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Covering the Heights, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest & the neighborhoods of North Houston
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Saturday, July 12, 2025 • Vol. 70 • No. 28
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Heights pediatrician let go after social media post criticizing Kerr County flood victims By STEFANIE THOMAS editor@theleadernews.com
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A local pediatrician, Dr. Christina Propst, is no longer employed at Blue Fish Pediatrics Greater Heights (1900 N Loop W) after a controversial Facebook post surfaced following the deadly floods in Kerr County. The floods claimed the lives of more than 100 peo‑ ple, many of them children. Outcries from the community prompted a swift and strong backlash to her comments.
“We strongly condemn the comments”
Blue Fish Pediatrics, which operates eight clinics across the Houston area, confirmed that Propst’s association with the practice has ended. In a state‑ ment posted to their website earlier this week, the organization said: “We were made aware of a social media comment from one of our physicians. The individ‑ ual is no longer employed by Blue Fish Pediatrics.” The clinic made it clear that Propst’s
remarks were not aligned with its val‑ ues or mission. “We strongly condemn the comments that were made in that post. The post does not reflect the values, standards or mission of Blue Fish Pediatrics. We do not support or condone any statement that politicizes tragedy, diminishes human dignity, or fails to clearly uphold compassion for every child and family, regardless of background or beliefs.” Blue Fish Pediatrics did not specify whether Propst resigned or was termi‑
nated. Her social media presence and biographies have been removed from affiliated sites. Currently, the Texas Medical Board website continues to show her license as active, with no dis‑ ciplinary action recorded.
The offending post
On her Facebook account, Propst had written: “May all visitors, children, non‑MAGA voters and pets be safe and See PEDIATRICIAN P. 2
breaks into ‘FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS’ anWhoanimal shelter
anyway: Friends For Life seeks help after string of crimes By STEFANIE THOMAS editor@theleadernews.com
After a string of break-ins and at‑ tempted burglaries at Friends For Life Animal Shelter in the Heights, staff are feeling frustrated, vulnerable — and de‑ termined to find help. The nonprofit, which has served Houston for more than two decades with its no-kill shelter and innovative commu‑ nity programs, has been targeted repeat‑ edly in recent months. The most recent incident took place last weekend when someone broke a window on the group’s Mobile Adoption Vehicle and attempted to steal the generator from their in-prog‑ ress surgical unit. While the intruder failed to remove the generator, the damage added yet an‑ other layer to a growing list of violations. “It’s so demoralizing when this keeps happening,” said Fiona Layfield, manag‑ ing director at Friends For Life. “Even when they don’t take anything, we’re left repairing damage, cleaning up messes, and spending time and money that should go toward helping animals.”
Editorial: We’re changing the way we deliver The Leader!
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New business: Vitacca Ballet & School for Dance moves into the Heights later this year
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Coming to a Table Near You: Hill Country flood relief edition
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Grab your oven mitts: The Great American Pie Contest returns July 14
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Facebook photos: Sinclair Elementary PTO
More than 300 members of the community came together for a candlelight vigil at Sinclair Elementary School on July 5, 2025, to show support for the Toranzo family while Greta was missing. Most people wore blue, Greta’s favorite color.
Community mourns death of 10-year-old Greta Toranzo in Kerr County flood By STEFANIE THOMAS editor@theleadernews.com
The Houston community is grieving the loss of 11-year-old Greta Toranzo, a beloved student at Sinclair Elementary, who was confirmed to have died in the devastating flash floods that swept through Kerr County on July 4. Greta had been attending Camp Mystic, a girls’ summer camp nestled along the Guadalupe River, when the floodwaters rose rapidly and unexpect‑ edly during the holiday weekend. Her body was found days later following extensive search and rescue opera‑ tions. She is one of more than 100 peo‑ ple confirmed dead in the disaster, in‑ cluding two dozen other campers from Camp Mystic, according to the latest updates from local authorities as of
press time. Per multiple media reports, at least 160 victims overall remained missing late Tuesday, according to Texas Governor Greg Abbott. News of Greta’s death has sent waves of sorrow far beyond the Houston Heights neighborhood where Greta lived and attended school. In front of Sinclair Elementary, a silhou‑ ette of Greta stands as a tribute, sur‑ rounded by handwritten notes, flow‑ ers, and a sea of blue ribbons—her favorite color. The school’s PTO shared a state‑ ment acknowledging the loss. “It’s with unimaginable sadness we share that Greta’s family has confirmed she lost her life in the Kerr County Floods. As a community please con‑ tinue to send your love and support to the entire Toranzo family. We do ask
Repeat Targets
On July 8, Sinclair Elementary School officials confirmed the death of Greta Toranzo, 10, in the Kerr County Independence Day flood.
that you grant the Toranzo family pri‑ vacy and room to grieve. Should they ask for anything additional to be shared with the community we will do so at that time.” The message continued, urging stu‑ dents and families to lean on one an‑ other in the difficult days ahead: “We know this feels impossible to process. We will share additional support systems for students via ParentSquare once we have them in place. We encourage the community to continue visiting campus to leave mes‑ sages and flowers at Greta’s silhouette and as a gathering place to celebrate Greta’s life.” Camp Mystic, a nearly century-old retreat in the heart of “Flash Flood See TORANZO P. 2
The break-ins began earlier this year, with a major incident in March when a thief stole a computer, refrigerator, tools, See BURGLARY P. 1
Submitted photo
In yet another incident at Friends For Life Animal Shelter on July 6, burglars broke the windows of the organization’s Mobile Adoption Vehicle.
Garden Oaks couple improves neighborhood in more ways than one Comings & Goings: Meet the newbies in town, and say farewell to departures
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By STEPHANIE SHIRLEY The Leader News Contributor Sam and Janie Rezzoffi live on a qui‑ et Garden Oaks street, just feet away from the bustling intersection of North Shepherd and 38th. On the southwest corner of the intersection there was one of many unsightly utility boxes that can be found throughout the city. Now, their community has been treated to a beautiful piece of mural art instead. The Rezzoffis started the project of transforming a utility box from eyesore
to art started two years ago. However, their story began many, many years before that. Sam and Janie both grew up in The Heights and went to elemen‑ tary school at Helms, middle school at Hamilton, and high school at Reagan together, just living blocks apart. But after graduation, they each went their separate ways. Then, nearly 50 years later, they found each other again and married six years ago.
A Quiet Street, a Bold Vision
Janie had been living at her home in
Garden Oaks for several decades, and she and Sam were convinced this was where they were meant to share their lives together. “We just love it here in Garden Oaks,” Sam said. “We’re very pleased with our neighborhood, the things they’re doing and the improvements being made. We have a great civic club Photo by Stephanie Shirley that is very active and supportive; we Sam and Janie Rezzoffi worked for two years to bring this work of art to their community, try to support them, too.” There is a greenway from the rail‑ bringing artistic value to a bland and See REZZOFFI P. 2
unsightly junction box in their Garden Oaks neighborhood.
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