Inside Today: City rolls out water bill improvement plan Page 2
ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS WEEK! April 22 - 26, 2024 Flower & Gift Shop
Covering the Heights, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest & the neighborhoods of North Houston
10570 NW Frwy ❖ 713-680-2350
Saturday, April 20, 2024 • Vol. 69 • No.16
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HHA recognizes community champions at Celebration Picnic Honoring Community, Dedication and Excellence By STEFANIE THOMAS editor@theleadernews.com On April 10, the Houston Heights Association (HHA) marked a significant milestone as it turned 50 years old. To kick off what promises to be a year-long celebration, the organization hosted its Volunteer Appreciation and Community Improvement Awards Picnic at Marmion Park April 13. The event recognized the exceptional
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commitment of volunteers and commended the innovative contributions of community members. Recognizing Outstanding Contributions During the picnic, the HHA presented various awards, including the 2023 Citizen of The Year Award, Corporate Citizen of The Year Award, and the prestigious Marcella Perry Award. Special Awards such as the President’s Award, Family Spirit Award, Legacy Award, Pioneer Award, Rising Star Award, Spirit of the Heights Award,
and the Tireless Champion Award were also conferred. “The picnic was very well attended, the weather was perfect, and we were given the opportunity to honor our volunteers that really make this organization what it is,” said Emily Guyre, executive director of the Houston Heights Association. “We would not be who we are or where we are without our volunteers working so diligently on so many different projects throughout the neighborhood.” See HHA P. 3
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Photo courtesy of the HHA
Tera Starr, winner of the Citizen of the Year award, with HHA Executive Director Emily Guyre and President-Elect Hannah White.
Heights Marketplace Turmoil: Paid parking sparks backlash, gentrification fears By STEPHANIE SHIRLEY The Leader News Contributor
I Love 11th receives mayoral proclamation
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Hazardous tree removal begins at area parks
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A boisterous display of native flowers provides an ideal habitat for pollinators at Sue Barnett 43rd Street Park.
Houston SPCA hosts 100th Birthday Bash April 27
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“Pollinators in the Park” promotes environmental awareness, community engagement By STEFANIE THOMAS editor@theleadernews.com
Weekend at a glance: Things to do April 20-21
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Comings & Goings: See who’s new in town
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On a bright Sunday afternoon, the Garden Oaks Garden Club, a longstanding advocate for environmental stewardship and community connection, brought together residents, families, and nature enthusiasts of all ages for its second annual “Pollinators in the Park” event. Held on April 14 at Sue Barnett 43rd Street Park, a cityowned space, the event served as a fun and educational event highlighting the importance of pollinators to the ecosystem. A Tradition of Education and Fun Shawn Spear, a 30-year member of the Garden Oaks Garden, and her husband Bill have tended to the ¾-acre garden at the park for several years. Each spring, they sow the flower seeds provided by the Garden Oaks Garden Club and water the plants by hand (the park has no water hookups), hauling watering cans by car and muscle.
Photo courtesy of the Garden Oaks Garden Club
“Pollinators in the Park” was an educational and fun event for participants of all ages.
“For the past four years, we’ve been diligently planting wildflowers in the park,” Spear said. “Given the lack of water infrastructure, we’ve focused on native species that can thrive with minimal maintenance.”
Exploring Nature’s Wonders “Pollinators in the Park” attendees were treated to an array of engaging activities, including a Pollinator Show and Tell and guided expeditions for young naturalists. Spear emphasized the hands-on approach of the event, stating, “Participants had the opportunity to immerse themselves in the fascinating world of pollinators while basking in the natural beauty of the park.” Close-up demonstrations of essential pollinators provided a firsthand glimpse into their vital role in sustaining plant life. Participants also went home with seed packets to help them start their own pollinator project. “Some kids came sporting clothes of their favorite bugs and proud to show it. I’m gonna wear my dragon fly wings next year,” said Bernada Rubasingham, a Garden Oaks Garden Club member who attended the event with her young daughter. “The kids loved the scavenger hunts!”
See POLLINATOR P. 3
What began as growing contention over the implementation of a paid parking program in the Historical Downtown Heights community has now evolved into concerns about the future of retail and small businesses in this quaint Houston neighborhood. At the center of the controversy is the Heights Marketplace, which consists of two retail strip centers fronting W. 19th and divided by Nicholson Street. Tenants of the shopping center say that nearly four years ago, when property management changed hands, rents increased substantially, forcing some businesses to raise prices and others to leave. Outdoor landscaping and decor were overhauled and, most recently, one of the first paid parking programs in Downtown Heights was implemented. Last fall, according to tenants, they received a 2-page letter from third-party parking program managers, SP+ and Parking.com, letting them know what had already been decided and implemented; all of this occurring, tenants say, without any prior warning or communication from property management. Shortly thereafter, before managers had an opportunity to reach out to their respective business ownership, dozens of signs, described as unattractive and even threatening, littered the parking lots. The first round of parking enforcement assessed parking fees for visits exceeding 30 minutes. Tenants and patrons alike were in an uproar, especially since parking had never been an issue for either center. See PARKING ISSUES P. 5
Photo by Stephanie Shirley
Kawika Chieng, Manager of the ZapVor restaurant, shares a resounding ‘thumbsdown’ for the Heights Marketplace parking program and the grief it has caused tenants and shopping center patrons alike.
Green Home & Co: Pioneering sustainable living ahead of Earth Day Sawyer Yards to feature space exploration experience this May
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By LISA MORALES The Leader News Contributor Are you looking to go “green” but don’t know where to start? As Earth Day approaches on April 22, the Woodland Heights has an answer for you in the form of Samantha Hanson’s store, Green Home & Co., located at 3217 Houston Ave. This unique establishment isn’t just a store; it’s a testament to Hanson’s journey towards sustainable living and her commitment to reshaping consumer habits. Green Home & Co. is not your average retail space. It’s a full-service sustainable home store, offering an array
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Photo courtesy of Green Home & Co.
Samantha Hanson, owner of Green Home & Co., says all the merchandise in her Woodland Heights store is compostable, washable, or refillable.
of products meticulously curated to be either compostable, washable, or refillable, all aimed at diverting waste away from landfills. From reusable paper towels to refillable household cleaners, every item in the store tells a story of mindful consumption and environmental stewardship. Hanson’s venture into sustainable entrepreneurship began with a simple desire to create something unique. With a history of dabbling in various side businesses, Hanson stumbled upon her calling when she received a pack of reusable paper towels in 2020 as a gift. Inspired by their practicality and eco-friendliness, she embarked on
a journey to produce them herself. The positive response at local markets fueled her ambition, and soon, Green Home & Co was born and became the first full-service refill store in Houston. Hanson states, “By offering functional and beautiful items that are compostable, washable and refillable we can all start making small changes that add up to a BIG impact.” What sets Green Home & Co apart is its innovative refill station, a service allowing customers to bring their containers or use in-house donated bottles to refill everything from facial moisSee GREEN HOME & CO P. 3
Allegiance Bank and CommunityBank of Texas have come together as Stellar Bank. While our name has changed, our commitment to serving our customers and supporting our local communities will stay the same. We look forward to a bright future together.
2222 North Durham | 281.517.8760 Margaret Vandever, Bank Office President Cecilia Rodriguez, Office Manager