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Saturday, December 7, 2024 • Vol. 69 • No. 49
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Keeping the city greener, Trees For Houston benefits everyone
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By CHARLIE HARDWICK The Leader News Contributor The largest regional national non-profit in North America, Trees For Houston has planted itself in the Kinder Campus on 34th street in Garden Oaks. Established in 1983, this vibrant organization has either given out or planted roughly three quarters of a million trees covering parks, trails, streets and boulevards throughout the bayou city and regional
PHYLLIS A. OESER
counties. They work with a multitude of non-profit organizations and plant around 30 to 60 trees at schools each year, at no cost to the schools. Located at 1911 34th Street, this permanent location has helped to evolve educational programs for the community, covering subjects like, understanding the variety of tree species that grow well in our region, proper planting care and soil maintenance, and the importance of pruning.
Classes for Adults and Children The Kinder Foundation provided Trees For Houston with a Leadership Gift to acquire the property on 34th Street to facilitate housing of offices, an education center with classrooms, and a tree staging area for distribution. The new Kinder Campus provides significant education and outSubmitted photo reach programs where the com- The largest regional national non-profit in North See TREES P. 2
America, Trees For Houston has planted itself in the Kinder Campus on 34th street in Garden Oaks.
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INSIDE.
Junior League of Houston supports local children through holidays and beyond By LISA MORALES The Leader News Contributor
It’s time for some Mistletoe Magic!
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Photos by Stephanie Shirley
Shepherd Forest residents’ uncollected refuse has become far more than an aesthetic problem, and they are not alone.
Director Mark Wilfalk addresses Houston’s solid waste woes and future plans
HHA welcomes the whole family to “Toys & Joys” Monday
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Meeting Basic Needs During the Holidays The holiday season can be particularly difficult for families who rely on free or reduced-cost school lunch programs, as children lose access to meals during school breaks. Kids’ Meals, located in Garden Oaks, addresses this gap by providing nutritious food to children and their siblings when school is not in session. “Kids’ Meals is essential for these children during the holidays,” explained Kelly Hickman, the Junior League of Houston’s 2024-2025 Community Vice President. “The Junior League provides volunteers to assemble lunches and funding to help ensure these children don’t go hungry during a financially strained time of year.”
By STEPHANIE SHIRLEY The Leader News Contributor The City of Houston’s Solid Waste Department (SWD) has been under fire for years, but has never been under such scrutiny as it has been since the 2024 storms, the Derecho and Hurricane Beryl. The SWD’s troubles are certainly not new and were systemic before the storms, but have been exacerbated by the exponential increase in demand. Collections are typically scheduled for each neighborhood with an assigned weekly day for trash and bagged ‘yard waste’. Recycling is scheduled on the same day, every other week. Depending on location, heavy trash or ‘junk’ has a designated day in even months and ‘tree waste’ is scheduled for the odd months, according to SWD. Jennifer Woodruff is a former civic club president and resident of Shepherd Forest, a subdivision immediately north of the 610 Loop. When neighbors began reaching out to her regarding delays in waste collection she contacted the Mayor’s Office and city council members. She was reminded repeatedly to have
Guest Column: Everything you need to know about interest rates
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Art Valet: Calm, cool, and creative!
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Pet of the Week: Meet Calum, an active senior gent
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See JUNIOR P. 2 Shepherd Forest residents say some neighbors’ trash has been sitting at the curb since August.
her neighbors keep contacting 3-11, implying that the squeaky-wheelgets-the-grease cliché might expedite the process, however, Woodruff said that wasn’t the case. “That is not the response I wanted or expected from my elected officials,” Woodruff said. 3-1-1 calls are recorded to document the concentration of complaints, but when department resources are insufficient, the complaints remain unaddressed and residents become frustrated.
The situation is similar in neighborhoods across the city, as demonstrated repeatedly by local media coverage. Woodruff and many other neighbors were eventually forced to haul their heavy trash to the dump, both for safety reasons and lawn preservation. Woodruff explained in her correspondence that the uncollected trash and debris were far more than an aesthetic detriment: “We have wet furniture, collapsing See TRASH P. 5
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Junior League volunteers help stock and maintain the BEAR warehouse as part of their year round commitment to help children in need.
Compudopt’s digital equity efforts bring lasting impact to Heights youth By LISA MORALES The Leader News Contributor Compudopt, a nonprofit organization based in the Houston Heights, is making strides to bridge the digital divide for under-resourced youth, including children and families in the Greater Heights area. Founded in 2007, Compudopt is dedicated to providing technology access and education to communities often left out of the digital economy. Following the power
We empower people to thrive. S TE LL A R . BA N K NM L S # 4 5 1 3 1 2
With the holiday season in full swing, the challenges faced by children living in poverty in Harris County, including those in the Garden Oaks and Oak Forest areas, become even more apparent. With approximately 16% of children in the region living below the poverty line, organizations like the Junior League of Houston are stepping up to bring much-needed relief and resources. Through their partnerships with nonprofits like Kids’ Meals and B.E.A.R. (Be A Resource), the Junior League is making a significant impact on the lives of local children and their families.
outages caused by Tropical Storm Beryl in July, Compudopt stepped in to provide no-cost charging stations, internet connectivity, and device access to hundreds of Houstonians. This support enabled Heights families and others affected to stay connected to vital services, educational resources, and loved ones in the aftermath of the storm. “Compudopt views digital equity from a multitude of lenses, including disaster relief,” said Compudopt CEO
Megan Steckly. “A family’s ability to communicate with their loved ones and receive updates on the status of their home, school, and work is dependent on their connectivity abilities. We’re proud to lend a helping hand and play a small part in the recovery efforts across the city.” When asked about the challenges communities face in accessing technology after a natural disaster, Steckly See COMPUDOPT P. 6
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By giving a second life to donated devices Compudopt has diverted 698.9+ tons of computer hardware from landfills.
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