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Food for the Soul Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021 • Vol. 66 • No. 01

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Beginning of the end. COVID-19 vaccines are being administered across the area.

Page 4A

Strong start. The Heights Lady Bulldogs take a state ranking into the new year.

Page 4A

Funny man. Craig Butterworth creates artwork when he’s not making jokes.

Page 7A

Local pastor makes big impact with sermons, service to community By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

Rev. Nathan Lonsdale Bledsoe tries to focus on the good things in life and the good in people, and he strives to bring joy to the members of his church. Doing so might have been more difficult than ever in 2020, the year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bledsoe said the disease has claimed the lives of some of his parishioners at St. Stephen’s United Methodist Church at 2003 W. 43rd St., where the building has mostly been closed to the public since March. The church’s senior pastor has still tried to console grieving families, still tried to help them make socially distant funeral arrangements and still tried to uplift all his church members with weekly, virtual sermons streamed on Facebook and YouTube. But it has not been easy. Bledsoe said it “sucks” not being able to engage with congregants through traditional, in-person services, even though suspending them was necessary for the safety of the oldest and most vulnerable members of the church. “(The year) 2020 has been brutal,” he said a couple days before Christmas. “To pretend it has not been unbelievably difficult on people is ridiculous.” But Bledsoe, 34, who joined the Oak Forest church less than two months before Houston was ravaged by Hurricane Harvey in 2017, helped make the year more bearable for his congregants as well as the community at large. He found creative ways to serve the physical and spiritual needs of local residents, supported worthy causes and inspired some to make their own positive impacts within the neighborhood. For his well-rounded efforts, Bledsoe is the Leader of the Year. “He rose to the challenge,” said Oak Forest resident Steven Fisher, who joined St. Stephen’s in 2011 and serves as its family ministries director. Perhaps the biggest impact made by Bledsoe was Furlough Kitchen Houston, which he co-founded in

Rev. Nathan Lonsdale Bledsoe at St. Stephen’s United Methodist Church April along with his best friend, Lucas Marr, and operated from the church with drivethrough service in the parking lot. They provided free, freshly cooked meals once or twice per week through November, serving a total of about 8,000 meals to local residents in need. The idea was borrowed from a similar initiative in Dallas and catered to Greater Heights community members who had lost their jobs because of the economic downtown associated with the pandemic. Bledsoe, an avid bow hunter and grilling enthusiast, did a large portion of the cooking himself and said the effort was buoyed by support from several local restaurants – including Artisana Bakery, Hartz Krispy Chicken on Pinemont, Morsels & Crumbs cater-

By Landan Kuhlmann While many of us will likely want to forget as much about 2020 as possible the moment the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, it wasn’t all bad. In fact, there are plenty of things to celebrate as we turn the calendar to 2021. Though COVID-19 was a

major storyline in the Heights, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest and surrounding north Houston neighborhoods, it was far from the only one. So while we would never gloss over what has been a tumultuous year for many Houstonians, there are also plenty of instances that have showcased the spirit and resolve of the community. Below are the 10

Page 1B

THE INDEX. Church....................................................... 4A Classifieds.............................................. 5A Coupons................................................... 3B Food/Drink/Art................................... 7A Obituaries............................................... 4A Opinion..................................................... 3A Public Information......................... 2A Puzzles...................................................... 3A

of the

ing company, MytiBurger and Rainbow Lodge. Bledsoe also helped provide meals for Houston reVision, a nonprofit that serves youths impacted by the juvenile justice system. “I love it,” he said of cooking for others. “I’ve done some catering jobs and done a lot of large-scale tailgating and stuff. I’m a hunter that does my own butchering, and feeding people is a big part of my passion and a big connection to my faith story. The stories in the Bible that are most captivating to me are the things that happen around shared meals and a table.”

Bledsoe also likes craft beer and, before the pandemic, held twice-monthly events called “Great Heights Bible Study.” He would meet church members at Great Heights Brewing Company at 938 Wakefield Dr. in Garden Oaks, where they would discuss faith and life in general in a relaxed, informal setting. Catering to younger community members and families also is important to Bledsoe, who before the onset of the pandemic read to thirdgraders at Stevens Elementary on Wednesday mornings. He also serves See Leader of the Year, P. 5A

Year 2020 shows area’s spirit cannot be crushed landan@theleadernews.com

In charge. Garden Oaks’ Kyle Thiel has taken full ownership of an architecture firm.

Photo by Angie Brokaw, Digital Media Specialist for Texas Methodist Foundation Rev. Nathan Lonsdale Bledsoe, the Leader of the Year, is the senior pastor at St. Stephen’s United Methodist Church at 2003 W. 43rd St. He helped feed thousands of in-need community members through Furlough Kitchen Houston, which operated at the church from April to November.

Photo by Adam Zuvanich Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, right, speaks in early March about the impending arrival of COVID-19 in the Houston region.

stories, as selected by our staff, that most defined the year in our area: COVID has widespread impact on area Few stories about 2020 would be complete without noting the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. When it reached the Houston region in March, the coronavirus forced the temporary closure of businesses, schools and churches, with many shifting to operating remotely. Many are still operating virtually or with limited in-person capacities. Some local restaurants and other businesses were forced to shutter altogether because of the economic downturn associated with the pandemic. The popular White Linen Night in the Heights event, in which thousands of people wear white and gather on West 19th Street, was scrapped over the summer. The traditional

Photo by Adam Zuvanich Harvard Heights Construction owner Mike Shelton challenged the City of Houston on its policies pertaining to alleys in the Heights.

Lights in the Heights event suffered the same fate in the winter. But everyday heroes still walked among us amidst the chaos. Among them were longtime Garden Oaks resident Sherry Chavez, who works as a nurse at a Houston Methodist Emergency Care Center;

Cpl. Santos Torres, who patrols Garden Oaks for the Harris County Precinct 1 Constable’s Office; Oak Forest resident of the Houston Fire Department; and Ariel Gray, a cashier at the H-E-B grocery store in the Heights. See Top 10, P. 8A

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THE PUBLIC. The Leader • Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021 • Page 2A

Drunk driving suspected in fatal Christmas crash By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

HPD investigating fatal Woman struck in autocrash in Inwood area pedestrian accident dies By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Houston police say they have arrested a woman in connection with a fatal hit-and-run incident in the area last week. The suspect, 43-year-old Andrea Thimmig, has been charged with intoxication manslaughter in the 182nd State District Court, according to the Houston Police Department. The male victim’s identity is pending verification by Harris County’s medical examiner. HPD said Thimmig was driving westbound on the service road at 1500 North Loop West just after 2 a.m. last Friday, Dec. 25 when she allegedly ran a red light and struck a Honda Civic traveling southbound on Ella Boulevard. The driver of the Civic was pronounced dead at the scene, according to HPD. Thimmig According to Harris County court records, Thimmig also is facing a felony theft charge from 2019 and was charged with fraudulent use or possession of identifying information on Dec. 19. She was convicted of driving while intoxicated and failure to stop and give aid stemming from 2003 incidents, and was convicted of misdemeanor theft for incidents that occurred in 2017 and 2018.

Houston police are looking into a multi-car crash that killed one and put another in the hospital early Monday morning. One victim, a 23-year-old male, was ejected from his Toyota Scion, subsequently run over by a Harris County Precinct 4 Constable’s Office Deputy and pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Houston Police Department. His identity is pending verification by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences. Another male victim was sent to an area hospital in stable condition, according to HPD. HPD said the man who died was driving west at 13500 Northwest Fwy. just after 2 a.m. Monday when he failed to maintain a single lane, striking a Chevrolet Malibu and caus-

ing both cars to spin out. A Chrysler 300 was then struck by the Toyota, which then crashed into the HOV concrete barrier wall, according to HPD. Police said the driver of the Toyota was ejected across the freeway’s HOV lanes and into the main eastbound lanes, where he was struck by the deputy who was transporting a prisoner. HPD said neither the deputy nor the prisoner were injured. The driver of the Chevy was not hurt, according to HPD, while the Chrysler driver was taken to the hospital in stable condition. Just before the crash, HPD said another vehicle was stopped in a moving lane of traffic in the vicinity of the crash. The driver of that vehicle was arrested and will be charged with driving while intoxicated, according to HPD.

