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Saturday, February 11, 2017 • Vol. 63 • No. 6
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What’s going on with Recapture? By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com
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Photo by Landan Kuhlmann Wakefield Crowbar General Manager Mike Pushkin (left) and bar manager Kevin Hernandez examine construction just down the road from their bar on Wakefield Drive. The Garden Oaks and Shepherd Park Plaza project has caused some headaches for them and other business owners.
Sunset Heights Clinic. Although Texas leads the nation in uninsured citizens, the Harris County Health system offers patients affordable, comprehensive walk-in care at six same day clinics.
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Houston Crush Independence Heights embraces their local youth baseball team, which is in turn loving them back.
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Find it. WANT TO LEARN ENGLISH? Affordable ESL classes, 28 years experience. 713-349-4676. ESTATE/GARAGE SALE: 5926 Autumn Forest 77092. Saturday, Feb. 11, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Dining/kitchen table, beds, sofas, miscellaneous. AKC GERMAN SHEPHERD PUPPIES, 903-529-2729; Shepherd Lab mix puppies, 903529-2873. 2012 MITSUBISHI GALANT: 67K miles, $7,000. One owner. A/C, stereo. Runs good, excellent condition. 281-701-0521, 281-847-0619.
Local watering holes scrambling to cope with city drainage project
By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com Residents have accepted the growth of this local area as a fact of life, but the process of a recent construction project has left several local businesses wondering what the light at the end of the tunnel may be. As Mike Pushkin and Kevin Hernandez walk up to the Wakefield Crowbar each day, the hustle and bustle of the ongoing construction along Alba Road hits them full in the face. The work has completely blocked access to Wakefield via Alba Road, which has forced drivers to detour around the neighborhood to reach the bar—and the pair just wants answers. “You’ve just got to know you can get to us. We have no idea when it’s going to stop,” bar manager Kevin Hernandez said. The $19.55-million Garden Oaks and Shepherd Park Project, part of the city of Houston’s Capital Improvement Plan, is aimed at reducing the risk of structural flooding in Garden Oaks, Shepherd Forest, Shepherd Park, Candlelight Plaza and other surrounding areas through design and construction of storm drainage improvements, necessary concrete paving, curbs, sidewalks, driveways and underground utilities. Areas to be affected by the work include Alba from Chamboard Lane to Judiway Street, Brinkman Street from Janisch Road to Chamboard Lane and Chamboard Lane from Alba to Brinkman Street. “We want to make sure we do everything we can to help residents and homeowners,” Alanna Reed with the city of Houston said of the project, which began construction last October. “We’re constantly trying to improve the system and infrastructure
which is there, and with projects like this we absolutely can.” Hurting business As the Wakefield Crowbar duo comes to work each day, the construction is but a minor annoyance; however, their deeper fear is with regards to their customer base, which
where from 25 to 40 percent week to week,” Liberty Kitchen co-owner Brian Schrumpf said. “Our lunch business has certainly been the most damaged.” Hernandez said such a downturn never comes without trickle-down effects. “I think it had a substantial effect on our business for sure, which then trickles down to all of our employees,” he said. “Bartenders don’t make as many tips, that means the bar backs don’t get as many tips—it affects our job as managers too because our owners are wondering why numbers are down.” Much of the same rings true for Liberty Kitchen, as the resulting decline in foot traffic has forced Schrumpf and co-owner Jaime Greene to work on an abridged menu as well as diminish their workforce. “A lot of our core items are still there, but simply due to the number Photo by Landan Kuhlmann of staff it takes to prepare and takThe work will continue until July 2018. ing into consideration the amount of product you have to order, we’ve basically had to cut our menu in half,” they believe has taken a hit. he said. “If it’s annoying me and I have Adding to the problem is the enorto come here, some neighborhood mous “Road closed to through traffolks might say ‘I’m not going there, I fic” sign prominent as one passes by don’t want to deal with that traffic or Wakefield on Golf Drive. construction over there because it’s “It’s a big old sign where people annoying,” Hernandez said. “We’ve view it as “I can’t go down this road’,” seen a lot less of our regular neigh- Pushkin said. “We’re looking into putbors here over the last two months.” ting up signs around the neighborhood “I’ll drive by a place if there’s not alerting folks that we are still open enough parking, so if it looked like it and they can come on through.” was more difficult to even get to the Liberty Kitchen has taken proactive place, I’d probably head on down the attempts to address any confusion, posting at least five signs around the road,” Pushkin added Fellow business and popular neigh- neighborhood so as to help patrons borhood dining spot Liberty Kitchen navigate the ever-changing routes, has also taken a hit with reduced foot traffic. See Navigation P. 6A “We’re looking at a loss of any-
The recent news that the state Senate Finance Committee has charged a study team to devise a new, equitable school finance system for Texas was encouraging to HISD board members. “Everyone is tired of having a convoluted system,” said HISD board member Anna Eastman of the increasingly complex formulas the state uses to figure out each school district’s allotment. “There needs to be a system a lay person can easily understand. The Supreme Court has left the door open to doing something totally different.” In the meantime though, Houston is still in Recapture – meaning that in the current system, HISD is considered “property wealthy” and is subject to sending $162 million in local property Anna Eastman taxes to the state. In the November elections however, voters said no to recapture, and HISD will now be subject to the detachment of about $18 billion worth of commercial property within district borders starting in July 2017. That’s partly why HISD board members along with Superintendent Richard Carranza and other staff went to Austin to meet with Larry Taylor, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, and Speaker of the House Joe Straus, among others. “We want to be a part of conversation,” said Eastman. Another purpose of their meetings was to make recommendations of how to get Houston out of recapture. “The things we talked about were more of a short term fix in the current system,” said Eastman. “Maybe not this session, but ultimately they’ll come up with better solutions.” These interim remedies including raising the basic allotment per student, currently at about $9,000 per student; calculating the Homestead tax exemption for HISD homeowners on the full value of the property; counting full day Pre-K children as part of the daily attendance counts – because currently the state only funds a half day for students and HISD picks up the rest of the tab; and asking for a Transportation allotment because if Houston does go into recapture that funding for buses will be lost. “The remedies we asked for are not exclusive to Houston,” said Eastman. As for what will happen in July when properties are scheduled to be detached, Eastman said she has not heard of any specific movement on the behalf of businesses to sue the state to prevent the seizure. The concern is the permanence of the detachment of commercial properties for the purposes of taxation. Eastman did note the action of State Representative Jim Murphy who filed HB 1059 relating to the reattachment of property detached from a school district by the Texas Commissioner of EducaSee Recapture P. 6A
