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Court ruling leaves GOMO restrictions in limbo By Jonathan McElvy jonathan@theleadernews.com A Texas appellate court has ruled that the Garden Oaks Maintenance Organization can’t enforce its deed restrictions against one resident. However, the ruling also said GOMO still has authority and standing to enforce the neighborhood’s bylaws. The result is that the case of GOMO vs. Peter and Katherine Chang has done nothing to clarify whether GOMO can enforce any of the deed
For more about the ruling and its impact on other neighborhoods, see related column Page 4A restrictions in the neighborhood. In 2012, GOMO filed suit against the Changs, seeking to stop an additional two-car garage they built. Not only did they seek a permanent injunction, they also sought damages for every day the extra garage door was still standing. In the suit, GOMO
claimed the deed restrictions did not allow a second garage. A trial court disagreed, but not because of verbiage in the Garden Oaks deed restrictions. Instead, the trial court ruled that the Changs didn’t have to abide by the restrictions because GOMO was an “invalid” organiza-
tion. Specifically, the court said the Changs proved that GOMO was not formed legally. The trial court also ruled the Garden Oaks bylaws had “no force and effect” against the Changs, and that GOMO did not have “authority or standing to pursue legal action” against the Changs for “any alleged deed restrictions in the Garden Oaks Section Three.” But last week, in a 38-page opinion, the 14th Court of Appeals overturned two of the key rulings from the trial
court. “Because the Changs did not meet their burden… we conclude the trial court erred in declaring that GOMO’s bylaws have no force and effect against the Changs,” the opinion said. And in the fourth issue of the case – whether GOMO has the legal standing and authority to enforce the neighborhood’s bylaws – the appellate court overturned the trial court.
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ourselves, since we were involved with [the birth mother] we still had the kind of pregnancy where you’re constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop and this could disappear in a blink,” Jimmy said, looking back at the process. “What if she decides she can’t part with those kids? I feel those fears are still very similar – that every little pang could be something wrong – to what other parents go through. That was at the forefront of our mind for months.” Once the adoption was final and the family officially grown, Glenna said the couple encountered little to no resistance in accepting adopted children from their extended family, making the transition a
Slowpokes owners JC Rubiralta and Mazen Baltagi would like to celebrate their coffee shop’s year anniversary with a big celebration on their patio, but they can’t because they might not have that patio for much longer. A long simmering dispute with landlord Momin Naushad, who also owns the Alba Food Mart in the building, has resulted in an impasse which the owners detailed on their Facebook page. “After trying over the past few months to come to an agreement, it seems our landlord is more inclined to causing our business harm than fixing the rest of his dilapidated building before even having other tenants move adjacent to us,” wrote Rubiralta. “Even with no approved permits, his lawyer has informed us that we must vacate the patio by end of day today. We don’t really know what else we can do on our end. They have declined to go to mediation or even pick up our calls.” Rubiralta said that souring relations with Naushad go back almost a year. “After we signed the lease, [the landlord] felt like he got a bad deal,” said Rubiralta said. “He approached us for additional rent and also talked to our commercial real estate agent about renegotiating the deal.” Rubiralta and Baltagi signed a five year lease with the option for three 5 year extensions. Because there was no lease obligation for Naushad to make improvements, and because the owners say that they’ve spent $300,000 on build out and improvements, they think their lease agreement was fair. “We paid for new plumbing in the building and for an exterminator for the whole building too,” said Rubiralta, noting that the condition of the vacant spaces next to them necessitated an exterminator. “We also added lights to the exterior building.” Before things went south, Rubiralta said they had recruited some poten-
See Family P. 6A
See Patio P. 3A
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Photo by Little Branch Photography Heights residents Glenna and Jimmy Mathews play with their sons Winston and Wesley in the Texas bluebonnets. The couple adopted the twin boys at birth almost 5 years ago, and say they would not trade the experience in growing their family for anything.
inside.
Heights family’s adoption journey one to remember By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com
Thanks for the Green. Discovery Green provides a reason to get outside for Thanksgiving.
Page 9A
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The INDEX. Church....................................................... 5A Classifieds.............................................. 6B Coupons. ................................................. 8A Food/Drink/Art................................... 9A Obituaries.............................................. 7A Opinion. ................................................... 4A Public Information......................... 2A Puzzles...................................................... 4A
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Heights residents Glenna and Jimmy Mathews are living a dream. The journey? It’s been winding, but memorable. The legacy? It’s something they’ll have as a long as they live – and it began as simply lending an ear to a friend. The Mathews are one of many adoptive families around the country, and their story is far from the only heartwarming one we’ll hear this holiday season and during National Adoption Awareness Month. But the path they’ve taken is a unique story even amongst a sea of such situations, and it’s a journey they continue to navigate with the help of Houstonbased Adoptive Families of Houston. “We had gone through some of the
initial steps, looked at adoption agencies and explored what the process would entail,” Glenna Mathews said of the initial conversation to expand their family. a few years ago. But ultimately, the Mathews’ adoption story is unique in the sense that the connection to the birth mother was made through Jimmy’s coworker. It was through a conversation with that coworker, a friend for over a decade now, that Jimmy learned that his friend was expecting two new grandchildren and that the birth mother was exploring adoption. And the rest is history. “You’ve had an idea of what [being a parent] might be like, but it’s so much more fulfilling than I would have ever expected. In some ways, even though we didn’t go through the pregnancy
Plaza dedication draws crowd By Betsy Denson For The Leader The dedication of the Carl and Melvalene Cohen Plaza on Saturday, November 18, was also a beautiful reunion of sorts, as many of the Cohens friends turned out to celebrate. Because of their work on behalf of the Heights and the City of Houston over the years, those friends included Mayor Sylvester Turner and State Senator John Whitmire. Carl Cohen passed away in 1999 but 94-year old Melvalene was in attendance to receive the love and recogni-
ton of her community. Turner said that he had worked with Melvalene for many years and that she and her husband were “visionaries who helped make Houston Strong.” Whitmire joked that when he started out in his political career, he had five supporters, three of whom were family. The other two were the Cohens. Cohen’s son Danny gave a beautiful testament to his mother and to all those other Heights luminaries who worked tirelessly on behalf of the area. “She truly is the Queen of the Heights,” said Danny. See Plaza P. 7A
Photo by Betsy Denson Event Chair Bill Baldwin, Mayor Turner, Melvalene Cohen and State Senator John Whitmire pose in front the plaza’s Lombard Lamp.
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The public. The Leader • Saturday, November 25, 2017 • Page 2A
Police Reports • Nov. 10-15 NOV. 10
Shooting 11 PM E 35TH/OXFORD Burglary 5:30 AM 4600-4699 MICHAUX Assault 7:01 PM 700-799 CROSSTIMBERS Theft 6:04 PM 1700-1799 YALE
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Police searching for social media shooter From Staff Reports Several neighborhoods are on edge after a gunman posted a Snapchat video showing himself discharging a weapon multiple times at Cottage Grove Park near the edge of the Heights.