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com A woman struck in an autopedestrian accident in the area earlier this year has died, according to the Houston Police Department. The victim, 51-year-old Crisanta Retana, died Sunday, according to HPD. Police said Retana was standing next to the front passenger door of a white Ford F-150 work truck parked near a U-turn lane at 4300 North Fwy. just before 8:30 a.m.

Sept. 12, when she and the truck were struck by a suburban that was traveling north. Retana was then taken to an area hospital. The driver, a 29-year-old male, said he thought Retana was going to step into the roadway, according to HPD. In response, the man told police he veered his vehicle to the left, drove up on a curb and struck Retana and the truck. He was initially questioned at the scene and released, according to HPD, which said its investigation is ongoing.

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Police Reports • Dec. 20-27 DEC. 20

Theft 7 PM 200 BLOCK S HEIGHTS BLVD Theft 10 PM 200 BLOCK PATTON Theft 9 PM 200 BLOCK BYRNE

DEC. 21

Theft 6 PM 500 BLOCK YALE Theft 12 PM 400 BLOCK S HEIGHTS BLVD Arrest 1 AM 500 BLOCK STUDEWOOD Theft 5 PM 4700 BLOCK NOLDA Assault 2 PM 100 BLOCK YALE Theft 7 PM 4700 BLOCK N SHEPHERD

DEC. 22

Theft 1 PM 900 BLOCK ALTHEA Theft 9 PM 300 BLOCK W 19TH Robbery 11 PM 200 BLOCK W 20TH Theft 6 PM 1800 BLOCK N SHEPHERD Theft 9 PM 2500 BLOCK YALE Assault 4 PM 1400 BLOCK ALLSTON Assault 11 AM 1200 BLOCK E 32ND

Assault 3 PM 1300 BLOCK W 19TH Theft 1 AM 300 BLOCK E CROSSTIMBERS Theft 9 PM 2200 BLOCK N SHEPHERD Assault 1 AM 300 BLOCK E CROSSTIMBERS

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Theft 1 AM 00 BLOCK E CROSSTIMBERS Theft 7 AM 300 BLOCK W 19TH Theft 10 PM 200 BLOCK PATTON Theft 7 PM 700 BLOCK HEIGHTS BLVD Arrest 12 AM 500 BLOCK YALE Assault 12 PM 1100 BLOCK STUDE

DEC. 24

Theft 11 PM 2300 BLOCK COUCH Theft 12 PM 2600 BLOCK OXFORD Theft 10 PM 1000 BLOCK W 23RD Robbery 7 AM 200 BLOCK PECORE Robbery 3 AM 100 BLOCK W

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BLACK GOLD GUNS & AMMO Licensed FFL/Class III Dealer 20TH Theft 1PM 400 BLOCK S HEIGHTS BLVD Theft 12 PM 4400 BLOCK E CROSSTIMBERS Assault 10 PM 600 BLOCK OMAR

DEC. 25

Theft 5 PM 800 BLOCK W 24TH Assault 1 AM 300 BLOCK TABOR Theft 7 PM 200 BLOCK TABOR Assault 6 PM 1700 BLOCK

WILDE ROCK WAY Arrest 12 AM 100 BLOCK HEIGHTS BLVD Theft 4 AM 700 BLOCK E 28TH

DEC. 26

Robbery 8 PM 700 BLOCK W 13TH Assault 4 PM 900 BLOCK W 22ND Theft 3 PM 8200 BLOCK N BAYOU Assault 2 AM 200 BLOCK CROSSTIMBERS

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Assault 5 PM 1500 BLOCK YALE Assault 2 PM 1500 BLOCK ALEXANDER Theft 6 PM 1000 BLOCK YALE Theft 11 AM 900 BLOCK E 33RD Burglary 5 AM 700 BLOCK YALE Assault 6 PM 2800 BLOCK WHITE OAK Assault 4 AM 1000 BLOCK RUTLAND

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THE TOPICS. The Leader • Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021 • Page 3A

How important is Heights alley issue at City Hall?

e’re proud of the work we do here at The Leader, and the stories we told in 2020 were no exception. The COVID-19 pandemic made it a difficult year on just about everybody, including our small staff, but we’d like to think we rose to the challenge and kept the community informed while uplifting its collective spirit from week to week. At the same time, we try not to take ourselves too seriously, and we try to stay hungry and humble. There are news outlets with a lot more resources at their disposal and with a much broader reach, whereas we zero in on a small slice of Houston and try to cover it as thoroughly as we can. So when I received a text message in early December from a source who had heard about a key personnel change at City Hall, I initially thought it must have been a coincidence. It had been only a few days since we published the second part of a series about alley issues in the Heights, which examined the city’s murky and historically conflicting stance on the alleys and how they are used by property owners. But I thought to myself, “Surely my reporting had nothing to do with this. There must have been some other reason.” But now I’m not so sure. HoJin Lim, who assumed the role of City Engineer last January, had been at the forefront of the alley issue since his department determines which alleys are public – and therefore maintained by the city – and which are considered private.

Adam

Zuvanich Editor

Even though most of the Heights alleys fall under the latter category, at least according to the city, the Office of the City Engineer also has a say in who can access the alleys and for what purposes, since that oversight is necessary to enforce city ordinances related to stormwater drainage and street safety. Lim told me as much in a phone interview before my first story on the alleys was published in mid-November. He also deferred to the city’s legal department when asked to expand on his assertion that heirs to O.M. Carter, who platted the Heights in 1892, had an ownership stake in the alleys. When I asked the city Dec. 4 whether Lim was still employed as City Engineer, and asked for a reason why if he was not, I received the following response from a Houston Public Works spokesperson: “By ordinance, Director Carol Haddock, P.E. is the City Engineer. She has not delegated that authority to a specific City Engineer. HoJin Lim is a current City of Houston employee and has accepted a position in the Depart-

ment’s Capital Project Service Line.” So why is Lim no longer the City Engineer? Does it have anything to do with alleys? I posed that question on Monday to the office of Mayor Sylvester Turner – whose spokesperson has been copied on most of the alleyrelated emails I’ve sent – and I left Lim a voicemail seeking further comment. As of press time late Monday night, the call had not been returned and Turner’s office had not provided an answer. It’s worth noting that on Dec. 3, Turner’s office announced that City Attorney Ronald Lewis had accepted a new job and would be replaced at the end of the year by Arturo Michel, who had previously served in that role from 2004-10. Lewis was copied on some of the alley questions I had emailed to the city, and multiple requests to interview him about the alleys have not been granted. Is it a coincidence that two of the top employees at the city left their roles at roughly the same time, shortly after we published two stories that questioned their department’s policies on the alleys? Maybe, maybe not. The moves coincided with some other turnover at City Hall, including the resignation of Parks and Recreation Department Director Steve Wright and the retirement of Solid Waste Management Department Director Harry Hayes. But one thing has become abundantly clear as I’ve continued to follow this story, which affects residential

