On the evening of Dec. 30, a series of fires broke out in the Oak Forest area, leading to thousands of dollars in damages and terrorizing local businesses. Thanks to the quick thinking and bold actions of a Houston resident and fellow small business owner Dan MacFarlane, the suspect in these fires was apprehended. MacFarlane, owner of Houston Skateboards and a former professional skateboarder, was dining with
a friend at Aladdin Mediterranean Cuisine when the events unfolded. After dinner, around 7 p.m., the two friends headed next door to the former location of Surfhouse at 1737 W 34th St. “I had just finished eating and went over to [the former Surfhouse location] to check out some new features for skateboarding and film some video,” MacFarlane recounted. “While filming, I heard this demonic laugh and saw a man lighting a fire behind the building.” MacFarlane caught the culprit
in the act on his phone camera and alerted neighboring restaurants. Soon he smelled smoke and saw ashes raining from the sky. “I told the staff inside to check on the fire, but they were busy, so I decided to handle it myself,” he explained. A staff member from BB’s Tex-Orleans, armed with a fire extinguisher, came to help put out the small fire set in a plastic bucket, but it quickly became clear that the situation was far worse. MacFarlane dis-
By STEPHANIE SHIRLEY The Leader News Contributor
The Houston Police Department’s North Division consists of numerous neighborhoods in a 51-square mile area north of 610, stretching just past 290 to the west, a little beyond Hwy 45 to the east and covering communities around 2/3 of the way up to the north belt. Coverage includes Oak Forest, Garden Oaks, Shepherd Forest, Candlelight, Crosstimbers, Airline, Mansfield and numerous other neighborhoods. The HPD footprint consists of multiple teams including Patrol, Tactical and Differential Response (DRT).
According to Officer Christopher Cabrera of the HPD North Division’s DRT, Patrol is regarded as the backbone of the division, as all police academy graduates start there before being assigned a division and gain onthe-job experience to make an impact in divisions such as DRT. Patrol officers are responsible for responding to dispatch 911 calls, for burglaries, accidents and other crimes in progress. They initiate and execute the reporting on calls for service. Then as needed, calls are forwarded to the tactical
team for investigation and processing. The patrol and tactical teams both serve very important policing function, but tend to be relatively reactive and compartmentalized.
“The DRT, however, is a more proactive unit, with respect to contributing to and maintaining public safety,” Cabrera explained. DRT is a relatively unfamiliar term to the general public, so we asked what he
means by ‘proactive’ policing, what they do, and most importantly, how their efforts contribute to the safety of their division residents. He sat down with The Leader to provide an overview of his team’s responsibility in their assigned neighborhoods and introduce its new bike patrol and the respective benefits for the Oak Forest community and beyond.
Proactive Policing and Community Engagement
According to Cabrera, the DRT works with communities to improve quality of life and reduce crime by, among many other activities, investigating housing and business ordinance violations, narcotics and prostitution violations, and animal cruelty and code violations.
“We also enforce nuisance violations, including trespass, homeless encampments, blocked sidewalks, noise and property maintenance,” said Cabrera. He said the main goal of his division and the subsequent addition of the bike patrol was to increase police presence, thereby benefiting neighborhoods, public parks, trails,
By STEFANIE THOMAS & STEPHANIE SHIRLEY editor@theleadernews.com
The Waltrip High School Ram Band’s much-anticipated trip to the Sugar Bowl festivities as well as a band competition in New Orleans took a harrowing turn early on New Year’s Day as the city was rocked by a terrorist attack in the French Quarter. While Houston ISD confirmed that the band members and chaperones were safe, the attack claimed the lives of at least 14 people and injured doz-
ens others. The attack, described by New Orleans Police Commissioner Anne Kirkpatrick as the actions of a driv-
er who was “hell-bent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did,” occurred around 3:15 a.m. on Bourbon Street, one of the city’s most
By CHARLIE HARDWICK The Leader News Contributor
Native Houstonian and veteran musician Mitch Jacobs and his band keep the Gulf Coast vibe rocking at RE:HAB Bar on the Bayou every Wednesday despite the challenges of fighting cancer. From his teenage years at Waltrip High School in the late 70s and his time with mid-80s party band Romeo Dogs, to his solo act today, Jacobs has remained true to his roots. With a vocal style similar to Johnny Cash and an all-star cast of local musicians behind him, Jacobs presents a gumbo of Gulf Coast sound that gets people out of their seats and onto the dance floor.
HISTORY LESSON
Born in 1958 in Heights Hospital, Jacobs grew up in the Timber Grove neighborhood and attended Waltrip High School. In his early years Jacobs, like many boys at the time, was only interested in sports. In elementary school one of his childhood friends was Stewart Duvall, the little brother of famed Hollywood actress Shelley Duvall. Jacobs recounts one time in 1967 at the age of nine when he and his friend Stewart regretfully passed on an invitation by Stewart’s big sister Shelley to go see a band called The Monkees, who had a guy named Jimi Hendrix as their opening act.
