threeyear contract to lead the largest school district in Texas and seventh-largest in the U.S., with nearly 200,000 students. He will receive a base annual salary of $350,000, according to a copy of the contract that was provided

by HISD, and can earn up to an additional $150,000 per year in incentive pay.

House, who previously was the director of schools for Clarksville-Montgomery County School System in Tennessee, succeeds Grenita Lathan, who served as HISD’s interim superinten-

By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com

Houston ISD has announced more new principals at local schools.

David Church is moving from Oak Forest Elementary to be the principal of Travis Elementary, 3311 Beauchamp St., where he will succeed Tom Day. Helms Elementary principal Maria Dolores PerejónLasheras will assume that position at Clifton Middle School, 6001 Golden Forest Dr., and Crockett Elementary principal Priscilla Rivas has been named as the new principal for Kinder HSPVA. Church has been the teacher specialist at Oak Forest Elementary for the past three years and was a longtime teacher before that. Taking the lead role at Travis brings Church’s HISD career full circle as he started with the district in 2002 as a fourthgrade teacher at the Woodland Heights campus.

Church has a bachelor’s degree from Creighton University and master’s degrees from Marquette University and Prairie View A&M University.

For the past five years, Perejón-Lasheras served as principal of Helms, where according to an HISD news release, she was instrumental in that school’s rise from “improvement required” status to meet the state standard with a “B” rating.

In October 2019, she was

Church

Perejón-Lasheras

awarded the Excellence in Leadership Award. Earlier this year, she was named HISD Elementary Principal of the Year.

Perejón-Lasheras has also served as a teacher, instructional specialist and curriculum specialist in the HISD Curriculum Department. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Complutense University of Madrid in Spain.

Rivas is leaving Crockett Elementary, located at 2112 Crockett St. in the Sawyer Yards area. She joined HISD in 2005 as a teacher at Herrera and then Memorial Elementary schools.

Rivas then served as an assistant principal at Browning Elementary before becoming principal at Crockett, which has a performing and visual arts program. According to an HISD news release, Rivas is also a performing artist, artistic director and teacher for

House

dent for three years before accepting a permanent role with Springfield Public Schools in Missouri.

House’s hiring could be impacted by an ongoing lawsuit between HISD and the state. The Texas Supreme Court is considering whether Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath has the authority to replace HISD’s nine elected trustees with a state-appointed board of

managers, a move Morath said he wanted to make in November 2019 because of what he called the board’s “failure of governance” and the prolonged failing academic performance of Wheatley High School.

At the time, state-appointed conservator Doris Delaney had ordered HISD to suspend its search for a permanent superintendent.

HISD then sued the state in an attempt to prevent the board takeover, claiming such a move would disenfranchise Houston voters, and was awarded a temporary injunction by a Travis County judge. The injunction was subsequently upheld by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, prompting Morath to file an appeal with the state’s highest court.

If Morath is given the authority to replace the HISD board, he also could select his own superintendent for the district.

Rivas

dance and visual arts.

After attaining her bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from the University of Houston, she went on to pursue her master’s degree in educational leadership at the University of St. Thomas and her doctorate in curriculum and instruction with a focus in learning, design and technology at UH.

Cherry from P. 1A member of Super Neighborhood Council 14.

Starting in 1998, Cherry 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.

“It was truly a grassroots effort,” said Robert Delgado, a board member for Friends of

West 11th Street Park.

Houston City Council member Abbie Kamin, who represents the Timbergrove area as part of District C, thanked neighborhood residents for pushing for the name change when she spoke about it during the June 9 council meeting.

“This is a beautiful way to preserve her memory and her dedication to improving green space in the City of Houston,” Kamin said.

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10:45am In-person services are • Worship (English) ..... 10:00 am - 11:00am information about services and events. temporarily restricted.

Wednesday Bible Studies For Youth, Children and Adults............................ 6:15pm

1822 W. 18th • 713-864-1470

MANNA Sponsor

• Learning Hour........... 11:00am - 12:00pm • Worship (Spanish) .... 12:30 pm - 1:30pm

1602 West 43rd St. • Houston, Tx 77018 • 713-686-1577

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4040 Watonga • 713-688-5227

t 8PSTIJQ &OHMJTI BN BN t -FBSOJOH )PVS BN QN t 8PSTIJQ 4QBOJTI QN QN

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Join us for Services in English or Spanish

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Please website at: Sunday Bible Classes 9am Sund visit Ministries forour All Ages Wednesday Bible Study 7pm Home of Johnson Memorial School for Little Children www.lazybrookbaptistchurch.org for the following: Rev. Nathan Lonsdale Bledsoe, Pastor 4215 Watonga Blvd. • 713-681-9365 ◆ 713-686-8241 ◆ s t s u m cIn-person 2003 W. 43rd St. Wed .org Houston, TX 77092 Sunday Services: @ 9 AM and 11 AM (Live stream during 11 AM service) Bible Studies: From Homepage, click on 1822 W. 18th • 713-864-1470 Connect/Small Groups

Gethsemane Lutheran Church Pastor Jerry McNamara 4040 Watonga • 713-688-5227

We invite you to worship with us!

Weekly Worship Services 9:00a.m.