2017
The INDEX. Church....................................................... 5A Classifieds.............................................. 4B Coupons. ................................................. 6A Food/Drink/Art................................... 7A Opinion. ................................................... 4A Public Information......................... 2A
The top two vote getters are taking it all in stride
Puzzles...................................................... 4A
Page 7B
Sports. ....................................................... 7B
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The public. Saturday, February 11, 2017 • Page 2A
Heights-area nanny attack highlights importance of vigilance, awareness By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
In today’s day and age, even a simple stroll in the park can take a dangerous turn, as one Heights-area nanny found out earlier this week. On the afternoon of February 2, the nanny and her kids were taking a walk through nearby Donovan Park, before the day took a dangerous turn upon returning to her car. Cpt. J.C. Mosier with the Precinct 1 Constable’s Office said that upon reaching her car, the nanny noticed one of the passenger-side windows had been smashed. In the aftermath of attempting to figure out what happened, Mosier said she
told deputies one black male walked over under the guise of having the same incident happen. Subsequently, while the first visitor talked to her, another black male snatched the nanny’s purse before both jumped into a gray Chevy Malibu with paper license plates and fled the scene. Mosier said the nanny did everything right considering the circumstances; she was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. “That can happen to any of us. We always tell people that their most powerful weapon is just being aware of where you are, what you’re doing and keeping your head about a situation,” he said. “She did all of that; she did everything
right—she just had two different people that overpowered her. She’s pretty much in a helpless situation under the circumstances.” Learning experience While deputies are unaware of any similar incidents at or around Donovan Park, Mosier says the incident serves as a dangerous reminder to always be aware of someone’s surroundings. “Everybody has to be so careful of the situation they’re in and just be very aware of everything that’s going on around you,” he said. “Study the people and the situations around you—you really have to do that nowadays. She did everything she could do—just a victim of an opportunity
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The Topics. Saturday, February 11, 2017 • Page 4A
We have no stories on mental illness in vegans
A
n alert reader sent us a warning this week that our name has been hijacked. It may be the Russians. It’s probably just the new normal. In no way am I suggesting you give these people the time of day, but a website called the Houston Leader appeared on our radar this week. If you go to Google and type the words “Houston Leader,” we’re the first one you’ll find – probably because we’re 63 years old and have been trusted for as long as we’ve been in business. We’re also the second result for that search. But coming in at a whopping No. 3 on the list is houstonleader.com, and because Google ranks them so high, you know they must be a legitimate operation, right? They sure sound like it. According to their website, “Houston Leader is Houston’s most trusted source for local news,” they proclaim. “With a focus on local content, the Leader thrives to maintain a non-partisan newsroom making our content the most reliable source available in print and across the web.” I’m not sure you can argue with a news organization that throws around the words “reliable” and “trusted” these days. Houston Leader’s first story cited a 30-year-old scientific study that said people living on a vegan diet
Jonathan McElvy Publisher
were more likely to struggle from mental illness. Personally, I’d get a little ill if I had to forgo pulled pork the rest of my life, but that’s beside the point. Remember, this is the most trusted source for local news. So local, in fact, that I started receiving emails from all over the world about this vegan study. A British rabbi sent me a note suggesting I should check the veracity of the scientific study we irresponsibly published. “An article being circulated by the Houston Leader on vegan diets on Facebook quotes the ‘Council for Dietary Research and Improvement,’ an organization which doesn’t seem to exist when Googled,” Rabbi Pertz wrote to me. “…The entire article would seem to be a case of mis-reporting on a serious topic with serious health implications for many of your vegan readers.” First of all, how does Rabbi Pertz
know our vegan reader population? That’s confidential information. The Houston Leader’s next trusted, local story was a bang-up piece of investigative journalism on the Trump White House sending PED-laced drinking water to the New England Patriots right before kickoff of Super Bowl LI. Now I know there’s a swelling movement to see President Trump impeached three weeks into his administration, but don’t you think this is a set-up? Somebody else sent the Patriots their PED water. The stories get even more trusted and local. There’s a story on a local teenager who started making huge profits – $4,900 a month, to be exact – by starting his own food delivery business. Other than the fact that Papa Johns has really upped their wages, I read about this “local” teenager, who attends Western Lakes High School. Did you know there’s not a single school in all of America called Western Lakes? Have these editors at the Houston Leader even been to Houston? Don’t they know the two western lake areas of this city are called Humble and Montgomery? When we get to the end of 2017 and talk about all the catch-phrases of the past 12 months, my guess is we’ll all remember those precious months when we pointed our finger at every headline and called it “Fake
Lynn Ashby Columnist