Bring back the Oilers! Last week we took a look back at 2020 and found nothing to look forward to. Actually, there were so many Bum Steers (to steal a title from Texas Monthly before they steal our selections) that we couldn’t list them all. Today we’ll deal mostly with sports, but there are a few goodies we must not ignore. A water main broke in Houston on Feb. 27, flooding roads and freeways on the east side. The broken pipe, measured at 96 inches, provides 4050 percent of the city’s water. The COVID-19 virus hit Houston hard. The money-making Offshore Technology Conference was postponed to next fall – maybe – along with a lot of other confabs. The Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo was halted in the middle. The rodeo usually opens in March, but the 2021 version is being delayed to May. Dr. Peter Hotez warned: “There’s still going to be a significant level of transmission, so it’s not ideal.” Murders are up sharply this year. Houston police officials expect to surpass 400 by year’s end, compared to 281 murders in 2019. Suspected Russian hackers infiltrated scores of business and government computer networks including the departments of Commerce, Agriculture and Homeland Security’s cyber arm. The gateway to these systems was a company called SolarWinds – from Austin, whose investors sold off millions of dollars in stock shortly before the hack was revealed. The biggest bump in Houston sports was not all the cancelled games, but the self-inflicted wounds. Let’s start with the Texans. On January 12, they blew a 24-0 lead, and lost 51-31, in a Divisional Round playoff game against the eventual Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs scored on eight consecutive possessions, an NFL playoff record, and their comeback is tied for the fourth-largest comeback in NFL playoff history. The record, of course, is the Buffalo Bills’ rally from 32 down against the Oilers. Off season, the Texans traded All-Pro receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for David Johnson and two draft picks. Hopkins is currently tearing up the NFL. Johnson isn’t. This season, after a 0-4 start for the first time since 2008, the Texans fired Bill O’Brien as both head coach and general manager. Associate head coach Romeo Crennel was named as interim coach for the rest of the season, with poor results. Veteran corner Bradley Roby and wide receiver Will Fuller were both suspended six games after violating the league’s performance enhancing drug policy. The highly regarded Amy Palcic was fired as the team’s vice president of communications. Thus far, the Texans are 135-165 all-time without an AFC Championship appearance since the NFL returned to Houston in 2002. One sports writer reported about the Tex-

Lynn Ashby Columnist

ans: “That NFL team is now the laughingstock of the league.” The Houston Rockets are in competition to be a laughingstock. 2020 found the franchise in utter turmoil. Like the Texans, the Rockets had a change in leadership when Mike D’Antoni, coach for the last four years with 318 games, quit. D’Antoni had finished with a combined 227-102 record in four seasons with the Rockets. He was immediately hired by the Brooklyn Nets as an assistant coach. ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith wrote: “(t)his man is a master of departing jobs right when he knows he’s gonna get fired.” The Rockets also had to find a new general manager after Daryl Morey left for the Philadelphia 76ers. Morey said he left on his own accord, a little over a year after sparking a major rift between the NBA and Chinese government. Nine-time NBA all-star Russell Westbrook, unhappy with playing in Houston, left for the Washington Wizards after one season. James Harden expressed his desire to also leave. He was a hold-out at the beginning of the season. The only good news was that, 15 years after first making the ballot, former Rockets player and coach Rudy Tomjanovich was finally named to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. This, unfortunately, brings us to the Houston Astros. The very next day after the Texans blew their significant lead over the Kansas City Chiefs, Houston sports fans were themselves blown away when Major League Baseball accused the Astros of cheating. Briefly, at home games the Astros were found guilty of using a camera in center field to take a live video feed of the opposing catcher’s sign to the pitcher. That video was then communicated to a TV monitor near the Astros’ dugout, where a teammate or staff member would alert the hitter as to what pitch was coming, by banging – or not banging – on a trash can in the tunnel near the dugout. This gave a whole new meaning to the sports term “trash talk.” Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow and manager A.J. Hinch were suspended for a year by MLB commissioner Rob Manfred. A day later, Astros owner Jim Crane fired them. The franchise also was stripped of its first- and second-round picks in both the 2020 and 2021 drafts and fined $5 million. (Incidentally, there is a movement to change the mascot from Orbit to Cheetah.) Well, the scandal hit the fans and the media. Alex Cora, manager of the Boston Red Sox and Carlos Beltran, the newly mint-

property owners who want to use alleys to access their homes as well as developers that want to build in the Heights but first have to acquire small pieces of property from Carter heirs who live all across the country and have taken all their cues in this matter from the city, according to their attorney in Houston: The folks at City Hall are reluctant to talk about the alleys, because some of the most critical questions I’ve asked have so far gone unanswered. Why has the city determined that it does not own the alleys in the Heights, which the city annexed in 1919? It has exerted control over them much more recently, asking property owners to remove obstructions to the alleys and requiring them to gain permission from the city before taking on construction that may impact the alleys and how they drain. And why, if ownership lies with some other entity, is the city still exercising control over how the neighborhood’s alleys are used? Can they be considered public and private at the same time? Perhaps the answers revolve around money, like many things do. Maybe the city realized the alleys in the Heights need to be upgraded to mitigate flooding risks, but because such a project would come with a hefty cost, it decided to leave that chore with property owners in an affluent part of town. Or maybe the people at City Hall are so unsure about the issue of alley

ownership that they want to distance themselves from the passageways as much as possible to avoid some sort of legal liability. The city could be headed for a legal fight anyway, because some property owners and business owners in the neighborhood have said they have been financially impacted by the city’s shifting position on the alleys. Starting in the summer of 2019, when Joe Myers was employed as City Engineer, the city began asking for extensive drainage improvements in exchange for alley access, while also taking a hands-off approach when it comes to encroachments in the alleys. While some in the neighborhood acknowledge the need for improved flood mitigation, the city’s position has not been popular among many residents. But the city has at least committed to addressing the issue, with Houston Public Works saying its policies will be evaluated and possibly amended in the spring by the city’s Transportation, Technology and Infrastructure Committee. In the meantime, we’ll continue to keep the issue at the forefront and continue to ask questions, even if they aren’t answered the first time, the second or even the third. Property owners in the alley-filled Heights deserve to know, and a big part of our job at The Leader is to advocate for them and keep them informed. Email azuvanich@theleadernews. com

THE READER.

ed manager (three months) of the Mets got fired, too, for their involvement back when they were Astros. The Los Angeles Dodgers lost to the Astros in the 2017 World Series, and the Los Angeles City Council unanimously voted that the Dodgers be declared the true champions in 2017 and 2018. When asked if the Astros’ 2017 World Series championship should be put down in the record books as not exactly fair, Manfred referred to the championship trophy as “a piece of metal.” He backtracked faster than a runner caught in a run-down between third base and home plate. Finally in sports, how to chap off Texan fans, those who are left: Whataburger, the iconic, Texas-born hamburger chain is now the “Official Burger of the Dallas Cowboys.” Ashby cheers at ashby2@comcast.net

City unveils expanded plan for 11th Street

Dear Editor: This is exponentially the worst idea the city has had in a long time. All of the “safety” measures to “improve” traffic flow is going to have the opposite effect. Not only will the road rage fester but it will push angry drivers to fly down 9th, 10th, 12th and 13th. We already have this problem with cars bypassing the Yale at 11th intersection. They zoom through the narrow streets to get around the bottlenecks. The easiest solution is to install a pedestrian light like the one on Yale by the stores. Thanks city of Houston! Keep on destroying the Heights!!! P.S. we really need some more huge out of place apartment complexes to congest the traffic and parking problems. Awesome! JD Dear Editor: I’m confused, 11th between Michaux and Yale is to the west? And 11th between Yale and North Shepherd is to the east? Also, both stretches of 11th seem to be the same width. It’s two lanes of traffic each way the from North Shepherd to Michaux. How is one more acceptable to the road diet than the other? I’m trying to imagine how a bike lane is going to work on Michaux just south of 11th. You almost can’t get two cars past each other as is now for at least one block there. Worse when it’s time for school to let out at Hogg. The parents’ cars are lined up way into that same block of Michaux. Janice Murphy

