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Bridge to stay closed after more damage discovered By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
The popular MKT Bridge in the Heights, where work had been ongoing to repair damage caused by a fire last summer, will remain closed for the foreseeable future after additional deficiencies were discovered. The nonprofit Houston Parks Board, which is funding and overseeing the repair work, announced Sept. 10 that further repairs will be needed before the pedestrian bridge can safely reopen.
Parks board president and CEO Beth White had said in June, when the repair work began, that the goal was to have the bridge open and in use by Labor Day. “We are disappointed that the bridge will not open as originally planned and cannot say for certain when the bridge will reopen to trail users,” the parks board said in a statement. “We will post updates as we have them and our current detour remains in place.” Times Construction, the
contractor enlisted by the parks board, has been in the process of replacing damaged bridge piles, the abutment backwall and a deck expansion joint that were damaged in an August 2020 fire that started in the wooded area underneath the bridge. The parks board said the repair work was about 50 percent complete when the additional damage, which was not visible during the initial assessment, was recently discovered by the contractors. See MKT P. 6A
Photo by Adam Zuvanich The MKT Bridge, a popular pedestrian pathway between the Heights and Downtown Houston, will remain closed after additional damage caused by an August 2020 fire was recently discovered by contractors during repair work.
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Photo from Facebook Hurricane Nicholas caused a large tree to fall across Michaux Street and onto power lines earlier this week in the eastern part of the Heights.
Nicholas brings power outages, no local flooding By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
Page 5A
No meat, no problem. Stefan Modrich explores the area’s vegan and vegetarian scene.
Page 9A
Playing in the rain. Mitch Cohen says wet weather should not dampen your day.
Much of Houston hunkered down Monday night, with residents gathering food, water and emergency supplies while preparing their homes, vehicles and properties for the worst. A large tropical storm was on the way, and became a hurricane overnight, so heavy rain was expected and flooding was likely in a region that regularly sees both. But Nicholas proved to be a mere nuisance for residents of the Heights, Garden Oaks and Oak Forest areas, who awoke Tuesday to widespread power outages but few other problems caused by the storm. Multiple neighborhood leaders said their communities “fared well” and they had not heard of any significant flooding or damage in the area, except for a few fallen trees and downed power lines caused by wind gusts. “It was pretty uneventful, I would say,” said Emily Guyre, executive director of the Houston Heights Association. “There was lots of wind and rain.” More than 460,000 electricity customers across the Houston region were without power early Tuesday morning, according to CenterPoint Energy, and neighborhoods throughout the area were impacted. The most widespread outages locally were in the Heights, while the Timbergrove and Lazybrook area to the west experienced the fewest amount of outages. Power was back on in much of the Heights by midafternoon Tuesday, according to CenterPoint, which said
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Photo from Twitter account of Roxanne Werner White Oak Bayou near T.C. Jester Boulevard nearly flooded during Hurricane Nicholas earlier this week.
in a news release that the number of customers without electricity across the Houston area had dwindled to about 160,000 as of 5 p.m. Tuesday. “Due to the extensive damage caused by the storm, impacted customers should anticipate some outages taking as long as four to five days, with the majority restored earlier as repairs are safely completed,” CenterPoint executive vice president Kenny Mercado said in a statement released by the company. See Nicholas P. 6A
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We are in the midst of the most exciting time of the year at The Leader. For more information call 713-686-8494 or e-mail: frank@mcelvymedia.com And no, we’re not talking about hurricane season. We’ve been collecting votes for our annual Readers’ Choice Awards, which highlight the best businesses and services in the Heights, Garden Oaks and Oak Forest areas - as judged by you, our loyal readers and dedicated community members. This year’s ballot has appeared in recent editions of The Leader and is in today’s newspaper as well on Page 4A. It also can be found online on our website, TheLeaderNews.com. There are 130 categories covering just about every type of business and professional service that caters to the community, along the specific services provided by those vendors. The expansive list includes hardware stores, clothing shops, attorneys, banks, beauty salons, florists, doctors and hospitals, restaurants and bars, schools and churches, real estate agents, auto shops and dealers, electricians and art galleries, among many others. If you can think of it, it’s likely on the ballot. So we hope you’ll take the time to vote for your favorites, and there are two ways to do that: You can fill out and submit a ballot online, or you can fill out the hard copy ballot in this newspaper and bring it to our office at 2020 North Loop West, Suite 220, which is at the northeast corner of Loop 610 and East T.C. Jester Boulevard. The deadline to vote is 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 27, so please act now and do not delay. We want your beloved business or service to receive the recognition it deserves. And don’t forget to tell your friends, neighbors and co-workers in the community. The more ballots submitted and the more votes cast, the better. Thank you in advance, readers of The Leader, for making this year’s Readers’ Choice Awards especially memorable. We cannot wait to see who takes the top honors in the array of categories, whether they are repeat winners or new businesses that have made big splashes in the community. So please let us know what you think.
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ODC soccer Opening Day scores big
Page 10A
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Waiting game. The pandemic has been especially tough on the Special Olympics.
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By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com If local residents were out and about on Arbor Vitae Drive or Pinemont Drive early last Saturday morning, they might have been taken aback seeing a wave of colorful banners and smiling children on their way from Collier Regional Library to the Oaks Dads’ Club soccer fields a short Photo by Landan Kuhlmann distance away. Coach Sal Lopez, right, gets his team in position for a photo But for ODC soccer president with Diesel, the Houston Dynamo mascot, back right, during the Chad Symcox, the expressions Oaks Dads’ Club’s Opening Day ceremonies last Saturday.
that mattered were not on the faces of passersby – they were on the faces of exuberant children gleefully announcing the return of ODC soccer’s Opening Day ceremonies. “Seeing all those smiles and everything is just incredible to me,” he said. “The parents and kids have all wanted this for a long period of time – and the kids definitely want to be able to get back to some kind of normalcy.” Each year, the Oaks Dads’
Club has kicked off its competitive soccer season with Opening Day ceremonies full of fun, team cheers and anticipation. It’s something that was missing last year due to COVID-19, but returned with a bang bright and early last Saturday, Sept. 11. At least a dozen teams marched north on Arbor Vitae Drive from Collier Regional Library before making a sharp left and heading west to the fields See ODC P. 6A
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THE PUBLIC. The Leader • Saturday, September 18, 2021 • Page 2A
Stretch of trail reopens in Oak Forest By Adam Zuvanich
By Landan Kuhlmann Houston police say they are searching for two people involved in the fatal shooting of a man early Monday at a Greater Inwood apartment complex. The victim, whose identity is pending verification by the county’s medical exam-
Houston police say they are investigating a fatal shooting in the Kempwood area last week. The victim, 40-year-old Gerardo Abadie, was pronounced dead at a local hospital, according to the Houston
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2001 Karbach Suite F Photo by Adam Zuvanich A section of the White Oak Bayou Greenway Trail near Oak Forest has reopened after work to repair a sinkhole, which can be seen in this photo from July.
ants of the complex heard multiple gunshots and called 911. One suspect was described as tall and thin and wearing all black, police said, while HPD said the other had a medium-sized afro hairstyle. According to police, the suspects were seen fleeing the scene immediately following the
shooting, and multiple shell casings were found at the scene. Anyone with information in this case is urged to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222TIPS. Follow us on social media @FromTheLeader
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iner, was pronounced dead at the Texas Medical Center, according to the Houston Police Department. HPD said the victim was seen walking into the Oak Woods Apartments at 5625 Antoine Dr. around 1:40 a.m. Monday. Two suspects, described only as Black males by police, were also seen in the area shortly before ten-
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A 600-yard stretch of the White Oak Bayou Greenway Trail near the Oak Forest neighborhood, which had been closed for repairs since early July, reopened last Saturday, according to a spokesperson for the Houston Parks Board. Work was completed last Saturday afternoon to fix a sinkhole that had developed under the part of the hike-and-bike trail that is immediately north of White Oak Bayou, just east of West T.C. Jester Boulevard. Trent Rondot, the conservation and maintenance director for the parks board, said in a July statement that the sinkhole was related to a storm sewer pipe that runs underneath the trail and empties into the bayou. The part of the trail that had been closed stretched from the northwest corner of East T.C. Jester Boulevard and West 34th Street to the west side of West T.C. Jester, crossing underneath West T.C. Jester about halfway in between.
