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New website launching this week By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
It’s an exciting time at The Leader, where we have launched a newand-improved website at the same online address, theleadernews.com. The switch to a new web hosting platform, operated by a company called TownNews, was months in the making and designed to better serve you, our loyal readers and advertisers. TownNews is a digital media and online publishing company that serves newspapers all across the United States and is tailored to
their needs. We worked with them to create a website that is specific to our needs as the leading news source for the Heights, Garden Oaks and Oak Forest areas. The types of stories we present on this new site will be the same as before, compelling and locally relevant, and they will continue to mirror our weekly print edition. They’ll be similarly categorized as well, and you’ll still be able to read stories and view photos that were published before we made the switch. Whether you visit our website on
a mobile device or desktop computer, you’ll notice a cleaner look and more seamless, intuitive and multi-faceted experience that will
Swap meet
allow you to navigate to the stories you care about most while engaging us and other members of the community. You’ll see some new features as well, such as lists of the most popular stories on our site as well as poll questions that will allow you to provide feedback and interact with us. So next time you’re on the web, please visit theleadernews.com, give our new site a spin and let us know what you think. Thanks in advance.
Local reps in Washington weigh in on Capitol attack By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
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Play by the rules. Mitch Cohen opines about the dos and don’ts at his art markets.
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Photo by Adam Zuvanich Lazybrook resident Adrienne Thorp, left, hugs Jimmy Stewart on Jan. 9 at Millie’s Kitchen & Cocktails, 3542 Oak Forest Dr.
Keep it clean. More than 30 volunteers cleaned up part of Turkey Gully last weekend.
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Kidney transplants create special bonds The six of them had never been in the same place at the same time, and they come from different generations and different parts of Houston. As recently as seven months earlier, they didn’t know most of the other people’s names or what they looked like, and they could not have imagined their paths would
cross. But as they stood together on the front patio of an Oak Forest restaurant, late on a sun-splashed Saturday afternoon, they could have passed for relatives at a family reunion or childhood friends gathering as adults. They smiled and laughed and hugged, took pictures together, shared stories and generally enjoyed each other’s company. “Very touching,” said one of their
Photo by Adam Zuvanich Lynn Palmer, left, received a kidney from Adrienne Thorp.
Photo by Adam Zuvanich Photo by Adam Zuvanich Gretchen Anderson, left, donated a kid- Jimmy Stewart, left, received a kidney from David Palmer. ney to Steven Thorpe.
By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
wives, Marti Stewart, who witnessed the encounter from a few feet away. “Thank God for all of them.” Gretchen Anderson, David and Lynn Palmer, Jimmy Stewart, Adrienne Thorp and Steven Thorpe (similar spellings but different last names) are grateful for each other, modern medicine and the chain of events that bound them See Donors P. 5A
Back in business. Don Jose Mexican Restaurant reopened Jan. 8 after initially closing.
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Sharp shooter. Dalanna Carter has found a basketball home at Lutheran High North.
See Representatives P. 5A
New mini mural series tackles city scourge By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com
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THE INDEX. Church....................................................... 4A Classifieds.............................................. 5A Coupons................................................... 3B Food/Drink/Art................................... 7A Obituaries............................................... 4A Opinion..................................................... 3A Public Information......................... 8A Puzzles...................................................... 3A
U.S. Reps. Dan Crenshaw and Sheila Jackson Lee, who were elected to Congress by area voters, were in Washington D.C. last week to fulfill their duties as outlined by the Constitution. They were in the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 to participate in a joint session of Congress tasked with counting the votes of the Electoral College and certifying Joe Biden’s win against President Donald Trump in the Nov. 3 election. Neither Crenshaw nor Jackson Lee voted to object to the results, despite sitting on opposite sides of the political aisle, and they had to wait until the early hours of the next mornJackson Lee ing to complete the process. That’s because the congressional session was suspended for several hours as supporters of Trump, who spoke at a nearby rally earlier Jan. 6 and repeated Crenshaw his claim the election had been stolen from him, stormed the Capitol building as part of a violent riot that reportedly led to multiple deaths and hundreds of arrests. “Stop this (expletive) right now,” Crenshaw tweeted during the attack. Crenshaw, a Republican like Trump, and Jackson Lee, a Democrat like Biden, both condemned the breach of the Capitol as well as the rhetoric that fueled it. Crenshaw said the mob of Trump supporters were “lied to” about the prospect of the election results being overturned by Congress on Jan. 6, while Jackson Lee has criticized Trump for inciting the
Photo by Alex Barber Houston artist Anat Ronen paints a mini mural on a traffic signal control box at Moody Park.
Houston City Council member Karla Cisneros, a longtime fan of the city’s mini mural program, recently came up with a way to enlarge a mural’s purpose by combatting a city scourge – human trafficking. Four new “Mini Murals” on traffic signal control cabinets in Cisneros’ District H aim to bringing human trafficking prevention and awareness to Northside Houston, just in time for January’s Human Trafficking Awareness Month.
Cisneros said she is not aware of any other cities or locations that have used mini murals this way. “I got the idea from witnessing first-hand how successful the mini mural program has been in brightening up our streetscapes and seeing the positive effect they have on people who pass them,” Cisneros said. “It occurred to me that if we identified problematic locations where human trafficking or prostitution might be an issue, that the mini murals could not only lift spirits and inspire hope, but they could also pro-
vide easy access to the National Human Trafficking Hotline and that calling the number for help could be life-changing.” The hotline number, 888-3737888, is written on signals at four different locations - Airline Drive at Crosstimbers Street, Airline at Cavalcade Street, Jensen Drive at Crosstimbers and at Moody Park. Cisneros said the four sites in District H were primarily identified by her staff through calls from constituents who had witnessed or were concerned about prostitution or other illeSee Mural P. 5A
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Page 2A • Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021 • The Leader
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Visit memorialhermann.org/ccc or call 713.222.CARE to schedule an appointment. Advancing health. Personalizing care.
THE TOPICS. Nice to see you again, Don Jose The Leader • Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021 • Page 3A
T
he story had been written for a whole week, and it was the clear choice to dominate the front page of last week’s newspaper. The Dec. 30 closing of Don Jose Mexican Restaurant made major waves in Northwest Houston, which over the span of nearly 50 years developed quite a strong bond with the spacious, family-oriented eatery at 5305 Antoine Dr. The community was sad to see it go, to say the least, and that was reflected in The Leader with a big, bold headline that said, “Adios, amigo.” Shortly before 1:30 p.m. Jan. 6 – just a few minutes after we sent the paper to the printer and cemented its publication – I found out the story might have become outdated, obsolete and, worst of all, inaccurate. I was told Don Jose planned to reopen Jan. 8, the same day many of our readers would receive a newspaper that said the place had closed for good. At first I was in disbelief, thinking my co-worker might have heard wrong. Then I became a little angry, realizing the most prominent story in our paper might have been wrong. But as the Don Jose stakeholders said in the days following their Dec.
Adam
Zuvanich Editor
30 farewell, not so fast. By the end of the week, after confirming the beloved Tex-Mex restaurant was in fact reopening, I couldn’t help but feel proud and gratified. Because our coverage of a significant story in the community helped turn a disappointing development into the happiest of hours. Bernardo Garcia, Don Jose’s new co-owner along with his uncle, Fernando Anaya, and cousin, Jorge Anaya, told me he and his family had a change of heart after perusing through reader comments on our website, theleadernews.com, as well as our Facebook page, @FromTheLeader. He said the overwhelming expressions of support and recounting of fond memories, along with the sadness about the restaurant’s closing, made him realize how important
Don Jose is to the community. Garcia and his relatives also came to understand how important the restaurant is to them and their family, which might have endured a more difficult 2020 than most of us. His father, Carlos Garcia, who was Don Jose’s second in command to his uncle, Luis Hermosillo, died Aug. 9 from COVID-19. Hermosillo died three days later from the same cause. The restaurant remained open but was rudderless for the rest of the year. On the day Don Jose closed, a family member and employee said no one had been willing to take charge, which was why the restaurant was shuttering. But thanks to the prodding from readers of The Leader, and from Carlos Garcia’s widow, Juana Garcia, Bernardo said he and the Anayas decided to rise to the challenge and keep the venture going. “They worked all their lives for Don Jose,” Bernardo said of his father and uncle, Hermosillo, who bought the business from founder EJ Clark in the early 2000s. “It was a lot to lose on the line, and a lot of customers. It was just worth it.” Don Jose’s resurrection might be
Photo from donjosemexicanrestaurantonline.com Don Jose Mexican Restaurant closed Dec. 30 and reopened Jan. 8.