Email us your letters: news@theleadernews.com Dear Editor: It is horrible design. The solution is easy with a light at Nicholson and 11th and other primary pedestrian crossings. Instead of addressing the specific issue raising the evaluation, a bottle neck plan is proposed. The greatly increased traffic from the large apartment developments already make Shepherd and 11th bottle necks during two hours, not 15 minutes, at peak traffic times. A bicycle rider myself, it is easier and safer for bikes and cars, to route the bikes through the neighborhood, not on the primary traffic route. M. Dear Editor: Your report “City unveils expanded plan for 11th Street” was quite informative. As a longtime resident and homeowner living very near 11th Street, I am extremely concerned with the proposed “road diet” and believe the reduction from 2 vehicle lanes in each direction will be disastrous. Eleventh Street is a major east-west artery and is very congested even in the current configuration. Adding “bike lanes” for a tiny number of cyclists will inconvenience thousands of motorists who rely on this thoroughfare daily. The proposed reduction in lanes is shortsighted and will only further increase the travel times and frustration of motorists in our ever increasingly congested city. John J Nemecek, MD

the leader Puzzlers. Answers found in this week’s Classified section

SUDOKU

aCrOss 1. Punished 10. Cartoon feline 12. Productive land 13. Playfully mischievous one 15. Liquorice-flavored seeds 16. Changed or modified 18. Used to strengthen and harden steel 19. Extinct flightless bird of New Zealand 20. Atomic #63 21. Missing soldiers 24. Payment (abbr.) 27. Blood-sucking African fly 30. Erstwhile 31. Used to have (Scottish) 33. ___ Ming: Houston Rocket player 34. CNN’s founder 35. Volcanic craters 37. 2-wheeled carriage 39. Team cheer 41. Lingering sign of injury 42. Brews 44. Mix with society 47. Type of healthcare plan 48. Spanish baby 49. Expression of sympathy

50. Openwork fishing fabric 52. Farm state 53. Weak-willed (Yiddish) 56. Madwort 61. Cause to expand 62. S. Am. procyonids 63. Former German tennis champion 65. Professional intent on career

dOwn 1. Black-eyed & sugar snap 2. Czech River 3. World’s longest river 4. Canned 5. Giant’s Hall of Fame Linebacker 6. Worn to Mecca 7. Fanatical partisan 8. Rapturous delight 9. Southern Redbelly ____ (minnows) 10. Weekday 11. Seaman 12. A way to bless 14. Harper, Bruce and Robert E. 15. Ammunition 17. Scheduled to arrive 22. Sour or bitter in taste 23. Closed automobile

24. Philemon (abbr., Biblical) 25. ‘Throne of Glass’ author Sarah 26. A way to give information 28. 55122 MN 29. Scenic French fabric 32. Apothecaries’ unit 36. No seats available 38. Extraordinary intellect 40. Solomon Islands capital 43. Furrow 44. Principal ethnic group of China 45. Collectable 46. Rouse 51. Not those 54. Serviette 55. Coalition with a common purpose 56. Maple genus 57. Localities 58. Asian ox 59. Let it stand 60. Title of respect 64. Exist

WORD SCRAMBLE

Page 4A â€˘ Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021 â€˘ The Leader

City, county health departments begin administering COVID-19 vaccine By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

The Houston Health Department reported 765 new cases of COVID-19 among city residents on Monday, along with one additional death. More than 116,000 have contracted the coronavirus since it reached Houston about 10 months ago, and the contagious disease it causes has claimed the lives of more than 1,500. The hope among local health officials, now that two vaccines are being distributed in the region, is that those numbers will not climb much higher. The Houston Health Department, Houston Fire Department and Harris County Public Health announced Monday that each had received 3,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Moderna as part of a massive distribution by Texasâ€™ Department of State Health Services. The city and county immediately began administering the vaccine, which requires two doses four weeks apart to be effective, to its front-line healthcare workers. Smaller numbers of doses of the Moderna vaccine have been sent to Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital â€“ which received 1,950 doses of the Pfizer vaccine earlier this month â€“ as well as to some other local healthcare

Contributed photo A COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by Moderna has been distributed to the Houston Health Department, Houston Fire Department and Harris County Public Health, along with some local healthcare facilities and pharmacies.

facilities and the H-E-B pharmacies at 2300 N. Shepherd Dr. and 3663 Washington Ave. â€œToday is a big day for Houston in the ongoing battle against COVID-19,â€? Mayor Sylvester Turner said during a Monday news conference. â€œHouston has received a potentially life-saving gift just in time for the holidays and before the start of the new year.â€? As of press time Monday, healthcare workers, pharmacy workers, residents and staff of long-term care facilities, first responders and school nurses

were among those permitted by the state to receive the vaccine. Up next are adults over age 65 as well as people who are at least 16 and have at least one chronic medical condition that puts them at increased risk for severe illness or death, such as cancer, kidney disease, heart conditions, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, obesity, pregnancy, sickle cell disease and Type 2 diabetes. According to the DSHS website, the stateâ€™s goal is for the vaccine to be available to every Texan who wants to re-

Contributed photo An employee of Harris County Public Health receives a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by Moderna. The county received 3,000 doses on Monday as part of a distribution by Texasâ€™ Department of State Health Services.

ceive it by the spring of 2021. â€œEventually we will get to everybody,â€? Dr. David Persse of the Houston Health Department said. â€œItâ€™s going to take some time. This is a big nation and a big community. But letâ€™s take advantage of this opportunity when it knocks.â€? In the six zip codes served by The Leader â€“ 77007, 77008, 77009, 77018, 77091 and

77092 â€“ there had been a total of 9,173 cases of COVID-19 as of Monday. The disease has caused the deaths of at least 123 area residents, with 8,143 having recovered. Until the vaccine is more widely available, Turner encouraged Houston residents to continue taking precautions to slow the spread of COVID-19, such as wearing masks

when in public, maintaining at least 6 feet of distance between others and frequently washing hands. â€œThis is a great day. It is an important day, because it is the beginning of the end (of the pandemic),â€? Persse said. â€œWeâ€™ve still got a lot of work to do, individually and as a community, to make sure we get vaccine out.â€?

Area girls hoops teams take state rankings into new year By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Itâ€™s been a tumultuous 2020 off the court, but several local high school basketball teams have made this portion of their on-court work look easy as they head into the new year with state rankings. On the heels of their first regional quarterfinals appearance last season, the Heights Lady Bulldogs are off to a roaring start this season. They were 9-3 overall and ranked 16th in Class 6A by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches heading into Tuesdayâ€™s scheduled matchup against second-ranked Cypress Creek. Itâ€™s a rematch of last seasonâ€™s regional quarterfinal, which Cy Creek won 104-65. Senior forward Tierra Simon is leading the way for the Lady Bulldogs this season. Sheâ€™s averaging nearly 15 points and 12 rebounds per game. She has six doubledoubles this season, including a 26-point, 13-rebound performance in a 65-14 win over Booker T. Washington on Dec. 15. Point guard Gracelynn Alvarez is also scoring nearly 14 points per game this season.

On the private school circuit, coach John Slomcheck and the Lutheran High North Lady Lions are looking strong once again as they look to build on recent success after moving down a classification. Fresh off consecutive trips to the TAPPS 4A state tournament, the Lady Lions concluded the 2020 portion of their schedule with a 9-2 record. They sit atop the TABCâ€™s Class 3A private-school rankings heading into a Jan. 5 game against Tomball Rosehill Christian. Sophomore Dalanna Carter has been the Lady Lionsâ€™ spark, averaging close to 33 points per game this season, including a 49-point performance against Aggieland Christian Homeschool on Nov. 16 and 46 points against Covenant Christian Dec. 15. Kinsie Kim is scoring almost 11 points per contest, while Andrea Ramirez is grabbing more than nine rebounds per game. Other area action In other private school action, both St. Pius X squads have had solid starts to their 2020-21 campaign. The boys team was 6-3 ahead of tourna-

ment action at Second Baptist School this week, while the Lady Panthers were 6-4 in the 2020 portion of their schedule. Three Lady Panthers are scoring in double digits, led by freshman Zachara Perkinsâ€™ mark of 19.6 points per game. Perkins also leads the team in rebounding, grabbing nearly 12 boards a contest. The Booker T. Washington boys sit at 6-7 on the season, but are coming off an 80-65 victory over Houston Math, Science and Tech on Dec. 22. Senior forward Kenneth Lewis is scoring 23 points per game for the Eagles, while Caelen Triplett is adding 11.6 points and a team-leading 9.9 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, the Lady Eagles are coming off a 68-51 district win against Worthing on Dec. 19. They sit at 4-5 overall and 3-1 in District 23-4A competition. The Heights boys also started off strong, with the Bulldogs sitting at 4-0 heading into Mondayâ€™s game against Silsbee. Waltripâ€™s boys team is 1-2 on the season. Both of Scarboroughâ€™s teams remained winless on the season as of Monday, as did the Waltrip Lady Rams.

