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Saturday, October 30, 2021 • Vol. 66 • No. 44
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SPX fires educator for ‘boundary-crossing’ behavior By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
St. Pius X High School recently fired a teacher and athletic coach over what it called a “pattern of boundary-crossing behavior” by the male faculty member in his interactions with students. Head of School Daniel P. Martinez, in an Oct. 22 email sent to parents and guardians that was obtained by The Leader, said the dismissal stemmed from an internal investigation into allegations of inappropriate comments
made to students by the teacher and coach. Martinez said Monday that multiple students came forward last week about multiple encounters with the employee, who was placed on administrative leave Oct. 20 and terminated with cause two days later. Martinez said the alleged behavior by the teacher and coach was not physical or abusive, but showed favoritism, over-familiarity and a lack of respect for personal space. The Leader is not naming the former faculty mem-
ber because he has not been arrested or charged with a crime, according to Martinez, who said the private Catholic school at 811 Donovan St. reported its findings to the Houston Police Department and Texas Education Agency. “It was a pattern of behavior where it led students to feel uncomfortable,” Martinez said. “After that first report (was made by a student early last week), the comments (by other students) were, ‘There’s See SPX P. 6A
Photo by Adam Zuvanich St. Pius X High School dismissed a teacher and coach over what it determined was inappropriate comments made toward students.
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INSIDE.
Family tradition. Halloween is an especially enjoyable occasion for an Oak Forest family.
Page 6A
Contributed photo Andrew Bell, a 5-year-old Oak Forest resident, created a 3D replica of Minute Maid Park for a kindergarten project earlier this year. He’s planning to stay up past his usual bedtime to watch the Houston Astros in the World Series.
Area fans show team spirit for World Series By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
Bound for Barcelona. Heights artist Elena Sandovici will soon display her work in Spain.
Page 11A
In her honor. Friends of a late area resident made a Dia de los Muertos altar to celebrate her.
Page 5B
Sports enthusiasm can take many forms depending on the fan and their stage in life. The fandom of one local boy is in rare form as he recently took a creative avenue for expressing his passion for his hometown See related baseball team. column by Adam Oak Forest resident Rebecca Bell Zuvanich said her 5-year-old son, Andrew, a TPage 5A ball player with the Oaks’ Dads Club, recently turned in his first kindergarSee related story ten project, which was to make a 3D replica of a community building. And Page 6A Andrew’s building of choice was none other than Minute Maid Park, where the Houston Astros hosted the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday and Wednesday for the first two games of the World Series. “He chose Minute Maid Park because he believes in the Contributed photo Astros, and feels that October brings the community togeth- Garden Oaks resident Jaime Zamora, left, takes a selfie with er,” Rebecca Bell said. friend Paul Holland during Game 6 of the ALCS last week at Minute Maid Park. See Astros P. 7A
See Redistricting P. 6A
Local high school bands shine in UIL competition
THE INDEX. Church....................................................... 6A Classifieds.............................................. 7A Coupons. ................................................. 8B Food/Drink/Art............................... 11A Opinion. ................................................... 5A Public Information......................... 2A Puzzles...................................................... 5A Sports. ....................................................... 7B
Some area residents will soon need to familiarize themselves with a new crop of elected officials and challengers who will be trying to earn their votes next year and beyond. The Republican-controlled Texas Legislature redrew the state’s political maps during a special session that ended recently, with Gov. Greg Abbott signing them into law on Monday. The changes Morales were made in response to 2020 U.S. Census data and, barring any successful challenges in the court system, will take effect with the 2022 election cycle and remain in effect for a period of 10 years. The new maps, which can be viewed online at dvr. capitol.texas. gov, apply to Texas’ delegation in the United States Congress as well as representation in the Fletcher Texas House and Senate along with the State Board of Education. The most noteworthy changes in the Heights, Garden Oaks and Oak Forest areas pertain to congressional districts, with one of the state’s two new districts – District 38 – covering a geographic area that includes Memorial Park and locales immediately to the east and south. District 2, where Republican Dan Crenshaw was first elected in 2018, will no longer include the western part of the Heights along with the Timbergrove and Lazybrook neighborhoods. That area will instead be part of District 7, where Democrat Lizzie Fletcher was first elected in 2018. The central part of the Heights along with Garden Oaks and Oak Forest will continue to be served by District 18, where Democrat Sheila Jackson Lee
By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
Photo from Twitter Members of the Heights High School marching band celebrate as band director Antwan Walters, right, reads results from a UIL regional competition earlier this month.
Since taking over the direction of Heights High School’s band, Antwan Walters said he has talked about band being a place of normalcy and providing a sense of comfort for his students. The metaphor helps blend real-world experiences with what is produced on the field in marching band competition, he said, and can provide a boost to
performance by allowing the students to connect with what they are performing. That sentiment was a driving force behind the “Homeward Bound” production performed at last week’s UIL Region III competition, which ultimately earned the band straight “1” scores from competition judges for the first time in school history and sent the Bulldog band to the Class 6A area competition this Saturday at Legacy Stadium in Katy.
“To see all the work put in acknowledged by the judges in a way not been seen in the history of this school was an amazing experience,” Walters said. “... (The show) is basically about the journey home and what makes you feel home. We talk a lot about the band being a sense of home for the students, so it was an opportunity for us to connect what we’ve already experienced with the students to what they See Band P. 7A
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The Leader • Saturday, October 30, 2021 • Page 2A
Man killed in shooting near Heights By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
Houston police say they are looking into a fatal shooting near the Heights last weekend. The victim’s identity is pending verification by the Harris County medical examiner, according to the Houston Police Department.
Police said a witness told responding officers that he called 911 after finding a man lying on the side of his house in the 1800 block of Bonover Street, after a neighbor had called the witness to report hearing gunshots in the area around 2 a.m. last Saturday, Oct. 23. HPD said there is no known suspect or motive
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The Leader • Saturday, October 30, 2021 • Page 3A
C & D Hardware & Gifts What You Need...Quick & Easy 314 E. E. 11th 11th Street Street • • Houston, Houston, TX TX 77008 77008 314 (713) 861-3551 861-3551 (713) Sale dates October 28th Shop online online at: at: www.CandDhw.com www.CandDhw.com Shop thru November 7th Mon.-Fri. 8am-6:30pm; 8am-6:30pm; Sat. Sat. 9am-6pm; 9am-6pm; Sun. Sun. 10am-5pm 10am-5pm Mon.-Fri.
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Do it Best® stores are committed to truthful and accurate advertising. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this advertisement, descriptive, typographic and photographic errors are subject to Do it Best® stores committed to truthful andliability accurate advertising. Whileerrors. everyThe effort has in been to ensureare thesuggested accuracy by of this typographic and prices photographic errors are subject to corrections and Doare it Best stores shall have no of any kind for such prices thismade advertisement Do itadvertisement, Best Corp., Ft. descriptive, Wayne, IN. These advertised do not include taxes and may corrections and Do it Do Best stores shall have no prices liabilitymay of any kind for some such errors. prices in this are suggested by Do it Best Corp., Ft. Wayne,low IN. prices. These If advertised not include taxes and may vary at independent it Best retailers. Some be higher, may beThe lower, some mayadvertisement be special reduced prices, others may be regular everyday an item isprices out ofdo stock, Do it Best retailers can vary Do it Bestor retailers. Some prices be higher, some mayshown be lower, mayassembly be specialmay reduced prices,on others be regular everyday low prices. an item is out of stock,Flyer Do it 2020 Best retailers © 2020 Do it Best Corp.If C&D 1483 October (2) can offerata independent suitable replacement, a “rain check” for themay advertised item. Colors maysome vary and be required somemay items. offer a suitable replacement, or a “rain check” for the advertised item. Colors shown may vary and assembly may be required on some items. © 2020 Do it Best Corp. C&D 1483 October Flyer 2020 (2)
Page 4A • Saturday, October 30, 2021 • The Leader
Thank You for voting White Oak Medical Associates the
2021 Best Wellness Center
Staff from left: Kassandra Rivas (Medical Assistant), Kristen Tidwell (Registered Dietician), Dr. Jaclyn Harrison, Nichole Thibodeaux (PA), Liz Boundy (Medical Assistant), Mayra Hernandez (Medical Assistant).
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OSL’s Early Childhood Program Our Savior Lutheran School, located at 5000 W. Tidwell Rd., 77091 has a classical early childhood program that strikes a harmonious chord between school-ready academics and purposeful play all within a nurturing Christian environment spring boarding the beginning of their classical Christian education. Some of the ways we highlight those school ready academic skills is by intentional teaching and using carefully chosen curriculums and practices which marries classical education with early childhood education. Our highly trained teaching staff is intentional about teaching early math and literacy skills. We start with the basics of learning the alphabet and numbers and then build on that foundation using the children’s natural curiosity as an opportunity to learn these basic facts and build that solid foundation. Young children love to memorize, sing, chant and rhyme which gives our teachers developmentally appropriate tools for teaching these young children an amazing amount of content. Our curriculums have been carefully chosen to introduce our scholars to the good, true, and beautiful all seen through a Biblical lens. Our literature and poetry are timeless and teach Christian character development. Our teachers emphasize phonemic awareness and proper formation of letters. Early math skills are taught through practicing hands-on experiences and memorization of basic math concepts. Again, songs and chants help our scholars to learn the material in a way that is enjoyable for them. We invite you to see for yourself how special on Wednesday 8:15 a.m. for Coffee and Conversation with Principal Kate Thoelke. November 3 we will also have Early Childhood Director/Assistant Principal Lynette Cherington join us for the conversation. You may observe our Kindergarten Showcase and enjoy a tour of our campus. Then we invite you to join us for weekly chapel following at 9:45 a.m in our beautiful church building. OSL is also excited to announce the return of our annual Fall Festival. It is a free event for our school and local community. This year it will be held on Reformation Sunday, Oct. 31st. from 12pm-3pm. Preceding the festival we are having a 9:30 am church service followed by an outdoor presentation on The Reformation at 10:30 am. All are invited! At noon the Fall Festival kicks off with German food, singing, and dancing! The food is generously provided by the Holy Smokers and live entertainment provided by Das Ist Lustig. In the gymnasium we will have games geared towards the younger kids such as, Go Fish, Treasure Chest, Bean Bag Flip, Nerf ShootOut, Ring-a-drink, and a fan favorite- FACE PAINTING! Outside we will have multiple inflatables and a trunk-or-treat! Put on your family friendly costume and join us for a fun-filled event!
