Leader May 14, 2022

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CenterPoint swapping out utility poles

By Charlotte Aguilar caguilar@mcelvypartners.com They’re hard to miss — slender 110to 115-foot tall steel poles that have sprouted up in rows along Oak Forest residential streets — and have been a source of curiosity among those in and around the neighborhood.

Gary Gano of the Candlelight Plaza neighborhood provided a photo of the new utility poles from near the intersection of Pinemont Drive and Ella Boulevard, with the poles showing characteristics of electricity transmis-

sion equipment. They appeared to be located on residential rights-of-way, virtually in front yards.

CenterPoint Energy spokesperson Alejandra Diaz confirmed the poles are part of a project that is swapping the existing wooden poles for the steel ones and replacing the wiring with what she described as “newer, high-strength conductor.” The wire is strung through three pulley devices at the top of each pole.

The project, which is expected to be completed this year, is designed “to meet future energy demand and

enhance grid resiliency,” Diaz wrote in an email response to questions from The Leader. Installations will span an area from CenterPoint’s Little York substation, along Wheatley Street/ Ella, Pinemont and Oak Forest Drives, to the utility’s White Oak substation, she said.

“It is atrocious,” reader Amanda Honeycutt wrote in a Facebook message to The Leader. “I haven’t found one person who was made aware of the work prior to it starting. Seems like the community and our elected leadSee Poles P. 4A

1030 Heights Blvd, Houston,TX 77008

713-434-6923

Photo by Gary Gano Steel poles that exceed 100 feet in height are replacing old wooden ones to update CenterPoint Energy power transmission in the Oak Forest area.

Jones wins Round 1 of District 147 battle with Bess

By Charlotte Aguilar caguilar@mcelvypartners.com

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info@ArmorGlass.com ArmorGlass.com Photo from Twitter Heights resident Alexandra Forseth, rear, speaks during a rally last week in Washington D.C., where families of wrongfully imprisoned Americans overseas asked the U.S. government to help secure their loved ones’ releases. Forseth’s father and uncle have been imprisoned in Venezuela since 2017.

INSIDE.

Local ‘Citgo 6’ relative rallies in Washington

By Matt deGrood mdegrood@mcelvypartners.com

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Page 7A

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Page 1B

Families of Americans imprisoned abroad, including a local representative for the “Citgo 6,” attended a rally in Washington D.C. last week to raise support for the U.S. government to intervene on their behalf.

“People being reunited with their family is so much more important than that icky feeling of working with an entity you might not want to,” said Alexandra Forseth, a Heights resident whose father and uncle have been imprisoned since November 2017 by the Venezuelan government.

More than 55 Americans are wrongly imprisoned in other countries and the families of those people are all part of an organization no one wants to be, according to organizers of the Bring Our Families Home campaign. Forseth and others gathered in front of the White House on May 4 with the hopes of securing a meeting with President Joe Biden.

Included in the number of Americans imprisoned abroad are five members of the so-called “Citgo 6” that are still imprisoned in Venezuela, a group that includes several Houston-area residents.

The Citgo 6 were executives at the Houston-based

oil-and-gas company who were called to a business meeting in Caracas, Venezuela, a few days before Thanksgiving in 2017, when they were arrested by See Rally P. 5A

Heights student surprised with scholarship HISD seniors who have “exemplified outstanding character and resilience by facing and overcoming obstacles in their lives,” including unique challenges.

“I talk to him daily – I even talked to him before I knew this was going on earlier this morning,” De Mendoza said of her brother. “I miss him so much and I really wish he could be here to see this, but I know he’s always here in spirit.”

Each one of HISD’s 35 high school principals nominated one student for the awards, according

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

THE INDEX. Church....................................................... 4A Classifieds ............................................. 5A Coupons .................................................. 3B Food/Drink ............................................ 7A Opinion .................................................... 3A Public Information......................... 4B Puzzles ..................................................... 3A Sports ........................................................ 3B

Photo from Twitter Heights resident Alexandra Forseth, kneeling in front row with purple pullover, participated in the “Bring Our Families Home” campaign May 4 in front of th White House.

Early voting runs May 16-20 in the Democratic primary runoff to represent District 147 in the Texas Legislature, the second of three contests for the seat this year — with Democrat Jolanda Jones likely winning a special election May 7 that would put her in the seat through at least the end of the year.

Unofficial results released by the Harris County Elections office showed Jones outpolling Danielle Keys Bess 5248 percent — 2,305 to 2,103 votes — to fill the term of State Rep. GarJones net Coleman, who retired at the end of February. He had already announced he would not seek re-election this year after 31 years in the legislature, but bowed out Bess early to force a special election that would give his replacement “a leg up in seniority.”

Jones, a former Houston City Council member and Houston ISD trustee, is facing Bess, a Realtor, again on May 24 in a runoff to see who faces Republican Rashard Baylor in the November election.

New district boundaries for the primary and general election mean that more voters in the Greater Heights area will be eligible to vote in the race. The redrawn map extends further north, taking in some Heights neighborhoods just north of Interstate 10 and extending south to the Sawyer Yards and Washington Avenue areas, extending from Shepherd Drive to the west to Houston Avenue to the east.

Voters can enter their addresses on HarrisVotes.com to determine if they are located in the redrawn district, as well as learning early voting locations and hours.

Photo by Landan Kuhlmann Houston ISD superintendent Millard House II, left, hugs Heights High School student Cathrenia De Mendoza.

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Cathrenia De Mendoza misses her brother, Enrique, who died after being hit by a drunk driver in 2015. But she said he is always with her, and knew he was looking down on her once again Wednesday at Heights High School.

De Mendoza received a $2,600 college scholarship from Houston ISD Superintendent Millard House II as part of the district’s Superintendent Scholar Awards.

The award is given each year to

to the district, with each receiving at least $1,200. From there, House and his staff selected 10 students to receive the $2,600 scholarship.

“She’s worked extremely hard, and that’s the bottom line,” House said. “She’s the epitome of what a Superintendent’s Scholar is all about. We’re very excited about her and her journey.”

When De Mendoza was 12 years old, her brother was involved in a car crash with a drunk driver and killed. And she said See Scholarship P. 5A

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THE TOPICS. The Leader • Saturday, May 14, 2022 • Page 3A

Historic Texas battles commemorated with silence Notice what happened? Or more accurately, notice what didn’t happen? These past March 2 and April 21 were pretty ordinary, not like earlier times. Has Texas lost its mojo? Pilgrim, if you just stepped off a United flight from Chicago, let me give you a very quick lesson on why these two dates matter.

On March 2, 1836, a group of Texians met at Washington-on-theBrazos and signed a document proclaiming Texas’ independence from Mexico. At that time, the Battle of the Alamo was raging and none of the defenders ever lived to get the word. On the following April 21, Texians defeated President General Antonio López de Santa Anna (imagine how long it took to sign autographs) and his army at San Jacinto. When Mexican authorities received word of Santa Anna’s defeat, flags across the country were lowered to half staff and draped in mourning.

For years afterward, these two anniversaries were marked in Texas, with San Jac Day celebrated with parades, bands, cheering crowds and speeches. Today, however, they are hardly noted except for a few events. At dawn on March 6, anniversary of the day the Alamo fell, reenactors stood before the Alamo and did something. I saw no news coverage. To mark the Battle of San

LYNN ASHBY Columnist

Jacinto, Gov. Greg Abbott’s office issued a statement: “This April, the San Jacinto Battleground will once again hear the booming of cannons, the cracking of musket fire, and the shouts of ‘Remember the Alamo!’”

The statement goes on to note the date. (April 23, because it was a Saturday and more spectators would show).

Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site marks Texas Independence Day with its annual two-day event with music, Texas A&M University Singing Cadets, food, arts and crafts, kids history zone, free museum exhibits, live cannon, musket firings and the Aggieland Mariachi Band, etc.

Speaking of things Aggie, each San Jacinto Day since 1883, Ags round the world hold a Muster and, at least at College Station, read off the names of all Aggies who have died in the past year. This gives us a

great story: In April of 1942 on the island of Corregidor, surrounded and bombed by Japanese forces, Maj. Gen. George F. Moore, A&M Class of 1908, asked a former yell leader to find every Aggie still alive on the island to remind them to fill out their military life insurance policies. They found 27. The story spread that they also held a Muster, sang Aggie songs and yells. The tale took fire with newspaper and magazine stories back home and even was told on the floor of the U.S. Senate. Alas, the Aggie Muster on Corregidor didn’t happen, but it should have. (Only 31 of the 89 Aggies who were taken captive on Bataan and Corregidor came home.)

