Editor’s note: This article first appeared on the website of The Leader’s sister paper, the Fort Bend Star.
The international trade scene has been upended by President Donald J. Trump’s recent series of tariffs, but the greater Houston region’s trade economy is wellpositioned to ride the wave of uncertainty, a group of business
leaders said at a Greater Houston Partnership event last week.
The event at the GHP’s offices in downtown Houston marked the release of the regional chamber of commerce’s “Global ‘25 Houston,” its annual compilation of data and insights about the regional trade picture.
Speakers at the event before a roomful of business executives admitted that Trump’s trade war, which he launched in early April
with a White House event he called “Liberation Day,” has been met with the roiling of the economic waters, including plunges in the bond and stock markets and reciprocal tariffs from some of the country’s largest trading partners and discussions about a possible recession.
But Steve Kean, CEO of the GHP, said that as with many
By CHRIS DAIGLE The Leader News Contributor
“History such as this is a good way to connect with our roots, and that’s important,” Noble Grand Natasha Thornton reflected on a legacy dating back more than a hundred years; a legacy that continues today.
It was a nice day to honor the 102 years’ time span a building has been in service to the community, as a historic marker was dedicated May 3 at the Houston Heights Odd Fellows Lodge 225, which still stands tall near the corner of East 14th and Heights Boulevard.
“It’s officially named the Independent Order of Oddfellows Houston
Heights Lodge #225,” said Ken Hoge, past director, or Grand, of the lodge.
The cast iron marker came after past Grand Paul Jennings submitted an in-depth history of the lodge going back to 19065, when a group of Odd Fellows members residing in Houston Heights petitioned the Grand Lodge of Texas to charter a lodge in this area.
“This is actually the second real lodge the group has had in the Heights.” Jennings said. “Unfortunately, the first lodge at the corner of Yale and 12th street was destroyed by fire in
By STEPHANIE SHIRLEY The Leader News Contributor
There may not be a shortage of beauty spas in the City of Houston, spread out across a wide geographic area, but a nationally-renowned medical spa with locations predominantly in the Ohio and Illinois regions is now shaking things up by bringing its unique brand of expertise in the wellness and beauty industry to Texas. This is Skinovatio’s first appearance in the state and it chose Houston as its first salon site at 701 Shepherd, just south of the Katy Freeway, with easy access and free parking.
Shawna Barbeau, the franchise’s new owner, is excited to bring the brand’s revolutionary treatments to Houston.
“I’m thrilled to be part of the Skinovatio family and to offer cutting-edge skincare treatments that truly cater to every skin type,” she said in a recent news release. “The brand’s dedication to inclusivity and real results is what drew me to this incredible opportunity.”
Skinovatio bills itself as a premier skincare franchise known for its innovative approach to advanced, non-invasive skincare. With a focus on inclusive beauty and results-driven treatments, Skinovatio offers ser-
vices that are scientifically backed and tailored to each individual’s needs. The brand, according to the company, is “dedicated to empowering its clients through the transformative power of skincare.”
Barbeau, who was born and raised in Colorado but resided in California, moved to Texas for to take advantage of this franchising opportunity.
“Doing research and figuring out the numbers for aesthetics versus the options, I was given maybe three or four states, after I did all of my research,” she recalled. “And I said to
By LISA MORALES
The Leader News Contributor
For 50 years, Harris Health Northwest Health Center has been a vital part of the community, delivering healthcare to generations of families from its current home at 1100 W. 34th St. and, before that, from its original site on Heights Boulevard. Originally known as West End Health Center, the clinic changed locations and names in 1990, but never its mission. Today, it remains one of 40 points of access including 17 community health centers that make up Harris Health’s extensive Ambulatory Care Services network.
Jennifer Small, AuD, CEO of Ambulatory Care Services at Harris Health, has spent the last 20 years with the system and says the growth has been tremendous.
“We want to thank the Harris County residents for their support of the recent bond. This will allow us to renovate many of our facilities and add three new health centers in areas of need,” she said. “We are grateful and excited to expand our reach throughout Harris County.”
Harris Health is the public healthcare safety net provider for Harris County, serving more than 300,000 patients annually through two hospitals; Ben Taub and Lyndon B. Johnson, correctional health programs, specialty towers that provide multi-specialty services, and a wide range of clinics and mobile health units.
Photo by Stephanie Shirley
Skinovatio Med Spa is conveniently located at 701 Shepherd, at the intersection of Floyd and Shepherd.