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THE TOPICS. The Leader • Saturday, October 30, 2021 • Page 5A
Drown out the hate with love for our ‘Stros
M
ost of America probably had no problems with Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday night, when the Atlanta Braves became the first team to start the series with a home run and kept cruising in a 6-2 win over the Houston Astros. Baseball fans outside of the Bayou City, you see, tend to dislike the Astros. It’s because they view our local nine as villains, as cheaters, and they’re probably sick of seeing them win. This all started in 2017, when the Astros made their first World Series as an American League team and initially became the darlings of Major League Baseball by beating the Los Angeles Dodgers in storybook fashion (a guy literally wrote a book about the team and its championship run, culminating with star shortstop Carlos Correa proposing to his then-girlfriend on live TV in the aftermath of Game 7). But the fairytale script was flipped in the aftermath of the Astros’ World Series loss to the Washington Nationals in 2019, when it was revealed their hitters had given themselves an underhanded advantage two years
Adam Zuvanich Editor
earlier. The ‘Stros stole signs from opposing catchers and had a system for quickly relaying that information to their batters, using a feed from an outfield camera and banging on a dugout trash can to indicate an off-speed pitch was coming. Houston’s manager and general manager lost their jobs over the ordeal, and the team hasn’t stopped catching flak for it from opposing fans. They want the Astros to be stripped of their title, and they want them to just go away. But you know what? This lifelong Astros fan could not care less about all the hatred and vitriol directed at the franchise. In fact, the rest of the world can just keep it coming. First of all, stealing signs is a
time-honored tradition in baseball and as much a part of the game as sliding and spitting. It’s why managers and coaches frequently mix up the signs they give to their players, because they know the other team is constantly trying to decode their movements and gestures. It’s just that the Astros were doing it differently and probably more effectively than most. And if you think other MLB teams haven’t been doing the same sort of rule-bending and rule-breaking in recent years, you’re either biased or naïve. Also, it’s been nice to see the Astros in the role of big, bad bully after their decades of relative mediocrity and obscurity. Fans in other MLB cities historically had few qualms with Houston’s teams because they posed little threat on the field and had little personality off of it. It took the Astros more than 40 years to even qualify for a World Series, and when they finally got there in 2005, they couldn’t win one stinking game against the Chicago White Sox. Now the Astros are in the World Series for the third time in five
Phone-y dilemma THE PHONE – “One moment, please.... Your call is very important to us.... A representative will be with you shortly.” No she won’t. I’ve been on hold for 30 minutes and no one will talk to me. During that time I’ve given some recorded person my name, address, credit card number and DNA twice, and still get the runaround. I’ve been transferred and cut off, sent to the wrong department and handed over to someone who can’t speak English. America, forget sending billionaires into space, just answer my phone call! No doubt this has happened to you. You make a phone call to a company to straighten out a mix-up, or change your name and address – Vito the Enforcer keeps bothering me about that IOU – or maybe something simple like the time when my credit card company, Dreaded Credit, said my password (“Password”) was incorrect. It’s the same password I’ve been using since Y2K, so nothing’s changed on my end. It’s the credit card company which has messed up, but I spent several afternoons trying to correct their mistake, mostly waiting on hold. I am not alone. The 2019 State of Conversational Marketing Report showed Americans waste a total of 900 million hours every year waiting on hold. The average person will spend 43 days on hold over the course of his or her life. You take a month and a half of your lifetime just waiting. The problem, of course, is money. Companies don’t want to hire people to take care of troublesome customers who need help, or to place an order, or just want to talk to another human after a year and a half of self-confinement behind a mask. So these companies get some kind of machine to handle the problems. When calling, you hear: “For faster service, go to ToxicAirInc dot.com and click on Another Whiner, then type in your order number and state your reason for bothering us.” You are dealing with a computer which doesn’t strike, ask for a raise or charge sexual harassment. Only on rare occasions will you ever talk to a real person, or if you do, it goes like this: Me: “My stove’s air filter doesn’t work. I just bought it from you last week.” The voice on the other end: “Yo stove no heat? Did yo on turn?” Me: “No, the stove is working fine.” The voice: “Then why yo call? Vee veddy busy.” In the background I hear a rooster crowing. He says he’s LeRoy in Omaha. More likely he’s Manuel in Manila who works for a dollar an hour, money he should spend on English lessons. More common is the deadly hold. How long will you hold? That Conversational Marketing Report surveyed
Lynn Ashby Columnist
customers on how long should a business “respond to customer service outreach” (answer the phone). Two-thirds were willing to wait on hold for two minutes or less. And 13 percent said that there’s no amount of time they’d wait. Voice Response, Inc. found that 34 percent of people who hang up before reaching an agent will never call back. After polling 500 consumers, ResearchNow determined that 58 percent get ticked off at waiting, and 48 percent believe calling a business is useless. Overall, 86 percent said they had been put on hold when calling a business. Then there is an Australian man who called Qantas Airline to confirm a flight, back in July 2012. Andrew Kahn claimed he waited 15 hours, 40 minutes and 1 second before he hung up. Callers who rang up the now-defunct Continental Airlines could feel a bit of Kahn’s pain, according to a report. In 2011, FastCustomer, a customer service tech provider, found the carrier put customers on hold for an average of 13 minutes, the longest in its study. Four that also made the top 10 of FastCustomer’s longest-wait list: Air Canada, Delta, Southwest and JetBlue. An AT&T survey found that on average customers will hang up after waiting for 90 seconds, but callers who listened to music while on hold thought a 30-second wait was only 15 seconds. Ah, yes, listening to music while stringing paper clips together or re-writing your resume in hopes of getting a job as a Capitol Hill hooligan. There must be a company that specializes in Maddening Music for Captive Audiences. I keep hearing the same two minutes of music over and over again. The tunes can range from Serbian Polka Serenades to the Best of Fingernails on a Blackboard. Sometimes the music is interrupted by a commercial. “Did you know that you can extend your warranty on your stove’s air filter by only using it on Mondays? Or just don’t even turn it on.” And, of course, “For quicker service, go to www. etc. etc.” Here’s some good news: The pandemic actually improved the time we wait on hold. An average caller waited 37 seconds to get connected to a live agent -- an improvement of 53 percent against the 2019 average of 79 seconds. Experts believe the improvements were because all those people who answer their phones are working from home.
Wait! I am getting a real person. “Hi, I’m Chris. Thank you for calling ToxicAir. May I have your name?” I give him my name. “Lynn? That’s a funny name for a man. Are you sure it isn’t Leon or Larry? Anyway, what’s your problem today?” I explain that my stove’s air filter isn’t working. “No problem.” If there’s no problem, why am I calling? “This is the sales department. Let me transfer you to our complaint department. Oh, sorry. Chas is on his lunch break.” Huh? They only have a single person in that department? I hear a click, then another click, then a busy buzz. I’m cut off. This is true: The answer word in The New York Times’ crossword puzzles question for “Length of time spent on hold” is “eon.”
years, having reached the American League Championship Series every season during that stretch. As a result, their offensive stalwarts such as Correa and second baseman Jose Altuve have become some of the most prolific hitters in postseason history. Houston and its fans now know what it feels like to be the New York Yankees, and isn’t it fun? It’s been equally enjoyable to see the Astros – a talented, confident and resilient bunch during this golden age for the franchise – withstand all the criticism and keep winning in spite of it. They’ve proven they don’t need to know what pitches are coming in order to hit them hard, although they’re probably still trying as hard as ever to gain an edge and the upper hand over their opponents. I’ll keep rooting them on and relishing in their success, which I hope continues this week and possibly next. Only the first game of the series had been played before press time, with the best-of-seven set shifting to Atlanta for the weekend and potentially returning to Houston for Games 6 and 7 early next week.
Battling the Braves is both nostalgic and fitting for fans of a certain age, like me, who remember all too well the encounters in the National League playoffs in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The Astros and their Hall of Fame sluggers Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio were no match for Atlanta’s vaunted pitching rotation of fellow Cooperstown inductees Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux and John Smoltz, who sent the ‘Stros packing in 1997, 1999 and 2001 before Houston exacted some revenge against a retooled Braves team in 2004 and 2005. Talk about a team to hate. And Braves fans still do that insufferable “tomahawk chop” chant, which figures to be in full force during the games in Atlanta. Thank goodness for the mute button. Tune out the hate, too, Houston, because it’s really just envy in disguise. Our Astros are good, maybe even great, and the rest of the baseball world is just going to have to deal with it. azuvanich@theleadernews.com
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the leader Puzzlers. Answers found in this week’s Classified section
SUDOKU
aCrOss 1. Impudence 5. Female garment 11. Not twice 12. Mention one by one 16. Cowbarn (British) 17. Promotional material 18. Argentinian artist Zeta 19 South Park guys’ musical 24. Letter of the Greek alphabet 25. Comes into 26. VVV 27. Weaken 28. Costly 29. Weight 30. Financial obligation 31. A way to expel 33. Anoint 34. Stems 38. Belittled 39. Refrain from harming 40. Relating to odors 43. Helps animals metabolize 44. Make neat 45. Ancient Greek sophist 49. A quantity of no importance 50. Used to have (Scottish)
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dOwn 1. Wept 2. All persons 3. Pouches of skin 4. Locates missile targets 5. Furrow 6. Michael Chiklis grew up here 7. Ruthenium 8. Sacred Hindu syllable 9. Roman biographer 10. A way to smile 13. Atomic number 13 14. Can be domesticated 15. Exploded 20. An alternative 21. Foreign Service 22. Robbed by force 23. Made the acquaintance of
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WORD SCRAMBLE
Page 6A • Saturday, October 30, 2021 • The Leader
Local businesses offer bevy of World Series viewing options By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
Any baseball fan has likely yearned to go to a World Series game in their lifetime. And even if they haven’t, many enjoy getting together with friends to either celebrate or commiserate. Whatever way the World Series turns out for the Houston Astros, area residents have plenty of restaurants and bars available to them for gameviewing and camaraderie purposes. “It’s about bringing people together, commiserating when things don’t go so great and celebrating when they do. It’s so cool how much of a baseball city Houston is,” said Casey Motes, co-owner of Eureka Heights Brewing Co. “Last year during the playoffs we weren’t able to do nearly as much, so this year we definitely want to get people together, hang out, have a beer and watch some baseball.” Eureka Heights will be slightly extending its hours at 941 W. 18th St. on days of World Series games. It typically open at 5 p.m. on weekdays, Motes said, but will open doors at 4 p.m. Wednesday and stay open until the end of the Game 2. The brewery will open at 3 p.m. Friday and noon on Sat-
urday and Sunday, provided the best-of-seven series is still going, according to Motes. There are no special beers or drinks, he said, but there will be additional food trucks. “Our team has been all dressed in orange for the last month, and everyone’s so excited about it,” he said. Eureka Heights is not the only area watering hole offering new things this October, however. Lei Low Bar at 6412 N. Main St. will also be showing the games and offering happy hour prices to patrons who wear Astros gear. Great Heights Brewing Company opened its taproom at 938 Wakefield Dr. in August 2017 — just as the Astros began their run to their first and only championship – and has shown the playoffs on TV every year since. This year, co-owner Sean Bednarz said Great Heights recently installed a projector and 100-inch screen on which they will show the games in addition to three other TVs. During the games, he said there will be home run raffles, where tickets with names of Astros players will be handed out to patrons in the taproom prior to the game, and they will get a free beer if their player hits a home run. “There’s a lot of love in this city for the Astros,” Bednarz
1034 W. 20th St., will have $2 Jell-O shots, $4 orange beer, $5 Crawford Bock drafts and an $8 hot dog basket, while Onion Creek Cafe at 3106 White Oak Dr. will offer $4 Yuengling, Crawford Bock and Eureka Heights draft beers. Cactus Cove, 3333 W. 11th St., will provide patrons $3 wells and domestic beers, $4 Crawford Bock drafts, $6 chili cheese fries and nachos, and $8 plain hot dogs and fries. Canyon Creek Café, 6603 Westscott St., is offering $4 Crawford Bock cans, $5 Fresh City draft beer, $7 Minute Maid mimosas, $15 domestic buckets, $8 hot dogs and chili cheese fries, and $8 nachos all series long. All except Onion Creek – which will have the game on an outside projector – will have the games on all TVs. “Not everyone is going to have a World Series ticket, but they still want to feel part of the party and be able to celebrate Houston with their neighbors,” Creek Group spokesperson Sarah Jackson said. “That’s what we’re trying to do at all of our locations.” And while revenue is obviously a factor in any business, all involved said the specials and new arrangements provide a mutually beneficial relationship between business and customer.
said. “It’s easy to come together around a team like that, especially when you’re coming together around beer.” He said the brewery also has a tradition of making World Series bets with breweries from the opposing team’s city, such as having to dress as sharks at the Houston Aquarium after the Astros lost to the Washington Nationals in 2019. This year’s bet, Bednarz said, is with Torched Hop Brewing in Atlanta. The losing team’s brewery will donate $250 to the winner’s MLB foundation, send a box of their beer to the winning team’s brewery and post a photo of their staff wearing gear from the winning city’s team on social media following the series, according to Bednarz. “We think our patrons enjoy seeing this type of bet. It was tough to have to dress up and dance when we lost, but that comes with the territory,” he said. “We’re confident in the Astros, and we think they’re going to pull it out this year. We’d have taken any bet that anyone threw out there for us.” The Creek Group, which operates four restaurant-and-bar concepts in the area, will also have specials during the series at all of its Heights-area locations. Cedar Creek Bar and Grill,
landan@theleadernews.com
Though many area children are putting the finishing touches on their Halloween costume or parents are trying to find that last-minute perfect outfit, one Oak Forest resident is preparing for the holiday much the same way she has for several decades. But it’s not only for the reason that many celebrate each year. While the younger children in her family will indeed partake in the annual stuffing of faces with candy, Halloween has always had a deeper meaning for Susan Moreno, as it was also her late grandmother Lucia Trevino’s birthday. “When she was alive, everyone would usually gather at our house to celebrate her birthday,” Moreno said. “We’d have trick-or-treating, the kids would go through the neighborhood as a group, then we’d come back, sing happy birthday, cut the cake and just be
together as a family.” And even though Trevino died more than 30 years ago, her remaining family members still gather each year to celebrate her life and the deeper meaning behind Oct. 31 for the family. Each year, with the exception of 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions, Moreno said at least 20 family members young and old gather in honor of Trevino’s life and memory – and also to do some trick-or-treating as the holiday intends. The activity doesn’t matter, she said – her grandmother’s spirit was about simply being together, and it’s what they celebrate each year. “For me, it’s an opportunity to be with family – see the kids enjoying a fun activity going trick-or-treating,” Moreno said. “We like to hand out candy and see all the different costumes. It’s about spending time with each other and staying connected.” Above all, Moreno said that was her grandmother’s most
memorable trait – the importance she placed on family, no matter how many or how few were around. She lived that out, Moreno said, and it is what remains the driving force behind the family’s annual Halloween gatherings, especially after not being able to come together in the same manner last year due to the pandemic. Moreno said the family will never take for granted the time they spend together on Oct. 31. And that is just the way her grandmother would have wanted it, according to Moreno. “She was a big family woman, believed in doing things as a family,” she said of Trevino, who died in 1988 from ovarian cancer. “For us, it’s just about remembering her and sharing a holiday with her family – making sure we stay connected with each other and don’t lose that relationship.”