The Aggies don’t actually sing, “Hello to Texas University,” but we can. Longhorns, past and present, celebrate Texas Independence Day, and it all began on March 2, 1896, when a UT law student noted that the day was a legal holiday for Texans, but the UT students had classes. They asked for the day off, didn’t get it, etc. In later years the day was recognized with a huge Lone Star Flag draped down the Tower, the band played (and still allowed) “The Eyes of Texas” and they even brought a cannon to the mall and fired it. The cannon shot (with blanks) down the mall towards the Kappa Sig house. One year the

frat rats dressed up as Mexican soldiers and fired back with assorted fake guns and the battle was on for years afterwards.

Then there is UT-San Antonio.

An early battle in the Texas Revolution at Gonzales pitched Mexican soldiers against Texians. The Mexicans were sent to retrieve a cannon, but the Texians fought back under a flag: “Come And Take It.” That became a battle cry. Today a replica of that flag hangs in the state capitol in Austin and can be seen on everything from coffee cups to underwear, license plates, album covers, food trucks, murals and hats. Texas Tacky lives! For six years UTSA traditionally unfurled an enormous “Come And Take It” flag across the student section before the start of the fourth quarter of home football games accompanied by the firing of a cannon. But in 2021 UTSA’s president ruled that the flag would no longer be used at football games or any place else. A former UTSA professor said the flag is “offensive” and “anti-Mexican.” UTSA has an enrollment of 34,742, of which more than half (55.8 percent) are Hispanic. Also in San Antonio, a 10day festival held every spring, previously called Fiesta San Jacinto, is now called Fiesta San Antonio.

There is a company in Corpus Christi called Copano Bay Press

which puts out a newsletter on interesting and odd things about Texas. They looked into the recent celebrations of the anniversaries by such organizations as the Texas State Historical Commission, the Bullock State History Museum and others. You can click on TexasReader.com and “Should Texans Forget San Jacinto?” to find a three-minute video that reams out several Texas historical operations for sluffing off San Jacinto Day. Very good job.

These battles’ names live on in various ways. A Texas Navy schooner and three U.S. warships have been named San Jacinto. One was a World War II light aircraft carrier whose pilots included a Lt. George H.W. Bush. The USS Alamo was a dock landing ship which shuttled Marines around the Pacific before, during and after the Vietnam War. It was decommissioned in 1990 and loaned the same day to the Brazilian Navy as the Rio de Janeiro. Ignoring Texas’ two historic dates are really not surprising. We now have books like “Forget the Alamo.” Vast numbers of newcomers come to Texas every day, and we can’t expect them to know or care about what happened here before they arrived. But it may well be the reason they arrived.

Ashby celebrates at ashby2@comcast.net

Heights residents support city’s plan for 11th Street For The Leader Editor’s note: This guest editorial was submitted by Heights residents Patrick O’Mahen, Molly Horstman, Virginia Snodgrass Rangel, Luis Rangel, Lauren Waters, Brian Jackson, Greg Wisian and Katie Wisian On April 20, The Leader published a long letter by a group styling itself the “Alliance for Reasonable Traffic Solutions” that groundlessly criticized the proposed 11th Street safety project.

We are residents of the Heights, who drive, walk, bike and attempt to cross the street in the neighborhoods surrounding 11th Street. We all have kids who travel, play and attend schools in the community.

We support the city’s proposal to make 11th Street safer for residents and encourage our fellow Heights community members to do

so, too. We agree that there are many other safety improvements needed in the Heights – for example, sidewalks, speed bumps, repainted lane-markings and crosswalks. However, we do not believe the existence of other safety needs means we should not move forward with the proposed safety improvements to 11th that have been in planning for three years.

Using a road diet to limit space for drivers on 11th is a good start to improving safety in the Heights.

Altering the road geometry by reducing car lanes will force drivers to naturally slow from the current average speed of 38.5 mph, observed in a city traffic study, which will almost certainly kill a pedestrian in a crash.

Reduced speeds decrease risk of injury and death to all road users. The proposal also improves safety for pe-

THE READER.

destrians by reducing crossing distances and simplifying traffic patterns, especially at Nicholson Street. Finally, the project enhances the city’s bicycle network – approved by city council in the city’s bike plan – by linking to existing bike lanes on Heights Boulevard, the Heights Hike-andBike Trail that crosses Nicholson at 11th and planned lanes on North Shepherd Drive, with potential future extensions to the White Oak Bayou trail along T.C. Jester Boulevard.

ARTS openly admits that its primary purpose is not to improve safety in the Heights but rather to oppose all road diets – whether proposed in the Heights or any other part of the city. Their opposition comes despite numerous research studies demonstrating that road diets are broadly effective in reducing crashes and injuries for all road users (https://www.pedbikeinfo.

Email us your letters: news@theleadernews.com

org/cms/downloads/WhitePaper_RoadDiets_PBIC.pdf).

Furthermore, ARTS argues that since only six intersections in the proposed safety corridor make up 71 percent of the crashes, only minor improvements, if any, are necessary. Yet those six intersections are located throughout the proposed project area, making the generalized corridor approach proposed by the city appropriate. ARTS also claims to want to reduce carbon emissions; yet it argues against road improvements that will make walking and biking — both zero-carbon transport — safer and more accessible.

Finally, ARTS wants us to consider increasing neighborhood population density and the potential for increased traffic around 11th street as arguments against a road diet. But the group ignores that increasing population density re-

quires more efficient use of existing street space. It also neglects research suggesting that reallocating road space to other modes of transport may cause drops in overall driving demand (https://www.icevir tuallibrar y.com/doi/10.1680/ muen.2002.151.1.13).

Additionally, ARTS fails to mention already-existing speed bumps on 8th, 10th, 12th and 13th streets – as well as several north-south streets like Tulane -- west of Yale that reduce the attractiveness of neighboring streets as cut-through driving alternatives to 11th Street.

Project planning for 11th street, which has been proceeding since 2019, has been transparent and responsive to the public. There have been nine public meetings with the recordings and presentations posted online to encourage further commentary (https://www.letstalk-

houston.org/11th-streetbikeway).

The city has been responsive to neighborhood concerns about locations of proposed concrete medians and altering proposed restrictions on left turns, and shown an openness to evaluating the placement and number of pedestrian crossing enhancements.

We believe in embracing reasonable solutions for real people who live in our community. We invite our neighbors to do the same by signing our petition at https:// chng.it/yNhvHkvtKB and contacting city elected officials. Reject the scare-mongering campaign of ARTS and support the 11th Street safety proposal. It will not solve all our transportation, environmental or safety problems, but it is a positive step that will help us move forward.

THE LEADER PUZZLERS.

HPD crash reports cite driver, pedestrian as intoxicated on morning of fatal collision

Answers found in this week’s Classified section

Dear Editor: A very sad story, and an abject failure of the HPD. Time for the Chief to step down, and time to admit that “systematic racism” is part of the Colossal Pyramid of Lies. Although there are some bad police, they need more funding, more help, and more training. Retaining officers means that they will have more experience, and should become better.

Nothing good happens at 6 a.m., but I can’t understand why two intoxicated people got up that early and hit the streets. Nevertheless, where is the pedestrian supposed to “yield” to the vehicle? There’s no sidewalk. You got cars parked up and down that street. The speed limit should be 20 or 25 there, not 30. If the massive truck was going 40, that’s a lot of momentum.

Trucks aren’t necessary inside the city. Within the city, vehicles should be limited to motorcycles of 1 liter or less, bicycles, and a few cars, such as Fiat 500, Isetta, DAF City, SMART. No need for a massive truck in the city, and I sure miss the days when pickup trucks weren’t luxury items. They had a single bench seat, made out of vinyl plastic, that was cold in winter and scorching in summer. They had perhaps a little AM radio with a speaker in the dash, no A/C, no in flight movies, no teeth, whether gray or blue, and no talking directions. Most of them were three speed manual.

Jason H.

SUDOKU

Let’s rethink city’s plans for road diets

Dear Editor: Instead of a road diet for 11th Street, Bike Boulevards should be considered for alternative route residential streets, such as 10th, 12th or 14th Streets. What is being proposed by the City essentially is a Bike Boulevard for 11th Street, a commercial corridor. Bike boulevards should be on streets where vehicle volume per day is under 1500 vehicles per day (vpd), with up to 3000 vpd allowed in limited sections.