According to a spokesperson from the Houston Police Department, police received a call to the park near Cohn and Cornish around 10 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16, with callers reporting several gunshots being fired and several vehicles speeding away soon after.
By the time officers reached the scene, the shooter had already fled, and a search of the immediate area unfortunately proved fruitless. According to media reports, the shooter left several shell casings at the scene, but nothing else was found.
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HPD representatives say the incident is now an open and active investigation, and anyone with information on the shooter is encouraged to come forward and call the Houston Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
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The Leader • Saturday, November 25, 2017 • Page 3A
Patio from P. 1A tial new tenants for the vacant space next door but that the $45 per square foot lease price the landlord was now asking was a deterrent. “That’s way out of market,” said Baltagi. Six months ago, they say Naushad had told them that parking had become an issue and that he was going to have to start towing cars. Rubiralta counters that towing wouldn’t have been legal and that the only day the parking lot was full was last Christmas when Santa came to the patio to visit with kids and familes. “We offered to design signs that would mark spaces only for Alba Food Mart,” said Baltagi. Rubiralta said that there was a section in the contract that stated that if the landlord was going to make improvements to the center, he could take over the exterior area where the patio now sits with six months’ notice. “We were led to believe that wasn’t going to be the case,” said Rubiralta, who said that they put $50,000 into the renovation of the patio. “There were needles and other drug paraphernalia out there. It was a big clean up.” Now the area from the wall to the fence may not be a part of Slowpokes anymore. The Slowpokes owners say that the landlord has told them there is room for 38 parking spaces but they haven’t seen any plans for what Naushad plans to do. They think there is only room for eight spots. There is a matter of permits of course, and also a question of ownership of the two Oak trees that would be cut down to accommodate more parking. Swamplot posted a piece with views of the property from the HCAD website that “appear to support a contention by Slowpokes tree defenders: that the Oaks are not planted within the lot’s boundaries, but on public right-of-way facing the back alley.” Although at one time, Rubiralta and Baltagi offered to take over the space next door, and pay more, as long as the patio could be theirs as well, they say the offer was rebuffed and all communication has ceased except through lawyers.
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Quality Feed & Garden Since 1928 Contributed photos The Slowpokes patio, as well as the mature Oak trees on the property, may be a thing of the past.
“The Landlord has advised me that they are going forward with their remodeling of the shopping center and need to recapture the outdoor space as provided in Section 35 of the Lease Agreement to increase parking to the center,” wrote Naushad’s attorney Ted Cox. “Please have your client vacate the outdoor space by the end of business on November 16, 2017.” If there’s one bright spot for the owners, it’s the support they’ve received from the community. “Everybody is behind us, it’s incredible,” said Rubiralta. They say that if they do lose the patio, they will remain in business but also look to
recreate the concept in Spring Branch. “People see us with a place with a patio,” said Rubiralta. “We built this place around the trees.” According to city records, Naushad owns several other convenience stores in Houston. The property on Alba is appraised by HCAD at $796,467, up from $600,000 last year. COH permit records note that plans were submitted this month for a “8,000 square foot retail storefront and remodel” of the property. The Leader reached out for comment to Ted Cox and Momin Naushad and were unable to reach them by press time. Stay tuned for further details.
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The Topics. The Leader • Saturday, November 25, 2017 • Page 4A
HOAs must take cue from court’s opinion My intentions for this week’s column were good. We were going to spend 1,000 words being grateful. But a ruling that came down from the 14th Court of Appeals is too important for our entire area to place on the back burner. If you haven’t read our front-page story about the Garden Oaks Maintenance Organization’s suit against a homeowner in the area, the appellate court ruled that GOMO (basically the HOA for Garden Oaks), has no power, but also has all the power it needs. Confusing, right? But whether you live in the Heights, Oak Forest, Timbergrove or any other neighborhood that is bound by deed restriction, this is just as important for you as it is the residents of Garden Oaks. Here’s what happened, without all the legal mumbo-jumbo that might make your head hurt: In 2012, GOMO sued Peter and Katherine Chang because they built an extra garage on their house. Garden Oaks deed restrictions say you can’t do that. When the case went to trial, the Changs and their attorneys used a successful legal argument to win: They found that GOMO was not properly formed. So because of that technical issue, GOMO could not enforce the neighborhood’s deed restrictions against the Changs.
Jonathan McElvy Publisher
The trial court went further. Both the jury and the judge in the case said GOMO had no legal standing at all. They said the bylaws had no “force and effect.” And they said GOMO did not have “authority,” in the legal meaning of the word, to enforce the bylaws of the neighborhood. That ruling was a big deal, because it meant the lovely neighborhood of Garden Oaks could become a free-for-all for any homeowner. If you wanted to build a 7-story midrise on Sue Barnett, complete with flashing neon lights, the trial court’s ruling seemed to indicate there were no valid restrictions on doing just that. But the 14th Court of Appeals issued an opinion last week that put a halt to the unthinkable. While they agreed that GOMO could not enforce the deeds against the Changs (because of that technicality of
formation), they overruled the trial court on two critical issues. First, they said the bylaws of Garden Oaks do have force and effect. Second, they said GOMO does have standing and authority to enforce the bylaws. After talking to three attorneys about this opinion, let me tell you why I think this should matter to everyone who cares about keeping some semblance of order in our neighborhoods. The reality of the appeals court’s opinion is that if I went and built a house in Garden Oaks tomorrow, and I added a second garage to my house, GOMO could take me to court and GOMO would lose. I’d tell my attorneys to use the exact arguments the Changs used to win. We’d simply argue that GOMO is not a valid organization based on some Texas Property Code that you don’t need to know unless you get sued. In other words, from a strictly legal (and technical) standpoint, GOMO has very little authority right now. At the same time, the appellate court said GOMO does have full authority and standing to enforce the rules of the neighborhood. So on a grand scheme, GOMO is legitimate. But in any individual case, you or I or the Changs or anyone else would probably win a suit against them. Here’s what I can tell needs to
The reader.