Nonprofit hosting local Halloween event By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
Living A Meaningful Purpose (L.A.M.P.), a local nonprofit, is hosting a Halloween shopping event called “LampO-Ween” from 2-6 p.m. Sun-
will benefit breast cancer research, according to an email from L.A.M.P. executive director Lloyd Lindley Jr. For more information, visit www.lampitup.org or email lampservices17@gmail.com.
day at Posh Virtue Lounge, 5135 Ella Blvd. The event will feature a costume contest and free candy for kids along with a photo booth, disc jockey, food, raffles and a series of vendors. A percentage of the vendor fee
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to respond to open records requests within 10 days. “When it involves a juvenile as a victim, we can’t release the information,” Senties said. The dismissed teacher and coach started working for St. Pius X in 2017, according to Martinez, who said he does not know when the allegedly inappropriate behavior began. While the school and authorities continue investigating, Martinez encouraged others to come forward if they have information or experiences to share regarding the former faculty member. “We stand ready to listen should our current or for-
mer students have additional information they wish to share,” Martinez wrote in his letter to parents and guardians. “We strive to provide a culture in which our students feel empowered to share concerns they may have with trusted adults within the school; our faculty and staff are trained to listen to these concerns with compassion and respect, and to elevate and report these concerns properly and discreetly. “We are grateful to the students who came forward to report these behaviors,” Martinez added, “and we hope students will feel empowered to do the same if necessary now or in the future.”
Redistricting, from P. 1A has held office since 1995. The District 29 seat, held by Democrat Sylvia Garcia since 2019, will continue to represent the Near Northside and Northside neighborhoods along with the eastern part of the Heights, where its footprint has been expanded.
District 147, which will extend well to the south. That district is served by Democrat Garnet Coleman, who first was elected in 1990. District 134, where Democrat Ann Johnson was elected last year, will continue to represent the Timbergrove, Lazybrook and Memorial Park areas. District 139, where Democrat Jarvis Johnson has held office since 2016, will continue to serve the northern parts of Garden Oaks and Oak Forest along with Acres Homes and Independence Heights.
Texas House The area’s district map for the Texas House of Representatives will be more significantly splintered than it has been during the last 10 years, with a total of five districts serving local residents instead of four. District 148, where Demo- Texas Senate The district maps for the crat Penny Morales Shaw was elected in 2020, will continue Texas Senate will remain into include parts of Garden tact as they pertain to the area Oaks and Oak Forest but will served by The Leader. District 15, where Demono longer serve the Heights, Near Northside and Northside crat John Whitmire has served areas. The latter neighbor- since 1983 and is the longesthoods, along with Section 1 tenured member of the state of Garden Oaks, will be repre- senate, covers the Heights sented by District 145, where and Washington Avenue areas Democrat Christina Morales along with Garden Oaks, Oak Forest and the neighborhoods has served since 2019. The southwest part of the to the north and west. District 6, where Democrat Heights along with the WashCarol Avenue and tington goes without saying, but I’ll say itSawyer anyway: “we have all Alvarado was elected to made mistakes.” so aptly “To in 2018, serves the eastYards areasAs Alexander will bePope part of put it:office
GET OVER IT!
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 By Pastor Will Cover for years, or even decades, over youthful indiscretions. In Arise Baptist Church addition, some of us may not be able to forget the sins of our past. And although that may prevent us from repeating 803 Curtin St. Houston TX 77018 them, we must be charitable and forgive ourselves, just as 713-659-9697 • www.arisebaptistchurch.org 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 began this week them; that is, to try he to putWorld them outSeries of our mind and stop repeatedly mulling over them. of the reasons use with theOneAstros and we Braves meetthe phrase “forgive and forget” is because sometimes that is ing for the first time in the Fall the only way to forgive, i.e., by forgetting. But far better, and Classic. is amazing to see all of the more divine, is to be able It to forgive even while remembering the offense. So, we should let go of those unforgiving, energy that goes into these games. The vindictive, shameful feelings about the past, and get over amount of cheering and that it! Corrie ten Boom, who survived incarcerationcelebration in a Nazi prison camp said, “Forgiveness is to set a prisoner free, and people takes place each game leaves to realize that the prisoner was you.”
ern edge of the Heights area along with Sawyer Yards, part of the Washington Avenue corridor and the Near Northside and Northside neighborhoods. State Board of Education The boundaries for the State Board of Education seats that serve the area, District 4 and District 6, were mostly unchanged by the Texas Legislature. District 4 will continue to serve the Garden Oaks and Oak Forest areas, while the northeast portion of the Heights area, east of North Main Street, was added to its footprint. Democrat Lawrence Allen Jr. was first elected to that seat in 2004. The Heights and Washington Avenue areas will remain part of District 6, which is gaining a patch of territory bordered by U.S. 290 to the west, Millwee Street to the north, Mangum Road to the east and West 34th Street to the south. Republican Will Hickman is serving his first team in that seat. Follow Adam Zuvanich on Twitter @AZuvanich
Fall Classic Fun
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been feelings, there’s been awkwardness.’ It was enough for us to say, ‘Yeah, that crosses a line. We don’t think that’s appropriate.’ ” Martinez said the case is being investigated by Child Protective Services and HPD, which will determine whether a crime is alleged to have been committed by the former teacher and coach. HPD spokesperson Victor Senties declined to process a request for the police report made by St. Pius X when reached by phone Monday, saying The Leader needed to file an open records request in order to obtain information about the case. Government entities are required by law
I
St. James Lutheran Church, ELCA
Sunday
“We provide a place where that can happen, with a great atmosphere – lots of high fives and hugs throughout the series,” Bednarz said. “It’s just a
SPX, from P. 1A
Halloween about more than candy, costumes for family in Oak Forest By Landan Kuhlmann
Photo from Twitter Lei Low Bar, 6412 N. Main St., is offering happy hour prices to customers who wear Astros gear during World Series games.
T
with sore throats and husky voices. Cel-
Judge not, and you will be judged; condemn when it ebrations arenot exciting especially not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, involves your team winning the contest. and you will be forgiven...
For the Christian, there is an important R.S.V. Luke celebration that6:37 takes place every week. Every Sunday, when believers in Jesus Christ gather to worship, they are celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave. While it is good and appropriate to celebrate this resurrection on other days throughout the week it is special to gather on the particular day of Christ’s resurrection to celebrate His life. Even though the Sunday celebration is a weekly reoccurrence for the Christian, it should not become mundane or passé. The celebration on Sunday, while it might not have all of the glamour and noise of a baseball game is a celebration
of something with more than just earthly significance. The celebration of Christ’s resurrection has eternal significance for every single person who has ever lived. The choice to either accept or reject the work of Jesus Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection will determine the eternal destination of every person who has ever lived or who will ever live. This is why this celebration has such significance for the Christian. It is not just another time to get dressed up just to sing a few songs, or a time to hear another sermon long or short. This celebration should be a time to refocus on and remember the significance of what Christ did for us. It is a time to point others to the hope that is only found in Christ. It is a time to learn and be reminded of truth that will help us to walk closer with Christ. I will be cheering for the Astros this year as I do every year. I hope they win the World Series. Win or lose though, I am thankful that my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ won the victory for me so many years ago. I am trusting in that victory to give me victory over sin and eternal death. I hope you will join me in celebrating the greatest victory of all time!
The Leader • Saturday, October 30, 2021 • Page 7A
Astros, from P. 1A Andrew is not the only fan excited for the best-of-seven series, which was scheduled to continue in Atlanta this weekend and possibly return to Houston early next week. And there does not appear to be an age limit to fandom, either. Garden Oaks resident and Waltrip High School graduate Jaime Zamora, 57, said he has been an Astros fan for the majority of his life, and the season ticket holder said he was going to be in his normal seats down the left-field line for Games 1 and 2. From Jimmy Wynn to Joe Morgan, Cesar Cedeño to J.R. Richard, Art Howe to Enos Cabell, Craig Biggio to Jeff Bagwell to the current group of Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, Alex Breman, and Yordan Alvarez – Zamora has seen it all. And he said he is doing his best to cherish the opportunity to see his favorite team
reach baseball’s peak once again, after the Astros won their first championship in 2017. “I sat through a near-empty stadium for three seasons while this team lost 100-plus games (from 2011-13) to get to this moment,” Zamora said. “Our Astros are a dynasty. This is the greatest period for baseball in Houston history. Heck, it’s arguably the greatest period in any sport in Houston history.” Making it all the more special, he said, is the fact the team has faced the fallout and fan reaction to the 2017 cheating scandal, and responded like fans have been accustomed to seeing in recent years – by being one of baseball’s best teams. “The vitriol that this team takes from opposing fans every single game just reinforces my love for this team,” Zamora said. “They have tak-
en something bad and have turned it into something good.” Garden Oaks resident Robbie Saladino is another excited fan, and said his love for the team and city was enhanced after his young son met Jose Altuve in 2018. “Jose came over close to where we were. All our fellow Astros fans saw that Altuve came over due to Pete’s consistent waving. Immediately all these great Houstonians joined together and cleared a way for Pete to go get his baseball autographed,” he said, noting his son wears No. 27 - Altuve’s number - in Little League because of the experience. “Pete got to meet his favorite ballplayer... and had a moment an Astros fan will never forget.” For Andrew Bell, this year figures to be the first time he’ll remember seeing the Astros in the World Series.
He was 3 when they returned in 2019 and lost in seven games to the Washington Nationals. His mom said he could not wait for the series to begin so he can watch his favorite player in Altuve who she said he will dress up as for Halloween this weekend - and the rest of the Astros. “He can tell you the starting lineup, the batting order, what positions they’re playing, and who’s subbing for who,” Rebecca Bell said with a laugh. “He could just sit and watch the Astros all day. ... Every kid has a thing that they really love, and baseball is his.” Regardless of whether fandom is new or old, Andrew Bell, Zamora and Saladino appear to be one and the same in their passion for their hometown team. As he has been at most every
home game since Minute Maid Park – formerly Enron Field – opened in 2000, Zamora will be in his seats down the left-field line this week cheering on his hometown team. He simply could not imagine being any place else on those particular nights. “People have offered me crazy money for this week’s games,” he said. “But no amount equals the thrill of seeing my Astros in the World Series again.” Rebecca Bell said the World Series is also going to give her son a little extra perk that he likely is just as excited for. “He will be staying up past his bedtime to cheer on his favorites,” she said. “Altuve, Carlos Correa, Yordan Alvarez, (Framber) Valdez, (Kyle) Tucker and the rest of the gang...He won’t want to go to bed until he knows that final score.”