11th Street exceeds the recommendation even at 8 pm. In other words, a bike boulevard should be on a residential street, not on a commercial street that has areas of conflict such as more than about 170 driveways and side streets. That means that the road diet proposed for 11th Street will have UNprotected bike lanes because there will be no curbing where there is a driveway or side street. Also consider that there are no bike lanes proposed west of Shepherd. jimminycricket

Being a bore isn’t necessarily bad Dear Editor: This column is boring! So is the news. mobarr

Lengthy police chase ends in Heights

Dear Editor: “Police arrested a man accused of leading law enforcement officers on a 40-mile car chase that lasted more than an hour and ended in the Heights last week…”

“He was released from jail on bond” This madness has to stop. How many people did he endanger during the chase?

Bob Davis

A somewhat incendiary expression

Dear Editor: Long ago last century in a UH newspaper feature-article composition class, our professor spoke of “inflammatory” words and phrases, expressions that tend to arouse strong, often irrational, even violent feelings. He’d made a list of such, but first he wanted to hear from the group: Can anyone suggest any particularly potent inflammatory expressions? A woman immediately raised her hand and shouted, “Pit bull!”

J. Reynolds

ACROSS 1. State confidently 7. Replaced 13. Day of remembrance 14. Molecular process 16. Indicates position 17. Paper-and-pencil game 19. Military policeman 20. Nests of pheasants 22. Corpuscle count (abbr.)

23. Seat 25. Functions 26. Sheets of glass 28. Minute arachnid 29. Separately managed account 30. A bachelor’s place 31. Dodge truck 33. __ Farrow, actress 34. Discussion 36. Delayed 38. Liaison 40. Sediment deposit 41. Leased 43. Without 44. Woman (French) 45. Folk-pop artist Williams 47. Congressman (abbr.)

48. Resembles a pouch 51. Superior 53. Stalin’s police chief 55. Razorbill is of this genus

56. Criminal act of setting fire 58. Department of Labor 59. William Jennings __, The Great Commoner 60. Nickel 61. Ordered by canon law 64. Where Denver is (abbr.)

65. Has 10 straight sides and angles 67. Small group with shared interests 69. A famous street for kids 70. Underlying intentions

DOWN 1. Mental condition 2. Senate Bill 3. Where constructions take place 4. Ancient Olympic Site 5. Not just ‘play’ 6. Set of four 7. ‘The beautiful game’ 8. American time 9. Big man on campus 10. Syndrome of the eye 11. Spanish be 12. Cotton cloths 13. Roman guardian of

gates 15. Displays of food 18. Anti-Bolshevik Bloc of Nations 21. Female deacon 24. Adrift 26. Hit lightly 27. Test for high schoolers 30. Whittled 32. River in western India 35. Small crude dwelling 37. One-time AC/DC singer Scott 38. Holds up a shirtsleeve 39. Mental faculties 42. Blot 43. A very large body of water 46. Redecorated 47. Mineral 49. Tree that bears spikes 50. Type of boat 52. Calypso music 54. Director Howard 55. Longtime U.S. Senator Specter 57. Buddhist serpent deities 59. Attempt to fly in falconry 62. __ de plume 63. Wheel 66. Cerium 68. Rural delivery

WORD SCRAMBLE

Page 4A • Saturday, May 14, 2022 • The Leader

Federal, state funding propels Washington’s ‘Vision’ project

By Charlotte Aguilar caguilar@mcelvypartners.com

Federal and state officials delivered promises Friday, May 6, of more than $2 million in funding for a dream community science project at Booker T. Washington High School — to create an agriculture center and a signature plaza featuring a statue of the school’s namesake as well as an outdoor amphitheater.

“I hope this will empower this neighborhood,” U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX Dist. 18) told KPRC-TV News at an event to announce the funding. She handed over a giant ceremonial check representing $1.06 million in community development grant money from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban

Development to Houston ISD Superintendent Millard House II. The congresswoman’s staff told news media it was the largest direct federal contribution ever to an individual public school in the U.S. State representatives attending the ceremony told reporters they had arranged for another $1 million in funding.

Key goals of “The Vision,” as the project is known, are to address climate change through sustainability, reducing the community’s carbon footprint and food insecurity by growing and distributing up to 16,000 containers of vegetables monthly. The 10,000-square foot agricultural center will include greenhouses and a “wind farm” of up to five turbines, engineered

by students, that will power the ag complex and the football stadium.

Already the students have been working on pilots for various aspects of the project, including creating a community garden irrigated through a rainwater collection system that has provided about 1,000 containers of food to the community, building one prototype turbine, and working with HISD on the first phase of the plaza, which will include the amphitheater, a community park, and the statue of Washington.

The groundbreaking for the plaza was held in April, when the school also held a ceremony naming its auditorium in honor of longtime State Rep. Senfronia Thompson, an alumna of the school.

Waltrip department hosting free photo workshop

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Community members who want to try their hand at photo development could have a chance to get acquainted with the practice during an upcoming workshop at Waltrip High School.

Waltrip’s Career and Technical Education department will host a black-and-white photo development workshop for interested community members from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, May 28.

The free workshop will include sessions that

consist of developing and scanning photos as well as making contact sheets and prints.

Interested community members can visit docs. google.com/document/d/1j37dFTqZlHZ1qCDrYyo4NPCD_TPtRB19RI0f82MnSk/edit for a list of supplies to bring and pre-workshop tips.

Space is limited to 10 people, so interested participants are encouraged to sign up as soon as possible. Community members can email Jonathan St. Mary at JSTMARY@houstonisd. org or Stephanie Witherspoon at swithers@ houstonisd.org for more information.

Heights Rotary shows love for local kids For The Leader With support from the Rotary Club of Houston Heights, Love Elementary School is able to provide the EarlyAct FirstKnight character and ethics educational program — which promotes caring, respect, empathy, responsibility, tolerance, compassion, friendship and leadership – to its 385 students. The program helps

students learn crucial life skills that enhance their relationships with others, including their friends and family.

The Love Elementary program is led by Kendra Berglund. Representing EarlyAct at a recent awards ceremony was “Lady Amber,” who knighted the Love students who received recognition for most effectively learning and using the friendliness skill.

“Knight” fits into this program well because it means “servant.”

Representing the Heights Rotary at the recent awards ceremony were Rotarians Stephen Monson, the community service chair, and Ben Ballard, the education chair.

For more information on Heights Rotary, contact Ken Stallman at 713-870-0764.

Photo from HISD Booker T. Washington High School Principal Carlos Phillips II, left, accepts a ceremonial grant check for $1 million-plus to help fund “The Vision” project that will create an agricultural center and plaza on the campus. At right is U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee.

Memorial Park tunnels open in both directions

By Charlotte Aguilar caguilar@mcelvypartners.com

Traffic flowed in both directions Tuesday through the tunnels running underneath the new 100-acre land bridge reconnecting the north and south sides of Memorial Park.

After nearly two years of construction, the eastbound tunnel opened in late March, and the tunnel containing the westbound lanes got its first

vehicles Tuesday morning as reported live by Channel 2 News.

Each tunnel is 25-feet tall by 54-feet wide. The rules are strict: No bicyclists, no pedestrians (except in emergencies, with safety outlets provided), one-way flow in each tunnel, and a 35 mph speed limit with no stopping.

The tunnels are part of the $70 million Land Bridge and Prairie Project of the Memo-

rial Park Conservancy, designed to restore prairieland while increasing flood mitigation and smooth, safe movement by humans and wildlife in the park. Completion is expected by the end of the year.

The conservancy’s master plan spans 10 years with a price tag of $200 million and includes a series of recreational and ecological improvements to the 1,500-acre park.

Photo from Channel 2 News Workers put the finishing touches on the westbound tunnel below the new Memorial Park Land Bridge on Tuesday morning, just before it opened to traffic.

Contributed photo Rotary Club of Houston Heights members Stephen Monson, left, and Ben Ballard, right, join Love Elementary students who participated in the EarlyAct FirstKnight character and ethics educational program. At top right is Kendra Berglund, the Love teacher who leads the program, and at top left is “Lady Amber” of the EarlyAct FirstKnight organization.

Poles, from P. 1A ers should have played a role in the process.”

Erin Jones, a spokesperson for Houston Public Works, said the project did not need to be specifically permitted by the city because it is covered under CenterPoint’s franchise agreement with the city, adding that Houston’s Administrative and Regulatory Affairs Department (ARA) is respon-

sible for oversight.

CenterPoint’s Diaz added: “As we do with all our projects, we follow established processes and regulations to meet or exceed necessary requirements.” She said the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) had approved the project and that traffic control and road-closing plans were approved by the city.

Regarding concerns about safety from electromagnetic fields that are frequently raised when power transmission equipment is installed in residential areas, Diaz said: “They exist wherever there is a flow of electricity.

CenterPoint Energy follows the PUCT policy of prudent avoidance when routing power lines.”