Photo by Gabriela Alvarez Heights High Schoolâ€™s Tierra Simon dribbles around the perimeter during a game earlier this season. The Lady Bulldogs are ranked 16th in Class 6A by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches.

THE OBITUARIES. Jacqueline Harman, 85, born Aug. 21, 1935 in Dibble, Oklahoma, died Dec. 27. She is survived by her son Ron Harman, brother Dan Ramsey, three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Theresa Bilski Jozwiak, 94, born May 20, 1926 in Brenham, Texas, died Dec. 18. Jozwiak was a lifelong member of St. Rose Catholic Church. She is survived by her three sons, Thomas

Jozwiak, Herbert Jozwiak, and the Rev. Lawrence W. Jozwiak, sisters Genevie Stegent and Gertrude Schuerer, four grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. Lucille Katherine Moratto, 96, born July 7, 1924, died Dec. 17. She is survived by brother, Rev. Roy Oggero, C.S.B., son Thomas M. Moratto, daughter Theresa Briggs, son Michael Moratto, six grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

Sherry Lea Peterson, 62, born March 21, 1958, died Dec. 26. Gloria Esther Rios, 66, born April 26, 1954, died Dec. 19. Juanita Jean Sloan, 78, born Feb. 19, 1942, died Dec. 27. Annie Ruth Stone, 95, born Dec. 8, 1925 in Brushy Creek, Texas, died Dec. 17. Ruth and Gene became early

members of the newly established St. Stephenâ€™s Methodist Church where they faithfully served the rest of their lives. She is survived by her sister Patsy Jean Lewis, son Richard Bruce Stone, daughter Julie Anne Stone-Cortez, son Stephen James Stone, 10 grandchildren, and six greatgrandchildren. William Ables Tankersley, 87, born March 27, 1933, died Dec. 25.

Local business is our business. Send your story of interest news@theleadernews.com

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Vigilance

igilance can be defined as the ability to sustain attention, especially a careful watchfulness over a long period of time. Vigilance is a vital attribute for many occupations, including police officers, security guards, soldiers, air traffic controllers, and even truck or bus drivers and pilots, who must remain watchful for hazardous situations which can affect driving or flying. Vigilance is important for all of us, at least at times when danger may be lurking around the corner, such as when we are driving or anytime we are in unfamiliar areas.saying, There is itaanyway: well-established decrease t goes without but Iâ€™ll say â€œwe have all made mistakes.â€? As Alexander Pope follows so aptly putsustained it: â€œTo in vigilance which activity; err is human, to forgive, divine.â€? We should remember after several hours of driving we are likely to this the next time we make a mistake. Most certainly, we small signs of danger. And the plethora must learnmiss from our mistakes, and hopefully not continue to repeat them, but we should also forgive ourselves. Whileenvironments, of distracting technology in our it can be hard enough to forgive others for their mistakes, it from cell phones to GPS devices In light of the COVID-19 outbreak, please check with each church below for updated information about services can sometimes feel almost impossible to forgive ourselves.and high-tech St. James Lutheran Church, ELCA We sometimes cannot bringthreatens ourselves to forgive something Sunday Bible Studies For All Ages ... 9:30am billboards, to make us even less able andMorning events. In-person services are temporarily â€˘restricted. weâ€™ve done, and we may punish and harangue ourselves Worship ............... 10:45am Worship (English) ..... 10:00 am - 11:00am to sustain our attention over long periods. for years, or even decades, over youthful indiscretions. In Wednesday Bible Studies For Youth, Children â€˘ Learning Hour........... 11:00am - 12:00pm MANNA Perhaps wenotshould being vigilant, so addition, some of us may be able topractice forget the sins of â€˘ Worship (Spanish) .... 12:30 pm 1:30pm and Adults............................ 6:15pm Sponsor our past. And although that may prevent us fromneed repeating that in the time of dire we will not be St. James Lutheran Church, ELCA 1602 West 43rd St. â€˘ Houston, Tx 77018 â€˘ 713-686-1577 them, we must be charitable and forgive ourselves, just as 1822 W. 18th â€˘ 713-864-1470 caught unaware by the at inour door.â€? But, we should forgive others. So, we should makeâ€œthief a real effort t 8PSTIJQ &OHMJTI BN BN comingwe daysshould and weeksremember to forgive the offenses of others that our greatest treasure Gethsemane Lutheran Church the Weekly Sunday Services Gethsemane Lutheran Church as well as our own. Sometimes, it helps to just forget about BN QN is not our material wealth, but our hearts and MANNA t -FBSOJOH )PVS â€˘ Bible Study: 9:15 a.m. 4040 Watonga â€˘ 713-688-5227 Pastor Jerry McNamara them; that is, to try to put them out of our mind and stop â€˘ Morning:10:30 a.m. t 8PSTIJQ 4QBOJTI QN QN We invite you to worship with us! i.e.,them. our One lives, which weweshould guard with 4QPOTPS repeatedly souls, mulling over of the reasons use â€˘ Evening: 4:15 p.m. 4040 Watonga â€˘ 713-688-5227 Weekly Worship Services 9:00 a.m. the phrase great â€œforgive vigilance. and forgetâ€? is because sometimes that is 1700 West 43 at Rosslyn Sunday School & Bible Classes 10:30 am 8FTU SE 4U t )PVTUPO 5Y t Preschool Program â€˘ Mon. - Fri. 9-2 p.m. We invite 713-682-4942 you to worship with us!the only way to forgive, i.e., by forgetting. But far better, and

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more divine, is to be able to forgive even while remembering offense. So, we should let go of those unforgiving, vindictive, shameful feelings about the past, and get over it! Corrie ten Boom, who survived incarceration in a Nazi prison camp said, â€œForgiveness is to set a prisoner free, and to realize that the prisoner was you.â€?

The fool cavorts carelessly, unaware of the dangers surrounding him, while the sage remains watchful, guarding his life and his treasure. Keep your heart with all vigilance; for it flow the springs of life. Judge not, and youfrom will not be judged; condemn

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The Leader â€˘ Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021 â€˘ Page 5A

Leader of the Year, from P. 1A on the board for the Harriet and Joe Foster Family YMCA at 1234 W. 34th St. St. Stephenâ€™s teamed up with St. James Lutheran Church, 1602 W. 43rd St., to put on the Northwest Community Health Fair, which in February provided resources and immunizations to about 700 community members at Frank Black Middle School. â€œHe very much has the service part of being a leader of a church down,â€? Fisher said of Bledsoe. â€œHeâ€™s very much trying to come in and connect to the community. Weâ€™ve had more community involvement in the last three years than I remember in 10.â€? Bledsoe described himself as â€œpersonally pretty progressive,â€? having told church members he does not think being a member of the LGBTQ community is â€œinherently sinful.â€? Church member Ashley Cavazos said Bledsoe is â€œpro-everybodyâ€? and â€œpreaches that everybody is loved by Jesus and everybody is created in the eyes of Jesus.â€? Bledsoe also does not hesitate to discuss social issues and share his opinions on such matters. In the aftermath of the May 25 death of George Floyd, the Black Houston native who died in police custody in Minnesota, Bledsoe gave a sermon that addressed racism and mentioned the racist language in the longstanding deed restrictions for Garden Oaks and Oak Forest. Both contain a long-unenforceable restriction that says only members of the Caucasian race can own property in the subdivisions or even reside there. Bledsoe said his sermon was tied to the Pentecost and meant to illustrate how people can make good, tangible impacts on the lives of others. â€œThe sins of racism persist in our country and are really bad, and one of the most significant ways that that keeps happening is we turn a blind eye to it or donâ€™t see it or