Questionable Answers THE AUDITORIUM -There has been a lot of misinformation about President Donald Trump’s tax bill, which will give every American a tax deduction, pave the streets, cure cancer and bring peace to the Middle East. So, as the Answer Man, the fount of all wisdom and knowledge, and with inside information on this administration, I will now take your questions. Is it true that Russia got Trump elected? That is a total lie, and if you don’t believe me, do as I did and just check with the Russian embassy. Press 1 for English, 2 for Spanish and 3 for the results of the 2020 presidential election. But all 17 of our intelligence agencies said they have proof there was Russian interference on behalf of Trump in the 2016 Presidential campaign. Doesn’t that concern you? Absolutely. I was horrified to find out we had 17 intelligence agencies. How many cloaks and daggers to do we need? Trump goes out of his way to tweet insults about others – journalists, Congressional Republicans, even his own attorney general, but he has never, ever said or written anything negative about Russian President Vladimir Putin, an ex-KGB colonel, whose opponents have been imprisoned and even executed. Why is that? Simple. Donald Trump doesn’t speak Russian. What can you tell us about fake news? It seems the Russians are excellent at getting dumb Americans to buy into it. Good question. Fake news is spelled C-N-N, or on the Dyslectics Channel, N-N-C. Fake news are items which are something we disagree with so we have alternative facts. For instance, the size of Trump’s inauguration crowd. Here is an actual aerial photo of the crowd, which filled the mall and poured out into the streets as far as Arlington. That’s a shot of Obama’s 2012 inauguration. Same mall. Next question. Speaking of fakes, why does every Trump property have an enlarged Time magazine cover featuring Trump’s picture, when there was never any such cover? It’s phony. Exactly my point. You can’t trust the press. When will we see Trump’s income tax returns, like he promised again and again? As soon as Hillary Clinton admits her role in leading the attack in Benghazi. Why is Trump so hard on the media? After all, it was TV that made him famous. No one outside New York City had ever heard of Donald Trump till he got a TV show. That underlines the President’s innate power of observation. During the campaign, he gave scores if not hundreds of speeches and quickly discovered, after about 50, two topics that generated the greatest angry response from the crowd: immigration and the media. So he used them in every speech,
Lynn Ashby Columnist
and even today those are still huge applause lines. Isn’t that pandering to the lowest common denominator? Don’t bring math into this discussion. But we keep getting diverted. Anyone here with a question on the President’s tax plan? I have a question about that. How many tax dollars are being spent on Trump’s trips on Air Force One to his weekly golf games in Florida and New Jersey? The President’s doctor said he should get more exercise by playing more golf. Is this the same doctor who said Trump had a bone spur on his foot and thus was ineligible for the Vietnam draft, but Trump couldn’t remember which foot or the name of the doctor? Anyway, I have a question: there is quite a national discussion today about sexual harassment involving famous men accused of making unwanted passes at women, calling them lewd names and much worse. Yet Donald Trump has bragged, on tape, of his serial harassment of many women, but there doesn’t seem to be any backlash or condemnation by the GOP. The real harassment story is the NFL’s refusal to fire the players who kneeled during the playing of the National Anthem, and the way good Christian thirty-two-year-old men are harassed just because they like to date teenaged girls. You say that we keep getting diverted, but you are the worst, diverting any question about the Trump’s administration. Can’t you ever answer a straight question about, say, the role of Facebook, Google and the rest of social media acting as agents for disseminating Russian propaganda? Just answer the question. Of course I will, and straight to the point. The word, diversion, has nine letters, almost as many as do the words Crooked Hillary, who keeps trying to divert America’s attention from her role in JFK’s assassination, not to mention the NineEleven disaster. Yes, you in the white hood. Hey, Bro, the Donald is my man, and enny limp-wristed commie pervert who’s agin him may get a fiery cross in his yard, if ya git maw drift. I gotta question: Donald is right that NAFTA is a rotten deal, but why is the exportable tonnage of non-perishable software not consistent with the overall outbound of third-party import tonnage vis-a-vie the EU’s gold flow, if you git maw drift? Uh, let me get back to you on that. Now, there has been some discussion about the President’s firing of former FBI director James Comey. As the Presi-
happen. Either GOMO needs to get its paperwork right and eliminate the ability to say its formation is improper, or the organization needs to take this case to the Texas Supreme Court on the specific issue of whether it’s a legitimate organization, allowing it to win future cases like the one they lost to the Changs. I don’t know much about filing fees, but I do know a little about legal fees, and I can tell you for certain which option would cost the least. No matter what decision GOMO makes (and yes, I’m over-simplifying for the sake of clarity), the other neighborhoods in our area need to take heed of what’s happening here. In the Heights, after the elimination of all dry laws, we don’t know what will happen in the months and years to come. If someone tries to open a business that shouldn’t be in the Heights, does the Houston Heights Association have its home in order? Is your formation air tight? Are there any grounds in which you could lose a case like this? In Oak Forest, there’s an issue brewing that we’ve heard about but haven’t been able to report just yet. The issue stems from some owners turning their homes into AirBnB businesses. It’s unclear what will happen with that issue, but is the Oak Forest HOA ready and able to make (and enforce) rules that will
dent made clear, Comey was too zealous in prosecuting Hillary Clinton. Answer Man, absolutely no one believes that story. But what about Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller? Is Trump going to fire him, too? The President has absolutely no intention of firing that partisan, double-dealing, factleaking Mueller, at least not right now. Check with me first thing in the morning. Yes, you from Fox News. Thank you. It’s just awful the way the mainstream media keep beating up on our beloved leader, the Magnificent Donald. My question is, could he be made President for Life? There is a huge groundswell among Americans for this to happen, according to Rush Limbaugh. Last question. Answer Man, you have put on a disgusting display of twisted facts, lies and blind contradictions taking the American people for fools. What’s your point? Ashby has facts at ashby2@comcast.net
Email jonathan@theleadernews.com Email us your letters: news@theleadernews.com
Heights runners oblivious to traffic
Dear Editor: This goes out to the overwhelming majority of runners I daily see scampering hither and yon, up and down the Heights Boulevard track, aerobically mincing across the numbered-street intersections (6th, 8th, 9th, 11th, 14th, 16th et cetera) without looking one way or another left or right -- totally oblivious to whether some driver with his head up his phone just might be turning a vehicle into their paths, splattering them all over the pavement. Ready their tombstone epitaphs: “But I Had The Right-Of-Way!” J. Reynolds
Heights no longer ‘dry’
protect residents and the charm of the neighborhood? Do your bylaws say you can rent a home in Oak Forest? If the issue isn’t addressed in your deed restrictions and bylaws, you can either have rental homes or you can’t. On the one hand, I think it’s great that people like the Changs can use the full extent of the law to protect their home plans. But here’s what I also know: We live in an area of Houston that doesn’t have much governance. We are part of the fourth largest city in the nation. Our city council spends about as much time on our community as they do on the thousand other neighborhoods in the city limits. The only thing we have to protect our communities, really, are our homeowner associations. If they don’t protect the future of our neighborhoods, then what organization will? And if they don’t have their paperwork together, if they aren’t formed correctly, if their authority can be questioned, they each should use this as a clarion call to fix those issues now. Otherwise, our wonderful streets have the potential to become another Richmond Avenue where nearly anything goes.
Dear Editor: The Heights can now sell alcohol with abandon. Let the good times begin. From a bar owner quoted in your paper, “the pain has ended with having to swipe their license or ID to become a member of the private club.” The actions of Heights voters has lowered the bar from those drinkers capable of withstanding the “pain” of swiping two items (ID and credit card for payment) down to the level of those drinkers capable only of swiping one pain-free item (credit card for payment). Is this a good thing? Now the Heights is just like everywhere else; no longer unique, no longer weird. Effort is no longer needed to be a resident of the Heights with its unique identity now gone. Who would want to be unique and weird anyway? Oh, yeh, that city up the road. At least the Heights is no longer unique and weird like them. Jim
How does Sheila Jackson Lee keep getting elected?