The Enemy’s Perspective

By Pastor Will Cover

Arise Baptist Church 803 Curtin St. Houston TX 77018 713-659-9697 • www.arisebaptistchurch.org

I

n the Christian life, struggle is all around us. The Bible says that we will always struggle against the wickedness of the world that is against God, the fleshly desires that come from within, and the attacks of the Devil who does everything he can to stand against God. The book of Ephesians tells us that spiritual battles are not fought against flesh and blood but against the spiritual powers that while they may be unseen, are incredibly powerful and most be resisted with spiritual weapons.

Jesus said that the Devil is always working to keep the Word of God from having any effect on you. Jesus compares the devil to a bird eating a seed off the ground before it can sink into the dirt and sprout. Many people hear the truth,

but don’t respond to it because it never really sinks in. The Devil wants to keep you distracted from the truth.

In the book of John, Jesus calls the Devil the Father of Lies. This truth is very evident in the fact that Devil is a master of deception. He often leads people to think that what they are doing will have good results when in reality those who reject God will face death. Doing what feels right is often the path that leads away from God. The devil is a master manipulator of feelings. He deceives you into thinking that what you feel is good is right. To do right, you must know and do the Word of God. Far more could be said on this topic. My challenge to you is to take time and read God’s Word.

Make sure you know what it says and how God wants you to live.

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Say a Prayer Today

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t goes made m err is h this the n must lear to repeat it can be h can some We somet we’ve don for years, addition, our past. them, we we should the comin as well as them; tha repeatedly the phrase the only w more divin the offen vindictive it! Corrie prison cam to realize

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The Leader • Saturday, May 14, 2022 • Page 5A

Rally

from P. 1A

the government of Nicolas Maduro.

Citgo is a subsidiary of PDVSA, an oil-and-gas company run by the Venezuelan government, and the men were arrested, accused of trying to make a deal that would financially inhibit PDVSA and convicted in November 2020 by a Venezuelan judge.

Then-U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called the convictions “wrongful” and described the judicial proceeding as a “kangaroo court.”

Earlier this year, Citgo 6 member Gustavo Cardenas, of Katy, was one of two jailed Americans freed by the Venezuelan government after talks with the United States. Cardenas spent more

Scholarship

than four years in a Venezuelan prison.

The other still-detained Citgo 6 members are Forseth’s father, Alirio Zambrano, and her uncle, Jose Luis Zambrano, a Katy resident, along with Sugar Land resident Jorge Toledo, Katy resident Jose Angel Pereira and Tomeu Vadell of Louisiana.

Forseth represented the Citgo 6 families at the gathering in Washington.

“We always prayed our cases would be resolved before we were all in the same space,” she said.

Other attendees included the mother of James Foley, a freelance war correspondent who was abducted in Syria and later killed in 2014.

Photo from Twitter Heights resident Alexandra Forseth, fourth from right, traveled to Washington D.C. to call for the return of Americans imprisoned abroad.

from P. 1A

in the immediate aftermath, things at times felt hopeless.

But eventually, she said she realized she needed to pull herself out of it.

“God really helped me – I prayed through it,” she said.

“One thing that’s really important is to look at the mental health aspect of it. You need to allow yourself time to be sad, but you can’t stay in that sadness. “Eventually you have to move on with life. But that doesn’t mean you forget your loved ones – you carry them with you every day.”

And she has done just that with her brother, who was 19 years old at the time he was killed. Enrique loved music, she said, and that’s one of the ways that she keeps his memory with her.

“I always play his songs every time I’m thinking of him,” she said.

But De Mendoza’s hardships were not done. In January 2021, she was involved in a serious car accident of her own in Cooper, Texas, bringing back those feelings. And soon after the accident, she withdrew from the high school where she was attending and the family moved to Houston in February.

De Mendoza enrolled at Heights, but soon after was forced to withdraw due to the extent of her injuries and the rehab needed at TIRR Memorial Hermann. She waited a year, the district said, and reenrolled this year after doing rehab at TIRR Memorial Hermann. Among her rehab was physical, occupational, and speech therapy.

“Most times you just feel helpless. I’m going to be honest – you feel awful. And that’s a normal feeling for the situation,” she said. “But you always have to remember to just persevere and not allow yourself to get too down. Because when you get to those dark places, it’s scary. You just always have to remember to persevere.”

And through it all, she has done just that. Through an accelerated plan, De Mendoza is currently on track to graduate with a Distinguished Achievement diploma, according to HISD. She plans to go to the University of Houston’s downtown campus and eventually transfer to UH, and has plans to become involved in social work.

“It means the world to me to help people that have been in my same situation. Sometimes, I felt hopeless and like I had nobody,” she said. “Now that I have an opportunity to give back, no words can describe the feeling. It just makes me so happy.”

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The Leader • Saturday, May 14, 2022 • Page 7A

Art Valet: Painting classes resume at Casa Ramirez MITCH COHEN Art Columnist

Casa Ramirez FOLKART, 241 W. 19th St., is offering an in-person painting class with Houston artist Lizbeth Ortiz from 1-3 p.m. Sunday.

Ortiz will lead the handson class in painting an embroidered floral heart with oil pastels and acrylics on a black 12- by 16-inch canvas.

No experience or materials are required for this all-inclusive class.

The class fee is $45 for one person or $40 per person for a group of two or more. All materials are provided.

Casa Ramirez FOLKART has been a staple on the popular West 19th Street for many years. The store has been entrenched in the arts community and Latino cultural traditions, instruction

and classes since its earliest days. The store/gallery has a vast selection of folk art, Mexican dresses, local artist work, books on culture and cooking and bilingual books for children, greeting cards and decorations.

“Classes were curtailed during the pandemic but now that restrictions are easing, the timing is perfect to schedule this class with a very popular artist,” store owner Chrissie Dickerson Ramirez said about classes resuming.

Let’s talk about your teacher. In addition to being a staple artist at Casa Ramirez, Ortiz is a wellknown, award-winning artist herself. Born in Mexico City between two cemeteries, raised in Houston (a graduate of HSPVA) and thrust into adulthood in New York City may have influenced her work. I jest, I know it did.

Ortiz was one of the original organizers of the first Houston Frida Festival in 2005. She was honored

Contributed photo Award-winning Houston artist Lizbeth Ortiz will lead an art class at Casa Ramirez FOLKART this Sunday.

as the official artist for the Latin Grammy, celebrated in Houston in 2008. Ortiz also received second place in the national Bohemia Beer contest, “The Kahlo Challenge,” in 2011.

An art background is

not necessary for Sunday’s classes, but reservations are.

Reserve space by calling 713-880-2420. Pre-payment of the class fee is required

by Saturday.

Learn more about Casa Ramirez FOLKART at

Contributed photo Students will learn to create this embroidered floral heart.

http://www.casaramirez. com/.

Cohen is an artist and founder of the First Saturday

Arts Market and The Market at Sawyer Yards. Find him at ArtValet.com for additional highlights and artist’s stories.

Review: Saigon Hustle quickly becoming neighborhood staple

By Marianna Jayson news@theleadernews.com

A few months before its opening on the southwest corner of Ella Boulevard and West 34th Street, a sign appeared that read, “Coming soon, Saigon Hustle.”

What is a Saigon Hustle?

Is this a variation of the 1975 disco dance the hustle? So every time I made the turn from 34th onto Ella, the song “Do the Hustle” would run through my head (da, da, da, da, da, ta, da, da, ta, do the hustle).

Finally, construction revealed yet another restaurant was being built, and it would be an homage to Vietnamese street food.

The footprint of the restaurant is small, housing a kitchen and a counter area for placing and picking up orders, or you can use the drive-thru and menu screen. I have visited Saigon Hustle twice, once about a month after its opening and again in late April, both times with the same dining partner.

On the first visit we ordered a BBQ pork banh mi, a BBQ ribeye and two egg rolls.

Vietnamese egg rolls are very different from Chinese egg rolls. They are thinner, much crisper and are accompanied by lettuce in which to wrap the roll, shaved carrots and Nuac Cham, and a sweet tangy sauce that has flakes of Thai chilis floating throughout.

The banh mis consist of

Photo by Marianna Jayson Vietnamese egg rolls are served with dipping sauce at Saigon Hustle, 3323 Ella Blvd.

moist BBQ pork for $8.25 or BBQ beef for $9.95, nestled in a fresh baguette and including matchstick slices of cucumber, pickled carrots, daikon, cilantro and chicken liver pate.

A thin slather of mayo and a drizzle of seasoning sauce added a hint of Asian flavor.

As an added bonus we were able to sit on the patio and note what fellow diners were eating as we agreed that this was now on our list of places to grab a bite.