Online services can be reached through the website below at 9:00 am. www.gethsemanelutheran.org

2400 Augusta Dr. Suite 212 Houston, TX 77057

GET Stay cool OVER IT!

t goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway: “we have all made mistakes.” As Alexander Pope so aptly put it: “To err is human, to forgive, divine.” We should remember this the next time we make a mistake. Most certainly, we must learn from our mistakes, and hopefully not continue to repeat them, but we should also forgive ourselves. While it can be hard enough to forgive others for their mistakes, it can sometimes feel almost impossible to forgive ourselves.

We sometimes cannot bring ourselves to forgive something we’ve done, and we may punish and harangue ourselves for years, or even decades, over youthful indiscretions. In addition, some of us may not be able to forget the sins of our past. And although that may prevent us from repeating them, we must be charitable and forgive ourselves, just as we should forgive others. So, we should make a real effort in the coming days and weeks to forgive the offenses of others as well as our own. Sometimes, it helps to just forget about them; that is, to try to put them out of our mind and stop repeatedly mulling over them. One of the reasons we use the phrase “forgive and forget” is because sometimes that is the only way to forgive, i.e., by forgetting. But far better, and more divine, is to be able to forgive even while remembering the offense. So, we should let go of those unforgiving, vindictive, shameful feelings about the past, and get over it! Corrie ten Boom, who survived incarceration in a Nazi prison camp said, “Forgiveness is to set a prisoner free, and to realize that the prisoner was you.”

By Pastor Will Cover

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

A

fter an unusually wet and cool spring we have now entered returned to the heat of summer that we know all too well here in Houston.

Having lived here for most of my life, I have learned the best two places to be in the summer are the pool and anywhere that Judge not, andair you will not be judged; condemn has conditioning.

For native not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven...

Houstonians, staying cool is an R.S.V. Luke 6:37 summer months. art form in the We will do just about anything to escape the heat and humidity and relax. We understand how to take care of ourselves when we get uncomfortable. As human beings, we like to find ways to remove discomfort and to make life as easy and comfortable as possible.

Sometimes even with our best effort we still end up in frustrating discomfort. As a follower of God, I know that He loves me but that

his love for me does not always mean I will be comfortable. Just because I am walking with God doesn’t mean that He will keep my air conditioner from breaking.

In Matthew 7:11 the Bible tells us that God gives good things to his children. In fact, God cares for his children far better than any human father could ever care for his kids.

As we look forward to Father’s Day this weekend, you may be looking for a place to stay cool.

An air-conditioned house or a nice swimming pool. You may visit your dad or he may come and visit you. Earthly fathers while they can be great are far from perfect. Your earthly father won’t always be able to keep you cool.

Your heavenly Father may not always choose to keep you cool.

However, your heavenly Father is able to provide for every need and care for His children even when the human condition may seem uncomfortable. Instead of just focusing on staying cool, as God’s child, stay close to Him.

The Leader • Saturday, June 19, 2021 • Page 5A

Cleanup from P. 1A

Water from P. 1A postponing the effective date of the proposed rate increases, perhaps until after the summer.

“I don’t want anybody to rush. We don’t want anybody to feel like they’re being rushed,” Turner said. “Make sure questions are asked. Make sure to have conversations with people in your district. It’s just that important.”

Council member Karla Cisneros, who represents part of the area in District H, said in an email Tuesday that she supports the proposed increases because she views them as a “necessity.”

Another local council member, Abbie Kamin of District C, said Monday that she was still studying the rate increases and their potential impact, and she said during Wednesday’s meeting that she already was planning to have the issue postponed until next week.

The other local council member, Amy Peck of District A, said Tuesday she planned to vote against the proposed rate increases. Before asking residents to cover the cost of infrastructure improvements, Peck said the city should explore ways to cut costs in other areas and find other funding sources for the upgrades.

“We absolutely have to make these repairs. There’s no question in my mind about that,” Peck said. “It’s just the timing of the rate increase could not come at a worse time for people.”

The city council last approved a water and wastewater rate increase in 2010. The ordinance passed at that time included annual incremental increases, the most recent of which went into effect April 1.

In a separate but related move last month, the city council approved an increase to its developer impact fee that applies to multi-family residential and commercial developers, with that money also earmarked for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements. Effective July 1, the impact fee for water will increase from $790.55 per service unit to $1,618.11, and the wastewater fee will increase from $1,199.11 per service until to $1,621.63.

“The concept is, if you’re building in an area like a neighborhood, you have

Kamin said those problems have escalated recently, which she attributes at least in part to the relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions and Houstonians’ eagerness to get out and let loose.

Kamin also criticized what she called “bad actor bars” that did not adhere to pandemic-related protocols for social distancing and mask-wearing. She said some establishments may still be skirting the law.

Patrons on the street also have caused problems for other visitors as well as those who live close to Washington Avenue. The Houston Police Department said a woman was shot in January while walking to her vehicle, after she and her boyfriend had gotten into an argument with another man.

In April, a man was arrested after allegedly being found with a loaded AR-15 outside a Washington Avenue club, according to a report by KPRC. And four people were shot at a hookah bar just last week, with police saying three men fired shots in retaliation for not being allowed inside.

“We have residents reaching out to our office with stray bullets in their home or in their apart-

to offset your impact,” Kamin said. “You have to pay X amount for your cost of being in the area so we can upgrade the infrastructure in that area to meet the demand you’re creating.”