just as welcomed by the community it has served for so long as it is by the family that has operated it for so long. On the day it initially closed, patrons from Forest West, Oak Forest and other nearby neighborhoods laughed and smiled as they enjoyed what they thought was their final meal at Don Jose. And they were eager to express their fondness for the restaurant and share their experiences with it, recounting childhood visits, birthday celebrations with family and the consistently friendly service they received from employees who treated them like family. The connection continues and might now be stronger than ever, because Don Jose customers and staff have another memorable story
Revolving door at courthouse THE READER. correlates to rising crime rates
Local restaurant criticized, then energized by subsequent support
By Andy Kahan For The Leader
According to the Wall Street Journal, Houston has one of the highest overall crime rates of any U.S. city. Houston’s overall crime rate is 92 percent higher than the overall crime rate in Texas. Property crime is much higher in Houston than it is nationwide. Burglary and auto theft are prime examples of the skyrocketing crime rates in Houston. Both rates are more than double compared to national rates. Violent crime is no exception considering our rates are well above the national average. For example, at 1,072 offenses for every 100,000 people, the violent crime rate in Houston is well above the national violent crime rate of 379 offenses per 100,000 people. Cities all over the country are reporting a spike in violent crimes and homicides since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Wall Street Journal recently ranked America’s 50 most dangerous cities. Not surprisingly, Houston was ranked 21st. Dallas, on the other hand, was ranked 42nd. Chicago, which is generally perceived as one of our nation’s most violent cities, came in 33rd. This disturbing trend halts the decrease in violent crime for the past several years. Certainly COVID-19 has played a role, but other factors including the revolving door at the courthouse are also contributing to the rapidly rising crime rates in Houston. My research indicates 81 people have been killed or murdered in Harris County in less than two years, with at least 50 victims in 2020 as a direct result of well-intentioned, but poorly implemented bail bond reforms. Last week a defendant was charged with another murder after he had been released on an unprecedented low bond for firstdegree murder: $25,000. The week before, another defendant who had been granted multiple felony bonds failed to report to Harris County Pre-Trial Services and violated his electronic monitoring conditions on a daily basis for over two weeks. He now stands accused of the
Kahan
murder of his ex-girlfriend. These are just a few examples of what I have been seeing on a routine basis. The ramifications of criminal justice and felony bond reform are indeed a major factor regarding the increasing crime rates in Harris County. Crime Stoppers wants to make it perfectly clear: We support misdemeanor bond reform. What we don’t support is when public safety is placed at a higher risk when career habitual offenders are continuously released back to the community only to reoffend time after time again. We support the efforts of State Senators John Whitmire and Paul Bettencourt this legislative session regarding the issues of multiple felony bonds and establishing a statewide standardized system that sets bail upon risk to the community. These changes will result in significant improvements to the pre-trial release system in Texas by ensuring equitable treatment of individuals accused of crimes and reducing the likelihood of violent repeat offenders being released back to the community. Sadly, Houston ranks fourth in the country in homicide rates. We have ballooned from 258 documented homicides in 2018 to more than 400 at the end of 2020. Houston had 31 murders in a two-week period from Nov. 21-Dec. 4. That’s more than two per day. Let’s not forget the Bloody Monday of Nov. 9 in which there were seven homicides. Houston’s murder rates are the highest they have been in at least 15 years. Keep in mind the above numbers are strictly for Houston. When you include the homicide numbers for Harris County, we are roughly around
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the 500 mark. Crime Stoppers believes all of us who live and work in Harris County should be on the same page on behalf of public safety. Increasing crime rates detrimentally affects all of us. Improving public safety has to and must be a non-partisan issue. As the leading public safety organization bridging the gap between citizens and law enforcement for 40 years, we look forward to having a critical public safety conversation as all of us seek to enhance public safety through positive reform. Kahan is the Director of Victim Services & Advocacy for Crime Stoppers of Houston. He can be reached at akahan@ crime-stoppers.org.
Dear Editor: Excellent manufactured mask theater. I can’t believe anybody buys this story. I’m sure that roving gangs of conservative, “unmasked” marauders are a huge problem in Garden Oaks now (apparently we are led to believe U.S. and/ or Mexican patriots) – targeting random burger establishments and urgent care facilities. The fact that our local politicians showed up there later “in support of the downtrodden” would make me less likely to want to eat there and even more suspicious. I’m not sure that eating a greasy hamburger is the best recommendation for the mayor to be advocating if that concerned about Covid. The CDC has established certain risk factors for severe Covid which includes heart failure, and coronary artery disease. If wanting people to stay safe, he should be recommending people eat healthy and not gorge on junk food. But I guess the mask issue is just easier to “stomach” politically for him. Frances Martin
to tell. Remember that time it closed and everybody was so upset, but then the community was elated when it reopened nine days later? Remember when The Leader published a story about Don Jose shutting down and it came out the same day the restaurant opened its doors again? Those were good times, we’ll say at some point, probably while sitting in the dining room with family and friends and enjoying a cold margarita and a hot plate of enchiladas. So welcome back, Don Jose. We missed you while you were away and hope you stick around forever. Email azuvanich@theleadernews. com
landmark for Forest West Subdivision, Scarborough Spartans, and other numerous Houstonians. I myself used to sit in the high chairs and graduated high school with Katy Carruth. My two older sisters Stephanie and Ginny were once hostesses there. When all the Kromer’s went out to eat that’s where we would go. Mr. Clark followed by Luis and Carlos always took very good care of us. Carlos memorized every single order, never writing down a single order amongst the 15+ of us and getting every order perfectly right. I am so glad that someone stepped up so that Don Jose can continue! Carol Ann Dear Editor: This place needs some investors to carry on and honor these people. William Pike Dear Editor: The support when closing is now needed at reopening. Same menu, waiters and determination to keep it going by Jorge and other family members. Sandra Mazyn
Don Jose reopens nine days after closing
Dear Editor: The closing of Don Jose was a shock. 12/30/20 marked the closing of an important place, a
Email us your letters: news@theleadernews.com
the leader Puzzlers. Answers found in this week’s Classified section
SUDOKU
aCrOss
1. Plural of ascus 5. Repents 11. British School 12. Adhesive to catch birds 15. Male children 16. Oil company 17. Intestinal 19. Money slogan 24. 2nd tone 25. In actual truth 26. Belgian-French River 27. Rural Free Delivery 28. Point midway between S and SE 29. Texas armadillo 30. 2nd largest Hawaiian island 31. Pile up 33. Changes liquid to vapor 34. Yemen capital 37. Byways 38. V-shaped cut 39. Painting on dry plaster 42. Daminozide 43. Papa’s partner 44. __ -fi: fiction/movie genre 47. 1st Soviet space station 48. Latvian capital 49. Come into view
52. Blue Hen school 53. Maine water company 55. Picture & word puzzle 57. Atomic #18 58. Xiamen dialect 59. Being overzealous 62. One who did it (slang) 63. Night breathing noises 64. A minute amount (Scott)
dOwn 1. Race of Norse gods 2. Large pebbles 3. Latin line dances 4. The inner sole of a shoe 5. A French abbot 6. Moves stealthily 7. An alternative 8. 39th state 9. Lotus sports car model 10. River fill 13. Of I 14. Many noises 18. Ghana monetary units 20. Actor Hughley 21. The Cowboy State 22. Jests at 23. America
27. Surprise attack 29. Daddy 30. Extinct flightless bird of New Zealand 31. Express pleasure 32. Cellist Yo-Yo 33. Bronx cheer 34. A more firm substance 35. Essential oil obtained from flowers 36. Company that rings receipts 37. Largest church in Christianity 38. Capital of Wallonia 39. Heroic tale 40. Send forth 41. The Golden State 43. 1/1000 of an inch 44. Angel of the 1st order 45. Ukrainian peninsula 46. Disregard 48. Colophony 49. Spanish be 50. Military policeman 51. Cleopatra’s country 53. Br. drinking establishments 54. Removes moisture 56. Liberal Arts degree 60. Execute or perform 61. Atomic #77
WORD SCRAMBLE
Page 4A • Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021 • The Leader
HISD approves paid COVID leave for employees By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com
In a reversal of an earlier proposal, the Houston ISD Board of Education approved a request by interim superintendent Grenita Lathan to restore paid leave for staff related to COVID-19. Employees who are required to quarantine due to a COVID-19 diagnosis or exposure to an infected person will be given paid leave. “In the interest of health and safety, it is the district’s intention and goal to fully support employees who are
required to quarantine as a result of contracting COVID-19 or being exposed to it,� Lathan said in a news release. “This is an important and necessary provision as we continue to navigate the pandemic.� At a Dec. 11 meeting of HISD principals, the working plan was for teachers to use their own leave days and not be allowed to teach from home in the event of a diagnosis or exposure. Now employees will be able to apply for up to 80 total hours - or 10 days - of emergency paid sick leave if
Lathan
required to quarantine. Principals have the discretion to give teachers and other
campus-based employees the ability to work or teach remotely, if the employee needs to quarantine and if working off-campus fulfills school needs. The board-approved resolution extended benefits provided by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), which expired Dec. 31. If Congress modifies or extends the federal act, the resolution also gives the superintendent the authority to determine how employees may use the 80 hours of leave originally provided by the FFCRA.
Vaccine for teachers Houston’s teachers have been vocal about wanting to be prioritized for receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. “We continually hear how important it is to get teachers and students back to in-person instruction, so it makes perfect sense to protect the people that would be on our school campuses,� Texas AFT President Zeph Capo said last month. Thus far, teachers outside the 1A and 1B priority groups as outlined by the state are not eligible to be vaccinated. But for those who do quali-
fy – school nurses, school police officers and school wellness teams, as well as those 65 and older, or those with at least one chronic medical condition – HISD has partnered with Kroger and Next Level to assist employees in receiving a vaccine. HISD defines wellness teams as those individuals on the frontline at the schools who check temperatures daily for school entry and support school nurses. For more HISD updates related to COVID-19, visit https://www.houstonisd. org/healthalerts.
