On Tuesday, April 15, 2025, the Greater Heights Super Neighborhood Council (GHSNC) convened for its scheduled bimonthly meeting at the Historic Heights Fire Station, 107 W. 12th St. The council—designated Super Neighborhood 15—covers parts of City Council District C and District H and includes delegates from
eight civic groups: Clark Pines, Norhill, Woodland Heights, Montie Beach, Shady Acres, East Sunset Heights, Sunset Heights and the Houston Heights Association.
Code of conduct and agenda shift
GHSNC President Kevin Strickland reminded attendees of Houston’s meeting-decorum rule: “We are a community organization that is composed of the civic as-
sociations in this area,” Strickland said. “This meeting is for the respective stakeholders and community partners and is open to the public. Engaging in verbal attacks or comments intended to disrupt, insult, abuse, malign or slander any individual may be cause for the termination of privileges.”
Strickland explained that originally the published and promoted
By LISA MORALES The Leader News Contributor
The community has a special group of children to cheer for this spring: Oak Forest Elementary’s Odyssey of the Mind (OM) team has earned a coveted spot at the 2025 OM World Finals, to be held May 21–25 at Michigan State University. After placing second at both the regional and Texas state competitions, the team—composed of seven talented third through fifth graders—is ready to take on the world.
The Odyssey of the Mind program, founded in 1978, is an international
creative problem-solving competition that challenges students to think outside the box. Participants tackle complex challenges with ingenuity, critical thinking, and teamwork— skills that serve them far beyond the competition stage. Every year, OM draws students from over 40 countries, and advancing to the World Finals is an extraordinary accomplishment at any age, especially for elementary students.
Team members Jillian Maida (5th grade), Sloan Notley (5th), Braden Lucas (4th), Saajan Patel (4th), Maya Abraham (4th),
By STEPHANIE SHIRLEY The Leader News Contributor
In early April, family, friends and fellow Rotarians gathered to pay tribute to a 92-year-old community icon and one of the Heights club’s longest-living members, Howard Moon. Health issues in recent years may have slowed his physical pace, but they have done little to slow his ever-present dedication to community service. Moon’s life and legacy extend well beyond The Heights, as do his contributions to philanthropy. At the
event, he spent much of his speaking time sharing some very private and poignant details about his childhood and upbringing. His resounding message was that, no matter how devastating life’s circumstances, there is always hope, always a way out.
A Candid Look at Challenging Beginnings
Howard D. Moon came not only from very humble beginnings, but he came from an extremely challenging and difficult upbringing and family life.
“Well I’ve got to start off by saying that I’m not telling my whole life story, only that which has been through the passage of the statute of limitations,” he joked. “And, I have an urge to make it clear that my telling about my secrets and about sharing the dirty laundry of the Moon Family is only so that others who may have found themselves in a hole in life can climb their way out, if they follow their heart and do the work of the Lord.”
By LISA MORALES The Leader News Contributor
Houston’s beloved Surfhouse, Texas’ oldest traditional surf and skateboard shop, has closed its doors, marking the end of an era for generations of local surfers, skaters, and adventurers.
First opened by Lloyd and Carol Sandel in December 1967, Surfhouse built its reputation on more than just gear—it became a welcoming hub where the motto was always “no shirt, no shoes, no problem.” Originally located in Spring Branch before relocating to West 34th and Ella in Oak Forest, the store spent nearly six decades fostering a laid-back community spirit that made it a Houston institution.
Following Lloyd’s passing in May 2022, Carol continued operations for over a year before passing the torch to new owners and longtime patrons, Brian Fish and Brian Menn. In November 2023, they reopened Surfhouse at a new location at 215 E. 11th Street in the Heights. Housed in a century-old building, the new Surfhouse proudly honored its rich history, showcasing original fixtures like the cash stand and surfboard quiver alongside expanded merchandise that included women’s apparel, shoes, and Surfhouse-branded gear.
“We are amped to re-open Surfhouse to the Houston community and carry on the ‘hang loose’ vibe fostered by Lloyd and Carol Sandel,” Fish said at the grand reopening. “We preserved its rich history while introducing changes to satisfy all surfing and skateboarding needs, complete with a smile and good
Photo by Stephanie
2 • Saturday, May 3, 2025
Guha (4th), and Charlotte Notley (3rd) have spent months refining their project. Competing in Problem #4, they designed and built a lightweight 17.8-gram balsa wood structure that astonishingly held 620 pounds before crashing in dramatic— and crowd-pleasing—fashion. Their challenge also included performing an original, themed skit to complement their engineering marvel.
Coaches Anne Maida, Ben Lucas, and Matthew Notley have witnessed the team’s transformation firsthand.
“It’s amazing and it’s why I coach,” said a member of the coaching team. “I love seeing the transformation through the season as each child gains confidence and begins to see their own strength and creativity. They start to share more ideas, to speak up, to mentor each other, and celebrate each other’s unique strengths. Their creativity is contagious. The sense of pride I know they have over what they’ve created can be seen in their smiles. I hope they carry these lessons on with them into the future.”
Competing at the World Finals is about much more than trophies.
“Going to Worlds is an incredible honor,” the coaches added. “We are so excited to represent our community and school (Oak Forest Elementary), and of course Texas, as we compete against kids from all over the country. This is a potentially once-in-a-lifetime experience for these kids.”
The team is currently fundraising to cover travel, lodging, and registration costs through their GoFundMe page. Any excess funds raised will help support future Odyssey of the Mind teams at Oak Forest Elementary, ensuring that
agenda for the meeting was a planned informational discussion of the proposed implementation of The Greater Heights Management District, created to include the Heights and neighboring communities within a specific geographic confine. The idea had been previously presented at a Houston Heights Association Land Use Committee meeting and the GHSNC was going to solicit additional community feedback about the project before making a decision to move forward in the process. However, the agenda item was tabled shortly before the start of the meeting. The meeting agenda, instead, revolved around the ongoing 11th Street improvement project controversy and concerns that the current administration had expressed the intent to have the improvements torn out and removed.