Houston Public Works said in its FAQ document - which Turner said he will ask to be updated and streamlined – that its system delivers clean water and carries away wastewater for 2.3 million Houstonians and almost 2 million additional customers outside the city limits.

A public works proposal made to the city council in April showed that more than 50 percent of single-family residential customers would see increases between $0-$5 on their monthly bills, under the proposed rate, while some customers would experience greater increases and others would see their bills reduced.

The FAQ document about the proposed rate changes shows there would be increases to residential customers’ basic service charge for water and consumption charges for wastewater, while the basic service charge for wastewater and the consumption charges for water would decrease.

“They’re trying to find ways to save people money while (making an overall increase to the rates),” Houston Public Works spokesperson Erin Jones said.

“They’re spreading out those costs so you’re not just feeling rising costs across the board.”

Turner said he wants Houstonians to have a greater understanding of what’s likely to come, and the opportunity to plan accordingly, before the council moves forward with approving rate increases.

Regarding the consent decree, Turner said the city was required to enter into the agreement because of incidents of sanitary sewer overflows, which he said created “horrendous” conditions in impacted areas and put the city at risk of being sued.

“There’s no infrastructure that impacts everybody more than water and wastewater,” he said. “You have to make sure the infrastructure is in place.

It affects everything we do. You’ve got to pay for it.”

Contributed photo Abbie Kamin, right, speaks to volunteers during a street cleanup event.

ment complexes,” Kamin said.

HPD has increased its patrol presence on the street, Kamin said, and she’s looking into the possibility of amending the City of Houston’s noise ordinance to provide more protection for nearby residents.

Kamin said some of the restaurants and bars on Washington Avenue have expressed support for her cleanup efforts. The trashremoving event last weekend drew participants from the West

End Civic Club as well as local Girl Scout and Cub Scout troops, along with HPD, Houston Fire Chief Sam Pena and the city’s employees union.

They picked up more than 80 bags’ worth of waste, according to Kamin’s office, and also cleared debris out of the drainage ditches that run alongside the street.

“We had a great turnout,” Kamin said. “It is not to say that the issue is by any means resolved.”

iel likes to practice every other day for about 15-20 minutes on the pipes.

“I play the chanter much more often when in my room, though, as it is a lot quieter and doesn’t take as much air to play,” he said.

While there was a thread on the Garden Oaks Facebook page recently about one neighbor’s noise complaint concerning the pipes, McDaniel said most people enjoy it and think it is interesting.

“However, I don’t usually go around telling people I play the (bagpipe), though, so it’s not

like most people know outside my friend group and some people at school,” he said.

Sally McDaniel loves that her son decided to learn a musical instrument and is grateful to teacher John Michael Henderson, who has taught Ian for more than five years, free of charge.

“His dad and I could not be more pleased that (Ian) chose bagpipes,” she said. “The fact that he chose such an uncommon instrument for this part of the world tells us his heart is in it.”

McDaniel from P. 1A when he was 15. The recent graduate of Energy Institute High School is now 18 and off to the Colorado School of Mines in the fall.

McDaniel said playing the bagpipe is not something he does for school or professionally.

“It’s just something I do because I like doing it and I think it’s neat,” he said. “I am thinking about if I want to do anything special with them in college like joining a band, but I haven’t made up my mind on that just yet.”

Weather permitting, McDan-

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The Forum at Memorial Woods, located in Houston, Texas announces with regret that it has notified the Texas State agency and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Regional Office of its decision to close its skilled nursing unit and to voluntarily terminate its participation in the Medicare program.

The Forum at Memorial Woods has taken all appropriate steps to notify residents, families and staff of the closure and, guided by state and federal guidelines, is working closely with residents and family members to ensure the transition of each resident to an appropriate alternative care location between June 17 - July 17, 2021. The safety and security of residents is our foremost priority.

The skilled nursing unit will remain open until all residents are transferred, and it is no longer accepting new residents.

Residents may obtain copies of their records from The Forum at Memorial Woods by contacting Jane Atobajeun at 777 North Post Oak or 713-956-0870.

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The Leader • Saturday, June 19, 2021 • Page 7A

Art Valet: Concert venue transforming into market space Mitch Cohen Art Columnist

White Oak Music Hall will host its rescheduled Bazaar on the Bayou Outdoor Summer Market from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. this Sunday at the live music venue located just east of the Heights at 2915 N. Main St. Visitors will find a variety of exhibitors from arts and craft, home and body, food, clothing, live music and a couple of bars hosted by the venue. If you’re a regular to either of my markets, you’ll find many familiar faces, which was what got me to visit the first event held in March.

White Oak Music Hall was seemingly carved out of a hillside above Little White Oak Bayou, giving visitors great views of the Houston skyline. Raven’s Tower is un-

doubtedly the most notable landmark to drivers passing by on I-45. The aqua blue square building sits atop a concrete column and currently serves as a rooftop bar and patio.

I’ve written here many times about how I love outdoor markets and festivals and love checking out unusual locations. White Oak Music Hall definitely fits that bill.

White Oak Music Hall is a sprawling event venue with hillside seating in front of a massive, covered outdoor stage, multiple patios with outdoor games and bars.