COVID-19 conditions prompt HISD to scale back sporting events By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
The increase in COVID-19 cases in the region has prompted Houston ISD to suspend middle school athletics, along with non-district and subvarsity competition at the high school level, according to a Monday memo sent by athletics director Andre Walker to campus athletic coordinators. Walker did not respond to a voicemail left at his office late Monday afternoon. Another HISD employee
who asked to remain anonymous confirmed the validity of the memo, which was echoed in a Tuesday afternoon news release by HISD. Walker wrote in his memo that the district’s high schools — including Heights, Scarborough, Waltrip and Booker T. Washington high schools — will participate only in varsity-level district competitions until further notice. HISD teams will not compete in non-district events or tournaments, and all competition among sub-varsity and club teams is suspended.
In addition, middle school athletics in cross country, football, swimming and volleyball are suspended. Walker wrote in his memo that middle school basketball, soccer and track seasons will be re-evaluated at a later date. “Due to the increase in coronavirus cases in Harris County, the Department of Athletics will scale back on athletic events,â€? Walker wrote. â€œâ€Ś We will continue to monitor the Harris County and City of Houston coronavirus status information.â€? HISD said in its news release that
the decision to scale back athletic events will be re-evaluated on Jan. 22. According to local health authorities, there have been a total of 267,729 cases of COVID-19 in Houston and Harris County, with the disease having caused at least 2,715 deaths and 222,442 patients having recovered. The number of new reported cases rose steadily from midSeptember to late December, with more than 3,000 new cases having been reported Dec. 28.
HISD resumes community distribution ‘supersites’ By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
Houston ISD announced last week that the district has re-started its weekly Neighborhood Supersite food distribution program as students return to school after holiday break. The supersites reopened Jan. 6, and another three supersites will operate from 2-5 p.m. on Saturdays, including one at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center at 4400 W. 18th St. All sites will provide seven days’ worth of student meals and family food boxes from the Houston Food Bank, according to HISD.
Community food and supplies are available to all residents. Student meals are available to any child between the ages 1-18, and families must either have children in the vehicle or provide a birth certificate or proof of enrollment in any school district. There are additional local distribution sites at Clifton Middle School (6001 Golden Forest Dr.), Waltrip High School (1900 W. 34th St.) and Booker T. Washington High School (4204 Yale St.) that are open Mondays and Thursdays from 2-5 p.m. For a complete list of distribution times and locations, visit HoustonISD.org/StudentMeals.
Betty Jean Murdoch Gleason, 96, born Oct. 18, 1924 in Asheville, NC, died Jan. 8. She is survived by daughters, Nancy Gleason, Judy Gleason Rundell and her husband Steve; granddaughter Lauren Rundell; grandson, Daniel “Dan� Marvin Blocker; and great grandsons Gavin Blocker and Grant Blocker. Karen Lynn Hatch, 59, born June 25, 1961, died Jan. 8. Karen Kubena, 56, born March 12, 1964, died Jan. 10. Marcie Lynn Martin, 57, born Nov. 18, 1963, died Jan. 8.
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Photo from Twitter Free food will be distributed on Mondays and Thursdays at three area Houston ISD schools.
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THE OBITUARIES. Robert Wallace Gilbert, 89, born Feb. 20, 1931, died Jan. 2. He is survived by his wife Marie Gilbert, children Tracy Perri, Sam Gilbert, Kelly Gilbert with spouse Michelle Dean, grandchildren Kyle and Julia Perri, Ashley, Kyle and Devyn Dean, and sisters Judy Beall and Linda Gibson.
According to HISD’s COVID-19 dashboard, there were a total of 481 active cases in the school district as of Tuesday — 198 among students and 283 among staff. The area campuses with active cases are Heights and Scarborough high schools, Frank Black, Clifton, Hogg and Williams middle schools and Crockett, Durham, Field, Garden Oaks, Helms, Highland Heights, Love, Oak Forest, Sinclair, Smith, Travis and Wainwright elementary schools.
Joseph Howard McGrew, 73, born Aug. 19, 1947, died Jan. 9. Pamela Medina, 77, born Feb. 2, 1943, died Jan. 7. She is survived by her two daughters, Tammy and her husband Matt, Kelly and her husband Steve; grandchildren, Taryn, Stephen, and Michael and his wife Jennifer; great-grandchildren, Brandon, Ryan, Jake, Lexi, Dylan, Gabriel, Matthew and Samuel; brother, Ronnie and his wife Angelina, sister, Cyndie and her husband Ronnie.
Dr. Carlos Herrera will leave the My Family Doctor, Heights Clinic on February 4, 2021. If you would like a copy of your medical records or if you would like to have your medical records transferred, please contact Karina Moreno at 713-868-4433.
Thomas Warnock Moore, 85, born Aug. 12, 1935, died Jan. 10. Robert Ambrose Pfile, 92, born Feb. 10, 1928, died Jan. 1. He is survived by son Marty Pfile (Robin), daughter Kristi Bender (Mark) and son Bryan Pfile (Pam), along with grandchildren Kyle Wood, Kelly Dean (Edgar), Justin Pfile and Katy Pfile. Constance Sunday, 76, born Jan. 17, 1944, died Jan. 3.
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Dr. Carlos Herrera termine de trabajar en My Family Doctor, Clinica de Heights en Febrero 4, 2021. Si quieres una copia su expediente, a lo quieres transferido, llama a Karina Moreno a 713-868-4433. Local business is our business.
Waiting and wondering By Pastor Will Cover
Send your story of interest news@theleadernews.com
Arise Baptist Church 803 Curtin St. Houston TX 77018 713-659-9697 • www.arisebaptistchurch.org
A
re you watching the news and wondering about all that is going on? Are you feeling anxious about all of the changes and the continued Covid-19 pandemic? There is plenty going on around us that can cause even the most confident person to feel stressed. In Acts 1 the followers of Jesus watched Him ascend back to heaven. Their Teacher, Master, and Savior had just left them on earth. He was back in heaven t goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway: “we have all where everything was perfect and He gave them made mistakes.â€? As Alexander Pope so aptly put it: “To the job of being for Him to all of the err is human, to forgive, divine.â€?witnesses We should remember this the next time weBefore make a mistake. Mostto certainly, world. they were beginwe Jesus told them must learn from our mistakes, hopefully not These continuedisciples were to wait for theand Holy Spirit. to repeat them, but we should also forgive ourselves. While in a waiting time. They were accused by the it can be hard enough to forgive others for their mistakes, it In light of the COVID-19 outbreak, please check with each church below for updated information about services religious leaders and political leaders of their can sometimes feel almost impossible to forgive ourselves. St. James Lutheran Church, ELCA We sometimes bring ourselves to forgive Sunday Studies For All Ages ... 9:30am daycannot of stealing Jesus’ body something and claiming that He andBible events. In-person services are temporarily restricted. we’ve done,had and risen we may punish anddead. harangue ourselves Morning Worship ............... 10:45am • Worship (English) ..... 10:00 am - 11:00am from the They were without their for years, or even decades, over youthful indiscretions. In Wednesday Bible Studies For Youth, Children • Learning Hour........... 11:00am - 12:00pm leader that they loved and hadof learned from. MANNA addition, some of us may not be able to forget the sins • Worship (Spanish) .... 12:30 pm 1:30pm and Adults............................ 6:15pm Sponsor During time of waiting and wondering they our past. And althoughthis that may prevent us from repeating St. James Lutheran Church, ELCA 1602 West 43rd St. • Houston, Tx 77018 • 713-686-1577 them, we must be charitable andto forgive ourselves, as time asking 1822 W. 18th • 713-864-1470 came together pray. They just spent we should forgive others. So, we should make a real effort in God for help and for direction. t 8PSTIJQ &OHMJTI BN BN coming days and weeks to forgive the offenses of others Gethsemane Lutheran Church the Weekly Sunday Services   own. While you may beto struggling with events in Gethsemane Lutheran Church as well as our Sometimes, it helps just forget about BN QN MANNA t -FBSOJOH )PVS • Bible Study: 9:15 a.m. 4040 Watonga • 713-688-5227 Pastor Jerry McNamara them; that is, to try to put them out ofcircumstances our mind and stop that are going your own life or the • Morning:10:30 a.m. t 8PSTIJQ 4QBOJTI QN QN We invite you to worship with us! 4QPOTPS repeatedly mulling One of reasons use are a child of on in over ourthem. culture atthelarge, ifwe you • Evening: 4:15• p.m. 4040 Watonga 713-688-5227 Weekly Worship Services 9:00 a.m. the phrase “forgive and forgetâ€? is because sometimes that is 1700 West 43 at Rosslyn Sunday School & Bible Classes 10:30 am God, youi.e.,can take great comfort to know that 8FTU SE 4U t )PVTUPO 5Y t 713-682-4942 the only way to forgive, by forgetting. But far better, and Preschool Program • Mon. - Fri. 9-2 p.m. We invite you to worship with us!more divine,God isable intocontrol. Even when you feel like you Pastor – Dr. Richard Walters is to be forgive even while remembering So, we should let of those unforgiving, Ad # 32285 waiting on goGod to do something, God is Weekly Worship Services 9:00a.mthe . offense.are vindictive, shameful theHe past, and get over alreadyfeelings doingabout what planned to do. You won’t it! Corrie ten Boom, who survived incarceration in a Nazi Please Online services be reached Sund visit our website at: Candlelight Church ofcanChrist or understand all of His prison campsee said,everything “Forgiveness isGod to setdoes a prisoner free, and www.lazybrookbaptistchurch.org for the following: through the website below at 9:00 am. Join us for Services plans. You was canyou.â€? trust Him. You can pray to Him. to realize that the prisoner WedSunday in English or Spanishwww.gethsemanelutheran.org Sunday Services: In-person 9 AM and Morning Worship 8:30@ and 11:00 You can be confident that He will be with you Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn Sunday Worship 10am & 5pm AM (Live stream during AMAdults service) Sunday11 School for Children, Youth11and 9:40 and work everything forgive, out for His glory and not, and you will will not be condemned; Sunday Bible Classes 9am Ministries All Ages Bible Studies:for From Homepage, click on for your and yougood. will be forgiven... Wednesday Bible Study 7pm Home of Johnson Memorial School for Little Children
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The Leader • Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021 • Page 5A
Donors, from P. 1A together. Some described their connection as miraculous, and it’s undoubtedly inspiring. Three of them saved the lives of the other three by donating one of their kidneys last year, and the donors’ acts of selflessness in turn preserved the life of a loved one who was a recipient. They were part of the kidney swap program at Houston Methodist Hospital, in which a patient in need of a kidney has friends or family members volunteer to donate one in order to move the patient higher up the priority list and expedite a transplant. Anderson donated a kidney to Thorpe, whose sister-in-law, Lazybrook resident Thorp, donated a kidney to Lynn Palmer. Palmer’s husband, David, gave one to Jimmy Stewart, who is Anderson’s brother. Dr. Osama Gaber, the chair of the department of surgery at Houston Methodist who helped coordinate the transplants, called the six-person, threekidney swap “very remarkable.� He said it is the largest kidney swap executed by the hospital, which has offered the program for nearly a decade, and was made possible by the expertise of nephrologist Dr. Hassan Ibrahim as well as the benevolence of the donors and recipients involved.