“I was only nine years old at the time,” Jacobs remembered. “Looking back, I wish someone would have grabbed me by the collar, shook me and said, you got to go see this. Stewart and I had no idea what we were missing and, in retrospect, we kick ourselves in the head now.”
A year later, at 10 years old, Jacobs’ mother, Betty Jacobs, bought a guitar while on vacation in Mexico with his father, Turner Jacobs, hoping to get her son interested in music. Music was a part of the family as his dad could play some piano and sing while his mother knew some basic songs on guitar.
“Mom brought this guitar back from Mexico and showed me how to play a few basic chords,” Jacobs explained. “Mom taught me how to read the chord book and I took to the instrument like a fish to water.”
Jacobs said the family always sang around the house but his mother taught him how to find harmony and pitch in his voice. Jacobs often receives compliments
iconic locations for New Year’s celebrations. According to the FBI, the perpetrator, identified as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar of Houston, drove a rented truck through the crowded street, then opened fire on law enforcement before being killed in a shootout. Two police officers were injured and the suspect was killed in the exchange.
Band mom Ja’Nee Barton traveled with the Waltrip Ram Band and dance team, and reflected on the students’
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Caretaker arrested in March death of disabled Oak Forest teen
By STEFANIE THOMAS editor@theleadernews.com
A devastating case unfolded in Oak Forest last week as police arrested 48-year-old Tracy Gonzales in connection with the March death of Nayeli Perez, a 16-year-old girl with disabilities, at a residence on E 32nd St. Gonzales, who served as Perez's caretaker and custodian, faces charges of injury to a disabled person with serious bodily injury, according to the Houston Police Department and Harris County court documents.
Officers were originally called to the home on E 32nd St on March 25, 2024, after receiving reports of a deceased individual. They found Perez unresponsive in her bedroom, where she was later pronounced dead by paramedics. Initial investigations left the cause of death undetermined, but subsequent findings by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences ruled the teen's death a homicide Court records provide details of the alleged neglect. The charging instrument filed in the 488th State District Court accuses Gonzales of failing to provide Perez with adequate food, fluids, and medical care, and failing to ensure her safety and supervision. These omissions, according to prosecutors, caused serious bodily injury to Perez,
who reportedly weighed just 78 pounds at the time of her death. The autopsy revealed malnutrition, dehydration, and stab wounds to the genital area, along with evidence of prolonged neglect.
"Defendant admitted to disciplining [the victim] with a belt located on scene," court records say. "[Defendant] would strike [the victim] because of inability to use the bathroom and to eat food."
Gonzales was arrested on Dec. 30, 2024, following months of investigation.
Gonzales remains in custody at the Harris County Jail on a $200,000 bond. The bond order cited her custodial relationship with Perez, noting that Gonzales had been receiving disability payments intended for the teen. The order also alleges Gonzales’s fear of losing custody of her children drove her to avoid seeking medical attention for Perez as her health deteriorated.
THE PEOPLE.
covered that aside from the bucket fire, another much bigger fire was in full swing behind BB’s Tex-Orleans.
“I ran around the corner behind the strip center and saw a huge blaze spreading. I told everyone to evacuate and called for 911. And then my phone died,” MacFarlane said. Despite the chaos, he had managed to capture video evidence of the arsonist in action, which later helped identify the suspect.
MacFarlane then took it upon himself to track down the arsonist.
“I had a sense he was still in the area,” he said. Driving along Ella Boulevard, MacFarlane spotted the man he saw at the strip center near the train tracks, raising his arms in what MacFarlane described as “worshiping the destruction he caused.”
Houston Police, he said, arrived shortly thereafter, and with MacFarlane’s pointing out the alleged arsonist, the suspect was detained.
The Houston Fire Department’s Arson Division confirmed that four fires were set that evening, including two at the strip center where MacFarlane was dining. According to HFD, the fire directly behind BB’s TexOrleans spread to a wooden fence and the exterior of the business, causing an estimated $28,000 in damages. A third fire was set at a bus stop trash can, and a fourth was another small trash fire in the area.
An HFD spokesman said the suspect admitted to starting the fires and has since been charged with Reckless Arson , a felony.
According to Harris County court documents, “[The] defendants stated that he ‘intentionally ignited the two separate fire areas outside of BB’s Tex -Orleans restaurant because he was trying to clean up the area and wanted to burn the boxes and turn them to ash’. Defendant further stated that he ‘did it to get the police out there’.”
MacFarlane’s actions potentially saved several businesses from severe damage.
“As a small business owner, I know what something like this can do to a business,” he said. “The fire was spreading extremely quickly, and there were CO2 tanks and grease containers nearby that could have made it much worse.”