Underneath Raven Tower is an open-air building where I made my entrance upon visiting the March event. (I’ve yet to visit this towering “bachelor pad” space.)

Inside I found several exhibitors including jeweler Anne Duff, who attends one of my markets. Duff makes incredibly intricate beaded jewelry from using seed beads, Swarovski crystals

My “spy mission” comment is there is not a lot of difference in most market layouts. Most are on a parking lot and thus booth spaces are arranged to fit, most often as many as possible. This event utilizes nearly the entire event space, buildings, parking and a lawn area. I had to check it out.

My fast walk-through in March was filled with more conversation than getting filled with venue envy. The attending exhibitors that I know reported they were happy with all aspects of their experience and would do it again.

The organizers did this one right, and I look forward to returning. A complete vendor list is posted on the website at whiteoakmusichall.com.

Photo from Facebook Visitors shop the Bazaar on the Bayou Outdoor Summer Market at White Oak Music Hall.

and Czech beads.

Visible behind these exhibitors was the parking lot and hillside where at least

four dozen canopies were set up. Visiting this outdoor market felt like a homecoming and spy mission combo.

Local neighborhoods hosting Juneteenth events

By Adam Zuvanich

Every few feet I heard my name as I tried in vain to “check out” this incredible venue.

Cohen is an artist and founder of the First Saturday Arts Market and the Market at Sawyer Yards. Find him at ArtValet.com for additional highlights and artist’s stories.

Just SOLD!

azuvanich@theleadernews.com

For the second year in a row, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner will not be hosting a Juneteenth parade, a tradition he started in 2012.

But the Acres Homes resident is supporting another celebratory event in his neighborhood.

The City of Houston and Lone Star CollegeHouston North are collaborating on Juneteenth Freedom Day, scheduled for 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at the college campus at 4141 Victory Dr. There will be musical performances, family-oriented activities and giveaways.

Juneteenth is a holiday commemorating June 19, 1865, when Union Army Gen. Gordon Granger informed people in Galveston that African Americans were freed and slavery had been abolished by U.S. President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, written in 1862.

Independence Heights is hosting its own event, the Juneteenth Legacy Family Ramble, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday. Community members can tour the neighborhood, with historic homes identified by storyboards with QR codes. Sites with red flowers will signify that an enslaved person once lived in the home.

A tour map will be available online at independenceheights.org, beginning at 6 p.m. Friday.

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Contributed flyer Juneteenth Freedom Day is among the local Juneteenth events scheduled for Saturday.

Theatre Suburbia resumes live stage performances From Staff Reports Theatre Suburbia, the longtime volunteer playhouse in Northwest Houston, resumed live stage performances this month.

Performances of “The Early Miracle” by Lew Holton are being held at 8 p.m. every Friday and Saturday through July 3 at Theatre Suburbia, located at 5201 Mitchelldale St., Suite A-3. There also are 2 p.m. matinees scheduled for this Sunday as well as June 27.

Masks are required, according to a news release by

Theatre Suburbia, and reservations are encouraged. Tickets to the Friday and Saturday performances are $18 for adults and $16 for students and seniors, while all tickets to the Sunday shows are $16.

Reservations can be made online at theatresuburbia.org or by phone at 713-682-3525.

Actors Dean Dicks, Michael Maccato and Laura Schlecht portray a total of 17 characters in “The Early Miracle,” which is billed by Theatre Suburbia as a “Southern-fried, comedic tour-de-force.” The play is set in the fictional town of

Early, South Carolina, where a tornado blows through a mobile home park and sets down a statue of the Virgin Mary on the roof of an undamaged trailer occupied by Janet Sue Atkins, an exotic dancer at a local strip club.

“Now the media has descended upon the scene, and America’s thirst for the bizarre and the miraculous has found a new watering hole,” Theatre Suburbia said in its news release. “And Janet Sue Atkins’ life is in for some pretty miraculous changes.”

Contributed photos Local actors perform a play called “The Early Miracle” at Theatre Suburbia, 5201 Mitchelldale St., Suite A-3.

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The Leader • Saturday, June 19, 2021 • Page 8A

City launches website for updates on improvement projects

By Stefan Modrich news@theleadernews.com Area residents looking for updates about City of Houston improvement projects in their communities now have an additional resource at their disposal.

Houston Public Works (HPW) has created a public engagement website, EngageHouston.org, which it said in a news release is designed to make it easier to find information about improvement projects in the city.

“Engage Houston will give Houstonians real-time information and points of contact for questions related to improvement projects,” Houston Public Works Direc-

tor Carol Haddock said in the release. “This website has streamlined how we deliver information and receive feedback from the community.”

There are three active or planned local projects listed on the website, including new concrete street paving on Ashland Street between 9th Street and 11th Street in the Heights, and the final two phases of a drainage and paving project in Garden Oaks and Shepherd Park Plaza.

The Ashland Street paving project began in May and is expected to be completed in winter 2022. It has a budget of nearly $1.8 million and according to Engage Houston, the construction will provide storm drainage improvements, curbs, sidewalks,

driveways, street lighting and underground utilities.

The Garden Oaks and Shepherd Park West drainage project, which is the second of three phases, has been budgeted to cost $26.2 million and is slated to begin in spring 2022. A completion date has not been determined.