the idea that the Border Patrol is watching the wrong river? Texas’ population surged by 1.8 million people from 2010 to 2014 – Houston is catching up with Chicago -- and the U.S. Census Bureau projects the state’s population will double by 2050. Before you spray paint GTT on your ice-covered condo door, let’s make sure we’re a match. We like guns. Do you like guns? If you’re from Chicago, next question. We pronounce the word ROW-deeoh, not row-DAY-oh. This isn’t Beverly Hills, as you will soon realize. Don’t shout: “Hook ‘Em Horns” in College Station. It’s a long story. Avoid saying things like, “That’s not the way we did it in Philadelphia,” or, “Shouldn’t Texas have an income tax like we did in Michigan?” We don’t need any more missionaries to the savages. At sporting events, wave banners of the home team, and that’s here. No more cheering when the Packers, Dodgers or Celtics score. Also, there is a vast difference in how Texans feel about George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush. Speaking of politics, the good old boys who controlled Texas for more than a century through the Democratic Party were white, male, conservative and often racist. They feared that the huge influx of northerners would bring with them East Coast liberalism, big government, high taxes and integration. These newcomers must have been converted because Texas now has the most rightwing state government in the nation. We like sports such as gerrymandering, freeway demolition derbies and, above all, high school football. It was former Houston Post sports columnist Mickey Herskowitz who wrote: “There must really be something to religion. People keep comparing it to Texas high school football.” The slogan, “Don’t mess with Texas” originally dealt with litter. Now it’s a battle cry. “Remember the Alamo” was once a battle cry. Now it’s an order. Global warming is a hoax, but professional wrestling is real. Never squat while wearing spurs. Some old timers (those who got here before 2007) say: “I’m aboard, so pull up the gangplank.” That’s a bit much, but we need to cherry-pick those who join us. Can your kid dribble, punt or bat .333? Do you plan to invest a couple of million in a new company here which will hire 300 workers? Are you an honest politician who doesn’t dwell
the trend. No kidding, near the top of the Chronicle’s website this week was a headline (and subsequent photo/video gallery) that read: “Challenge: Try not to laugh at these cat videos.” That’s the most important thing for people to read about Houston that day? One day after the Super Bowl left this wonderful city? The business model, in case you’re wondering, is to get as many people as possible to click on different pages of a website. Every click means a couple of pennies, and those pennies add up to real dollars (with very little effort). My problem isn’t with fake news sites like the Houston Leader. My problem is that real news – the real local, trusted news we once relied upon to make decisions – has followed the way of the vegan diets and their mental illnesses. Nothing, not even integrity, is beyond grasping for a few extra website views. So in case there’s any confusion, we are not the Houston Leader, and we will never publish stories that don’t matter to the Heights, Oak Forest, Garden Oaks and the neighborhoods of North Houston. We may go down in a blaze of real journalism glory, but we’ll never revert to tactics of pretending to be something we’re not. Just ask the Russians. Email jonathan@theleadernews.com
The reader.
Yankee, come home HOVERING OVER HOUSTON -- Fasten your seatbelts, trays up, wheels down. I am flying into Hobby from a trip to Las Vegas. (Hint: hotel rooms there don’t have coffee pots. They want you to use room service for coffee and muffins each morning: $37, $74 and $59. Nevada has no state income tax, but I was hit with a daily room tax, room fee and resort fee tax totaling $85.46.) Looking out the widow I see rows and rows of homes down below, in lines or semi-circles, facing cul-de-sacs, backed up to bayous. Those houses weren’t there 10 years ago, and, after Hurricane Bubba comes in August, may not be there next year. All of which leads us to – one guess -- President Donald John Trump. It goes like this: one reason Trump won the election is that Russian President Vladimir Putin rigged it. Another reason is that Hillary Clinton was the worst presidential candidate since Aaron Burr. A third reason is that blue-collar workers in the Rust Belt believed Trump when he said he would stop the exodus of plants to Mexico and China. He would get American workers jobs again, he would bring back prosperity, heal the lame, walk on water, etc. etc. In a term, he would scratch their itch. OK, these poor souls have been waiting for years for someone else to come to their aid, and we can’t help but feel sorry for them. But, not to sound too hard-hearted, there is a certain amount of self-pity there. How long are they going to sit in Cleveland waiting for the cavalry to arrive? Detroit, a lot of cities have financial problems, but you managed to go flat bankrupt, and others (us) had to bail you out. What measures did you take on your own? It’s like the Texas governor said in “The Best Little …:” “Somebody do something.” Your “do something’ was to vote into office a slightly crazed snake oil salesman who will make everything right, like tomorrow. But that tomorrow may be a long way off, so I have a solution. It’s called GTT, Gone To Texas. Those were the initials chalked, carved or burned into front doors of log cabins, houses and hovels across eastern America in the 1800s, and everyone who was left behind knew exactly what it meant. Davy Crocket put it more bluntly to his former constituents, after being defeated for reelection to Congress: “You all may go to hell. And I will go Texas!” (Some might say it was a short trip.) In recent years, many have taken that advice. Texas’ population is growing twice as fast as the rest of the nation. Three reasons: foreign immigration - check the kitchen after your next restaurant meal. Natural birth rates -- Texans are sex addicts. And national immigration – other Americans coming here. Do you ever get
News.” I’m sure the good folks at the Houston Leader would take offense at such a description, and so do I. Fake news is not new. The National Enquirer was founded in 1926. It became a sensational tabloid in 1953, exactly one year before The Leader (the real Leader) published its first edition. At its peak, the Enquirer had 6 million subscribers – a lot of people once paid for “fake news.” These days, they only have about 1 million subscribers. But the Enquirer isn’t the only semi-phony publication out there, and some of the top selling, grocerystore magazines are filled with all kinds of rubbish that people pay hard-earned money to read. While we’ve always tended to keep our guilty reading in the grocery store aisles, we’re obviously in a new era of media and pop-up sites like the Houston Leader are the perfect example. They take advantage of people who will read anything just because it appears online. Doesn’t matter if it’s true or not; it makes for interesting banter. I have no problem with that (except when they start linking their idiotic stories to our website, taking advantage of our hard-earned name). My problem is that legitimate, respected news sources like the Houston Chronicle are following
Professional protesting now a career?