On our return visit we again ordered a beef banh mi and egg rolls, which we shared. It should be noted, you can add a fried egg for $1.

We also ordered a BBQ pork vermicelli bowl and a BBQ pork rice bowl. Jasmine rice is the base of the rice bowls. You

choose your protein, be it BBQ pork or beef, chicken, salmon or tofu. The bowl is rounded out by lettuce, cilantro, mint, pickled carrots, daikon and cucumbers, topped with peanuts and fried shallots and a side of Vietnamese vinaigrette. You can add a fried egg for $1 or an egg roll for $1.50.

Swap out vermicelli noodles for the rice and you have vermicelli noodle bowls. Both bowls are large quantities of food. Our order for two could have easily served four hungry people.

However, the pork on this occasion was not moist. It was dry and could be described as brittle. The menu touts freshly made ingredients, but this pork tasted pre-made and quickly reheated to be added

Photo by Marianna Jayson Rice bowls at Saigon Hustle, 3323 Ella Blvd., come with jasmine rice, a choice of protein and a mix of fresh vegetables.

to a bowl or salad.

The surprise came the next day when the leftovers of both bowls had improved overnight. It’s as if the Nuac Cham had softened and flavored the pork. Lunch of leftovers the next day was really quite tasty!

Not a ringing endorsement but a noteworthy happenstance.

Browsing the menu, you realize all the dishes are based on the inclusion of lots of fresh or pickled vegetables, a hallmark of Vietnamese food.

The salads feature the addition

of tomatoes, onions, cabbage and watercress and are served with a garlic lemon zest vinaigrette and your choice of protein.

There is a variety of beverages from fountain sodas, several types of teas and Vietnamese iced coffee with sweetened condensed milk.

The staff at Saigon Hustle is friendly and efficient. If you are hungry and craving a respite from the usual fast-food offering, I encourage you to give Saigon Hustle a try.

Saigon Hustle Address: 3323 Ella Blvd.

Dining options: Patio dining, drive-thru, takeout, delivery Hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. daily Entree prices: 3.95-$15.25 Kid-friendly: Yes Senior discount: No Alcohol: No Healthy options: Salads, vegan and vegetarian options Star of the show: Banh mi Rating: 4 out of 5 bites

Nibbles & Sips: Quartet of local bars earns regional honors

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Four local bars and restaurants have been named as finalists in an annual event honoring the best bars and bartenders from all over the world.

Tales of the Cocktail Foundation announced May 5 the top 10 honorees by region for several different categories in its annual “Spirited Awards.”

Four businesses in neighborhoods such as the Heights, Northside and Rice Military made the list.

Honorees were selected in eight different regions – Asia Pacific, Canada, Europe, Middle East/Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, U.S. Central, U.S. East and U.S. West. The list will soon be narrowed down to an overall top 10, which will be announced on June 9, according to Tales of the Cocktail Foundation.

Johnny’s Gold Brick, 2518 Yale St., was selected as a U.S. Central honoree for Best Bar Team, while Julep at 1919 Washington Ave. is on the list for U.S. Central’s Best Cocktail Bar. Popular Heights bar and restaurant Coltivare, 3320 White Oak Dr., is a regional finalist for Best U.S. Restaurant Bar, and Trash Panda Drink-

in the area.

Fuku, a New York Citybased concept developed by chef David Chang, recently returned to Houston and partnered with Kitchen United MIX, a ghost kitchen inside the Kroger at 1035 N. Shepherd Dr. in the Heights, according to a report from CultureMap Houston. The concept originally opened for delivery last year, according to CultureMap, but closed following complaints such as missing items and late delivery.

According to its menu,

ing Club at 4203 Edison St. in Northside is on the list for Best New U.S. Cocktail Bar. For more information on the Spirited Awards and the nominees, visit the event’s website at talesofthecocktail. org/events/spirited-awards/.

Eight Row Flint hosting Astros cooking series A Heights restaurant and bar is getting into the spirit of baseball season with straightfrom-the-diamond specials.

Earlier this month, the restaurant partnered with Jim Beam and Hornitos to begin a Ballpark Cooking Series, which pits a menu item from Minute Maid Park against a menu item from the home stadium of the current opponent and has diners decide which one tastes the best.

The next event will be Tuesday, May 24 during the Astros’ home series against the Cleveland Guardians, which will pit the Astros’ Tater Tot Elotes against Progressive Field’s “Happy Dog.” Follow Eight Row Flint on Facebook @eightrowflint for more information.

New taqueria opens in Garden Oaks A Mexico-inspired taqueria has opened its newest Hous-

Fuku offers a variety of standard and spicy fried chicken sandwiches along with several flavors of chicken tenders and nuggets as well as a chicken burger. The chicken comes with a choice of mayo, honey mustard, ranch or the restaurant’s “knockout sauce,” according to its website.

Diners can order via the Kitchen United MIX app or online at order.kitchenunited. com/houston-kroger/menu/ fuku to pick up their food inside the local Kroger.

Hampton Inn & Suites Houston Heights I-10 where our clean and fresh beds are waiting for you Photo from Facebook Johnny’s Gold Brick in the Heights is one of four local bars and restaurants that were recently named regional finalists in an international competition.

ton-area spot in the neighborhood.

La Calle has opened its newest restaurant at 3321 Ella Blvd., according to a report from CultureMap Houston, joining existing locations in downtown and Midtown.

The report said the 1,600-square foot restaurant at the corner of Ella and 34th Street will serve breakfast tacos and birria in many forms

Happy Springtime!

as well as tortas - among other offerings - just like its existing locations, and has an interior inspired by the Mexico City Central de Abasto market.

For more information, visit lacalletacos.com/.

Fuku returns to Houston A celebrity chef-backed chicken sandwich concept is back in Houston and teaming up with a new ghost kitchen

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Page 8A • Saturday, May 14, 2022 • The Leader

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The Leader • Saturday, May 14, 2022 • Page 1B

‘Food Farmacy’ benefits diabetes patients

Preferred Health

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

DIRECTORY

Ana Morales said she used to eat a lot of rice, beans and tortillas.

She also used to have an uncontrolled case of diabetes.

Morales, a 55-year-old Northline resident, is an Acres Home Health Center patient who began using its “Food Farmacy” last August. She picks up 30 pounds of fresh produce and other food every two weeks and also has taken cooking classes as part of the program, which Harris Health System operates in a partnership with the Houston Food Bank.

Her A1C level, which measures the average blood sugar level over a period of three months, was a dangerously high 9.9 when Morales started the program, according to a nurse at the health center. When she was tested in January, that level had dropped to 7.1, which is on the lower end of the spectrum for a person with diabetes.

Morales credits the Food Farmacy – where she can get apples, oranges, onions, carrots, sweet potatoes and greens along with oats, whole wheat pasta and canned goods – as a significant contributing factor.

“I like everything from here,” Morales said. “It’s good.”

The on-site Food Farmacy at Acres Home Health Center, 818 Ringold St., opened in August 2020 and is like a mini grocery store with seasonal offerings. It is adjacent to a small kitchen where patients can receive hands-on instruction about preparing and cooking food in healthy ways, along with lessons about the importance of portion control and a balanced diet.

The local Food Farmacy is one of three within the Harris Health System, with the others being in Pasadena and the Kashmere Gardens area. The hospital system is the first in Texas to provide the service on its premises, according to dietician Melissa Prideaux, the supervisor for the program in Acres Homes.

The Houston Food Bank invested about $38,000 to build the food pantry and kitchen in Acres Homes, according to a spokesperson for Harris Health System, who said it costs about $20,000 annually to operate. Prideaux said about 90 percent of the food in the pantry is donated by the Houston Food Bank.

There are about 100 patients in the Food Farmacy program at Acres Home Health Center, Prideaux said, with most living in the vi-

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Dr. Jaclyn Harrison

Photo by Adam Zuvanich Northline resident Ana Morales examines an apple at the Food Farmacy at Acres Home Health Center, 818 Ringold St.

cinity of the facility. The program is open to patients of the health center who are determined to have food insecurity as well as uncontrolled diabetes.

“We have on average seen a drop in those (A1C) numbers in our patients who participate in our program, which is huge,” Prideaux said. “Even dropping just one point can be taking away a medication for that patient. It’s huge for that patient to not have to take it, and it’s huge for that patient to not have to purchase that medication.”

Vanessa Martinez, a nurse who helps administer the program, said healthier eating contributes to controlling diabetes along with medication, lifestyle and physical activity. She also said patients are not asked to eliminate anything entirely from their diets, but rather encouraged to limit their intake of certain foods.

Morales, for example, said she now limits herself to three tortillas per day. She also cuts per portions of fresh fruit in half, such as eating only one-half of a banana at a time.