The council felt strongly that a letter should to be sent to the mayor’s office in support of retention of the improvements.
the tradition of creativity and collabora-
tion continues.
For the students themselves, the journey has been just as rewarding as the destination.
“I love doing something fun and creative after school. It’s an opportunity to meet other people and make new friends,” said student Maya Abraham.
“For World Finals, I am looking forward to meeting people from around the world and exchanging ideas, as well as trading for fun pins from other places.”
Teammates Sloan Notley and Charlotte Notley shared, “Our favorite part of working on our Odyssey of the Mind project was building and painting all the props together with our team. We had so much fun coming up with silly and creative ideas and turning them into real things. We also really liked solving problems as a team and practicing our skit—even when we messed up, we kept trying and had a lot of laughs. When we get to World Finals in Michigan, we’re super excited to travel to a new place with our team, perform on a big stage, meet kids from all over, and trade pins.”
And fifth grader Jillian Maida summed it up perfectly:
“I loved making our props and costumes and coming up with the play. I’m excited about the feeling I get when I think about everything we’ve created and that we made it to Worlds and deserve to be there.”
As they prepare to showcase their hard work on the global stage, the Oak Forest Elementary team embodies the spirit of Odyssey of the Mind: bold ideas, teamwork, resilience—and a whole lot of fun.
To support the team’s journey to Michigan, visit their GoFundMe page at https://www.gofundme.com/f/helpoak-forest-get-to-world-finals.
Walk & Roll Houston presents the data
The sole guest speaker to address the project was Chris Parma with the nonprofit organization Walk & Roll Houston.
“The 11th Street Safety Improvement Project began somewhere about 2018 or so with the goal of reducing speeding, reducing injurycausing crashes, and improving safety for people walking and biking along and across 11th Street,” he said, adding that the project ended up costing taxpayers over 2.4 million dollars and would likely take as much to tear it up.
Parma, who was passionate about the effectiveness and retention of the project, was armed with data and statistics supporting the improvements, including positive trends in speed changes, accident statistics, travel wait times and access by city services, including the Houston Fire Department. He described the way that accidents contributed to many other public expenses.
“My point has to do with the accidents we talk about. It’s one thing to look at numbers from an accounting perspective, but there’s also a societal faction in terms of dollars that come with all these crashes,” Parma said. “Every time there’s a car crash, you’ll see traffic delays. The people involved may have medical bills.
We look at car repairs. You have the overtime that has to be paid to our fire, EMS, and police that have to come out. This is about making it easier for anyone to cross the street, especially kids, decreasing crashes for drivers, but also the ability for ourselves, for our families, for our kids to get to school, to get to work, to church, to the grocery store and making the streets safer for everyone.”
Walk & Roll Houston’s presentation represented one side of the ongoing controversy and provided support for the proposed letter to be sent to the Mayor’s Office, but there were no guest speakers representing the opposite side of the issue, except for audience contributions.
“The Greater Heights Super Neighborhood supported the project and that was before it
started,” Strickland summarized. “Now that the project is complete, the mayor campaigned on and has continued to say that the 11th Street improvements should come out. And, what has been missing from the discussion in the community are the facts that Chris [Parma] just laid out. So, what the Greater Heights Super Neighborhood Council is going to discuss is providing another letter of support to send to the mayor and city council, but including reference to all of these facts.”
Calls for more recent statistics
When the discussion was opened to the audience, things became more vocal and the tension level in the room became palpable. There were questions regarding the accuracy, parameters and timeframe of the statistical results Parma referenced and why only a draft was available. To this Strickland replied, “The only reason that even the draft report was public was because our friend here filed a
Texas Public Information Act request. You know what that is? It means we have a right to see information that the government collects and shares. The mayor wouldn’t release the report. So, I wouldn’t have the expectation that the final report would ever see the light of day.”
By this time, the meeting had turned politically volatile. There were proponents and opponents of the original 11th Street improvement project, and just as many were divided about dismantling it, especially at a cost equal to or exceeding the original development cost. At times the comments between the audience and council became very accusatory and personal. There was also tense discourse among the council itself in response to differing opinions and views. Some council members and attendees clearly supported sending the letter in favor of keeping the improvements, others felt the study’s statistics were not current and wanted more updated information before making a decision.
“I would recommend that this study that you’re quoting showing decreases in crashes needs to be updated because it only goes to 2023,” said Shady Acres delegate Debbie Norris.
“If you look at 2024 crashes versus 2023, they’ve doubled. And that’s looking at 10th East and West, 11th East and West, and 12th East and West. So, it’s the whole corridor, including the side streets. The crashes have doubled, and you should really look at that and consider that before you approve anything that goes to the city.
Otherwise, the credibility of the study is zero.” The sentiment was corroborated by some of the public attendees with engineering backgrounds, but the thought was hastily dismissed.
Letter of support and vote
Other, related issues were discussed, including the ‘no left turn’ intersections and other problems resulting from the new esplanades and the flooding/ponding issues caused by the new curb elevation. The audience was not provided a copy of the letter intended to be sent to the mayor’s office, nor was it read aloud. The letter in favor of retaining current improvements had been shared with the council members online and the meeting was temporarily paused to allow one member to read it prior to the vote. Strickland called for a vote despite the discord. The Houston Heights Association abstained, saying it needed to poll residents. Shady Acres voted no, insisting on updated 2024 data. The vote outcome was 5-1, with Houston Heights Association abstaining:
• Yes: Clark Pines, Norhill, Woodland Heights, Montie Beach, East Sunset Heights
• No: Shady Acres
Abstain: Houston Heights Association
Shady Acres announced it will assemble 2024 crash data and may seek a revote in June.