The community has since hailed MacFarlane as a hero on social media.
“Way to first respond! You are a treasure! Thanks for making the world a better place. I hope the arsonist gets the treatment that they need,” one user wrote.
Another commented, “I saw [the suspect] behind Aladdin screaming earlier that day. Wish I would have reported
it to HPD then. Glad it was minimum damage & he was arrested.”
Meanwhile, MacFarlane said he felt relieved that the damage wasn’t worse.
“I just acted on instinct to protect the community,” he said. “It’s terrifying to think what could have happened if he had crossed into the neighborhood.”
Thanks to MacFarlane’s vigilance, the suspect is off the streets, and the affected businesses are back open.
The suspect was identified as Joseph Calahan, 61, no address listed. Calahan, who had previously been found to suffer from a “mental illness or to be a person with an intellectual disability”, according to court records, remains in Harris County Jail on a $50,000 bond. He has a prior criminal history in Harris County that includes convictions for felony possession of a controlled substance in November 2024, and felony criminal mischief in 2023. The Houston Fire Department has not linked the suspect to any other fires at this time.
performance, their successful competition raking in more than a dozen plaques and trophies in New Orleans, and the subsequent attack on the city: “I am so proud of them. They did great!” she wrote in an email. “Their performance at Jackson Square blew me away! There was an unfortunate, tragic incident. [But] our students were kept safe and us parents were kept informed. I am so grateful that we got to participate in the competition and this trip. Many prayers for all those affected by this terrible act of violence.”
Waltrip Band
Confirmed Safe
HISD quickly assured the public that the Waltrip High School students, staff, and chaperones were safe. Students, parents, and school staff were safely tucked away in their hotel rooms by 10:30 p.m. that evening.
“No HISD students were near Bourbon Street at the time of the incident, and all students, parents, and staff are currently safe in their hotel,” HISD stated in an emailed statement on the morning after the attack. “Excursions
and other student activities scheduled throughout the day have been postponed. Our hearts are with the victims of this tragic incident and with the New Orleans community this morning.”
The band had arrived in New Orleans after months of preparation to perform in Sugar Bowl festivities on Dec. 31 after overcoming the initial cancellation of their trip due to safety concerns. In the fall of 2024, the trip was reinstated after Houston Mayor John Whitmire and HISD committed to providing an HISD Police entourage for the trip.
“Our students are accompanied by six HISD PD officers, 14 parent chaperones, and five HISD staff members, including Waltrip Principal Jeanette Cortez. HISD PD Chief Shamara Garner is in
contact with local law enforcement in New Orleans,” HISD’s statement read.
“The Waltrip High School students are not in harm’s way and are safely retuning to Houston,” Whitmire at the time, declining to provide further comment citing an ongoing investigation.
Tragedy in the French Quarter
The attack sent shockwaves through New Orleans as investigators uncovered additional evidence of the perpetrator’s intent. An Islamic State group flag and a homemade explosive device were found in the vehicle.
“The FBI is working to determine the subject’s potential associations and affiliations with terrorist organizations,” read an official
statement from the bureau.
Attorney General Merrick Garland called the incident “a horrific attack” and vowed to deploy every available resource to investigate.
The FBI has urged the public to assist with the investigation and is asking anyone who has interacted with the suspect in Houston to contact law enforcement.
“We are aggressively running down all leads to identify any possible associates of the subject,” the agency said in a press release following the tragic events.
While law enforcement investigated the scene in New Orleans as well as a home in Houston, the Sugar Bowl playoff game, initially scheduled to ring in the new year on the evening of Jan. 1, was postponed until the next day as the city grappled with the aftermath of the attack.
“While we mourn those lost, our community will come together to support one another and ensure safety for all,” Kirkpatrick said.
A Trip of Triumph and Turmoil
The reinstatement of the Ram Band’s trip back in September had been celebrated as a triumph for the school community.
“As a proud band dad myself, I want to make sure the Roaring Ram Band can travel to the Sugar Bowl safely,” Superintendent Miles had written when announcing the decision last fall. HISD Police Department officers and additional chaperones had been
assigned to ensure the students’ safety, a measure that proved critical during the unforeseen tragedy to help navigate the situation for the traveling band.
When the students, chaperones, and Waltrip staff returned home Jan. 2, Cortez declined to comment on the trip, but parents and some students had a lot to say.
“We are so excited about all of the awards, but glad they are home safe,” said the mom of a 9th grader. The mother of a freshman band member echoed the sentiment, saying, “We were so excited that were actually going to be able to go, but saddened that their activities were cut short. It was still an exciting trip for them, in spite of everything.”
Another set of parents shared that shared that they had followed behind their student to New Orleans. After the kids were back at their hotel, they said they went back out and then watched the countdown fireworks. Afterward, they went looking for something to eat.