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Police Department. Officers responded to 3100 Blalock Rd. around 6:30 a.m. Sept. 7 to find Abadie unresponsive in the driver’s seat of a car parked near the intersection of Blalock Road and Kempwood Road, according to police. HPD said he had suffered an apparent gunshot wound to his lower body.
There are no known witnesses or motives in the shooting, according to police. Anyone with information in this case is urged to contact HPD’s Homicide division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477.
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THE TOPICS. The Leader • Saturday, September 18, 2021 • Page 3A
Coastal barrier can’t come soon enough G overnments tend to go slow. Tropical storms, as we were reminded earlier this week, move rather quickly through the Gulf of Mexico. Nicholas, which became a hurricane before making landfall on the Texas coast late Monday, gave us only a few days’ warning before unleashing rain and wind on the Houston area that caused nearly half a million residents of the region to lose power early Tuesday. And about two weeks beforehand, Hurricane Ida briefly flirted with visiting the Bayou City before ravaging our friends in nearby Louisiana. In between the two storms, on Sept. 10, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released its final study for a $28.8 billion project that proposes to fortify the entire Texas coast and protect it from catastrophic storm surge. A key component of the plan is to construct a multi-faceted coastal barrier at the mouth of the Houston Ship Channel, which is one of the world’s busiest seaports and therefore critical to the local, national and even global economy. The “Ike Dike” as it’s been called, in response to the significant storm surge caused by Hurricane Ike in 2008, is a great idea that cannot be
seven years and more than $20 million to be completed and ready to send to U.S. Congress for approval funding. Adam andGuess how much longer it will be Zuvanich before any of this stuff is actually built? According to the study, once Editor Congress signs off on the plan and commits to providing money for it, it could take between 12 and 20 years to move through the design and construction phases. That’s right. Three decades may implemented soon enough. It calls for the installation of a gate system pass between Ike and the completion between Galveston Island and Boli- of the dike it inspired. Meanwhile, there will be more var Peninsula, which is the entrance to the ship channel, along with ad- threats of potentially devastating ditional gate systems in Clear Lake storms as soon as next year, maybe and Dickinson Bay, improvements to even later this month. So the fine folks of Greater Housthe Galveston Seawall, a ring barrier on the bay side of the island and a ton may not have time to spare, and beach-and-dune system on Bolivar we’re already on edge. Beginning with the Memorial Day flood in 2015, and West Galveston Island. The problem is, it cannot be imple- the region experienced four signifimented anytime soon, at least ac- cant flooding events in a five-year cording to the “Coastal Texas Study,” period. Call Hurricane Nicholas a near which was a collaboration between the Army Corps and the Texas Gen- miss from adding to that trend, beeral Land Office and can be viewed cause flooding was expected but online at https://coastalstudy.texas. thankfully did not end up materializing. gov/draft-proposal/index.html. “These things are coming more The study was undertaken in 2014, six years after Ike throttled Galves- frequently,” Garden Oaks Civic Club ton and Houston, and it took another president Tonya Knauth told me in
the aftermath of this week’s storm. “It doesn’t make me feel good.” And there does not appear to be any other relief on the horizon, not with temperatures continuing to tick upward and weather events becoming more and more severe across the globe. Our climate is changing, and if you don’t think so you’re either in denial or not paying close enough attention. So we need to act swiftly when it comes to potential life- and industrysaving infrastructure such as the Ike Dike, at least in part so it doesn’t become obsolete before it comes to fruition. Who’s to say that environmental conditions, including along the Texas coast, won’t be significantly different a decade from now? Now, I realize this issue and the proposed solution are complex and demand lots of time, brainpower and money. I would not have a clue about how to design or construct a barrier system along the coast, nor do I have the finances or the clout to speed things up. But there has got to be a way, in the 21st century, to cut through all the bureaucratic red tape and get this done before a hurricane makes a direct hit on the largest collection of petrochemical businesses in the
The gangplank is still down Dear Afghan Refugees, welcome to Houston. One hundred of you have already arrived and we expect 3,000 more between now and the end of next March. That is more than triple the total number of refugees, from all countries, resettled in the state of Texas in 2020. All told, an estimated 50,000 are headed to cities nationwide. No doubt you are confused and slightly frightened, but don’t worry because in these very words you will find advice, comfort and directions to the nearest Starbucks. First, you don’t have to learn our language. Call any restaurant for a pickup dinner or ask the nail lady for a pedicure and you’ll know what I mean. For the valet parker or the Uber driver, English is not their second language or their fifth. Houstonians speak at least 145 languages at home. More than a third of Houston residents who are older than 5 speak a language other than English at home. More than 19,700 speak Yoruba (Nigeria) but only 445 people speak Afrikaans (South Africa). Slightly more people, 460, speak Danish. Just 60 people speak Slovak, so you are in good company. This language problem should not be trouble for half of you who claim to have been translators for American troops, although listening to some on TV, I think you need someone to translate your translations. You should learn our rules of the road. Never, ever use your directional signals. That’s a dead giveaway that you are new in town. Don’t honk. Thanks to a new law passed by our brilliant Texas Legislature, every Texan is now required to be armed. Speaking of which, buy a gun. If you have packed an M109 howitzer from home, all the better. But learn our state’s motto: Shoot Friendly. You can park in a handicapped slot. Everyone does. Put a bumper sticker on your car like “I Brake For Evacuation Planes” but not “I’d Rather Be Goat-Herding.” And don’t bother buying car insurance. If you get in a wreck, claim diplomatic immunity. Some handy terms to learn: “God bless Texas.” “I hate the Cowboys.” This is a tough-on-crime state, particularly on drugs, hence the slogan: “Don’t Meth With Texas.” While driving through College Station, do not yell, “Hook ‘Em, Horns!” You can adopt a highway, but don’t list it as a dependent on your taxes. Roe v. Wade is not a debate about how to cross the Rio Grande. The title “infidel” should only be used when describing the driver of the pickup truck that cuts you off. Attention new female arriv-
Lynn Ashby Columnist
als: Our legislature and Gov. Greg Abbott have recently enacted new laws which will greatly change your life. They know best. As one legislator noted to an irate constituent: “Don’t you worry yur purty little head about that.” New laws still allow you to drive a car, but you must first get your husband’s permission. The newest Nieman’s catalogue will feature the fall burka collection noting: “Black is back.” You really don’t need to bother with makeup since no one can see your face. Our lawmakers want you to feel at home. You are called “parolees,” as opposed to Afghan Special Immigrant Visa holders. (An additional 100 to 200 of them will come to Houston in September.) But don’t use that title around town. “Parolee” means something entirely different to most folks. You have been promised work authorization, but that permit can take from 8 to 10 months to receive. This process is handled by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. For faster action, you might try FEMA. If you are looking for good – or maybe bad – Afghan food, Houston has seven Afghan restaurants. Or maybe you’d like to start out working at one in the kitchen. Learn Spanish. This brings us to our current immigration problem. Our former and perhaps future president, Donald Trump, does not like immigrants, except for his wives. He put up part of a wall along the Rio Grande, which should keep out part of the illegal flow of illegal immagrents. Actually, if nothing else works for your staying here, just ask for asylum or claim you were brought here as a child and apply for DACA protection. More tips on how to blend in: Texas welcomes all Christian religions, although practicing your Muslim style allows people to go around asking, “Who was that mosque man?” If you get a job and need to pray five times at work, tell your boss they are your yoga breaks. When looking for a house, beware of any real estate agent who uses a glass bottom boat. Avoid any gated neighborhood that has a sign reading: “Texas Department of Corrections.” To be sure, there are those
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who do not welcome you. Tucker Carlson said on his show, “Nobody seems to pause and ask why young Americans can’t afford to get married and have children, afford to buy homes and cars and their solution, the elite’s solution, is we’ll just bring in new people. We have a moral obligation to admit the world’s poor, they tell us, even if it makes our own country poorer, and dirtier, and more divided.” And in 2015 our own Gov. Abbott sent a letter to President Barack Obama informing him that the State of Texas would not accept any refugees from Syria. Furthermore, Abbott implored Obama to halt his plans to accept more Syrian refugees in the U.S. Our Governor is losing the
battle: 2,662: average number of refugees resettled in Houston per year in 2016 and 2017. According to data from the State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, Texas received more refugees than any other state between 2010 and 2019 with nearly 57,000 recorded arrivals. Among cities with the highest number of refugee resettlements across the country were Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin, Houston and their surrounding areas. So, new Texans, welcome to America’s most diverse city. The nearest Starbucks is probably next door.