Band, from P. 1A produce on the field.” Waltrip High School’s Roaring Ram Band also earned straight 1s in its Oct. 19 regional competition to advance to the area round, which for Class 5A programs was held last Saturday. Waltrip’s band did not advance from the area to state competition, but still relished what it accomplished this year. Waltrip has advanced to at least the area round of competition every year since 1997, the longest such streak in Houston ISD, according to band director Jesse Espinosa. “The last several years, we’ve let them know that it’s been an ongoing legacy here,” Espinosa said. “Having that kind of streak in this kind of situation where fine arts is not altogether supported as they should be, we’re doing something very extraordinary. … If we just go out and do our
best, the results will take care of themselves.” Every band has its own strengths and weaknesses, according to Walters, and he knows it takes a particularly special group to make the history that his 145-member band from Heights did last week. “It shows me that they’ve really bought into the culture and process in which we want to move the program forward,” he said. “When you can get students to buy in on that, it becomes a shared learning experience. It’s not just me telling them to do something. It’s them acknowledging the things I’m asking is only going to make them better.” Much of that, Walters said, is a direct result of student leadership from those such as senior head drum major Emma Rodriguez. Walters called her a “second director”
built around key themes from their respective environments or challenges. The Ram Band’s show, “Street Pop,” was built around songs reflecting street and urban art seen around Houston – including a reflection of composer George Gershwin, a jazz number called “My Man,” by Billie King, “Stardust” – made famous by Nat King Cole – and “Fascinating Rhythm” from YouTube musician Jacob Collier. The songs were originally selected two years ago for a competition, Espinosa said, with the routine reworked around them for UIL competition. “(With COVID), we were up to basically the last little bit of time we had to put things together,” said Espinosa, who noted he also wanted to highlight being one of the few bands in competition from the inner city. “… So it was so
out on the field, with everything from getting his band organized to keeping their morale up. “She has really led the students into the success. We have great student leadership, but she really leads the pack,” he said. “… She knows exactly what I’m thinking. She helps to facilitate what we ask the students to do, and she’s done a great job to get us to that level.” Perfect harmony It was not the easiest path for the Bulldog band to reach new heights, or for Waltrip to continue its streak. Like all Houston-area schools, Heights and Waltrip were forced to conduct certain lessons and sessions virtually due to COVID-19 restrictions after the pandemic’s initial onset in 2020. But that didn’t stop either from shining, with shows
for his students. And though it was not the original focus of the show, he said the obstacles presented by the pandemic became an impromptu realworld application of its theme. It could not have come together more perfectly in Walters’ mind, and the end result was the peak of the Bulldog band’s performance – with an eye on keeping it going this weekend. “It was really the unexpected moment. We knew it was going to be a good run with the show, but we didn’t know the students would go out there and execute the way that they did,” Walters said. “It really became kind of fitting for what we were experiencing at the time. … It really resonated with the kids and they were able to portray that in their production.” Follow us on social media @ FromTheLeader
gratifying that the kids’ hard work and dedication paid off. It was complete satisfaction that the kids were able to earn that from the judges.” Espinosa said he could not be more proud of how his pupils performed in their first competition in over a year, and that he tried everything in his power to help them remember the core of music-making while still focusing on keeping its area-round streak alive. “It’s just trying to relieve the pressure of keeping this going. The students have gotten the point in the idea that everything we’ve done – in terms of putting effort forward as a group – pays off,” he said. “This was the result.” Walters said “Homeward Bound” was selected for UIL competition just after the pandemic’s initial onset in 2020 as part of his ongoing effort to make the band feel like “home”
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Page 8A • Saturday, October 30, 2021 • The Leader
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The Leader • Saturday, October 30, 2021 • Page 9A
JMS our community! Since 1967, we have provided an opportunity for 3-5yo children to learn, play and worship together in a welcoming Christian atmosphere. There is cooperation, patience to practice new skills, make lifelong friends, practice good habits, and learn to be a responsible and kind member of a classroom.
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Page 10A • Saturday, October 30, 2021 • The Leader
Pratt Power Partners helps companies stop overpaying and start saving on electricity By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
When it comes to electricity options for businesses, Garden Oaks resident Brandy Pratt knows there are a multitude of choices. But for anyone trying to navigate these options on their own, the search can be a complex, daunting maze. In Texas alone, there are over 120 different retail electric providers to choose from — where does someone unfamiliar with all these options even begin? That’s where Pratt and her company, Pratt Power Partners LLC, come in. Pratt is an energy broker who works with businesses of all types, industries and sizes. “An energy broker can save their customers time and money while helping them minimize their risks in a volatile and difficult-to-navigate energy market,” she said. Pratt often gets the question, “Why should I use your services when I can call the provider myself ?” When a business contacts the provider directly, they are directed to an internal sales team and quoted a retail electricity price. A broker, meanwhile, has direct relationships with many providers and is quoted a wholesale electricity price. While there is a mark-up, it is often significantly less than the internal mark-up that the provider must pay for their inhouse sales force. “In addition, the provider knows that I’m looking at other suppliers to get the best price for my customers, so it forces them to be competitive,” Pratt said. Like other commodities, energy prices constantly rise and fall. Timing your renewal when the market is down can save thousands of dollars. By waiting until their contract expires, businesses put themselves at the mercy of the market. “The price of natural gas doubled recently, and the price of crude oil closed above $80 per barrel last week for the first time since 2014. No one wants to be forced to renew their contract when the market is so high,” Pratt added. “An energy broker proactively monitors the market to ensure their customers renew at the most advantageous times — which in some cases could be two or three years before the contract expires.” Pratt loves developing cost-saving energy strategies for her customers, a skill she developed in her 15 years leading the accounting departments of
Brandy Pratt
various fast-growing companies. At that time, she used these strategies to help her company’s bottom line. Now she’s using these same strategies for businesses. Pratt works with each customer to understand their current and future energy needs, which is critical in a deregulated power market like Texas. “I NEVER want my customers to go out of contract and be exposed to a variable rate. It’s an expensive mistake to make and can have severe consequences, as we saw during the February freeze when rates soared to $9 per kilowatt-hour,” Pratt said. She met with a lot of business owners who thought they made the smart choice by going with a low-cost energy plan. But they didn’t fully understand how their rates would change in response to that storm. “They were shocked to find that their electric bills for that month skyrocketed,” she added. But working with a broker like Pratt Power Partners will ensure that businesses sign up for electricity plans that deliver sustained cost savings — not just provide the “cheapest” rate. “I help my customers understand the different rates, terms, and contracts offered by providers — all of them wellestablished, stable companies,” Pratt said. “This way, they get their energy needs met at a competitive price — without any unexpected and unwelcome surprises.” Business owners are extremely busy and have to wear so many hats, and an electricity contract is often the last thing on their mind. But it is front of mind for Pratt, who sometimes has to reach out to a customer five or six times before she can get their renewal completed.
“So many times, a business owner may never even see the expiration notice sent by the provider,” Pratt said. “There is a huge benefit to having a broker who knows when their contract expires and whose only focus is taking care of their energy needs.” Pratt is committed to providing superior service and always going the extra mile to help her customers. “I am their advocate and go to bat for them with the electricity provider if the need arises,” Pratt said. “And, I’m paid by the providers based on total kilowatt-hours used, so I never bill my customers for my services.” There are a lot of brokers out there who only contact their customers when it’s time to renew a contract or when the customer adds a new location. But Pratt sees herself as their partner for the long term. Once a customer uses her services, she becomes the main point of contact for all of their energyrelated needs — whether it’s helping with a billing problem, adding or deleting services, or working with the utility company to install a new meter or address a power quality issue. Recently, Pratt helped a new customer save $32,000 on their electricity contract renewal. During the renewal process, the customer mentioned that they had been trying for a year to get a $9,000 termination fee credited. Although she had not been the customer’s broker during that time, Pratt worked with the customer’s former provider for over six months until they finally issued a credit in full. Pratt said all her effort was worth it when she called her customer to share the great news. That level of customer service truly sets Pratt apart from other brokers. And she extends this service to companies of all sizes. No customer is too large or too small for her help. “I always tell businesses that regardless of their size, they should be working with an energy broker,” Pratt concluded. “I pride myself on always taking the absolute best care of each and every one of my customers, whether they have a handful of employees or hundreds.” To find out if Pratt Power Partners is the broker for you, email brandy@prattpowerpartners.com, or give her a call at 832-523-0102. This article is part of The Leader Experts series, where companies pay for editorial content on topics important to the community. If you’d like to be a Leader Expert, contact us at 713-686-8494.
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The Leader • Saturday, October 30, 2021 • Page 11A
Art Valet: Heights artist has Barcelona on her mind Mitch Cohen Art Columnist
When Elena Sandovici chose to be a full-time artist a few years ago, she picked the Heights for her home and gallery space. Barcelona, Spain, is the city that inspired her current installation at her private gallery, Sandovici Gallery, and Barcelona is next on her list of destinations, albeit on more of a temporary basis. Sandovici has been accepted as an exhibitor at Fira Internacional d’Art de Barcelona (FIABCN), an international art fair that will take place Dec. 3-4 at the Museu Maritim de Barcelona. FIABCN is known for its exquisite display of stunning contemporary art by more than 100 established and emerging artists from more than 35 countries. “This will be my first international art fair and hopefully an opportunity to take my career to the next level,” Sandovici told me in an email. “I chose Barcelona because I have a strong connection
Heights artist Elena Sandovici shows off her Barcelona Tiles in her gallery.
to the city having lived there briefly in 2008-09 and having had a small art show there in 2015.” Art Valet: Tell us more about your current exhibit and how it ties into FIABCN. Sandovici: “Barcelona has been a strong source of
inspiration in my work, and as I was preparing for the upcoming art fair and looking for ways to draw my Houston collectors into the experience and share the excitement with them, I decided to revisit a favorite old theme: Some of the sidewalks in Barcelona have a
stylized flower sculpted into them which has become a symbol of sorts of the city. “I have in the past created a small series of what I refer to as Barcelona Tiles – small acrylic on canvas paintings representing the floweradorned sidewalks of Bar-
Photo by Bogdan Mihai
celona in a colorful abstract version,” Sandovici continued. “Because people loved these in the past, I decided to celebrate my acceptance to FIABCN by creating 100 of them and displaying them in my small private gallery in a 1920s Heights bungalow as
a colorful patchwork my collectors can actually interact with.” Guests are welcome to play with the tiles, mix and match, and fashion them into patterns and arrangements they might enjoy seeing on their own walls. The installation will be up until Nov. 6 and you can make an appointment to see it by emailing Sandovici at elenasandovici@gmail.com. Rather than traveling to Barcelona, you can follow Sandovici’s journey to Barcelona by reading her blog at https://havewatercolorswilltravel.com. Sandovici said some of the tiles will travel to Barcelona with her. The other pieces she selected for the art fair are large abstract seascapes as well as a large iridescent painting of a magnolia flower, something definitely inspired by Houston, but which is very typical of Barcelona. Get more details on FIABCN at https://www.fiabcn. com. 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: Rolls at Jellyfish Sushi & Grill packed with flavor By Stefan Modrich smodrich@mcelvypartners.com
When I first learned about Jellyfish Sushi & Grill, I read an article from March of last year about the restaurant’s Japan Nachos in Houstonia Magazine. While I was disappointed that the dish is no longer on the menu, I was glad I found a substitute that was more than acceptable in the specialty sushi roll category — the Jellyfish. The most notable thing I observed about this particular sushi roll is how each ingredient sings on its own and also works as a whole. The Jellyfish is topped with microgreens and a slice of tuna sprinkled with peppercorns. Rolled up under a blanket of rice and seaweed
paper is cucumber and gochujang, a spicy Korean red chili pepper paste. The heat of the gochujang was sufficient enough that the customary wasabi paste was almost unnecessary, but I was glad my server was diligent enough to quickly refill my water to provide me some relief, as did the ginger palate cleanser. Jellyfish has 50 different sushi or sashimi (raw fish without rice) dishes, including individual rolls, classic rolls and specialty rolls. If you prefer cooked fish to raw fish, there are five options available, including Ichigo ($15.95), made with fried shrimp with cream cheese, avocado, strawberry, mango sauce and tajin; and the Skydiver ($15.95), which contains soft shell crab, cucumber, freshwater eel, avo-
grilled chicken breast with butter and sesame seeds; and a shrimp-lime cilantro Soba ($14.95) featuring soba noodles, cilantro and grilled jumbo shrimp tossed in yuzu butter sauce. Jellyfish Sushi & Grill
Address: 3434 Ella Blvd. Dining Options: Dine-in, curbside pickup, delivery Hours: 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m.
