Inside Today: Elementary students support Kidney Cancer Association through art Page 2
Fall Flowers, Fashions and Finds! Come shop! Flower & Gift Shop
Covering the Heights, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest & the neighborhoods of North Houston
10570 NW Frwy ❖ 713-680-2350
Saturday, September 28, 2024 • Vol. 69 • No.39
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Houston Planning Commission approves commercial development near White Oak Music Hall COMMUNITY REPORTS
Newly created White Oak District will include restaurants, retail, apartments and more
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INSIDE.
Marquette Companies, a national leader in multifamily development, announces approval from the Houston Planning Commission for its proposed commercial development located along the 2600 block of Keene
Street to the south of the city’s popular White Oak Music Hall. Part of the newly developed White Oak District, the approximately 20,000-square-foot commercial space will draw additional restaurants and retail to the area, which is anchored by Tempo at White Oak, a luxury rental building, also from Marquette Companies, nearing completion. The White Oak District at Keene and Main streets near Houston’s Woodland
Heights neighborhood will be a fourblock by six-block pedestrian-friendly zone. Marquette’s new commercial space is directly across from Tempo and is designed to include bars, restaurants, coffee shops and other retail, creating a vibrant, walkable area. The one-story commercial development could open as soon as 2025. “The White Oak District is emerging as one of the city’s hottest destinations with existing attractions like the White
THE SHOW WILL GO ON!
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Toy designer speaks at Houston Toy Museum Oct. 5
Movie Review: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
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The best of two worlds: Hops + opera = HOPERA
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See DEVELOPMENT P. 5
Sock-Tober Plus clothing drive to benefit veterans at American Legion Auxiliary in Garden Oaks By LISA MORALES The Leader News Contributor
Pony up for Pony Field! How to support restoration efforts
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Oak Music Hall, H-Town Brewing and Woodlands Social bar and restaurant, among others,” said Chris Yuko, managing director of development at Marquette. “With the addition of this mixed-use area to the south of the Little White Oak Bayou, we are meeting demand for new rental, restaurants and retail among residents who are drawn to this neighborhood’s nightlife,
The Waltrip Ram Band marches through downtown Houston in the 2023 H-E-B Thanksgiving Parade.
Photo courtesy of Ram Band leadership)
From Cancellation to Celebration: Waltrip Ram Band heads to 2025 Sugar Bowl By STEFANIE THOMAS editor@theleadernews.com In a thrilling turn of events, the Waltrip High School Ram Band will be heading to New Orleans to perform at the 2025 Sugar Bowl after all. The trip, which was abruptly canceled in early September due to safety concerns, was reinstated on September 21, thanks to swift action by Houston Mayor John Whitmire, Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles, and support from the community. The band had been eagerly fundraising for the prestigious performance when the cancellation came, leaving students, parents, and staff disappointed. However, less than three weeks later, Superintendent Miles announced the reversal in a letter to the school’s Band Booster Leadership, stating that safety
Members of the Waltrip Ram Band
concerns had been addressed. “As a proud band dad myself, I want to make sure the Roaring Ram Band can travel to the Sugar Bowl safely,” Miles wrote, adding that HISD Police Department officers will
Photo of courtesy of Ja’Nee Barton
As we enter the month of October, American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) Unit 560 in Garden Oaks is launching its annual Sock-Tober Plus clothing drive to support veterans in need at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center. From now until Oct. 31, ALA Unit 560 is collecting new men’s and women’s socks, T-shirts, and underwear to provide vital clothing essentials for Houston-area veterans. Donations can be dropped off at the American Legion Post 560, located at 3720 Alba Road in Houston. This annual drive aims to provide much-needed basics for veterans, particularly those facing homelessness or financial hardship, as they often lack access to these essential items. “Veterans served our country with pride, and now it’s our turn to give back,” said a spokesperson for ALA Unit 560. “These basic clothing items like socks, underwear, and T-shirts are often overlooked, but they’re critical for the health and dignity of veterans, especially those receiving care at the VA Medical Center.”
THE ORIGINS OF SOCK-TOBER Sock-Tober began in 2011 as a small grassroots initiative by YouTube personality and children’s book author Brad Montague. What started as a simple social media campaign to collect socks for the homeless has grown into a nationwide effort. Each October, communities across the country come together to donate socks and clothing for those in need. Over time, the campaign has expanded to include other clothing essentials like T-shirts and underwear, making it a natural fit for organizations like ALA Unit 560, who are committed to helping veterans.
WHY SOCKS AND BASICS MATTER FOR VETERANS
accompany the students thanks to a generous offer by Mayor Whitmire, and Division Superintendent Riddick assigned Principal Jeanette Cortez
Socks are one of the most requested but least donated items in shelters, particularly for veterans. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, veterans make up around 7% of the U.S. population but account
See WALTRIP RAM BAND P. 5
See SOCK-TOBER P. 5
Fall means it’s family fun time with Czechfest at Lodge 88 By CHARLIE HARDWICK
Dandelion Cafe opens Heights location
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THE INDEX. People ���������������������������������������2 Topics ����������������������������������������4 Classifieds ���������������������������������7 Local Culture �����������������������������8
On Saturday, Oct. 12, at SPJS Lodge 88 located at 1435 Beall Street, the block will be buzzing with a whole lot of zabava and celebration, as the Lodge host their annual Fall Czechfest. Aaron Rigamonti, a former Lodge board of trustee member, has served as the president of Lodge 88 for the last three years. Rigamonti clarifies that in spite of his Italian name he is, in fact, three quarters Czech, mostly from his mother’s side, whose family originated from Ellinger Texas in Fayette County. Rigamonti explained that the festival was rebranded about five years ago
from The Czech Heritage Festival to its current name, Czechfest.
THE CZECHFEST EVOLUTION Over the last few years, Czechfest has grown in popularity from just a few hundred attendees to roughly 1,400 festival goers last year. Rigamonti reflects on the festival’s history in that it used to be more of an inner focused gathering for Lodge members that was an annual dance with a traditional Czech meal. However, post pandemic, the Lodge elected to welcome the community in celebrating Czech heritage. The See CZECHFEST P. 2
Submitted photo
The community is invited to come celebrate Czech heritage with good food, drink, and dancing Oct. 12 at Lodge 88.
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