United States. Because if that happens, there would be catastrophic consequences both environmentally and economically, and not just in the Houston area. “People have a right to say, ‘Why is it taking so long?’ ” said Geoff McKeel, the president of the Oak Forest Homeowners Association. “I’m hopeful.” I’m hopeful, too, for the Ike Dike and for the region to make more headway with the $2.5 billion flood bond passed by Harris County voters in 2018, a year after Hurricane Harvey brought unprecedented flooding to Houston and put the city in the national spotlight. Because I have to wonder, are we any more protected now than we were then? Heck, while we’re at it, are we any safer from storms than we were in 2008? Considering it’s been 13 years since Ike inundated the region, surely we should be further along with the idea it spawned. So let’s give our government a collective kick in the pants and get moving before the next hurricane or tropical storm comes our way. We know it won’t be long. azuvanich@theleadernews.com
THE READER. Driver’s Ed obviously ain’t what it used to be
Dear Editor: Egregiously disturbing in the wake of Tropical Storm Nicholas was motorist behavior at intersections with non-functioning traffic lights. Numerous drivers on Studewood blew through the impaired 14th Street intersection with reckless abandon, faster than Joe Biden desperately scampering away from reporters. I even saw a Metro bus blast across 14th, easily going about 40 mph. It would have been amusing if not so potentially tragic. Where now is KLOL’s street congestion master Lanny Griffith, the Traffic In Bondage guru? Lights aren’t working? Treat it as a four-way stop! HUH! J. Reynolds
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the leader Puzzlers. Answers found in this week’s Classified section
SUDOKU
aCrOss 1. Administrative Review Board 4. Not worried 8. Rowan Atkinson played him 10. Stars 11. Indian city 12. North American nation 13. He partnered with Garfunkel 15. Understood 16. Foe 17. Jewish state 18. 2015 postseason hero 21. Largest English dictionary (abbr.) 22. Goddess of the dawn 23. __ Squad 24. Belonging to a thing 25. Food-related allergic reaction (abbr.) 26. Car mechanics group 27. Exceed in weight 34. Deserved
35. Singer Thicke 36. Clemencies 38. Critique 39. Resented 40. Type of tissue 41. Passages 42. It comes in a can 43. His heart is in San Francisco 44. Retirement account
dOwn 1. Belittled 2. Actress King 3. They pour drinks 4. Communicates 5. Take advantage of 6. Take on cargo 7. A stiff drink 9. Actress Watts 10. Natives of the American Southwest 12. Covered 14. The Science Guy Bill 15. Soviet Socialist Republic 17. Contraceptive device
19. Unfastened 20. __ student, learns healing 23. Ties the knot 24. Actor McKellen 25. Optical phenomenon 26. Turf 28. Foot (Latin) 29. Flub 30. Birds settle here 31. Calculator 32. Herbal tea 33. Catch 34. Pitcher Santana 36. Not for vegetarians 37. Japanese novelist
WORD SCRAMBLE
Page 4A • Saturday, September 18, 2021 • The Leader
Let us know your favorites Fill out the form below indicating your favorite businesses per category. Mail or drop them off at 2020 North Loop West, Suite 220, Houston Texas 77018 or use our online form found at www.theleadernews.com. But don’t delay, votes must be received by Monday, September 27, by 5pm. If more than one location, include street of the business.
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The Leader • Saturday, September 18, 2021 • Page 5A
Special Olympics athletes, supporters await return of in-person events By Matt deGrood news@theleadernews.com
Through most of the ongoing pandemic, the name of the game for Special Olympics in the greater Houston area has been wait and see. The organization managed to hold two events over the summer – when coronavirus cases were at their lowest – but aside from that, the more than 8,000 athletes in the Houston area have gone almost a year-and-a-half without in-person athletic competitions, according to Aaron Keith, a program coordinator with Special Olympics Texas. But now, in-person events are again temporarily shuttered, and athletes and families are yearning to return. “I was really looking forward to competing again, and doing all the things we love to
do in life,” said Derek “Tank” Schottle, 32, of Sugar Land. “But with everything with COVID and delta, it’s starting to feel like 2020 again.” Schottle competes in softball, basketball, bocce, volleyball, track, golf and soccer with Special Olympics and has been doing so for 20 years, he said. While the organization has worked to keep families engaged with virtual events, the athletes are excited to go back in-person, Keith said. “We do our best to keep them socially and physically engaged, but nothing replaces in-person,” Keith said. “Our goal is to go back in-person as soon as possible this fall.” The return of in-person events was actually set to begin sooner rather than later, but those plans came before the fall spike in cases of the
Contributed photo Derek “Tank” Schottle competes in a Special Olympics meet held before the COVID-19 pandemic. He and other Special Olympics athletes in the Houston region are anxious for the return of in-person events.
delta variant of coronavirus across the region. A special mitigation team comprised of doctors and epidemiologists have been meeting with Special Olympics officials to give them guidance on the best steps to take, and the organization still has several events tentatively scheduled, Keith said. Those include a regional softball and bocce tournament on Oct. 9 in Pearland and a golf tournament fundraiser on Nov. 8 at The Woodlands Country Club. Schottle has continued to work out and train every day during the pandemic, so that he’s ready to compete, once events do return, he said. More than the sports themselves, in-person Special Olympics events provide athletes with a real outlet for networking and socializing, said Gary Schottle, Derek Schot-
tle’s father. “For a lot of them, it’s the only chance they get to get out and interact with others,” Gary Schottle said. Beyond the work Special Olympics Texas does with athletes enrolled in the program, the group also has relationships with school districts across the region, Keith said. For instance, the organization was supposed to hold an aquatics competition at the Don Cook Natatorium in partnership with Fort Bend ISD in August – an event that was postponed, Keith said. Special Olympics Texas has more than 8,000 athletes registered in the Houston area alone, and more than 15,000 across the region, Keith said. For more information about Special Olympics Texas or to make a donation to the organization, visit sotx.org.
Houston BCycle expands in Heights By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
Cyclists in the Greater Heights and surrounding areas now have more options to enjoy the City of Houston’s ride-sharing program. Houston BCycle, the bike-sharing program with multiple stations in the Heights, recently expanded its service in the area with a new location at 249 W. 19th St. on Aug. 23 with funding help from Houston City Council member Abbie Kamin, who serves much of the area in District C. It is the third new location to open in the area this year, joining locations
at the H-E-B at 2300 N. Shepherd Dr., which opened in April, and the Heights Waterworks location at 449 W. 19th St. that opened in July. “With every station that opens, we’ve seen overall Heights ridership increase dramatically,” BCycle communications manager Mary DeBauche said in an email Tuesday. “It underlines how much interest there is in biking as well as how important it is to create and invest in biking infrastructure to connect people with work, shopping, recreation, restaurants and where they live.” The Houston BCycle service has no immediate expansion plans, DeBauche said, and there are no plans to close
any of the locations for the foreseeable future. Locations at Heights Mercantile and Woodland Park were marked “unavailable” as of Tuesday afternoon, but DeBauche said that was largely because the company’s field teams had not been able to conduct the network’s daily battery replacements due to Hurricane Nicholas earlier this week. She said the ports were expected to be up and running again by the end of the day Tuesday. For more information on Houston BCycle and to see a map of all Heightsarea locations, visit houston.bcycle. com/station-map.
Contributed photo Bikes are shown at Houston BCycle’s newest Heights location at 249 W. 19th St., which became operational on Aug. 23.