“To be honest, there’s so much bad stuff happening around us,� Gaber said. “Something this good makes it easier to go to work and do your thing and believe in what you do.� Pre-existing connection Anderson, a former Oak Forest resident who now lives in West University, said she believes divine powers were in play. She discovered she had a close connection to her kidney recipient and his sister-in-law after agreeing to take part in the swap, and one of the most unwelcome aspects of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic, ended up being a blessing. Anderson had decided in February of last year to donate a kidney to Stewart, her brother, but the transplant was postponed by the local onset of the pandemic in early March. Then in mid-June, a few days before surgery was scheduled, a Houston Methodist doctor told Anderson the hospital had found a better match for her kidney and there was another suitable donor for her brother. The more ideal match was for Thorpe, a Spring Valley resident who was born with EagleBarrett syndrome and underdeveloped kidneys. He had his first transplant at age 7 and another at 20, and because of the
antibodies he built up after the previous transplants, Thorpe said his body would reject “99.7 percent� of all kidneys. Now 38 with three young daughters, the former Oak Forest resident had been on a kidney waiting list for three years and undergone thrice-weekly dialysis treatments during that span. When Anderson found out Thorpe’s circumstances and talked briefly about it with her husband, she agreed to donate a kidney to Thorpe instead of her brother. Anderson did not know Thorpe or even his name at the time. But within 30 minutes, she said she found out her new would-be recipient was the son-in-law of one of her good friends from college, Leslie Kappler. Kappler had been exchanging text messages with their mutual friend, Lynn Russell, telling her a kidney match had finally been identified for Thorpe. Knowing Anderson was at Houston Methodist preparing to donate a kidney to her brother, Russell reached out to tell Anderson to look out for their old friend Kappler. Kappler was going to the hospital with Thorp, her daughter, who had gotten a call from her brotherin-law Thorpe to let her know his match had been found and she needed to donate a kidney.
“I got a cup of coffee and said (to Russell), ‘So, is Steven in his 30s? Does he have three young girls? Has he been on dialysis?’ � Anderson recalled. “I said, “Lynn, I think (the donor is) me.’ She called Leslie and said, ‘You’re not going to believe this, but I think Steven’s donor is Gretchen.’ � Thorpe’s sister-in-law, Thorp, was in a waiting room with Anderson a short time later. Anderson recognized Thorp because of her resemblance to her mother, Kappler. “It’s absolutely God’s work,� Thorp said. “It’s an absolute miracle just how it all worked out.�
Photo by Adam Zuvanich Gretchen Anderson, left, donated a kidney last year to Steven Thorpe, right. At center is Lazybrook resident Adrienne Thorp, who is Thorpe’s sister-in-law and the daughter of Anderson’s friend from college.
Forever linked Thorp, the president of the PTO at Sinclair Elementary, said Anderson’s decision to pivot and donate to her brotherin-law Thorpe set the rest of the swap in motion. Anderson and Thorpe had their transplant operations June 16. Thorp donated a kidney to Lynn Palmer, a Pearland resident who was diagnosed with kidney disease in 2019, on June 24. The last link in the swap was between David Palmer and Stewart, whose transplant was postponed twice because he tested positive for COVID-19. They ended up having the
transplant Oct. 9. Stewart said it worked out well in the end, because he and Palmer are similar in size, and Anderson’s kidney likely would have been too small for him. Palmer had originally planned to donate a kidney to his wife, but they were willing to be part of the larger swap in order to help the others. “It was pretty intense that we were able to pull it through,� said Gaber, the Houston Methodist doctor. The Palmers also are former area residents, having once lived near the intersection of T.C. Jester Boulevard and Sher-
Mural from P. 1A
Representatives from P. 1A rioters by “falsely� claiming his election loss was fraudulent. Jackson Lee, a senior member of Congress who first was elected in 1994, also is among the legislators pushing for Trump to be removed from office before Biden’s Jan. 20 inauguration. On Jan. 7 she introduced articles of impeachment against Trump, who could become the first president to be impeached twice, and voted in support of the House of Representatives’ Tuesday resolution calling for Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment and remove Trump from office. Pence reportedly rejected that call earlier Tuesday in a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The Democratic-controlled House was set to vote Wednesday whether to impeach Trump on a charge of “incitement of insurrection,� according to multiple news reports. It is unclear whether the Republican-controlled Senate would consider an impeachment charge and take action before Biden’s inauguration.
wood Lane. Lynn Palmer said she keeps in regular contact with Thorp, her donor from Lazybrook who likes to jokingly ask how her kidney is doing. All six swap participants said they have experienced no complications or ill effects as a result of their operations. The three recipients said they felt better almost immediately after the transplants. “I don’t have enough good things to say,� Lynn Palmer said. “I feel like we are now a family, the six of us, because we’re all intertwined.� Follow Adam Zuvanich on Twitter @AZuvanich
“Enough is enough!� Jackson Lee said in a Jan. 7 news release from her office. “The President has completely lost whatever moral authority he had and is unfit as Commander in Chief. His actions to incite violence against his own government and against the entire Congress warrants removal from office.� Crenshaw, a second-term Congressman who was re-elected in November, endorsed a December lawsuit filed by the state of Texas that asked the U.S. Supreme Court to reject the election results in four battleground states won by Biden. The suit was rejected by the high court, which said Texas lacked standing. Crenshaw wrote that “concerns about election integrity are real, and they must be heard� in a Jan. 7 op-ed published by the Wall Street Journal. He also wrote, “Millions of Americans were falsely led to believe that the final say in the election of our next president lay with a single body, Congress,� further explaining that Congress’ role on Jan. 6 was procedural
and had no possibility of altering the outcome. On Twitter, Crenshaw has since criticized that social media platform and others for suspending Trump’s accounts, which he used to communicate with millions of followers. The private companies cited violations of their terms of use and the potential for inciting further violence as their reasons. Crenshaw also responded to a tweet by Biden that implied the rioters at the Capitol, many of whom were allowed to leave after they had entered the building, were treated less harshly by authorities than the Black Lives Matter protesters who last summer demonstrated in cities across the country, including in Washington. “Not the time. This is disgusting and divisive, not to mention hypocritical and false,� Crenshaw tweeted in response. “You said you wanted to heal the country. Actions speak louder than words.� Follow us on social media @FromTheLeader
gal activity at those locations. “We noted that calls to 311 also backed up what we were hearing from the community,� she said. “We vetted the list through the Mayor’s Office of Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence, and they concurred with the selected locations. I felt that if these were areas where victims of human trafficking might pass through, it could be a good place to reach out and offer some additional help.� Anat Ronen, who became a professional artist in her late 30s after emigrating from Israel, said a design from her existing portfolio was selected for the mural project. Ronen’s mural is at Moody Park. “They chose the design that spoke to them,� Ronen said of the window looking into a great forest, which she originally envisioned as a respite from more urban surroundings. “I suppose it resonated, an escape into a different world.� Ronen was involved in the Mini Mural program at its start in 2015. A program of UP Art Studio, which
commissions the artists and manages the projects, there are now hundreds of murals across the city. Each mural, which costs about $2,500 to create, was funded by Cisneros’ office with additional support from Mayor Sylvester Turner’s Office of Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence. The other participating artists are Alex “ZĂşâ€? ArzĂş and Renee Victor. Ronen said it took her a full day to complete the project and that as with other murals, there was a fair bit of interaction with pedestrians in the area. “It is always heartwarming to visit with passersby,â€? she said. “It was also interesting to get to paint on the METRO line. I thought about potential victims maybe traveling the line and seeing the number to call.â€? To learn more about human trafficking and the response from the mayor’s office, visit humantraffickinghouston.org.