ger shrimp), escolar (snake mackerel), salmon and tuna. If sushi isn’t your thing, there are lots of other options on offer at Jellyfish, like Hibachi chicken ($16.95),
Find culinary inspiration from unlikely sources Stefan Modrich
When you’re cooking, inspiration can come to you in any number of spontaneous ways. Sometimes you’re struck by a post from one of your favorite chefs on Instagram, a recipe from a friend or family member, or something you’ve seen on the cover of a magazine at the grocery store. The latter was the case for me when I was making one of my regular trips to Phoenicia Speciality Foods downtown. I stumbled upon an issue of Edible Houston, which featured a golden beet salad with feta cheese. While I knew that scrubbing, peeling and chopping beets was labor-intensive, I was eager to give this dish a try for lunch. Before this, I had only seen beets used in a dessert or in a salad on very few occasions, including paired with a helping of creamy ricotta cheese. I knew it was unlikely that I would be able to carve out an intricate, flower-shaped beet like the photo depicted in the magazine, so I set out to interpret the dish my own way. After steaming a pair of golden beets for about 30 minutes, I didn’t need to use the stove again. This experience was instructive for me in many ways about the art of knife skills and plating, especially when integrating several distinct ingredients. I started by building the
salad from the center of the plate outward, slicing and peeling a grapefruit into flat, hexagonal shapes. Around the grapefruit, I placed the golden beet wedges, which have a natural sweetness to them that is brought out by cooking them. I also set about dismantling a pomegranate to extract and scatter its seeds, which was tedious and messy work, but absolutely worthwhile for its juicy and robust flavor. Circling the outer rim of this vibrant vegetarian solar system are thin radish slices, feta cheese cubes and pecans. You can drizzle some honey and grind some lemon pepper as finishing touches, or your own dressing of choice. With my leftover ingredients, I decided to run it back for dinner later that day, but made use of some fresh cilantro to provide a little more color balance and savory notes to a sweet-forward dish. Both times, I almost felt guilty about taking a fork to this beautiful plate. Thankfully, of course, I have photos to preserve them in my memory. I think the biggest key to making a dish work is having pairs of complementing textures and flavors, like feta and pecan or the acidity of a grapefruit with the mellow neutrality of a beet. I’m already thinking about ways I can tweak this recipe as we go further into the fall. Could I substitute beets for butternut squash? Swap grapefruit for persimmon or pears? Maybe I could even make this salad play
e c a l P 1 Mexican Food
Photo by Stefan Modrich The Jellyfish specialty roll from Jellyfish Sushi & Grill features spicy tuna, sliced pepper tuna, cucumber, gochujang and microgreens.
cado and spicy mayonnaise. There are also more exotic and colorful options like the Rainbow roll ($12.95), made up of kani (imitation crab) cucumber, avocado, ebi (ti-
a secondary role to a marinated flank steak or chicken breast. What recipes are you experimenting with this fall?
Email me at smodrich@ mcelvypartners.com to share what you’re excited about within the culinary realm of the Greater Heights.
Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m.9 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday Entree prices: $7-$26.95 Kid-friendly: Yes Senior discount: No Alcohol: Yes Healthy options: Steamed Edamame ($4.50) Star of the show: Jellyfish roll Rating: 4 out of 5 bites
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Thank You To Our Community For Voting us Photo by Stefan Modrich Pictured is a golden beet salad with feta cheese, pomegranate, pecans and radishes.
BEST MEDITERRANEAN
The Nahhas family welcomes you to both of our locations: GARDEN OAKS 1737 W. 34th St. @ ELLA 713-681-6257 Photo by Stefan Modrich A similar version of this grapefruit beet salad adds cilantro as a garnish.
MONTROSE 912 Montrose Rd. 713-942-2321
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Page 12A • Saturday, October 30, 2021 • The Leader
Thank you for your continued support! • 1st Place- Best General Contractor • 1st Place- Best Architect • 1st Place- Best Custom Home Builder • 1st Place- Best Developer www.covingtonadams.com
Readers’ Choice 2021 The Leader • Saturday, October 30, 2021 • Page 1B
And the winners are ....
Animal Hospital
1st Place - Lucy’s Boutique and Gifts 2nd Place - The Pure Parenting Shop 3rd Place - Threadfare Children’s Boutique
Veterinarian
Antique Store
1st Place - Oak Forest Vet 2nd Place - Forest West 3rd Place - Bayou City Vet
1st Place - AG Antiques 2nd Place - Alabama Furniture 3rd Place - Lovejoy’s Antiques
1st Place - Dr Hallie Moore/Oak Forest Vet 2nd Place - My Door Step Vet 3rd Place - Forest West Vet
Local Furniture Store
1st Place - Eclectic Home 2nd Place - Jubilee 3rd Place - Lucy’s Boutique and Gifts
Pet Emergency
1st Place - Vergi 2nd Place - Gulf Cost Animal ER 3rd Place - Oak Forest Vet
Gift Shop
1st Place - Darlene’s Flower & Gift Shop 2nd Place - Lucy’s Boutique and Gifts 3rd Place - Jubilee
Day Care/Boarding
1st Place - Paws Pet Resort 2nd Place - Oak Forest Vet 3rd Place - Molly’s Mutt House
Grocery Store
Pet Sitter Service
1st Place - Whole Foods 365 2nd Place - H-E-B 3rd Place - Kroger
1st Place - Paws Pet Resort 2nd Place - Tongue and Tail 3rd Place - Puptropolis
Health Food Store
Pet Store
1st Place - Whole Foods 365 2nd Place - Sprouts 3rd Place - Water Tree Heights- added by CK
Grooming
Jewelry Store
Pet Waste Removal
Liquor Store
Pet Treats and Food
Mattress Store
1st Place - Natural Pawz 2nd Place - Petco 3rd Place - Pet Smart
1st Place - Erica Delgardo 2nd Place - JVP Jewelers 3rd Place - Lucy’s Boutique and Gifts
1st Place - Paws Pet Resort 2nd Place - Doggystylez 3rd Place - Yale Street Dog House
1st Place - Spec’s 2nd Place - Total Wine 3rd Place - Premier Liquor 18th Street
1st Place - Scoop le Poop 2nd Place - Doody Calls 3rd Place - Tongue and Tail 1st Place - Natural Paws 2nd Place - Yale Street Dog House 3rd Place - Paws Pet Resort
Bakery
1st Place - Common Bond 2nd Place - Artisana Bakery 3rd Place - El Bolillo
Donuts/Kolaches
1st Place - Shipley’s Ella 2nd Place - Queen Donut 3rd Place - Kolache Shoppe
Asian
1st Place - Hughie’s 2nd Place - Heights Asian Cafe 3rd Place - Thai Spice Heights
BBQ
1st Place - Gatlin’s BBQ 2nd Place - Brisket Houston 3rd Place - Gabby’s BBQ
Hamburger
1st Place - Millie’s Kitchen and Cocktails 2nd Place - Miller’s Cafe 3rd Place - Hubcap Grill
Hot Wings
1st Place - Dream Wings 2nd Place - Wing Stop 3rd Place - Pluckers
It’s the most wonderful time of the year at The Leader -- the day we release the winners of our annual Readers’ Choice Awards, in which community members vote for their favorite businesses and service providers in the Heights, Garden Oaks and Oak Forest areas. Readers selected 1st-, 2nd- and 3rd-place winners in more than 100 categories that cover a wide range of industries, from restaurants, bars and grocery stores to physicians, dentists and veterinarians to real estate professionals and attorneys to boutiques, gift shops and specialty stores. Schools, churches, fitness
2nd Place - Lola’s 3rd Place - Jackie’s Kitchen
Mediterranean
1st Place - Aladdin Mediterranean Cuisine 2nd Place - Niko Niko’s 3rd Place - Zoe’s Kitchen
Mexican
1st Place - Valencia’s Tex Mex Garage 2nd Place - Tony’s Mexican Restaurant 3rd Place - Alma Latina
Tacos
1st Place - Tacos A Go Go 2nd Place - Valencia’s Tex Mex Garage 3rd Place - Alma Latina
Pizzeria
1st Place - The Union Kitchen 2nd Place - Star Pizza Washington 3rd Place - Daddy O’s
Sandwich Shop
1st Place - Ploughman’s Deli 2nd Place - Kojak’s Fine Food 3rd Place - Antone’s
Seafood
1st Place - Crawfish Cafe 2nd Place - Flying Fish 3rd Place - Rainbow Lodge
Specialty Food Store
1st Place - We Olive & Wine Bar 2nd Place - Underhill Urban Farm Co. 3rd Place - Phoenicia
Steak House
1st Place - Rainbow Lodge 2nd Place - B&B Butchers & Restaurant 3rd Place - Doris Metropolitan
Sushi
1st Place - Jellyfish sushi 2nd Place - KA Sushi 3rd Place - Blue Fish
Breakfast
1st Place - Snooze
1st Place - Fuller’s Guitar
Resale Shop/Consignment
1st Place - Houston Junior Forum 2nd Place - Thread 3rd Place - Alabama Furniture
2nd Place - Arlene Delagarza 3rd Place - Jim Koehn
2nd Place - Lone Star College
After School Program
1st Place - Big Blue Whale 2nd Place - Lovebug’s Playground 3rd Place - Lucy’s Boutique and Gifts
Women’s Clothing Store
1st Place - Children’s Lighthouse of Oak Forest 2nd Place - Lost Forest Tennis Club 3rd Place - Our Savior Lutheran School
1st Place - Lucy’s Boutique and Gifts 2nd Place - Darlene’s Flower & Gift Shop 3rd Place - Jubilee
Lunch
Frozen Treat
Tutor
Shoe/Boot Shop
Brewery
Hair Salon
Home Goods
Bar
Stylist
Music/Record Store
1st Place - Urban Eats 2nd Place - The Union Kitchen 3rd Place - Valencia’s Tex Mex Garage
1st Place - Millie’s Kitchen and Cocktails 2nd Place - Shandy’s 3rd Place - Urban Eats
Date Place
Caterer
1st Place - Cavatore Italian Restaurant 2nd Place - Collina’s 3rd Place - Spaghetti Western
Musical Instrument Store
Smoothies
Ice Cream
Italian
1st Place - Bill Walker Clothier 2nd Place - Manready Mercantile 3rd Place - Proper
Brunch
1st Place - Good Dog 2nd Place - Millie’s Kitchen and Cocktails 3rd Place - Yo Dawg Gourmet Hot Dogs 1st Place - Fat Cat Creamery 2nd Place - Jeni’s Ice Cream 3rd Place - Cloud 10
Men’s Clothing Store
Toy Store
1st Place - Rainbow Lodge 2nd Place - We Olive & Wine Bar Houston 3rd Place - Harold’s Restaurant, Bar & Rooftop Terrace
Hot Dogs
centers and auto shops are included, too. All the Readers’ Choice Awards winners are listed on this page or 7B, and you can find out more about these shining stars of the neighborhood throughout today’s edition of The Leader. We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the local residents who took time to vote either in person or through our website, theleadernews.com. And just as much gratitude goes out to the businesses and service providers we have the honor of recognizing. Your dedication to the community is what makes this part of Houston such a special place to live and work.