Photo by Ken Fountain Haynes and Boone partner George Gonzalez, left, Ric Campo, chair of the Port of Houston Authority Commission, and Jeff Simmons, senior vice president of Toshiba Americas Group, discuss the Houston region’s international trade picture at a Greater Houston Partnership event last week.
The Health Museum debuts acclaimed “77 Minutes” exhibit
COMMUNITY REPORTS
The Health Museum, an interactive health science museum located in the Houston Museum District, recently installed “77 Minutes”, a photographic installation that honors the Robb Elementary School shooting victims and their families.
The Health Museum is hosting the exhibit through its Healing Arts Program to showcase the impactful intersection of healing through art. The exhibit also touches on the traumatic effects of gun violence, which is the leading cause of death for teens and children.
Featuring still-life photographs and family portraits of those whose lives were devastated by the school shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24, 2022, 77 minutes is a reference to the time that children and teachers waited for help, families waited for news of those trapped inside, and as a nation waited for law enforcement, who began entering the building just moments after the shooter, to take action. The exhibition features a clock, in front of a row of classroom desks, which counts up the 77 minutes.
The color photographs framed in floating pine boxes feature the shoes that the children were wearing at the time of their deaths, a simple yet profound testament to the violence that occurred that day. They are paired with intimate, black and white portraits of the families holding their children’s shoes. Printed on sheer
September, 1911. How ironic is it that a burned building is replaced with a fire station in 1914.” The parking lot of Fire Station 14 is the original site of the first lodge.
The current lodge came to life on April 12, 1923, with 43 active members during its first full year of membership. Today, that number has increased to over 70 active members, according to Hoge. From the heyday of the lodge in the early 20th century and the falling away of other lodges that began around the turn of the 21st century, Lodge 225 has remained.
There are 156 sites, properties, and buildings in the Houston area that are recognized by the Texas Historical Commission with historical markers. Roughly 20 are in the Heights, Northside, and Washington/Rice Military areas. Of those, seven are in the Heights historic districts, such as Lodge 225 and the historic fire station at 107 West 12th street. As expected of a site here so long, several notable Heights residents have been members. Among them was George W. Hawkins, who operated the first automobile here in 1902. Hawkins was the Grand Master of the I.O.O.F. of Texas in 1924. At one time the lodge had a branch for women called the Rebekahs, and famous Heights Savings banker Marcella Perry was a member.
“People are always asking how the name Odd Fellows came about,” Jennings said. “In the early days of lodges, there were different kinds of craft guilds such as carpenters, masons, and tradesmen, and it was a kind of miscel-
fabric, the photographs reveal the families’ vulnerability, resiliency, anger, grief, and hope for the future. The exhibit also features the weighted vest hero teacher Eva Mireles wore during her workouts - a fitting symbol of her strength.
The installation photos featured are provided by Sarah Sudhoff, a Cuban-American artist and advocate based in Houston whose work has been exhibited locally and nationally in museums, galleries, and arts centers.
“I chose to share space with the Uvalde families, to hold their emotions and my own as I carefully photographed their children's shoes. These intimate photographs create a permanent record of their loss while honoring the fortitude
and resilience found in each individual,” said Sudhoff.
The exhibition originally opened in January 2025 and has been featured in local and national media news outlets, including Good Morning America.
Sudhoff will join licensed psychologist Dr. Cristy Gamez, in an Artist and Psychologist Talk on May 10, 2025, at The Health Museum from 2-4 p.m. Together, they will explore the profound role of art in processing grief, archiving stories, and creating spaces for reflection and recovery. The cost is $10 for members and $25 for nonmembers. To buy tickets, visit thehealthmuseum.org/ events/77-minutes-talk.
Sudhoff will also host a
laneous group that didn’t meet anywhere else.” The objectives of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, which has an international network of members in 26 countries, is to “improve and elevate the character of mankind by promoting the principles of friendship, love, truth, faith, hope, charity, and universal justice”.
But that fellowship is not all that is unique about Lodge 225. In addition to its standing as a community resource, it is part of a rare class of building. It is recognized by the Texas Historical Commission (THC) and sits in the heart of hearts of what is now the Houston Heights East Historical District, part of the Heights Multiple Resource Area (MRA) designated by the National Park Service in 1983. There are currently about 40 landmarks and 192 protected landmarks in the city of Houston, according to the city’s historic preservation website. In order to qualify, a structure must have been built at least 100 years before
the application is submitted, be listed individually or as a contributing structure in a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places, or recognizes by the State of Texas as a Recorded State Historic Landmark.
