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Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023 • Vol. 68 • No. 35
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HISD managers’ community meetings to include local school By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
As the school year gets into full swing, the state-appointed Houston ISD board of managers have begun a series of community meetings – including one to be at a Heights area school – to meet with students, parents, and families, and share what is happening in HISD during the 20232024 school year in what they say is an attempt to meet the community’s needs. Beginning with a Tuesday night meeting at the Farris Early Childhood Education Center, the board of managers was set to begin a series of nearly a dozen public and virtual community meetings with schools in the HISD community, including Highland Heights Elementary at 865 Paul Quinn St. in the Acres Homes, throughout the month of September. In an email from HISD, the district said the community meetings are events in which the managers are meeting with students and their families to “share more about their vision for the 2023-2024 school year.” See HISD P. 4
Photo by Landan Kuhlman Pictured are Houston ISD board managers Adam Rivon, Michelle Cruz Arnold, and Paula Mendoza. The board of managers is hosting meetings with parents and stakeholders this month.
Adding to history
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By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
Photo courtesy of City of Houston Pictured are some of the headstones in the Olivewood Cemetery just south of White Oak Bayou, which was recently designated by the city as a protected archeological site.
Local spots among city-designated historical landmarks By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
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Man charged in assault along 34th Street
The city of Houston has many historic neighborhoods and landmarks that the city’s Office of Preservation has designated as landmarks in order to help protect the city’s history and tell its story. It recently added more to its list over more than 350 spots citywide as landmarks, including five local spots in the Heights and Washington Avenue area. On Aug. 30, the city of Houston announced that city council has approved the designation of 15 historic properties including 11 Protected Landmarks, three Landmarks and one Historic Archeological Site. “The designation of each one of these properties is a cause for celebration,” city of Houston Historic Preservation Officer Roman McAllen said. The Heights-area Olivewood Cemetery at 1300 Court St. has been designated as a the city’s lone new protected archeological site, according to the city. The area cemetery has long
Photo courtesy of City of Houston Olivewood Cemetery ground contains several hundred marked graves, in addition to an unknown number of unmarked graves on the grounds.
been fighting issues of drainage, overgrowth, and more as it strives to preserve the 7.5-acre cemetery immediately south of White Oak Bayou in the Sawyer Yards area. Olivewood is one
of the oldest known platted cemeteries in the city, comprising over 5,000 burial spaces were laid out along an elliptical drive according to the designation report from the city. The burial ground contains several hundred marked graves, in addition to an unknown number of unmarked graves on the grounds. Interred there are pivotal leaders of Houston’s post emancipation African American community, according to the city including the pastor of Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, the Rev. Elias Dibble; Businessman James B. Bell; Alderman and Landowner Richard Brock, and more according to the report. “Today, Olivewood Cemetery remains as a key historical site in Houston, serving as a testament to the foresight and perseverance of the cemetery founders,” the report said. Among the sites in the local area that have also been designated as protected landmarks include St. Mary’s Missionary Baptist Church (4602 Eli St.) in the See Landmarks P. 4
Houston police have arrested and charged a man following an alleged assault in the Central Northwest area last Wednesday afternoon that put another man in the hospital, according to the Houston Police Department. Andrei Silviu Niculusca, 47, has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in connection with the incident, according to Harris County court records. Niculusca remained in jail as of Friday, according to court records, with his bond set at $75,000. The victim, a 28-year-old man according to police, was taken to a hospital Wednesday in critical condition according to the department. Police said Niculusca and the victim allegedly got into an argument in a parking lot near 4000 W. 34th St. in the Central Northwest area just before 3 p.m. last Wednesday Aug. 30 before the victim drove away. According to police, Niculusca then allegedly followed the victim in his pickup truck before allegedly slamming into the victim’s car. The victim’s car then proceeded to lose control and slam into a utility pole following the alleged collision, according to the police department. Paramedics transported the victim to the hospital via Life Flight helicopter in critical condition, according to the department. Police said officers detained Niculusca at the scene and subsequently charged him in the incident, according to the department.
Andrei Niculusca
New preschool set to open in Garden Oaks By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
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As the school year has gotten under way for area students and families, there is a new early education center and language immersion school that is set to open its doors in the Garden Oaks area early next week. On Tuesday, The Village Preschool announced that it will officially welcome students to the school next Monday, Sept. 11 at 1629 W. 34th St. in Garden Oaks. The school is for children six
weeks old up to six years old, according to a news release from the school. The curriculum, the school said, is driven by children’s passions, bilingual instruction in Spanish or French, and has a plethora of enriching activities. The release said Village Preschool hopes to provide “a truly exceptional educational experience for Houston-area children.” Village Preschool co-founder Raven Darvesh said that her own chilSee Preschool P. 4
Contributed photo Village Preschool is set to open its doors to students along West 34th Street in Garden Oaks beginning next Monday.