Inside Today: City water and wastewater rates are increasing • Page 4A
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INSIDE.
Good plan. More details have been released about a park planned for Sunset Heights.
Page 4A
Leader love. Houston artists express their love for The Leader and how it’s influenced them.
Page 7A
Closing time. Cafeza, a cafe and live music venue, announced it is closing at the end of July.
Residents want heavy trash hauled By Betsy Denson
betsy@theleadernews.com
Shady Acres resident Katy Thrower considers herself a patient person. And after the winter storm in February, she knew City of Houston services would take a while to get back up to speed. But it is now mid-June and Thrower’s heavy trash is still on the curb. “We were scheduled for the third Wednesday of every even month, which would have been April 21, but they didn’t show,” Thrower said. “They did come the 30th and
when they moved a rocking chair from someone else’s pile to mine we thought they were consolidating it. They picked up everyone else’s stuff up but left ours alone. I couldn’t understand it.” Thrower said at first, she thought they may have bypassed her house due to the tree waste they had out, but two of her neighbors on the street had tree waste that was picked up along with the rest of the street’s heavy trash. “I called 311 to file a report and they told me it would be addressed within 12 days,” she said. “Then my ticket was closed but the trash was
See Trash P. 5A
Music Makers
Contributed photo Shady Acres resident Katy Thrower is waiting for the city to pick up her heavy trash.
Arrest made in Easter Sunday murder in area By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
Father’s Day was a somber occasion for the family of Miguel Vasquez, the 37-year-old Houston man who was shot to death in front of his young daughter as they were walking out of the local Dave & Buster’s on Easter Sunday. But they got a small semblance of justice a few days earlier, when the man suspected of shooting Vasquez was arrested and charged with Vasquez capital murder. N i c h o las Dwayne Thomas, 23, is accused of killing Vasquez during an attempted robPhoto by Adam Zuvanich bery in the Kristen Hart, left, and Linda Schaible of Amelia Earhart Returns perform Monday at Harold’s Restaurant, Bar & Rooftop Terrace, parking lot of Thomas which served as one of Houston’s 20 host venues for Make Music Day. the Marq-E development at 7620 Katy Fwy. on the night of April 4. Vasquez’s sister, Angeles Alcantara, said she and about 20 relatives were in By Adam Zuvanich the courtroom when Thomas appeared azuvanich@theleadernews.com before a judge on June 17. “It’s a bittersweet moment, because Roxanne Malkie was supposed to be back in Paso Rothey’ve got the suspect, but my brothbles, California, where she works for a winery. er’s not here,” Alcantara said. “That She and her boyfriend had been vacationing in Costa doesn’t bring him back.” Rica – where they got engaged – and they were stuck According to a report by the Assoin Houston for a night because a connecting flight got ciated Press, prosecutors said Thomas cancelled. So they ventured out to Harold’s Restaurant, was identified as the suspect because Bar & Rooftop Terrace, located at 350 W. 19th St. in the of an alleged link to a shooting incident Heights, where they enjoyed a bite to eat, some drinks involving his 3-year-old son a few days and live music on a Monday night in the taproom. after Vasquez’s death. Police said the Malkie, who originally is from France, also got an unexbullet that struck Thomas’ son, who pected taste of home. The singing and guitar-playing was survived, matched a cartridge casing Photo by Adam Zuvanich found near Vasquez’s vehicle, accordpart of Make Music Day, a free, international music fesFans of live music gathered Monday at Harold’s Restaurant, tival held annually on June 21, the summer solstice. The ing to the report. celebration started in 1982 in France, where it is known Bar & Rooftop Terrace, 350 W. 19th St., where Amelia Earhart Thomas faces a felony charge of enReturns was the last of nine musical acts as part of a Make as Fete de la Musique. dangering a child in connection with Music Day event. When she found out about the connection, while sitting the April 8 shooting incident involvon a barstool next to her new fiancé, Malkie said, “That pated in the music festival for the first time. It was held in ing his son, in which he allegedly left made my day.” more than 1,000 cities in a total of 120 countries. a loaded gun on the bathroom sink, ac“It’s wonderful,” she said. “It was my favorite day in A total of nine acts played from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. at Har- cording to Harris County court docuFrance, because it was the longest day of the year. We old’s, where owner Alli Jarrett said there was steady busi- ments. Thomas was released from jail would go out and drink too much and have fun.” ness throughout the day and night. on a $1,000 bond at the time and was Lots of fun was had Monday at Harold’s, which served as one of 20 host sites around Houston, which particiSee Music P. 5A See Arrest P. 5A
Harold’s plays host for festival event
Local teens recognized for environmental activism
Page 8A
THE INDEX. Church....................................................... 4A Classifieds.............................................. 5A Coupons. ................................................. 3B Food/Drink/Art................................... 7A Obituaries.............................................. 4A Opinion. ................................................... 3A Public Information......................... 2A Puzzles...................................................... 3A
still there. The note said that they would come when available.” Other area residents can relate. A recent online update from the city’s Solid Waste Management Department said it is experiencing service delays in all quadrants of the city due to an increased amount of debris placed out for collection and driver shortages in their critical classifications. “As a result, SWMD is adjusting operations and updating collection schedules to serve Houston residents,” read the post. “The depart-
By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
Contributed photo Woodland Heights teenagers Caoilin Krauthaus, left, and Lila Mankad have a business called Bag Free Bayous in which they sell reusable bags made from upcycled banners.
Caoilin Krauthaus and Lila Mankad have been playing at Woodland Park for as long as they can remember. The 15-year-old high school students would prefer to forget some of the things they’ve seen at the wooded, urban sanctuary that surrounds part of Little White Oak Bayou. When they were in fourth grade at Travis Elementary, they went to the park for Krauthaus’ ninth birthday and
noticed plastic water bottles and Styrofoam had piled up along the shores of the bayou. There also were plastic bags embedded in the ground and hanging from trees. “Most sickening to us was the plastic bags. They were packed in the ground and spongy when you walked on them,” Mankad said. “No matter how many times we tried to pick them up, it kept coming back.” Krauthaus and Mankad started an online petition that year, in 2016, that asked Mayor Sylvester Turner and the
Houston City Council to ban singleuse plastic bags, like the ones used at grocery stores, or implement a fee associated with their use. And while they have not been successful in that endeavor – at least partly because of a Texas Supreme Court ruling in 2018 that prevents municipalities in the state from enforcing bans on plastic bags – they have continued to advocate for the environment. The young Woodland Heights resiSee Activism P. 5A
See Bob P. 4A
THE PUBLIC.
Experience and Knowledge... A Powerful Combination
The Leader • Saturday, June 26, 2021 • Page 2A
Suspects sought in fatal Near Northwest shooting By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
Houston police are asking for the public’s help in identifying four people wanted in connection with a shooting that killed a teenage girl and left two men hospitalized earlier this week. The Houston Police Department said 19-year-old Jasmine Burrell was killed in the shooting, while 30-yearold Donovan Crawford and 31-year-old Chaz Caddie were both taken to an area hospital in unknown conditions. HPD said officers initially located Crawford and Caddie in the 8000 block of Grow Lane, with Burrell
found dead in a car a short distance away. According to police, a preliminary investigation indicated all three had been shot in the parking lot of a strip center at 8102 W. Tidwell Rd. around 9:15 p.m. Monday. The suspects are described only as four Black males who were last seen in a 2019 white Chevrolet Impala SS with two black custom stripes on the hood and no front license plates, according to HPD. Anyone with information on the identities or whereabouts of the wanted suspects is asked to contact HPD’s Homicide division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477.
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By Landan Kuhlmann Houston police say they are investigating a shooting in Northside that left a woman dead and a man hospitalized last week. The Houston Police Department said 33-year-old Lakeisha Cleveland was pro-
nounced dead an area hospital. According to HPD, the male victim was also taken to the hospital but was expected to survive the gunshot wound to his arm. Police said officers responded to La Casita Apartments at 233 Rosamond St. in the Northside area around 12:20 p.m. June 18. Accord-
ing to HPD, an altercation broke out between a larger group, during which the victims were shot. There is no known suspect description, HPD said. Anyone with information in this case is urged to contact HPD’s Homicide division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477.
Two killed in shooting near Inwood apartment complex By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
Houston police say they are looking into the shooting death of two men near an apartment complex in Greater Inwood last week. The victims were 37-yearold Buenaventura Miguel Garcia and 33-year-old Eli Penaloza, according to the Harris County medical examiner’s office.