think that it is real,â€? Bledsoe said. â€œIt was important to me as I talked about the broader issues related to it to tie something to our immediate situation and location. Weâ€™re a church that really cares deeply about our neighborhood.â€? The sermon inspired Cavazos to start a Facebook group called â€œDeed for Changeâ€? and lead an effort to amend the deed restrictions by removing the antiquated, offensive language. She and other neighborhood volunteers are in the process of putting together petitions to change the deed restrictions on a section-by-section basis. â€œHeâ€™s the reason we go to that church, honestly, just because he is so socially aware,â€? Cavazos said. â€œHeâ€™s not afraid to say things. Heâ€™s not one of those pastors thatâ€™s going to be totally politically correct and try to appease people in the audience that may disagree with him. Heâ€™s going to bring up the challenging topics.â€? No topic is more challenging than COVID-19, and Bledsoe said he is proud of his church and the community it serves for their perseverance, willingness to adapt and willingness to help others. He also deflected credit for all his good deeds during 2020, saying the mark of a good leader is listening to others and supporting their worthy ideas and causes. The vision for Furlough Kitchen Houston, for example, came from his friend Marr. Bledsoe and his church just helped execute it. And as much as heâ€™s done for the community, Bledsoe said, â€œI never feel like weâ€™ve done enough.â€? â€œBut I have been grateful,â€? he added. â€œLiving the Christian faith has not ever been cancelled. Being the hands and feet, figuring out ways to help people in need is something we can always do if weâ€™re creative and listen and come along with folks who are doing this already.â€?

Angie Brokaw, Digital Media Specialist for Texas Methodist Foundation Rev. Nathan Lonsdale Bledsoe, right, prepares food boxes in the kitchen at St. Stephenâ€™s United Methodist Church. At left is Lucas Marr, who co-founded Furlough Kitchen Houston along with his friend Bledsoe.

Angie Brokaw, Digital Media Specialist for Texas Methodist Foundation Rev. Nathan Lonsdale Bledsoe prepares food in the kitchen at St. Stephenâ€™s United Methodist Church, where is the senior pastor.

Angie Brokaw, Digital Media Specialist for Texas Methodist Foundation Rev. Nathan Lonsdale Bledsoe delivers bags of food to a community member in the parking lot at St. Stephenâ€™s United Methodist Church.

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The Leader • Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021 • Page 7A

Art Valet: Butterworth makes jokes along with creating art Mitch Cohen Art Columnist

Jan. 2, 2021, is here, and so is the initial First Saturday Arts Market of the new year. It’s the 17th year the market has been open for business. It runs from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. this Saturday at the usual space at 540 W. 19th St. With Kiki Neumann as the highlight of last week’s column, the final Art Valet column of 2020, it seems only fitting I introduce you to artist Craig Butterworth in my first column of 2021. Like Neumann, Butterworth incorporates many “found” objects into his art, constantly tries new things and appears to have an unflappable positive attitude. Butterworth ventured out

into the art world in October 2019 after retiring from teaching. He grew up in West Houston, New Orleans and Denver, taught art at Elsik High School for 21 years and is a mostly self-taught artist. He calls his art business, Art by Butter. “My artwork is about nourishing your inner child (and mine at the same time),” Butterworth said. “I am an abstract painter, mixed media artist, using uncommon items to create art for the masses. I am also a local poet, known especially for his bios. In fact, I am the only poet who wrote a bio that the emcee of the Houston Poetry Fest, Gary Rosin, refused to read. Here it is: “Kanye West once called Craig Butterworth the ‘greatest living poet.’ Craig is president and CEO of Biscuits and Bones, an online dating service for dogs. He is cur-

Contributed photo Craig Butterworth models his First Saturday Arts Market T-shirt.

rently taking a hiatus from that important work in order to collaborate on a new book of philosophic musings with former Texas governor Rick Perry, entitled Coyote Stories. His poetry has been published in Muscle and Fitness, Modern Bride, and Survivalist magazines.” Did I fail to mention Butterworth is a humorous man, too? Anyone that can empty a junk drawer and create new art from the contents has got to have a funny bone in them. Most of the junk drawer contents find their way onto letters of the alphabet. Butterworth spells out each letter using all of one material such as an “A” made out of pencils, or an “R” made out of bottle caps on hard canvases. He does custom orders, too, of names and phrases. Other materials Butterworth incorporates into his art are tennis rackets, bowl-

ing pins and he even had toilet seats represented in a series focused on the changing seasons. Autumn (that’s one of the four seasons other parts of the world experience) featured Koi fish swimming around under the lid. My favorite works of art by Butterworth are the colorful nature landscapes he creates from his own photographs on his travels. I know he misses traveling, so perhaps 2021 will have more opportunities than last year. In addition to finding Butterworth at First Saturday Arts Market, follow him online at http://artbybutter. com. Cohen is an artist and founder of the First Saturday Arts Market and the Market at Sawyer Yards. Find him at ArtValet.com for additional highlights and artist’s stories.

Review: Piper’s provides BBQ with laid-back vibe By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com

If it wasn’t for the constant flow of traffic on North Shepherd Drive, I could have forgotten I was in the middle of Houston while dining at Piper’s BBQ & Beer. The patio is set up like a wraparound porch complete with spread-out tables and picnic-style benches. There’s a small section of seating inside, but I’d definitely recommend hanging outside if the weather permits it. The setup of the restaurant feels very laid back and country, meaning I feel like I could find this place while driving through the various small towns in Texas. The menu offers smoked meats and popular sides often seen at barbecue joints, like baked beans, potato salad and coleslaw. I ordered a sliced beef sandwich, pork sausage and a side of creamed corn and baked beans. Piper’s had just run out of buns when I ordered, so I was offered a pretzel bun instead, and I accepted. Before

heading to the patio I grabbed some house pickles. The creamed corn was piled in a paper boat. The “cream” part of the corn seemed to my taste buds to be a type of melted cheese. It was a first in my experience with creamed corn, so it surprised me. The baked beans were beans mixed with pieces of sausage in a thick, dark red sauce. The sauce had a tomato sauce texture and taste. The brisket was tender and had a good seasoned flavor. I enjoyed the pretzel bun, too. Even though I would have never put barbecue and pretzel together before, it turned out well. Because Piper’s doesn’t carry mustard, I added barbecue sauce to the sandwich. I’ve mentioned previously that I prefer mustard-based sauces, but Piper’s barbecue sauce didn’t have that typical tomato flavor of sauces in Houston. It tasted like there was an addition of a type of seasoning or just pepper that gave the sauce a nice balance of hearty with a little bit of a sweet aftertaste.

When I first bit into a piece of the pork sausage, I almost laughed, but not in a bad way. I could clearly taste the smoking it has undergone. The sausage was fatty and juicy and as I already mentioned, smoky. I usually favor beef over pork, but I liked how the smokiness stayed in the sausage flavoring. My nephews who were having lunch with me enjoyed their chopped beef sandwich and mac and cheese as well. Overall, I’d stop by for another sandwich and sausage, but might just opt for a bag of chips for the side. Piper’s BBQ & Beer Address: 2323 N. Shepherd Dr. Hours: 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Tuesday–Thursday, 11 a.m.–8 p.m. Friday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Sunday Pricing: $6.95 - $18.45 Kid-friendly: Yes (but no kid’s menu) Alcohol: Yes Healthy options: No Star of the show: Pork sausage

Photo by Zarah Parker Pictured are a sliced beef sandwich, pork sausage, baked beans and creamed corn from Piper’s BBQ & Beer, located at 2323 N. Shepherd Dr.