“We made plans to do all this six years ago, but Covid got in the way,” Jennings said.
To receive the designation, the structure must also be approved by the Houston Archaeological and Historical Commission, as well as City Council. The Local Landmark designation does not necessarily provide real protection from demolition or changes, but the Protected Landmark designation does, according to the city. Nine of the city’s 192 protected landmarks sit in the Heights or Washington Avenue areas. Although Odd Fellows Lodge #225 is not registered with the city and does not plan to be, Hoge said it is granted the same protections of being a “contributing structure” to the Heights area.
The lodge, Hoge said, has hosted events from weddings
Letter carriers' 32nd Annual “Stamp Out Hunger” Food Drive benefiting Houston Food Bank scheduled for May 10
COMMUNITY REPORTS
WHAT: The 32nd Annual National Association of Letter Carriers’ (NALC) “Stamp Out Hunger” Food Drive – the nation’s largest one-day food drive – is scheduled for Saturday, May 10, across the country.
The public is asked to leave donations of non-perishable food items in/next to their mailboxes on this date and letter carriers will collect them and deliver to their local food pantries. Since launching in 1993, the National Association of Letter Carriers’ annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive has grown into the nation’s largest one-day food drive, helping to fill the shelves of food banks in cities and towns throughout the United States. This year’s goal for the Houston Chapter of NALC is to collect 100,000 pounds – and the public’s help is needed! All food collected locally benefits the Houston Food Bank.
WHEN: Saturday, May 10, 2025
Houstonians are being asked to place nonperishable food –individual items or a bag of several! –
hands-on Creative Studio Workshop on June 8, 2025,from 1-4 p.m. at The Health Museum. Participants will gain insight into Sudhoff’s creative process through photo-transfer techniques centered around the theme of Passion and how it drives both advocacy and storytelling. The cost is $35 for members and $45 for non-members.
As part of the “77 Minutes” exhibition, Healing Soundscapes will play during Free Family Thursdays throughout the summer, beginning at 1:45 p.m. The 77-minute sound experiences blend live traditional folk music by Yijing Tang to create a meditative, reflective atmosphere.
to dance classes, to renting out the building to organizations such as the Descendants of Olivewood Cemetery. Several National Night Out events have been hosted at the lodge.
“It’s a place [members] can come together, be with other people, and be comfortable,” Jennings said. “There’s an ongoing need for public places where people can gather, and we provide that. I think its very unique and interesting that this building was always occupied for 102 years as an Odd Fellows lodge.”
That includes a time in the 1990s, Hoge said, when the lodge almost went under. There were not enough surviving members for a business quorum, he explained. That is, until some members of the community got involved with the building and it stirred their interest, and they joined. Lodge 225 lived on after that, coming back from the edge of extinction.
“We leave politics and religion, and all those worldly things right at the door,” Hoge said. “You don’t necessarily know what your members’ affiliations are, and that’s a very rare thing these days. We just want to be a brotherhood, so to speak, of men and women.”
Many lodges have folded over time, as Hoge said, but Lodge 225 and IOOF lodge#6 continue to serve the Houston area. Its members plan to keep that going for many years to come by keeping alive the same values and principles that have shaped it since 1906.
The lodge hosts a monthly meet-and-greet the first Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. For more information on Lodge 225, visit houstonheightslodge225.com.
LODGE, from P. 1
Photo by Chris Daigle
From left, Ken Hoge, past Grand; John Woolsey, past Grand Master; Natasha Thornton, lodge Noble Grand; and Wilbur Cole, representing councilmember Abbie Kamin. Woolsey is presenting a Certificate of Honor from the Grand Lodge of Texas while Thornton holds a city commemoration from Abbie Kamin’s office.
Photos courtesy of The Health Museum
The Health Museum recently installed “77 Minutes”, a photographic installation that honors the Robb Elementary School shooting victims and their families, featuring photos provided by Sarah Sudhoff.
As part of the “77 Minutes” exhibition, Healing Soundscapes will play during Free Family Thursdays throughout the summer.