The Houston Police Department said the victims were driving near the Asbury Park Apartments at 6200 W. Tidwell Rd. around 9 p.m. June 17 when an unknown Black male was seen shooting at their pickup truck as they attempted to get away from him. The pair were both struck by the gunfire, according to police, causing them to crash into the apartment building.
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Photo from Houston Police Department The people seen in this surveillance photo are wanted for their suspected involvement in a Monday shooting that left a woman dead and two men hospitalized.
Police said the driver of the truck was pronounced dead at the scene, while the passenger later died at a hospital. HPD said the suspect was last seen fleeing the scene in a light-colored SUV, possibly a Ford Explorer. Anyone with information in this case is encouraged to call HPD’s Homicide division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477.
Police Reports June 18-22 JUNE 18
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Theft 11 AM 500 BLOCK CROSSTIMBERS Theft 12 AM 1400 BLOCK N SHEPHERD Theft 4 PM 100 BLOCK YALE Theft 4 PM 1900 BLOCK AIRLINE
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THE TOPICS. The Leader • Saturday, June 26, 2021 • Page 3A
Thank you for supporting local news
I
had absolutely no desire to work at a small newspaper after graduating college with a journalism degree. In fact, with only a month until graduation, and a portfolio stocked with crisp writing, I sent my best clips and impressive résumé to every big city newspaper in America. From the New York to Los Angeles Times, and every newspaper in between, I assumed it was just a numbers game. With hardly a buck in my wallet, I made a major investment in postage and waited for the phone to ring. Except it didn’t. Not once. No salutary sorrys from the top editors in the land. Just silence. With a week until graduation, and no meaningful employment on the horizon – a requirement of my parents, who had already spent enough on me the past 18 years – I made my quivering call to every journalism professor at the University of Alabama. Did they know of any open jobs? The next day, I had interviews scheduled at three weekly newspapers, all within four hours of home. Mom loaned me her blue Cadillac, I grabbed the only suit that fit, and made my way to cities smaller than a Houston neighborhood. I visited with Joel and Ann Smith and their precious paper in the Bluff City of Eufaula, Ala. I met the meanest adult I’d ever heard speak
Jonathan McElvy Publisher
– an editor in Macon, Ga. – and couldn’t get the Cadillac keys out of my pocket fast enough. A gem of an editor named K.A. Turner ran a paper on Lake Martin, and she suggested I board their company’s private jet and fly to Natchez, Miss., to consider an opening at their flagship newspaper. Of course, those also happened to be the days when newspaper chains owned small fleets of jets so managers could whisk from vacation homes to a specific newspaper, where profits inexplicably dropped to a mere 33 percent. I landed at the first place I stopped – the Eufaula Tribune – and spent a year learning from people who became my surrogate parents. I also learned something about this business of publishing community newspapers. Specifically, there was “gold in them thar hills.” Local journalism, if done right, was a lucrative business. And someone like me, who loved telling
stories and digging up interesting facts that bothered politicians, could make a decent living if I could combine my journalism training with just enough business sense to keep the banks happy. It turns out I was born a generation too late, because around the same time I found my way to a top-level management position at a community newspaper company was also the exact time the Great Recession forever changed the way advertisers viewed their spending in print publications. All good things come to an end, and it turns out Facebook and Google used their billion-dollar brains to aggregate content that got a billion more people to read their platforms than the people still reading print products. And anyone who knows anything about marketing knows advertisers don’t care where they go, as long as the audience is big enough and, more recently, targeted enough. Armed with the knowledge that print advertising would continue its decline, I made the only logical decision a kid from Alabama could make and I bought my first print newspaper. What could go wrong? My Dad, who came along for the futile investment opportunity, asked if I knew what I was doing. I told him I didn’t, but I had a plan anyway. When we bought The Leader in 2012, my plan was to lean heavily
Distressed by stress THE STORE – Just nipped in to buy a few things: antidepressant, case of vodka, a book on self-hypnosis, but everyone is looking at me strangely. When a woman noticed I was coming down her aisle, she abruptly turned and ran away. A father and son backed up several paces before running out the door. Why? It’s because I suffer from PPS, or Post Pandemic Stress. Oh, sure, others may just pick up where they left off before March of 2020, when Dr. Anthony Fauci officially kicked off the Covid-19 season by throwing out the first syringe. Not me. I still wear three masks, which is probably why everyone here in the Salvation Army Gift Shop is looking at me with those frightened stares. They are maskless, defying all warnings from experts on the matter and, instead follow the advice of Gov. Greg Abbott who said, “True Texans don’t fasten their seatbelts, don’t obey speed limits and don’t wear masks,” or something along those lines. My problems began when experts at the CDC said I no longer had to wash my mail in the hot cycle. I couldn’t go cold turkey, so I just let the letters and packages soak in a sink of lye for 24 hours. Heat kills germs, although my newspapers were a little crisp after baking at 400. Then the experts said we could not get the virus from hard surfaces. What? After 14 months of scrubbing down my dashboard, the front sidewalk, the doorbell and the chimney (Santa could be a carrier), now they tell me it’s unnecessary. Like most people, I’ve got bottles of disinfectant in the car, at the front door, the back door, around the house and two in my pockets. Disinfectants were difficult to get. Do the experts know how hard it was to hang around the Walmart parking lot waiting for a little old lady to push her cart in my direction? MACE stings. We were told to stay at least 6 feet away from everyone else, although in my case even before the pandemic most people stayed at least 6 feet away. Deodorants are expensive. Some businesses had markings on the floor telling customers where to stand apart. It must have been terrible for barbers and pickpockets. For some unknown reason there was a rush on toilet paper, but Gov. Abbott added toilet paper to seat belts and masks. In the midst of our suffering, Texas got hit with Ice Storm Uri. It was due to frozen windmills and solar screens, according to Gov. Abbott. (He seems to crop up in a lot of our agonies.) Recently he signed two new bills passed by our Legislature outlawing frost bite and cold weather. I feel better and warmer already. Many restaurants got by during the shutdown by run-
Lynn Ashby Columnist
ning curb pickups and home deliveries of food. I shall miss returning home or going to my curb to find that my dinner is 13 pounds of kale. Some eateries opened up outdoor dining. Customers could sit at tables and watch 18-wheelers drive by their elbows. Disposable paper menus were introduced so that no one had to handle the soup stains left by previous customers. But busboys still used the same rag to wipe off all the tables. And giving and taking your order through masks could be a communication problem, especially if you don’t like kale. I went through withdrawal trying to watch late night TV shows with no audience to clap and laugh. Stephen Colbert noted that, with the new CDC guidelines, he could now exercise, jog and go to the gym. “Funny,” he said, “I never did that before.” No one was there to laugh. Covid-19 gave Americans new heroes and villains. First was our still-President, Donald Trump. He and his wife, Melania, secretly got vaccinated in January, which accounts for the millions of Americans who say they won’t get vaccinated. They really did, but won’t tell anyone. Then there is the aforementioned Dr. Fauci. I accidentally turned on the remnants of the Rush Limbaugh Show and heard the wannabe guest host lambasting Dr. Fauci as a fraud and charlatan. I’m not sure how many millions of lives the radio host saved, but it must have been enormous. The CDC, which has long been hailed as “the gold standard” of public health, has come under a torrent of criticism by right-wingers. Can they spell CDC? Asians are getting beat up because Trump kept called the pandemic “the Chinese virus.” Maybe his pickup dinner from the Beijing Palace didn’t include chopsticks. Now there is a big brouhaha among the Trumpsters whether the virus started with an accident at the Wuhan Institute of Virology or at the rat meat market down the street. With millions of people all over the world dying, with our lives turned upside down, some may ask, “What difference does it make?” They are probably the same people who don’t watch Fox News. Facebook said its employees could continue to work at home if their jobs allowed it, but if they moved to a less expensive area, their pay could be cut. Amazon wants their wage slaves to return to their jobs at least three days a
week. Earlier, when everyone was ordered to work at home, I wasn’t going to let no gubment tell me what to do, so I went to work at my office. Then it hit me that my office was in my home. But everyone else stayed home. This made it easy for telemarketers, hard for surgeons. Speaking of surgeons, at least 179 workers at Houston Methodist Hospital refused an order to get vaccinated. That’s my kind of health care worker. I can’t stand to be treated by a vaccinated nurse wearing a mask, and not coughing. As to what to do with my 45 masks and 15 bottles of disinfectant, I’ll just hang on to them and wait for Covid-20 to come around. Ashby is stressed at ashby2@comcast.net