City approves agreement for recreational portion of Inwood detention project

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

A major stormwater detention project that aims to reduce flooding risks across the area will soon begin to take shape.

The Houston City Council on Wednesday approved the appropriation of $2 million to enter into an interlocal agreement with Harris County and the Houston Parks Board for the finance, construction and maintenance of detentioncompatible recreational resources that will be part of the Inwood Forest Stormwater Detention Basin. The broader flood-mitigation project calls for a series of 12 interconnected basins at the 226-acre site of a former golf course on Antoine Drive north of West Little York Road, which is expected to reduce structural flooding risks in Inwood Forest as well as downstream neighborhoods such as Oak Forest, Garden Oaks and the Heights.

Peck

City council member Amy Peck, who represents the area as part of District A, said the interlocal agreement is not for the drainage work itself.

The Houston Parks Board announced Wednesday that the first phase of the recreation plan will include a 1-mile greenway along Vogel Creek with a 10-foot-wide shared use path, tree plantings and a pedestrian crossing at Victory Drive, in addition to three parklets along the Vogel

Creek Greenway with plantings and a dedicated picnic area, among other amenities.

The parks board said community members will be able to provide design input beginning in August, with construction expected to start in spring 2022.

“This is a big step for the recreational portion of the project, which is a huge area of interest for the community,” Peck said. “There is so much potential for making it into a great asset.”

According to the city council agenda item, the Houston Parks Board will manage and construct the recreation, mobility and drainage improvements, with the Houston Parks and Recreation Department providing oversight.

The work is expected to cost $6 million, according to the council agenda item, with the parks board contributing $3 million, Houston Public Works contributing $2 million and Harris County contributing $1 million.

The Garden Oaks and Shepherd Park East project has been allocated $17.9 million. According to Engage Houston, the project has not been included in the city’s current 5-year capital improvement plan, and neither a start date nor completion date was assigned to the project as of Tuesday.

Users will have the option to sign up for updates from Engage Houston via mail, email, phone or text message.

Community members are invited to set up an account and provide feedback regarding current projects, including drainage, water, wastewater and street projects.

The city’s public engagement team of Kenya Wil-

Police Reports June 11-14 JUNE 11

Theft 3 PM 500 BLOCK W 20TH Theft 12 PM 600 BLOCK WAVERLY

JUNE 12

Vandalism 8 PM 100 BLOCK W 14TH

JUNE 13

Theft 9 PM 100 BLOCK E 26TH Theft 11 PM 600 BLOCK E 26TH Burglary 11 PM 1700 BLOCK W 15TH Theft 2 AM 700 BLOCK CORTLANDT Assault 4 PM 1300 BLOCK ASHLAND Assault 8 PM 700 BLOCK E 36TH Assault 7 AM 00 BLOCK E CROSSTIMBERS Burglary 11 PM 00 BLOCK E CROSSTIMBERS Other 8 AM 4200 BLOCK E CROSSTIMBERS Theft 6 PM 7000 BLOCK N SHEPHERD Vandalism 12 AM 1300 BLOCK W 21ST

JUNE 14

Theft 10 AM 2800 BLOCK YALE Theft 11 PM 1100 BLOCK YALE Robbery 12 AM 00 BLOCK E CROSSTIMBERS Reports are provided by SpotCrime.com based on data from the Houston Police Department.

liams, Ulysses Moore and Timothy Williams can be reached at buildforward@ houstontx.gov.

To contact Houston Public Works, call 832-395-2500 or the city’s 311 service line.

Residents can also email publicwor ks@houstontx. gov or follow the department on Facebook and Twitter @ HouPublicWorks.

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Hot commodity The Leader • Saturday, June 19, 2021 • Page 1B

Fresh donuts make Shipley’s a local favorite

By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com

Hot, fresh donuts anytime you want.

That’s one of the main reasons local residents say the Shipley Do-Nuts at 3410 Ella Blvd. are the best in town and what sets that location apart from others in the franchise.

That, and it’s the only location with a spelling error on its sign, making it “Shipley’s Do-Nuts” with the possessive “s”.

“I love the Ella location, glazed donuts made fresh when ordered,” area resident Antique Diamante said. “I used to go so often that if I asked for donut holes they would make a fresh batch if the ones on the tray were not hot anymore.”

Mark Clark, brother of store owner Michael Clark, affirmed the shop is always willing to make a fresh batch of hot donuts. If the store doesn’t have any at the time, all patrons have to do is wait a few minutes.

“There’s no Shipley store that at 8 p.m. will have hot donuts,” Mark Clark said, “but we will literally make them for you on the spot.”

The Ella location is so known for its hot donuts; many people said they will drive out of their way to go there — even when they’ve never even lived in the neighborhood. Mike Wolfe said he’s never lived in the Garden Oaks and Oak Forest area, but went to school nearby and will always choose this Shipley location because of its fresh, hot donuts.

The Ella Boulevard shop is also loved by locals because the workers have a generous hand when filling bags of donut holes as well as for glazing its iced donuts.

“They stuff the bag with donut holes,” Matthew Hagen said. “You are in for a rude awakening if you order them from one of the corporate Shipley’s, where the bag is only half full.”

For locals Nora Heene and Hall Puckett, Michael Clark is also a big reason why this location is thought of fondly.