Semiquincentennial. That’s a hard word to slip into a con versation, so try the far easier bisesquicentennial. Get used to them because soon we will be reading those words, hear ing them and maybe even say ing them. They mean a quarter of a millennium, tongue-twist ing terms for the celebrations when we mark July 4, 2026 -- the 250th anniversary of the day when the Declaration of Independence was signed in Independence Hall in Philadelphia in 1776. While the date is not much talked about thus far, what with our concern over the price of eggs, if that clanking A/C will last through the summer and whether our vaccinations will cause a fear of mustard, already plans are being made to celebrate. In 2016, Boston set up a non-profit group to organize and plan commemorative events. Philadelphia and Charlestown are getting ready. Pennsylvania became the first state to formally begin planning for the anniversary. Pittsburgh, Louisville and Denver are all making birthday plans. I haven’t heard of any local proposals, but maybe they are lost is the Houston Police Department files. While you were sleeping, Washington (the city, not the
THE TOPICS.
Happy birthday to us!
Lynn Ashby Columnist
the U.S. Mint to redesign any quarters minted in 2026 using any of a series of five designs, including one depicting women’s contributions to independence. Maybe one will show Betsy Ross redesigning the flag to include a star for Canada.
Women may get another salute: A Liberty Bell is going to be cast to honor 250 years of women’s contributions to America, and will lead nationwide ringing tributes during the celebrations of the Liberty Belle. Attention sports fans. The 96th Major League Baseball All-Star Game will be held at Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park in mid-July after the semiquincentennial. Back in 1976 the 47th All-Star Game
was held in Philadelphia during the bicentennial.
If you’ve been around very long, you remember the 200th birthday party in 1976. It was quite a celebration, but it has not always been the case. There were no major government-sponsored 50th anniversary observances on July 4, 1826, which was the day that the Founding Fathers and former presidents John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died. In 1876, the United States organized nationwide centennial observances centered on the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. That joyous event was a bit subdued because news had just arrived that shortly before, on June 25, Gen. George Armstrong Custer and his entire force had been wiped out at Little Big Horn. Fifty years later, in 1926, a Sesquicentennial Exposition was held in Philadelphia. We now come to Donald Trump. He was a guest of the French during one of their Bastille Day (July 14) parades and they put on a great military show. So he wanted a similar parade for his birthday (June 14) but was talked out of it because it was, well, too military. Also, Washington city officials noted that tank tracks would destroy the streets. (I don’t
know how the French pull it off). But hang on. During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump pledged to throw a “spectacular birthday party” to honor the anniversary by assembling a White House task force named “Salute to America 250.” Proposals include a “Great American State Fair” to be held in the Iowa State Fairgrounds, featuring pavilions from all 50 states, “Patriot Games” for highschool athletes, and other year-long celebrations and projects across the country. On Jan. 29, 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14189, “Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday.”
One more and long-lasting idea: a National Garden of American Heroes. Trump hatched this idea in his first term and now he gets specific: His garden will feature lifesize renderings of “250 great individuals from America’s past who have contributed to our cultural, scientific and political heritage,” according to a White House news release. He wants “preliminary concepts” for individual statues from artists who must be American citizens. The selectees will receive awards of up to $200,000 per statue, and must be made of marble, granite,
bronze, copper or brass. The project would be paid for in part with $34 million in grants committed jointly by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Maybe. Maybe not. Following visits from Elon Musk’s staff at DOGE, the N.E.H laid off nearly two-thirds of its staff and – uh-oh -- canceled most existing grants. (The future of grants from the arts endowment remains unclear.) Trump has also directed that subjects be depicted in a “realistic” manner, with no modernist or abstract designs allowed. While no site for the garden has been determined, it will be “a public space where Americans can gather to learn about and honor American heroes,” the release said.
Who picked the 250? Vince Haley. I never heard of him, but he’s a Trump appointee who had held various posts in the administration. And who got selected? The usual suspects: George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Sacagawea, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Wright brothers. Then we have Julia Child and Johnny Cash. Several athletes made the list including Kobe Bryant, Jim Thorpe, Babe Ruth and Jackie Robinson.
I could spot a few Texans: Sam Houston, Audie Murphy, Lorenzo de Zavala (he was the first vice president of the Republic of Texas), Davy Crockett and Roy Benavidez (he was a Medal of Honor recipient). Sam Rayburn and Stephen F. Austin didn’t make the cut but Elvis Presley, John Wayne and Shirley Temple did. You have to be dead, so Ivanka, Eric, and Donald Jr. are not included, but no doubt there will be a massive 40-foot tall statue surrounded by fountains for one more American hero. I understand sculptors are already working on the hair. So get ahead of the curve. Avoid the rush. Buy your hats and horns, your firecrackers and champagne. And learn how to pronounce semiquincentennial.