on what I knew best: Telling stories. Based on the reactions of readers, we did a bang-up job. We started bothering politicians until they helped fix a crummy road or cleaned up a neighborhood park. We nagged law enforcement until they paid attention to a crime spree two blocks from an elementary school. We begged homeowners to let us spread their misery of permitting woes and subjective ordinances. My strategy in buying a dying business was to tell stories relevant to the people that got a copy of the newspaper delivered to their driveways. If The Leader could improve the lives of our readers, the revenue would take care of itself. Miraculously, the idea worked. Local businesses discovered that their customers read The Leader and talked about our stories, and as a result, the advertisers came back to The Leader. If you’re holding today’s edition of this newspaper (or can see a digital copy of it online), you may notice that most of our local businesses – all of them impacted by COVID – have moved on from advertising in the pages of The Leader. Our stories are still relevant, but the monopolies of Facebook and Google have finally won. Because of that, I sent out my annual letter to our readers asking that they please consider supporting us through what amounts to a volun-
tary subscription. Hundreds of you answered the call and sent us humbling contributions. In fact, many of the same people have sent those contributions for the past nine years, and I can’t thank you enough for the support you’ve given us dating back to 2012. There’s no real profitability left in local newspapers like The Leader, but as long as our readers can continue to find a way to support us, I’m going to do everything I can to ensure we continue our role of providing filtered, trusted community news to the readers who are generous enough to support us. This year, we called our voluntary subscription program “luvLeader,” a play on the many people who we know still love this newspaper. And for those who I haven’t personally thanked for being a part, please accept my gratitude. If you missed the envelope we sent the first week of June, we’re wrapping up this year’s program at the end of June. If you’d like to support local news, you can visit www. luvleader.com. The business of publishing local newspapers changed dramatically in the past year. Our readers who understand the value of trusted news are, and always have been, the reason I’ve loved this business for almost 25 years. Email jonathan@mcelvypartners.com
THE READER. Hot commodity: Fresh donuts make Shipley’s a favorite
Dear Editor: All I can say is I’ve been in this neighborhood all my 63 years and they’ve always been here, now my kids and grandkids go too. It’s history and community and if you don’t like the traffic find a different route to your destination. Jeanette Black Dear Editor: I once asked the counterperson at a Shipley’s in Austin if they had any hot glazed. She rolled her eyes and asked if I’d ever heard of a microwave. I guess it’s just an Ella thing. Carl Michelson Dear Editor: The best ever! We used to live in the area and moved to the other side of town but will still drive 30 minutes to get hot and fresh ones. There is no other in town like this one. Stacie Hernandez Dear Editor: Everyone complains about the traffic - but you all from the hood know darn well to stay out of the right lane on Ella lol OR turn to go around. April M. Palermo Dear Editor: I can’t believe it’s still there and open. I left the
Email us your letters: news@theleadernews.com neighborhood 45 years ago just goes to show give the people what they want and you will succeed. Russell Henderson
Travis crossing guard lived life worth celebrating
Dear Editor: Sounds like all those at Travis made Mr. Davis feel special too. A life well lived indeed. Alice David Dear Editor: I am going to miss his smiles and morning small talks in those early school days. Such a positive person this man was. The first year I met him I invited him over for Thanksgiving at my house, I was really hoping he’d come. He was one of those guys who would try to make everyone feel special. Vanessa Mala T
New principals tabbed for local HISD schools
Dear Editor: Mr. Church is one of our most favorite teachers! GO Mr. Church! Best of luck from the David family! Alice David Dear Editor: Wow! One of the greatest teachers we have had! Congratulations! Shawna Honeycutt
the leader Puzzlers. Answers found in this week’s Classified section
SUDOKU
aCrOss
1. Sold at a higher price 8. Instill fear 13. Can be domesticated 14. Oohed and ___ 15. Make too simple 19. Plutonium 20. Necessary for breathing 21. Make happy 22. Mythological bird 23. A baglike structure in a plant or animal 24. Put on __ 25. Type of dough 26. Blushed 30. Celestial object 31. Point __ National Seashore 32. Purplish red 33. Towards the mouth or oral region 34 Portuguese musical genre 35. Steals 38. Acts insincerely 39. City in Belarus 40. Anticipates 43. Paris airport 44. Deal with 45. No (Scottish) 47. Opens lock 48. Central parts
49. Sheep disease 50. Indicates position 51. Doing many things at once 55. Khoikhoin peoples 57. Informal alliance between countries 58. Long poems 59. The state of being poorly illuminated
dOwn 1. Portico 2. Delicacy 3. Punish with an arbitrary penalty 4. Household god (Roman) 5. Public television station 6. __ Lilly, drug company 7. Degraded 8. Free from danger 9. Low bank or reef of coral 10. Exclamation of surprise 11. Lies down in rest 12. Give an education to 16. Provides 17. Fat from a pig 18. Belonging to a
thing 22. Branches of a bone 25. Having a cheerless aspect or disposition 27. Edema (archaic) 28. Bo __, ‘10’ 29. Unfledged or nestling hawk 30. Surrenders 32. Type of dessert 34. Planted with trees 35. Washington town 36. Listen in 37. Inwardly 38. Chinese province 40. Garrison 41. Converts thermal energy to mechanical work 42. Holy people 44. Lowest point between two peaks 46. Boundaries 48. Utter obscenities 51. ___ and cheese 52. Member of the cuckoo family 53. Type of microscope 54. ___ and Barbie 56. Michigan
WORD SCRAMBLE
Page 4A • Saturday, June 26, 2021 • The Leader
City water rates to increase starting Sept. 1 By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
More expensive water bills are coming for many Houston residents, and the cost will continue to rise in the coming years. The Houston City Council, after postponing the issue for a week to allow for further community engagement and feedback, voted Wednesday to increase the city’s rates for providing water and wastewater service to residential customers. The hike was described as a necessity by Mayor Sylvester Turner, who said the city must upgrade its aging infrastructure while also complying with a consent decree with the state and federal governments that requires Houston to make $2 billion in improvements to its
wastewater system during the next 15 years. The measure passed 12-4, with local council members Abbie Kamin of District C and Karla Cisneros of District H supporting it and Amy Peck of District A voting against it. It was amended so it will take effect Sept. 1 instead of July 1, which was the original plan, and the city council also give itself the option to reduce the rate at some point in the future if other funding sources for infrastructure become available. Under the new rate, as an example, customers who use 3,000 gallons per month will see a $4.07 increase in their monthly bills. The rate will continue to increase during each of the next four years, with the 2026 rate representing a 78 percent
Turner
Cisneros
Kamin
Peck
increase compared to this year. According to information provided by the city, customers who use more than 3,000 gallons per month should expect to see increases ranging from 55-62 percent over the same
five-year period. The city council last approved a water and wastewater rate increase in 2010. That ordinance also included annual increases, with the most recent bump taking effect April 1.
In a separate but related move earlier this year, 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 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 from $1,199.11 per service unit to $1,621.63.
Public Works hires Kanwar as City Engineer department determines which alleys are private or public and therefore maintained by the city. Whether alleys are deemed public or private, the City Engineer also has a say in who can access the alleys and for what purposes, in order to enforce city ordinances related to stormwater drainage and street safety. While exerting control over alley usage, the city also has taken a handsoff approach when it comes to disputes between property owners regarding encroachments in an alley. Lim was reassigned in early December, shortly after The Leader published the second part in an ongoing series about
By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
Suhail Kanwar was hired earlier this month as Houston’s City Engineer, filling a key role in the Houston Public Works department that had been vacant for more than six months. The City Engineer manages the permitting and inspection of construction within the city’s rights-of-ways and oversees engineering reviews for projects that do not fall under the purview of the city’s Capital Improvement Projects. The Office of the City Engineer also plays a significant role in the city’s policies regarding
Kanwar
the use of alleys, which are common in the Heights. Former City Engineer HoJin Lim said last fall that the
alley issues in the Heights. Houston Public Works spokesperson Erin Jones said at the time that the Houston City Council’s Transportation, Technology and Infrastructure Committee planned to evaluate and possibly amend the city’s policies on alleys in the spring. But Jones said earlier this month that she was not aware of that having happened. “It might be something they wanted to hold off on since they knew were hiring a new City Engineer,” she said. “It’s probably something that will be on his agenda.” Houston Public Works recently announced two other
Raymond Joseph Kopycinski 1926 - 2021
R
aymond Joseph Kopycinski, 94, passed away on June 12, 2021 in Houston, TX. Raymond attended the A.P. George School, a oneroom schoolhouse, located on the A.P. George Ranch in Richmond, Texas. Raymond moved to Houston, Texas at the age of 18 and went to work downtown in the M&M Building for Union Pacific as an office worker. A year later he started his 46-year career as a pressman for Continental Can Company, where he remained until his retirement in 1991. Raymond is survived by his wife Janie Kopycinski, son JoeyKopycinski and wife Donna, daughter JaneMarie Kopycinski, grandson Jordan Kopycinski and wife Jenny, granddaughter Taylor Kopycinski, grandson Hunter Kopycinski and fiancé Lisa Maes, and great-grandson Grayden. Raymond is also survived by his sister-in-law Margie Kopycinski, brother-in-law Bob Hemphill, numerous Kopycinski nieces and nephews, Janie’s family and special great niece Payton Hemphill. He is preceeded in death by his parents, his brothers T.J. Kopycinski, Florence Kopycinski, and Walter Kopyicinski, and by sisters Dora Kopycinski and Marie Hemphill. He is also preceeded in death by his father and mother-in-lawAllen H. and Jane O. Roberts and brothers-in-law Eddie Oehlers an Jimmy Waters. The family wishes to offer special thanks to his caregiver, Coleta Fletcher.