in meaningless demagoguery like school restrooms? We have a few positions in Austin which desperately need replacing. There was an expression years ago about the GTT crowd and others who moved west: “The cowards never started, and the weak died along the way.” Actually, if you’re just gonna sit there collecting food stamps and welfare checks while waiting for someone else – like President Trump -- to solve your problems, you wouldn’t cut it in Texas, anyway. Right now, looking down at those new homes spread out across the salt grass prairie, I suspect few of those inhabitants are from Houston, or even from Texas. As the West Berliners who fled communism, used to say, “We voted with our feet.” You’ve already voted for Trump, now vote with your feet. Ashby moved to ashby2@ comcast.net
Dear Editor: Let me get this straight. The president issues an executive order on Friday January 27 and on Saturday January 28, less than 24 hours later, there are “spontaneous protests” in airports across the country? Spontaneous, come on. Spontaneity is when you decide at 7:30 p.m. to go out for ice cream, or go to a movie, or hop on a plane and go to Vegas for a weekend. It is not showing up at airports across the country with signs in hand to protest a presidential order. Normally, most people, when irritated by a new law, order, or decision complain to their family or friends in casual conversation. I assume these are people who have a life, a job and are going about their daily business, working and caring for their family. Who are these protestors, that show up 24 hours after some incident, i.e. Ferguson, Mo., North Carolina, Wall Street and now airports across the country? Is being a professional protestor considered a career now? Will that be a course of study in colleges and universities? Or is it possible that there is now a class of people who are being paid to protest, rally, etc. because
Email us your letters: news@theleadernews.com they are too lazy or stupid to do anything else? Jeff Przybyla
Braun buys Jimmy’s Ice House
Dear Editor: At 61, I’ve lived long enough to see many institutions that I thought would be forever go, I found it interesting that the founder’s son has passed and his widow is selling. Probably wouldn’t happen if he were still alive. With all the regulars, has anyone thought of approaching the sellers and ask if they came up with a group of investors, all the regulars chipping in, would they sell at the same price to them so they could save their hangout? If the manager and the staff were part of the partnership and stayed the business could go on as is. If the place is profitable now, and they leave it as they love it there would be no renovation costs. Just a thought. John Dear Editor: I’ve been going in to Jimmy’s since June of 1976, underage but Jimmy and I had an understand-
ing. That’s just the way it was back then, if you were man enough to pay for your beer out of your pocket he would sell to you but you better never get out of hand! I’ve been around long enough to see all the changes and some were bad but most were for the better. Eric’s been one hell of an owner and he care’s about the customers, where ever he moves to I’m sure to be there! Thanks for all the memories. Paul Ecke NFL creates boom for area businesses Dear Editor: I am glad to see that some local folk have benefited from the Super Bowl, especially after reading Lisa Falkenberg’s column in the Chronicle, which stated that officials estimate that the spending on the Super Bowl was $1.5 Billion, presumably, a large portion of it came from tax revenues. With the city in a giant pension hole, you would think that the Chronicle would be taking a closer look at this spending, but the press is simply not concerned. I know that I, and most taxpayers, didn’t see any benefit from this spending, but perhaps a few business owners will. Jason Hochman
the leader Puzzlers. Answers found in this week’s Classified section
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1. Punished 10. Cartoon feline 12. Productive land 13. Playfully mischievous one 15. Liquorice-flavored seeds 16. Changed or modified 18. Used to strengthen and harden steel 19. Extinct flightless bird of New Zealand 20. Atomic #63 21. Missing soldiers 24. Payment (abbr.) 27. Blood-sucking African fly 30. Erstwhile 31. Used to have (Scottish) 33. ___ Ming: Houston Rocket player 34. CNN’s founder 35. Volcanic craters 37. 2-wheeled carriage 39. Team cheer 41. Lingering sign of injury 42. Brews 44. Mix with society 47. Type of healthcare plan 48. Spanish baby 49. Expression of sympathy
50. Openwork fishing fabric 52. Farm state 53. Weak-willed (Yiddish) 56. Madwort 61. Cause to expand 62. S. Am. procyonids 63. Former German tennis champion 65. Professional intent on career
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1. Black-eyed & sugar snap 2. Czech River 3. World’s longest river 4. Canned 5. Giant’s Hall of Fame Linebacker 6. Worn to Mecca 7. Fanatical partisan 8. Rapturous delight 9. Southern Redbelly ____ (minnows) 10. Weekday 11. Seaman 12. A way to bless 14. Harper, Bruce and Robert E. 15. Ammunition 17. Scheduled to arrive 22. Sour or bitter in taste 23. Closed automobile
24. Philemon (abbr., Biblical) 25. ‘Throne of Glass’ author Sarah 26. A way to give information 28. 55122 MN 29. Scenic French fabric 32. Apothecaries’ unit 36. No seats available 38. Extraordinary intellect 40. Solomon Islands capital 43. Furrow 44. Principal ethnic group of China 45. Collectable 46. Rouse 51. Not those 54. Serviette 55. Coalition with a common purpose 56. Maple genus 57. Localities 58. Asian ox 59. Let it stand 60. Title of respect 64. Exist
WORD SCRAMBLE
Saturday, February 11, 2017 • Page 5A