Ashby wasn’t selected at ashby5@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.
Take extra precautions to avoid drowning accidents this summer
COMMUNITY REPORTS
More children between the ages of 1 and 4 die from drowning than any other cause of death
Summer is just around the corner! Swimming and splashing around in the pool, lake, or ocean is a great way to keep cool in Houston’s summer heat. However, if precautions are not taken, a young child can drown quickly and silently.
In observance of National Water Safety Month this May, Harris County Public Health (HCPH) reminds you to take extra precautions to prevent your children from drowning accidents.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that more children between the ages of 1 and 4 die from drowning than any other cause of death in the United States. For children ages
5to14, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death after motor vehicle crashes.
According to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), in 2024, 103 children under the age of 18 drowned across Texas. Past years have consistently shown that a significant portion of child drownings occur in residential pools and natural bodies of water. In 2022, 76 children between the ages of 8 months and 17 years drowned in Texas. Eleven of those drownings happened in Harris County.
Among them, six drowning cases occurred in residential pools and bathtubs; five children died in natural bodies of water, such as a river, creek, pond, or bayou.
Statewide, 71% (54) of drowning incidents involving children in 2022 took place in home pools and bathtubs.
“Drowning accidents can be prevented,” said Scott Jeansonne, director of the Environmental Public Health (EPH) Division at HCPH.
“We strongly encourage all families, especially parents and adult caregivers of small children to pay close attention to children any time they are around any bodies of water.”
“Most importantly, never leave a small child unattended in or near a pool or a bathtub, even if the water appears to be shallow,” Jeansonne added.
“An accidental drowning can occur in a matter of seconds. It’s also critical to have a responsible adult who can swim around a pool or natural body of water to assist someone at risk of drowning.”
Who is at risk?
• Children who are 5 years old and younger are at the greatest risk of drowning, followed by teens and young adults.
Males are three times more likely to drown than females.
The drowning death rate for African Americans and American Indians or Alaska Natives are disproportionately higher than that of White people.
• Certain medical conditions, such as seizure disorders, may also increase an individual’s risk of drowning. Water-related injuries and drownings result in tremendous financial costs, which cannot compare to the cost of losing a life.
Where and how do children drown?
Most drowning injuries for children ages 0-4 years occur in the home. Children who drown in backyard swimming pools and bathtubs were left unattended for a 2- to 5-minute period, the time it takes to look away to answer the phone. Even an older child
with minimal swimming skills can be at risk by engaging in risk-taking behaviors. Most drowning fatalities and drowning injuries occur on Saturdays and Sundays between the months of May and September.
What are some important water safety tips?
• Stay alert! Children move fast and disappear in seconds.
• Actively watch young children by keeping them within arm’s reach. When you leave the water or pool, take your child with you.
• Never rely solely on the lifeguard to watch your child.
• Children should never play games of holding their breath underwater for long periods.
• Consider installing a safety barrier such as a fence at least 4 feet high with a selfclosing and self-latching
gate, a pool cover, or a safety alarm system. This protects both children and pets. Remove ladders from above-ground pools. Keep proper safety equipment nearby.
• When the pool is not in use, remove any toys in or near the pool since that may attract children. Enroll yourself and your child in swimming classes. Make sure your child is wearing a U.S. Coast Guardapproved life jacket for their weight and size.
• Learn basic CPR; keep rescue items and a phone close by in case of an emergency. Remember: as you plan your summer activities, plan for safety first! For additional information, please visit the Harris County Public Health Water Safety web page at hcphtx.org/ WaterSafety
Harris Central Appraisal District mails 2025 Property‑Value Notices
COMMUNITY REPORTS
The Harris Central Appraisal District (HCAD) has begun mailing 2025 property-value notices to thousands of residential, commercial and industrial owners.
“The Harris County housing market maintained steady growth with moderate price increases in 2024,” said Chief Appraiser Roland Altinger. “While many homes are rising in value this year, a substantial percentage are decreasing.”
By law, HCAD must appraise property at 100 percent of market value as of Jan. 1—
the price a seller could reasonably obtain.
“If an owner believes the value is incorrect, they should file an appeal and bring information to the protest meeting that could change the value,” Altinger said.
Because HCAD must value more than 1.9 million parcels, the agency relies on mass-appraisal techniques to meet deadlines set in the Texas Property Tax Code. Market-area maps and individual property values are available at www.hcad.org under the “Appraisal” section.