By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com
Photo from HoustonSunsetHeights.org Pictured is the site of the former Heights METRO Transit Station at 6000 N. Main St., where the planned East Sunset Heights Park will be located.
park will undoubtedly become a popular neighborhood gathering space and another Houston Parks Department success story.” In a May 27 news release from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission, the planned park was referred to as Sunset Heights Park. Houston’s parks department later called it East Sunset Heights Park in a June 16 news release, and parks department spokesperson Estella Espinosa confirmed the
latter name is correct. After the parks department acquired the transit center property two years ago, it engaged Lauren Griffith Associates to create the master plan for the future park. According to Lisa Johnson, division manager with the city’s general services division and overseer of park construction projects, construction on East Sunset Heights Park is expected to start by 2023.
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In light of theSunday COVID-19 outbreak, please check with church below for updated St.each James Lutheran Church, ELCA Bible Studies For All Ages ... 9:30am Morning Worship ............... 10:45am • Worship (English) ..... 10:00 am - 11:00am information Wednesday about services and events. In-person services are temporarily restricted. Bible Studies For Youth, Children • Learning Hour........... 11:00am - 12:00pm MANNA
GET The good OVER IT! neighbor test
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
L
iving in a city we all have something in common. St. James Lutheran Church, ELCA Weekly Sunday Services Gethsemane Lutheran Church We have neighbors. The • Bible Study: 9:15 a.m. t 8PSTIJQ &OHMJTI BN BN • Morning:10:30 a.m. We invite you to worship with us! Bible tells us how to be a good • Evening: 4:15 p.m. 1700 Sunday West 43 at Rosslyn School ........9:15 am MANNA t -FBSOJOH )PVS BN QN neighbor. Proverbs 3:27-28 713-682-4942 t 8PSTIJQ 4QBOJTI QN QN Pastor – Dr. Richard Walters Sunday Worship......10:30am 4QPOTPS says, “Withhold not good Ad # 32285 Wednesday Bible Study 8FTU SE 4U t )PVTUPO 5Y t from them to whom it is due, & Prayer 6:00pm Candlelight Church ofService Christ when it is in the power of Join us for Services FC Heights Family and Staff in English or Spanish Sunday Morning Worship 8:30 and 11:00 thine hand to do it. Say not 201 E. 9th St. • 713-861-3102 Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn Sunday Worship 10am & 5pm Sunday School Children, Youth and Please our website at: Adults 9:40 Sundforvisit not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, Sunday Bible Classes 9am www.fbcheights.org Ministries for All Ages unto thy neighbor, “Go, and and you will be forgiven... Wednesday Bible Study 7pm www.lazybrookbaptistchurch.org for the following: Home of Johnson Memorial School for Little Children come again, and tomorrow I Rev. Nathan Lonsdale Bledsoe, Pastor 4215 Watonga Blvd. • 713-681-9365 R.S.V. Luke 6:37 Wed Sunday Services: @ 11 AM 2003 W. 43rd St. 713-686-8241 s t s u m cIn-person .org Houston, TX 77092 will give; when thou hast it by (Live stream during service) Say a thee.”” To be a good neighbor Bible Studies: From Homepage, click on means to help others if you Prayer 1822 W. 18th • 713-864-1470 Connect/Small Groups have the ability to do so and Today not to hold back. This means we should be looking for ways Gethsemane Lutheran Church to do good to others. This Pastor Jerry McNamara principle is simple in concept 4040 Watonga • 713-688-5227 but challenging in execution. We invite you to worship with us! For example, when you can Weekly Worship Services 9:00a.m. do something kind for your Online services can be reached spouse, do you do it, or just and Adults............................ 6:15pm
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through the website below at 9:00 am. www.gethsemanelutheran.org
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promoted Tracy Samuel to assistant director of Transportation & Drainage Operations, which maintains and improves infrastructure that spans Houston’s 671 square miles. Samuel previously was the deputy assistant director. “Houston Public Works’ recent leadership appointments build on our purpose to create a strong foundation for Houston to thrive,” department director Carol Haddock said in a news release. “Houston Public Works is diverse, dynamic, and these leaders bring experience, innovation, and excellent customer service mindsets.”
IN MEMORIAM
City reveals more details about upcoming Sunset Heights park A splash pad, tricycle track and picnic areas are part of the plan 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 proposed plan received a boost last month, with a grant of $898,000 from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission. The City of Houston recently revealed more details about how the transit center will be renovated. The grant funds will go toward upgrading the existing 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. The existing native trees will be preserved. “The Parks and Recreation Department is excited to receive these funds from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission,” Kenneth Allen, director of the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, said in a news release. “When this project is complete, this
hires in addition to Kanwar, who has previously worked as the public works administrator in McKenzie County, North Dakota, as the public works director and county engineer for Lyon County, Minnesota, and as a senior project manager for Hedlund Engineering. Melissa Chesser is Houston Public Works’ new director of government relations, which manages agenda items for the city council, addresses community concerns and facilitates communication between local, state and federal entities. She most recently worked for the U.S. Department of Defense is Washington, D.C. Houston Public Works also
wait and hope it will be done by someone else? When you see your neighbor’s trash can tipped over in the street, do you pick it up or just go inside frustrated that your neighbor’s trash blew in your yard? Being a good neighbor is about showing kindness to others and not holding back goodness from others. If you were to take your actions from yesterday, would they pass the good neighbor test? Are you looking for ways to treat others with kindness or are you so consumed with your own agenda that you overlook everything and everyone else? As you go through today, take the “Good Neighbor Test.” How are you doing? What score would you give yourself? Let’s commit to show love to others and be the good neighbor’s we would like others to be to us.
The Leader • Saturday, June 26, 2021 • Page 5A
Trash, from P. 1A
Activism, from P. 1A
ment is also hiring Commercial Truck Drivers and offering a signing bonus for this critical classification.” The bonus is $3,000, according to a flyer. In the meantime, because the tree waste by the curb was rotting and damaging the grass, Thrower and her husband paid to have that waste hauled away. Thrower figured they could wait on the heavy trash. But now it’s almost July and the trash remains. Gary Gano in Ella Lee Forest said he and his neighbors have also reached out to the city to find out when the city would be caught up. “They didn’t pick up in May on the normal third Thursday of the month, but with the rain we had that was understandable,” he said. “(Trash pick-up) was postponed to June but we haven’t seen them. It’s the lack of communication that is frustrating. Just let us know. We’ll understand.” On Monday, the city’s Solid Waste Management Department sent Gano an email that said crews were still working to complete their second Monday junk waste routes and are working their way to the third Thursday. “We certainly feel your concern with the heavy trash collection,” read the email. “The crews are working around the clock to get back on schedule.” When Thrower reached out to Houston City Council member Abbie Kamin’s office by email, staff responded that the waste management department was still working through the volume of debris placed for pickup due to the winter storm delays. Even with the hire of private contractors, crews were still swamped. “I’m extremely concerned about the delays that residents are continuing to experience,” Kamin said. Angelica Tijerina with the city’s solid waste department said that by Tuesday, crews working in the north part of town had completed their second Monday pickup and were working on third Tuesday. In June, the department is picking up junk and tree waste. Tijerina said the department provides frequent updates on Facebook, Nextdoor and Twitter. Thrower, who filed another 311 report at the first of June, said she is hoping to see a clear curb any day now. “We are paying the city for this service,” Thrower said. “If they expect citizens to follow certain guidelines then they should, too.”
dents traveled to the state capitol in Austin and spoke about the issue during the Texas Legislature session in 2017, and they also have shared their message with fellow students at other schools. And they started a business called Bag Free Bayous a couple years ago in which they sell reusable bags in an attempt to reduce the reliance on plastics. For their ongoing efforts, Krauthaus and Mankad are set to receive special recognition from Houston’s Bayou Preservation Association during its Terry Hershey Bayou Stewardship Awards event, which will be held virtually on July 14. Also receiving special recognition will be the Houston Parks Board, for its Bayou Greenways 2020 project, while the primary award recipients will be Jill Boullion of the Bayou Land Conservancy and Terri Thomas, a longtime supporter of Houston bayous and the environment.