Technology, while helpful, takes away from dining experience Zarah Parker Managing Editor

Last week, my niece and I went through the Taco Bell drive-through. When we got to the window the employee took my credit card and while it was processing, asked us if we were ready for Christmas or ready for it to be over. “It” being the tumultuous year of 2020. I leaned over from the passenger side and answered I was excited for Christmas. It is my favorite holiday after all. But my niece said, “No way, I’m ready for it to be over.” The Taco Bell employee instantly agreed with her and the two joked back and forth about how awful the year’s been, how it’s not even that cold, and how it doesn’t even feel like Christmas. The laughs the two exchanged made me realize how long it has been since I’ve interacted in such a way with a drive-through attendee or a restaurant server. While I have dined in since the restrictions to slow the COVID-19 spread were first implemented in midMarch, the experience has usually lacked that jovial flare. Because for me and my family, joking with the server is a part of what makes eating out fun. But most of my restaurant experiences since March have been through an app, and while dining in, servers no longer linger by my table. Technology through this year has been great. You can order food and pick it up from your favorite restaurants or have it delivered. Apps have made eating

out a safer option for those uncomfortable doing so during a pandemic, and I’ve utilized apps a lot since March. And yet, a week before restrictions began, I wrote an article about restaurants using technology to make the dining experience more convenient and contact-free. I wasn’t a fan. The last line of that article is, “Sometimes, though, I think it would be nice if tech didn’t have a part in all we did.” Can I call it ironic that a week later technology would become a main part of my restaurant experience? My opinion on restaurants’ utilization of technology has changed in some ways, but in others it has not. It’s changed because, without it, the last almost-year could have been a lot worse for locally owned restaurants. Allowing people to order online or through an app and picking it up or getting it delivered made eating out easy in uncertain times. Other than a restaurant’s own online system, I’ve used apps like Uber Eats and DoorDash. And while I hate the fees, I’ve come to realize it’s an easy way to have food delivered while working from home. For me, it’s mostly because I hate driving, so leaving the house just to grab food isn’t going to happen. Using the apps lets me support my favorite places without the need for me to leave my house. My original article was inspired by the opening of Millie’s Kitchen & Cocktails in Oak Forest and its use of an app called Roovy, developed by Delicious Concepts owner Ken Bridge, who also owns Millie’s and multiple other area restaurants. Roovy allows for

a mostly contact-free dining experience. You order and pay through the app and a server brings out your food. I wasn’t against the app, but I didn’t like that using the app was the only option while dining at the restaurant, and now it’s used at all of the Delicious Concept restaurants. Recently, I visited one of those restaurants, Robot Noodle, and was able to finally experience the app for myself. I didn’t mind it. It was easy to use and I could still ask the server questions if I had any. I was confused on certain aspects of what I was or wasn’t supposed to do. When I needed to-go boxes, was I supposed to find them through the app or ask the server? A part of me thought that since everything was on the app, it would be taboo to ask the server for anything. But my overall experience was good and I’d use it again. Even with all the benefits it’s given diners over the months, I still can’t be a full supporter of fully utilizing tech, and that night at Taco Bell showed me why. When we only use technology for hospitality services, were not getting a full hospitality experience. We’re not getting the personable interactions. I understand if you want to be 6 feet from someone right now, but that shouldn’t have to change how we interact with people. When I watched my niece and the drive-through employee laughing together I realized how easy it is to get so used to using technology that it can become a wall between human interaction. So, use tech to be safer, but don’t let yourself get used to it.

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Page 8A â€˘ Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021 â€˘ The Leader

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Facebook photo Studewood Grill has opened at 1111 Studewood St., where it operates next to sister concept Studewood Cantine.

Food briefs: Studewood Grill opens By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com

classic cocktails, wines and beer as well.

Studewood Grill is the sister concept to Studewood Cantine. Both are located at 1111 Studewood St. The new concept is in its soft-opening stage. The menu for the soft opening features a variety of seafood options like Jumbo Lump Crabcakes, House Smoked Salmon and Shrimp Cocktail. The menu also has a ribeye, New York strip and a smoked half chicken. The grill has a selection of

Sushi hot spot opening Saturday Ume Sushi will open its doors Saturday in the former Barnabyâ€™s location at 2802 White Oak Dr. The 3,000 square foot space will feature two main sections: a bar area with a communal table and a dining room overlooking the kitchen and sushi bar. Ume is a sister restaurant to MF Sushi, which is located in the Museum District and

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offers traditional Japanese cuisine. Ume will have a similar menu. BOGO at Kolache Shoppe You can get a free kolache at the Kolache Shoppe before it closes each weekday. From Monday through Friday during the last hour of operation, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., the Heights shop located at 1031 Heights Blvd. is offering a buy-one, getone-free special that applies to everything left in its case.

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Top 10, from P. 1A To show their appreciation for Chavezâ€™s bravery in performing her job, her neighbors gave her gifts and a surprise sendoff early one morning. Heights alley issues come to a head The City of Houstonâ€™s stance on alleys in the Heights, along with who owns them, who can use them and who is responsible for maintaining them, has been a hot-button issue for neighborhood residents as well as developers in the area. Ownership may rest with the heirs to Heights founder O.M. Carter, who platted the neighborhood in the late 1800s, which seems to have impacted the way the alleys are treated by the city. A 2019 policy change by the City Engineer at the time affected the business of Harvard Heights Construction owner Mike Shelton, who said the city stopped granting alley access for garage apartments unless the property owner upgraded the drainage infrastructure in the alley. At the same time, property owners have been told most of the Heights alleys are private and the city will not intervene in obstruction disputes. A meeting about the alleys was held in October between neighborhood and city representatives. A Houston Public Works spokesperson said the city plans to re-evaluate its position on the alleys, and come up with clearer directives for property owners, in the spring. Traffic safety projects jump to forefront The Texas Department of Transportation granted the requests of Oak Forest residents Don Davis and Chris Rich, who petitioned the City of Houston for speed cushions in the summer of 2018 and last summer put another petition together asking for Berendo Street and Hewitt Drive to be partially or completely closed to the Photo by Adam Zuvanich frontage road traveling Karen Yager died in a car accident in westbound on U.S. 290 to July at the intersection of West 43rd prevent cut-through traf- Street and Cheshire Lane. fic. The city and TxDOT collaborated with neighborhood residents and partially closed the streets in the fall. Residents of Garden Oaks and Oak Forest have long considered West 43rd Street a troublesome stretch. Since 2015, there have been hundreds of accidents on 43rd between Watonga Boulevard to the west and North Shepherd Drive to the east. The dangers of 43rd were magnified in July, when 46-year-old Oak Forest resident Karen Yager was struck and killed by a suspected drunk driver at the intersection of 43rd and Cheshire Lane. Parents of students at nearby Frank Black Middle School have since requested a traffic signal one block away at 43rd and Chantilly Lane. Another group of parents asked the city to add pedestrian signals at the intersection of Ella Boulevard and Thornton Road, where Frank Black Students like to ride their bicycles, and the request was granted in December. The city continued to explore its vision for the 11th Street Bikeway in the Heights, with a virtual community engagement meeting held in mid-December to discuss the design phase. In addition to installing bicycle lanes between North Shepherd Drive and Michaux Street, reducing vehicular traffic lanes along the 1.5-mile stretch and constructing a median refuge island at 11th and Nicholson â€“ where the Heights Hike-and-Bike Trail crosses 11th â€“ the project now includes some traffic reconfigurations to the east. The city is proposing the addition of bike lanes along Michaux from 11th to Stude Park to the south, with another median refuge island planned for the intersection of Michaux and White Oak Drive a little north of the park. Multiple streets in the Garden Oaks, Shepherd Park and Oak Forest neighborhoods recently became more walkable as part of the Houston Public Works Sidewalk Program, which fulfills requests for sidewalks made by schools, people with disabilities and businesses along major thoroughfares. A wheelchair-accessible sidewalk was paved over the summer along Dunsmere Road across from Shepherd Park, and 1,950 feet of sidewalk was installed on Du Barry Lane between Oak Forest Drive and Ella Boulevard in response to another pedestrian accessibility request. Three other projects were also completed in response to multiple school-related requests.

