Inside Today: Run with purpose, run for life: Run or walk against suicide, colon cancer Page 2
Come See, Come Shop Flower & Gift Shop
Covering the Heights, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest & the neighborhoods of North Houston Saturday, March 1, 2025 • Vol. 70 • No. 9
ABOUT US 713-371-3600 news@theleadernews.com www.theleadernews.com Facebook/FromTheLeader
Leader’s Choice BEST ATTORNEY
2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 5005 W. 34th Street, Suite 104A Legal Services For Wills, Probate Estate Planning & Real Estate
PHYLLIS A. OESER Attorney At LAw 713-692-0300
INSIDE.
10570 NW Frwy ❖ 713-680-2350
ff
30% O
Greater Heights SNC: An update on the Shepherd Durham Project and a new Fresh Start Program By CHARLIE HARDWICK The Leader News Contributor The Greater Heights Super Neighborhood Council held their bi-monthly meeting on Feb. 18 at the Historic Heights Fire Station. The two prominent guest speakers at the meeting were Sherry Weesner with the Memorial Heights TIRZ who gave an update on Phase II of the Shepherd Durham Project,
and Judge Erika Ramirez from Harris County Criminal Court No. 8, who spoke about a new Fresh Start program. Despite the dropping temperature and a steady but light rain, the meeting was well attended by residents of the community.
MEMORIAL HEIGHTS TIRZ PROJECTS
After the standard roll call and introductions from Council
members, Sherry Weesner from the Memorial Heights TIRZ was first to update the residents on the second phase of the Shepherd Durham project. Weesner gave a brief explanation of what a TIRZ is. A Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone TIRZ, is a political subdivision of a municipality or county in Texas, created to implement tax See SNC P. 2
Image courtesy of Memorial Heights Redevelopment Authority
The Shepherd/Durham Project
THREE DECADES OF JUBILEE
Personal Tragedies Spark a Mission: Family suicides compel Heights woman to create awareness, support
New shopping destinations and free breakfast
By STEPHANIE SHIRLEY The Leader News Contributor
Page 3
Call for Artists: Turn a huge historic bowl into a new masterpiece!
Page 5 Submitted photos
The iconic storefront of Jubilee in the Heights.
Heights nonprofit accelerates assistance nationwide: From laptop giveaways to free Internet
Page 6
Art Valet: First Saturday Arts Market celebrates 21st anniversary
Page 8
Iconic boutique celebrates 30 years with style, community, and a new shopping experience By LISA MORALES The Leader News Contributor For 30 years, Jubilee in the Heights has been a cornerstone of the 19th Street shopping district, offering a carefully curated selection of fashion, home decor, gifts, and accessories. As the beloved boutique celebrates this milestone, it’s adding something new to the mix—hosting shopping events for friends, groups, and organizations, giving customers a unique way to celebrate in the heart of their favorite neighborhood shop. Reflecting on Jubilee’s longevity, owner Kristal Kirksey credits the boutique’s success to the Heights community, an incredible team, and years of hard work.
“The Heights is such a special community and believes in supporting local businesses,” Kirksey said. “We started 30 years ago in a 2,000-square-foot location, then moved to 3,000 square feet, and have been in our current 5,000-square-foot space for many years. As customers asked, we added new gift categories and products. When customers ask, we do our best to deliver!” Of course, styles and trends in apparel and decor constantly evolve, and Kirksey and her team, including longtime store manager Marie Chavez, have always been quick to adapt. Their ability to stay on top of what Heights shoppers See JUBILEE P. 3
Dr. Caryn Honig, a Heights resident for nearly a decade, has spent years as an adjunct professor, business owner, and counselor within the wellness sector. Throughout her career, she has developed a deep understanding of human motivation. One issue, however, continues to perplex and drive her—suicide. Honig’s journey to advocacy began with personal tragedy. In 1982, her grandfather, Sam Rosen, affectionately known as “Poppy,” took his own life, leaving her family in shock. Then, in 2022, history repeated itself when her father, Morton Honig, also took his life, never fully recovering from the loss of his spouse six years prior. The devastating experiences of losing both her Poppys compelled Honig to take action, seeking to change the stigma surrounding suicide through education, awareness, and support.
A Rising Crisis: Suicide in the U.S.
Kristal Kirksey shows off rodeo attire in the boutique she has championed for 30 years.
Honig’s personal loss mirrors a growing national crisis. In the year her father passed, the United Health Foundation reported Texas had 14.5 deaths per 100,000 people due to self-harm, placing the state in the middle of national rankings. In 2022, at the time of her father’s death, the CDC recorded over 49,000 suicide deaths—one every 11 minutes. Alarmingly, 80 percent of those deaths were male. Despite brief declines in suicide rates between 2018 and 2020, numbers surged again in 2022, post-pandemic. Overall, according to a 2024 report by the Harris County Mental Health Needs Council, the suicide mortality rate in Texas has increased by 38.1 percent since 1991, and by 22 percent in Harris County over the same time period. Witnessing these trends, Honig made it her mission to shift the conversation surrounding suicide. She founded Poppy’s For Life Suicide Prevention and Awareness, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, in honor of her grandfather and father. Through financial donations and comSee POPPY P. 2
Heights Kids’ Day of Music Returns: Celebrating 11 years of inspiring young hearts through music and art Community Calendar: Catch the best events in town and nearby
Page 8
THE INDEX. Topics ����������������������������������������4 Classifieds ���������������������������������7 Local Culture �����������������������������8
By LISA MORALES The Leader News Contributor The Heights Kids’ Day of Music (HKDM) is set to strike a joyful chord in the community as it returns for its 11th annual festival on March 22, 2025. Taking place from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Love Park, located at 1000 W. 12th St., this much-anticipated event is the only children’s festival in Houston solely dedicated to music and the arts. With the continued support of presenting
sponsor H-E-B, HKDM promises a vibrant day filled with live performances, interactive experiences, and endless opportunities for creative expression. Christi Gell, President of HKDM, talked about the origins of the festival saying, “The inspiration for HKDM came from a desire to create a festival in Houston that was completely dedicated to music and the arts for families. While there are other children’s festivals in Houston, none focus solely on bringing to-
gether the cultural treasures our city has to offer in one place with hands-on, interactive activities.” Since its launch in 2015, Heights Kids’ Day of Music has grown by 350%, now attracting nearly 4,000 attendees from more than 150 zip codes. Once a neighborhood gathering, the festival has evolved into a citywide celebration of the arts, welcoming families from all corners Submitted photo of Houston. The goal of HKDM is to spark a love of music and See HKDM P. 3
the arts in children through interactive experiences, performances, and creative expression.
H E L P SUPPORT Scan this QR code to make a donation through Paypal today!