“At a very young age, these young ladies became stewards of the bayou,” said Robert Rayburn, a member of the board of directors for the Bayou Preservation Association. “They recognized, ‘We are destroying our environment, the very thing that causes us pleasure and peace and reduces our mental anguish.’ ... The very passion these young ladies have is exactly why they are being recognized.” Mankad said she and her good friend have sold more than 300 reusable bags through Bag Free Bayous, which has a website, bagfreebayous.org. The bags are made from upcycled banners, which Krauthaus’ parents help collect through their graphic design business, Core Design Studio. The reusable bags are handmade by an Afghan refugee who Krauthaus and Mankad met through The Community Cloth, a microenterprise that empowers refugee
women in Houston. Mankad said the refugee, Khatera, keeps twothirds of the proceeds from bag sales. They cost $30 each. “She’s an amazing person,” Mankad said. Krauthaus and Mankad don’t necessarily see themselves as the American versions of Greta Thunberg, the teenage environmental activist from Sweden, because they have other interests. Krauthaus, who attends Carnegie Vanguard High School, said she is into art, design and technology. Mankad, who goes to Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, likes to write poetry and wants to pursue a career in science, possibly as a marine biologist. But they are passionate about protecting the environment. “Climate change is such a big issue,” Krauthaus said. “I think this issue needs to be treated more as like an emergency.”
Music, from P. 1A Local musician Ed Amash of Heights-based nonprofit Song Circle Houston recommended Harold’s as a host venue to the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, which coordinated the Houston events in conjunction with the National Association of Music Merchants and the Make Music Alliance. Amash and other local musicians typically play at Harold’s from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Tuesdays as part of a recurring event called Tuesday Tunes in the Taproom. Amash also was part of the festival lineup on Monday, along with acts such as Ted Miller, Wild Rabbit Salad, Ken Gaines with Wayne Wilkerson and Amelia Earhart Returns. “To be a part of it is really cool,” Jarrett said. “We’re honored to have these fantastic artists playing at Harold’s.” Miller, who was the first act in the morning and stayed at Harold’s throughout the day, described the crowds for most of the performers as “small but appreciative,” while some packed the place.
Alexis Andres, the Consul General of France in Houston, ended the day at Harold’s and spoke about the festival and its history to those in attendance. He said Houston was sought after as a festival host city because of its diversity, musical talent and penchant for live performances. Necole Irvin, the director of the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, also stopped by Harold’s near the end of the night and thanked Song Circle Houston for supporting the event at the 19th Street staple. Irvin said the city as a whole was excited to take part in Make Music Day, and she already was thinking of ways to expand on it in 2022. “I would love – I’m not sure if the police chief would necessarily love – but I would love to see music in the streets and in the parks,” Irvin said. “Think about it, look at it, consider your neighborhood park and make music there. It doesn’t have to be on Make Music Day. It could be any day.”
Both Krauthaus and Mankad said it’s been frustrating to hit some roadblocks with their efforts, such as not succeeding in their quest to have single-use plastic bags banned in their hometown. But they have not given up on that objective, with the online petition still active on change.org. It has nearly 4,400 signatures, which have accumulated since 2016. And it serves as a reminder of their unfettered passion about the issue. When the petition first launched, Mankad said she stayed up late and watched the number of signatures surpass the 100 mark. During the first month, that number had ballooned to about 500. “We kind of realized from that that the world is really hungry to hear from young voices who want a change,” Mankad said. “It really kind of sparked the whole thing.”
Arrest, from P. 1A arrested again June 16 for his alleged role in Vasquez’s death. He remains jailed on a $150,000 bond, according to court documents. Thomas’ next court date is June 28. “We’ll be at every single court hearing he has,” Alcantara said. A GoFundMe account set up by Alcantara has raised more than $11,000 for the immediate family of her brother, who is survived by a wife, a 15-year-old son and a 10-yearold daughter. Online donations can be made at https:// w w w. g o f u n d m e . c o m / f / suppor t-family-of-miguelvasquez-murdered-victim. Alcantara said Vasquez lived in Southwest Houston and worked as a contractor with his own painting business. Her brother had celebrated a birthday less than two weeks
before his death and received a Rolex watch, she said, which she suspects made Vasquez a robbery target. According to Alcantara, Vasquez had been at Dave & Buster’s with family members, and his wife was waiting outside by a curb when Vasquez and their daughter walked together toward their vehicle. The daughter managed to escape and was unharmed physically, Alcantara said, but her father’s death has been especially difficult for her. Alcantara said the money raised through the GoFundMe page has helped to ease the family’s pain and financial burdens. “Everyone was really, really nice, especially to my niece,” she said. “All that money is to keep a roof over her head. (Vasquez) was the only provider. Now there’s nobody.”
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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 26, 2021 • Page 7A
Art Valet: Houston creatives show love for The Leader Mitch Cohen Art Columnist
Most readers of The Leader know about the Luv Leader campaign. Every year at this time our publisher, Jonathan McElvy, reaches out to our readers and asks for support by voluntary contribution. To help The Leader’s efforts, I reached out to my friends and the arts community for their testimonials. More recently I did the same to artists with the added request of sharing their positive outcomes from being featured in this column. Personally, the feedback I get from my efforts with Art Valet is enough to keep me writing every week. Here are some of the responses artists sent me for this column: Camille Ellington (csellington.com): “Mitch writing about my art brought me into a community.” Liz Conces Spencer (lizconces.com): “The Art Valet column has always focused on working local art-
ists. It’s been a real godsend to get information out about not only the artists but shows, installations and galleries.” Maria Elena Sandovici ( e l e n a s a n d ov i c i . c o m ) : “You wrote about my book release for ‘Storms of Malhado’ in the middle of the pandemic. It helped a lot! Those were strange times, but I think they were also times when people were looking for things to do, books to read. 2020 ended up being a good year for my writing career and the writeup you did about ‘Storms of Malhado’ was an important part of that.” Stacy Gresell (stac yg r e s e l l f i n e a r t . c o m ) : “The first time Mitch wrote about me it sort of outed me at work. I’m one of those artists with a full-time day job. People at work were stunned. It’s like they found out I had a secret life as a creative superhero.” Johnny Van Slyke Summers (vanslykeart.com): “Without The Leader and Art Valet, what would Houston’s art scene look like? Blogs are a penny a dozen these days, so artists need someone who believes in them, talks about them, supports them and
Contributed photo From left to right, Lisa Morales, Stacy Gresell and Mitch Cohen enjoy each other’s company at an art event.
gives them a chance. That’s what The Leader has done. It’s shaped the art scene in Houston. By mentioning my work either through words or pictures, it’s raised visibility to my company. In a digital age where people are constantly inundated with content, this
is a key differentiator when it comes to getting noticed in a positive light. Thanks The Leader and Art Valet!” Lisa Morales (lisamoralesmixedmedia.com): “I have been fortunate enough to have had my work seen several times in The Leader.
On the first occasion, I had a collage of a dog featured and received an email immediately from a pet store asking me to paint a mural for them. The instant connection a reader can have with an artist’s work is invaluable and can be the beginning of a business rela-
tionship that might not otherwise have happened. It’s thrilling to connect the dots and see how meeting one person leads to being recommended to someone else and so on and so on. All from a picture in the paper. “On another occasion, an installation piece was featured in the paper that centered around how people were dealing with COVID-19. This piece gave the community a chance to become part of the art by writing down how they were processing the pandemic and then inserting that ‘thought’ into the artwork. It was a simple gesture, but a lot of people commented on how therapeutic it was and how excited they were to be included in the process.” Those are some seriously motivating words! Thank you, too, readers, for your input, feedback and coming back often to see what I have to write here. If you are able to contribute to help keep this paper going, thank you in advance! Cohen is an artist and founder of the First Saturday Arts Market and the Market at Sawyer Yards. Find him at ArtValet. com for additional highlights and artist’s stories.