GHSNC’s next scheduled session is set for 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, again at the Historic Heights Fire Station.
GHSNC, from P. 1
Photo by Stephanie Shirley
As the meeting became more combative, the room erupted into numerous individual conversations and order had to be restored.
Local neighborhood business Yellow Rose Fitness provided space for the students to test their balsa wood structure to see how much weight it can hold. The structure held 620 lbs at state, where the team placed 2nd. L to R: Jillian Maida, Braden Lucas, Saajan Patel and Zane Guha.
Submitted photos
L to R: Ben Lucas (coach), Zane Guha, Jillian Maida, Braden Lucas, Charlotte Notley, Saajan Patel, Sloan Notley, Maya Abraham, Anna Maida (coach) and Matt Notley (coach).
The team built the whole set and props for Problem #4, a “Save Me Structure”. One of the animals featured was a built-from-scratch wooden parrot by 4th-grader Braden Lucas.
Moon used humor to paint a bleak picture of himself as a lost child.
“My father was a great social drinker, which is a polite way of saying he was a drunk,” he recalled. “He was very fond of recreational drugs, which is a polite way of saying that he was a drug addict. He spent three years as a guest of the State of Alabama. They supplied room and board for him, which is another polite way of saying he was an ex-con.”
From Hardship to the Gridiron
Watching his father’s failures seemed to define Moon’s future.
“We can hear the great failures in the cliché of the apple that doesn’t fall far from the tree,” Moon said, saying that as life progressed, things seemed to go from bad to worse.
“Several years later, when the finances of the family were just in terrible shape, I came home from school one day and some men were very kindly going into the house and carrying out the furniture, stacking it in the yard. Well, can you imagine how my mother felt? The neighbors were all around saying, what’s going on here? Well, they soon found out that we were being evicted for lack of payment. It seemed like these darned old mortgage companies wanted to be repaid!”
conversation—a tradition Carol hopes will live on.”
In 2022, Surfhouse was even honored with a City of Houston proclamation, recognizing December 9 as “Surfhouse Day”—a fitting tribute to a shop that has made an indelible mark on Houston’s surf and skate culture.
Despite these efforts, financial challenges proved too great to overcome. In a heartfelt Facebook post, the owners announced, “Sadly, we’re gonna have to call it. We have put everything we had into keeping the Surfhouse alive for you, and for Lloyd and Carol. Unfortunately, there’s just not enough support to keep it going.”
The response from the com-
He referred to the drugs and alcohol abuse as his father’s ‘two demons’. As the turmoil and hardship continued to escalate, Moon realized he needed a way out, sooner rather than later.
“When he transitioned from Hamilton Middle School to Reagan High School, he got really big,” said his longterm high school friend Ervin Lehman. He wasn’t talking just popularity; he was talking physical size and presence.
A Life-Changing Invitation to Play
Football
One of Moon’s friends had recently received a sports scholarship and shared all that it provided. The idea brought hope, but Moon was not actively involved in athletics at the time.
“When I was at Reagan High School [now Heights High School] during my junior year, something in my mind kept saying, go watch them practice football,” Moon remembered. “I was athletic, but had no real active interest. While there, one of the coaches came by and said, “Man, why don’t you come out for football?’ It was already in my junior year, but the idea really drove me. I worked long hours while attending school and practice and it all paid off.”
Moon was so successful at football that he made it to
munity during the final sale was overwhelming, with customers old and new filling the shop to grab the last pieces of Surfhouse memorabilia. “The turnout was so great, sad that we couldn’t have had 10% of that the whole time!! Hahaha!!
Thank you to all of the Surfhouse community AND to all of the new folks that got to meet Surfhouse for the first time!!” they shared. For co-owner Brian Fish, 2023 was a year of incredible highs and challenging lows. After a tough battle with an aggressive carcinoma, he received life-changing news last summer: “Two months ago they were telling me to get my affairs in order... now it looks like I’m going to make it!” he posted in July. Fish credits the outpouring of prayers and
the All-Star Game and was named MVP.
“Believe it or not, I even was pitted against Dan Rather, who was playing first-string and prevailed. Another famous Reagan Alumni,” he said.
Years later, Moon was inducted to Reagan’s Hall of Fame and his portrait still graces the wall of the high school’s front hall.
“I got scholarship offers from several colleges,” he said,
positivity from the community for lifting his spirits through treatment.
Through it all, Surfhouse remained more than just a shop—it was a family. The team loved capturing customer photos with new surfboards and skateboards, celebrating every purchase and every connection made along the way.
While the brick-and-mortar store is closed, the spirit of Surfhouse isn’t fading away. “We’re not sure what it looks like moving forward, but there will be something!” they shared in their final Facebook post, hinting at an online store and future nonprofit initiatives to keep the Surfhouse legacy alive and the surf’s up spirit forever in the hearts of those who love to ride the wave of life.
“and I accepted the University of Texas because I thought the alumni were more helpful to me and my family. My mother had been begging me to go to Baylor, saying those good Baptists will take care of you, but I ended up going to UT.” It paid off, as there he lettered four times and was elected captain of the team.
Faith, Family, and Finding His Calling Moon’s life was, finally and
deliberately, changing course for the better. Following graduation his mother, a devout Baptist, had moved to live across from the former Baptist Temple church in downtown Heights. He loved the fact that they had a ball team that allowed him to continue sports while he was looking for a job.
That relationship convinced him to join the Baptist faith and that Baptist Temple affiliation would eventually lead him to marry his wife Jeanette and start a family. Meanwhile, Moon had taken a job in the oil fields, digging ditches. He knew he hadn’t spent all of those years in college, just to be a ditch-digger but the experience proved interesting and valuable.