Since taking ownership in 1986, Mark Clark said his brother has gotten involved in the community, such as fundraising for schools and donating dozens of donuts to organizations for events, including The Leader’s own Senior Expo.

This weekend from 8-11 a.m., the Ella Shi-

Photo by Betsy Denson

There often is a line of vehicles in the drive-through lane for the Shipley Donuts location at 3410 Ella Blvd.

pley will be a fundraising center for the Frank Black Middle School cheerleaders. A portion of the proceeds made during that time period will go to the cheerleaders.

Some local residents say there must be something more to the donuts and kolaches at the Ella store, like a secret ingredient, or that this location makes its own dough while others get it from the corporate supplier.

Mark Clark said there is no truth to those theories, saying there’s no secret ingredient and the shop doesn’t make its own dough. He said he and Michael believe the popularity rests in

the availability of hot donuts.

If there is any taste difference, Mark said it might just be because none of the dough sits out for hours because it’s constantly getting used up.

Local resident Kim Hamilton offered another theory: “Maybe it’s the water at this location.”

While many locals — and non-locals — hail this location as the best, there is a contender for that distinction in the location at 3932 N. Main St. But even Carlos Aguilar, who grew up near the North Main location, said there’s something different about the Ella shop.

“I grew up near the North Main location, but we have always joked about the Ella location putting crack in the donuts because they are so addictive,” Aguilar said.

Regardless of which location is really the best, or even the most well-known, there’s still often a line of cars on Ella Boulevard waiting for donuts.

“If you’re going north on Ella and not getting donuts, use the left lane,” local Sarah Garrison said. “If you are getting donuts, use the right.”

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Review: Cool off with Dolce Neve Gelato

By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com

After the rainy weeks we had, many of us were begging for sunshine. Now that it’s out and blazing, I almost miss the continuous rain.

Luckily, we have ice cream options aplenty to keep us cool, especially from Dolce Neve Gelato. Both its gelato and sorbet are home run treats.

When I dropped by the shop recently, I knew I wanted to try multiple flavors and would be sharing, so I ordered two to-go pints, which come with up to three flavors in each. A to-go quart allows patrons to choose up to four flavors.

In one pint I ordered the fruitier or more interesting sounding flavors — Mascarpone and Matcha, Fromage

Blanc and Blueberry, and Peach Sorbet. In the other one I ordered Organic Hazelnut, Salted Caramel and Stacciatella.

The Styrofoam pints were wrapped in plastic wrap for easier travel. I had brought a little cooler to keep them in as I drove home and they held up pretty well.

Mascarpone, a type of Italian cream cheese, with matcha, a finely ground powder of green tea, was pretty creamy.

I’m not a huge fan of matcha, but I think the mascarpone really helped to tone down the earthy flavor of it and I found myself enjoying it more than I thought I would.

The Fromage Blanc and Blueberry was quickly one of my favorites. Fromage Blanc, a type of cheese, didn’t add

a “cheesy” flavor to the blueberry. Instead it gave it a thick and creamy texture with more of a milky taste. Little pieces of blueberry were also mixed in.

But my absolute favorite in this pint was the Peach Sorbet.

Maybe it’s because peaches are in peak season and I’ve had them in my fruit basket consistently for two weeks, but this sorbet was the most perfect I’ve ever tasted. It was like biting into a perfectly ripe peach, only it’s ice cream.

The sorbet was sweet, but no sweeter than you’d expect an actual peach to be, and because of that I could tell good quality fruit was used in making it.

In the next pint, I struggled to find a favorite between the Organic Hazelnut and Stacciatella, which is just a simple

cream gelato with chocolate chips. I also like adding a bit of both to my spoon. While I liked the hazelnut one, others in my family had the opposite reaction. So, I recommend it to people who genuinely like hazelnuts (not just Nutella). It’s a very strong flavor and if you just think you like the taste and not actually the nut, you might not enjoy it.

The Stacciatella was, of course, creamy and with the addition of the chocolate chips, it made it the ideal selection for a simple-in-flavor gelato that was still great-tasting.

The Salted Caramel may have to be left off the favorite category, but it doesn’t mean I didn’t like it. It’s very rich and the caramel explodes on the tongue. But I liked it in small quantities and don’t think I’d be

Photo by Zarah Parker Pictured are Dolce Neve Gelato’s to-go pints, one with Stacciatella, Organic Hazelnut and Salted Caramel (right) and another with Peach Sorbet, Fromage Blanc and Blueberry, and Mascarpone and Matcha.

able to down a whole scoop.

Dolce Neve also rotates its menu, so go grab some Peach Sorbet while it’s still there.

Dolce Neve Gelato Address: 4721 N. Main St. Hours: 1-9 p.m. MondayThursday, 1-10 p.m. Friday,

noon-10 p.m. Saturday, noon-9 p.m. Sunday Pricing: $4.95-$7.75 for personal servings, $13.25-$22.50 for to-go containers Kid-friendly: Yes Alcohol: No Healthy options: Yes Star of the show: Peach Sorbet

Make popsicles at home this summer Zarah Parker Managing Editor

Whenever I need ice, I conveniently fill up my cup with it right from my refrigerator door. When I was a kid, we didn’t have this luxury and used plastic ice trays.

On random nights in the summer, my brother and I would always get the idea to make homemade popsicles.