Review: Da Gama Canteen serves old-world flavors in modern setting By Stefan Modrich
smodrich@mcelvypartners.com
For about seven of the last eight years, including when I moved to Houston last year, I’ve resided in a climate where it’s warm enough during the summer that most people will call ahead to a restaurant to ensure they can reserve a table inside. A helpful life hack if you don’t mind the heat is to come to a place like Da Gama Canteen, where on a Friday night you will usually find the dining room packed. For most of my meal, I had the patio all to myself, with nearby Lawrence Park serving as a nice backdrop to this new North Shepherd Drive destination, a must-visit for anyone exploring the still-growing MK-T development. Rick and Shiva Di Virgilio, the same couple who brought Oporto Fooding House & Wine to Midtown, are behind Da Gama, which opened in April. Da Gama’s Portugese and Indian roots are evident from the menu. While the two countries are thousands of miles away, there are hundreds of years of shared history, which provided opportunities for the two old-world cultures and cuisines to intersect. According to the restaurant, its offerings are inspired by the former Portugese colony and current Indian state of Goa, and Gujarat, the ninth most populous Indian state. The Vada Pao ($10) was the first chance I had to taste this blend of cultures. The mini sweet Pao buns sandwiched a potato tikki, or patty, with chutney and crushed peanuts. The finishing touches atop the sliders were green chili peppers skewered into the top bun
Photo by Stefan Modrich Tandoori Roots ($12) are carrots and beets roasted in a tandoor oven, a traditional Indian dish with a slightly contemporary twist.
with toothpicks. My next appetizer was a traditional Indian dish with a slightly contemporary twist. Tandoori Roots ($12) are carrots and beets roasted in a tandoor oven, seasoned with a classic masala spice blend. The vegetables are topped off with a garnish of whipped ricotta and pistachios, for a delightful balance of warm and cool temperatures and a spectrum of soft textures. This was the ideal setup for what I thought was going to be the highlight of the evening, but it didn’t play out that way. I give credit to Da Gama for the thought process behind the Lamb Keema Pizza ($15) but ultimately found it to be an ambitious swing and a miss. On paper, I thought the ground lamb, tomato chutney, blue cheese, pickled onions and mozzarella made for a compelling attempt at something different, and a little
bit outside the range of what I’d expect for a place like Da Gama. But for my tastes, the cheese-to-tomato ratio was off. I would have been fine with more tomato sauce and a bit less cheese, and I could have done without the peas as well. All that said, the pickled onion was definitely a positive, redeeming quality of the Lamb Keema Pizza, and I hope Da Gama can go back to the lab and give it another try. To wrap up an otherwise enjoyable meal, I ordered an East India Gin & Tonic 2.0 ($12). Centered around a base of Jin Jiji India dry gin and accented with butterfly pea flowers, grapefruit zest, fresh rosemary and Fever Tree Mediterranean tonic water, it was a cocktail as refreshing as it was beautiful to look at on a hot summer night. Da Gama’s Happy Hour
Photo by Stefan Modrich The Lamb Keema Pizza ($15) features ground lamb, tomato chutney, blue cheese, pickled onions, peas and mozzarella.
runs from 3-6 p.m. MondayFriday, during which time you can snack on oysters and sip sangria. Da Gama Canteen Address: 600 N. Shepherd Dr. Ste. 520 Dining Options: Dine-in, takeout, delivery via Uber Eats Hours: 3-9:30 p.m. MondayThursday, 3-10:30 p.m. Friday, 5-10:30 p.m. Saturday Entrée prices: $12-$32 Kid-friendly: Yes Senior discount: No Alcohol: Yes Healthy options: Summer Chaat Salad Star of the show: Tandoori Roots
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New food writer brings appetite to role Stefan Modrich If you’re a regular reader of The Leader, you might have noticed my byline appear in these pages and online infrequently over the last several months. My name is Stefan Modrich, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to reintroduce myself to you as the new food and drink writer for The Leader, where I’ll also be covering all things cultural, from music and art to literature and everything in between in this bustling area of Houston that you all are fortunate to call home. Living on the periphery of the Heights, I’ve had a chance to immerse myself in the many rich cultural institu-
tions and dining options — whether they be of the fine or hole-in-the-wall variety — from Timbergrove to Garden Oaks and Oak Forest or the Washington Avenue area. You’ll probably catch me working every now and then in a local coffee shop or restaurant, and if you recognize me (I’ve been told that being tall, skinny and blond makes me easy to spot in a crowd), feel free to say hello. I am looking forward to telling the stories of the dreamers, doers, creators and innovators in this rich, vibrant slice of our nation’s fourth-largest city. Where there is growth and development in the restaurant and hospitality sector, there is promise, but likely to follow are valid concerns from families who are concerned about the increased traffic and noise on their streets.
And where there are sparkling, new food halls and high-end international restaurants, there are also nearby mom-and-pop grocery stores and small diners that have struggled to make it through the COVID-19 pandemic and now a period of supply chain disruption, inflation and labor shortages that are especially difficult for small business owners in creative fields where profit margins are razor-thin. Covering a community like this one (which has been a historically significant contributor to Houston’s rise as a global metropolis) and chronicling the cultural milestones that have brought our city such high regard is a daunting but inviting challenge for me, and one that I intend to embrace. I want to hear from you to help get me up to speed, and to let us know where you think we
can improve our coverage of local restaurants, music venues, parks, family-friendly activities and nightlife options. We are thankful for tips and information from plugged-in readers and value our relationships with those of you who are invested in using your talents to provide fun and entertainment for your neighbors as a diversion from some of the harsh realities we have been beset with for the last year. If you’re looking for restaurant recommendations, if you have recipes to share, or you are in possession of a secret map with the closest water fountains and restrooms along all of the Heights-area running trails, don’t hesitate to drop me a line at smodrich@mclevypartners.com or @StefanJModrich on Twitter. I’m looking forward to beginning this journey with you.
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Page 8A • Saturday, June 26, 2021 • The Leader
Food briefs: Cafeza to close July 31 • Drunken Pho features pho and other Vietnamese dishes • The Greedy Chicken sells fried chicken and wings • Heads & Tails has Cajunstyle seafood and po ‘boys • Mac and Twist makes mac and cheese with assorted toppings • Mykuna markets Peruvian
By Stefan Modrich smodrich@mcelvypartners.com
Cafeza, which became a staple in the Houston jazz and arts scene known for encouraging new artists to perform in its intimate, Latin-style venue, announced Tuesday in a Facebook post that its five-year run is coming to an end on July 31 “due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.” “In the last few years we have provided weekly free live music, provided high quality neighborhood coffee and created hundreds of job opportunities to support Houston creatives,” owners Keisha and Ryan Hazen wrote on Facebook. “Cafeza has even been a part of some very special weddings, baby showers and media projects.” The cafe, modeled after the “cafecerias” found in Barcelona and Buenos Aires, fused European and Latin American styles with that of the neighborhood bodegas and Hispanic shops found across Houston. In 2015, the Hazens opened Cafeza at 1720 Houston Ave., where an arts scene began to thrive. Starting Thursday through July 31, Cafeza will be open Thursdays and Fridays from 8 a.m.-4 p.m., the Hazens said. “These to-go hours are for our supporters that would like to deplete gift cards or purchase the remainder of our inventory or have one last Cafeza cup of coffee,” the owners wrote. Local performers like Matt Serice, a jazz trumpeter, said Cafeza was “an integral part in a growing Houston jazz scene” and was responsible for “nurturing creativity” among those who took the stage there. Those interested in contributing to the next chapter for the Hazens can donate to their farewell fund at https://sites. google.com/cafeza.com/farewell/home. Sweetgreen opens at M-K-T According to Sweetgreen’s
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and Ecuadorian cuisine • Peaky Grinders grills up burgers and other sandwiches • Perogi Queen purveys classic Polish dumplings • Samosa Haus slings samosas with various fillings • Sandos prepares Japanese-style sandwiches
Picnic After Worship
St. Ma hew’s UMC 4300 N. Shepherd Dr. 713-697-0671
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Cafeza, the cafe and live music venue at 1720 Houston Ave., will close July 31.
Facebook page, 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 Dr. At its Heights location, Sweetgreen customers can find seasonal dishes like the Peach + Burrata bowl ($12.45) — featuring a base of shredded kale and a balsamic vinaigrette — and what the restaurant calls “earth friendly picks” like the Crispy Rice Bowl ($12.45) with arugula, warm wild rice and a spicy cashew dressing. Sweetgreen is open from 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. daily. Railway Heights food hall to open next month A stone’s throw from Memorial Park and Interstate 10, the newest entrant into the competitive Houston food hall scene will throw its hat into the ring next month. Railway Heights, located at 8200 Washington Ave., plans to open in July, according to an article from CultureMap Houston. Company of Nomads is behind the development, which will feature a 13,000-square foot beer garden and a plethora of other amenities, in-
cluding a wine bar, dog park, farmers market, pop-up stands and a container farm to grow lettuce on the premises, according to the Railway Heights website. According to CultureMap, the venue will have 11 restau-
11:30 a.m.