“On the job, my supervisor’s last name was Ryan. He was from Alvin, Texas. I bet you can all guess his first!” Moon said.
Indeed, Nolan Ryan, who would go on to the Baseball Hall of Fame, had become a mentor of sorts in the absence of a positive male role model in Moon’s life.
After a while, Moon made the decision to go into the insurance business at the urging of a fraternity brother.
“Being hungry helps you to get over being shy,” he said on overcoming insecurities.
Moon said he started as an independent agent, then partnered with Walter Shepherd and, eventually, Bill Baker to become the Moon Shepherd
Baker Agency in Garden Oaks/Oak Forest, of which he is still a partner. He raised his family in The Heights, where he’d been born and raised, in a way reminiscent of Ward and June Cleaver; quite different from his own upbringing.
A Lifetime of Service
Through the years, Moon has served as president of the Rotary Club of Houston Heights, president of the 100 Club in Houston, and as a school board member during the challenging times of education integration, among several other public service positions. He has overcome life’s challenges and given back to the Heights, Garden Oaks and Oak Forest through his lifelong community service, scholarship participation and many other altruistic contributions. As the celebration wound down, one theme lingered: perseverance rooted in purpose. Howard Moon’s journey from a hardscrabble childhood to gridiron glory, professional success, and selfless civic leadership embodies the Heights’ own narrative of grit and generosity. Even at 92, he remains quick with a joke, eager to mentor, and steadfast in his belief that setbacks are invitations to rise. His story now belongs to the next generation of neighbors he has inspired— proof that hope can outrun hardship when determination and service lead the way.
Leading Medicine in THE HEIGHTS
Quality Primary Care — in The Heights
Houston Methodist Primary Care Group is proud to offer quality care to The Heights and surrounding communities. Whether you’re a new or existing patient, our providers can safely see you in person or virtually.
Our collaborative team of family and internal medicine physicians offers a wide range of expertise for all your primary care needs, including:
• Acute and chronic care
• Annual physicals
• Anxiety and depression
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Preventive care
• Thyroid concerns
Photo courtesy of Unicorn Photos by DeAnna AndersonDezignmachine
Surfhouse, a Heights historic fixture, has closed its doors after 50 years.
Photo courtesy of Ervin Lehman
Howard Moon, his wife Jeanette, their two sons Dean and Marshall, and their faithful family dog thriving in a family relationship, so different from the than one he had known growing up.
THE TOPICS.
Astro-nomical or Astro-doomed?
This just in! There is another plan for the Astrodome. Yawn. Have we heard this before?
Let me count the ways: Turn it into an indoor amusement park. Make it a big, covered parking lot for NRG Stadium. Wait. Put in hotels, restaurants and a mall lined with boutique shops. Let it stand as a monu ment to Luv Ya Blue. Maybe ICE could rent the Dome to house the estimated 481,000 illegal immigrants in Harris County. We had our chance to spruce it up, but in 2013 Harris County voters rejected a $217 million plan to convert the Astrodome to an event and exhibit space. Now we have the Astrodome Conservancy, a private, nonprofit organization which has been around since 2016. The group has unveiled a $1 billion plan for the Astrodome. The Design firm Gensler Houston created a concept that would include 450,000 square feet of new, revenue-generating space with four state-of-theart buildings. It would feature room for 1,500 additional parking spots and animal handling facilities that could be located under a new ground floor. I’m not sure why they want facilities for animals unless the rodeo is overbooked
Lynn Ashby Columnist
played their last home games at the stadium in the late ‘90s, the final event held at the Astrodome was the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo in 2002. That event’s last night featured George Strait. Then the place hosted unexpected guests: it reopened in 2005 as a shelter for around 20,000 Hurricane Katrina evacuees. Now that NOAA has been gutted, maybe we should keep the Dome open just in case. So the “Eighth Wonder of the World” has been sitting there, wondering, for 20 years. Ah, but remember the glory days. (For you evacuees from Detroit, I’ll briefly bring you up to speed.) The Harris County Domed Stadium, as it
COMMUNITY REPORTS
Installation of first phase of 100 weather stations is expected to enhance and improve storm mobilization, preparation and response to major weather events
Today, CenterPoint Energy (NYSE: CNP) announced that, as part of the Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative (GHRI) and its actions to prepare for the 2025 hurricane season, the company has begun installing the first wave of weather monitoring stations to enhance situational awareness during severe weather events. The implementation of this groundbreaking weather network is a historic moment for Texas, as CenterPoint is the only Texas-based investorowned utility in the state and the first to establish its own weather station network.
Once completed by June 1, CenterPoint’s network of 100 weather stations will provide
was first and officially called, was the brainchild of former County Judge Roy Hofheinz. It opened 60 years ago and was the world’s first fullyenclosed sports stadium, the first air-conditioned stadium and the first stadium to use an animated scoreboard. It was also the first sports stadium in the country to feature luxury skyboxes and suites for owners and fat cats with several levels for dining and drinking, a feature that has been copied by arenas and stadiums worldwide. Some skyboxes even had private restrooms which came in handy after four or five beers.
It is over 600 feet across and 200 feet high. You could put the Shamrock Hotel inside, especially after the Shamrock was blown up. It held 70,000 spectators, although in the Oilers’ later seasons you could put the spectators in the restrooms. Judge Hofheinz had an apartment in its upper reaches and the tale was that he declared the Dome his legal homestead so that, under Texas law, it couldn’t be foreclosed or seized for nonpayment of taxes but, alas, that delicious tale wasn’t true.