“We deal with a lot of Hispanics and people in this area who are used to eating a certain way,” Martinez said. “When you have rice and beans and three tortillas on your plate, that’s nothing but carbs.

Heights Health Tower 1900 North Loop West Suite 580 713-714-5376 www.whiteoakmedicalassociates.com Obstetrics / Gynecology

DR. STEPHANIE FULTON Stephanie Fulton, M.D.

Photo by Adam Zuvanich Food Farmacy patients at the Acres Home Health Center can take classes where they learn how to prepare and cook healthy food.

The only protein is the chicken or the meat, and usually there’s a Coke there, too. Their carb level at that time, their medication is not going to be able to correct that.

Their insulin is not going to be able to correct that.”

Prideaux said the program aims to tackle the social determinants of health and food insecurity. Many residents in the area surrounding the health center are economically disadvantaged and also have challenges with transportation, making

an on-site food pharmacy an easyto-access commodity for patients.

The food pantry has remained in operation throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Prideaux said, with patients taking advantage of curbside service while the facility was closed to the public for safety reasons. She also said patients are granted a one-time use of the Food Farmacy even if they are not eligible for the program.

“It’s had a very good impact,” See Farmacy P. 2B

1740 W. 27 St. Suite 301 Houston, TX 77008 713-880-2727 www.fultonobgyn.com Major Hospitals

Memorial Hermann Greater Heights 1635 North Loop West Houston, Texas 77008 Tel: 713-867-2000 memorialhermann.org Physician Referral 713.222.CARE

New year, new health routines

Keeping up with cancer screenings during the pandemic Houston Methodist Hospital

foods, maintaining a healthy weight and getting regular cancer screenings will give you peace of mind knowing you’ve taken actions to prevent and detect cancer.

While you can’t control every risk factor you have, such as family history, you can make healthy choices

For The Leader

Year three of the pandemic continues and many of us have resumed our prepandemic routines, give or take some alterations such as mask wearing and social distancing, which remain critical in the fight against COVID-19.

While day-to-day life looks a little different, it’s important to take care of yourself and revisit items on your todo list such as regular checkups and health screenings.

Being proactive, identifying health risks and following through on treatment plans should be a priority.

It’s essential to continue with preventive care, including health screenings, vaccinations, medications and treatments, as recommended by your doctor.

when it comes to diet, exercise, sun protection, avoiding tobacco and limiting alcohol consumption.

Check cancer screening guidelines A study published in the June 2021 issue of JAMA Oncology noted sharp declines in screening for breast, colorecAge

Screening Test

Contributed photo Getting regular checkups and health screenings can help to prevent cancer or identify the disease in its early stages.

Not sure where to start?

Follow these simple steps to determine how to get back on track with your health this year, particularly when it comes to cancer screening and prevention.

Maintain a healthy lifestyle Cancer prevention starts with living a healthy lifestyle.

Exercising daily, consuming a diet full of nutritious

tal and prostate cancer with an estimated deficit of 9.4 million screenings associated with the pandemic. Postponing doctor visits or treatments may hurt your health in the long run.

Whether you missed a yearly appointment out of fear of See Screenings P. 2B Frequency

Cervical cancer screening Colonoscopy

Starting at age 21 Starting at age 45

Every 3-5 years Every 10 years

Lung cancer screening

Current or former smokers age 55-74

Every 10 years

Mammogram for women

Talk to your doctor starting at age 40 Talk to your doctor about the pros and cons for testing starting at age 45 Talk to your doctor starting at age 20 for baseline testing or if there are other risk factors to consider for earlier testing

Every 1-2 years

Prostate cancer screening for men Skin cancer screening

Ask your doctor

Every year

Sources: American Cancer Society and American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists

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Page 2B • Saturday, May 14, 2022 • The Leader

Pay real close attention to artificial sweeteners

By Shana Tatum RD, LD, IFMCP www.shanatatumrd.com

Artificial sweeteners are in many foods we commonly eat. You may be familiar with aspartame, sucralose and saccharin to name a few. Artificial sweeteners are foods that are not found in nature and usually contain little to no calories and provide a much higher sweetness than sugar (sucrose).

These artificial sweeteners first became popular at the turn of the 20th century when saccharin hit the market. Later, dieters wanted to retain the ability to enjoy sweet foods without the added calories. It wasn’t until saccharin was disputed as a safe sweetener that other sweeteners such as aspartame in the 1960s and sucralose in the 1970s came to market.

Examples you may find on nutrition labels of high-intensity artificial sweeteners: Aspartame - Equal, NutraSweet (200 times sweeter

Tatum

than sugar) Saccharin - Sweet’N Low, Sugar Twin, Necta Sweet (200-700 times sweeter than sugar) Sucralose - Splenda (600 times sweeter than sugar) Acesulfame potassium Sweet One (200 times sweeter than sugar) Stevia - PureVia, Rebiana, Splenda Naturals, Truvia (200-400 times sweeter than sugar) Brain and insulin

response For people who are addicted to sugar, artificial sweeteners can be a good transition from a high-sugar diet. Highly palatable foods like sugar trigger a dopamine response in the brain that encourages the impulse to seek more and ensure another “happy” response. Over time, these dopamine receptors require a higher dose to achieve the same response.

Therefore, reducing intake for some time and then eating the same sweet food can seem even sweeter than before.

In addition to the changes in brain chemistry with a high-sugar diet, the hormone insulin becomes very active.

Insulin is the active hormone that helps glucose get to the cell for energy and signals the liver to direct energy to be utilized or stored. With a high-sugar diet, insulin remains high. Over time, the receptors on the cell that accept insulin can become

resistant.

This is what happens when people become prediabetic and diabetic. It has been shown in recent studies that even artificial sweeteners may cause an insulin response and affect metabolism.

So, for these people, the goal is to make the receptors sensitive again. By reducing sugar and artificial sweeteners, the likelihood of that is higher.

A study by the Canadian Medical Association Journal found short-term use of artificial sweeteners did not contribute to weight gain but in the longer observational studies, they established a link between consumption of artificial sweeteners and somewhat higher risks of weight gain and obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease.

Artificial sweeteners and gut health Another area of research

Community-minded Nia collective seeking support

By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

The five instructors in the Houston Nia Collective, who teach a holistic fitness practice called Nia at a studio in the Heights, like to give back to the community they serve.

They also like to help their own.

Last month, after someone crashed a car into the home of Mangum Manor resident Cambrey Lindsay, fellow Nia instructor Julie Wilson of Oak Forest put together a GoFundMe page that raised about $3,600. Shortly before that, the collective partnered with Dance Life Houston – a Hyde Park-area ballroom dance studio owned by Ukrainians – to put on a fundraising event for the people of Ukraine as well as refugees who have fled the war-torn country in Eastern Europe.

Earlier this year, the local Nia instructors also held a fundraising event for the family of Darryl Perkins, who owns a cleaning business and for the last two years has cleaned and maintained the NiaMoves studio at 508 Pecore St. – paying extra attention to the floor on which Nia participants do their barefoot exercises. Perkins’ 33-year-old brother, Timothy Perkins, was killed in a hit-and-run collision in January while working as a towtruck driver on U.S. 290 near Pinemont Drive.

“Just the fact that they dedicated their time and effort to do something for me, that’s awesome,” Darryl Per-

kins said. “They’ve always treated me like a member of their family.”

Lindsay and another Nia instructor, Yvonne Myles, said they hope to receive the same sort of support from members of the Heightsarea community. They want to grow their Nia family so they can remain viable and continue to teach the practice they love, which Lindsay described as a low-impact series of movements that promote a healthy mind, body and spirit.

Class participation has declined since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lindsay said, with most of the four in-person sessions per week drawing fewer than 10 students apiece. There also is a virtual class held through Facebook on Tuesday nights.

Myles said the Houston Nia Collective, made up of five instructors who teach classes on a part-time basis, likely faces the possibility of its rent being raised in the near future.

“We need to get more people in the door,” Lindsay said.

“We want more people to be able to benefit from what we have to offer.”

Lindsay said Nia, an Oregon-based fitness practice that licenses individual instructors, can be practiced by people of all ages and ability levels. It incorporates martial arts such as taekwondo, healing practices such as yoga and dances such as jazz – all performed to music and while barefoot, and with no equipment required.

Photo by Yuri Pena Instructors with the Houston Nia Collective dance in the park at Mercer Botanic Gardens. From left to right, they are Cambrey Lindsay, Yvonne Myles, Julie Wilson, Amy Thorpe and Sarah Veenhuyzen.

The Houston Nia Collective charges $20 per class and offers a five-class pass for $85, Myles said.