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The Leader • Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021 • Page 7A
Art Valet: Exhibitors carry weight at markets with the tent remained firmly attached to the tent legs. The rest, like discs of death, went flying in all directions looking for unassuming vendors no doubt. Ahem, exhibitors. Today I inform all artist exhibitors that they must conform to proper weight guidelines of at least the minimum 100 pounds per tent. Snapping pics of improper weights is almost a hobby for me now. Artists are creative, after all, and sometimes the shortcuts they take to get past the rules are hilarious if not just dangerous. I remind exhibitors of a favorite quote I found years ago online about inadequate weights. It was something like this: “Those (insert the weight used) are the equivalent of a 3-year-old child
Mitch Cohen Art Columnist
Do you have any pet peeves? I bet everyone discovered a few new ones in 2020 regardless if we were looking or not. The year 2020 gave more insight into my predilection for some odd pet peeves I thought I’d share with you this week. Go easy on me, please. I don’t know when it happened, but at some point over the past 17 years I went from clueless entrepreneur starting Houston’s first monthly outdoor art market, to creating long pages of rules for the “vendors” to follow. When I realized a majority of artists weren’t reading those rules, I managed to whittle the rules down to what amounts to a short bullet list. My pet peeves derive from that short list. The misuse of the word “vendor” is top of my pet peeve list. Yes, I used that word quite liberally early on. Reviewing early editions of my reams of rules, vendor is as common as the word “um” is used by interviewees with no experience talking. One day as I was perusing web forums for artists, no doubt I was looking for new rules for my market. I came
Photo by Mitch Cohen Emerging artist Katie Dison recently particated in her first arts market. She did not break the rules.
across a discussion about the word vendor. The author’s biggest pet peeve was how after spending many years and thousands of dollars on an arts education, the event coordinators at fine art festivals insisted on calling the artist attendees “vendors.” Guilty. A vendor is typically defined as someone selling something on the street, and most often they are selling someone else’s product. From that point on I
changed the wording on all the rules, instructions and marketing to either artist or the painfully long yet more appropriate word, exhibitor. Exhibitor just doesn’t roll off the tongue or hammer out as easily on a keyboard as the word vendor. However, there was no way I was going to be lumped in with those inconsiderate organizers either. My artist friends would tell you that I’ve become obsessive about correcting anyone who uses the
term vendor. In a close second among my pet peeves at outdoor markets are tent weights. You probably never notice them. I sure didn’t early in my rule-making and vendor name-calling days. The first time I really noticed how effective weights can be was when two of my tents took flight. They’re about as elegant in flight as overweight flamingos. Half of the round, 5-pound weights I bought at the store
Volunteers team up to clean up Turkey Gully By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
Hunter Dickerson loves being next to nature, and he found a way to live next to it about six months ago. He bought a home in Shady Acres that overlooks Turkey Gully, the White Oak Bayou tributary than runs through the western part of the Heights area. Dickerson spends lots of time exploring the waterway that’s heavily shaded by tree cover, having spotted two species of heron, fish and turtles. He also has taken it upon himself to try to clean the urban tributary and the area surrounding it, and he encourages his neighbors to do the same. He started a Facebook group called Turkey Gully Conservation. “I’ve been obsessed with the gully for years,” he said. “When we finally found a house over here we could afford, we were like, ‘We’ve got to do it.’ ” Dickerson cleaned the gully last Saturday morning with the help of more than 30 local residents and other Houstonians, including City of Houston employees. A “Keep It Clean Upstream” cleanup event was co-hosted by Super Neighborhood Council 14, Keep Houston Beautiful and the office of Houston City Council member Abbie Kamin. Volunteers picked up more than 1,200 pounds of trash and debris from in and around Turkey Gully, including lawn chairs, tires, plastic and metal scraps. Some, including Dickerson, put on waders and retrieved trash directly from the waterway. “There’s a real sense of adventure when you get down in
Contributed photo Shady Acres resident Hunter Dickerson, right, was among 33 neighborhood and citywide volunteers who helped pick up trash and debris from in and around Turkey Gully on the morning of Jan. 9.
the creek and play in the water a little bit and remove debris and climb up the ravines,” said Keep Houston Beautiful executive director Amy Reed, who participated along with her daughter. “Also to see the success that we saw in just a couple hours’ time with 30 volunteers, it’s really incredible the immediate impact an event like this makes.” Reed said Keep Houston Beautiful loaned cleanup supplies for the event such as gloves, trash bags, litter grabbers, shovels, rakes and hand sanitizer. She said the nonprofit provides such supplies to any neighborhood organization that wants to take on a similar cleanup project. Last Saturday’s effort included Kamin, at-large city council member Sallie Alcorn and Houston Public Works director Carol Haddock, according to Super Neighborhood Council 14 president Leigh Killgore, a Timbergrove resident who helped organize the event. The cleanup focused on a stretch of Turkey Gully that
runs through the Timbergrove neighborhood, from Wynnwood Lane to the north to the gully’s outfall at White Oak Bayou to the south. Reed said it figures to have a positive impact on wildlife and the local water supply along with preventing some pollution from reaching Galveston Bay. Keeping the waterway free of debris also helps to reduce flooding risks for nearby property owners such as Dickerson. “Turkey Gully and flood mitigation in the area are critical needs I am strongly advocating for. As I continue to work on a large-scale flood mitigation plan, we wanted to organize community-led events like this to highlight the need, get even more people involved and build on the strong sense of community our neighbors have,” Kamin said in a statement provided to The Leader. “… While we need a long-term solution, efforts like this go a long way to preserve and protect the gully which is cherished by residents of all ages.”
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IN MEMORIAM
Vanessa Lee Luce March 8, 1935 - January 2, 2021 Vanessa Lee Luce, age 85, passed away on Saturday, January 2, 2021, at Celeste Memory Care in Llano, Texas. She was preceded in death by her parents, Otis & Maury Hale, her husband Robert G. Luce, daughter & son-in-law, Karen & Joe Yurick, son-in-law Kirk Smith, and her sister Judy Romano. She was born March 8, 1935, to Otis and Maury Hale in the Heights of Houston, Texas. She was Drum Lieutenant of the Reagan Red Coats. She attended University of Houston where she met Robert, they married in 1955. Vanessa was a computer trainer for Houston Independent School District and had charge of training 21 schools in computer record attendance as the district entered the computer age. She had diverse interests and also worked as an aromatherapist and antique dealer. Vanessa was an avid birder, reader, and gardener. Her birding interest led to publication of The Backyard Arena calendar. She retired with Robert to Johnson City, Texas, where she continued her gardening, was an enthusiastic member of the Red Hat Society, and was a founding member of the Blanco County Cat Coalition to spay & neuter feral cats. She is survived by her sister Carol Wiggins (Leo) her children Laurie Smith, Gary Luce (Tamara), Deb McClintock ( John), 5 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren. Services will be held at a later date.
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trying to hold down a 100 square-foot parachute.” My last pet peeve are multiple pages of rules. I always try to get the most important points right at the beginning. Everyone’s in a hurry and these days, no telling what device they’re reading from. A paragraph looks like a book on some phones. Good luck conquering your pet peeves. I bet you notice what’s holding those tents down at markets next time you’re out. If you spot something weird, like a chair or laundry bottle strapped to a tent leg, send me a photograph.
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THE PUBLIC. The Leader • Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021 • Page 8A
Charges filed in Inwood apartment shooting By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
Houston police have arrested a man in connection to a Greater Inwood apartment shooting that put another man in the hospital last week. The Houston Police Department said 20-year-old Maycon Rodriguez has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The victim, 19-year-old Mario Ponce, was taken to the hospital in an unknown condition, according to HPD.
Rodriguez
Police said officers responded to Diamond Ridge Apartments at 6407 Antoine Dr. at about 11 p.m. Friday, Jan. 8, to find Ponce on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds to his chest. HPD said Rodriguez allegedly ran from the scene covered in blood before being being arrested. Anyone with additional information in this case is encouraged to contact HPD’s Major Assaults & Family Violence division at 713-308-8800 or Crime Stoppers at 713-2228477.