Dear Editor: I have often wondered how anyone as incompetent as Sheila Jackson Lee could possibly hold a job much less be elected to a Congressional seat. Her accolades for the Astros were an embarrassment as she congratulated Jose “Altuwee” and the Astros for being World “Serious” Champions. My questions to the voters of the 18th Congressional District, of which I am a member, are: 1. Did you vote for Sheila because she is black? If so, I want to remind you her opponent is black. 2. Did you vote for Sheila because she is female? If so, I want to remind you her opponent is female. 3. Did you vote for her because she has been such a strong Congressional leader proposing bill after bill in order to make people’s lives better ... really, name one bill. 4. Or did you vote for her because you blindly went to the polls and pushed the button for a democrat because that is what your parents and grandparents did? Sheila is nothing more than Nancy Pelosi’s lap dog. Whatever Nancy tells her to do she does, without question. I personally would prefer someone who has enough mental ability to think for him/herself. Isn’t it about time our District elects someone who has a chance to present a good image for us and who realizes that being elected means that you serve the people not the other way around? Jeff Przybyla
the leader Puzzlers. Answers found in this week’s Classified section
SUDOKU
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1. Actor Damon 5. Resort 8. Low continuous tones 11. Cape Verde capital 13. Abbreviation for clean 14. Shoe retailer 15. Dashery 16. Head covering 17. Canadian flyers 18. A plant fiber used for making rope 20. Prime Minister __ Hirobumi 21. Hani 22. Nonexistences 25. Mexican victory holiday 30. Avowed 31. Ref 32. 2013 Philip. volcano eruption 33. Beard lichen genus 38. Tennis player organization 41. More saline 43. New York City 45. A shipÕs cheapest fare 47. A winglike part 49. At the stern 50. Oral polio vaccine
55. Tatouhou 56. In addition 57. Baltic flat-bottomed boat (alt. sp.) 59. Search for 60. Gray sea eagle 61. Music timings 62. Make a mistake 63. Root mean square (abbr.) 64. Sleeveless Arab garments
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1. Speedometer rate 2. Turkish/Iranian river 3. Japanese socks 4. Drawstrings 5. Formal separation over doctrine 6. Tableland 7. Word with opposite meaning 8. Cabs 9. 45th state 10. Matakam 12. Macaws 14. Scottish hillside 19. Load for shipment 23. Sleeping place 24. Linking verb 25. Br. University punting river
26. Marsh elder 27. Horse noise 28. Contract research organization (abbr.) 29. Excessively ornamented 34. Engine additive 35. Small bite 36. Snakelike fish 37. They __ 39. Performance arena 40. Enact before an audience 41. Special interest group 42. Grows old 44. ConductorÕs implements 45. A heavy cavalry sword 46. Tropical shipÕs wood 47. A domed or vaulted recess 48. Lascivious look 51. Mentally quick and resourceful 52. La __ Tar Pits, Hollywood 53. Unstressedstressed 54. Celery cabbage 58. Wrong prefix
WORD SCRAMBLE
The Leader • Saturday, November 25, 2017 • Page 5A
The calendar. THANKFUL FOR SALSA SOCIAL Dance Heights Dance Heights, 1987 W. T.C. Jester, will hold a Thankful for Salsa Social, Nov. 25. Edwardo and Tami will have an Intermediate Salsa and Dip Pattern workshop from 9-10 p.m. The social will be from 10 p.m.-2 a.m. The cost for the workshop and social is $20, the social only is $10 (cash or credit). Liquor is BYOB. No coolers please. Music provided by DJ Saoko. Information: 832-8967777, www.facebook.com/danceheights. PAINTING ON THE PATIO Friends of Oak Forest Park Join us for a night of celebration and appreciation in “Hammockland” on the back patio of King’s BierHaus, 2044 E. T.C. Jester Blvd. Paint a tile or order an engraved paver to honor family, company, or service members along the Pathway to Play that will lead to the Playground for All Abilities. The event is from 6-8 p.m. Nov. 30. Information: facebook.com/ events/1800637586911511/ HOLIDAY ON 19TH STREET Join us for our annual Holiday celebration! Your Holiday on 19th Street experience will include
Deed from P. 1A
roaming Christmas carollers, in store festivities, cocktails, and real snow! The event will be on 19th Street between Shepherd and Yale and will be from 6-10 p.m. Dec. 1. Information: facebook.com/events/11356174 39905616/ A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS Theatre Suburbia Theatre Suburbia, 4106 Way Out West, presents Norm Foster’s delightful holiday romp, A Snow White Christmas. The show will run through Dec. 2 Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. (Nov. 26 only). Tickets are $16 adults, $13 students and seniors, and $13 Sunday matinees. Information: 713-682-3525, www.theatresuburbia.org. BREAKFAST WITH SANTA OFHA The Oak Forest Homeowners Association will hold Breakfast with Santa, Dec. 2, at the Candlelight Community Center, 1520 Candlelight Ln. Breakfast will be from 9-11 a.m., and photos with Santa will be from 9 a.m.-noon. A professional photographer will be onsite to capture those magical moments with Santa. Informa-
From the Pews. Free post-Thanksgiving meal at St. Matthew’s St. Matthew’s will hold a free post-Thanksgiving meal from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Nov. 24. This is a free community event, targeting those who cannot afford a holiday dinner. The meals will be served until 1:30 p.m., or until the food is gone. Sunday morning worship with Children’s church starts at 9:30 a.m., followed by 10:30 a.m. Sunday School. St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church is located at 4300 N. Shepherd Dr. Call 713-6970671 or visit the website at www.stmatthewsmethodist. org. Christmas Messy Church at St. Stephen’s
All are welcome to attend the family-friendly Christmas Messy Church, Wednesday, Nov. 29, at 5:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall. The free event will include dinner, crafts, fun activities, and a short worship service. A Blue Christmas Remembrance Service will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10. Scripture, music and meditations will focus on the comfort offered by God. 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. Vesper services at Heights Presbyterian Vesper services will be at 6 p.m. Dec. 6 and Dec. 20, at
The Obituaries.
Constance R. (Grabarkievtz) Bienek, 93, born Feb. 6, 1924, died Nov. 15. Survivors include her daughter, Lana Miller, son Benjamin C. Bienek, Jr., siblings Pauline, Clara, Nell, Bruno, and two grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be made to Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Rosenberg.