The group is holding an introductory workshop from 7-9 p.m. Friday, May 20, at its studio on Pecore, where Nia has been practiced since 2007. The cost for the workshop is $27, and participants can register through the collective’s website, www.HTXnia.com.

“Nia is just a really beautiful way to be able to process and move through impactful feelings,” said Lindsay, who works as a psychotherapist.

“It’s moving gently in a moving form that is sustainable.

It’s not jarring on the joints.

You don’t have to be a fitness guru and don’t have to be super muscular. … Even people who are healing from cancer or recovering from surgery could engage in a form of Nia.” Myles said she hopes more community members will check out Nia and become

regular students, so she and the other instructors can continue to teach it at their longtime studio for years to come. She said they’ve had to take on more responsibility in recent years in terms of operating the studio and promoting it, adding, “It’s like we’re a business without being a business.”

The collective periodically holds “jams” in which the five instructors get together for one big session and raise money, either for a cause in the community or for their own cause. Perkins called the group of instructors “amazing” and said “they touch you on a personal level.”

“We’ve asked our clients for as much as we can. All we can do is try to attract more people in,” Myles said.

“That’s the happy part and the sad part at the same time.

We love Nia so much, we’ll teach it for pennies. As long as I don’t have to pay someone for their workout, I’ll be there.”

Farmacy, fro m P. 1B said Dr. Shrabanee Mitra, the medical director at Acres Home Health Center. “We have a population that has a hard time accessing healthy food. It goes out of their budget most of the time.”

Morales said she prefers getting groceries at the Food Farmacy – where a health educator assists patients in selecting foods to meet their needs – over a typical grocery store. That is largely because it has

helped her keep her diabetes in check.

Martinez said she considers Morales to be a “huge success story” for the program, and Morales wants to keep it that way.

Along with cutting back on carbohydrates and meat, she’s learned how to saute vegetables such as beets and carrots while eating more fresh salads as well.

“They teach you a lot,” she said. “My blood sugar Photo by Adam Zuvanich levels are doing good.”

Gonzalo Murillo, left, a health educator at Acres Home Health Center,

with artificial sweeteners is the effect on the gut microbiome. From the mouth to the anus, we are home to 100 trillion microorganisms.

We know the many health benefits the microorganisms in the intestinal tract provide such as cognitive well-being, immune modulation and obesity control.

One study in the Advances in Nutrition Journal demonstrated that the gut bacteria were altered in consumers of saccharin. This research highlights how high-intensity sweeteners led to microbial changes related to obesity.

More about how artificial sweeteners affect gut health is needed as most studies are in mice models.

Not all outcomes translate to humans. Many studies point to poor diets and a lack of a balanced microbiome and obesity.

The science does indicate that a high-sugar diet contributes to a risk of diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular and kidney disease.

Can artificial sweeteners have a place in the diet as a transition to a low-sugar diet? Yes, that can be the case, if it is used as a transition. Short-term use while reducing the reliance on sweetened beverages and foods can reduce the risk of these chronic conditions.

Consider a break from added sweeteners and artificially sweetened beverages such as: Plain, carbonated or unsweetened flavored waters.

Most groceries carry a variety of flavors.

Limit natural sweeteners like honey, agave and molasses to less than 5 grams per serving.

Eat more whole fruits and vegetables. These can be fresh or frozen.

Read the nutrition labels to all packaged foods to better understand your intake of sugar-sweetened or artificially sweetened foods.

Follow us on social media @FromTheLeader

Screenings, fro m P. 1B COVID-19 exposure, or you simply pushed it to the bottom of your to-do list, it’s time to reclaim your health.

Houston Methodist suggests the following guidelines for early detection of cancer.

Depending on your family history and other risk factors, your doctor may recommend a different screening schedule for you.

Schedule a screening Delayed cancer screenings may lead to later diagnoses of cancer and additional poor health consequences, because cancer in later stages can be more difficult to treat. Screening is not possible or practical for all cancers, but for those

that can be detected with screening, it can be lifesaving.

Connect with Your Doctor Remember, early detection often gives you better options to defeat cancer, so talk to your doctor about a screening schedule based on your age, health history and other factors. If you’re unsure if you’re due for a screening, ask your doctor during your next yearly physical or send a message to your health care provider in Houston Methodist MyChart. If you don’t have a primary care physician, you can find one by visiting houstonmethodist.org/pcg/central or call 713.394.6724.

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The Leader • Saturday, May 14, 2022 • Page 3B

LHN’s McNeal leads local athletes at state meet

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

The Lutheran High North boys track and field team fell short of defending its TAPPS 3A state championship last week, but the Lions still had one of the standout performers of the meet.

LHN’s Tiras McNeal brought home two gold medals at the state meet in Round Rock, winning the boys 200 meters with a final time of 23.49 seconds as well as the long jump with a best mark of 21 feet, 1.5 inches. The sophomore also reached the podium in the 100, finishing in second place with a final run of 10.99 seconds.

It was the second straight year the TAPPS 3A crown has come home to Houston in the boys 200, with former LHN star Xavier Neal winning it all in 2021. Ti-

ras McNeal also anchored the Lions’ 400 relay, which finished fifth with a time of 45.78, while teammate Riley Bennett finished fifth in the 100 at 11.31 seconds.

The Lions finished with 40 points overall at the meet, good for sixth place out of 27 schools that competed.

TAPPS 6A In a similar vein, the St. Thomas Eagles were unable to bring home a second consecutive TAPPS 6A title despite some standout individual performances at the state meet. The Eagles finished with 96 total points, falling short of San Antonio Central Catholic’s 111.5 points.

Leading the way for St. Thomas was junior Shaffer Henderson, who was the 6A boys high jump champion after clearing 6 feet, 2 inches in the final to beat Central Catholic’s Hudson Russell.

St. Thomas teammate Andre Meza also made it on the podium, finishing third after clearing 6 feet in the final.

St. Thomas also had multiple relay teams on the podium. Its 400 relay of Preston Bowman, Johann Cardenas, Aaron Blackman and Luke Anigbogu finished second with a final run of 43.11, as did its 1,600 relay team of Anigbogu, Onezieme Mouton, Jose Romero and Edward Bocock with a time of 3:27.92 in the final.

Carrick Brogan made the podium in the TAPPS 6A pole vault, clearing a best height of 13-6 in the final, while teammate Sam Saman finished fifth after clearing 13 feet.

St. Pius X’s Joshua Mitchell finished sixth in the TAPPS 6A long jump as the Panthers’ lone qualifier, posting a best jump of 206.5.

Photo from Facebook Lutheran High North sophomore Tiras McNeal was the state champion in the boys 200 meters and long jump at last weekend’s TAPPS 3A state track meet in Round Rock.

BASEBALL/SOFTBALL ROUNDUP

Opportunistic offense leads Waltrip to bi-district win

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Sometimes, it only takes one hit or opportunity to turn a baseball game around.

That was exactly what happened for the Waltrip Rams last week as they used timely hitting to keep their season alive.

Waltrip swept two games from the Fort Bend Kempner Cougars last Friday and Saturday to win their Class 5A bi-district playoff series. The Rams won 4-3 on Friday and

5-3 on Saturday to advance to the area round for a second consecutive season.

The Rams got two hits each from Danny Kuehn, Max Cuevas and Nick Russell as part of an eight-hit attack, while Kuehn also drove in two runs. Pitchers Russell and Jesus Gonzalez combined to strike out seven hitters on the mound.

After Kempner struck first with a run in the top of the first inning on Saturday, Waltrip responded with two runs in the bottom half and two

more in the third to keep the Cougars at arm’s length and advance.

Waltrip (16-9) will face Friendswood (16-6-1) in an area-round series. The series opener was scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday at Houston ISD’s Delmar Sports Complex, with Game 2 set for 6 p.m. Friday at Friendswood.

A third game, if necessary, would be played at 11 a.m.

Saturday at Channelview.

Last week’s bi-district round was not as fruitful for the area’s other public school

teams. The Heights Bulldogs saw their season come to a close with two losses against Cy-Fair, dropping decisions of 6-1 and 10-0 to finish the year 13-14-1 overall.

Booker T. Washington also had its season end in the bi-district round with two losses to Sealy. The Eagles finished the season with a 12-6-1 record.

On the private school side, the St. Pius X Panthers are moving on to the TAPPS Division I regional round following a 2-1 win over San

Antonio Antonian Prep on May 4. Jackson Mobley had a walk-off double for SPX (16-10-1), while Casan Evans and Kyle Winkler combined for 13 strikeouts on the mound. The Panthers were set to square off with San Antonio Central Catholic in the regional this week.