Neighbors: Record-breaking turnout at ODC Annual BBQ Cookoff By Elizabeth Villarreal elizasgarden@outlook.com The Oaks Dads Club Annual BBQ Cookoff was held recently and in spite of a chilly beginning (pardon the pun) on Friday night at the Cooks Party, spicy and delicious food was the name of the game. Friday night, 30 cooking teams got down and dirty making chili and beans as well as some real Texas barbecue. In a record-breaking turnout, old friends reconnected and new friends were made as folks gathered around campfires and heaters while “taste testing� and neighbors danced the Texas Two Step to the music of Darwin Macon. A few of the folks cooking, dancing and visiting on Friday and Saturday were Shawn Salyers, Sean and Beth Jez, Andy and Beth Tomczeszyn, Tony Cirillo, Norbert Aguilar, Andy Moore, Christina Martinez, Jason Kmiec, Laurie Christensen and Liz Rogers, Billy Hartman, Victor Garcia (chef at Crowbar), Keith and Julie Roznovsky, Cindy Roznovsky Mican, Herman Leos, Justin Gordon, Jeremy Hunt, Joseph Hunt, Zach Norvick, Bryan McDaniel, Ainsley Caffrey, Jason and Tera Starr (Men’s T Clinic), Jennifer Lopez, Carlos Aguilar (Ugly Guppy Productions), Indra and Thomas Mouton, Katy Cattoni, Veronica and Robert Paniagua with their son Robbie, Naro M., Chuck Coon, Kristen Powell (owner of the Barking Pig), Raul Rodriguez (Chem X Steam Cleaning), Jason Holcombe, Mike Murphy, Carrie Jaeger, Omid Rafrei, Brian Lovins, James Johnson, Sybren and Kathryn van der
Pol (Adolph Hoepfl and Son Garage), and so many others! Danielle Soria-Orozco, Vice President of the ODC Corporate Board of Directors, headed up the BBQ team this year. Soria-Orozco said, “Special thank you to the BBQ Dream Team and true leaders of the club: Shawn Salyers (Baseball Board President), Sean Jez (Corporate Board President), Christina Martinez (Soccer Board President), Andy Moore, Beth Culver, Tony Cirillo, Steve Ruffino, Norbert Aguilar, Andy Tomczeszyn, Mike Hamlin (Softball Board President), Inocensia and Oscar Gonzales. Saturday dawned bright and sunny and as children played in bouncy houses and their parents enjoyed the music of Honeyboy Nelson, while lucky judges assessed entries of succulent, delicious chicken, ribs, brisket, chili, chef’s choice, children’s entries, beans, and the Ron Roznovsky Chef’s Choice Division in honor of the beloved longtime cook off supporter and ODC Hall of Famer. ODC, athletes and parents would like to thank these generous sponsors and local businesses: Presenting sponsor-Kroger; Beer sponsor-Saint Arnold; Media Sponsor-The Leader Newspaper; Grand Slam Sponsors-Tru-lite Gas Products, Gatlin’s BBQ, Eddy Sausage, and Hartman & Associates; Home Run Sponsors – Dick Law Firm, Leather Apron Foundation, Adolf Hoepfl Garage, The Barking Pig, and Elizabeth Villarreal and Laurie Christensen RE/ MAX Exclusive Realtor Team; Cornhole Sponsor-Houston Sports & Social Club; and other sponsors - Ugly Guppy Productions, Mytiburger, Revolver Bourbon Social, Houston Ghost Bike,
HOUsalsa, Ugly Duck BBQ, Enerteq Solutions, Avryl Gordon State Farm, Raising Cane’s, Loco Mosquito, Aztec Rental, Twisted Metal Concepts, and Texans Worldwide Insurance Agency/ James Stocker. Shawn Salyers wants to remind you, registration for the spring season is open now! Check the ODC website for registration information: http://www. odcsports.com Oak Forest lost several of its beloved long-time neighbors recently. Condolences go out to friends and family of Gretchen Campbell who lived on Libbey for over 40 years. Neighbors Bonnie Yezak, Susan Barnes, and Karen Alford remember her for her amazing cooking, walking with beloved friends in T.C. Jester Park early every morning for over 30 years, and her love for Halloween, cruises, and her neighbors. She was married to Steve Campbell for 26 years, worked in sales at Battlesteins (later Bealls). Campbell was a member of Oak Forest Baptist Church and participated in the American Legion Women’s Auxiliary. She also made the best deviled eggs with a German flair – pieces of crunchy bacon mixed into the yolks and a green olive slice on top were part of her secret. Virginia Pettit from Overhill Street passed away on Dec. 21. With her siblings Robin and James, she attended Oak Forest Elementary, F.M. Black Middle School and S.P. Waltrip High School from which she was graduated in 1964. Pettit also wrote for The Leader Newspaper at one time. She graduated from the University of Houston with a degree in professional writing. Pettit loved all things that had to do
with travel and horses. Retired from Continental Airlines in 2008, Pettit competed at one time in the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo in the barrel racing division. Upon her diagnosis of dementia in 2011, she donated her beloved Arabian horse, Pterskatova, to the San Jacinto Girl Scouts Camp Misty Meadows in Conroe and now multitudes of girls will be able to experience the love and care of horses and riding. What a legacy! Pettit loved Oak Forest dearly and always enjoyed her neighbors, resale shops, and the small community feel amongst the trees. Our neighbor Johnny Rojas, husband of Cynthia, perhaps said it best this week after the couple’s sweet neighbor, Dorothy Connor, passed away : “The end of an era. On Friday night (Jan. 27), Mrs. Dorothy Conner, the last of our seniors passed away in her sleep. When my wife and I moved here in 2000, we were the young couple on the block. With no hesitation we were welcomed by Helen, a senior from across the street. Then the others followed. In a short period of time we got to know our senior citizen neighbors, eight as grandparents. Birthday parties, holidays, Tropical Storm Allison and hurricanes. We were all family in different houses. One by one our little family on Gardenia was getting smaller. Time was the enemy. I miss all the morning stories with coffee and cookies from these fine ladies and let me not forget Pat O’Brien, the widower down the street. The Silver Slippers of Gardenia are all together again. Good-bye, and we really miss you ladies and Pat.�
The calendar.