Nevillyn Dawn Newcomer, 86, born March 6, 1931 in San Marcos, Texas, died Nov. 11, after enduring years of poor health. She was the only child of Carlene and Neville Bobo. In 1937, the family moved to the Houston Heights, where her father started a hardware business. Newcomer was an excellent student at Reagan High School and developed a love of the Arts. She graduated from the University of Texas with a BA degree in Drama Education. She is survived by her daughters, Dawn Donnelle Newcomer, Katherine Karlene Newcomer, and two granddaughters. Jesse G. Reyes Sr., 94, born Jan. 12, 1923, died Nov. 13. Reyes was a veteran of the Army during WWII; Company C, 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry
Division. He was a member of VFW post 581, past President of Holy Name Society, and member of the Knights of Columbus Council 2971. By trade, Reyes was a shoe repairman, then for more than 50 years as an Orthopedic Brace Maker. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Lindale Park Fourth of July Parade. Reyes is survived by his sons, Jesse Reyes, Jr., and Ed Reyes, sister Alice Sanchez, and three grandchildren. Noah Elmer White, 88, born Sept. 6, 1929, died Nov. 11. Ludwig O. Zoch, 93, born Feb.
tion: www.myoakforest.org, 713-688-6342.
Healthy, social fun, square dancing is friendship set to music. Fairbees Square Dance Club welcomes the community to experience the fun and fellowship of Square Dancing at two free fun night events on Jan. 11, from 7:30-9:30 p.m., and Jan. 18, from 7- 8 p.m. No prior dance experience needed, no partner required, older children and teenagers welcome. Classes are held at Memorial Drive Lutheran Church, in the fellowship hall, 12211 Memorial Dr. (77024). Park rear of church. Information: 713-9572762, 281-495-2397.
AARP MONTHLY MEETING AARP Chapter 1265 The monthly meeting will be held at 10 a.m., Dec. 4, in the community room at 1520 Candlelight Ln. The meeting is open to anyone 50 or older, and will be preceded by a meet-andgreet at 9:30 a.m. This month will be a Christmas gathering wishing everyone peace and love for the holiday from AARP Chapter 1265. Georgia Lewis is president. Information: 713-681-1133. UGLY SWEATER PARTY Heights Young Professionals Join the Heights Young Professionals for their Ugly Sweater Party at Karbach Brewery, 2032 Karbach St., from 5-8 p.m. Nov. 30, for the young and the young at heart. The cost for non-members is $10 in advance through Nov. 29 at 2 p.m., and $15 at the door, and free for Heights Chamber members. Information: info@heightschamber.org, 713861-6735.
YOGA WITH CATS El Gato Coffee House Find serenity meow and get a double dose of relaxation therapy with yoga and cats at El Gato Coffee House, 508 Pecore St. Connect with cats and fellow yogis in a playful yoga setting. This is an all levels class where beginners are welcome. Yoga classes are 45 minutes and include additional 30 minutes of play time with the cats. Classes are at 9 a.m. every Saturday, and 5:45 p.m. Sunday. The cost is $20 for adults and $18 for students. Information: info@ elgatocoffeehouse.com, 832-9683006.
FREE INTRODUCTION TO MODERN SQUARE DANCING Memorial Drive Lutheran
Heights Presbyterian, 240 W. 18th St. The sanctuary will be open for meditation and prayer. Cookies with Santa is from 10 a.m.-noon, Dec. 9. There will be pictures, cookies and a meet and greet with Santa. Donations of non-perishable can goods accepted. Christmas Eve candlelight service is at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 24. For information, call 713861-1907 or visit www.heightspc.org.
Drive. Toys collected by Dec. 15, will be distributed to kids who probably will not receive a toy for Christmas. Make a difference this holiday season and donate a new unwrapped toy for ages 18 months to 17 years old to one of our sponsor dropoff locations. Drop-off locations are: The Community Of Faith Church, 1024 Pinemont (77091), The COF Yates-Dixon Building, 1023 Pinemont (77018), U-N-I Hair Salon, 8511 N. Houston Rosslyn Rd. (77088), The Book Scene, 1820 W. 43rd St. (77018), and Mark Lawton Dentist, 7038 Antoine (77088). Monetary donations can be made through the secured website www.thecommunityoffaith.org.
The Loving Kids Organization and The Community Of Faith hold toy drive The Loving Kids Organization and The Community Of Faith Church are pleased to announce its third annual Toy
Aztec StorAgeS
21, 1924 in Northrup, Lee County Texas, died Nov. 10. Zoch joined the CCC to help build state parks in Texas and Arizona. He served in the U.S. Army 96th Infantry Division during WWII. His main tour of duty was the Invasion of Okinawa where he was wounded and awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star medals. After returning from the war he attended the University of Houston. He was employed by WECO Valves – FMC Technologies from many years until his retirement. He is survived by his daughter Melanie Zoch, sisters Thelma Schatte and Ruth Walther, and brothers Paul and Monroe Zoch.
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case, and the appellate court agreed with the trial court that attorney’s fees should not be granted. One of GOMO’s attorneys, W. Austin Barsalou, said his client is still reviewing the ruling. “The association has just gotten this opinion, and it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to say what they are considering yet,” Barsalou said. He did point out that the appellate court’s ruling allows for the deed restrictions to stay, whether or not GOMO is deemed to be a legal organization. McKee, the Chang’s attorney, said there were no plans to appeal the court’s ruling. Barsalou, representing GOMO, said he did not know if his client would consider appealing to the Texas Supreme Court. If there is no appeal, the legal status of GOMO would still appear to be in limbo, while the deed restrictions, and the standing and authority of GOMO to enforce those deeds does not seem to be in question.
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“…We conclude that GOMO, as an association, has standing to bring suit against the Changs for the purported garage deed-restriction violation. Therefore, the trial court erred in declaring that GOMO has no standing,” read the court’s opinion. The same was true for GOMO’s legal “authority.” “…The trial court erred in declaring that GOMO has no authority,” wrote Justice Marc W. Brown. Where that leaves both sides of this case is confusing. One of the Chang’s attorneys, Shawn McKee, said he did not want to comment on the ruling. He did, however, say the first two declarations of both the trial and appellate courts were the most important for his clients. Those declarations, in essence, said the Changs did not have to demolish their second garage because GOMO was an invalid and ineffective committee. The Changs also asked for attorney’s fees in the
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Have you ever felt frustrated at Thanksgiving? I remember as a boy wishing we could be done with the family tradition of saying what we were thankful for before we ate. I wanted to get to the food as quickly as possible! The turkey, ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, corn, cranberry sauce, homemade dinner rolls, etc. were piled high on my plate. The aromas wafting up from my loaded plate were enough to make my mouth water and my stomach ache with anticipation. Why did we have to take time to talk about thanksgiving before we ate? Could we not just do that while we were eating? As an adult, I look back at my childish self and realize why this tradition was and still is important. While the time of giving thanks is not the important issue, the priority of giving thanks does matter. As a child, I wasn’t as thankful as I should have been because children have a natural sense of entitlement. The longer I live the more I understand the truth of God’s Word when it says “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” I can give thanks in all things because God is in control of my life. I am thankful for our city and for the individuals and organizations that responded to Hurricane Harvey in such an admirable way. I am thankful to have started a new church this past year that was able to take part in the community efforts to help people after Harvey. I am thankful for my wife, my children, my parents, and my friends. I am thankful for my country that gives me the freedoms to live, think, and write as I wish. There is so much for which to give thanks. What are you thankful for?