Residential Overview
Harris County recorded 85,163 single-family home sales in 2024—up 1.3 percent from 2023—according to the Houston Association of Realtors (HAR). Housing inventory rose from 3.2 months in January to four months in December, edging the market toward balance.
• Homes under roughly $450,000 saw values rise 1–5 percent.
• Homes above $450,000 rose about 7–12 percent, for an average gain of 10 percent.
Overall, 57 percent of
homes increased in value, 31 percent decreased and 12 percent were unchanged.
Altinger reminded owners to verify that they are receiving all exemptions for which they qualify: “Exemptions can provide significant relief by reducing taxable value and tax levies.”
Commercial Overview
County-wide commercial value grew about 2 percent year-over-year, rising from $260 billion in 2024 to $265 billion in 2025. Apartments and retail properties account for half that value; warehous-
es, offices, medical facilities, hotels and vacant land make up the rest.
60 percent of commercial accounts increased, 12 percent decreased and 27 percent were unchanged.
Apartment occupancy and rents are roughly 1 percent higher than last year; overall apartment values edged up only 0.8 percent.
• Retail rental rates climbed 2.5 percent, vacancy is near 5 percent and new construction remains brisk.
Warehouse rents rose 2 percent, though last year’s oversupply has slowed new builds.
Summer Film Camp for Children captures Houston's history for future Hollywood directors
COMMUNITY REPORTS
The Heritage Society has announced its upcoming Summer Film Camp, a unique opportunity for children aged 9 to 12 to explore the art of filmmaking while delving into Houston's rich history. The camp will take place from June 9 to June 13, 2025, at The Heritage Society, 1100 Bagby St., located in the heart of downtown Houston.
This immersive camp offers young creative minds the chance to learn
the fundamentals of filmmaking, including scriptwriting, directing, camera operation, and film production.
Guided by experienced educator and children’s media producer Dan Gordon, campers will bring their artistic visions to life using professionalgrade film equipment.
Set against the historic backdrop of The Heritage Society, young participants will have exclusive access to the Society's remarkable buildings and artifacts, providing an authentic historical context for their films. Special guest storytellers from
Indigenous tribes will further enrich the experience, inspiring campers to craft compelling narratives rooted in Houston's past. A real-life history hare will also be a muse for their cinematography.
The week-long camp will culminate in a red-carpet premiere event, where families and friends are invited to celebrate the campers' achievements and view their completed films.
"I cannot wait to attend the students' film premiere alongside their parents and see the stories of
Houston's historic houses come to life through the creativity and imagination of these talented young filmmakers," said Alison Bell, executive director of The Heritage Society.
Scholarships are available to ensure accessibility for all aspiring filmmakers. Don’t miss this extraordinary opportunity for your child to embark on a creative journey that combines history, storytelling, and the magic of cinema. For more information or to register, visit www.heritagesociety. org/childrens-programs.
Empowering Women: Taking Charge of Heart Health
Heart disease affects millions of women worldwide and is the leading cause of death among females. Contrary to common misconceptions, heart issues are not exclusive to older individuals; they can strike at any age. Recognizing the unique aspects of women’s heart health is crucial for early detection and prevention.
Unlike men, women may experience different symptoms when facing heart issues. While chest pain is a common indicator for both genders, women may also manifest symptoms such as shortness of breath, nausea, and extreme fatigue. Ignoring these signs could lead to delayed diagnosis
and treatment, contributing to the alarming statistics of heart-related fatalities among women.
Pregnancy and menopause, two significant phases in a woman’s life, come with their own set of cardiovascular challenges. Women are more susceptible to high blood pressure during these periods, increasing the risk of heart disease later in life. Understanding lifestyle and family risks is crucial for early intervention. Consulting with a primary care physician (PCP) or a cardiologist can provide you with personalized insights and guidance. A comprehensive assessment of your family history and lifestyle choices can help identify
potential risks. In addition to a family history, other risk factors include: a history of smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Regular check-ups with your PCP or a cardiologist can help identify these risk factors and develop a personalized prevention plan. Lifestyle modifications, such as adopting a heart-healthy diet and engaging in regular physical activity, play a pivotal role in maintaining cardiovascular well-being. Schedule an appointment with a cardiologist to review your risk factors. Visit www.Houstonmethodist. org/DeBakey or call 713-DEBAKEY.
Office properties lost nearly 8 percent in value amid high vacancies and flat rents.