“You have to see this,” the father said, holding out his cell phone to show a timestamped video on Canal St., near the site of the terror attack, just 50 minutes before the attack occurred.
The FBI has set up a digital tip line and is asking anyone with information or video of the incident to reach out at www.fbi.gov/ bourbonstreetattack or call 1-800-CALL-FBI.
Houston firefighters extinguish the fire that engulfed a fence behind BB’s Tex-Orleans on Dec. 30, 2024.
Still photos from video, courtesy of Dan MacFarlane
Houston Police arrested Joseph Calahan for alleged felony arson.
Dan MacFarlane captured the alleged arsonist on video as he lit a small fire behind a strip center on W. 34th St on the evening of Dec. 30. A few minutes later, a much bigger fire was discovered just around the corner of the building.
Photo released by HPD ARRESTED: Tracy Gonzales
Photo by Stephanie Shirley Waltrip band and dance students arrived home safely on Jan. 2, following a deadly attack in the French Quarter.
Still photo from video, courtesy of Dan MacFarlane
The fire behind BB’s TexOrleans resulted in damage to a fence and building, estimated at $28,000.
GHP: Regional economy poised for growth in '25
COMMUNITY REPORTS
Editor's Note: In its "Economy at a Glance" report for January, the Greater Houston Partnership - the regional chamber of commerce - summarizes its employment forecast for 2025 released December 12, 2024. The report also documents the recent increase in Houston’s gross domestic product. The main body of the report is presented here with permission. The U.S. is doing well despite earlier reports to the contrary. In the 12 months ending November ’24, the nation has created 2.3 million jobs. The unemployment rate has tracked 4.2 percent or lower in 11 of the past 12 months. And real gross domestic product (GDP) has grown 2.8 per-cent over the past 12 months. In fact, the U.S. has led all developing nations in recovering from the pandemic. U.S. GDP increased 10.7 percent since the end of ’19, versus 5.9 percent for Canada’s GDP,
3.9 percent for the Euro-zone, 3.0 percent for Japan, and 0.2 percent for Germany. Houston is no laggard, either. The region created 62,500 jobs in the 12 months ending November ’24. Our unemployment rate has averaged 4.4 percent over the year. Initial claims for unemployment benefits have fallen to pre-pandemic levels. Construction has picked up. And people and businesses continue to flock to the region.
Both the U.S. and Houston are poised for growth in ’25. Whether that growth stalls or accelerates depends on the path of inflation, the level of U.S. interest rates, consumer confidence, and actions taken by Congress in the spring.
Inflation
The annual rate of inflation peaked at 9.0 percent in June ’22 and has trended down since, slipping to 2.7 percent in November ‘24. Various surveys forecast inflation to track between 2.0 and 2.5 percent next year. The
Accidents and sudden health concerns can strike unexpectedly.
Understanding when to go to the emergency room can help you make an informed decision about your health and ensure timely access to necessary care. While it’s important to call emergency services for lifethreatening situations, it’s also crucial to recognize severe conditions that may warrant an ER visit.
Recognizing Emergency Situations
When you are experiencing a medical emergency, time is of the essence. Many conditions or illnesses can worsen if you wait too long to visit an ER. Serious or debilitating symptoms that require immediate attention include:
• Abdominal or stomach pain accompanied by nausea and vomiting
• Bodily trauma, especially to the head or spine
• Constant pain or pressure in the chest
• Fever of 100.4 F or higher that persists Severe burns
• Severe unrelenting headaches, especially if accompanied by fever or confusion
• Stroke symptoms, including face
Partnership expects inflation at the low end of the range. A lower inflation rate is important for several reasons. For one, it affects consumer sentiment. The effective federal funds rate may be a difficult concept for most Americans to grasp, but everyone knows how much they pay for gas, bread, and blue jeans today versus three years ago. And when inflation declines, consumers feel better about the economy and open their wallets.
To combat inflation, the Federal Reserve began hiking the federal funds rate in the spring of ’22. In the fall of ’24, seeing that inflation was nearing the Fed’s 2.0 percent tar-get, the bank began to lower the rate. Many business and consumer loans are pegged to the rate, so its decline should make buying a car, purchasing a home, or financing equipment more affordable, thus boosting economic growth.
Consumer Confidence
The Conference Board’s
October ’24
Consumer Confidence Index surged to its highest level since January ‘24. The same month, the University of Michigan’s Survey of Consumer Sentiment hit its highest level since April ‘24. And in the Kinder Institute for Urban Research’s spring ’24 survey of Houston residents, 72 percent of respondents indicated they were excited about the future. All of this bodes well for consumer spending in the coming months.
