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Covering the Heights, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest & the neighborhoods of North Houston
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Saturday, September 21, 2024 • Vol. 69 • No.38
Taste of Oak Forest returns for Its third year: A celebration of local flavors and community beautification
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By LISA MORALES The Leader News Contributor
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The Oak Forest Homeowners Association (OFHA) is thrilled to announce the return of the highly anticipated Taste of Oak Forest, now in its third year. The event will take place from Oct. 11-20, 2024, bringing together local restaurants, bakers, and chefs to showcase the vibrant culinary scene in Oak Forest, all while supporting community beautification efforts. “Taste of Oak Forest is more than just a celebration of food—it’s a way for us to come together as a community and support the ongoing beautification of our neighborhood,” said Deena Alcorta,
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OFHA Director of Public Relations. “We’re excited to return to our roots and build on the success of the past two years.” The inaugural event in 2022 raised an impressive $7,800, which was used to replace several dilapidated monument signs throughout the neighborhood. In 2023, the event continued its positive impact, raising approximately $5,500 to support the OFHA Beautification Committee. The committee plays a crucial role in maintaining Oak Forest’s charm and aesthetic by performing general upkeep and continuing the replacement of worn-out signs. Last year, 24 local restaurants participated, offering a variety of dishes
and promotions to showcase the best of Oak Forest. This year’s Taste of Oak Forest promises to be even bigger, with organizers encouraging more local chefs,
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LANDMARK This Saturday: Career fair for adults with special needs
Onion Creek Café gears up for War of the Wangs
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Photo by Hector LeBron
North side of The Church at 1548 Heights after restoration.
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Historic Heights church nears century mark with restoration and renewal
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201 Lofthaus: A picture-perfect creative haven for local content creators By LISA MORALES The Leader News Contributor
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bakers, and restaurants to get involved. The event is open to all Oak Forest-area businesses, and those interested in participating are encouraged to reach out via tasteofoakforest@ofha.org. “With over 5,500 homes in Oak Forest, this event brings our community closer together by encouraging neighbors to support the local businesses we frequent every day,” said Alcorta. “The funds raised will go directly to our volunteer efforts, and we’re excited to see the positive impact it will have on our neighborhood.” For more information on the Taste of Oak Forest and how to get involved, visit ofha.org or contact tasteofoakforest@ ofha.org.
By RUBENA GRACIA The Leader News Contributor It is gratifying to see original homes and buildings in the Heights that are carefully restored and maintained. One church has not only worked to restore its nearly 100-year-old building, but is continuing the church’s core commitment “to promote spiritual transformation in the lives of individuals, fostered in Christian community, that radiates outward to bless our neighbors and the world.” Alan Cramer from the church’s leadership team spoke to the Leader. He has been a member of the church since 2018 and teaches a bible class. Cramer explained that the church was originally established as The Heights Church of Christ, founded in February 1915. Services with 10 people were first held on the second floor
Photo by Hector LeBron
Service in the sanctuary of The Church at 1548 Heights.
of the Frank M. Johnson Drug Store on 19th Street at Ashland. In 1916, a frame tabernacle was built on E. 16th Avenue at Harvard and the congregation quickly grew to 300–400 people. It was the first Church of Christ congre-
gation in the Houston Heights and the second in Houston, helping to start 15 additional congregations. Because the first congregation is no longer active, the Heights church is now the oldest active Church of Christ congregation in the city. A gift from Heights resident Emerson F. Woodward provided most of the funds that allowed the church to commission Alfred C. Finn, then Houston’s leading architect, to design and build the new church. Finn’s projects include the San Jacinto Monument, the Rice Hotel, other important buildings in downtown Houston and in Texas, and many well-known homes in the Heights. Construction began on the original structure in June 1924. Finn’s plan called for distinctive stained-glass windows, imported custom pews, See CHURCH P. 2
201 Lofthaus is redefining the content creation experience for photographers, influencers, and creative professionals. Located inside the 610 Loop with proximity to the Heights, this unique venue combines the aesthetics of a modern, elevated home with the technical features that make capturing professional-quality photos and videos a breeze. With 7+ styled spaces, including a living room, kitchen, bedroom, reading nook, outdoor space, and an all-white area flooded with natural light, 201 Lofthaus is designed to feel like home—only better. The concept behind 201 Lofthaus came from the personal experience of its owner, Novi Jones, who, like many entrepreneurs and creators, found it challenging to shoot content in a space that wasn’t always camera-ready. “I had tried creating content at home, but I quickly realized how difficult it was without having spaces that See 201 LOFTHAUS P. 3
Photo courtesy of 201 Lofthaus
Novi Jones, right, with her team at 201 Lofthaus.
September’s Healthy Aging Month creates awareness for local seniors Houston Farmers Market welcomes fall with pumpkin patch
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By CHARLIE HARDWICK The Leader News Contributor
having one chronic illness, while 50% have two or more.
During September’s Healthy Aging Month, it is important for seniors and their families to recognize the challenges they face and the misconceptions that can arise regarding the aging process. Evan Harbison, a nurse practitioner with the Heights-area CenterWell Senior Primary Care Center, highlights some of the myths and misconceptions often associated with an aging population. Seniors are often dealing with multiple chronic health issues, with 80% over the age of 60
GETTING THERE IS HALF THE BATTLE Evan Harbison has a masters degree from Texas Tech University in nursing, with 10 years of experience as an RN, in addition to seven years as a nurse practitioner. Harbison explained that seniors can face challenges receiving the care they need if they live in underserved areas. Even though Houston has access to a variety of health care options, there are still underserved areas in neighborhoods referred to as care deserts.
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Seniors located in these care deserts may live near health care facilities but lack the transportation needed to get treatment. As a result, appointments may be missed or medications may not be filled creating a snowball effect, compounding a worsening of health issues. Harbison says his team does what they can to get the word out to seniors about the availability of the Metro Lift ride service to help them get reliable and affordable transportation. Harbison said, “We love Metro Lift! I have helped many of our clients fill out the Metro Lift application for service. They do a great job getting our
patients to CenterWell facilities located in the Houston area.” THE DEPRESSION MISCONCEPTION A common misconception is that depression is a normal part of aging. Harbison emphasizes that while depression can exist within the senior population, it is not necessarily a normal part of aging. Statistics show that most seniors will have a chronic condition of some kind that may be hard to deal with and, as a result, well-intentioned families, friends, or
See AGING 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