Contributed photo
rants, which will be located on the second floor of the food hall: • BOH Slice serves pizza by the slice • Currazon offers churros made to order
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LEADER LISTING The Leader • Saturday, June 26, 2021 • Page 1B
Volvo to build dealership on Washington By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com
The building formerly known as Western Brick & Stone at 7620 Washington Ave., in what is becoming known as the Design District, is about to get a big makeover. And instead of selling brick, tile and stone, the new business is all about wheels and chrome. Bill Bledsoe, senior vice president in the Land and Investments Division at Henry S. Miller Brokerage, announced in a news release that the firm, in partnership with Transwestern’s Executive Managing Director Jeff Peden and Senior Director Scott Miller, negotiated a 20-year, 31,845-square foot lease on behalf of Grubbs Automotive. Grubbs will convert the existing 12,595-square foot showroom and 19,250-square foot warehouse building into a new Volvo automotive dealership. Founded in Dallas in 1948, Grubbs Automotive already operates three dealerships in Grapevine and one in San Antonio. The new location will be the company’s first in Houston and fifth overall. “In a very tight market, we were able to identify what we know will be an excellent location for the new Grubbs Volvo in Houston,” Bledsoe said. “Many thanks to Jeff Peden and Larry Levine, CEO of Levcor, property owner and landlord, who were both extremely helpful.” Marketing materials for the property said the 31,845-square foot building on the 2.4-acre site was constructed in 2008 and the building is fully sprinklered with concrete deck construction. HCAD values the total property at $3.1 million, but the selling price was not disclosed. It is located one block north of Interstate 10 on Washington Avenue. According to the release, this location was appealing to the tenant due to the proximity of dealerships along Old Katy Road and to Memorial Park, immediately south of I-10. Nearby, the Houston Design Center houses more than 40 design showrooms, including furniture, accessories, fabrics, lighting, floor coverings, art and décor. The Viridian Design District apartments, built in 2015, are also in the area. According to Volvo, Volvo Car USA set a new May sales record with 13,221 cars sold, up 38.9 percent compared to 2020, representing the 12th consecutive month of year-over-
Real Estate Roundup
For over 80 years, we’ve cared enough to think about the very worst.
Urban Genesis COOP @ Waterworks under construction on 20th Street betsy@theleadernews.com
Oxford St. near White Oak Drive.
Urban Genesis, a real estate development company specializing in urban apartments and townhomes in Texas neighborhoods, has started construction on a project at 616 W. 20th St. that the company refers to as Urban Genesis COOP @ Waterworks on its website. No other details could be determined before press time. The company’s newly constructed Co-Op at Summer Street includes townhomes and apartments. Urban Genesis, with developments in Austin, Dallas and Fort Worth, recently opened White Oak Highline, apartments at 610
James Avery Artisan Jewelry opens at Northwest Marketplace James Avery Artisan Jewelry, based in Texas, is now open in Northwest Marketplace at 13718 Northwest Fwy. The family-owned jewelry retailer has more than 100 stores in four states. Operating hours at the new location are 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon-6 p.m. Sunday, and are subject to change. “Our associates are ready to greet customers in the new Northwest Marketplace store today,” James Avery CEO John McCullough said.
By Betsy Denson
Photo by Betsy Denson
The property at 7620 Washington Ave., which formerly housed Western Brick & Stone, will be transformed into a Volvo auto dealership.
Hampton Inn Houston Brookhollow under new ownership A company called RS 12909 Hospitality LLC purchased the 81-room Hampton Inn Houston Brookhollow, located at 12909 Northwest Fwy, Biz Now reports. CBRE’S Michael Yu, Rahul Bijlani and Manasvini Sridhar brokered the sale on behalf of the seller, Highway 290 Hotel Partnership Ltd. Warehouse property sells on Katy Freeway TIR Investments purchased an 8,800-square foot office building at 5400 Katy Fwy., at the northwest corner of Interstate 10 and T.C. Jester Boulevard, as reported by the Houston Chronicle.
Ryan Neyland of Davis Commercial Real Estate represented the seller, Katy Freeway 5400 Ltd. A marketing flyer for the property listed it at $3.1 million and said it included 8,556 square feet of office space and 2,700 square feet of warehouse space. Undisclosed buyer nabs industrial property BizNow reports that an undisclosed buyer purchased a 30,200-square foot industrial property at 3815 Hollister St. in Northwest Houston. NAI Partners’ Michael Keegan and Andrew Laycock arranged the transaction.
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Page 2B • Saturday, June 26, 2021 • The Leader
May brings continued sales bonanza for area markets By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
As 2021 nears its halfway point, home sales in the area are continuing to boom despite many things returning to pre-pandemic norms. All but one of the local zip codes saw a yearover-year sales spike for the month of May, according to the most recent data from the Houston Association of Realtors, continuing a trend that began in January and has refused to slow down. Four area zip codes (77018, 77007, 77009 and 77092) saw their May sales volume at least double compared to last year, while another (77008) nearly did so. Only the 77091 (Greater Inwood/Acres Homes) zip code saw a year-over-year drop. Many area markets saw a year-overyear spike in average home price, while median home prices were a mixed bag compared to May 2020. 77018 The part of the area including Garden Oaks, Oak Forest and Shepherd
Park Plaza sold the third-most homes last month, with 84 of them coming off the market, more than doubling the May 2020 mark of 37 homes. Through the end of the month, the area had seen 383 homes sold, or 61.6 percent more than the 237 sold through the same period last year. On the pricing front, this area saw the largest local year-over-year spike in May figures. The average buyer paid $591,262 for a home here last month – a 26.5 percent increase from May 2020 – while median price rose 16.6 percent to $437,375. 77092 Just to the west, the zip code encompassing part of the Central Northwest neighborhood as well as Scarborough High School and Clifton Middle School saw the largest sales volume increase among local neighborhoods. Agents closed on 40 homes here last month, marking a 263.6 percent spike compared to the 11 houses sold last May. The area is 96.1 percent ahead of last year’s pace at month’s end, having
seen 155 homes come off the market so far. Pricing wise, the average price of a home in this zip code rose 12.7 percent to $324,357, while median home price dipped 2.9 percent to $322,500. 77091 The zip code encompassing parts of Greater Inwood and Acres Homes on the northern edge of the area was the lone local neighborhood to experience a year-over-year drop-off in home sales last month. Only 16 homes were sold here, down 40.7 percent from the 27 sales in May 2020. Despite the dip, however, year-to-date sales volume is still up 30.1 percent (108 sales) compared to the same period last year. Year-over-year average home prices also rose slightly in this zip code, with buyers shelling out 9.4 percent more for a home here ($294,832) compared to May 2020, while median home price dipped slightly (0.4 percent) to $289,500. 77008 It was another strong month in the
Greater Heights area, with the 129 home sales representing the highest total sales volume among local zip codes. The mark also represented an 89.7 percent year-over-year sales spike compared to the 68 sold in May 2020. Agents have closed on 557 homes here through the end of the month, or a 66.8 higher volume than during the same time period last year. This area was also one of just two local zip codes to see a year-over-year rise in both average and median home prices. Average price spiked 13.6 percent up to $622,533 in May 2021, while the median home price went up 11.1 percent to $552,000. 77009 The eastern edge of the Heights, which includes Woodland Heights and Norhill Heights, was another of the area’s biggest year-over-year risers. There were 61 homes purchased here last month, a 125.9 percent spike compared to last year’s May total of 27 sales. On a year-to-date basis, this zip code has seen a 46.7 percent increase
through the end of May, with 264 home sales compared to 180 during the same period last year. On the pricing front, this area was the only local zip code to experience a dip in both aspects. The average buyer paid 3.4 percent less ($537,340) compared to May 2020, while median home price dipped 4.3 percent to $485,000. 77007 On the southernmost edge of the area, the zip code including Rice Military, Washington Avenue and St. Thomas High School was last month’s sales volume winner. The area saw a 147.8 percent year-over-year spike, with 114 homes coming off the market compared to 46 in May 2020. There have been 434 sales to date in the area, which is 50.7 percent ahead of last year’s mark of 288 during the same period. Pricing wise, the area saw a 24.8 percent increase in average home price ($607,925), while median price rose slightly (0.9 percent) to $469,000.