Protesting a Value Owners may protest as soon as they receive their notice. The fastest method is HCAD’s iFile portal at www.hcad. org/iFile-protest. Logging in through the Owner’s Portal automatically links
Art Valet: Oofta! Summer art plans unveiled
Oofta! That little expression about sums up the past 5-6 weeks of my life. That’s a real expression, too. Pronounced OOF-tah. It’s common among Scandinavian-American communities in the Midwest, or so I read. It implies surprise or exhaustion and everything else from relief to dismay. Definitely me, plus I just like the phrase -- try it out!
The May edition of First Saturday Arts Market left me with a positive Oofta! The market is now on summer break with the exception of Aug, 2 -- more on that later. This past Saturday was absolutely amazing, especially awesome after the April rainout, low-turnout for the makeup date. The second Saturday in April, our make-up date, was one of the busiest festival and event dates on the calendar -- not good timing on my part!
The past few summers have been anything but normal for the art market. Starting in 2006, the market started opening at night. The idea was that evenings are cooler and, having just moved to W. 19th Street, the market would be highly visible. It worked. People came out in vast numbers - the myth of cool evenings reads better than the truth, however.
Visitors arrived after dinner and closer to sunset - a majority of people came between 7 and 9 p.m. Then we “decompressed” for an hour, packed up and went home. Setting
Mitch cohen Art Columnist artvalet@gmail.com
up on a parking lot during the hottest time of day - mid-tolate afternoon - can be overwhelming.
2020 came along and we switched back to day shows in the summer, with shorter hours. Every artist had a corner booth and I claimed to be the only event coordinator in history to do that. No challengers have spoken out yet to my claim.
By 2022, the heat won and we moved indoors, tents and all, in the biggest air-conditioned space we could get into, the Silver Street warehouse in Sawyer Yards. Two summers of that spoiled us, but alas it wasn’t available last summer.
This year, discussions among the artists and some persuasion convinced me to rejoin White Linen Night in the Heights, the now citywide infamous event that started that same summer the market opened at night in 2006.
“Off The Street – A White Linen Night Art Event” is the name I picked – “Off the Street” because we will be in our parking lot at 540 W. 19th St. I do not want to take away
from the main event on W. 19th, where the artists have been setting up from 2012-19. Like many other businesses in the Heights, we’re doing our own thing, again. Market artists will be featured and a few friends you might remember from The Folk Market too. Nothing is booked yet. I’m sure we’ll have the other usual suspects -- food truck(s), music and libations. Stay tuned to the market
website and socials, https:// www.1stSatArtMarket.com. There you have it, I do have summer plans, at least for August.
Meanwhile, on my radar I’m eyeing the Menil Collection’s Neighborhood Community Day on Saturday, May 17, 2025, from 1–5 p.m. It celebrates the museum’s vibrant Houston neighborhood and the 30th anniversary of the Cy Twombly Gallery. Enjoy free
art, music, and poetry with highlights like Jean Tinguely’s kinetic Fountain sculptures (activations at 1:30, 2:30, and 3:30 p.m.) and a jazz trio at 2 p.m. on the Menil Lawn— where folks can spread blankets on the lush green grass to soak in the tunes. There are also curator talks on Cy Twombly and a kids’ poetry workshop at 3 p.m. Allday fun includes cyanotype creation, a scavenger hunt,
Cohen is an artist and founder of the First Saturday
True North 2025 celebrates 12th installation with artist reception
COMMUNITY REPORTS
The recent True North 2025 Artist Reception welcomed more than 80 guests to Mutiny Wine Room in the Heights, where hosts and underwriters Emily Trout and Mark Ellenberger treated artists, patrons and friends to Executive Chef Eduardo Alcayaga’s artful small plates and a curated selection of fine wines.
The evening honored this year’s eight newly installed sculptures—as well as the 80-plus Texas creatives showcased since the project’s 2014 launch— and thanked the many arts-minded supporters who make the 9-month exhibition possible.
The 2025 roster features Elizabeth Akamatsu, Olaniyi R. Akindiya AKIRASH, Amanda Barry Jones, Susan Budge, Dave Clark, Tim Glover, Felicia Schneider and Ben Woitena. They were joined by past True North artists such as Jill Bedgood, Tara Conley, Carter Ernst, Sherry Owens, Ed Wilson and others, along with project team members Donna Bennett, Gus Kopriva, Dean Ruck, Chris Silkwood and Kelly Simmons. Community supporters in attendance included Tony Allman, Dr. Marylou Erbland and Robert Woods, Kim and Greg Kolanowski, Heidi Vaughan and many more.