Actions by Washington
The biggest unknown is the impact that Congress and the White House will have on the economy in ’25. A more aggressive trade policy could result in higher prices on imported goods and retaliatory actions by our trading partners. Tax cuts and spending increases would compel the U.S. Treasury to issue more debt potentially raising interest rates. Reducing the immigrant workforce significantly would cause a severe labor shortage. Another budget im-
passe would shut down the government, reduce spending, and slow economic growth. Those are possibilities, however, not probabilities.
Barring a “black swan” event, the U.S. is unlikely to slip into recession in ’25. The Wall Street Journal’s October survey of prominent business economists rated the probability of a recession over the next 12 months at 26 percent. That’s down from a 63 percent probability in the October’22 survey. The consensus from the Blue Chip Survey, another poll of the nation’s economists, is for U.S. GDP to grow 2.1 percent in ’25. And when the National Association for Business Economics asked its members “When will the next recession begin?” only 10 percent responded that a recession might occur in ’25; 63 percent responded in ’26 or later. If the U.S. avoids a recession, so will Houston.
Find the full report at houston.org.
drooping, arm weakness, difficulty talking, dizziness, blurred vision, intense headache and confusion
• Sudden shortness of breath or trouble breathing
Knowing when to go to the emergency room is crucial for safeguarding your health and ensuring timely medical intervention. Remember, if
you’re unsure about the severity of your condition, it’s better to err on the side of caution and seek medical assistance. Prioritizing your well-being and promptly addressing medical concerns can make a difference in your overall health outcome. Additionally, identifying where to go before an emergency arises
can help save time during a stressful situation. Houston Methodist Emergency Care Centers are full-service ERs that are open 24/7 and are conveniently located throughout the Greater Houston area. To find the location closest to you, visit houstonmethodist.org/ER.
A young man walks into the store manager’s office seeking a job. The manager is on the phone but finishes and apolo gizes: “Sorry, but I was just talking to a friend in Canada.” The young applicant says, “The only things we get from Canada are hockey players and loose women.” The man ager frowns and says, “Young man, I’ll have you know my wife is from Canada.” The ap plicant says brightly “Oh, and which team did she play for?”
Lynn Ashby Columnist
THE TOPICS. States of the Union
That’s the only Canadian joke I know, because our neighbor to the north – unlike the one to our south -- is a nice, delightfully dull, civilized place. So they quite probably don’t want to become our 51st state. Greenland and the Panama Canal don’t want to join us, either, despite what President-elect Donald Trump is proposing. But let’s start with Canada. The U.S. is far and away its largest and most important trading partner, and Canada and the U.S. have the longest border in the world: 5,526 miles. Trump’s threat to impose a 25 percent tariff on all we import from Canada would – as they say in Quebec – put a hitch in their giddy-up. (Their dollar is worth 69 U.S. cents.) to know about our maybe new citizens: Canada has the world’s first UFO landing pad. Santa Claus is possibly a Canadian citizen. Canada’s official phone number is 1-800-O-CANADA. That makes sense. Their national anthem is O Canada. Annexing Canada would be easier than our previous efforts. The U.S. invaded Canada twice: during the American Revolutionary War and during the War of 1812. Both attempts were disasters. Trump may be kidding about our next invasion, or maybe not. “No one can answer why we subsidize Canada to the tune of over $100,000,000 a year? Makes
no sense! Many Canadians want Canada to become the 51st State. They would save massively on taxes and military protection. I think it is a great idea. 51st State!!!” he wrote on his social media platform. Do we really “subsidize” Canada? I can’t find any proof. Nor can I find any record of Canadians who want Canada to become our 51st State. After meeting with then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (he’s toast) at Mara-Lago in late November, Trump started calling Trudeau the “Governor” of the “Great State of Canada.”
Still up north but to the east, we have the world’s largest island (or smallest continent): Greenland. In his merry Christmas message, Trump addressed “the people of Greenland, which is needed by the United States for National Security purposes and, who want the U.S. to be there, and we will!” The “people of Greenland” number 56,789, so you could seat the entire population in NRG Stadium with room for a few clowns from the rodeo. Most of the country is flat, ice covered, uninhabitable. In 1941, the U.S. sent Marines there to prevent Nazi Germany
from invading. One young Leatherneck sent to the tundra was future Secretary of State George Shultz. He later recalled, “I was told, ‘If you see a bush move, shoot it.’” Greenland is a self-governing part of Denmark. Instead of annexing Greenland as is the proposal for Canada, Trump wants to buy Greenland outright. The Washington Post estimated the price at $1.7 trillion. Oddly enough, the Danes said the whole idea was “absurd.” There wouldn’t be a Panama if it weren’t for U.S. getting involved. Panama was part of Colombia, but in 1903 that part declared its independence. Colombia selfishly objected. On Nov. 2, 1903, U.S. warships blocked sea lanes against possible Colombian troop movement sent to put down the rebellion, and thus was born a new nation. The Hay–Herrán Treaty with Panama granted the U.S. a zone roughly 10 miles wide and 50 miles long. In that zone, the U.S. would build a canal, then administer, fortify, and defend it “in perpetuity.” Not quite. Panama took control on Dec. 31, 1999. An interesting point: For years every battleship in the world
GUEST COLUMN
was built specifically sized to get through the locks of the Panama Canal. While that nation had control over the canal, Uncle Sam still meddled. On Dec. 20, 1989, the U.S. invaded Panama and captured its dictator, Manuel Noriega, a drug lord, money launderer and, on the side, a murderer. He was brought back to Miami and put on trial. Noriega was sentenced to life. It was clearly the kidnapping of a foreign leader, but Panama was glad to get rid of him. He was finally extradited back to Panama, tried for crimes and jailed. He died soon afterward. Trump’s reasoning for re-taking the canal is that China “illegally” operates the canal. President José Raúl Mulino flatly denies the charge. The irony is that Mulino was considered a great friend and ally of the U.S. -- until now.