Battenfield buoys SPX in narrow win By Landan Kuhlmann
Last Week’s Scores
landan@theleadernews.com
St. Pius X High School football player Burke Battenfield continues to be a defensive stalwart. He also had a career night offensively last Friday, Sept. 10 to help the Panthers emerge victorious in a lowscoring slugfest against Dallas Bishop Lynch. St. Pius won 17-13 to improve to 2-1 this season, thanks in large part to the senior’s efforts. Battenfield made 12 tackles defensively – his third straight double-digit performance – and had one of nine SPX sacks. Making his first start of the year at the running back position, Battenfield also piled up 170 total yards and the eventual game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter. Linebacker Carson Hintz was again one of SPX’s defensive leaders, tallying 15 tackles. Ethan McMinn had eight stops and his fourth interception of the season, while Aden Allen (3 sacks) and Dylan Edwards (2 sacks) were among six different Panthers to record at least one sack against the Friars. Other private school action Both of the area’s other
St. Pius X 17, Dallas Bishop Lynch 13 Scarborough 40, KIPP Northeast 0 Barbers Hill 51, Heights 26 Tomball Rosehill Christian 24, Lutheran High North 19 Houston Austin 14, Waltrip 6 Baytown Sterling 54, Booker T. Washington 7 Kinkaid 48, St. Thomas 41
This Week’s Schedule Thursday Heights vs. Katy Seven Lakes, 7 p.m., Delmar Stadium Friday St. Thomas vs. Houston Christian, 7 p.m. Lutheran High North at Northland Christian, 7 p.m. Saturday Waltrip at Fort Bend Willowridge, 6 p.m., Hall Stadium
Photo by Landan Kuhlmann Heights’ Brice Chevalier (10) and Jaylon Bihms attempt to pressure Barbers Hill quarterback Brent Holdren during a Sept. 10 football game at Delmar Stadium.
private schools fell short in defeat over the weekend. The St. Thomas Eagles suffered their first setback of the season in a 48-41 loss to state-ranked Kinkaid School on Sept. 10. Quarterback Jake Wright threw two touchdown passes to Cameron Price and ran for another for St. Thomas (21), while Johann Cardenas ran for two touchdowns. Lutheran High North fell to 0-2 on the season after dropping a 24-19 decision at the hands of Tomball Rose-
Xavier Neal, the Heights Bulldogs fell to 0-3 with a 51-26 loss to Barbers Hill on Sept. 10 at Delmar Stadium. Morrison tossed three touchdown passes, with Neal catching two of them. Neal also returned a kick 85 yards for a touchdown early in the second quarter. Booker T. Washington suffered its first loss of the season on Sept. 10, dropping a 54-7 decision to Baytown Sterling to fall to 2-1. The Waltrip Rams lost 14-6 to Houston Austin to fall to 0-2.
hill Christian. Daylon Henson led the way for the Lions with 18 tackles and a sack. Public schools It was a rough weekend for the area’s public schools, most of which were on the short end of the scoreboard. The Scarborough Spartans were the area’s lone public school to come away with a win, taking down KIPP Northeast 40-0 last Saturday. Despite the best efforts of stars Jalen Morrison and
CHURCH D I R E CTO RY
I
In light of theSunday COVID-19 outbreak, please check with church below for updated St.each James Lutheran Church, ELCA Bible Studies For All Ages ... 9:30am Morning Worship ............... 10:45am • Worship (English) ..... 10:00 am - 11:00am information Wednesday about services and events. In-person services are temporarily restricted. Bible Studies For Youth, Children • Learning Hour........... 11:00am - 12:00pm MANNA
Notice of Public Sale of property to satisfy a landlord's lien. Sale to be held at Storagetreasures.com Facility is located at 2213 W. 34th St. Houston, TX 77018. Bidding will open at 9:00 AM October 4th, 2021 and conclude October 11th at 9:00 AM. Clean up deposit is required. Seller reserves the right to withdraw the property at any time before the sale. Unit items sold as is to highest bidder. Property includes the contents of spaces of the following tenants: -Salvador Suarez Q-34 household items, Mike Gross M-9 household items.
GET Weathering storms OVER IT! helping one another in the name of
t goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway: “we have all made mistakes.” As Alexander Pope so aptly put it: “To err is human, to forgive, divine.” We should remember this the next time we make a mistake. Most certainly, we must learn from our mistakes, and hopefully not continue to repeat them, but we should also forgive ourselves. While it can be hard enough to forgive others for their mistakes, it can sometimes feel almost impossible to forgive ourselves. We sometimes cannot bring ourselves to forgive something we’ve done, and we may punish and harangue ourselves for years, or even decades, over youthful indiscretions. In addition, some of us may not be able to forget the sins of our past. And although that may prevent us from repeating them, we must be charitable and forgive ourselves, just as we should forgive others. So, we should make a real effort in the coming days and weeks to forgive the offenses of others as well as our own. Sometimes, it helps to just forget about them; that is, to try to put them out of our mind and stop repeatedly mulling over them. One of the reasons we use the phrase “forgive and forget” is because sometimes that is the only way to forgive, i.e., by forgetting. But far better, and more divine, is to be able to forgive even while remembering the offense. So, we should let go of those unforgiving, vindictive, shameful feelings about the past, and get over it! Corrie ten Boom, who survived incarceration in a Nazi prison camp said, “Forgiveness is to set a prisoner free, and to realize that the prisoner was you.”
By Pastor Will Cover
Arise Baptist Church 803 Curtin St. Houston TX 77018 713-659-9697 • www.arisebaptistchurch.org
I
just got back from a trip to Houma, LA one of the places that First Church Hurricane Ida decimated a week St. James Lutheran Church, ELCA Weekly Sunday Services Gethsemane Lutheran Church and a half ago. The images are t 8PSTIJQ &OHMJTI BN BN We invite you to worship with us! similar to the aftermath of every t -FBSOJOH )PVS BN QN 1700 Sunday West 43 at Rosslyn School ........9:15 am MANNA 713-682-4942 major hurricane. Missing roofs, t 8PSTIJQ 4QBOJTI QN QN Sunday Worship......10:30am 4QPOTPS Ad # 32285 billboards knocked down, trees upWednesday Bible Study 8FTU SE 4U t )PVTUPO 5Y t rooted, and debris was everywhere & Prayer 6:00pm Candlelight Church ofService Christ Join us for Services we looked. Traffic moves slowly FC Heights Family and Staff in English or Spanish Sunday Morning Worship 8:30 and 11:00 201 E. 9th St. • 713-861-3102 Judge not, and you will not be judged; because there is no condemn power to run Sunday Worship 10am & 5pm Sunday School for Children, Youth and Adults 9:40 Please visit our website at: Sund not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, Sunday Bible Classes 9am www.fbcheights.org Ministries for All Ages and you will be forgiven... the stoplights. Power crews are Wednesday Bible Study 7pm www.lazybrookbaptistchurch.org for the following: Home of Johnson Memorial School for Little Children Rev. Nathan Lonsdale Bledsoe, Pastor 4215 Watonga Blvd. • 713-681-9365 Wed R.S.V.in Luke 6:37hot sun to set new working the Sunday Services: @ 11 AM 2003 W. 43rd St. 713-686-8241 s t s u m cIn-person .org Houston, TX 77092 (Live stream during service) power poles and string lines so that Say a Bible Studies: From Homepage, click on people can have A/C and lights Prayer 1822 W. 18th • 713-864-1470 Connect/Small Groups again. People are cleaning, working, and looking for food and supToday plies. Storms are difficult. Storms Gethsemane Lutheran Church bring pain and struggle. Pastor Jerry McNamara While the pain and struggle are 4040 Watonga • 713-688-5227 evident everywhere you look after We invite you to worship with us! a storm, there is also a beauty that if you look carefully you will see. Weekly Worship Services 9:00a.m. Instead of people angrily fighting Online services can be reached over supplies you will find people through the website below at 9:00 am. and Adults............................ 6:15pm
1822 W. 18th • 713-864-1470
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Pastor – Dr. Richard Walters
Christ. Many of the churches we drove by and visited, even though many had experienced severe damage, had food, water, and supplies in the parking lots and lines of people coming by to receive these gifts. Trucks with different church groups were headed down the road with supplies for the needy. The National Guard was out helping to feed people as well. David wrote in Psalm 23, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside the still waters, he restores my soul. He leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” If you are facing a storm, physical or spiritual, I would love to introduce you the God who will be with you no matter what you are going through. He will never leave you!