True North is coordinated with the City of Houston Parks & Recreation Department and fiscally sponsored by the Houston Heights Association. Full artist bios, statements and images of the 2025 sculptures can be found at truenorthheightsblvd.com.
“Black
Elliott’s overall rating: 3 out of 5 stars
In a 2003 interview, Quentin Tarantino famously said “The worst things you can feel as an audience member is confusion or boredom.” Luckily, in Steven Soderbergh’s new film, Black Bag I wasn’t either of these things -- I was a little bit of both. Steven Soderbergh, a prolific director known for his ability to master the art of the thriller genre, has just released his new spy film, Black Bag. The film follows George (played by Michael Fassbender) as he searches for a traitor working in his organization. As the case deepens he narrows in on an unfortunate suspect, his wife (Cate Blanchett). This film, like Soderbergh’s recent ones, was shot entirely on an iPhone, using an app to render the shots into 4K. Why he’s begun to do this, however, is completely beyond me. If he wasn’t one of the biggest directors in Hollywood, it would make sense, but Steven Soderbergh is a man who can generate millions of dollars on name alone. Using a phone to shoot high octane films like this one comes across as more
amateurish and lazy than whatever he’s intending. The quality of shots isn’t too much of a problem in some scenes, but in many others (especially those where Soderbergh is attempting to play with lighting) it feels that the phone is holding the film back. Black Bag’s opening scene is great. With our main character inviting all of the suspects in his current case over to dinner, drugging them as an attempt for one of them to spill the beans on what’s really going on. Since all of them are drugged, the characters all converse quickly, waterboarding the audience with information. We learn a fair amount about each character here, and we learn it all very fast. I was really expecting for the entire film to take place in the one house (similar to Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf, cited as Soderbergh’s direct influence for this film), but the characters do eventually all
leave, and the film’s peak is over as swiftly as it began. After that masterful opener, the film continues, still keeping the same breakneck speed of exposition that the first scene did. However, then it made sense, because everyone was drugged out of their minds. In every other scene, the moments feel rushed, nothing’s given any space to breathe, and instead we get a lot of ‘spy talk’ which I only really half understood. There’s talks of NCSC and DITs, and IDK what any of that even means.
Also since I’m not a spy, it makes it really difficult for me to relate, or connect to any of these characters. Most of them are intentionally written as very stagnant, calculated, and unemotional, I don’t care
about any of these guys or their lives. However, when we see them crack, it’s great. I enjoy it when these people, desperate to stay professional, give up the act and start cussing their own co-workers out and have complete temper tantrums. That is why I love the opening scene so much. Unfortunately, this happens about 2 or 3 times, and the rest is more plain spy talk. About 80 minutes of it, but those other 13 minutes, they are glorious. Overall, Black Bag was fun enough, had a cool wardrobe, and pretty set design, but like so many other films, it collapses under the critical lens. With a great opening scene, boring characters, and literal iPhone shot quality, the film’s a mixed bag. A bag filled with cool and stylish gadgets, but still a mixed one at that. Elliott Stewart is a Heightsbased youth movie critic who hopes to direct movies himself when he grows up. In the meantime, he watches, analyzes, and critiques movie classics as well as current cinema releases. Elliot’s parents occasionally allow him to watch and critique R-rated films under their supervision.
sidewalk chalk, and food and drinks from Eureka Heights Brew Co., Moon Rooster, and Kona Ice. This lively, familyfriendly event is generously supported by H.E.B. Learn more at https://www.menil. org/events
Arts Market. Visit his website at ArtValet.com.
Film poster by Focus Features, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Photo by Hung Truong
Neighborhood Community Day at the Menil Collection.
Photo by Mich Martinez
True North 2025 Artist Reception at Mutiny Wine Room in the Heights, l to r: Tim Glover; Emily Sloan; Bill Davenport; Jill Bedgood; Damon Thomas; Dave Clark; Keith Crane; Nela Garzon; Felicia Schneider; Amanda Barry Jones; Susan Budge; Dean Ruck; Elizabeth Akamatsu; Sherry Owens; Bill Peck; Tara Conley; Sharon Kopriva; Dan Havel; Paul Kittelson; Gus Kopriva; Dion Laurent; Ed Wilson; Carter Ernst; John Runnels; Kelly Simmons; Chris Silkwood