GRAND OPENING Live Athletically Live healthier and attend the Live Athletically Grand Opening from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Feb. 11, to a free open gym. Take one of the Swoll30 sessions for free. Class times are 9 a.m., 10 a.m., noon, 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m. 5 p.m. (no registration needed). The gym is located at 4914 Dickson. Rice Military Civic Club get 10% discount on a variety of supplements. Information: 832-2050018, www.liveathletically.com.
BOOK SIGNING The Book Scene Local children’s author Angie Tatton will be signing her book, “My Visit to Grandma and Papa’s� at The Book Scene, 1820 W. 43rd St., from 1-3 p.m. Feb. 11. Bring the kids for food, fun and prizes. Information: 713-869-6117, www.thebookscene.xyz/events.
VALENTINE’S DAY SHOW Houston City Dance Back by popular demand - Houston City Dance will present an adults-only Valentine’s show Feb. 11. Come and enjoy tap, jazz, and contemporary works ranging from tongue-in-cheek to steamy in an intimate dinner theater setting with live music by the award winning jazz band Free Radicals. The 5:30 p.m. show will include drinks and lite bites. The 9:30 p.m. show will include drinks and dessert. This is a show for lovers that ignites all the senses. The cost is $50 for couples and $30 for singles. Houston City Dance is located at 1307 Clay St. Information: houstoncitydance.com, 713-5296100. HEIGHTS SWEETHEART MARKET TEAplusART Finding something to do with
your sweetheart on Valentine’s weekend just got easier. The Heights Sweet Heart Market will benefit local charities. There will be live music, food trucks, pet adoptions and local/handcrafting vendors. The market will be from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 12, behind Heights Glass, 613 1/2 19th St. Admission is free. Information: facebook.com/ events/1792964160953815. UNDERDOGS AND UNDERCATS: PHOTO EXHIBIT Friends for Life Come to the Friends for Life Animal Shelter, 107 E. 22nd St., from 6-8 p.m. Feb. 16, to admire the Underdogs and Undercats photo series and meet the photo team behind this unique photoshoot. Carolyn Levy, Katie Weintritt, Matt Weintritt and Lauren Evans will be available to answer questions about the setup and experience of working
with animals. There will be light bites and drinks. Please rsvp to communications@friends4life. org. STEAK NIGHT American Legion Post 560 Come by the American Legion Post 560, 3720 Alba Rd., for a delicious steak dinner and live entertainment, Feb. 17 (third Friday of each month). Steaks will be served from 6 p.m. until sold out. The cost is $15 per plate. Information: 713-682-9287, facebook.com/AmLegionPost560/, www.txlegion560.org. CRAWFISH FESTIVAL Greater Heights Area Chamber of Commerce This year’s Crawfish Festival is Saturday, March 4. Exhibitor booths start at $100 and sponsorships start at $250. For details on participation in the parade, selling goods or to sponsor this
year’s Crawfish Festival, contact Jill Johnston at the Chamber office.#Information: 713-861-6735, Ad 30111 events@heightschamber.org.
Dessert Extravaganza at St. Stephen’s The annual Dessert Extravaganza will be held Feb. 11, beginning at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $5 for six sample-size dessert tastings, with additional “tastes� for $1 each. Bid on a
favorite in the silent auction. Auction and tastings end at 3:30 p.m. Profits will benefit St. Stephen’s youth ministry. All are welcome to attend Family Movie Night at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17. Snacks will be served. Admission is free. A new GriefShare support group will meet weekly on Tuesdays beginning Feb. 21 at 6:30 p.m., in Room 201. Each session includes a video teaching on grief recovery followed by small group discussion. St. Stephen’s United Methodist Church is located at 2003 W. 43rd St. For information, call 713-686-8241 or visit www.stsumc.org and the church’s Facebook page. All Saints TALC to hold Valentine’s Day party All Saints Third Age Learn-
ing Center (TALC), 215 E. 10th St., will hold a Valentine’s Day party from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Feb. 14, with music by Big Ed and The Happy Band. There will be refreshments and door prizes. A full course hot lunch is available Monday through Friday at noon during the semester for a nominal fee of $2. Call 713-248-1277 for information. Zion Lutheran hosting chili supper Zion Lutheran’s Men in Mission are hosting their annual chili supper from 5-7 p.m. Feb. 22, in Zion’s Great Room. This is their annual fundraiser for the Seminary Scholarship program. The meal will be for a free will offering and there will also be quarts to go for $10. Zion Lutheran is located at
3606 Beauchamp. Call 713869-1493 for information. Houston Chamber Choir presents Mexicantos II at All Saints The Houston Chamber Choir presents Meixicantos II, a free concert in the sanctuary of All Saints Catholic Church, 215 E. 10th St. The brilliance of Mexico’s choral tradition will be on full display as the choir performs works from the country’s golden age of polyphony in the 16th century to its present-day gems. The concert will be from 7:30-9 p.m. Feb. 24. There will be a dessert reception after the concert. This is a free will offering concert. Call 713-864-2653 or visit www.allsaintsheights.com for information.