Page 6A • Saturday, September 18, 2021 • The Leader
Nicholas, from P. 1A
ODC, from P. 1A
The Houston Health Department opened four multi-service centers to the public on Tuesday afternoon, including the locations in Acres Homes and just south of the Heights, to provide a respite from the elements as well as electricity for charging phones and other devices. The city’s Solid Waste Management Department suspended trash and recycling collection Tuesday but planned to resume services Wednesday, when the city as a whole also resumed normal operations. Houston ISD also resumed in-person and virtual classes Wednesday after cancelling all classes and closing all of its schools and offices on Tuesday. Business as usual resumed more quickly in other cases, with METRO operating transit services as early as 8 a.m. Tuesday. The Houston Heights Association held its planned blood drive on Tuesday, albeit two hours later than originally scheduled. EQ Heights, a popular coffee shop at 1030 Heights Blvd., opened just a few minutes late Tuesday morning and was busier than usual, according to owner Kevin Blasini. The Heights resident operated the shop by himself at first, saying he did not want employees to travel on potentially unsafe roads and that it was important for EQ Heights to continue serving the community. Blasini, who opened the shop in 2015, said he has tried to stay open during every major weather event since then. “I know what it’s like to be kind of stranded without power, which we had a bunch of people north of 11th (Street) that were stranded without power in the morning and were seeking some respite from just sitting there waiting for the power to come back,” he said. “That’s kind of what we are is a respite in the middle of the Heights.” Fortunately for many local residents, the need for respite was not as great as it was in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey in 2017 or Tropical Storm Imelda in 2019. Each of those storms caused significant flooding in the area, whereas strong winds were more of problem with Hurricane Nicholas. That caused some damage associated with downed trees and scattered tree limbs, although area residents had braced for much worse. Garden Oaks Civic Club president Tonya Knauth said a trip to Kroger on Monday revealed that community members were stockpiling items such as bottled water, milk and snacks. “I think people paid attention (to weather forecasts and warnings from officials), which is a good thing in terms of preparation,” she said. “I do think that it could have been a lot worse.”
at 6500 Rena St. for festivities, which included a special visit from Houston Dynamo mascot Diesel. Members of the U.S. military picked their favorite banner from each age group during a special ceremony, along with a moment of silence in remembrance of those who lost their lives during the terrorist attacks on the U.S. on Sept. 11, 2001. The league has under-4, U-6, U-8, U-11 and U-14 teams for kids in the area, and parents such as Oak Forest resident Brandon Abel were thankful for the return to action. He has sons ages 6 and 8 playing in the league. “It’s good to just be outside and to be coming together, with people making their own decisions about how to keep their families safe and what’s best for them,” said Abel, who has been bringing his sons to ODC for five years. “It’s a great community atmosphere, and we’re happy to be a part of it.” The sentiment was the same
for those such as Sal Lopez, whose 6-year-old son is playing competitively with ODC for the first time this season. “We really didn’t know what we missed,” said Lopez, who held his son out last season due to concerns over COVID-19. “Then I see (that excitement) on all the other kids that are back, and it’s great. They’re ready to go.” In essence, Symcox said that excitement is what makes everything worth the effort put into Opening Day ceremonies each year. And even though things may not be completely Photo by Landan Kuhlmann back to normal, he said he’s An Oaks Dads’ Club soccer team displays its banner during a parade. grateful to at least be able to get It’s one that he will never tire have played on throughout the that fulfillment. “Watching the kids’ faces of taking part in. years. It just feels like family.” “We meet people that live light up, that’s what we care Lopez echoed the sentiment in our neighborhood we don’t and said he couldn’t ask for anyabout,” he said. What’s more, Abel said ODC necessarily go to school with, thing more than what ODC does and sports in general can help and then we see them year after for the area’s kids and parents, unite an area – which is a special year,” Abel said. “It’s not only including last Saturday’s cercommodity given that social in- the kids that are friends – the emonies. teraction has been at a premium adults become our friend group, “It’s a perfect day,” he said. too, through the teams our kids over the last 18 months.
MKT, from P. 1A The newly discovered fire damage is between and inside the large sets of beams that run under the length of the bridge, according to the parks board. There also is natural deterioration of the wood timber piling and support structure because of age and flood impacts, and the parks board said those issues also will be addressed while the bridge is closed. The bridge, which crosses White Oak Bayou and helps connect the Heights to the downtown area, was originally part of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas railway line and is estimated to be more than 100 years old. “Engineers are currently assessing this additional work,” the parks board said. “After the project is well defined, plans will then go to design and permitting with the City of Houston and Harris County Flood
Control District. The MKT bridge is City of Houston property and Houston Parks Board will continue to work closely with the City of Houston throughout this process.” A spokesperson for the parks board said in June that the bridge had an average of 1,200 users per day before the fire. Data for May of last year indicated that nearly 64,000 people used the White Oak Bayou Greenway Trail, which is near the bridge, on a weekly basis. The Houston City Council recently approved a construction contract for the MKT Spur Trail Connector, which will fill an 850-foot gap between the MKT Trail, just northwest of the bridge, and the White Oak Bayou Greenway Trail to the east. The latter trail stops underneath Studemont Street, just north of the bayou. The trail
connector is slated to be complete in the early part of next year. While the MKT Bridge remains closed, trail users coming from the Heights must continue to take a detour in order to cross White Oak Bayou and Interstate 10 to access Sawyer Yards or downtown. Instead of proceeding southeast across the bridge, trail users must go northwest to Heights Boulevard, take the Paul Carr Jogging Trail south across I-10, and then head northeast along the White Oak Bayou Trail until it connects to the other side of the bridge, just northwest of Studemont. “We appreciate the continued patience as we work diligently to restore the bridge so that it is safe for public use,” the parks board said. Follow Adam Zuvanich on Twitter @AZuvanich
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Page 8A • Saturday, September 18, 2021 • The Leader
Digging into the germs living in your dog’s food bowl Dear Tabby, Please settle a bet in my home: My partner says there’s no need to wash the dog’s food bowl often. Growing up, he doesn’t remember ever washing his dog’s bowl and his dog lived to be very old. I, however, feel as though we should wash the dog’s bowl more often--possibly even every day. Can you settle this bet and tell us how often we really should be washing our dog’s food bowl? Grossed out by dog bowl in Garden Oaks Dear Grossed out, As much as I hate to play favorites and pick a side on this debate, I must tell you that you’re correct in this particular case. Contrary to what many believe, your dog’s food bowl harbors all kinds of truly nasty, but also potentially dangerous germs -- germs that are not only dangerous for him, but also for some of the members of your household. So, let’s dig right in and clear the air on this topic once and for all. Basic guidelines for bowl cleanliness
Experts all agree that your dog’s bowls should be cleaned regularly. Now, “regularly” varies based on a few factors, though. For instance, if your dog eats only dry kibble, you can get away with only cleaning his bowl once a day. However, if you feed raw or wet food exclusively, you need to wash that bowl after every meal. Additionally, if your dog has poor dental hygiene, you’ll want to wash the bowl more frequently as well as germs from his mouth can travel to the bowl and vice versa. Also, take him to the vet to address that stanky breath, please. Be careful of cross-contamination If you have babies in the home or those with compromised immune systems, you’ll want to be careful not to crosscontaminate your dog’s germy bowls with the dishes of your human family members. Dogs’ mouths contain lots of germs that are potentially dangerous to humans. When washing your dog’s bowls, use hot water and wash using a washcloth or scrub brush allocated for dog-bowl-use only. Your best option for killing the germs in your pet’s food bowls is to run them through the dishwasher daily. The dishwasher can sanitize them better than
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The Leader • Saturday, September 18, 2021 • Page 9A
Local vegan, vegetarian scene continues to evolve By Stefan Modrich smodrich@mcelvypartners.com
For those in the health-conscious dining community, finding a suitable place to eat can sometimes be a struggle. But things have changed dramatically over the last decade, and even in recent years, more vegan and vegetarian options have sprouted in the Greater Heights and become a part of mainstream foodie culture. Stephanie Hoban, head chef and owner at Verdine, 449 W. 19th St. Ste. C-200, remembers when kale used to be nothing more than a decoration at the center of a buffet and veganism was a niche interest. Hoban started out bringing her homemade vegan dishes to food truck parks and farmers markets as a side hustle while she worked as a dietician. She said she had been a vegetarian for several years before eventually becoming a vegan. She said she traces the origin of the vegan restaurant boom in Houston back to about 2010, when she saw places around the city and locally in the Heights begin to open up and for existing restaurants to adapt their menu offerings to cater to vegan and vegetarian tastes. One such place is Govinda’s Vegetarian Cuisine, 1320 W 34th St., where owner Saranga Thakur Das has responded to an increasing interest in vegan options by making nearly his entire menu vegan, with rice pudding and saag paneer being two notable exceptions. Das said his goal is to provide “spiritually satisfying food” and that often he will have vegan or vegetarian customers bring in family or friends who do not follow the same dietary restrictions. Since Govinda’s opened five years ago, he said he’s noticed a boom in interest in vegan and vegetarian food purveyors. Das said the menu at Govinda’s rotates daily, and so he began hosting “vegan Sundays” where the menu was exclusively plant-based. As demand grew, he expanded to going 100 percent vegan Wednesdays and Fridays as well. “Over the years, we have seen growth in terms of the clientele and people looking for fresh, healthy meals,” Das said. Hoban added an influx of migration from other big cities like Los Angeles or New
Photo by @anygonzalez Any Gonzalez enjoys her White Cheddar Mac and Bistro Burger at Verdine, 449 W. 19th St. Ste. C-200.