Police Reports • Jan. 4 - 10 JAN. 4
OXFORD Robbery 11 AM 200 BLOCK E CROSSTIMBERS Theft 12 AM 1400 BLOCK W 25TH
Theft 5 PM 500 BLOCK W 38TH Theft 7 PM 500 BLOCK YALE Theft 3 PM 400 BLOCK W 27TH Theft 10 AM 500 BLOCK E 28TH Theft 12 PM 2400 BLOCK JUDIWAY Theft 4 AM 600 BLOCK CROSSTIMBERS Theft 6 PM 1800 BLOCK SHEPHERD Theft 5 PM 1300 BLOCK CROSSTIMBERS Robbery 12 AM 5100 BLOCK N SHEPHERD
JAN. 7
Theft 7 PM 700 BLOCK STUDEWOOD Theft 9 AM 500 BLOCK W 19TH Assault 9 PM 2100 BLOCK CARTER Assault 1 PM 800 BLOCK AURORA Theft 4 AM 300 BLOCK E 38TH Assault 7 PM 1200 BLOCK E 32ND Assault 6 AM 1300 BLOCK E 36TH Vandalism 2 PM 1100 BLOCK W 34TH
JAN. 5
Theft 7 PM 1500 BLOCK CORTLANDT Theft 4 PM 800 BLOCK W 26TH Theft 4 PM 400 BLOCK OXFORD Theft 12 PM 400 BLOCK OXFORD Theft 7 PM 400 BLOCK OXFORD Theft 10 PM 800 BLOCK WAKEFIELD Vandalism 10 PM 500 BLOCK YALE Robbery 5 PM 200 BLOCK CAVALCADE Burglary 2 AM 100 BLOCK E 20TH
JAN. 8
Theft 6 PM 800 BLOCK TABOR Theft 10 PM 400 BLOCK OXFORD Assault 4 PM 1500 BLOCK AIRLINE Assault 9 AM 600 BLOCK E 39TH Assault 9 AM 700 BLOCK E 43RD Assault 8 AM 300 BLOCK CROSSTIMBERS Theft 9 PM 2200 BLOCK ELLA Theft 7 PM 2800 BLOCK N SHEPHERD Theft 7 AM 4400 BLOCK N SHEPHERD
JAN. 6
Theft 1 AM 5300 BLOCK DARLING Burglary 3 PM 400 BLOCK W 25TH Theft 11 PM 900 BLOCK GIBBS Theft 12 PM 2400 BLOCK JUDIWAY Robbery 9 PM 4200 BLOCK E CROSSTIMBERS Vandalism 4 AM 400 BLOCK
Vandalism 11 PM 400 BLOCK E 24TH Theft 11 AM 1100 BLOCK YALE
By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
The Houston Fire Department is investigating the cause of a fire at a vacant restaurant building in the area after multiple calls to the address on the same day last week. HFD said in a news release that crews first responded to 6010 Washington Ave. just before 3 a.m. Jan. 7 to find fire coming from the side of a va-
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The Leader • Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021 • Page 1B
Breakfast foods shaped by early influences By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com
When the night’s fast is broken in the morning hours, the food that’s commonly thought of as breakfast items - eggs, toast, pancakes and more - are cooked and feasted upon. But why do those food items qualify as breakfast? Why not chicken parmesan, a ham sandwich or chicken tenders? Common Bond Café’s chef Jason Gould said a big part of why we eat what we eat for breakfast is convenience. “We are always in such a rush in the morning to either get the kids to school or get to work that we have to be efficient,” Gould said. “Eggs cook fast, cereal with milk offers variety and toast is more of a grab-and-go.” Gould the prevalence of on-the-go breakfast is why brunch has grown in popularity. “We have the time to sit and enjoy a more composed breakfast meal and not feel rushed,” Gould said. Common Bond has two concepts in the Heights, Common Bond Bistro & Bakery at 449 W. 19th St., and On the Go by Common Bond at 601 Heights Blvd. Another on-the-go concept is set to open in Garden Oaks this year. The restaurant offers breakfast during the week from 7-11 a.m. and brunch on the weekends until 4 p.m. But convenience might be the reason some breakfast items have stayed in our register. Digging a little deeper,
Photo from Facebook Pictured is the Avocado and Bacon Toast from Common Bond Bistro & Bakery, which has two locations in the Heights. The dish includes avocado, applewood smoked bacon, alfalfa sprouts, cherry tomatoes and fried eggs on multigrain toast.
Gould said breakfast foods are determined by heritage as well. “Breakfast foods in America have changed a lot over the last decade or
so,” Gould said. “Breakfast tacos are a lot more accessible, kolache shops are popping up everywhere and Asian breakfast items such as Congee
and Japanese pancakes are being featured on a lot more breakfast menus.” Even Gould, an “Aussie” as he says, has the ideal quick breakfast. He
puts Vegemite, an Australian peanut butter-like spread made with leftover brewers’ yeast extract, on sourdough. And while breakfast food in America has expanded to include new food, even those have a base of the original. According to HowStuffWorks. com, what we eat in the morning can be traced back hundreds of years. Eggs, sausage and a version of what we know as pancakes were typical in ancient Rome. But even then, Romans didn’t often eat early in the morning. In an article on MentalFloss.com, Hannah Keyser writes that before the Industrial Revolution, there was no such thing as “breakfast food.” In the morning, people generally ate what they readily had available before going off to work. When time rolled into the 20th century, efficiency was priority, which meant people didn’t want to spend time cooking, they wanted to spend time earning. The article also mentions whole wheats and cereal becoming popular because of how quick and easy they are to make, plus advertisers pushing that it wasn’t good to start the day off with meat. However, meat-packing companies turned the tune and put out that it was better to start the day with meat, which popularized bacon, according to the article. So it’s thanks to ancient Rome, the Industrial Revolution and messages from companies trying to sell their products that we eat what we eat for breakfast.
Review: Yale Street Grill remains timeless staple By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com
The Heights is a hot spot for any new or niche restaurant and bar concept, but it wasn’t always so. When I was growing up a neighborhood over in Oak Forest, the Heights was a laidback, come-as-you-are kind of neighborhood. And while that vibe hasn’t disappeared, it’s places like the Yale Street Grill that have helped maintain it. Because if the grill is anything, it’s old-school and casual. Half-eatery, half-shop full of antiques, the space transports patrons into the previous millennium. As I sat with my breakfast partner in a booth, I couldn’t help but remark that the space layout reminded me of an old 1950s diner. Booths are in a row on one wall, tables are in the middle and a long section of bar seating seems more appropriate for sipping a milkshake than an alcoholic beverage. The menu is a long list of omelet options, eggs and protein options, pancake and waffles, and more. There were lunch selections as well, but
at 9 a.m. on a Saturday, all I wanted was some pancakes. The pancake combo comes with two eggs, bacon, ham or sausage, hashbrowns and two pancakes. I got my eggs scrambled and chose sausage. The grill has different pancake flavors available, so I got one regular and one banana nut pancake. While waiting I ordered an orange juice, which came in a chilled glass. This little detail was appreciated because I usually order orange juice with ice, which might be strange to someone who’s never done that, but the juice is always best ice cold. The chilled glass didn’t have the same effect ice does, but it made it colder than orange juice I’ve had at other places. Breakfast was soon at the table and I dug in. The eggs were good, but nothing special. The sausage was round patties that had a nice layer of almost-burned meat on top. The hashbrowns were warm and instead of the top brown pieces being crispy, it was mushy. When it came to the pancakes, I couldn’t tell the two
apart at first. Because the regular pancake rested directly on top of the banana nut one, which didn’t bother me, it was like the banana seeped into the top one. After the second bite, I realized the difference could be found in the density of the pancake. The regular one was fluffy and only trapped a hint of banana into its flavor. The banana nut one was thinner, but like a normal pancake had been squished, so in a way it was denser. I would order the regular pancake again, but maybe try other flavors the grill has, like blueberry. Service was quick and friendly and once I got the bill, all I had to do was walk to the counter and pay. It was a good start to my weekend. Yale Street Grill Address: 2100 Yale St. Hours: 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday Pricing: $5.25-$11.95 Kid-friendly: Yes Alcohol: No Healthy options: Yes Star of the show: Regular pancake
Photo by Zarah Parker Pictured are two pancakes with a side of sausage, hash browns and eggs during a recent visit to Yale Street Grill, located at 2100 Yale St. in the Heights.
Start morning with these creative, easy recipes Zarah Parker Managing Editor
Bacon, eggs and toast is a common breakfast plate. But if I ate that every morning, I would tire of it. I’m not a breakfast person. It’s not about the food, but the time of day. Food first thing in the morning just isn’t appetizing. But as I’ve tried to eat breakfast every day because it begins the day energizing and filling the body with nutrients, I’ve found that regular eggs can get old real fast. And I usually don’t have the time in the morning to cook something elaborate. To keep myself motivated to eat breakfast, I started focusing on creative and easy recipes. Anything I can make in advance is the best way to eat breakfast on the go. My favorite go-to recipe is maple cinnamon oatmeal bars. Made in a square pan, I cut it into nine, which gives me breakfast for a week as well as options for a midday snack. The recipe can be found here: https://iowagirleats.com/maple-cinnamon-oatmeal-breakfastbars/. Once I thought it would be a good idea to add blueberries to the bars, and it was. I’ve been thinking of add-
Photo by andianne.com Pictured are multiple variations of overnight oats, which have become a go-to quick breakfast for Zarah Parker.
ing dark chocolate chips the next time I make them. Overnight oats is another easy one for me. There’s options available at the store, but I’ve enjoyed making these: http://andianne. com/6-overnight-oat-recipes-you-should-know-foreasy-breakfasts/. I’ve tried the vanilla, apple cinnamon and banana raspberry overnight oats, with the latter being my favorite. The cups are easy to make and in the morning it’s ready to eat. If you’re new to overnight oats, eating what basically is cold oatmeal might be offputting. You can choose to pop the oats in the microwave to warm them up. For a breakfast that still uses eggs and toast, I’ve started to make egg and avocado sandwiches. Just grab
your favorite bread, toast it, put your eggs (I’ve been using eggs whites) and avocado in between the slices and you’re done. This recipe, https://lilluna.com/hash-brown-eggcups/, uses hash browns in a cupcake pan to make little breakfast cups with eggs and bacon. These are the perfect size for someone who isn’t that hungry in the morning. With seven ingredients, you can make double-baked bacon and egg potatoes. Half of a potato is hollowed out enough for a fried egg and slice of bacon. Chives are sprinkled on top. These kind of all-in-one breakfasts make it easier to eat more than just eggs in the morning. Find the recipe here: h t t p s : / / c l e a n fo o d c r u s h . com/double-baked-baconegg-potatoes/.