Since we only had these plastic ice trays to act as molds, we’d settle for cube-shaped, always Kool-Aid flavored, popsicles on the end of a toothpick.

Somehow, we never broke our teeth on these things.

Last week, I decided to break out the popsicle mold — the one I bought a few days prior off Amazon because I have learned some life lessons since aging into adulthood.

Having so limited experience with making homemade popsicles, I got a lot of advice from www.joyfoodsunshine. com/homemade-fruit-popsicles/, and then ran with it.

Which means I did a lot of “eye-balling” and taste testing.

It had pretty great results.

Photo by Zarah Parker Pictured, clockwise from the top, are the peach, lime and strawberry banana popsicles Zarah Parker made at home.

I, along with my nephews and niece, settled on three flavors we wanted to make: peach, strawberry banana and lime.

The suggested ingredients from the website was 3/4 cup liquid or yogurt, 2 1/2 cups of fruit, 4-6 tablespoons of honey, 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract and 1/2 teaspoon of lem-

on juice. Adding yogurt makes the popsicles creamy rather than icy, but since we didn’t want our lime ones creamy, we ended up making each flavor a different way. And since we were making three flavors for 12 molds, I ended up eyeballing how much of each ingredient to add. We then tastetested before pouring.

We started with the strawberry banana. We cut a few strawberries and a banana, threw in a small scoop of vanilla Greek yogurt and whole milk. Instead of honey, we used agave. As I poured the blended mix into the molds, I paused halfway and threw in some blueberries.

For the peach variety we cut the dairy and used white grape juice, slices of peach with the skin on and agave. The peaches at H-E-B are amazing right now, so the mix tasted great, even in its simplicity.

Lime happens to be my favorite popsicle flavor and the ones in my freezer are consistently stolen by my neighbors (my nephews and niece). I didn’t have a lot of hope for these as we ended up mixing lime juice with just water and agave.

One thing I kept in mind as I made each kind of popsicle is that flavor is subdued when frozen, so if a mix was just sweet enough, I made it extra sweet.

The next day, the kids were ready to try their popsicles — and so was I. The strawberry banana turned out nice and creamy — next time I’d probably put less yogurt, though.

The peach was icier, but even though it was mixed with a fruit juice, the peach flavor really came through and it ended up being my favorite. The lime was good, but even though it had a strongly flavored mix,

it could have used even more lime juice.

I’ll be making more soon, and you should, too. These popsicles are definitely a step up from the ice-tray version.

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Page 2B • Saturday, June 19, 2021 • The Leader

Grease Monkey to open in fall Memorial Hermann Greater Heights

accepting junior volunteer applications

By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com

The recently formed restaurant group Barrel of Monkeys Hospitality has announced it will open its second concept, Grease Monkey, this fall at 985 Wakefield Dr. in the Garden Oaks neighborhood.

When it opens in the former Petrol Station spot, Grease Monkey will be a neighborhood-focused bar serving hand-made Mexican tacos served on fresh tortillas.

Greasy Monkey’s beverage program will have a strong emphasis on tequila and mezcal, craft beer and rotating seasonal drinks. It will also feature a “Free-Spirited” menu with non-alcoholic options as well.

“We have all honed in on specific areas of this business, collectively regrouped, and feel very confident with this direction,” partner Jessie Gonzales said in a news release.

“Right now, we’re committed to producing great quality cocktails and delicious food at Monkey’s Tail and preparing to make a big splash with Grease Monkey this year.”

The hospitality group, consisting of Gonzales and Steven Ripley, also recently appointed Lainey Collum as beverage director. Collum will oversee and manage all of the company’s unique bar programs and offerings.

Feel like your business is being held back?

By Stefan Modrich news@theleadernews.com

Photo by Kirsten Gilliam The Barrel of Monkeys Hospitality team, from left, Steven Ripley, Lainey Collum and Jessie Gonzales, will open its second concept, Grease Monkey, in the fall at 985 Wakefield Dr.

Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital is looking for teenage volunteers for a summer program.

The hospital is accepting applications through Friday for its junior volunteer program, which is for high school students aged 15-17.

The summer program runs from July 6-Aug. 6. Volunteers may be able to volunteer yearround after they are placed in the summer program.

Applicants will be screened and then interviewed to determine their eligibility, the hospital said in a news release. According to the application, the process may take up to three weeks, including a background check, tuberculosis (TB) test and reference verification.

713.686.8494

Parental consent and signatures are required for the background check form and the TB test in order to proceed with the application.

To apply, students should visit www.memorialhermann. org/heights and click on a tab titled “Volunteer Information” and fill out the Junior Volunteer Form.

To submit the application,

prospective volunteers should print and scan the application and email it to Cherl Ivy at cheryl.ivy@memorialhermann.org or by delivering a printed application to Ivy at the south tower of Memorial Hermann Greater Heights, located at 1635 N. Loop W. For more information, call Ivy at 713-867-4460.

I’m a big supporter of journalism. I subscribe to The NY Times and Washington Post for national news, The Guardian for international perspective, and The Chronicle for state and city news. I also subscribe to The Leader for news about my neighborhood, news I can’t get from any of those other sources. Notice I said subscribe, not just read.

That’s where the support comes in.