1st Place - Gallery Furniture 2nd Place - The Pure Parenting Shop 3rd Place - Texas Mattress Makers
1st Place - Brisket Houston 2nd Place - Uptown Catering 3rd Place - Underhill Urban Farm Company
Service
1st Place - Tropical Smoothie 2nd Place - Star Berry Snoballs 3rd Place - Smoothie Strong
1st Place - Sweet Frog 2nd Place - Star Berry Snoballs 3rd Place - Jeni’s Ice Cream 1st Place - Eureka Heights 2nd Place - Brash Brewing 3rd Place - Great Heights Brewery 1st Place - We Olive Wine Bar 2nd Place - Harold’s Restaurant 3rd Place - Cottonwood
Coffee Shop
1st Place - Slowpokes 2nd Place - Roast and Brew 3rd Place - Boomtown
1st Place - Millie’s Kitchen and Cocktails 2nd Place - Harold’s Restaurant, Bar & Rooftop Terrace 3rd Place - Valencia’s Tex Mex Garage
1st Place - We Olive Wine Bar 2nd Place - Harold’s Restaurant, Bar & Rooftop Terrace 3rd Place - Valencia’s Tex Mex Garage
Takeout
Wine Bar
1st Place - MytiBurger 2nd Place - Rice Box 3rd Place - Valencia’s Tex Mex Garage
Place to Host a Party
1st Place - We Olive & Wine Bar 2nd Place - Wakefield Crowbar 3rd Place - Harold’s Restaurant, Bar & Rooftop Terrace
Patio
1st Place - Harold’s Restaurant, Bar & Rooftop Terrace 2nd Place - Cavatore Italian Restaurant 3rd Place - Heights Bier Garten
Family Entertainment Center 1st Place - Delmar Lanes 2nd Place - Love Bugs Playground 3rd Place - Triple Crown Bingo
Community Theater
1st Place - Theatre Suburbia 2nd Place - Ensemble Theatre 3rd Place - HITS Theatre
Live Music Venue
Happy Hour
1st Place - We Olive Wine Bar 2nd Place - Plonk! 3rd Place - Sonoma
Sports Bar
1st Place - Harold’s Restaurant 2nd Place - Wakefield Crowbar 3rd Place - Christian’s Tailgate
Cocktail Bar
1st Place - Better Luck Tomorrow 2nd Place - Valencia’s Tex Mex Garage 3rd Place - Johnny’s Gold Brick
Dive Bar
1st Place - Sassafras 2nd Place - TA’s Cargo Club 3rd Place - Catty Corner Ice House
Nursery/Day Care
1st Place - St Ambrose Early Childhood Center 2nd Place - The Oaks Preschool 3rd Place - Johnson Memorial School
Learning Center
1st Place - BRASS MONKEY BAR & GRILL/Delmar Lanes 2nd Place - Heights Theater 3rd Place - White Oak Music Hall
1st Place - Garden Oaks Early Learning Center 2nd Place - St Ambrose Early Childhood Center 3rd Place - The Family Garden
Local Museum
Private/Parochial School
1st Place - Children’s Museum 2nd Place - Art Car 3rd Place - Museum of Fine Arts
Art Gallery
1st Place - The Whimsy Artisan Boutique 2nd Place - Menil 3rd Place - Silver Street
Local Artist
1st Place - Elizabeth Claws
1st Place - Our Savior Lutheran School 2nd Place - St Ambrose Catholic School 3rd Place - St. Rose of Lima
Public School
1st Place - Sinclair Elementary 2nd Place - Oak Forest Elementary 3rd Place - Durham Elementary
Community College
1st Place - Houston Community College
1st Place - Susan Sessions Tutoring 2nd Place - Edu PrepSpace 3rd Place - Nell Baham 1st Place - Valor Barbershop 2nd Place - Revive Salon and Spa 3rd Place - 3930 Ego
1st Place - Brock Conrad / Valor Barbershop 2nd Place - Carmen / Revive Salon and Spa 3rd Place - Jana Nguyen /3930 Ego
Day Spa
1st Place - Forever Young by Sandee 2nd Place - LV Nails 3rd Place - Revive Salon and Spa
Tanning Salon
1st Place - Tanoholics Anonymous 2nd Place - Forever Young by Sandee 3rd Place - Glo Girl
Manicure/Pedicure
1st Place - LV Nails 2nd Place - Fizz Nails 3rd Place - Ritual Pedi Spa
Esthetician
1st Place - Jubilee 2nd Place - Urban Soles 3rd Place - Proper 1st Place - Jubilee 2nd Place - Bliss On 19th 3rd Place - Eclectic Home 1st Place - Vinyl Edge
Hospital
1st Place - Memorial Hermann 2nd Place - Texas Children’s 3rd Place - Houston Methodist
Physician
1st Place - Dr. Alpesh Desai 2nd Place - Rebecca Berens with Vida Family Medicine 3rd Place - Dr. Jaclyn Harrison
Assisted Living Home
1st Place - The Forum 2nd Place - Village of The Heights 3rd Place - Brookdale
Chiropractor
1st Place - Dr. Greg Green 2nd Place - Dr. Nataly Perez 3rd Place - Dr. Jenny Le
1st Place - Kalia Broussard / Abbie Starr Skin Bar 2nd Place - Sandee Trevino / Forever Young 3rd Place - Marita Ward / The Little Spa
Cosmetic Surgeon
Church
Dentist
1st Place - New Day Church 2nd Place - Arise Baptist 3rd Place - Village Heights Church
Minister
1st Place - John Wethington / New Day Church 2nd Place - Bill and Hannah White / Village Heights Church 3rd Place - Arise Baptist / Will Cover
Non-Profit
1st Place - Eye See HOU 2nd Place - Animal Justice League 3rd Place - Oak Forest Foster Closet
Local Politician
1st Place - Dan Crenshaw 2nd Place - Shelia Jackson Lee 3rd Place - Lina Hidalgo
Bookstore
1st Place - Jubilee 2nd Place - Kaboom
Bridal Store
1st Place - Bliss On 19th 2nd Place - Ventura’s 3rd Place - Lucy’s Boutique and Gifts
Children’s Clothing Store
1st Place - Dr Michael Streitmann 2nd Place - Dr. Regina Rodham 1st Place - Dr. Mathew Naftis 2nd Place - Dr. Carol Price 3rd Place - Dr. Stephen Gould
Dermatologist
1st Place - Alpesh Desai 2nd Place - Amanda Hassler/ Hassler Dermatology 3rd Place - Dr. Tejas Desai
Eye Care Provider
1st Place - Eye to Eye 2nd Place - Looks Eye Care 3rd Place - Memorial Eye
Massage Therapist
1st Place - Penny Mickel at Authenticity Massage 2nd Place - Melissa Smith at Green Chiropractic 3rd Place - Marcy Basile / Connect Massage
Women’s Health Provider
1st Place - Jenny Le 2nd Place - Texas Lactation Consultants 3rd Place - Dr. Horn
Pediatrician
1st Place - Texas Children’s - Dr. Greeley
See Readers’ Choice P. 7B
Page 2B • Saturday, October 30, 2021 • The Leader
Fall-themed fun had at Wabash Feed & Garden By Stefan Modrich smodrich@mcelvypartners.com
Saturday mornings are prime time at Wabash Feed & Garden, 4537 N. Shepherd Drive. Last Saturday, the garden center was bustling with a slightly different crowd. I walked through a maze of rows of plants, colorful pots and garden decorations, consistent with the “little bit of country in the heart of the city” vibe I saw upon reading about Wabash online before visiting. I noticed families gathered around tables working on what were essentially natural arts and crafts for the store’s Fall Family Fun Day. According to Cindy Champion, one of Wabash’s employees, the event was a success and had between 200 and 300 people attend. “It was a wonderful turnout,” she said. Champion said the event was free to families, with the exception of the cost of a pumpkin. Children decorated pumpkins and painted rocks,
GOOFy GETTING
in the
Stefan Modrich
GREATER HEIGHTS See related video at
theleadernews.com along with crafting bird feeders from pine cones and making chia pets. The group also learned how to plant peanuts, she said. In the past, Champion said the store has held regular classes on a variety of topics, such as making sauerkraut and fermenting vegetables as well as beekeeping, planting and maintaining a garden. “Rock painting was a big success,” Champion said. “I had no idea. I ran out of paint and everything else. We decorated pine cones with peanut butter and put bird seed on them so they can hang them
for bird feeders.” Kids also had the option to make chia pets, terracotta figurines that sprout chia, a grass-like plant that sprouts to resemble hair or fur on the human or animal-shaped figurines. One Greater Inwood resident, Josephine Ledezma, said she found out about the Fall Family Fun Day on Facebook and was there with her daughter Severa Ledezma, 9, nearly from start to finish of the twohour event. “(Severa) loved every single activity,” Josephine said. “She’s an artist. She loves painting and creating art.” For more information, call Wabash Feed Store at 713863-8322 or visit wabashfeed. com/calendar.
Thank you Leader News Readers for voting us “Best Sporting Goods” again ! There’s nothing we like more than getting our neighbors fixed up with good bikes and out there riding ! Doesn’t matter if you haven’t been on a bike in years or are an elite racer, we are happy to help.
iCycle is stocked up with lots of bikes and gear, so come in TODAY and test ride your dream bike. Our expert mechanics can keep your bike spinning smooth or install those upgrade parts you want.
bikeshop.com 2040 E TC Jester 77008 713-862-8520
Shop and Buy on our website
www.icycletexas.com and pick up at the shop!
Photo by Stefan Modrich Local kids paint rocks during Fall Family Fun Day last Saturday at Wabash Feed & Garden.
Open Mon-Sat 10-6
Thank You Leader Readers for Voting Ashley Day 1st Place Best Real Estate Agent in the Leader’s Reader’s Choice Awards for a third consecutive year.
Walking you Home in the Heights and Beyond. Ashley Day Your Walking Agent 504.237.6535 ashley.day@compass.com Ashley Day is a real estate agent affiliated with Compass. Compass is a real estate brokerage that follows federal, state and local laws. Equal Housing Opportunity.
The Leader • Saturday, October 30, 2021 • Page 3B
New Wave Physicians Group Dr. Timothy Carder is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and a member of the Texas Medical Association, American Medical Association and Harris County Medical Society. A native Texan, he was born in Dallas, Texas and grew up in Bogata, Texas, a rural agricultural community in Northeast Texas. Dr. Carder received his medical degree from Texas A&M Health Science Center in College Station, TX and completed his family medicine residency at Texas Tech Health Science Center of the Permian Basin in Odessa, TX. An advocate in health and wellness, he is an active runner and enjoys participating in various running events, from 5K to Marathons. Dr. Carder enjoys caring for patients of all ages and medical conditions. He loves animals and has a special place in his heart for his late dog of 18+ years, Skipper.
New Wave Physicians Group 1917 Ashland St. #100 Houston, Tx. 77008 713-429-0881
We are excited to welcome our community back to our newly renovated Harriet and Joe Foster Family YMCA! With multiple opportunities to engage, a commitment to safety, and personalized options to fit your goals, now is the best time to try the YMCA!
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Thank you for voting us your #1 Flooring Company! We are proud to serve from design to installation in carpet, stair runner, hardwood, tiles, vinyl, cork and gym floors.
Floor Coverings International Houston Heights 5201 Mitchelldale St #B13, Houston, TX 77092
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Page 4B • Saturday, October 30, 2021 • The Leader
PHYLLIS A. OESER
Thanks To Our Community for Voting Us One of the Best in the Neighborhood!
Your Neighborhood Attorney
NLine Automotive is a 3rd Generation Family owned & operated auto repair business established in 1995. Located at 3030 Ella Blvd. just off Loop 610 West, NLine is convenient to Garden Oaks, Oak Forest and the Heights. We specialize in Alignments, Brakes, CV Axles, A/C & Engine Diagnostic, Suspension and Ride Control. NLine is an A+ rated businesses and accepts most extended warranties as well as the Car Care One Card. Our staff is comprised of some of the best suspension and diagnostic technicians in Houston, many with more than 20 years of experience in our shop!
ATTORNEY AT LAW
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2018, 2019, 2020, 2021. Expressing My Gratitude Thanks to all who expressed their confidence in my ability to serve your needs. Thanks to The Leader for continuing to have a format that informs us about our neighborhood and brings us together as a community. There are so many areas that do not have this wonderful resource and therefore are lacking a sense of community. There is no greater compliment than being trusted to serve as your Wills, Probate and Real Estate Attorney for you, your family, friends, and neighbors. I look forward to working with you to provide you personalized service at affordable rates.
Pupotropolis wants to thank the community for your continued support as we enter our 7th year of business. We look forward to serving you and your pets.
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Thank You To Our Community For Voting Susan Sessions Tutoring
Thank You for Voting Us Best Hair Salon
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and
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Tutoring provides the needed boost to help students be the best they can be! Customized programs available. Grades K-12. Contact: Susan Sessions 832-287-5424 Email: sessionstutoring@gmail.com Web: susansessionstutoring.com
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OSL’s Early Childhood Program Our Savior Lutheran School, located at 5000 W. Tidwell Rd., 77091 has a classical early childhood program that strikes a harmonious chord between school-ready academics and purposeful play all within a nurturing Christian environment spring boarding the beginning of their classical Christian education. Some of the ways we highlight those school ready academic skills is by intentional teaching and using carefully chosen curriculums and practices which marries classical education with early childhood education. Our highly trained teaching staff is intentional about teaching early math and literacy skills. We start with the basics of learning the alphabet and numbers and then build on that foundation using the children’s natural curiosity as an opportunity to learn these basic facts and build that solid foundation. Young children love to memorize, sing, chant and rhyme which gives our teachers developmentally appropriate tools for teaching these young children an amazing amount of content. Our curriculums have been carefully chosen to introduce our scholars to the good, true, and beautiful all seen through a Biblical lens. Our literature and poetry are timeless and teach Christian character development. Our teachers emphasize phonemic awareness and proper formation of letters. Early math skills are taught through practicing hands-on experiences and memorization of basic math concepts. Again, songs and chants help our scholars to learn the material in a way that is enjoyable for them. We invite you to see for yourself how special on Wednesday 8:15 a.m. for Coffee and Conversation with Principal Kate Thoelke. November 3 we will also have Early Childhood Director/Assistant Principal Lynette Cherington join us for the conversation. You may observe our Kindergarten Showcase and enjoy a tour of our campus. Then we invite you to join us for weekly chapel following at 9:45 a.m in our beautiful church building.