We must note that buying a huge chunk of land –or a canal – isn’t new for us.
Manhattan Island was purchased from the Indians for $26 in beads. The Louisiana Purchase from France doubled the size of the U.S. for $15 million, and the Russian Czar sold Alaska to us for $7.2 million. The Gadsden
Purchase was exactly that. In 1854 Mexico sold us what is today southern Arizona and southern New Mexico for $10 million. And remember Texas sold the western third of what was the Republic to the U.S. for $10 million. That land went all the way to Wyoming. Just think, otherwise we really could ski Texas. Even the idea of buying Greenland isn’t new. In the 1860s President Andrew Johnson floated the idea of buying Greenland. In 1946 President Harry Truman offered Demark $100 million for it. (Notice how inflation even affects the price of an iceberg.) And Trump considered it during his first
National Cut Your Energy Costs Day: Make a plan to increase energy efficiency
By SAM LUNA Director of Product at BKV Energy
With January 10 marking the Department of Energy’s National Cut Your Energy Costs Day, now is a great opportunity to implement some minor upgrades that may seem insignificant individually, yet when combined have the potential to save.
1. Set your thermostat appropriately
reducing the strain on your heating system while warming your home.
3. Avoid portable heaters
ronment’s sake.
weather stripping are low-cost solutions that seal gaps keeping warm air inside and the cold air out, and can be purchased affordably online or at many stores, making this easy and actionable. Improving your home’s insulation is one of the most effective ways to reduce costs. You can also check to see if you qualify for Centerpoint’s Weatherization Assistance Program
often a major culprit behind high energy bills. Outdated technology works harder to keep up. Upgrading to a more efficient system comes with a higher price tag now but will lead to substantial long-term savings. Look for products with the ENERGY STAR label that meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s energy efficiency guidelines.
With shorter winter days and longer nights, our thermostat settings are often all over the place. Extreme fluctuations lead to energy inefficiency. Set your thermostat to lower temperatures like 68 degrees when you’re asleep or away from home when it’s cold. When temperatures are comfortably mild, shut the system off. If you don’t already have one, invest in a programmable thermostat.
While portable heaters provide quick warmth, they are notoriously inefficient. Instead of relying on space heaters as a primary heat source, or if portable heating is your only option, opt for energy-efficient models and use them sparingly!
4. Weather strip doors and windows
2. Adjust your blinds On sunny days, open your blinds to let in the sunlight, naturally warming your home into the evening. Conversely, on cloudy days and at night, close your blinds to act as an additional layer of insulation,
Poorly insulated homes lose heat quickly, so your system works harder to maintain a comfortable temperature. This heat loss is not just through walls and roofs but through gaps around windows and doors. Door snakes, draft stoppers, door seals, and
5. Unblock air vents
Ensuring air vents are not obstructed is crucial for efficient heating. Furniture, curtains, or rugs subtly blocking vents can hinder warm air distribution, contributing to HVAC energy inefficiency.
6. Upgrade to energyefficient appliances
An older HVAC system is
7. Review your electricity contract
Read the Electricity Facts Label (i.e. the fine print) associated with your electricity plan. Look out for base charges and usage fees. Your provider may be charging you when your energy usage isn’t high enough! If that’s the case, consider changing providers, for your wallet and the envi-
8. Bundle up Stay cozy with blankets, warm socks, slippers, and layers of sleeves and sweaters so you don’t have to rely on high thermostat settings to remain comfortable. Don’t overthink it! Even some of these small changes can make a huge impact on your energy consumption.
Editor’s note: This column and its contents do not necessarily reflect the views of The Leader News, its staff, or its publisher. The Leader News welcomes opinion articles on matters of interest to Greater Heights residents at editor@ theleadernews.com. Publication is at the discretion of the editor.