York have contributed to the area having a greater appreciation for health-conscious cuisine. “I don’t think I had anything to do with it, but I was a part of that wave,” Hoban said. “My business has grown alongside that movement.” Hoban said that countering the perception that a vegan diet is a major limitation because of the lack of beef, pork, chicken and turkey is one of the biggest hurdles to chefs like her. “One of the biggest misconceptions about going vegan is that because you’re removing four animals from your diet, that your diet is so limited,” Hoban said. “You’re now eating all of these beans, and grains and vegeta-
Photo by Stefan Modrich Shown are a sampling of vegan offerings available at Govinda’s Vegetarian Cuisine, 1320 W. 34th St.
bles that you probably wouldn’t have tried otherwise. It opens up your world, if you’re willing to expand to it.” At Verdine, for example, one can order Maryland-style imitation crab cakes that are made with banana blossom or a bistro burger with a patty crafted from organic lentils, walnuts and mushrooms. Hattie Vork, a franchisee of Clean Juice, 1051 Heights Blvd Ste. 120, said the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an increase in people looking to boost their immune system by introducing juicing into their diet. All of the juices she sells are vegan, and all of her salads are either vegan or vegetarian, she said. Vork said she is a lifelong vegetarian who went vegan after becoming pregnant with her child. “Some places it might be very difficult for vegans to order their food,” Vork said, “But there are restaurants in the Heights and the surrounding areas that are very vegan and vegetarian-friendly.” Jennifer Thai, owner of Awesome Bites Co.,a bake shop in the Sawyer Yards development, said that while Houston has made progress in becoming more accommodating to vegans and vegetarians, she said it has room to improve to catch up with major health-conscious hubs on the West Coast like Portland and Seattle. Thai, who holds a B.A. in Economics from Rice University and an MBA from Duke University, said she has seen tangible signs of growth in terms of both quality and availability of vegan products. “Ten years ago, vegan cheese was gross,” Thai said. “Now you can get vegan butter, and it tastes better than regular butter.” She said the way to know that veganism and vegetarianism will have truly become mainstream will be when the conversation shifts from the assumption that it is a lifestyle anomaly to something that younger generations are adopting at much higher rates. “Instead of people looking at you like you’re an alien from space when you tell someone you’ve never had Whataburger,” Thai said, “I think there will be a point where someone will be like ‘You’ve never had oat milk? That’s weird, man.’”
Embracing healthier options long, worthwhile journey Stefan Modrich
Time can often be measured and put into context by observing lifestyle changes. Perhaps none of these changes are so prevalent as what we choose to consume or not consume. While it is at this point common knowledge for many that vegan diets do not include any animal products, even eggs or dairy, and vegetarian diets prohibit meat and sometimes fish, I know that it has been an ongoing process for me to learn about the scientific and health-based reasons for these lifestyle decisions. And as I’ve
covered in this week’s food and drink section, we have seen a rapid growth in the number of restaurants offering vegan and vegetarian options. This is a result of you, the residents, voting with your dollars for a change you’ve deemed to be worth making in your eating habits. I still remember the surprised reaction as an elementary school student I had when my parents explained we were going to no longer be buying cow’s milk to have with our cereal in the morning, and that we were using rice milk instead. Not long after that, in 2005, my dad and I were on a road trip back from Cooperstown, New York, for a baseball tournament, and stopped somewhere upstate for a burger. He explained to me it was going to be the last one he would have for a while.
Photo by Stefan Modrich A veggie stir-fry of rainbow Swiss chard and acorn squash was among the first vegetarian dishes food writer Stefan Modrich experimented with when he began cooking healthy meals in 2019.
I was shocked by this, and even more surprised to recently learn that within the last year, his 16-year hiatus of eating meat had come to an end. His intense, strict focus on eating a mostly vegetarian diet was something I thought might endure for the rest of his life. After all, he did tell me that while he enjoyed burgers and hot dogs and barbecue after many years of eating them, he was content to have those flavor profiles reside in his memory and that he truly didn’t miss them. Just as he was advised to return to eating some meat to ensure he was receiving a sufficient amount of protein, I have learned of many different dietary restrictions people have, including my former college roommate during my years in Phoenix. There, I learned that eating vegan
ice cream and desserts left me feeling less bloated and guilty. I learned that soy and tempeh can actually taste really close to barbecue chicken. And while I have always put an emphasis on cooking healthy meals at home because of my upbringing, I didn’t realize how much I would enjoy making vegetarian chili or meatless tacos and how it has made a tangible improvement in the way my body and mind feel. I am not a registered dietitian and am not advocating for anyone to adopt any diet without consulting a professional. However, if you are interested in supporting healthconscious restaurants by stopping for an occasional meal if only to indulge your foodie curiosity, I think doing so would be a worthwhile exercise for even the most staunch carnivores.
Review: Awesome Bites Co. puts healthy spin on sweets By Stefan Modrich smodrich@mcelvypartners.com
Awesome Bites Co. owner Jennifer Thai started her vegan bake shop because of her young daughter Aurora’s egg and peanut allergies. She told me it was nearly impossible for her to find Aurora an affordable birthday cake that tasted good without any of the dairy products or allergens. So, she set out to create a safe space for those with dietary restrictions to order dairy-free and gluten-free baked goods and frozen desserts. I bought several cookies, muffins and brownies to get as wide a cross-section as I could of the offerings at Awesome Bites. Since my visit was on a Thursday, the cookies were the weekly special, and I got a four-pack for $12.25. My favorite was the London Fog, an Earl Grey tea cookie with a soothing and sweet lemon and lavender icing that wasn’t overpoweringly saccharine. I also like the sunflower seed butter cookie, an alternative for those with peanut allergies. Thai said her flour is made from scratch with gluten-free oats and cassava, which she sources from Brazil. She takes pride in using zero added sugars, even from natural sources
Photo by Stefan Modrich The sunflower seed butter cookie from Awesome Bites Co. is an alternative for those with nut allergies.
Our new rating system In order to give you, dear reader, a more clear explanation of how we evaluate the restaurants we review, we will use a rating system on a scale from one to five bites, with one being the lowest score. Simply put, the better a dish is, the more likely you are to take multiple bites of it. From time to time, we may rate a place with 4.5 or 3.5 bites, for example, if we feel a place doesn’t fit neatly in one of these five categories. Five bites: An elite, special experience, among the best meals we’ve ever had. Four bites: High-quality, a can’t-miss destination. Three bites: Slightly above average, but not memorable. Two bites: Middling. You can skip out on this place, and you won’t be missing anything. One bite: Poor, low quality. A disappointment.
like agave, and only uses real fruits and vegetables with her baked goods. Upon the recommendation of Thai’s staff, I also ordered a compost cookie, which is made with pretzels, white and semisweet chocolate and sprinkled with pieces of potato chips. It was a surprisingly nice combination of sweet and salty with crunchy and soft textures. The best of the four Super Muffins ($6.50 per 4-pack) I ordered was the banana, made with bananas, apples and dates, oatmeal and cassava flour. The gluten-free dark chocolate muffin, lemon blueberry and apple spice muffins (with freshly-ground cinnamon and nutmeg) seemed to be a hit among the friends I shared them with. The muffins retained their moist texture and freshness exceptionally, as did the brownie and blondie, which are $4 each. The beanie brownie bar has a rich and fudgy consistency, which I was surprised to learn was made from black beans, flax seed, dates and gluten-free oatmeal. It also used dairy-free chocolate. The beanie’s cousin, the blondie, uses chickpeas, flaxseed, apples, gluten-free oatmeal and chocolate chunks that are dairy- and nut-free. I appreciated that the beanie and brownie were both soft enough to savor while also
remaining firmly intact, unlike cheaper brownies that crumble after a bite or two. I could have used a tad more sweetness in them, but given Thai’s constraint of not adding any sugar, they held up quite well on their own. Awesome Bites Co.