Terry Abel

Get Your Business Up and Running

Contributed photo Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital is accepting applications for its junior volunteer program.

The Leader • Saturday, June 19, 2021 • Page 3B

Can you train cats to walk on leashes?

If you decide to take on the challenge of leash training your cat, here are a few tips:

Dear Tabby, We recently adopted a kitten and my kids would like to train it to walk on a leash. Is this even possible and, if so, how do we train him?

New Leash on Life in The Heights Dear New Leash on Life, Congratulations on your new kitty addition! While everyone is used to seeing people walking dogs on a leash, what many might not know is that cats are also capable of leash training and can rather enjoy a walk outside. The key when leash training a cat is to approach the training differently than you would a dog.

Since cats are more skittish than dogs, training them to walk on a leash is an exercise in patience. But the payoff is great when you and your cat realize the leash can be your ticket to outdoor adventures with your favorite kitty by your side.

Harness vs. collar While most dogs do well with a collar and leash, cats need a harness in order to become leash trained. Look for a harness made for cats as these are designed to fit a cat’s body. Make sure the harness has a ring on the back to attach a leash to it. Once you have a harness that fits your cat properly, you’ll want to get your cat used to it. Put it on your cat for short periods of time to see how your cat reacts. Some cats will go about their business as if nothing is different, but for many cats, the harness will freak them out a bit. You might even find that your cat immediately flops over and refuses to move once the harness is on. This is normal. Try removing the harness and trying again the next day.

Over time, you might find that your cat gets used to wearing the harness.

Introducing leash When your cat is successfully wearing his harness, then it’s time to introduce a leash into the situation. Find a lightweight (non-retractable) leash that is 4-6 feet long. Start by

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attaching the leash and letting it drag behind your cat. If the dragging leash scares your cat, pick up the end of the leash and follow him around the house. Do this for several days or weeks so that your cat can get used to walking on a leash inside the house.

The great outdoors Once your cat is comfortable walking with the harness and leash inside, you can try a bit of outside time. As always, start slowly and let the cat guide you. You can also coax your cat to walk where you want him to walk by using treats along the way to encourage his good behavior.

Once you and your cat are used to walking on a leash outside, you can explore more than just your yard. Just be sure to always have water on hand and always be prepared to pick him up and abort the mission if he gets spooked by something.

Time spent outdoors can be a great enrichment activity for cats and adding leash training into the equation helps to open up your kitty to a whole new world to explore!

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Page 4B • Saturday, June 19, 2021 • The Leader

St. Mark Lutheran School hires new athletic director

By Stefan Modrich news@theleadernews.com

St. Mark Lutheran School has hired a new leader of its athletic department.

The Spring Branch private school, which serves children ranging from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade and has students from the Garden Oaks, Oak Forest and Timbergrove areas, announced last week it had named Anthony Lofton as its new athletic director.

“We are excited for the energy, organization and vision he will bring to this role,” Dallas Lusk, the school’s executive director, in a news release.

According to St. Mark, Lofton earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from King University in Bristol, Tennessee, where he played for the men’s volleyball team. He began his foray into coaching as a club coach, which he did while working as a corporate recruiter after graduating from college.

Lofton previously coached for Lutheran South Academy as well as the Pearland Juniors and Houston Stellar volleyball clubs.

In his last stop, Lofton served as the physical education teacher and lower athletics coordinator for Regis School of the Sacred Heart, located near Spring Branch.

Lofton will begin coordinating athletics at St. Mark with the school’s administration this summer, according to the school.

IN MEMORIAM

Oliver James McLeod-Cobb

Meredith, Michael and Henry McLeod-Cobb are devastated to announce the birth and the passing of their beloved son and brother, Oliver James McLeod-Cobb. For nearly thirty-three weeks the family delighted in the arrival of the fourth member of their family. He was a perfect 4 lbs, 1 oz and 17 inches long. Oliver’s short life is marked by his love for his brother, Henry. His kicks had an intensity at the sound of his brother’s squeals in excitement that were never matched for his parents’ voices.

He will be laid to rest near the family’s home in the Heights and steps from their daily carpool route to drop Henry at school. The cemetery where he will be laid to rest was frequently played in

by Oliver’s great grandfather when he was a young boy. His casket was lovingly made for him from the family’s one hundred year old longleaf pine floors where his mother was on bedrest with him.

The casket holds one of Henry’s paintings as his gift to his brother and the linens that were planned for his nursery and made by his grandmother. The family looks forward to incorporating Oliver’s memory and legacy into their daily lives. Oliver’s Way, a public charity, was established to carry on the living work of Oliver.

The family will have an intimate graveside service at Glenwood Cemetery.

He is survived by his parents Meredith and Michael McLeod-Cobb, brother Henry; grandparents, Debbie McLeod, Jay Sears, Karen Cobb, and David Cobb; great grandparents, Mildred McLeod, William James McLeod, Doris Lindell and Charles Lindell; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

He is preceded in death by great grandparents James Lee Sears, LaVeda Sears, Lois Cobb, and Loyd Cobb.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Oliver’s Way in Oliver’s memory and that you join the mailing list at Oliversway.org as we embark on a lifetime of honoring Oliver through perinatal advocacy.

Contributed photo Anthony Lofton has been hired as the new athletic director at St. Mark Lutheran School.

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