Answers found in this week’s Classified
Sam Luna, Director of Product at BKV Energy
shopping districts, and business corridors. Cabrera said, “Being proactive and increasing presence are some of the best ways to deter crime. And, by proactive I mean that our officers work in partnership with the community to try to prevent crime, rather than merely respond to it. This includes working with homeowners associations, civic, and other communitybased organizations. Another example Cabrera provided was the Sears property on N. Shepherd, prior to its demolition. He and his partner Ryan Thompson, now a sergeant, were tasked with making the unoccupied property safer. It had become subject to trespass and encouraged a host of criminal activity, Cabrera said, including a homeless encampment, drug activity, and even a murder. The DRT worked with the property owner and conducted inspections to get a trespass affidavit on file. Then they worked to have the abandoned property contained until which time it could be completely demolished. These proactive efforts went a long way to reducing crime in Garden Oaks and surrounding neighborhoods.
Introducing the Bike Patrol
North DRT Commander Ryan Watson further described his team’s mission by saying, “The Differential Response Team, or DRT, is HPD’s problem-oriented policing group. Their objective is to study crime problems, determine the underlying causes or circumstances of that crime problem, then work cooperatively with the stakeholders to create a lasting solution,” Watson said. “It takes a careful understanding of issues gained from community interaction, and an extremely diverse set of unique skills in their toolbox.” Watson also recognizes,
from P. 1
on how his voice sounds like Johnny Cash with his baritone style blended with southern inflections. His mother’s side of the family comes from the Arkansas hills near where Johnny Cash was originally from.
“I spent my formative years visiting relatives in Arkansas as a child,” Jacobs reflected. “All the men in that area talk in a similar way, so it runs in the family.” Jacobs took a couple of guitar lessons but did not take well to the process and discovered he was more of an autodidactic learner who has a good ear for sound. To figure out songs on the guitar Jacobs would sit with a vinyl record and move the needle back countless times. This laborious process enabled him to map out what he heard on the record to the neck of his guitar. During high school in 1975, Jacobs upgraded to his first electric guitar, a Telecaster knock-off called an Electra, along with his first amplifier, a Fender Vibrolux Reverb that he purchased at H&H Music in Northwest Mall. With his new electric setup, Jacobs started a band with some high school friends. Soon the band started picking up gigs at some area junior high school dances and sock hops. When Jacobs turned 16, he got his drivers license and started working a few part-time jobs to save up for his first car.
however, that accessibility can often become an obstacle to preemptive policing. The addition of a bike patrol resource provides that accessibility by complementing the law enforcement success achieved by his officers carrying out their duties from vehicles.
“My DRT officers all volunteered to go to the 40-hour bike certification course, which is one of the more physically demanding courses HPD offers,” he said. “This will put them in a great position to get out to otherwise unpatrolled areas,”
Cabrera added, “This new bike patrol was a natural progression for our team’s desire and responsibility to increase visibility and police presence in their community.”
There are also other benefits to utilizing bike patrol in addition to traditional vehicle patrol beyond accessibility. Cabrera elaborated on visibility and presence, saying that their presence would become more familiar to residents, but that criminals might not even recognize them as officers. “This would allow us to react more quickly and in real time,” he said. “Also, it provides more opportunities to interact with our community
“Back then a car for us was freedom. We could go where we wanted and it helped with the band getting to rehearsals and gigs.” Jacobs remembered.
WALLY AND THE ROMEO DOGS
After high school Jacobs supported himself with various jobs within the oil industry and although he did not always have a band during this transition, he continued developing his musical craft. When Jacobs established gainful employment and his own apartment, he was able to put together a band. Their first gig was playing at a burlesque club in Spring Branch, but they quickly graduated to working the clubs up and down the infamous Richmond strip. Named after a cartoon character the guitar player had created, the band was called Wally Fables, and played mostly sixties and seventies classic cover songs.
Laughing, Jacobs remembered, “I was the front man for the band so people thought I was Wally. I remember being at an intersection on Westheimer and these girls in a car next to me yelled out, ‘Hey, Wally!’”
As the music scene was changing with the rebirth of the roots blues sound with bands like Stevie Ray Vaughan and the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Jacobs had a personal desire to change with the times and start writing his own music. The other members of Wally Fables were content playing cover songs so Jacobs looked
on a personal level.”
Cabrera also talked about focus saying, “In police vehicles, officers are dealing with computers, radios, traffic…whereas on bikes, there is a heightened focus on and awareness of their surroundings and subsequently more attention to neighborhood detail.”