The St. Thomas Eagles saw their season end with a 10-3 loss to Central Catholic on May 4. Anthony Equale had two hits and an RBI in the loss for St. Thomas, while Sam Mahlberg also

had two hits.

Softball Heights saw its season come to an end with a 2-1 loss to Katy Cinco Ranch in the area round last Friday.

The Lady Bulldogs finished their season with a 26-11 overall record.

The St. Pius X Lady Panthers lost a playoff tune-up to Lutheran South Academy on May 4. SPX was 13-15 on the season entering Wednesday’s area-round playoff game against San Antonio Christian.

What is the Canine Good Citizen certification?

Would it be good to get one for your dog?

Dear Tabby, Our vet has suggested that we get our puppy Canine Good Citizen certified. What is this and why should we do it?

New Good Citizen in Garden Oaks Dear Good Citizen, The Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test is a test developed by the American Kennel Club that is open to all dogs and focuses on teaching the basics of good manners and obedience, instilling the values of responsible ownership, and strengthening the bond between you

and your dog at home and out in the community. The 10-skill training program helps to build confidence in your pooch and makes your life with a puppy just a little easier.

Puppy Training for dummies The sooner you can begin training your puppy, the easier it will be to teach her how to behave in your home as well as in public--and training is actually really fun for both dogs and their owners! To qualify for the CGC certification, all breeds and mixed breeds are welcome. All your dog has to do is master the 10 skills which include such things as sitting politely, walking through a crowd and coming when called.

How do you find a CGC Trainer?

If you go to the American Kennel Club website (www.

akc.org), you can search for Canine Good Citizen evaluators in your area. Once your dog is ready to be tested, your trainer will conduct the test and determine if your dog has passed.

Benefits of CGC Certification Not only will you and your dog understand the basics of dog training, and master skills like sit, down and stay, but you’ll know your dog will be able to handle herself with grace in a crowd and be a welcomed client at the vet or groomer. The CGC title is also a prerequisite for many therapy dog certifications, as well as a great introduction to more advanced dog sports and activities. Some homeowners’ insurance programs even offer discounts for CGC dogs, and an increasing number of apartments and condos see

CGC awards as a major bonus for becoming a resident.

The Canine Good Citizen certification is a great way to help your new puppy to learn the skills that she’ll need to lead a happy, well-adjusted life with you and your family. It will also afford you the peace of mind in knowing that she can behave herself in public places and earn the trust of any human who might care for her. While it could be argued that all dogs are “good citizens,” it doesn’t hurt to put in the time and care to get her certified as such. Plus, you can hang her certificate in a place of honor in your home to show off to your guests! Impressive indeed!

Do you have a question for Tabby? Email her at deartabby questions@gmail.com.

Pet of the Week

Meet Annie “Eye’ll” bet that you’ve never laid eyes on a more lovely girl! Annie is a 6-year-old mixed breed with the most piercing blue eyes. Annie is quiet and curious and loves sunbathing in her spare time. She is fully house trained and lovely on a leash. While Annie would probably prefer to be the only dog in the home, she is sure to become the best friend of all of the humans in your family. To learn more about Annie, go to www.friends4life.org.

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THE PUBLIC. The Leader • Saturday, May 14, 2022 • Page 4B

Public can still get involved in city council redistricting

By Charlotte Aguilar caguilar@mcelvypartners.com

The three Houston City Council districts in the area have held their redistricting town halls, but there’s still time for the public to get involved in the long process of redrawing boundaries, with videos available of the meetings, a virtual meeting scheduled for later this month and a deadline of July 20 to submit ideas and plans to the council.

Residents can review the HTV-Houston Television recordings from all three local council district meetings - for Districts A, C and H - by going to HTV’s council archives on the Houston city government website, https://www.houstontx.gov/htv.

The audio-only virtual meeting is being conducted via Microsoft Teams at 6 p.m.

May 25 at http://bit.ly/hou-redistricting.

The call-in is +1 936-755-1521, and the phone conference ID is 861716070#.

Unlike procedures at other government levels, where legislators frequently devise their own redistricting maps

with limited public input, the city council created a two-year public process in late March. Maps will be drawn after all meetings are conducted, with a redistricting plan drafted in time to present to city council in July. Three public hearings will be held before council reviews a revised plan in August and votes on ordinances that will create new district boundaries that will take effect in January 2024.

Criteria for the new districts include apportioning relatively equal populations in each using 2020 U.S. Census data, keeping each compact and contiguous with easily identifiable geographic boundaries, and maintaining entire county voting precincts, communities of interest and neighborhoods. The plans should also strive to preserve incumbentconstituency relations and avoid “packing” or “cracking” to affect demographics to change the balance of voting power.

A complete timetable, meeting schedule, FAQs and guidelines for drawing district boundaries is available at https:// www.letstalkhouston.org/redistricting.

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By Landan Kuhlmann A man involved in a fatal auto collision near the Heights last week is suspected of having been intoxicated at the time, according to the Houston Police Department.

Christian Markus Gaulke, 21, has been charged with intoxication manslaughter for his role in the crash, according to HPD. The identity of the man driving the other vehicle involved, who died, was pending verification by Harris County medical examiner as

Gaulke

By Landan Kuhlmann Houstonians with missing loved ones, or those wanting to advocate for them, will have a chance to do so this weekend.

The Texas Center for the Missing (TCM) will host Missing in Harris County Day at The Children’s Assessment Center, 2500 Bolsover St., from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday.

There will be resources there to help those with missing loved ones make connections that can help bring the missing home or potentially identify them if they have died, ac-

cording to a news release from TCM. The event will feature local law enforcement agencies accepting missing persons reports and updates from families of the missing along with trained DNA collection specialists collecting voluntary family reference DNA cheek swabs to upload into a national missing persons database.

There will also be bilingual guides assisting attendees in the completion of a missing persons report or directing them to resources as well as both a private roundtable discussion for family members with a missing loved one and

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The long process of drawing up new Houston City Council districts is in the public input phase. The districts serving the Greater Heights are A, C and H, which are outlined in the above map.. (Map from letstalkhouston.org)

of Monday, according to HPD. Police said Gaulke was driving a tan Dodge Ram pickup truck eastbound on the feeder road at 4400 Katy Fwy. just after 12:30 a.m. last Friday, May 6, when he allegedly ran a red light at the Patterson Road intersection and struck a red Mazda van traveling south on Patterson. The van’s driver was pronounced dead at the scene, according to HPD. According to the department, Gaulke was questioned at the scene and alleged to be intoxicated at the time of the crash.

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panel discussions addressing missing persons issues.

If family members or friends of missing persons plan to attend, TCM says they should bring photos of the missing with identifying features as well as any medical records and police reports or filings that can be placed on file. Two biological relatives from the mother’s side can also submit voluntary DNA samples if they choose.

For more information on the event, community members can go online to centerforthemissing.org/missing-inharris-county-day/.

Protest deadline looms for HCAD appraisals

By Charlotte Aguilar caguilar@mcelvypartners.com

Property owners who take issue with the appraised market value of their homes have through Monday to file a formal protest with the Harris County Appraisal District (HCAD).

Taxpayers can handle the entire appeal online using the iFile and iSettle processes or through the more traditional route of delivering or mailing their protest and copies of documentation to HCAD, potentially leading to informal and formal hearings. The iFile and iSettle programs and the protest form are available at hcad.org.

For mailed protests, the completed form and backup materials must be sent

to P.O. Box 922004, Houston, TX 77092 and postmarked no later than May 16.

Either path has a greater chance for success when supported with evidence about property sales in the home’s neighborhood and documentation about the property’s condition, HCAD advises. According to the agency’s data reported by Channel 2 news, of the more than 316,000 protests filed last year, 80 percent received a reduction.

HCAD offers instructional videos about property taxes and protesting at hcad.org/hcad-help/hcadvideos. Personal assistance is available by emailing HELP@hcad.org or calling 713-957-7800.

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Police identify man found in Kempwood building

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

The Harris County medical examiner has determined the identity of a man whose remains were discovered inside an abandoned building in the Kempwood area late last month, according to the Houston Police Department.

HPD said the man has been identified as 59-year-old Randall David Craig. His cause and manner of death are still under investigation, according to the police department.

The department said officers responded to 8707 W. Tidwell Rd., just west of U.S. 290, shortly before 7:30 a.m.

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April 22. After checking the area around a nearby hotel, investigators discovered Craig’s remains inside an abandoned building on the property, according to HPD. HPD said it is unknown how

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the remains came to be inside the building.

Anyone with additional information about the case is asked to contact HPD’s Homicide division at 713-308-3600.

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