Page 6A • Saturday, November 25, 2017 • The Leader
Family from P. 1A
Happy Holidays from our crew
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little bit easier. “Adoptive parents sometimes have [resistance], especially in the older generation who don’t understand why you would raise a stranger’s child and ‘take on that burden’,” she said. “Our family has been fantastic and so supportive, and our kids have been fully integrated into all that our family has to offer. They are our children – never would you think anything differently by anyone’s actions or attitudes towards them.”
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of Houston is not a ‘mommy group’.” Embracing cross-cultural values Further, the Mathews’ do indeed maintain a connection with their sons’ biological family – including their older brother, who still spends the night with the Mathews at least three or four times a year as he gets to know his little brothers, and vice versa. “Our kids know that they have an older brother, and it’s fun to watch them interact, see some of the inherited traits, and get a unique view into the nature/nurture concept. We have some very different views on a lot of social issues in the world than that of their biological family. There are also some different behaviors and habits their older brother has that don’t mesh with our beliefs or the way we’re raising our sons, but our kids are going to interact with those raised differently,” Glenna said. “So, we just talk about the differences in what they see as opposed to what we do in our household.” They’ve even enrolled Winston and Wesley in a Spanish immersion school at HISD’s Helms Elementary to help them learn Spanish as a way of embracing their cultural heritage. “It’s forced me to learn Spanish, which is something I’ve wanted to do. Apparently I just needed the motivation, and this is a perfect motivation to do so,” Jimmy said. Typical American family Most of the time, however, the Mathews’ experience is like everyone else with kids. They attend parent/teacher conferences, take their children to sports practices, and do the things families do. “You have lots of cuddle time, you have lots of frustrations – it’s the same as any other family,” Glenna said. “There’s not one particular thing, but there are just these little ‘a-ha’ moments where they’ll repeat something – a rule or otherwise – out loud that I’ve told them every day,” Jimmy added with a laugh. “There’s that little bit of growth. You know it’s go-
ing to kick in and they’re going to grasp it, but every little moment like that is just awesome.” In the end, Glenna said, that’s what a family is all about – a blood relationship is not necessary to experience the joys of a full, bustling home. “I’ve got little kids that come sneak into the bed to cuddle in the middle of the night. And my favorite part of the day is when they wake up from their naps. When they went through those phases [where they wake up unhappy], I’d pick them up out of the bed, we’d grab a couple of pillows and blankets, snuggle a little bit and watch a cartoon,” she said. “They would be so upset, but that was just what they needed – to cuddle, wake up slowly, get the extra kisses and feel safe. It was the best part of my day, just being there for them. It brings you down, it grounds you – regardless of what’s going on, this is what’s most important; just being safe, at home and secure.” All these memories aside, the couple also knows they might not have the bundles of joy they later gained without an open and honest discussion, and Glenna urged anyone considering the possibility of expanding their family in any manner to open up, because you never know what joys – such as their own sons Winston and Wesley – may be on the horizon. “We found out that the birth mother had asked about us even before we asked about her because she knew we were going through struggles with family planning. I think so many people hide their desire to grow their family,” she said. “My message has always been ‘talk about it.’ You never know when you might run into someone whose needs or experiences compliment your own journey – for us, it was someone we already knew who was looking for a loving home and good parents. Without those conversations, [the birth mother] wouldn’t have known we were trying to grow our family.” For more information on Adoptive Families of Houston, visit adoptivefamiliesofhouston. org/.
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Saving grace That said, challenges still awaited. But they were challenges the Mathews embraced with open arms; and that’s where Adoptive Families of Houston enters the picture. “We knew that we didn’t know what we didn’t know,” Glenna said of the search for answers in groups such as the Heights Kids Group and Bellaire Moms of Multiples Group. “I looked at some of our existing parent support groups [for answers]. Since we had the unique situation of having twins, I knew there were specialized parent groups. I knew there had to be some group out there that supported families with adopted children.” As it turns out, there was a sub group within the Heights Kids Group who were adoptive parents, providing the Mathews with some information on Adoptive Families of Houston. And after just a couple of meetings, the Mathews’ knew it was a positive support group for them. With the needs of adoptive parents and children in mind, Adoptive Families of Houston offers a variety of activities each year including educational programs, monthly playgroups for the children and an annual family picnic. The organization was established in 2011 with the mission of supporting and educating parents on the unique topics specific to adoptive parents and their children. They serve as a guiding hand as parents endure peaks and valleys and an environment where parents new to the process can learn and discuss the challenges that may come, such as answering identity questions and the expected ‘why don’t I look like you?’ inquiries “I thought ‘this is great.’ They were a group of families with adopted kids, many older than ours, who have been through some of the challenges I don’t even know to expect yet,” Glenna said. “After just a meeting or two, I really got that they supported open adoptions, being open with the children, and maintaining as much contact with biological families as possible so you have an avenue when your kids decide they want to initiate contact with them.” Another ‘icing on the cake’ factor over any other parental support group the couple had found, was that it was all family-inclusive as opposed to being focused on one parent or the other. “We quickly saw the supportive and inclusive environment; a very family-inclusive environment,” Glenna said. “There are entire families participating, and lots of fathers are very active coming to meetings, play groups and other activities. It just felt like a more inclusive environment for all of us. Adoptive Families
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The Leader • Saturday, November 25, 2017 • Page 7A
Neighbors: Girl Scout Cadette Troop 24987 donates 50 costumes to HITS By Elizabeth Villarreal elizasgarden@outlook.com
Happy anniversary to Allen and Virginia Roberts who are celebrating 60 years of marriage this month! The couple met in church and married here in Houston. They lived in Houston briefly then moved to Kansas for a few years where Allen began his career as a brick mason. Allen and Virginia moved back to Houston in 1964 and have called Oak Forest home for the last 53 years. Allen continued his career in masonry, providing for his wife and three children while also enjoying frequent camping and fishing trips with the family. Virginia spent her time caring for their home and children, wearing many “hats,” as most mothers do. In retirement this spunky duo has fun visiting the Sam Houston Race Park and a casino from time to time. Children Allen Roberts, Jr., Cheryl Roberts and Kimberly Nemec shared that their parents are proud and involved grandparents to three successful and loving grandchildren and one energetic great-grandson. Happy anniversary Mom and Dad! Girl Scout Cadette Troop
24987 in the Emerald Oaks Community, in an effort to aid area families affected by Hurricane Harvey, held a Halloween Costume Drive. They handed out flyers to Oak Forest Elementary, Johnson Memorial School, Mitchell Middle School and a few family members in an effort to collect costumes and the response was overwhelming. The girls chose to donate the costumes they collected to HITS Theater in the Heights who is conducting a larger scale Halloween Costume Drive for children in the immediate area, and delivered 50 costumes for this worthy cause. Troop 24987: Genevieve Bosse, Keegan Cook, Izabella Evans, Mariela Garcia, Sophia Malone, Emma Maltbie, Olivia Modad, Abigail O’Guynn, Mattea Rodgers, Cayden Tate, Roma Taylor, Bella Trevino, Alice Waters and Morgan Yaege. Leaders: Sandra O’Guynn, Shar Rodgers, Marlene Perez and Jenn Tate. Back in October, Timbergrove Manor neighbors thoroughly enjoyed National (Texas) Night Out. Skies were threatening the night of Oct. 3rd, but that didn’t put a damper on the annual NNO event.