From our Clients: "I can’t say enough about Led Well Realty. We are busy working parents of two young children and there is no way we could’ve done this without the immense support we received. On top of that, we sold our house at a premium. Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
OSL is also excited to announce the return of our annual Fall Festival. It is a free event for our school and local community. This year it will be held on Reformation Sunday, Oct. 31st. from 12pm-3pm. Preceding the festival we are having a 9:30 am church service followed by an outdoor presentation on The Reformation at 10:30 am. All are invited! At noon the Fall Festival kicks off with German food, singing, and dancing! The food is generously provided by the Holy Smokers and live entertainment provided by Das Ist Lustig. In the gymnasium we will have games geared towards the younger kids such as, Go Fish, Treasure Chest, Bean Bag Flip, Nerf ShootOut, Ring-a-drink, and a fan favorite- FACE PAINTING! Outside we will have multiple inflatables and a trunk-or-treat! Put on your family friendly costume and join us for a fun-filled event!
Ginny Ledwell
Isabella Flores
Nicole Fowler
Candace Helstrom
Terry Jeanes
Linell Jones
Liz Petrovich
Robin Hossman
The Leader • Saturday, October 30, 2021 • Page 5B
Friends honor late Woodland Heights resident with Casa Ramirez altar By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
When Crosby Bean first met Karen Hatch in 2005, it was mere days before she was set to leave her Houston condo for South America on a personal trip. But given her proposition soon after, one might have thought the two were old friends. “She was in a play (in Houston), and a friend of mine met her – he told me she was just like me,” Bean recalled. “So after a few months I called her up, and went over to her place. She discovered I had been renting out my place in the area, living here and there and working as a handyman … and offered for me to stay at her place while she was gone. I knew her two days, and moved into her place the next day.” The seemingly stunning act of generosity was par for the course for Hatch, a Woodland Heights resident who died in January at age 59 following a four-month battle with cancer. Now Bean and a group of Hatch’s friends are constructing an altar to honor her at Casa Ramirez Folkart Gallery, 241 W. 19th St. in the Heights, ahead of the annual Dia de los Muertos holiday. Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is an annual Mexican holiday in which people honor and remember their friends, loved ones and ancestors who have died. The holiday is Nov. 1-2. Casa Ramirez is displaying the altar honoring Hatch as well as other altars, or ofrendas, through Nov. 14. “This is a beautiful time of remembrance, and it becomes very personal. That’s what makes it so very special – there’s a lot of ritual involved with it, and I think people find that very appealing and comforting,” said Casa Ramirez owner Chrissie Dickerson Ramirez, noting the shop typically displays at least six altars per year. “(The holiday is) in-
tended to be joyous. It can be bittersweet and hard at times, but we’ve always said it is an opportunity for people to try to resolve some feelings and move on.” The altar honoring Hatch will consist of various pictures of her along with flowers, pieces of jewelry she created and more that represent her passions. Early in her life, Hatch was an actress who performed in musicals and modern plays in Washington, D.C., Houston and elsewhere before beginning to teach fitness and dance in the Houston area. Most recently, she was a teacher at Language Center International’s Houston school teaching conversational and business English to non-native speakers and helped at a Spanish summer camp called Camp ConMigo in the Heights by teaching Latin dance and music. “She’d help other people even when she didn’t have enough herself – she’s that kind of person,” Heights resident and friend Marcelle Hill said. One of kind Hill said she met Hatch while Hatch was teaching Zumba in the Heights, shortly before Hatch created her dance and fitness studio called Zumbellybolli, and later referred her to LCI. Hill was immediately drawn to Hatch’s free spirit, she said, along with her fearlessness and zest for life. “She was very warm, and I could connect with her,” Hill said. “She was an open person, and so am I – I gravitate to very creative people, because I’m more of an analytical person but I love the arts. She was very open, and she was just a wonderful person.” Kim Martinez, who founded Camp ConMigo in 2005 and brought Hatch on, echoed the sentiment. “She lived a very free life filled with travel and learning new things,” Martinez said.
“She was always willing to try something new. (Hatch) was fearless. She was just a happygo-lucky person.” Eva Felder worked with Hatch – who was fluent in Spanish – at Camp ConMigo for almost eight years prior to her death, and said her spirit never faded. From their deep talks about different cultures to her passion for dance and commitment to making the lives around her better, Felder was in awe of the freedom and passion with which Hatch lived. “Not everybody is the free spirit that she was,” Felder said. An online obituary said at one point in her life, Hatch traveled to Argentina to learn the tango, later incorporating music and dances from her travels in Central and South America into teachings in the Heights and Houston area. It was one of the unique things about her, Bean said – the ability to make everything her own. “She had a way of weaving her brilliance and commitment into it. She could take what is and transform it to make it completely her own,” Bean said. “It’s like an artist having a white canvas, then coming in and putting all these colors on it – what was just white was now this great thing, and that’s what she did with everything she committed herself to.” Uniting spirit Martinez said none of the friends constructing the altar knew each other well prior to helping Hatch following her cancer diagnosis in September 2020. But her death has given way to a silver lining in a new group of friends uniting to remember her spirit and celebrate her life in conjunction with Dia de los Muertos. “I think bringing people together for a special person in our lives is great,” Martinez said. “We’re working together to remember her and celebrate everything she was.”
GO DIGITAL TODAY!
Felder said Hatch gave each one of her friends something to remember her by before her death, whether it be a piece of jewelry she created or her old cowboy boots, that each holds
dear. It was one last gesture of giving back – even in her final days – that was a microcosm of her spirit. And though she is no longer here, her friends say her im-
pact through such actions will be her legacy. “Just being around her,” Bean said, “she kind of changes how you see things.”
Photo by Christina Martinez Crosby Bean, Eva Felder, Kim Martinez and Marcelle Hill constructed an altar for the late Karen Hatch.
Photo by Christina Martinez A Dia de los Muertos altar honoring late Woodland Heights resident Karen Hatch is being displayed at Casa Ramirez Folkart Gallery, 241 W. 19th St.
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Page 6B • Saturday, October 30, 2021 • The Leader
Nibbles & Sips: Thai-Mexican fusion restaurant opens in Northside By Stefan Modrich smodrich@mcelvypartners.com
The owner of a fusion food truck called Pho-Jita opened a brick-and-mortar version of its concept Oct. 21 in the Northside neighborhood. Sao Lao Thai Kitchen, 5013 N. Shepherd Drive, held its soft opening last week. The Thai-Mexican restaurant is open from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call 832-880-8519. Brewpub opens in Heights A new microbrewery opened last weekend in the Heights. Elder Son Brewing Company, 946 N. Shepherd Drive Ste. A, held its soft opening last Saturday. The brewpub, founded by Robert Frye, will open again from 4-10 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call 713-819-6806. Antone’s offering free sandwiches next week A local sandwich shop is offering free sandwiches Nov. 3 along with discounts during World Series games as the Houston Astros take on the Atlanta Braves in a best-
of-seven series to determine Major League Baseball’s champion. Antone’s Famous Po’ Boys, 2724 W. T.C. Jester Blvd., is giving away free classic po’ boys with the purchase of any sandwich on Nov. 3. Also, Antone’s is offering $1 discounts on all classic po’ boys on game days, including Tuesday-Wednesday, FridaySunday and the following Tuesday-Wednesday if the series continues. Coffee shop opens along Washington Avenue corridor A new coffee shop opened last week on the grounds of a church in the Washington Avenue area. The Coffee House at West End, 802 Shepherd Drive, held its soft opening Oct. 22 and planned to hold its grand opening this Friday, Oct. 29. The coffee shop is located on the campus of West End Church and serves craft coffee and tea in a space with three floors and a rooftop patio. The Coffee House at West End is open from 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. For more information, call 281-277-6767. Coastline Pizzeria to
open in former Cafeza space A new upscale pizzeria is set to open next year at the corner of Houston Avenue and Crockett Street. Coastline Artisan Pizza, 1720 Houston Ave., will open next spring in the space formerly occupied by Cafeza, a Latin-style coffee shop. Cafeza closed July 31 due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information, call 281-846-6522. La Fondita relocates to Northside A Mexican restaurant that has served the Heights for more than two decades has a new home. La Fondita Michoacan moved earlier this month from 1010 N. Shepherd Drive to 1520 N. Loop East Fwy. Ste. 3 in Northside Village. The restaurant’s new hours are 8 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. For more information, call 713-869-8110. Drip’d Donuts opening on Washington Avenue A new donut purveyor is headed to the Rice Military area this fall. Drip’d Donuts, a project of Don Bowie and Amir Ansari, will open at 5909 Washington Ave., just east of Memorial
Park. Bowie, a Houston native, also owns Taste Bar + Kitchen in Midtown. Duck n Bao expands to Rice Military A Cypress-based Chinese restaurant opened another location last week in Rice Military. Duck n Bao, 5535 Memorial Drive Ste. O, specializes in Peking Duck, dumplings and Sichuan cuisine. It is open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. daily. For more information, call 832-849-1783.
Photo from Facebook Sao Lao Thai Kitchen, 5013 N. Shepherd Drive, held its soft opening Oct. 21.
Elder Son Brewing Company, 946 N. Shepherd Dr., opened last weekend.
Photo from Facebook
CLOSEOUT PRICING
We have a limited supply of the popular “Our Veterans” book first published in the fall of 2019.
Copies now available for $19.
at The Leader office: 2020 North Loop West, Suite 220 or order online at theleadernews.com
713-686-8494
The Leader • Saturday, October 30, 2021 • Page 7B
Sam leads Waltrip to first win of 2021 By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
Last Week’s Scores
The Waltrip Rams have had a tough road during the 2021 high school football season, but finally managed to break through last week and get their first win of the year thanks in large part to their biggest offensive outburst of the season. Waltrip took down the Northside Panthers 54-0 at Delmar Stadium, snapping its seven-game losing streak to start the year. Senior running back Kahlen Sam rushed for 157 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries, and added a 68-yard touchdown catch for the Rams. He tallied his fourth 100-yard game of the season, and it was the second time in the last three weeks he has rushed for multiple scores. Quarterback Max Cuevas threw for a season-high 129 yards and three touchdowns for the Rams (1-7, 1-6 district), one each to Sam, Daniel Ladet, and Shaun Crawford Jr. In other public school action, Scarborough fell to 0-8 with a 56-0 loss to Wheatley, while the Booker T. Washing-
Waltrip 54, Northside 0 St. Thomas 37, St. Pius X 14 Yates 51, Booker T. Washington 9 Wheatley 56, Scarborough 0
This Week’s Schedule Thursday Scarborough vs. Kashmere, 7 p.m., Dyer Stadium
Friday Booker T. Washington at North Forest, 7 p.m., Cowart Stadium Heights at Lamar, 7 p.m., Delmar Stadium St. Pius X at San Antonio Christian, 7 p.m. Lutheran High North at Beaumont Kelly Catholic, 7 p.m.
ton Eagles (3-5, 1-4) dropped their fourth straight contest, falling to Yates 51-9. The Heights Bulldogs (3-5, 3-1) were off last week and will look to begin a new winning streak when they take on Houston Lamar on Friday night. St. Thomas wins Shepherd showdown St. Thomas made the short trip up North Shepherd Drive
and came away with a 3714 win against St. Pius X, its fourth straight victory in the head-to-head series between rivals and the Eagles’ ninth win in the last 12 matchups. Jake Wright threw for 373 yards and four touchdowns – the seventh time this season he has had at least 300 yards and four touchdowns in a game. Cameron Price hauled in 10 catches for 161 yards and two touchdowns for
Photo by Landan Kuhlmann Waltrip’s Kahlen Sam runs the football during a Sept. 18 game against Fort Bend Willowridge.
St. Thomas (7-2, 4-1), while Samuel Mahlberg caught the other two scoring tosses. Running back Johann Cardenas had 144 rushing yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. Cale Skinner threw his fifth
touchdown pass of the season for St. Pius X (3-5, 1-4) with a 39-yard strike to Jackson Mobley in the fourth quarter. It was the team-leading sixth touchdown catch of the season for Mobley, who caught
three passes for 46 yards. Lutheran High North (1-5, 1-1) had a bye last week, and will be back in action this Saturday against Beaumont Kelly Catholic.