Beside sporting events and the rodeo, the Astrodome
hosted concerts including Elvis, the Jackson Five and many others. It held boxing matches, one featuring Muhammad Ali. Locals can well remember in 1969 “the game of the century” when the undefeated Houston Cougars faced the undefeated UCLA Bruins. It was Lew Alcindor versus Elvin Hayes (later to be known as Kareem AbdulJabbar and Elvin Hayes). It was at that time the biggest crowd to attend a college basketball game: 52,693 fans. The Coogs broke the Bruins’ 47game winning streak 71 to 69. One evening I was flying into Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and all I could see out the plane’s window was sand and either flames of burning flares or the Saudis were having one big refinery fire. Then I spotted a lighted, rectangular green soccer field: AstroTurf. Besides the Dome being first in this and that, in 1966 it was the first major sports venue to install AstroTurf – and that was Plan B. The original field was grass but the skylights prevented baseball outfielders from seeing fly balls. The solution? The skylights were quickly painted over. Oops. That blocked the sunlight and killed the grass. The solution
detailed, real-time weather data from all 12 counties in the company’s Greater Houston area electric service territory. This data will enable CenterPoint and local emergency partners to bet-
ter forecast severe weather; more precisely distribute resources in key areas; take faster action to prepare for and respond to potential impacts to the electric system; and better serve customers
before, during and after weather events.
“This is a historic moment for CenterPoint and Texas that will help improve our emergency response as we prepare for the upcoming 2025 hurricane season and beyond,” said Matt Lanza, CenterPoint’s Meteorology Manager and Emergency Preparedness and Response team member, “Our weather network will provide invaluable situational awareness, in real-time, to help us act quickly, proactively and precisely before weather threatens to impact the electrical system and our customers. Best of all, we will be able to share this vital information with all our emergency partners, state and local governments, and the public, so that everyone across our communities can be better prepared.”
to the solutions? AstroTurf -a chemical product that looks like real turf grass without the maintenance and dependence on sunlight. Soon athletic fields around the world were covered with the fake grass. You can buy it and other brands and stop mowing and watering your lawn. A neighbor has a strip of AstroTurf covering her small yard. Our HOA hasn’t complained, but I think the president is a Saudi. Today 14 NFL stadiums including NRG Stadium have artificial grass while 16 use real turf. (Two stadiums are shared by two teams.) Some football players complain artificial turf is hard on their joints, and the NFL Players Association has asked that the owners switch entirely to real grass. Like AstroTurf, domed stadiums have a checkered life. The New Orleans superdome, officially the Caesars Superdome, was to cost $46 million. It ended up costing $165 million. That dome was damaged by Hurricane Katrina and cost $185 million to repair. Tropicana Field, a domed stadium in St. Petersburg, Florida, was severely damaged by Hurricane Milton in 2024 and the Tampa Bay Rays
Important weather station facts and locations
Over 100 weather monitoring stations will be installed over the next month, before the Atlantic hurricane season begins on June 1. The weather monitoring stations will be installed in strategic locations on existing electrical infrastructure across CenterPoint’s 12-county Greater Houston area electric service territory. The devices will take measurements every 2-5 minutes, including humidity levels, wind speed, temperature and rainfall.
GHRI update: Actions taken to prepare for hurricane season CenterPoint’s weather monitoring network is the latest in a series of historic actions taken as part of the GHRI, designed to prepare for severe weather and create the most resilient coastal grid in the country. By June 1, the company will also have completed
moved their home games to the New York Yankees’ spring training field. The Metrodome in Minneapolis was covered by a fiberglass fabric bubble inflated using 20 huge fans. Snow and ice collapsed it four times, the first just six weeks after it was built. It’s gone. Back here, the idea was briefly floated that the Houston Texans (principal owner billionaire Cal McNair) wanted a new taxpayer-financed stadium. Cost: $1.2 billion. Hey, Cal, if you build a new stadium, no point in installing a moveable cover. You never open the current one. But I’ve got a stadium for you, a fixer-upper to be sure, but off season you can rent it to ICE.
Ashby watches sports on TV at ashby2@comcast.net
Editor’s note: This column and its contents do not necessarily reflect the views of The Leader News, its staff, or its publisher. The Leader News welcomes opinion articles on matters of interest to Greater Heights residents at editor@theleadernews. com. Publication is at the discretion of the editor.
additional resiliency actions including:
• Installing 25,000 stronger, more storm-resilient poles built to withstand extreme winds;
• Installing 4,850 automated reliability devices capable of self-healing, potentially reducing the impact of outages and improve restoration times; Clearing high-risk vegetation near 4,000 miles of power lines to reduce storm-related outages; and Undergrounding 400 miles of power lines to improve overall resiliency. Once completed, the array of critical actions will improve overall grid resiliency and reliability and is projected to reduce outages for customers by more than 125 million minutes annually. To learn more about the GHRI and track CenterPoint’s progress, visit CenterPointEnergy.com/ TakingAction.
First Saturday Arts Market concludes 2024/25 season May 3
COMMUNITY REPORTS
For over two decades, the First Saturday Arts Market has been a vibrant cornerstone of Houston’s cultural landscape, bringing together artists and art lovers in the heart of the historic Houston Heights.
Celebrating its 21st year in 2025, the market concludes its 2024/25 season on May 3 at 540 W. 19th St., Houston, TX 77008, from 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
This free outdoor event features dozens of artists showcasing paintings, sculptures, jewelry, and artisan crafts— perfect for finding unique Mother’s Day gifts. First-time artists include Anjali Nanda, Elif Burduroglu, Jimmie Shealey, and Vivre Coffee Collective, joined by returning artist M Kelly Olsen. Vivre’s mobile coffee truck, Leo, will serve ethically sourced coffee from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
The market runs September through May and will return Sept. 6 with planned summer pop-ups, including a White Linen Night in the Heights event, to be announced soon. Rain date: May 10. Details at firstsaturdayartsmarket.com.
