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Covering the Heights, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest & the neighborhoods of North Houston
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Saturday, June 1, 2024 • Vol. 69 • No.22
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Houston Emergency Management: Behind the scenes at the heart of crisis coordination By STEFANIE THOMAS editor@theleadernews.com
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The derecho (meaning “straight” or, at times, “right”) came out of left field, for the most part. Severe weather was expected, but the force of the straight-line winds that hit Houston with 100-miles per hour winds was not. A typically empty conference room at the Houston Office of Emergency Management on N Shepherd filled quickly with local officials from various departments on May 16, however, to coordinate a cohesive response to the devastating
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impact of this unexpected weather event. The facility, which houses both the OEM and the city’s 911 call center, serves as the nerve center for coordinating responses to emergencies, large-scale events, outside threats, and natural disasters. In short, according to houstontx.gov, the Houston OEM “is responsible for coordinating mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery efforts for all emergency events within the city.” See OEM P. 4
Photo by Stefanie Thomas
Brent Taylor, chief communications officer for the Houston Office of Emergency Management, explains the purpose of various screens containing live camera footage, maps, news coverage, and more in disaster planning, mitigation, and response.
NOW YOU SEE IT, NOW YOU DON’T
INSIDE.
New Magnolia Brewing Co.: Bloomfest 2024 scheduled for June 1
Recovery fund aims to assist those impacted by derecho storm
By LISA MORALES The Leader News Contributor
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Property tax exemption available for qualified disaster victims
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Photo by Stefanie Thomas
What many refer to as the TC Jester House at 317 W 20th St, along with neighboring 325 W 20th St (formerly the location of WellMed), was quietly razed to the ground in April 2024. View from the alley behind W 20th St, looking toward W 20th.
T.C. Jester House history lives on despite demolition
City accelerates permitting process following storm damage
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By STEPHANIE SHIRLEY The Leader News Contributor
Meet Hanna, this week’s Friends For Life Pet of the Week
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Texas Music Festival features an orchestra, piano, and chamber music series
A Heights artifact may have disappeared in the blink of an eye, but surviving family and friends want its rich history to remain indelible You don’t have to be a history aficionado to appreciate that for most of the past century, 317 W. 20th was home to two prominent Heights families. These families thread the hearts and history of Downtown Heights. The building may have been razed last month on April 8, 2024, but family and friends want to ensure that its rich, historical significance won’t experience the same obsolescence. The residence, commonly known as the ‘T.C. Jester House’, once stood approximately one block west of The Heights Church, formerly known as
Photo by Stephanie Shirley
Jane Jester Marmion, holding the original name plate of Baptist Temple, at the empty site of her grandfather’s former home at 317 W 20th St. for the first time.
The Baptist Temple. Now it is an empty lot, patiently awaiting development. Structures often come and go, but what really made this house a home
were the vibrant people who lived in it. Members of the T.C. & Sarah May Jester family and Clayton & Libby Lee occupied the residence respectively for the majority of the 1900s and into the early 2000s. Their reputations preceded them. They were two very different families, but both were dedicated to servant leadership. Their lives and contributions played a significant role in the growth of their Heights community and their church community. The way they touched the people they interacted with through the years was just as meaningful and profound, as the building that once housed the architects of these nostalgic memories. Jane Jester Marmion, the granddaughter of the Reverend T.C. Jester, says the home’s rich history started with her grandfather. Even though her time with him was far too brief, See T.C. JESTER HOUSE. P. 4
By RUBENA GRACIA The Leader News Contributor
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THE INDEX. People ���������������������������������������2 Topics ����������������������������������������5 Classifieds ���������������������������������7
A new scouting troop for girls is growing quickly and making its mark. Troop 88 (Girls) was started in January 2024. Nancy Zey, Scoutmaster of the new troop, spoke to the Leader: “We started Troop 88 because there were no Scouts BSA troops just for girls in the Heights area, and our sponsor, SPJST Lodge 88, provides a wonderful space to learn outdoor skills. The youth plan and lead the activities with adult volunteers guiding them. Even though Ashley Throckmorton, Julie Miller,
We empower people to thrive. S TE LL A R . BA N K NM L S # 4 5 1 3 1 2
See NEW MAGNOLIA P. 6
New girls’ troop blazes trails with outdoor skills and leadership
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Graffiti with a message of love
In a city known for its vibrant culinary and cultural scene, New Magnolia Brewing Co. stands out not only for its meticulously crafted beers but also for its deep-rooted connection to Houston’s rich beer history. This family-owned brewery in the Heights has quickly become a beloved fixture in the local community, offering patrons a taste of classic European-style brews with a modern twist. The inception of New Magnolia Brewing Co. is a story of passion, persistence, and a nod to Houston’s brewing legacy. “Back in 2012, there were only a handful of breweries in Houston,” recalls the founder, Shayn Robinson. “We were homebrewing in our driveway, and our friends and neighbors loved our smallbatch beers. Their encouragement led us to experiment more, eventually transforming my garage into a nano brewing facility complete with refrigeration for optimal fermentation control, and a small canning machine.” This small-scale operation garnered significant local interest, leading to private event engagements and offers of investment. When Robinson and brew partner, John, took a comprehensive look at the craft beer industry and the evolving Houston beer scene, they decided to make the leap. They spent years honing their skills—John earned a Master’s in
Photo by Nancy Zey
Troop 88 – “Pioneering” at Camp Strake in April 2024. Two new scouts, (L to R) Neva M. and Cora B., working on their Pioneering Merit Badge at “Zombie Preparedness Training” campout.
and I could not experience the program as girls (Scouts BSA was only for boys until 2019), we love that women can still serve as leaders and role models for our daughters.” She added, “The scouts learn so quickly and are eager to learn.” The Troop 88 website states: “We are a newly founded girls troop in Houston Heights. The girls will gain leadership and teamwork skills through outdoor activities, community service, and advancement programs.” The program emphasizes youth leadership development, outdoor programs, weekly See TROOP 88 P. 6
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