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From the Pews. St. Rose Altar Guild to hold chocoholic games party The St. Rose of Lima Altar Guild is hosting its annual Chocoholic Feast and Games night Feb. 10, at 7 p.m. in the West Hall. Tickets are $10 each and include a light dinner, door prize drawings, fun, games and desserts. St. Rose of Lima Catholic Community is located at 3600 Brinkman. For information email louise.bratton@yahoo. com or call 713-692-9123.
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f you would like to improve the appearance of your teeth and smile, ask your dentist about porcelain veneers to mask any chips, gaps, discolorations, or other imperfections. Your smile can be an asset when your teeth and gums are healthy and shaped to show you off at your best. Imperfections in the shape, color, or condition of the teeth, however, can make you self-conscious as well as detract from your general appearance. The porcelain veneer involves repairing and reshaping damaged tooth surfaces and applying a thin shell of tooth colored porcelain through a chemical bonding process. This procedure is as long-lasting as crowning a tooth and requires less tooth reduction. Porcelain veneers are some of the most beautiful cosmetic dentistry that is available today. If you are bothered by imperfections in your teeth and would like to have them treated, now is a great time to discuss your options with your dentist. Prepared as a public service to promote better dental health. From the office of: Chase Baker, D.D.S., 3515 Ella Blvd., 713-682-4406.
MESSAGE OF THE WEEK
Evils of Envy
E
directory
First FirstChurch Church Heights
Weekly Sunday Services • Bible Study: 9:15 a.m. • Morning:10:30 a.m. • Evening: 4:15 p.m.
1700 West 43 rd at Rosslyn 713-682-4942 Pastor – Dr. Richard Walters
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Worship Services 8:00 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. (Nursery Provided) Sunday School & Bible Classes 9:15 a.m. Preschool Program • Mon. - Fri. 9-2 p.m. www.gethsemanelutheran.org
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nvy, is the thirteenth work of the flesh mentioned by Paul in his epistle to the Galatians, and is the translation of the Greek word “phthonos.� In contrast to the Greek word “zelos,� which can have both a positive and a negative sense, phthonos almost always has a negative sense. Phthonos is the envy which inspired the chief priests to deliver Jesus to Pilate (Mark 15:10); it is often produced by a morbid craving for controversy and disputes about words (1 Timonthy 6:4); it is a prominent characteristic of our behavior prior to becoming true Christians (Titus 3:3); and it is something which we are instructed to put aside (1 Peter 2:1). What distinguishes zelos from phthonos is that zelos is jealousy which desires what someone else has, and thus can have the positive which desires what someone else has, and thus can have the positive connotation of emulation, whereas phthonos is a malicious jealousy which seeks to deprive others of goods which they have and we do not. For instance, the child who imitates his fellow student’s good work is exemplifying zelos, whereas the child who sabotages his neighbor’s work is exemplifying phthonos. This type of envy often occurs in politics, where false and malicious character assassination is seen as sport, or in higher education, where it is often the motive for attacking someone’s research, or even in the church, where we intentionally misrepresent other religions or denominations, thereby slandering them, often without making the effort to find out what they really believe.
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Page 6A • Saturday, February 11, 2017 Navigation from P. 1A which can vary based on the construction schedule at a given time and change the accessibility of Alba Road. “You can access it from one side but not the other, so traffic flow there has been diminished, and it’s much of the same on Alba,â€? Schrumpf said. “One side or the other will always be closed—there’s never any kind of forewarning about what their plans are.â€? What does the future hold? Retaining returning customers remains a priority; but Pushkin and Hernandez also harbor a fear of the inconvenience preventing them from growing their customer base. “We’ve got new customers coming in for the first time not knowing because they don’t see the road,â€? Pushkin said. “I can only imagine someone trying to get here before saying ‘I’m
Recapture from P. 1A
never going back there again.� Pushkin said housing volleyball courts, as well as standing business with the Houston Sports Social Club, has managed to keep them afloat; but the time has come for answers. In response, Reed noted that due to the complete overhaul nature of the project — which is slated for a July 2018 completion — a large amount of time simply must be invested, and said the temporary inconvenience will be worth it. “We want to do everything we can to help improve the infrastructure so it’s better for everyone in the future,� she said. “Having to put in these types of drainage systems and redoing the paving, curbs and sidewalks are a bit of an annoyance, but if it can help protect businesses from structural flooding that’s a good goal. We just have to remind them there is a light.�
tion. “If property can be detached from an ISD, certainly the reversal of those circumstances should cause the reattachment of the property to make an ISD whole,� said Murphy. Senator Paul Bettencourt, a member of the Senate Education Committee, thinks that the no vote on recapture was a big mistake. “It’s a lose, lose, lose situation,� he said. “The public was not well informed.� In a press release, Bettencourt detailed the three ways he says the city would lose. The first is that de-annexed taxpayers will see their Maintenance and Operations property tax rates rise by 15 cents. The second is that the existing HISD taxpayers will have to make up their Interest and Sinking property tax debt rate that goes up two cents to make up for the departed de-annexed commercial taxpayers. “The final ‘lose’ is that HISD permanently
loses $17.4 billion dollars of their tax roll that can’t be replaced easily per the TEA Commissioner, if at all,� Senator Bettencourt noted in the release. “The way to fix this is obvious: HISD trustees need to schedule another HISD recapture vote in May.� Bettencourt said that there was a precedent for this in Galveston HISD, who had voted against sending the recapture payment in 2006 and then scheduled a revote to accept it. “You leave no vote intact and nothing good happens,� said Bettencourt. “Once you are two years in new district it’s hard to pull out.� “There are a lot of unknowns,� said Eastman of the current situation. Of the bigger picture though, she says she is hopeful. “I get the sense that there’s a sincere desire of the legislature to get it right,� Eastman said.