Nearby Dining
Visitors can explore a variety of walkable dining options
within sight of the market, including Common Bond Bistro & Bakery (449 W 19th St.), Collina’s Italian Cafe (502 W 19th St.), Hopdoddy Burger Bar (444 W 19th St.), Moon Rabbit (605 W 19th St.), Thai Spice (511 W 19th St.), and Jinya Ramen Bar (601 W 19th St.).
Celebrating Creativity at First Saturday Arts Market
The First Saturday Arts Market is more than an event—it’s a celebration of creativity, community, and Houston’s vibrant arts scene. The May 3 season finale, just before Mother’s Day, offers a perfect opportunity to discov-
er handcrafted treasures for moms, from stunning paintings to unique jewelry, all created by local artists. This vibrant gathering welcomes four first-time participants and a returning favorite, alongside a unique coffee experience that elevates the day.
Anjali Nanda channels her Indian heritage into vivid paintings, merging traditional styles like Madhubani and Pichwai with modern narratives of culture and spirituality. Each piece tells a story of connection and heritage.
Elif Burduroglu, a lifelong painter, crafts emotive oil paintings with rich textures, blending realism and abstrac-
tion. Her work, inspired by joy and challenge, invites viewers into an imaginative, evolving journey.
Jimmie Shealey, a selftaught painter and retired firefighter-paramedic, draws on human emotions to create evocative works. Influenced by masters like Andrew Wyeth, his award-winning art has been exhibited nationally and internationally.
M Kelly Olsen, returning from Corpus Christi, embraces abstract art using acrylic ink and analog techniques. His non-representational pieces aim to spark visual curiosity and offer a pleasant distraction for viewers.
Vivre Coffee Collective, debuting at the market, brings their Japanese kei truck, Leo, serving ethically sourced coffee from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Beyond great drinks, they foster community with unique touches like handwritten love notes and a reflective mailbox.
COMMUNITY REPORTS
State-of-the-art facility to provide critical health care to serve, reflect and celebrate the Acres Homes community Legacy Community Health Services (Legacy) commemorated its long-anticipated ground-breaking of Legacy Acres Homes Clinic on Friday, April 25, with Legacy and Houston Methodist leadership, board members, government officials and community supporters in attendance. Located at 3011 W. Gulf Bank Road, Houston 77008, Legacy’s newest clinic will provide critical health care services designed to meet the unique needs of the Acres Homes community. Legacy Acres Homes is one of two clinic locations funded by a more than $50 million gift from Houston Methodist, including Legacy Pasadena Southmore Clinic.
“The Acres Homes clinic is part of a more than 30-year commitment we’ve made to address the health care needs of our community,” said Cathy Easter, senior vice president of community development at Houston Methodist. “We are proud to expand our partnership with Legacy Community Health in Acres Homes. We look forward to deepening ties in this historic and vital community and providing access to quality health care in service of the community.” Legacy Community Health’s newest clinic will deliver health care options to the Acres Homes community and surrounding areas. Services will include adult medicine, pediatrics, OB/GYN services, behavioral health and a pharmacy. The Acres Homes clinic will also provide infusion services, bringing critically needed oncology care to the community. Designed by Kirksey Architects, the new two-story clinic will be 26,200 square feet and will be equipped with advanced technology.
“Legacy is proud to bring the highest level of quality health care to the Acres Homes community. This has been made possible by the visionary partnership and collaboration that we have developed over many years with Houston Methodist,” said Robert Palussek, Interim CEO and COO of Legacy. “We extend our deepest gratitude to Houston Methodist and their entire team, who share our commitment to making quality health care a reality for all Houstonians.”
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Tamisha Jones said, “It has been the vision of Legacy for many years to bring the highest quality health care to one of the oldest and most influential communities in Houston – Acres Homes. Today is a very proud day for Legacy and for Houston.”
The Legacy Acres Homes Clinic is expected to open in July 2026 and is the second
clinic in the Greater Houston area currently under development as part of Houston Methodist’s more than $50 million contribution. Legacy Pasadena Southmore, which broke ground last year, is expected to open in February 2026. Legacy’s long-standing relationship with Houston
hospital system has supported Legacy through landmark programs such as the Youth Re-entry Program, the Community Scholars Program, the Community Network of Care Program and Legacy Baytown’s Family Medicine Residency Program.
Join in on May 3 to experience the art, sip exceptional coffee, and find the perfect Mother’s Day gift in the vibrant Houston Heights. The First Saturday Arts Market is a cultural gem, fostering creativity and connection with every season.
Submitted photos
Visitors enjoy the First Saturday Arts Market, browsing art and crafts under shaded tents on May 3.
Anjali Nanda’s GodhuliBela - Dusk
Methodist started in 1998.
Photo by Daniel Ortiz
Legacy Community Health held a ground-breaking ceremony for its Legacy Acres Home Clinic April 25. Rendering courtesy of Kirksey
Great Taste of the Heights returns May 3 with bites, beverages and live
music
serve sample-size portions while guests 21-and-up also
complimentary
GHP: Region saw continued population growth in 2024
COMMUNITY REPORTS
Editor’s note: In its “Economy at a Glance” report for April, the Greater Houston Partnership – the regional chamber of commerce – examines the area’s population growth in 2024 and summarizes benchmark revisions to last year’s employment numbers. The main body of the report, edited for style, is presented here with permission.
City. It added more residents than Los Angeles, Chicago, and Dallas/Fort Worth, even though they each have larger populations.
wine and margaritas. Live sets from Checkered Past provide the soundtrack, and every dollar raised funds neighborhood outreach and campus improvements at All Saints. Advance admission is $30 online (or at C&D Hardware and Eclectic Home) and $40 at the gate; children under eight enter free. Tickets cover all food, drinks and entertainment; raffles and a silent auction add extra fun. Tickets, an event map, parking details and a full vendor list are available at GreatTasteOfTheHeights.com.