REALTOR SHOWCASE
Jared Lofton of Lofton Realty finds purpose in real estate By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
In his youth, Jared Lofton had aspirations of playing professional basketball. And though that may not be how things eventually played out, he believes his life has all come together in perfect purpose as a realtor as he guides clients through the home buying and selling process. “I thought I was going to the NBA, but I ascertained my MBA instead,” he said. “I was off by one letter, but I’m living my purpose and passion in real estate. I found it, and I’m trying to live that out every single day for the rest of my life.” Lofton, who owns Lofton Realty at 1415 N. Loop West in the heart of the Heights, received his undergraduate degree in Finance and Business Administration before moving to Houston to finish his master’s degree. He worked at Keller Williams Realty for three years while becoming a real estate broker before launching Lofton Realty in 2008. Lofton said his passion has never wavered since purchasing his first home as well as several investment properties when he was 20 years old in Louisiana, and that his financial background can be mutually beneficial to both buyers and sellers. “When I was in college, I realized that I was spending a lot of my time visiting open houses, and I discovered that I was passionate about real estate. So I decided to take my finance degree and get into real estate,” he said. “I’m able to help my clients make a sound financial decision as opposed to an emotional decision – I’m able to analyze the financial data more than average realtor. My clients can get the benefits of my MBA without having to pay extra fee for it themselves.” Working with a mix of buyers and sellers, Lofton focuses primarily on residential real estate, but has also sold over $30 million in commercial properties as well. And while his office is based in the Heights, he also focuses on many inner loop neighborhoods such as Garden Oaks, Oak Forest as well as Lindale just outside the Heights. Clients can always reach Lofton, who is available by cell phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. After all, he said it’s all about putting the client and their needs before anything else during what
Jared Lofton can be a stressful process. He does so because he is your neighbor before he is your realtor. While Lofton does believe he brings integrity, in-depth community and market knowledge, marketing savvy and effective negotiation skills to the table to guide people through the buying or selling process, that’s not what ultimately defines him. People first He is a homeowner and community member himself who cares about those around him. Whether it’s picking up trash at local parks, volunteering at nearby Herrera Elementary, conducting his annual back-to-school fundraiser and toy drives at Lofton Realty or donating school supplies, Lofton said he enjoys giving back to the community he lives and works in. Lofton also pours 10-20 percent of his commissions back into local neighborhoods through various fundraisers and sponsorships of local events and has previously been a part of Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring programs.
Whether as a realtor or neighbor, he said he has always embraced any chance to provide for his community any way he can should any such opportunity arise. “I’m invested into the community,” he said. “It’s definitely something I’ve made a focal point of our mission statement.” And when they do decide to come to him to buy or sell a home, Lofton brings a wide breadth of knowledge and information to the table to help guide his clients through a transaction that is often one of the most monumental decisions of their life. He has previously worked with Merrill Lynch as a financial planner, which he said gives him a unique ability to analyze investments and give his clients the best service possible. He is also member of the Houston Association of Realtors, and was previously named one of the “Top 30 Realtors Under 30” by The National Association of Realtors. Whether it’s a first home, the search for a dream home, or anything in between, Lofton combines the professional expertise needed for such a process with a personal touch and true desire to do what is best for those around him. From real estate to anything else, he said that is one thing he will never change about himself. “I won’t sell something to anybody unless it was something that I would buy myself. I don’t sell just anything – I have patience. It’s the largest purchase, more than likely, that they’re going to make. I value one dollar as if it were $100,000,” he said. “It’s about making sure it’s a smart financial decision as well as trying to find that diamond in the rough for them. I try to focus on what’s the best long-term investment for them.” All he wants, he said, is a chance to earn your trust. Current mortgage interest rates are at an all-time low with 15-year mortgages at 2.57 percent and 30-year mortgages at 3.48 percent. “I’m your neighbor, I’m your friend, and I’m in the community,” he said. To buy or sell a residential or commercial property with Lofton, community members can call him day or night at 281-773-7904 or email him at Jared@LoftonRealty.com. To find out more about what he can do for them, they can also stop by the office in person or visit Lofton Realty’s website at LoftonRealty.com/.
Julie O’Neill
Jared L. Lofton, M.B.A.
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METRO Debbie Kotzur 713.822.4951
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The Leader • Saturday, June 26, 2021 • Page 3B
Pets can be kept calm during fireworks
Dear Tabby, With Fourth of July coming up, I was wondering what I should do to make my dog and cat more comfortable during the fireworks show. Any tips to help them relax with all of the booms happening outside? Fireworks Fright in Woodland Heights Independence Day is upon us and post-COVID July 4 celebrations are bound to be a little more raucous than usual and will likely include even more fireworks than normal. For many pets, the fireworks on the Fourth of July are terrifying. The noise and unpredictability of fireworks are enough to send most dogs and many cats over the edge. The good news is that with a little planning ahead, you can set your pets up for an Independence Day success by making sure they are comfortable and have everything they need to stay calm and collected on this loud holiday. Keep them inside For both dogs and cats,
please make plans to keep them indoors during the fireworks. It might seem like a fun idea to take Fido along to a firework show, but please know that this would end up being zero fun for your pet and even less fun for you. The better idea is to make your dog and cat safe, comfortable and cozy areas to hang out inside your home during prime firework hours. This can be a temporary cozy shelter for them, so choose a place they especially like to hide in -such as a closet or under the bed and let them go wherever they seem to feel the most secure. Plan ahead Well before the fireworks shows begin, take your dog for a walk to exhaust him of any extra energy. This will help to keep him calm and maybe help him to relax during the fireworks. This will also give him ample opportunities to get all of his “business” taken care of on the walk, reducing the risk of him having potty accidents inside during the fireworks. Make sure they’re wearing ID Even if you plan to keep your pets inside during the July 4 festivities, please make sure their microchips and/or tags are current and up to date
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Page 4B • Saturday, June 26, 2021 • The Leader
Shepherd Forest teen hosts book drive for kids in need By Zarah Parker
also utilized Facebook to spread the news. “I’ve just been so thankful to the community,” Kinloch said. “I’ve gotten way more books than expected.” Her original goal was to collect 500 books, but she’s already collected more than 1,000. The book drive ends July 15 and if someone has books to donate, they can contact Kinloch through email at akinloch@att.net. Donated books must be gently used and appropriate for children, so no books
zarah@theleadernews.com
Incoming Lutheran High North senior and Shepherd Forest resident Ainsley Kinloch is an avid reader. “Growing up I really had a passion for reading ad I loved going to the book fairs at school,” Kinloch said. “I was the kid who used to stay up all night reading.” But when she realized not every kid has access to books the way she did growing up, she wanted to do something about it. With a book drive in mind, her mom helped her find Books Between Kids, an organization that collects and distributes gently used books to elementary-aged children in need that live in the Houston area. Kinloch cited a statistic on the Books Between Kids website as one of the reasons she chose to host a book drive for the organization: “About 85% of Houston ISD’s elementary-aged
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Contributed photo Incoming Lutheran High North senior and Shepherd Forest resident Ainsley Kinloch is collecting books for a book drive she is hosting for Books Between Kids.
children live at or below the poverty line.” “I wanted to do something good for the community dur-
ing my summer,” Kinloch added. “I didn’t want to just sit around.” She started the book drive
Movie night planned at Marmion Park By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com
The Houston Heights Association and Village Heights Church, 311 W. 18th St., are teaming up to host a free movie night next month at Marmion Park, 1810 Heights Blvd. Hannah White, co-pastor of Village Heights, said the reason for the event is to get the community together for some summer fun. “After the craziness we have all experienced over the last year,” White said, “we’re excited to create an opportunity for our neighbors to enjoy a leisurely summer moment together.” The family-friendly outdoor movie night is scheduled for 7 p.m. July 22. Event goers are asked to bring their own chairs or blankets, but complimen-
with broken spines, textbooks, religious books or self-help books. Some adult books have already been donated, however, and Kinloch has plans for those as well. Any books that aren’t children’s books, she’s donating to the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, where the books are given to patients or set out for visitors. “I want give (the books) to a place where I know they will be used and enjoyed,” Kinloch said.
tary popcorn and lemonade will be available until supplies run out. The Citizens Truck will also be on site selling additional treats. “Village Heights loves supporting and partnering with the Houston Heights Association as often as possible,” White said. “Village Heights has volunteered at many of the events hosted by the HHA
each year. We also love having wonderful spaces around the neighborhood to rent for our own events. When two organizations that love our neighborhood as much as we both do come together, only great things can happen.” If there’s a good turnout for the event, White said the organizations plan to host more in the future.
in mid-May and ended her school year asking all her friends at school to donate books. Since then, Kinloch’s
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