Address: 2313 Edwards St., Ste. #185 Dining Options: Takeout, de-
livery Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, 10 a.m.8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday Entrée prices: $2.50-$12 Kid-friendly: Yes Senior discount: No Alcohol: No Healthy options: Nitro lavender grey tea ($4.75) Star of the show: London Fog cookie Rating: 4 out of 5 bites
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Page 10A • Saturday, September 18, 2021 • The Leader
Art Valet: Don’t let rain dictate day at market Mitch Cohen Art Columnist
Waking early to the stormy weather Tuesday morning and no electricity got me thinking about rain and art markets. After producing outdoor art markets for 17 years, I unfortunately have experienced the anxiety of deciding the fate of people’s income (as I see it) more times than I can recall. From the first rainout that I’ve recounted here, when several artists argued with me to open the market despite the ominous black cloud reaching to all corners of the horizon behind me, I knew I was dealing with a different kind of people ... artists! Yes, I’m one of those artists and my entrepreneurial spirit of gambling on the multiverse of weather predictions has ended with many drenched artists. For a society that seems to hinge many conversations on the weather, we seem forever unable to predict it accurately. In the outdoor market world, the weather or just the predictions of the weather can
Art lovers enjoy the First Saturday Arts Market in June despite rainy weather.
make or break attendance. With the exception of farmers markets. Farmers have a limited time to move their product, and when has a little water hurt fresh produce anyway? I’ve shopped at farmers markets in the rain, and you’d think it was just as normal as breathing. No one cares. Artists aren’t so lucky. Rain, even just a little bit, can destroy some art and many displays, especially if caught in a downpour while setting up or
breaking down. The same customers that walk in the rain at farmers markets don’t seem as brave when it comes to art. The No. 1 question I am asked by others planning similar events is how I decide to call off a market due to a forecast. Today, I shall reveal to you, dear readers, my trade secrets. Brace yourselves, because there may be some humor mixed in. I like to quote, at least in part, my favorite movie
Contributed photo
weatherman Phil Connors, of “Groundhog Day,” who said, “I make the weather!” Nothing aggravates me more than weather people reporting news contrary to what I believe will happen. A positive attitude is what it’s all about, right? If one positive attitude can change the weather, then getting several dozen artists on board should do the trick in my mind. I’ve created some ground
rules when it comes to discussing weather and upcoming events for the artists. Rule No. 1 is to not talk about the weather, and absolutely, under any circumstances, say or write the word “rain.” Ever. Ever, ever. The second rule may fall under old wives’ tales, in which case refer back to my favorite quote. There shall be no cursing, spitting, car washing or any other activity that may anger the weather gods. The third rule is to not pay any attention to weather news. Again, if in doubt, refer back to the quote. With all the rules behind us, I can tell you that artists, in fact, are quite clever when it comes to dealing with rain. Here’s a short list of the rainy day “tools” I’ve seen artists have at hand: trash bags, tent walls, pool noodles, resealable plastic baggies, towels, laminated paperwork and
a good story. When it rains, people will naturally congregate in the nearest place with cover. And guess what? Tents are great for cover! Artists with a good story and easy conversation may find that rainy day markets can be profitable after all. You’ve probably guessed that there are no trade secrets. Just a healthy dose of common sense and faith. On the upside of all this is one sobering thought: There are only 12 days out of 365 that I have to concern myself with weather. Regardless, I still won’t say “rain” the week of an event! 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, artist’s stories and how to use a pool noodle properly with a tent.
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Nibbles & Sips: Angela’s Oven to reopen on Saturdays Washington Avenue location A hot dog cart has plans to open a permanent location along Washington Avenue in the coming weeks. YoYo’s Hot Dog, which has operated at the Fox Hollow lounge, 4617 Nett St., and in Rice Village, is now planning to operate a brick-and-mortar restaurant at 4620 Washington Ave., according to its website. A YoYo’s spokesperson said Tuesday that it plans to open the location in the next two weeks. The food cart was established in 2010 by owner Danny Kim.
By Stefan Modrich smodrich@mcelvypartners.com
A popular local bakery is making a comeback buoyed by a robust response from loyal Heights residents. Angela’s Oven, 204 Aurora St., plans to reopen on Saturdays in the Heights beginning at 8 a.m. this Saturday. Owners Jerry and Angela Shawn wrote in a Facebook post Monday that they were thankful for “the amazing outpour of love and support” from the community after announcing in a Sept. 4 Facebook post they would be closing their brick-and-mortar location. “We will not have the kitchen open at this time,” the Shawns wrote, “but we will still offer bread, pastries and amazing coffee! We are excited and looking forward to seeing our neighbors and friends.” A phone call to the bakery was not returned as of Tuesday afternoon. For more information, call 346-571-3740. Mastrantos showcases pastries for Hispanic Heritage Month Mastrantos, 927 Studewood St. Ste. 100, is highlighting a selection of pastries from its menu for Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept.
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Photo from Facebook Angela’s Oven, 204 Aurora St., plans to reopen on Saturdays in the Heights beginning at 8 a.m. this Saturday.
15-Oct. 15. Co-owner Mari Godoy learned to make dough at a young age while watching her grandmother make sweets at home in Venezuela, according to a news release from Carla Gomez at Pop Studio PR. Many of the items on the restaurant’s global tastes menu are Venezulean or Mexican in origin. The Texqueños, thick cylinders of Venezuelan cheese and fried dough, and cachitos, pastries with bacon or ham, are Godoy’s signature
creations, according to the news release. In addition, Mastrantos offers cachapas (Venezuelan corn pancakes with barbacoa, cilantro and red onions), arepas (Mexican chorizo or ham, scrambled eggs, queso fresco and cilantro sauce) and during the holidays, pan de jamon: ham, bacon, raisins and olives wrapped in dough. For more information, call 346-227-8458. YoYo’s Hot Dog opens
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Health Health H e a l t h Essentials Essentials Local doctor: Don’t neglect common care Essentials The Leader • Saturday, September 18, 2021 • Page 1B
On August 29th The Leader will publish The push to get COVID-19 vaccines to more and more people is among most section on a the special pressing issues facing medical professionals and public health officials, manyLocal of whom Healthcare. say that getting the vast majority of the popWetoward will print the local ulation vaccinated is the best path ending a pandemic that has lasted for 18 doctors, dentists, nurses months. A doctor with and health Memorial Hermann Health Sysprofessionals that are tem, which operates Memorial open and spotlight Herman Greater Heights Hospital at essential healthcare. By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
1635 North Loop West, said it’s also important to stay up-to-date on other vaccines, such Macaluso Davidson as the seasonal influenza shot. Dr. Annamaria Macaluso Davidson recommends the flu shot for both adults and children during the winter months, along with the pneumonia vaccine for adults age 65 and older, as well as the DTap shot – for diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis – for adults who expect to be around newborns or babies. “Certainly a lot of focus is on COVID and ending the pandemic and keeping people well and getting them vaccinated, but we definitely do not want to neglect our health outside of COVID,” Davidson said. “Among adults and even pediatric patients, vaccination rates (for other conditions) are down. Folks have not stayed on top of normal, annual wellness exams. Those are important for many reasons.” Davidson, the vice president of employee health medical operations for Memorial Hermann, touched on the importance of monitoring a range of non-COVID medical issues during an interview with The Leader. And she said maintaining mental health is just as critical as physical health, especially since living during a pandemic can be particularly stressful for children and their parents as well as the workforce in general. Community members with chronic mediconditions such asneighborhoods diabetes or hyperteng the Heights, cal Garden Oaks, Oak Forest & the of North Houston
This is your opportunity to let our readers know about your business and how it is operating during these times.
dline
25th - 5:00 PM es August 29th
On August 29th The Leader will publish a special section on Local OnHealthcare. August 29th We The will Leader print thewill local publish doctors, dentists, nurses a special section on andLocal healthHealthcare. We will print professionals thatthe arelocal doctors, dentists, nurses open and spotlight and health essential healthcare. professionals that are andopportunity spotlight Thisopen is your essential healthcare. to let our readers know about your business and your opportunity howThis it isisoperating to let our times. readers know during these about your business and how it is operating Fullthese Page - $1500 during times.
