Inside Today: Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital gains national recognition for stroke care Page 2
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Covering the Heights, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest & the neighborhoods of North Houston
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Saturday, August 24, 2024 • Vol. 69 • No.34
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Burglary blindsides Wakefield Crowbar as owners reel from storms By STEFANIE THOMAS editor@theleadernews.com In the early morning hours of Thursday, Aug. 15, Wakefield Crowbar, a popular sports bar in the Oak Forest neighborhood, fell victim to a calculated burglary that left the owners reeling from the loss. Pedro Garcia, one of the five minority owners of the establishment, described the incident as a “direct blow right to the gut,” coming on the heels of several challenging months.
The break-in occurred around 5:30 a.m. when a silver Mercedes pulled into the parking lot of the bar, located at 954 Wakefield Dr. Surveillance footage revealed two individuals who exited the vehicle, jumped over the outdoor railing, and began working on the door. After struggling to open it, they resorted to breaking a glass panel in the door. Once inside, the burglars moved with deliberate caution, low-crawling straight toward the business office in an apparent attempt to avoid detection.
“It’s been brutal since the derecho,” Garcia said, referencing the severe storm that left the bar without power for six days earlier this year. “We lost all our food when we were without power from the derecho. We cooked all the food and gave it away to the neighborhood because everyone was out of power. Instead of letting it go to waste, we decided to get some warm food into people’s stomachs.”
“They really took their time,” Garcia said. “They went as slow as possible trying to dodge the motion sensors.” The burglars then spent approximately 15 minutes in the office, where they managed to break into the safe with a blowtorch, grinder, or similar tool, and made off with about $4,000 in cash. Garcia said, “It’s like they broke into the Federal Reserve instead of a neighborhood bar.” For Garcia and his team, the timing of the break-in could not have been worse.
See BURGLARY P. 2
GOAT YOGA
Oaks Dads’ Club celebrates 70 years of youth development with gala
IS THE G.O.A.T.!
By STEFANIE THOMAS editor@theleadernews.com CenterPoint to host community forum Aug. 24
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July localized housing data by zip code
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Trees for Houston expands education programs with CenterPoint grant
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Submitted photo
Child’s pose with help from a kid
Wabash Feed & Garden brings fun and fitness to the Heights with goat yoga By LISA MORALES The Leader News Contributor
Here’s what’s happening around town this weekend
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Happy 188th birthday, H-Town! Celebrate with free tours Aug. 24
Wabash Feed & Garden, a wellknown and beloved institution in the Heights with a rich history dating back to 1906, recently hosted a unique and highly successful event that combined fitness, fun, and furry friends. The goat yoga class, held at Wabash’s location on North Shepherd Drive, attracted a full house of eager participants, with the first session selling out so quickly that a second class was added to accommodate the demand. The event was led by Wabash employee and yoga instructor Heidi Lehto, while fellow employee Debbie Girtman, who raises animals, provided the goats for the session. Together,
Submitted photo
Follow @wabashfeed for the next goat yoga dates.
In a remarkable milestone, the Oaks Dads’ Club (ODC) is getting ready to celebrate its 70th anniversary, marking seven decades of fostering community engagement and youth development through sports. Founded in 1954 by a group of ten dedicated fathers, ODC has grown from a small baseball club into a thriving organization that now supports thousands of young athletes across multiple sports. Colin Dodd, Vice President of the ODC Board, shared his thoughts on the club’s journey and its lasting impact on the community. “The Oaks Dads’ Club started as a simple boys’ baseball league, but over the years, we’ve expanded our programs to include softball, t-ball, soccer, and football,” he said. “Today, we serve approximately 2,500 youth registrants annually across three campuses by ODC and manage four additional fields leased from Harris County.” From its humble beginnings at TC Jester Park with just two fields, ODC has grown significantly. The organization now operates multiple facilities, including the Candlelight property on Rena Street and the parks on Judiway and Main, all of which have been essential in accommodating the growing number of participants. “We’ve worked hard to upgrade and maintain these parks, ensuring they are premier facilities for our youth to enjoy,” Dodd said. See OAKS DADS’ CLUB P. 9
Lehto and Girtman created a familyfriendly atmosphere that resonated with both seasoned yogis and newcomers to the practice. Participants were treated to an experience that was as entertaining as it was beneficial to their physical and mental well-being. Goat yoga, which has grown in popularity nationwide, involves practicing yoga in the presence of playful goats that interact with participants, adding an element of joy and spontaneity to the traditional workout. The goats, with their natural curiosity and friendly demeanor, provided plenty of smiles and laughter, making the session a memorable experience for everyone involved. See GOAT YOGA P. 2
Helping local businesses thrive: Eight Heights/GOOF area THE INDEX. businesses receive Comcast RISE Grant Packages Page 6
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By STEFANIE THOMAS editor@theleadernews.com Comcast announced that eight small businesses in the Heights/ Garden Oaks/Oak Forest neighborhoods are among the 100 businesses in the greater Houston area selected to receive comprehensive grant packages through the Comcast RISE program. Now in its fourth year, Comcast RISE has provided over $140 million in grants, marketing, and technology resources to more than 14,000 small businesses nationwide. The initiative,
focused on fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion, aims to support the growth of local businesses and the economic vitality of their communities. Businesses eligible for the award must be locally owned, have been in business for three or more years, and have fewer than 100 employees. The eight Heights-area businesses awarded in this round include: • Central City Co-Op (Retail) 2515 Harvard St. 77008 • State Line Designs (Retail) - 123 West 18th Street, Suite B 77008
• Filla Trucking LLC - 2220 Pinegate Dr. #433 77008 • Star Sailor (Restaurant/Food Service) - 1710 W 18th St. 77008 • Chez Bren Hair Care and Barber Shop - 5317 Elysian St. 77009 • Elation Physical Therapy (Health and Wellness) - 734 North Loop 77009 • Tepatitlan (Restaurant/Food Service) - 4720 N Main 77009 • Supreme Sandwiches (Restaurant/Food Service) 2752 W.T.C. Jester Blvd. 77018 These businesses will receive a range
of support services, including business consultation, educational resources, a $5,000 monetary grant, creative production for marketing, a media schedule, and a technology makeover. The grants are designed to provide the necessary tools and resources to help these businesses thrive and continue serving Heights/GOOF communities. Perhaps most importantly, the grant packages come at the heel of severe weather in the Houston area, with the recent derecho and Hurricane Beryl wreak-
H E L P SUPPORT LO C A L J O U R NA L I S M Scan this QR code to make a donation through Paypal today!
See COMCAST RISE P. 3