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Covering the Heights, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest & the neighborhoods of North Houston Saturday, February 25, 2023 • Vol. 68 • No.8
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Residents petition for bayou space to become parkland By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
As a proposed plan to elevate Interstate 10 in the Heights area continues to move toward fruition, a group of local residents is petitioning to have a portion of White Oak Bayou greenspace designated as parkland in efforts to keep the project from running through the popular greenspace. Residents of the Woodland Heights have created a petition that is asking the city of Houston to formally acquire and designate the White Oak Greenway along the bayou as a city park. By doing so, the petition says the space will be protected from being used
for development when the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) begins the project within the next year or two. As of Tuesday, the petition at actionnetwork.org/petitions/create-white-oak-bayou-park had more than 3,800 signatures. The goal for the petition is to garner at least 6,000 signatures. “White Oak Bayou greenway continues to be threatened by plans to elevate and widen the freeway,” the organization wrote on Facebook Jan. 27. During the most recent public meeting in July 2022, TxDOT revealed more about See Parkland P. 6A
Photo from Facebook Residents are petitioning for a portion of the White Oak Bayou greenspace to become designated city parkland.
Leader breaking out new special sections Staff Reports
New resource The Houston Fire Deparment was given a grant for new visual fire alarms for those who are deaf or hard of hearing
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Final Four St. Thomas’ boys’ hoops squad is among the last four Divsion I teams still alive
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Contributed photo Harris County Commissioners Court recently approved a $9.1 million contract for new apprenticeship opportunities and programs around the county that will be facilitated by several locally-based union programs.
Commissioners’ court approves partnership for local apprenticeship programs By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
Still falling Home sales continue to fall in the area. Read our latest roundup to see the latest numbers.
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More on the way See what new restaurants are coming to the area in this week’s Nibbles and Sips
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THE INDEX. Public.................................... 2A Topics ................................... 3A Sports ........................................................ 4A Classifieds ............................................. 6A Local Culture ........................ 7A Food/Drink ........................... 4B
Harris County has approved a contract that it says will increase union opportunities and apprenticeships in the building and construction trades as well as the entertainment and transportation industries around the city, including the Heights, Garden Oaks/ Oak Forest, and other surrounding areas. On Tuesday, the Harris County’s Commissioners’ Court unanimously approved a $9.1 million contract to increase local apprenticeship opportunities and create new ones in partnership with the Texas Gulf Coast Labor Federation. It is part of the County’s broader Apprenticeship Advantage initiative, according to the county, which is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The program will provide ap-
“Working people deserve a safe workplace, good benefits, strong wages and the opportunity to build a better life for their families” -Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodneyt Ellis
prenticeship training to more than 1,500 people in the construction, public transportation, and live entertainment industries in the county, according to Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis. “Working people deserve a safe workplace, good benefits, strong wages and the opportunity to build a better life for their families,” Ellis said. “A skilled and empowered workforce is key to a thriving, resilient Harris County
economy.” The program, the county said, was initially established to provide opportunities for those that have been traditionally underrepresented in apprenticeships – underemployed, unemployed, dislocated workers, opportunity youth, people of color, women, and those without college degrees. According to the Texas Gulf Coast Labor Federation, the 11 participating apprenticeship programs that the partnership funds will recruit, train, and place 665 new apprentices with employers over the next two years, while also making efforts to improve the skills of current apprentices and workers. The new transportation industry apprenticeship will be led collaboratively by Houston METRO and Heights-based Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 260, See Apprenticeship P. 6A
Baptist Temple / “Heights Church” Begin Run on 12/03/22 10” x 2”
Winter Street Studios artists get boost from city By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
As the artists who make use of a local studio that was largely destroyed as the result of an intentional fire just a few months ago struggle to rebuild, the city of Houston recently attempted to give those struggling artists a boost and helping hand. On Feb. 16, the city of Houston donated $250,000 to the Houston
Edward Crowell Art Alliance’s Emergency there for each other,” Relief Fund for more than Houston Mayor Sylvester 713.628.2468 60 artists whose work and Turner said Feb. 16 during studios were damaged or a press conference outside destroyed in a Decem- the burned-out studios. ber fire at Winter Street “We are here for the afStudios at Sawyer Yards. fected artists and think of Many artists had studios them in these trying times. and work either damaged With our help, we hope or destroyed at the stu- the artists are soon able dio as a result of the fire to get back into their crethat broke out in the early ative spaces and resume morning hours on Dec. 20. their contribution to the “Born out of this trag- creative economy.” edy is the knowledge that According to the HousHoustonians are always See Winter P. 6A
We are a church for the Heights.
Hymns and Hers.
Photo courtesy City of Houston Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner (center) and others gathered last week to announce a $250,000 donation to help Winter Street artists.
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When you pick up your paper this week, it may look a little fuller and feel a little heavier. And there’s a reason for that. In this week’s paper, you will find not just our typical community coverage on sports, food and drink, the arts, and more. You’ll also find the first of what is to be several special sections throughout this upcoming year. Some of what we have planned, we have done before – but we’re always trying to do it better and improve our coverage to bring you the most timely and relevant news on topics important to our community. And others, like this week’s Home and Garden section, are new and part of our approach to try and be the best resource for the community we hold so dear. This week’s special section is a new one, our Home and Garden section. In it, you will find articles in which we attempted to bring you informative helpful articles for those who might be interested in new or revamped landscaping, or for those who are looking to repair or remodel their home on a budget. We dive into those topics and more, so be sure to flip all the way through. And this week is just the beginning of a big year of coverage that our staff here at The Leader has in store for you, our loyal and dedicated readers. After all, that’s our number one goal – bringing you the news that is the most relevant and timely for the Heights, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest, and all these other neighborhoods of north Houston that we continue to have the pleasure of covering week in and week out. We still plan to bring you the same weekly dose of sports, food and drink, the arts, and news about city and county government that you are used to reading each week. But we’re also doing our best to bring you expanded coverage and continue to serve as your weekly resource. So we hope you enjoy this week’s Home and Garden section.
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