Watch out for kids on bicycles on Bike to School Day May 7
COMMUNITY REPORTS
It’s that time of the year again: the students at Sinclair Elementary are getting ready to saddle up on Bike to School Day, an annual event that falls on Wednesday, May 7 this year. The kids will take a pre-set route that follows the same path as last year, however, this year’s meeting spot is at UFC Gym instead of Restaurant Depot.
“The safety of my students is my priority,” teacher Emily Gregor, who organizes Bike to School Day at Sinclair Elementary said in the past, adding she wants to share the route map so neighbors can be aware and plan their own commute accordingly. “We’re taking the same route as in previous years, but this time leaving from UFC Gym, down 18th to Ella. Left on Ella down to Grovewood. Left on Grovewood and into the school parking lot.”
Kids on bikes are expected to travel the route between 7-7:20 a.m. There will be signage along the designated streets.
Stay up-to-date and submit your own events online at www.theleadernews.com/site/community_calendar.html COMMUNITY REPORTS The annual “Great Taste of the Heights” food festival takes over the lawn of All Saints Catholic Community, 215 E. 10th St., on Saturday, May 3, 2025, from 5 to 9 p.m. Dozens of Heights-area restaurants, cafés and food trucks
Metro Houston added nearly 200,000 residents in 2024, bringing its population to 7.8 million people. That’s Houston’s largest increase on record and equates to a new resident every 2.7 minutes.
Last year continued a trend of brisk growth, with the region adding over one million people during the previous decade. Population in the 10-county region now exceeds that of 37 states, along with Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.
Houston ranked second in the number of residents added in 2024 behind New York
At 2.5 percent, Houston also had the second-highest population growth rate among major metros, trailing only Orlando. It grew more than twice as quickly as the U.S. overall. While all of the top 20 largest metros recorded population increases, only Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami, and Orlando saw their populations grow at a rate above 2.0 percent.
Sources of Population Growth
Houston’s gains came from two sources – natural increase and net migration. Natural increase reflects births minus deaths in the region. Net migration includes people who moved into Houston minus those who moved out.
Three-quarters of Houston’s gains came from migration and one-quarter from natural increase. The ratio has been
stable over the last three years. But, over the long term, it does shift with the business cycle. Migration accounts for a larger share of growth when the region’s economy booms (as it has since the COVID-19 recovery) and a smaller share when it slows (as in 2017 and 2018).
Net Migration
Metro Houston ranked first in net migration among all U.S. metros in 2024. Each of the top 20 largest metros had positive migration in 2024, i.e., more residents moving into them than out of them.
Note: The geographic area referred to as “Houston,” “Houston Area” and “Metro Houston” is the 10-county Census designated metropolitan statistical area of Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX. The ten counties are: Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, San Jacinto, and Waller.
Find the full report at houston. org.
Bingo Night and Spring Festival at St. Rose of Lima this weekend
COMMUNITY REPORTS
St. Rose of Lima will host a fun-filled evening of Bingo on Saturday, May 3. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the excitement doesn’t stop there — a Silent Auction will also be open for bidding.
Enjoy delicious food and beverages available for purchase, and get ready for a night of laughter, cash prizes,
and community fun. Let the good times roll and the games begin! All are welcome.
The weekend fun continues with St. Rose of Lima’s Spring Festival on Sunday, May 4, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. with live music from Jamusic and the Telstars, dinner from Ben’s Chuck Wagon, and a silent auction.
A raffle drawing takes place at 5:30 p.m.
The Children’s Midway is calling all kids to its many
rides, including the Moonwalk, Giant Slide, the Kids’ Zone, the Gladiator Joust, the Obstacle Course, and the Rock n’ Roll. Face painters are ready for you as well. Wristbands and tickets are available for purchase get your kiddos access to this area.
Tickets: Pre-order online at www.stroselima.org, purchase at the parish office, or grab yours at the door.
Art Valet: A Tribute to Carolyn “Bertrand” Hodges
Twenty-one years ago, I met Carolyn “Bertrand” Hodges, a then 77-year-old artist with a sharp mind and timeless, unassuming style. Despite scoliosis and small stature, she moved with speed and purpose, her intense gaze— undimmed by a lazy eye— leaving a lasting impression. At my fledgling Houston art market, she handed me a blue folder stuffed with her bold proposal for an art community of studios, workshops, galleries, and sculpture gardens, a vision she’d pitched to the City Council. Entrusting this to a stranger like me, she vanished as quickly as she arrived, her walker leading the way.
Over the next decade, Miss Hodges popped by the market now and then, engaging artists with her questions and showing her work on one First Saturday. Her unwavering passion for art left an indelible mark, embodying a spirit both fiercely independent and deeply inspiring. Apparently, Miss Carolyn, as I began calling her, made unannounced visits to galleries, studios, museums, art stores, coffee shops, and anywhere sweets were sold. I just happened to get her attention through my market.
Carolyn Ellen Hodges, who used her grandmother’s maiden name, Bertrand, as her art name—Carolyn Bertrand Hodges or often just Carolyn Bertrand—passed away on Saturday, April 26, 2025. Born on January 18, 1927, in Houston, Texas, to Lillie Fitzsimmons and Charles Belford Hodges, she was predeceased by her parents and siblings, Charles Belford Hodges Jr. and Louise Edwina Hodges McEowen. She graduated from Mirabeau B. Lamar High School in 1944, leaving behind nephews Ed, Dale (deceased), and Bob; nieces Diane, Gayle, and Linda; and many grandnieces and grandnephews.