Every once in a while, I’m a firm believer that breakfast can be a time to jump into sticky goodness -- specifically, with cinnamon rolls. From the grocery store, my favorite brand is Annie’s. But the rolls are also fun to make at home. A recipe that makes each roll its own dish is here: https://www.thegunnysack. com/bloomin-cinnamonrolls. While I would tire of eating the bacon, eggs and toast combo, I know there are people who happily eat that religiously in the morning, which is just fine. Find what you like in the morning, just remember to break your fast before lunch.
Page 2B • Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021 • The Leader
Don Jose reopens nine days after closing By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com
Bernardo Garcia already had lost his father and his uncle. He wasn’t ready to part ways with the beloved neighborhood restaurant to which they devoted their lives. Garcia said Don Jose Mexican Restaurant, which opened in 1974 and initially closed Dec. 30, reopened Jan. 8 at 5305 Antoine Dr. He said he, his uncle, Fernando Anaya, and his cousin, Jorge Anaya, are the new co-owners of the business, which had been in limbo since the August deaths
of his father, Carlos Garcia, and uncle, Luis Hermosillo, who were longtime co-owners until COVID-19 claimed both of their lives in a span of three days. “They worked all their lives for Don Jose,” Bernardo Garcia said. “It was a lot to lose on the line, and a lot of customers. It was just worth it.” Garcia said he and his new co-owners decided Jan. 3 – four days after the community thought it had said farewell to Don Jose – to keep the venture going. He said that decision was influenced by the outpouring of support for the
restaurant expressed on The Leader’s website and Facebook page in the aftermath of the Dec. 30 closing, and also by his mother, Juana Garcia, who was battling cancer and undergoing chemotherapy treatments when her husband, Carlos, died in August. Seeing loyal customers’ disappointment turn into excitement on Jan. 8, when the restaurant welcomed a wave of patrons without even formally announcing its reopening, validated that decision. “They’re really happy,” Bernardo Garcia said. “If they’re happy, I’m happy.”
Garcia said Don Jose retained eight employees who previously worked for the restaurant, which is keeping the same recipes and the same hours of operation. It is closed Tuesdays and open every other day of the week, operating from 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Sundays and from 11 a.m.9:30 p.m. on the other days it is open. “So happy to see Don Jose open again,” Ramona Chestnut wrote in a comment on theleadernews.com. “... We think they have the best Mexican food in Houston. Welcome back. See you soon.”
Photo by Adam Zuvanich Katy Carruth, granddaughter of Don Jose Mexican Restaurant founder EJ Clark, enjoys lunch at the restaurant Dec. 30.
Food briefs: Underbelly bringing new concept to farmers market By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com
The team at Underbelly Hospitality is working on a concept to bring to the Houston Farmers Market, 2025 Airline Dr. With support from Underbelly’s owner and chef Chris Shepherd and business partner Todd Mason, who owns and is redeveloping the market along with MLB Partners, Nick Fine will head up the upcoming Wild Oats. Fine, a Houston native and Underbelly’s culinary director, has lived and cooked around the world, including Germany, Australia, New York City, Thailand and Aspen. The concept will focus on the history and traditions of Texas cuisine, while Fine also showcases his experiences and cooking techniques learned working under other chefs.
Wild Oats will be a full-service restaurant inside the market and will source its ingredients locally, particularly from those located at the Houston Farmers Market. Come the summer of this year, Wild Oats patrons can expect dishes like shrimp diablo, which is Fine’s take on shrimp and grits using masa as a nod to tamales. Shipley Donuts sold to private equity firm According to multiple news reports, Shipley Donuts has been sold to an Austin-based private equity group named Peak Rock Capital. The Houston-based shop, previously owned by the Shipley family, has hundreds of locations around the country, including a popular store in the heart of the Oak Forest and Garden Oaks area at 3410 Ella Blvd.
Photo by Julie Soefer Nick Fine runs the pass at One Fifth Steak. Fine will head up the Underbelly Hospitality concept at the Houston Farmers Market.
City Orchard’s new cider on shelves City Orchard Cidery, 1201 Oliver St., has cans of a new cider available at local grocery stores.
Now at local H-E-B stores, Kroger, Whole Foods and Spec’s, you can find City Orchard’s North Rose and Lavender Royale ciders.
Velvet Taco opens in Heights Velvet Taco opened its third Houston location at the corner of North Shepherd Drive and West 20th Street in the Heights on Monday. The 3,139 square-foot dining room has room for 80 people, but opened at 50 percent capacity in accordance with state regulations. There are more than 20 kinds of tacos avaialable on the menu, and the Heights location will also have a drive-thru pickup window for orders placed through the app, online and phone orders. Mutiny Wine Room celebrating anniversary Mutiny Wine Room at 1124 Usener St. in the Heights will celebrate its one-year anniversary with free wine flights in its tasting room from 4-10 p.m. Jan. 21.
Reservations are required for the 30-minute tasting experience and can be made over the phone at 832-6181233 or on Resy. King Cakes for sale Two local bakeries are selling Louisiana-style King Cakes leading up to Mardi Gras. Common Bond Bistro & Bakery, 449 W. 19th St., is taking preorders with pickup scheduled for Feb. 13-16. The bakery is offering two filling options, one a traditional cinnamon and the other a raspberry cream cheese. Artisana Bread, 965 Pinemont Dr. #800, is offering King Cakes on Thursdays through Saturdays until Mardi Gras. Call 832-940-2129 between 7:30 a.m.-noon to check availability and make a reservation.
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The Leader • Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021 • Page 3B
Crockett closes classrooms due to COVID-19 ‘Litterally’ disgusting: By Landan Kuhlmann to virtual learning as a result, the totality of the circumHow to keep kitty litter according to the district. stances in alignment with CDC The district said parents guidelines,” the district said. from getting everywhere leaseA Tuesday night news re- and guardians would be noti- “The school nurse will notify from Houston ISD said fied when the affected school any student or staff member landan@theleadernews.com
Dear Tabby, I have a cat and would love some tips on keeping loose litter at bay! Litter gets tracked all over the house and it’s pretty gross-help! Not a Lover of Litter in Garden Oaks Dear Not a Lover of Litter, Cats are such wonderful pets ... low maintenance, warm, cuddly and graceful. Maybe this is why it’s so hard to come to grips with one of the least pleasant parts of cat ownership: kitty litter. As you probably know, there are a multitude of types of kitty litter on the market. There’s clay, silica gel, pine, wheat, grass and even walnut shell litter, but clay is the easiest to come by and most popular for cat owners. One downside of clay is the fact that it gets everywhere. Your cat likely kicks it out of the
box, then tracks it on her feet all around the house. So, cat owners everywhere are used to the daily floor sweeping and vacuuming to keep litter in check--but even that doesn’t always work. So, what are your options for making litter tracking a thing of the past? Switch to different type Users of silica gel, wheat, corn and other all-natural litters love the fact these types of litter are larger in size and, thus, don’t create the dust and litter tracking that clay litter does. These litters typically cost a bit more, though, and you’ll want to gradually introduce a new type of litter to your cat, to ensure she doesn’t go off of the litter box all together. Reposition your litter box If you have a hood on your litter box, try turning the box so the opening is facing a wall (obviously, with enough space for your cat to get in and out). This small rearrangement of the box might keep some of the wayward litter from scat-
tering too far. Litter mat Get an inexpensive mat for outside of the litter box, which will help to trap and collect stray litter before it gets too far. Top-entry boxes Provided your cat isn’t elderly or very young, consider a top-entry litter box. These really do a great job of keeping the litter inside of the box and even do a decent job of collecting the litter that kitty has on her feet before she jumps off of the box.
Crockett Elementary, located at 2112 Crockett St., was temporarily closing its third-grade classrooms due to a confirmed case of COVID-19 reported on campus. Third- and fourth-grade students at Crockett transitioned
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Page 4B • Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021 • The Leader
Family foundation helps LHN’s Carter spark Lady Lions By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
It is often said that no distance is too great when it’s for something or someone you love. The sentiment applies to the supporters of Lutheran High North girls basketball player Dalanna Carter, who said her family has driven several hours at times to watch her play. Carter and her family make daily and weekly hourlong trips from their home in Mont Belvieu to the Lutheran High North campus at 1130 W. 34th St. so she can showcase her skills on the court and in the classroom. Carter, a sophomore point guard for the Lady Lions, said her family’s support has been a strong foundation, one that she tries to repay by lifting up those around her on and off the court. She transferred to Lutheran High North shortly before this season after attending Barbers Hill High School as a freshman. “They will all make that drive,” she said with a laugh. “With them doing that, it makes me really want to do better.” Whether at home or from his perch near the Lady Lions’ sideline – where he stands or sits almost every game – her father Dale also has a frontrow seat to his daughter’s growth. They have spent hours together on the basket-
ball court, but he said he has tried to instill a fire in her that extends even beyond the gym. “Basketball relates to life. I’ve also always tried to teach her to be humble, and remember that she’s not bigger than the game or that she’s ever reached her peak,” he said. “You don’t compete against anyone but yourself to always be better. I teach her that you do that on the court and also in school.” The support has been there from the jump for Carter. From the moment she joined Mont Belvieu’s Little Dribblers league in second grade, Dale has coached her up in both basketball and in life – a bond Dalanna said she appreciates beyond throwing a ball through a hoop. “He wants the best for me and to be successful in life,” she said. “He doesn’t want me to have any regrets.” No bad days Dalanna Carter’s skill on the court cannot be denied. She was named the District 21-5A MVP as a freshman at Barbers Hill last season, garnering an All-Region III selection and leading the Lady Eagles to a 32-5 record. So far this season for the Lady Lions, she is averaging better than 34 points and five rebounds per game along with nearly six steals per game, leading her team to a 11-3 record. She’s one of several in her
Photo by Landan Kuhlmann Lutheran High North sophomore Dalanna Carter prepares to shoot a free throw during a Jan. 9 game against The Village School.