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Saturday, February 11, 2017 • Page 7A
Something sweet for you to eat In all other places, but Texas – there is something called “seasons.” No, I’m not talking about what you add to your Sunday pot of soup. And I’m definitely not talking about the hotel down on Lamar. See, there is something out there called weather, and in far, faraway places, the weather changes throughout the year in four seasons: spring, summer, fall and winter; unlike our one constant season here in Houston: are you kidding me? With the seasons come seasonal business hours, and several businesses opening and closing doors around these times. One local business that sticks to their east coast roots, closes up shop right before Christmas and reopens at the end of January: Rita’s Italian Ice of Houston Heights. Back open for business, Rita’s launched a few new things to their menu – just in time for a sweet, upcoming holiday.
lar, fresh or just try them all. A d d i t i o n a l l y, fresh cookies are baked on a daily basis to add to your craving, or to take
your sweet tooth hunger to the next level. With freshly baked cookies and their hand crafted frozen custard, Rita’s has married the two to create warm cookie sandwiches. The cookie sandwich is filled with two scoops of custard, that you can mix and
Photos by Christina Martinez Above, Christina’s handpicked warm cookie sandwich, with strawberry chocolate chip custard, and a double chocolate chip cookie and an M&M cookie. To the right, Rita’s of Houston’s co-owner, Michael Schwartz.
Adding to the Italian ice lineup, Rita’s added to their existing custard options by introducing options in flavor! You can sample what is popu-
Art Valet: From Paris with Love All last week during the Super Bowl activities, the name Sawyer Yards was repeated over and over. Did you catch that? That is where my new market, The Market at Sawyer Yards takes place! The market is right in the center of the complex of art studios that opens noon - 5 p.m., for Second Saturday open art studios. Silver Street Studios is one of the buildings at Sawyer Yards, which is one of the largest creative campuses in the nation - a total of six buildings on over 36 acres, housing over 500 working artists and multiple independent small businesses. Silver Street Studios is where a Valentine’s event, like no other, will take place Saturday, Feb. 11 from 5 - 9 p.m., called the Heart Stroll. Make it a date! The Heart Stroll is a Valentine’s Day celebration with jewelry, art, sweet treats and even a Valentine’s photo booth. Seven resident metalsmiths, and their invited guest artists, will have their work on display, and for sale, that includes: jewelry, sculptures, paintings and photography. It’s not often I am fascinated by jewelry, however Hege Nolop has had my attention for a long time. Nolop co-founded the event two years ago and today shares the responsibilities with the other metalsmith at Silver Street, where they have become friends. Each of their styles is of their own design. The group hopes that many of the other 60 studio artists will extend their open studios through the evening. Having attended my shows for a few years, I knew Nolop had an interesting background, and that she traveled back to Europe every summer. Naturally, I had to know how she ended up where she is now. How did you get started creating jewelry, and what is the Paris connection? “Our family moved to Paris
Mitch Cohen Art Columnist
in 2003 when my husband was transferred by his company,” she said. “Since I didn’t speak French at the time, I was no longer able to work so I stayed at home, took care of the family and ran a B&B. After several years, I started making jewelry
beading and wire wrapping to working mainly with sterling silver, copper and enamel. As a result, my work today is more complex and has more of a clean and contemporary style inspired by my Scandinavian background (I was born and raised in Norway).” Look for a banner on Edwards Street. And hearts and flowers inside to guide you in, where you’ll also find chocolate samples, plates of charcuterie for sale, wine tasting and live music.
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Valentine’s Day
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match, and two cookies to sandwich, that you can also mix and match. For my warm cookie sandwich, I went for the strawberry-chocolate chip custard, and chose a double chocolate chip cookie and an M&M cookie – go big or go home, right? After crafting the cookie creation, the cookies are warmed up for showtime. The warm cookie sandwich is served with a spoon and lots of napkins. This is the perfect treat to share on sweet holidays, or not. Rita’s of Houston is located at 2802 White Oak Dr.
Join us for Dinner
feb. 10, 11, 14, 2017 Pre-fixed menu includes 2 glasses of Piper-Heidsieck Champagne $145 Per CoUPLe
Join us for Brunch
feb. 11, 12, 2017 Pre-fixed menu includes 1 glass of Sweetheart royale $45 Per PerSon
Call to make your reservation! 4705 inker Street 713.861.8883
Valentine’s Day Tuesday, February 14 Order Early
Call to schedule your delivery Make your Sweetheart smile with Flowers, Balloons, Candy or a Gift Basket
Above, photo by Janavi M Folmsbee In the Photo, Verny Sanchez, Lynda Chadbourne, Patty Scott, Luisa Duarte, Kim Wittinthon, Adriana Lo Russo Moreira. On the right, Gold and black heart necklace; bronze and oxidized sterling silver by Hege Nolop, located at Silver Street Studios #215.
together with a friend using beads and vintage elements we found at antique markets in and around Paris.” Your jewelry has been getting more complex, tell me about that. “We transferred to Houston in 2010 where I discovered Glassell School of the Arts and I took classes in drawing, silver smithing and enameling. After learning new techniques, my work developed from basic
Unique finds for your Valentine Great Selection & Discounts on all Jewelry
Silver Street Studios, 2000 Edwards Street, 77007. Nolop is in studio 215 and find her online hegenolop.com. More information about my show Saturday, The Market at Sawyer Yards is on my website. Cohen is an artist and founder of First Saturday Arts Market, find him at ArtValet.com
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