Half Page - $800 1/4 FullPage Page- -$450 $1500 Full Page - $1500 Ad Deadline Half - $800 3 xPage 5 - $275 Half Page - $800 Photo Page - Stock $450 COVID-19 is not the only medical condition that should be of concern to area residents, who are encouraged to monitor1/4 their overall health. 3 x 3 $150 1/4 Page - $450 August 25th - 5:00 PM Ad Deadline sion should keep checkup appointments with offices and the hospitals are safe and clean. get out and be2in x 3sun $275 the do- stuff,” she 4xand -5$110 3 x 5 Davidson - $275 their physicians, said, to ensure We know it’s important,” Davidson said. “I said. “Follow up with a dermatologist and those conditions are being properly man- think they can feel confident coming into in- make sure.” 3 byx Texas 3- -$60 $150 Business Size aged and that they are$150 taking the right medi- August person visits for care and treatment.” Per Card a request made Gov. Greg Publishes 29th 3 x 3 cations in the right doses. She said regular 25th With summer giving wayPM to fall, Davidson Abbott in early August, after the delta variAugust - 5:00 2 xa 4 - $110 health screenings, blood work and eye ex- said keeping tabs on skin care also is a must ant of COVID-19 caused significant spike x 4important, - $110 ams are2equally since problems at this time of year. Many community mem- in cases and hospitalizations throughout the could arise without necessarily presenting bers may have spent significant time in the state, manyCard hospitals suspended Business Size -elective $60 Publishes August 29th symptoms. Size - $60 sun either while traveling to a beach, lake or medical procedures that could be postponed Business Card And if residents are worried about con- river or by swimming or laying out by a pool. without causing a loss of life or deterioration the Heights, Oaks,new Oak Forest & the neighborhoods of North tracting COVID-19 from a visit toCovering a docSoGarden if any moles are noticed on the Houston in a patient’s condition, in order to preserve tor or clinic, Davidson said they should not skin, Davidson said it’s important to have hospital bed capacity. be. Telehealth visits also are available from them checked out to make sure they are not But doctor visits, checkups and necessary many healthcare providers. cancerous. treatments have continued and will continue. “We at Memorial Hermann are doingCovering a the“We justGarden cameOaks, off Oak of summer, hope-of North“We don’t want folks neglecting their Heights, Forest & the which neighborhoods Houston really nice job of making sure our clinical fully felt a little more normal as folks could care,” Davidson said.
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To advertise call 713-686-8494 ertiseWhy call women’s 713-686-8494 feet hurt more in autumn
and what you can do to cope with it (StatePoint) As the weather cools and women switch from open to closed shoe styles, the transition can be painful. According to Dr. Thanh Dinh, DPM, FACFAS, a foot and ankle surgeon and president of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) two of the most common types of pain women feel in their feet in autumn come from bunions and hammertoes. The ACFAS offers the following insights into treating these conditions and easing associated pain: Understanding Bunions A common myth is that tight-fitting or narrow shoes cause bunions. The truth is, bunions are genetic. However, symptoms occur most often when wearing high heels or other styles that crowd the toes. “A bunion is a change in the bony framework of the front part of the foot and is most often caused by an inherited faulty mechanical structure of the foot,” Dr. Dinh explains. “When the big toe leans towards the second toe, rather than pointing straight ahead, it throws the bones out of alignment and produces the all-too-familiar, bunion bump.” Pain from bunions most often occurs along the side of the foot near the big toe. Women sometimes describe it as a throbbing that continues even after taking off their shoes and putting up their feet. The site of the bunion can also be inflamed or red and can feel numb or have a burning sensation. Demystifying Hammertoes “A hammertoe is a ‘bending’ or contracture deformity of one or both joints of a toe,” Dr. Dinh says. “The abnormal bending puts pressure on the toe when wearing shoes and causes problems to develop -- which can start mildly and worsen over time.” Women with hammertoes can experience pain or irritation of the affected toe when wearing shoes. Corns and calluses (a buildup of skin) on the toe, between the toes or on the ball of the foot can occur from the constant friction against the shoes with hammertoes. Inflammation, redness or a burning sensation are also possible and
Take your health to Greater Heights
Photo by visook/iStock via Getty Images Plus Switching from open to closed-style shoes in the colder months can be painful for women.
in severe cases, open sores may form. Next Steps Proper shoe selection and conservative treatments can go a long way in managing pain from bunions and hammertoes. Foot and ankle surgeons recommend avoiding high-heeled shoes and styles that crowd the toes together, as well as using padding and taking anti-inflammatory medication. While these techniques address pain, they don’t generally stop bunions or hammertoes from getting worse. Surgery is commonly performed by foot and ankle surgeons to both correct the deformities and alleviate pain. Those who suffer from both ailments can have surgery to correct the foot deformities at the same time. “Recovery time varies based on the procedures performed, the advancement of the deformities, the number of toes involved, age and other factors, but the success rates for the surgeries are encouraging,” says Dr. Dinh. “Plus, the advanced procedures foot and ankle surgeons perform today to fix bunion deformities reduce the likelihood of a recurrence,” she adds. Experiencing increased foot pain? Make an appointment with a foot and ankle surgeon to see how they can help alleviate pain. Visit FootHealthFacts.org to access the Find an ACFAS Physician Tool. While everyone loves fall fashions, certain shoe styles for women can exacerbate painful foot conditions. Taking steps to manage these conditions can make for a pain-free autumn and beyond.
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Page 2B • Saturday, September 18, 2021 • The Leader
PROTECT YOURSELF AND OTHERS FROM COVID-19
GET VACCINATED TODAY The COVID-19 vaccine is the proven way to stop the spread of the disease. We know it's effective against Delta and other variants. Having the vaccine will protect you, your loved ones and your community. To register for your COVID-19 vaccine, visit memorialhermann.org/covid19vaccine
Advancing health. Personalizing care.
The Leader • Saturday, September 18, 2021 • Page 3B
Family conversations may reveal critical health history (StatePoint) Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) is a rare disease that can be passed down from generation to generation within families. This condition causes numerous cysts to grow in the kidneys, resulting in the kidneys enlarging and losing function over time. Additionally, nearly 50 percent of affected patients over age 60 will experience kidney failure or end stage renal disease (ESRD). The most common form of PKD is Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) which, according to the National Kidney Foundation, accounts for nearly 90 percent of all PKD cases. ADPKD affects an estimated 140,000 Americans. While relatively rare, it is the most common inherited kidney disease and the fourth leading overall cause of endstage kidney disease or kidney failure. As a progressive condition, ADPKD may eventually lead to kidney failure requiring some form of renal replacement therapy, such as dialysis or kidney transplant. “Although seemingly rare, ADPKD is quite prevalent and affects many families generation after generation. In fact, children of parents with ADPKD have a 50 percent chance of inheriting the disease, and spontaneous mutations can occur in new generations as well,” says Meyeon Park, MD, MAS, director of the UCSF Polycystic Kidney Disease Center of Excellence and nephrologist, University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine. “This emphasizes the importance of people with a family history of PKD discussing the condition with their relatives, as well as the importance of speaking with a doctor who specializes in kidney care as early as possible.” Diagnosing ADPKD ADPKD is typically diagnosed by an ultrasound of
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the kidneys; however, a computerized tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan may also be conducted. Genetic testing may sometimes be used for people who have received an inconclusive imaging result, have no family history of the condition, who may be considering testing to determine if they can pass the gene on to their children, and for diagnosis of possible kidney donors. Using the latest technologies, physicians can now identify ADPKD patients at risk for rapid progression of kidney function decline as well as estimate how quickly someone with ADPKD is likely to progress to kidney failure based on the size of his or her kidneys. Although disease progression can be highly variable, even among family members, it’s important to confirm diagnosis early as patients with rapidly progressing ADPKD reach end stage renal disease at a younger age. Disease Management Strategies Early diagnosis and treatment are critical for ADPKD patients, since this disease
progressively gets worse over time and cannot be reversed. While signs and symptoms often develop between ages of 30 and 40, individuals with a history of kidney diseases – and especially if ADPKD runs in the family – shouldn’t delay speaking with a kidney specialist, also known as a nephrologist. By acting early, individuals may be able to take steps to help protect kidney function and properly manage the disease, as well as any related complications such as high blood pressure, urinary tract infections, kidney stones, infected or bleeding cysts, abdominal bloating or discomfort and chronic pain. “Take advantage of educational resources, such as www.ADPKDQuestions.com, to better understand the disease, available disease management strategies and recommended lifestyle changes, such as maintaining a healthy diet and staying physically active,” continues Dr. Park, MD, MAS, director of the UCSF Polycystic Kidney Disease Center of Excellence and nephrologist, University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine. “Being an empowered patient early on will help foster informed conversations about ADPKD
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