family to play the sport, with an older sister who played high school ball and a younger brother who also plays. But Lutheran High North head coach John Slomcheck said her impact on the school and team goes well beyond the box score or how many 3-pointers she makes on a given night. From telling silly stories before practice to messing with her head coach’s “shoe game,” he said Carter’s enthusiasm and zest for life is infectious. “This is probably the season I’ve enjoyed most in probably five or six years,” Slomcheck said. “It’s been a fun year, even during the pandemic.” He said people play off Carter’s energy, whether it’s her teammates on the court or
classmates during school. “She’s kind of shy, quiet and unassuming when she’s off the court – you wouldn’t necessarily think she’s an athlete when you meet her. But she’s got an amazing, unique sense of humor, and kids just gravitate to her,” Slomcheck said. “She’s so infectious – she leads by example first and always has a positive attitude. So they gravitate to her. To a man, they look up to her.” When an obstacle pops up – from schedule or rule changes due to COVID-19 protocols, off-court struggles and everything in between – Slomcheck said Carter is always one of the first to put a positive spin on the situation or encourage those around her. She consistently leads the team in prayer,
he said, and is never shy about cracking a joke or telling a funny story from the school day to break any tension. “I’ve seen her go from the first day of school – when she was really shy and quiet – to now where she’s really comfortable and doesn’t just talk to basketball people. She interacts in all her classes,” Slomcheck said. “And there’s nothing you can throw at this girl where she can’t turn a negative into a positive. It’s amazing – I don’t know where she gets it from. I have yet to see her have a bad day.” According to Dale Carter, that’s how his daughter lives – it’s not just for show at school or on the court. “She loves friends and getting along with people – her thing is, ‘Can’t we all just get along?’ That’s the way she likes her life to be,” he said. It’s just another lesson instilled in the younger Carter from her father, who she called her driving force on the court. “Yeah, we’ll bump heads on occasion, but that just makes us stronger,” she said. Overcoming obstacles Carter’s transfer from Barbers Hill could have potentially never happened. Dale Carter said his daughter was initially apprehensive about the private school environment due to her dyslexia, not knowing how the more intimate environment would react
or treat her. “(Dyslexia) has been a struggle,” he said. “But I think her playing basketball, she figures out how to overcome obstacles on the court. And now just like basketball, she’s overcoming that.” A big part of that can be attributed, he said, to Lutheran High North, both the basketball and non-sports community. “We stepped out on faith and said, ‘Let’s give it a shot this year.’ The invitation was open to us to come here so we did,” Dale Carter said. “She tells me, ‘I wish we would’ve done it last year.’ It’s been so inviting, and everyone welcomed her with open arms. She’s loved it so much.” It appears to have been reciprocated as Dalanna Carter echoed her father’s sentiment. “This year has just been the best for me, because my teammates are just letting me be myself out on the court and off the court. Nobody’s judging me or anything,” she said. As he sat there Jan. 9 watching his daughter slice her way through yet another defense from the Lady Lions’ sideline, Dale looked to be beaming with pride – all the while still coaching his daughter up when he could after another hour-long drive. They wouldn’t have it any other way. “It’s so worth it,” Dale said with a smile.
Lady Panthers move into TAPPS 6A rankings By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
In a week that saw lots of action for the area’s high school basketball teams, many of them emerged victorious. Among the most notable movers last week were the St. Pius X Lady Panthers, who went 2-0 with wins over O’Connell Preparatory and Salt and Light Homeschool. Freshman Zachara Perkins scored 22 points and grabbed eight rebounds against O’Connell Preparatory. Also scoring in double digits for SPX were Breelyn Sanborn (18 points, five rebounds), Farren Donald-Wright (15 points) and Erica D’souoza (12 points).
As a result of their perfect week, the Lady Panthers (8-4) were up to 10th in the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches’ most recent TAPPS 6A poll entering play this week. Lutheran High North’s Lady Lions beat Tomball Rosehill Christian on Jan. 5 before falling to to Houston’s The Village School – the top-ranked TAPPS 6A squad – last Saturday by a score of 77-55. Dalanna Carter scored 43 points against Rosehill, while Kinsie Kim added 10 points. Carter also poured in 40 points in last Saturday’s defeat. Despite the loss, LHN (10-3, 2-0 district) maintained its standing as the TABC’s top-ranked TAPPS 3A team entering action this week.
Photo by Landan Kuhlmann Heights running back Patrick McDowell runs the ball during an Oct. 16 game against Fort Bend Travis. McDowell was one of 19 Bulldogs recently selected to the All-District 18-6A team after a season that saw the school win its first district title since 2013.
Bulldogs dominate 18-6A all-district team By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
It was a banner 2020 season for the Heights High School football team, which won its first district title and first playoff game since 2013. As a result, more than a dozen Bulldogs were recognized for their contributions with selections to the All-District 18-6A team. Headlined by quarterback Jalen Morrison, running back Kendric Rhymes and receiver Keyondrick Douglas, the Bulldogs had 12 first-team honorees and 19 total selections. Rhymes (1,048 total yards, 18 TDs) was named the district most valuable player, while Morrison (1,806 total yards, 20 TDs) was named the offensive MVP as the signal caller for an offense that averaged nearly 41 points per game. Douglas (977 all-purpose yards, 6 TDs) was the district’s special teams MVP. Bulldogs head coach Ste-
The Heights Lady Bulldogs won via forfeit against Houston Math, Science and Tech on Jan. 6, then defeated Westbury 76-19 on Jan. 8 with Gracelynn Alvarez scoring 18 points to lead the way. Tierra Simon added 12 points, while Alyssa Rodriguez scored nine points and Trinity Frias chipped in eight points for Heights (13-4, 3-0), which held steady at 16th in this week’s TABC poll for Class 6A. Booker T. Washington’s Lady Eagles took down North Forest and Yates last week to move into second place in District 23-4A. Kemya Reece and and Kamarion Gulley each scored 24 points for the Lady Eagles (6-7, 5-1) against North
Forest, while Kourtni Collier had 13 points and 11 rebounds. Scarborough lost to Wheatley to fall to 0-4. Boys After a win over Chavez to begin the week, Heights beat Lamar in a 71-70 nail-biter on Jan. 8 to win its third straight game. Keyondrick Douglas poured in 29 points to help take down Lamar, while Kolby Williams scored 20 points against Chavez. The Bulldogs were 7-2 overall and 3-0 in District 18-6A ahead of a Wednesday game against Houston Math, Science and Tech. Booker T. Washington had a perfect week as well, with a 77-67 win over Mickey Leland College Preparatory on Jan.
5 and a 87-57 victory against North Forest on Jan. 8. Kenneth Lewis had 28 points and 11 rebounds against Mickey Leland, then 26 points and seven boards against North Forest. The Eagles (8-8, 5-2) were scheduled to play Wheatley on Wednesday. St. Pius X fell to top-ranked Houston Christian on Jan. 5, but bounced back with a 41-36 win over O’Connell Preparatory to move to 8-6 on the season. Jackson Fazande recorded 18 points and 12 rebounds in the win, while Nathan Alvarez poured in 16 points of his own. Lutheran High North lost to Homeschool Christian Youth Association on Jan. 9, then
beat The Village School 55-48 later in the day. Marvin Robinson scored 47 points in the loss to HYCA. The Lions were 4-4 overall and 1-0 in TAPPS district play headed into a scheduled district matchup on Tuesday against Conroe Covenant Christian. St. Thomas fell to topranked Houston Christian on Jan. 8 and also to Westbury on Jan. 9, dropping to 1-5 on the season. The Eagles were scheduled to begin TAPPS district play with a road game against The Village School this Friday. Scarborough lost 84-28 to Kashmere, falling to 0-9 on the season.
THE LEADER. OF DEAL THE WEEK
phen Dixon was named the 18-6A coach of the year after guiding Heights to an unblemished record in district play. The complete list of Heights’ all-district selections is below: FIRST TEAM Keyondrick Douglas (WR) Jonovan Foreman (LB) Brian Mayes (DB) Patrick McDowell (RB) Jalen Morrison (QB) Frank Moss Jr. (OL) David Nico (LB) Matthew Olugboji (OL) Kendric Rhymes (RB) Chris Smith (DB) Billy Thursland (OL) Karl Williams (LB) SECOND TEAM Darius Cleveland (DL) Orlando Gonzalez (P) Dylan Harris (LB) Tadderick Mathis (OL) Hugo Palacios (OL) Zyan Primes (WR) Jaden Wilson (DB)
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