Allen and Virginia Roberts celebrate 60 years of marriage.
Girl Scout Cadette Troop 24987 in the Emerald Oaks Community held a Halloween costume drive to aid families affected by Hurricane Harvey.
Post-Harvey, the Timbergrove Manor Neighborhood Association decided to host a neighborhood-wide event this year to offer everyone a chance to gather together for a night of food, fun and fellowship. The 1600 block of Turnpike was the center of the activity. TMNA provided hotdogs, hamburgers, buns, condiments and soft drinks. Glen Goodwin pulled his large pit over to Turnpike where he and David Templeton spent the evening grilling delicious food, including their own ribs and sausage in addition to burgers and dogs. Theresa Goodwin and Skye Templeton decorated
the serving tables and set out the food warmers. The tables were stocked full of appetizers, chips, side dishes and desserts contributed by all those attending. Adult neighbors mingled and shared a great meal while the kids of Timbergrove played joyfully and tirelessly. The brief rain showers didn’t diminish the fun, though no one would argue that the heat and humidity were less than ‘October-like.’ Everyone would like to thank Glen and David for not only serving as grillmasters, but for doing all of the shopping as well as their out-of-pocket contributions; Dorothy Krohn for her gen-
Plaza from P. 1A
erous cash donation; Alanna Koos, Suzanne Driskill and Cindy Miskell for creating the Sign Up page and organizing the list of food and supplies; Tommy Britt for being the photographer; the many neighbors who provided chairs, tables, ice chests and helped setup and clean up, especially Scott Williams; and a big thank you to an anonymous neighbor who contributed $2,500 toward the event and ongoing support of the neighborhood! It was a great night for Timbergrove – “The Heart of Houston.” Several of our neighbors are home recuperating after
hospital stays and extensive surgeries and neighbors send a warm get well soon shout out to Nancy Hill of Forest Pines, Bette Weirich of Oak Forest, Richard Weirich of Garden Oaks and Steve Webb of Oak Forest. Congratulations to Jake Tomczeszyn of Oak Forest who has been invited to participate in the Envision/ National Youth Leadership Forum: Engineering & Technology, a wonderful honor. Jake, a sophomore at St. Pius X Catholic High School, was chosen based on his GPA and demonstrated skill in technology, and he will have the opportunity to study and work with top scientists and innovators from around the country this summer. He gets to choose which forum he’ll attend at either Cal-Berkeley, Georgia Tech or the Frank W. Olin College of Engineering in Massachusetts. Parents Elizabeth and Andy Tomczeszyn and sister Claire are bursting with pride and want to share that Jake has put in a great deal of work academically to receive this honor. They are very excited about the bright future Jake has ahead of him. Way to go, Jake!
Handyman left you hanging?
Photos by Betsy Denson Mayor Turner told the crowd that Melvalene and he had fought many battles together over the years. He also said that the Heights was a “soul of the city” and that was in large part due to the work that the Cohens and so many others had done over the years to preserve the character of the Heights and to help it to prosper.
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The Alexander Hamilton Middle School Band led by Jola-Isiba Bashiru provided pre and post entertainment.
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Boy Scouts of America, Troop 63 did the Presentation of Colors and remained to hold up the flags so they wouldn’t topple during the ceremony. Refreshments were provided by the Houston Heights Woman’s Club.
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Page 8A • Saturday, November 25, 2017 • The Leader
Should Santa leave a dog under your tree? Dear Tabby, I’d like to get my girlfriend a dog for Christmas. I think that a dog would keep her company. What are your thoughts on giving pets as gifts? Shopping Early in Shepherd Park Plaza Dear Shopping Early, Giving an adorable puppy or kitten as a gift this holiday season may seem like a wonderful idea, but it is important to remember that pets need a lifetime of care and commitment long after the holiday season. Surprising your girlfriend with a new fuzzy friend on that special holiday morning is tempting, but be sure to
first consider these facts to avoid being unprepared when bringing a pet home. Giving the gift of companionship requires a considerable amount of research and preparation. There can be many reasons why a pet may be unsuitable for a home, such as if the receiver is not financially or mentally prepared for a pet. Dr. Stacy Eckman, clinical assistant professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, explained how pets can often come with hidden expenses. “Pets, even healthy ones, require a financial commitment for basic requirements, such as food, collars, and leashes, as well as medical needs, such as basic vaccinations,” she said. “Unexpected illnesses or injury may also add to that financial burden, which can be too much for
some owners to handle.” Other reasons a pet may not be an appropriate gift this year is if the receiver is allergic to pets, if the receiver does not have an appropriate place to keep the pet, or if the receiver does not want a pet or have time to commit to a pet. Although there are many reasons why giving a pet as a holiday gift can be a bad idea, a pet can make a great holiday gift for someone if the proper amount of research and preparation is done. If the receiver has expressed their commitment to a pet, proven their responsibility, and are financially and mentally ready for a pet, the gift giver must then consider the receiver’s pet preferences for gender and breed. Adoption is also a great option, especially if the new owner prefers an older dog or cat. Many
Pet of the Week
pets are patiently waiting in shelters for a forever home, and the adoption staff at the shelter will be able to help you choose the perfect pet for the new owner. Although giving a pet as a gift this holiday season may seem like a wonderful lifelong memory for your loved one, there is a considerable amount of research and preparation involved in bringing a pet into a new home-especially if it is a surprise to the new owner. A really great way to handle this is to give the recipient a “coupon” for a pet at an animal shelter. That way, you can still gift your girlfriend with the adoption fee of a pet, but she gets to chose which pet suits her the best.
Meet Anastasia. You absolutely will not find a sweeter dog than Anastasia! Anastasia is a people pleaser and would love to be a lap dog--who cares if she’s 43 lbs! Anastasia is about 2 years old and would do best in a family with lots of love and even other dogs. She is heartworm positive, but is being treated (courtesy of the shelter). To learn more about Anastasia, visit www.friends4life.org.