Nephew Ed McEowen wrote about his relationship with his aunt, capturing the intensity of her passion for contemporary art, which many
COMMUNITY REPORTS
Public is welcome to come and view the goats as they work
Everyone’s favorite ruminants, the goats from Renta-Ruminant Texas, return to
friends experienced.
“Carolyn corresponded with me in my 20s and 30s, sharing our interest in metaphysics, sparked by Edgar Cayce readings she introduced me to,” McEowen wrote. “She had a connection to an A.R.E. (Cayce) study group in New York City and later embraced Buddhism, discussing it eagerly. A ‘starving artist,’ she lived for her art, working parttime jobs but rarely mentioning practical concerns. Her unworldly nature and pursuit of her artistic vision, shared through letters, left a lasting impression.”
Miss Carolyn told me she lived in NYC for a time but never mentioned A.R.E., the Association for Research and Enlightenment, founded by Edgar Cayce to study metaphysics.
Miss Carolyn’s passion for art touched many friends. David M. Behrman, an artist who met her around 2021, joined her most Wednesdays for visits to galleries, museums, coffee shops, or restaurants, sharing her love for culture. Recently, he accompanied her to doctor’s appointments.
Carrie Olsen, an accomplished Houston sculptor and featured in Art Valet in October 2020, has been a long-time friend to Carolyn. We have had many light-hearted discussions about our passionate friend.
Houston’s art community embraced Carolyn’s vision. Valentina Atkinson, owner of Serrano Gallery, a Houston art space, hosted her solo exhibit My Sky Pie Wish in 2019, followed by her final show at Urban Eats in 2023, supported by Levi Rollins and Eric Munoz. Rebecca Sanders and Susan Shrum, then of Happy
Fatz, hosted a 2015 show where many artists met her.
Andrew Durham, owner of Andrew Durham Gallery, recently encouraged her, uplifting her spirit.
Nicky (last name unknown), Miss Carolyn’s most recent caregiver from the First Ward, navigated her fierce independence. The two of them gave me quite the history lesson on the recently gentrified area.
Recalling that blue folder, it was poignant when Miss Carolyn, from her nursing home bed, mentioned a briefcase for me at her apartment. I’ve only peeked inside, but I
can tell you this: our writing collaboration ain’t over yet.
“I can’t be like those people (her age) just sitting around. That’s why I’ve lived so long— I push myself to keep going,” Miss Carolyn told me once. She lived on her terms, never missing a gallery, artist, or sweet shop.
Thank you for being such an incredible friend and inspiration to me and so many others, Miss Carolyn. Though she argued with me about it, she’ll be remembered for a long time. May her memory be a blessing.
Thank you Gayle Bricker
and Ed McEowen for your contributions, more so for showing friends of Miss Carolyn a side we never met: Aunt Carolyn! No public service is scheduled. I’ll keep you posted. You can follow this webpage I set up for Miss Carolyn’s art and, now, her legacy at www.carolynbertrandhodges.art. I’ll update it with news clippings and the past articles in The Leader. Cohen is an artist and founder of the First Saturday Arts Market. Visit his website at ArtValet.com.
Houston Arboretum & Nature Center on Wednesday, May 7, for nearly two weeks to clear out the dense thicket of both native and invasive vegetation in two parts of the woodland area. The goats will start between the Display Walk, 610 Parking Loop, and Ravine
Trail, and after the first week they will move to their second grazing location along the Inner Loop between the Muscadine and South Meadow Trails. The two sections where the goats will work cover almost 7 acres of land.
The popular animals last hit town in May 2024 when they grazed on the vegetation and invasive species around the Meadow area. This will be their sixth visit, with the first being in 2020. Approximately 150 goats will be chewing away under the direction of Rent-a-Ruminant owners Kyle and Carolyn Carr.
The public is welcome to view the goats at work during the time they are there, although the Arboretum staff asks that guests do not touch,
engage with, or feed the animals, for the safety of the animals and people. The goats will be switching locations halfway through their stay at the Arboretum. Visit houstonarboretum.org/event/ goats-at-the-arboretum for a map of the two areas.
“The goats are targeting dense underbrush, including both invasive and aggressive natural species, in our woodland areas to simulate native herbivores,” says Stephen Benigno, Conservation Director for the Arboretum.
“Goats are browsers, meaning they prefer leaves and twigs from woody vegetation such as trees, shrubs, and vines. Their eating habits are similar to deer, and they will create a “browse line” that will im-
prove visibility, allow sunlight to reach the forest floor, and enhance understory diversity.”
“You can’t argue with success,” says Debbie Markey, Houston Arboretum’s Executive Director. “The Rent-a-Ruminant goats have been a huge asset in clearing certain unwanted species at the Arboretum all without demanding much staff time or effort. Parents and kids especially like to come out and watch the goats in action.”
Rent-A-Ruminant Texas provides a workable alternative to traditional land clearing, chemicals, or commercial mowing. The goats are effective at reducing brush overgrowth, green briars, poison ivy, ragweed, and other undesirable plant spe-
cies. The Carrs operate out of a ranch in Brownwood, Texas and have nearly 250 goats in their herd, about half of which travel with them throughout the state to provide natural mowing services. The goats even have names!
The Houston Arboretum is open daily from 7 a.m. to dusk. Parking is $6, and it is free on Thursdays and free every day for Arboretum members. Guests can enter at 4501 Woodway Dr. or at 120 West Loop North off of Interstate 610. To learn more about the Arboretum, please visit houstonarboretum.org. You can also get more information by calling the Houston Arboretum at 713-681-8433.
Submitted photos
(RIGHT)Miss Carolyn poses at First Saturday Arts Market, photographed by artist C.S. Ellington. (LEFT) Carolyn E. Hodges in an undated photo by Vincent Price.