Theatre Suburbia performing ‘Incorruptible’ through Nov. 27 By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
Theatre Suburbia, the all-volunteer playhouse in its 61st season, will perform a dark comedy called “Incorruptible” every weekend through November. The show, set in a monastery in France during the Dark Ages, opened Friday and runs through Nov. 27 at 5201 Mitchelldale St. Suite A-3, with performances every Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. along with two Sunday matinees scheduled for 2 p.m. Nov. 14 and Nov. 21. Sunday tickets are $16, while Friday and Saturday shows are $18 for adults and $16 for students and seniors. Masks are optional but encouraged. Reservations also are encouraged and can be made online at theatresuburbia.
org or by phone at 713-682-3525. “Incorruptible” was written by Michael Hollinger and is being directed by Michele Richey, with assistance from Doris Merten. The actors are Gene Griesbach as Charles, Dean R. Dicks as Brother Martin, Mark Maccato as Brother Olf, Jorge Delarosa as Brother Felix, Alice Rhoades as the Peasant Woman, Darius Hollis as Jack, Jana Smith as Marie and Judith Malernee as Agatha. According to a news release from Theatre Suburbia, the play is about a monastery that has fallen on hard times and is being upstaged by a rival church. “All seems lost until the destitute monks take a lesson from a larcenous one-eyed minstrel, who teaches them an outrageous new way to pay old debts,” Theatre Suburbia said.
Contributed photo Theatre Suburbia is performing “Incorruptible,” a dark comedy set in the Dark Ages, throughout November.
Readers’ Choice , from P. 1B 2nd Place - Bluefish 3rd Place - Dr. Kenya Parks
Urgent Care
1st Place - Memorial Hermann Urgent Care 2nd Place - NEXT LEVEL Urgent Care
Wellness Center
1st Place - White Oak Medical Associates 2nd Place - Dr. Nataly Perez 3rd Place - Dr. Jenny Le
Conditioning 2nd Place - Old Oak Forest Heating & Air Conditioning 3rd Place - Texas Mechanical & Facilities, LLC
Interior Design/Decorator 1st Place - SK Designs 2nd Place - Eclectic Home 3rd Place - Neal LaBoeuf
Hardware Store
1st Place - C & D Hardware 2nd Place - Ace
Weight Loss Facility 1st Place - A New You
Architect
1st Place - Covington Signature Homes 2nd Place - Aaron Lytal - 3D Home Designs 3rd Place - Kevin Barden - Rivers Barden Architect
Custom Home Builder
1st Place - Andrew Adams - Covington Signature Homes 2nd Place - Covington Signature Homes 3rd Place - Tradition Custom Design
Developer
1st Place - Andrew Adams - Covington Signature Homes 2nd Place - Greymark Construction 3rd Place - Titan Homes
Pest Control Company
1st Place - Cherokee Pest Control 2nd Place - Kilgore 3rd Place - Farmer’s Pest Control
Washeteria
1st Place - Soap Suds Coin Laundry
Attorney
1st Place - Phyllis A. Oeser 2nd Place - Thornhill Law Firm 3rd Place - Tonya Knauth
Bank
1st Place - Allegiance Bank 2nd Place - Prosperity 3rd Place - Comerica
Credit Union
Appliance Store
1st Place - Chevron Federal Credit Union 2nd Place - Resource One 3rd Place - Member’s Trust Federal Credit Union
Electrician
Dry Cleaners
1st Place - Nor-West Appliance Store 2nd Place - Home Depot
1st Place - Deuce Electric 2nd Place - Bravenec Electric 3rd Place - Greg Russell Electrical Services
Flooring Store
1st Place - Reinel Solano, Floor Coverings International 2nd Place - Floor Zone
Garden/Landscaping Company
1st Place - Joshua’s Native Plants 2nd Place - Outside Interests Inc., Bobby Penick 3rd Place - Houston Audubon Natives Nursery
Tree Care/Removal
1st Place - Clooney Tree Experts 2nd Place - Ranger Tree 3rd Place - Texas Tree Team
General Contractor
1st Place - Andrew Adams - Covington Signature Homes 2nd Place - Glenn Ferrell 3rd Place - Let Luke Do It Remodeling
Plumber
1st Place - Cooper Plumbing LLC 2nd Place - Aaron’s Plumbing 3rd Place - Joe Petrovich
Heating & Air Conditioning Service
1st Place - Nick’s Plumbing and Air
1st Place - Bell’s My Own Cleaners 2nd Place - Wolfe’s Cleaners on Studewood 3rd Place - Ella Dry Cleaners
Insurance Agent
1st Place - Adams Insurance Service 2nd Place - Farmers Insurance Lane Lewis Agency 3rd Place Tie – State Farm, Scott Baxter; The May Group, Tony May
Cleaning Service
1st Place - Healthy Home Cleaning Service 2nd Place - You’ve Got Maids of Central Houston 3rd Place - MoreHands Maid Services
Florist
1st Place - Darlene’s Flower & Gift Shop 2nd Place - Frankie + Flora 3rd Place - Athas on Ella
Funeral Home
1st Place - Pat Foley 34th 2nd Place - Woodlawn 3rd Place - Heights Funeral Home
Photographer
1st Place - The Light Fantastic Photography 2nd Place - Michael Martinez Photography 3rd Place - Allison McPhail - Evin Thayer Studios
Financial Advisor
1st Place - Jonathan Kolmetz Oaks Wealth Management 2nd Place - Raymond James 3rd Place - Jeff Farris Dearborn and Greggs
Computer Service
1st Place - Computer Hospital 2nd Place - Experimax Heights 3rd Place - Clerc Computer Consulting
Travel Agent
1st Place - Julie Sherber with Frosch Travel 2nd Place - Dana’s Travel 3rd Place - Let’s Travel Together
Security
1st Place - Xtreme Audio Video 2nd Place - Black Gold Guns & Ammo 3rd Place - Always Home Security & Sound
Energy Broker
1st Place - Brandy Pratt - Pratt Power Partners 2nd Place - Energy Ogre
Mortgage Company
1st Place - Hometrust Mortgage 2nd Place - John Frels - Kelso Group 3rd Place - Shane Davis Guaranteed Rate
Real Estate Agent
1st Place - Ashley Day 2nd Place - Creston Inderrieden/Indyquest 3rd Place - TIE Kristi Kolmetz; Patrick Bilnoski; and Ginny Ledwell
Group Fitness/Aerobics
1st Place - Cyclebar Houston Heights 2nd Place - Rise Fitness 3rd Place - Heritage Muay Thai
Yoga Real Estate Company
1st Place - Carolyn Bryant Team 2nd Place - Led Well Realty 3rd Place - Greenwood King
Dance Studio
1st Place - Houston Dance Works 2nd Place - Mary Tiras
Golf Course
1st Place - Acorn 50/50 2nd Place - North Gate Country Club 3rd Place - Wildcat
Park
1st Place - Oak Forest Park 2nd Place - Buffalo Bayou 3rd Place - Memorial Park
Sporting Goods Store
1st Place - i Cycle Bike Shop 2nd Place - Blue Line Bike Lab
Workout Facility/Gym
1st Place - Body Rock Pilates 2nd Place - Heritage Muay Thai 3rd Place - HTX FIGHTCAMP
1st Place - Loveland Yoga 2nd Place - Move Yoga 3rd Place - Union Studio Yoga
Auto Repair
1st Place - Liberty Hoepfl Garage 2nd Place - Heights Mobil Car Care 3rd Place - NLine Automotive
Auto Dealer
1st Place - Tommy Vaughn 2nd Place - Baker Automotive 3rd Place - Ella Motors
Auto Parts
1st Place - O’Riley 2nd Place - Autozone
Oil Change
1st Place - Liberty Hoepfl Garage 2nd Place - Heights Mobil Car Care 3rd Place - Ella Automotive
Car Wash/Detailing
1st Place - Soap Hand Carwash 2nd Place - Brio Hand Car wash 3rd Place - Clean Car Turnpike
Page 8B • Saturday, October 30, 2021 • The Leader
Picking the perfect name for a new puppy names for your new puppy:
Dear Tabby, We’re going to be getting a puppy soon and we’ve just started brainstorming names for him. Any tips on what we need to consider when choosing the perfect name for our new puppy? Puppy on the Way in Garden Oaks Dear Puppy on the Way, Congratulations on your upcoming new addition! While there are lots of things to take into consideration when bringing a new pet into the home, often people tend to choke when it comes to naming their new pet. Naming a pet who you hope to have around for the next 10-plus years is a big responsibility and, once your pet is named, it can often be annoying to try and change the name years down the line, so landing on a name that you like is important. Here are a few things to consider when thinking of
Let children name pet If you have children in the home, it’s important to give them some ownership of your new puppy. Assign them age-appropriate chores to help care for your new dog and keep them updated on when the puppy is coming home and what to expect. However, heavily weigh your options when it comes to letting your kids name the new dog. Depending on the age of your children, you might run the risk of having a dog named “Princess Tutu Fairy” or “Pokemon” for the next 10 years. While children should absolutely be in on the name conversations, feel free to veto any pet names that might not withstand the test of time. Keep it short, sweet Short and easily recognizable names are best -- especially when naming a puppy. You also want to take into consideration names that don’t sound similar to a command that you plan to teach your dog. For instance, you wouldn’t want to name your new puppy “Kit” and then expect him to understand the
difference between his name and the command “sit.” Also, avoid names that sound like the word “No!” (such as Moe or Joe) as this can cause confusion for your poor, eager-toplease pup. Keep names short and to the point, too. Some AKC registered dogs come with very long, elaborate names. If this is the case for your dog, think of a nickname or shorter variation so that you don’t have to yell for “Sir Edward von Landingham Earl of Argyll” every time you’re at the dog park. A simple “Eddie” would be perfect in this situation. Contributed photo
Give it a test drive Costumed dogs will be available for adoption on Saturday at 901 Pinemont Dr. The good thing about pets as opposed to human babies, is that you don’t have to fill out any legal and binding paperwork when naming your pet. By Adam Zuvanich microchipped and up-to-date on age-appropriFeel free to try out a name and, azuvanich@theleadernews.com ate vaccines. The dogs will come with a bag full if it doesn’t stick, abandon it of toys, collar and leash, harness, a bag of dog and try another. Chances are Best Friends Animal Society is hosting a food, six months’ worth of preventative heartthat your puppy won’t learn his name for several months, Halloween-themed dog adoption event from 11 worm medicine and three free sessions with the so you have plenty of time to a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at Best Friends Lifesaving Houston Dog Ranch, a boarding, training and grooming business at 9602 Dalecrest Dr. find the perfect name for your Center, 901 Pinemont Dr. The big dogs also will be available to foster The local event will conclude a monthlong, newest family member! statewide rally called “Big Dog Adoption” and or foster to adopt, according to the news reDo you have a question for feature adoptable dogs that weigh at least 40 lease, with supplies and medical care provided Tabby? Email her at deartabby pounds. The pooches are free to adopt and will while the dogs are in foster care. For more information about the dogs that be decked out in costumes. questions@gmail.com. Best Friends Animal Society said in a news will be available for adoption, visit bestfriends. release that the dogs will be spayed or neutered, org/TXbigdogs.
Adoption event set for Saturday
Pet of the Week
Fetch your Leader Copies of The Leader can be picked up at our office:
Meet Sophie Sophie is a 3-year-old, 40-pound St. Bernard mix who is a happy and silly girl. Sophie is super smart, eager to please and has impeccable manners. She also gets along nicely with other dogs (but cats are scary). Sophie is also unsure around small children, so a home with older or no kids might be best for this gem of a gal. Go to www.animaljusticeleague.org to learn more about Sophie.
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The Leader • Saturday, October 30, 2021 • Page 9B
THANKS TO OUR COMMUNITY
Congratulations!
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Thank You for Continuing to Support
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HAVE YOU HAD THE BEST LATELY?
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Page 10B • Saturday, October 30, 2021 • The Leader
Eat, Drink and Be Southern! Voted #1 Best Outdoor Patio and #1 Sports Bar FREE APPETIZER OR DESSERT WITH ENTREE PURCHASE! Expires December 1, 2021
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Thank You for voting me the Readers’ Choice
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Grateful. Humbled. Proud.
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As Houston’s largest community bank, we’re thankful for being voted as this year’s 1st Place Winner for Best Bank.
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The Leader • Saturday, October 30, 2021 • Page 11B
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