Photo by Jonathan McElvy Sears, the iconic department store that opened a location on North Shepherd Drive in 1949, closed in 2020.

In other major traffic news, TxDOT pushed forward with its plan to expand I-45 despite pushback from impacted residents, funding sources were secured for the Shepherd-Durham Major Investment Project and the city unveiled its plan for Phases 2 and 3 of the Garden Oaks/Shepherd Park Drainage Project.

seven fires in the Acres Homes, Oak Forest and Heights areas on the morning of Oct. 7.

Affordable housing projects enter area Multiple affordable housing projects made their way into the area during 2020. Sears shutters on North Shepherd One of the more controversial projects which faced significant When news broke about the closure of the long-standing Sears pushback from area residents was the Dian Street Villas, a 108store at 4900 North Shepherd Dr. â€“ a fixture in the community since unit, mixed-income apartment complex planned for 1433 Dian St. 1949 â€“ it prompted an outpouring of reactions from employees and Residents thought they had successfully thwarted the project on customers who had frequented it. June 23 when Texas Inter-Faith HousNow, the one-time icon has been ingâ€™s application for 9 percent federal reduced to an abandoned lot along housing tax credits was terminated North Shepherd and left passersby by the Texas Department of Housing to wonder what will become of the and Community Affairs (TDHCA). But property, which is valued at more on July 9, TDHCA executive director than $6.4 million by the Harris CounBobby WilkinsonÂ reinstated the applity Appraisal District. cation after an appeal by the developSears, which was founded more er, which was eventually awarded the than 125 years ago, filed for banktax credits to help fund the project. ruptcy in 2018 and subsequently Then in September, the Houston closed hundreds of stores across the City Council passed an ordinance procountry. The closure of the Garden viding more than a $9 million loan to Oaks store, which had endeared itAvenue, a nonprofit housing developer self to generations of local residents, based in Houston, using Hurricane had been expected but still shook the Harvey Community Development community. Photo by Adam Zuvanich Block Grant Disaster Recovery funds State Rep. Jarvis Johnson, left, speaks out against a pro- for its Avenue on 34th development at Acres Homes wins fight against posed concrete batch plant in Acres Homes. the site of the former Doyleâ€™s Restaurant. Construction started in December concrete batch plant Since 2015, residents of Acres Homes had endured living next to at 2136 W. 34th St., with the project described as a â€œ70-unit, gara planned concrete batch plant site that Soto Ready Mix had occu- den-style affordable rental development targeted for families.â€? The pied at 3411 De Soto St. Residents spent the better part of the last complex will feature one-, two- and three-bedroom units serving two years trying to run the company out of the neighborhood as it low- to moderate-income households at 30, 50, 60 and 80 percent attempted to become a facility that mixes and produces concrete, of the area median income. Additional complexes in the area include Lincoln Heights, a foura notoriously dusty process that affects air quality and the health story apartment complex in the Brooke Smith area, and Durham of those nearby. In January, the company agreed to withdraw its permit applica- Heights, a 281-unit, multi-family development from Houston-based tion with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Slate Real Estate Partners at 720 W. 26th St. Also upcoming is Doafter impacted residents challenged the application. The residentsâ€™ main Heights, a 406-unit, four-story building under construction at fight was fortified by elected officials at the municipal, state and 301 W. 25th St. federal level such as Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, State Rep. Jarvis Johnson and State Sen. John Whitmire. Unexpected losses strike community Community members mourned the death and celebrated the lives of residents who lost their lives during the course of the year, from COVID-19 and other causes. Heights resident Macario Ramirez, who had operated Casa Ramirez Folkart GalleryÂ with his wife since 1984 at 241 W. 19th St., died June 10 at the age of 86. His wife Chrissie Dickerson Ramirez put together â€œUn Gran AlPhoto from Facebook tarâ€? in his honor ahead of The community said goodbye to beDia de los Muertos, the cel- loved restaurant owner Tony Vega. ebration of which is a longstanding tradition at Casa Ramirez. A few weeks later, the community lost longtime Tonyâ€™s Mexican Restaurant owner Tony Vega to a heart attack the night of July 2. Vega lived close to his Heights-area restaurant, founded in 1992 and located at 2222 Ella Blvd., was the pastor at a non-denominational Christian church next door and sent six of his children to New Heights Christian Academy in Oak Forest. Vega is remembered as a friendly man of faith who always greeted customers with his trademark â€œWelcome home.â€? The neighborhood also lost Kenny Ray Kearns, a lifelong area resident and Waltrip High School graduate who owned The Dutchman bar in Oak Forest, on Aug. 11 after a short bout with lung cancer. He was 60. COVID-19 took the lives of Don Jose Mexican Restaurant owner Luis Hermosillo, 73, and 61â€“year-old general manager Carlos Garcia. The men worked at the popular local restaurant for more than 40 years and died three days apart. More tragedy struck Oct. 24, when 50-year-old Samantha Amos was killed after being rear-ended by an alleged drunk driver in the 6900 block of North Shepherd Drive, according to the Houston Police Department. Amos worked at the Kroger at West 43rd Street and Ella Boulevard for nearly two decades and endeared herself to the community with her infectious smile and upbeat personality. String of fires ends in tragedy The Heights and Oak Forest areas were stricken by a string of apparent arson incidents in October, and the ordeal ended tragically. Houston Fire Department arson investigator Lemuel Bruce, 44, was shot and killed Oct. 16 while investigating in the Timbergrove area. The Houston Police Department said a suspected arsonist, 30-year-old Joshua De La Cerda, was involved in the shootout and found dead at the scene with an â€œapparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.â€? Less than a week earlier, the fire department arrested 28-yearold Joshua Rauch, who it said was suspected of starting at least

Photo by Adam Zuvanich Steve Radom marvels at M-K-T, which he helped develop at North Shepherd Drive and 6th Street. It opened in 2020.

New developments take shape One of the most notable retail developments to take shape in 2020 was M-K-T, a 12-acre adaptive reuse undertaking by Radom Capital and Triten Real Estate Partners along the Heights Hike and Bike Trail. Buildings one through five at the former industrial warehouse complex have office and retail space available, and a second phase of the project is on the way. Another development that is complete is Stomping Grounds at 1225 W. 34th St., near the Harriet and Joe Foster Family YMCA. Its center lawn for events figures to be a big draw once people can safely gather en masse again. Tenants open for business include Fat Cat Creamery, Threadfare Childrenâ€™s Boutique and Becca Cakes. Also taking shape is the westbound portion of West 34th Street past Ella Oaks. The former Aztec Rental Center at 2001 W. 34th St., a 5.5-acre site, is home to a Braun Development property with Valenciaâ€™s Tex-Mex Garage. North Shepherd Drive is also rife with additions that followed in the wake of the H-E-B at 2300 N. Shepherd Dr. Katzâ€™s Deli & Bar opened next door, one of several new restaurants in the area. Lowell Street Market, Radom Capitalâ€™s complex at North Shepherd Drive and 18th Street; Braunâ€™s Shepherd Row at 1002 N. Shepherd Dr. across from the Kroger; and Gulf Coast Commercialâ€™s Lot 14 Shopping Center at 3201 N. Shepherd Dr., are all still adding new tenants. Bulldogs show bite during 2020 season The season may be over for the Heights High School football team following a 28-13 loss to Katy Taylor on Dec. 19. But it was still a banner season for the Bulldogs, one that was filled with triumph. The Bulldogs finished the season with a 7-2 overall record, their winningest season since 2015 under head coach Stephen Dixon. Heights was also able to celebrate its first district championship since 2013 on Dec. 4 against Bellaire with a 35-20 win. The Bulldogs finished with an unblemished record against District 18-6A competition. One of the biggest highlights of the season came with a 22-21 overtime victory on Nov. 13 against Lamar, which snapped the Texansâ€™ 72-game district winning streak and catapulted Heights into the pole position.