Do you have a question for Tabby? If so, email her at dear tabbyquestions@gmail.com
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The Leader • Saturday, November 25, 2017 • Page 9A
ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR Shop Small Biz Saturday on 19th Street 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25 Shop Heights 19th Street – between North Shepherd and Yale
Join the shops on 19th Street in Houston for Shop Small Business Saturday in the Heights. Ditch the lines and join the party at a neighborhood shopping event! Shop local businesses like Big Blue Whale, Jumper Maybach Fine Art Gallery, AG Antiques, The Lift, Dramatika Custom Framing, Bliss on 19th Street, Jubliee, Erica DelGardo Jewelry and Casa Ramirez FOLKART Gallery Local Love Fest 2017 12 – 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25 FM Kitchen and Bar – 1112 N. Shepherd Dr.
This event showcases the best Houston has to offer. FM Kitchen and Bar says they are proud to present local breweries, live music, live art and 40 of Houstons top vendors with a wide array of products and services. Find local food, local vendors, local music and art, and local people getting to know each other and having a good time.
Giving thanks for weekends filled with love and adventure I ’m a bit tardy in sharing recent travels, but with this week being one of thanks it seems fitting to share. I just recently celebrated a birthday in October and for a birthday weekend getaway, boyfriend John and I traveled to Albuquerque, New Mexico to experience the magic of the city’s Balloon Fiesta. We left Houston after work a Wednesday evening and headed down the Texas I-45. We made it just passed Wichita Falls until searching for an accommodating motel. After a good night’s rest, we started our trek early and made it to Albuquerque by early afternoon. We went outside the hotel box and found a beautifully unique Airbnb stay - a Yurt! But this was no ordinary yurt. No, this was the yurts of all yurts. The yurt was stylish, comfortable, even equipped with a full kitchen, bar, pluming, and a nice bathroom with even a large shower (see online for photos). The yurt sat
Photos by Christina Martinez Christina Martinez and boy friend John at Albuquerque, New Mexico’s Balloon Fiesta 2017.
on a large property with wonderful owners/landlords, and the property came with two sweet and curious pups, two loving kitties, and two friendly and hungry horses. All ready for some loving. Thursday evening we ventured to the night portion
of the Balloon Fiesta where we enjoyed the night glow, where balloons light up their balloons in different light patterns, immediately followed by a grand firework show. A birthday firework show I won’t ever forget. Friday morning we rose early to catch the mass ascension of the balloons with the sun rise and this was, in
Art Valet: an artsy recipe for Thanksgiving
Contributed photo John Evan will be live on the patio for a free show on Saturday, Nov. 25 at Cottonwood.
John Evan at Cottonwood 8 – 11 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25 Cottonwood – 3422 N. Shepherd Dr.
Saint Arnold Brewing and Splice Records, TX present a Honky-Tonking good time with Texas legend, John Evan Band at Cottonwood Houston. This is a FREE show, so come rocking your best polyester outfit!
Email christina@theleadernews.com
Cavatore’s
Awesome 80s Night! 6 – 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25 Barking Pig – 2307 Ella Blvd.
The Lost Boys perform all your favorite hits from The Big 80s and much more!
my opinion, the show stopper event. Thousands eagerly await the first balloon to ascend and as the sun rises, more balloons take the sky. What first seems to be a row of 15 balloons, quickly turns into rows upon rows of balloons that go back for yards. The sun eventually rises, warming the crowd and igniting a fire in all. And with the
sun, rises 600 plus balloons in the clear blue sky. A breathtaking sight that can only be described as truly magical. While surrounded by the magic, naturally I had to taste the festival fare. The breakfast burrito was the clear winner, putting an entire tamale in a burrito with eggs and fixings, and the choice of green or red salsa; green clearly being the only color to choose while in New Mexico. For dinner, we ventured to ABQ’s Nob Hill - a similar area that’s comparable to our Heights’ 19th Street with local boutiques and dining - for dinner and drinks at Zacateca’s. Enchiladas Verdes y Tacos Al Pastor were what was on the menu. We ended the evening star gazing out the top of our yurt. A magical birthday filled with love and adventure. Moments I’ll always cherish and be grateful for.
THE LEADER
Contributed art Hello, Trees! A Walking Serenade is now open at Discovery Green located at 1500 McKinney St.
Would someone please tell me how Thanksgiving snuck up on us? Did Harvey and the Astros really take up that much of our time? I guess they did. Like you, I’m a big fan of eating. Isn’t that really what life is all about? So, it goes without saying, Thanksgiving is one of my favorites. I want you to be as popular at the dinner table as I have been with my favorite surprise recipe, browned Brussels sprouts with hazelnuts and lemon. Now, come on, don’t immediately think “yuck!â€? I used to hate Brussels sprouts. But maybe you haven’t had the right kind. I witnessed even my father eat these. There’s a little more to the recipe than the description, but not much. I have it posted on my website, ArtValet.com. Buy extra Brussel sprouts, and you’re welcome. After recovering from the biggest meal of the year, if you have no plans to trample your neighbors over-sized screen TVs, or doze off in front of one, there is art to be had this weekend. Serious. Take yourself (and out of town guests for a walk) in Discovery Green, downtown. There is a new installation that will impress everyone, “Hello, Trees! A Walking Serenade.â€? Created by the Montreal art collective Daily tous les jours specifically for Discovery Green’s live oak allĂŠe, Hello, Trees! transforms your voice messages into light and music, inspired by the inaudible connections and pro-
cesses that exist in nature. This site-specific work is an interactive installation and the park’s first original commission. It uses public participation to create an immersive light and sound experience that is unique to each visitor. Visitors are invited to speak into input stations located at each end of the sculpture, and their voice messages are translated into light patterns that travel along the arches. The original voice input is gradually transformed into a musical melody as the light reaches the base of each arch. You’re just going to have to check this one out in person. Get some more details online: discoverygreen.com. The Galveston Art League’s ArtWalk is Saturday, a great way to walk off that big meal and entertain company. For over 25 years, the Galveston Arts Center has coordinated ArtWalk on eight Saturdays a year in Galveston’s historic cultural arts district. ArtWalk is an evening of gallery openings throughout the district, including the Galveston Art League gallery at 2117 Postoffice. Meet me Sunday at Saint Arnold Brewing Company for a Sunday Art Market. Seventeen artists from First Saturday Arts Market will setup shop inside the taproom for very discerning shoppers. How cool is that? Very. Join us 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saint Arnold is located at 2000 Lyons Ave, Houston, Texas 77020.
Cohen is an artist and founder of First Saturday Arts Market and the new Market at Sawyer Yards, find him at ArtValet.com
Mitch Cohen Art Columnist
Make your reservations at the Leader Readers’ voted
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happy thanKsGiVinG From our FamiLy to yours Live Comedy Show— Station Theater 6 – 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25 Station Theater – 1230 Houston Ave.
America, and Houston in particular, have been through a lot lately, and what better way to take a break from flooded homes, insurance adjustors, and family during the holidays than an entertaining comedy show. Come to the Station Theater for a good night full of laughs, tears, and maybe just a little bit of pee (you’ll be laughing that hard). Tickets are $12 The event is BYOB Show will begin at 6:00pm
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