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Saturday, July 19, 2025 • Vol. 70 • No. 29

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Greta Katherine Toranzo Memorial Fund established to honor young flood victim’s legacy By STEFANIE THOMAS editor@theleadernews.com The family of 10-year-old Greta Katherine Toranzo, who tragically lost her life in the July 4 flood in Kerr County, has established the Greta Katherine Toranzo Memorial Fund through the Greater Houston Community Foundation. The fund will support nonprofit organizations that reflect the pas-

sions, values, and vibrant spirit of a little girl who “radiated joy.” “Donations to Greta’s fund will be dispersed to established nonprofits with missions close to Greta’s heart,” her family shared. “We imagine her watching with joy from heaven as we help others in her honor.” The Toranzo family described the creation of the fund as a way to continue Greta’s legacy of kindness, courage, and com-

passion—virtues that defined her short but impactful life. “Greta was kind, creative, and full of love—and also brave, athletic, and determined,” the family wrote on the donation page. “She was a caring big sister to her little brother, Oliver, and a friend to so many at Sinclair Elementary, the Timbergrove Sports Association, and the Briar Club.”

A Life Overflowing with Light

Born on November 28, 2014, Greta lived her life with rare intensity and warmth. She was “wise beyond her years,” her family said, and “had a gift for making others feel seen, included, and loved.” She had a special way of “delighting in helping younger children and often See TORANZO P. 2

PITCH PERFECT

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Guest Column: Precinct 1 Constable Alan Rosen shares hot car safety tips

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What’s new at M-K-T? Three new retailers added

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Constable Rosen warns public of Hill Country flood scams: Criminal investigation underway By STEFANIE THOMAS editor@theleadernews.com

Support Local Eateries: Latin Restaurant Weeks is happening now!

Real Estate: HAR local data by zip code for June

Facebook photo: Sinclair Elementary PTO

Greta Toranzo

Submitted photo

Laura Smolik (left, portraying Isabel) in Gilbert and Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance at the Hobby Center in 2023.

Heights soprano sings her way into hearts at the Hobby Center this month By STEPHANIE SHIRLEY The Leader News Contributor

From a Katy stage to Houston’s spotlight, soprano Laura Smolik has been chasing the music her whole life. Now a proud Heights resident, Smolik’s journey from childhood performances to professional stages spans cities, genres, and decades. With roots in opera and a passion that started at age five, her story is one of determination, talent, and a heartfelt return to the spotlight—just in time for her next big role. The road to Smolik’s success has been paved with an abundance of hard work, spanned several decades, and covered a lot of geography. She initially pursued the performance arts in high school and was eventually awarded a talent scholarship at Southern Methodist University. She then obtained her undergraduate studies in opera and went on to graduate school at University of Southern California. Her

first involvement with the Houston Grand Opera (HGO). “My first experience with HGO was when I was a junior in high school,” she recalled. “I was in The Magic Flute, Mozart’s last opera. It is a fairy tale of darkness, light, and finding your way in the world. I was one of the three spirits that present the magic flute to the prince to protect him on his mission to save the queen’s daughter. That was my first time working with HGO. And then my senior year of high school, I Photo by Stephanie Shirley was in their high school studio program Heights resident Laura Smolik, 34, will that provided additional specialized be returning to The Hobby Center in training.” July, performing in Gilbert and Sullivan’s While attending SMU, Smolik spent Iolanthe. her time studying, training, and singing professional achievements long pre- for Dallas audiences. ceded her academic accomplishments. “During that time, I was invited as a featured soloist to perform for George Notable Performances at W. Bush at the groundbreaking cerHome and Beyond emony of the Presidential Center and When asked about a significant turnSee SMOLIK P. 2 ing point, Smolik said it came with her

In the aftermath of the deadly Texas Hill Country floods, Harris County Precinct One Constable Alan Rosen is sounding the alarm on opportunistic scams targeting generous donors and grieving families. Constable Rosen confirmed that his office has opened a criminal investigation into at least one online fundraising scam tied to the tragedy, which claimed over 100 lives and left many families in mourning. The investigation centers on a fraudulent GoFundMe page set up by someone impersonating a flood victim’s father. “We have launched an investigation into a case in which an online scammer pretended to be the father of Houston’s Chloe Childress and set up a bogus Go Fund Me page,” Rosen said. Precinct One detectives quickly contacted GoFundMe, and within minutes, the fraudulent campaign was removed from the platform. “Doing this to a family when they are already down is clearly unconscionable,” Rosen said. “These families are all enduring the saddest tragedies of their lives, and to do this is just soulless. We are not going to tolerate these imposters harming families and exploiting the goodwill of our community.” According to investigators, the fake page had already received two donations totaling approximately $1,500 before being shut down. Detectives are now considering charges that may include forgery and online impersonation. There is also suspicion that one of the early donors to the fraudulent fundraiser may have been involved in the scheme as a way to bait other contributors. “We are investigating whether one of the donors may have even been part of the scam as part of a tactic to let other donors feel it would be safe to contribute, sort of like bait,” Rosen said. Rosen noted that his office is currently investigating whether other fraudulent campaigns connected to the flood may exist. See SCAMS P. 2

City Council approves monthly evening public sessions, expanding civic access Pet of the Week: Meet Frida and Chavela, because the best things come in twos

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THE INDEX. Topics ��4 Classifieds ��5

By STEFANIE THOMAS editor@theleadernews.com In a significant step toward making local government more accessible, Houston City Council voted 15-1 to approve a proposal allowing monthly evening public-comment sessions. The new schedule will begin with a test period starting Aug. 26, 2025, with public sessions held at 6 p.m. on the final Tuesday of each month until the end of December of this year. The ordinance, introduced by

District H Council Member Mario Castillo and co-sponsored by Council Members Sallie Alcorn and Amy Peck, amends longstanding council rules that previously limited public comment opportunities to Tuesday afternoons at 2 p.m.—a time many residents cannot attend due to work or caregiving responsibilities. “We did it. Because you organized,” Castillo told constituents in a statement following the vote. “That changes today.”

A Victory for Working Houstonians

Castillo credited the measure’s success to grassroots support from residents across Houston, particularly those whose schedules previously prevented them from engaging with City Council. “This victory belongs to the teachers, nurses, small business owners, shift workers, students, and caregivers who have had to choose between See CASTILLO P. 2

Screen grab from HTV Live video, July 9, 2025

Houston City Council Member District H Mario Castillo spearheaded the effort to make public sessions more accessible.

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