Community Support and Funding
Lastly, there is the expense issue. There is a huge difference in maintenance and usage costs between vehicles and bikes. The North DRT is currently staffed with nine officers (some of whom are still in the process of obtaining bicycle certification), in addition to the division’s supervisory sergeant, lieutenant and commander, all of whom are certified. The program is in its infancy, but since the division covers 51 sq miles, it raised the question about how the logistics of coverage would work, given the sheer amount of real estate involved. Cabrera said that it would be a rotating schedule that was dependent on the weather and prioritized by need. Weather permitting, they plan to have a rotation of
for other opportunities to embrace authenticity and be an original song writer and performer. Jacobs gravitated toward other bands in the scene that played original roots and rockabilly style music. In 1996 opportunity knocked on Jacobs’ door when a local band, The Rounders, suddenly found themselves without a guitar player and singer, both of whom left to form another band. Jacobs stepped in as front man and became their new lead singer/rhythm guitar player and, just like that, the Romeo Dogs were formed.
The Romeo Dogs had a solid line up of musicians with hot shot lead guitarist Danny Gardner, Steve Wood on drums (who is still with Jacobs today), and Rex Wherry on bass. Romeo Dogs quickly rose up the local and regional ladder of success, becoming the go-to band for shows and parties. Jacobs recalled, “We played all the important clubs -- Fitzgeralds, Rockefeller’s, The Ale House, Party on the Plaza, and most of the Art Car events.”
Romeo Dogs had a strong 10-year run, putting out a live album and one studio release on CD. They got an offer to record with Freddie Steady Krc, who was Jerry Jeff Walker’s drummer for over 13 years, and ran a recording studio and record label in Austin, Texas. The offer promised worldwide distribution, international gigs overseas, and rotation at SXSW events. However, when
their officers out in the neighborhoods each week. There is always a funding consideration for programs of this kind and that is where community support has been essential. The North DRT made their partnering community association leaders aware of their plans and solicited their help. There are a number of associations that have committed to assisting with funding in the new year, when 2025 budgets are approved and implemented. However, the Oak Forest Homeowners Association really stepped up to the plate in a big way by essentially fronting the cost for the largest program expense: the bikes themselves. This allowed the bike patrol plans to be initiated just before the beginning of 2025, earlier than expected.
Deena Alcorta, the Public Relations Director for OFHA, said that, “By working together, we can aim to reinstate 24-hour coverage, which was lost after the pandemic. Every additional supporter brings us closer to achieving this goal. We hope more residents will join us in strengthening our community’s safety net and enjoy the benefits of a secure,
disagreement between some of the band members arose over certain terms of the offer, the band eventually dissolved.
As the Romeo Dogs disbanded, Freddie Steady Krc extended an offer to Jacobs to record his songs as a solo artist. Freddie assembled what could best be described as Austin’s own “Wrecking Crew”, a handful of high quality studio musicians to back Jacobs in the studio. Jacobs’ first studio release was titled Jukebox Music and included top dog musicians like Floyd Domino on piano and Howard Kalish on fiddle, both from the legendary swing band Asleep at the Wheel, Lloyd Maines on pedal steel and mandolin, and Freddie Steady played drums. The CD, released in 2008, was recorded at the infamous Elmos Lab in Austin and received great reviews. Some tracks still get rotation on local radio station KPFT today.
HONKY TONK HUMP AT RE:HAB
In 2010, Houston Avenue Bar owner/operator Grace Miller developed a solid working relationship with Jacobs and his band at her bar, located in an old building on Houston Avenue. The bar became a mainstay for Jacobs and his band and it was at this time that Jacobs developed the idea to have a Honky Tonk Hump night every Wednesday.
“I knew Mitch from back in 1995 and always loved his music,” Miller remembered.
connected neighborhood.”
Security is a big push for the association this year, as it is with many neighborhoods. Frances Furh, the OFHA Neighborhood Patrol Chair added, “supporting HPDs community efforts, like the bike patrol program, provide our neighborhood with more security presence and cover community centers in our neighborhood like parks and schools.”
The bike purchase was substantial, but there are many other costs associated with a new program. HPD provided the uniforms and helmets, but there are other considerations including, but not limited to, bicycle maintenance, the addition of bike racks on DRT vehicles, and overtime considerations. For this reason, Alcorta hopes that residents in all the division neighborhoods will participate. She believes the program is essential to maintaining neighborhood safety.
“To maximize the program’s effectiveness, we need more residents to join and support the initiative,” she said. “It’s essential to recognize that neighborhood patrol isn’t just about individual homes; it’s about creating a collective sense of security and community.”
“When I started the bar, he had a standing gig at another bar that wasn’t working out so I was thrilled to have him move over to us for Wednesdays.”
Jacobs has always had a knack for a play on words and came up with the theme and idea for Honky Tonk Hump Night. In 2014 Miller lost her lease on the bar and had to find a new location. It was Jacobs who happened to be driving by a dive bar on 1658 Enid and then notified Miller of a potential new location. Miller jumped on the suggestion, contacted the owner and was able to secure the property that is now reverently known as, RE:HAB Bar on the Bayou.
“Mitch has always been a part of this bar.” Miller affectionately said. “Wednesdays have always been Mitch’s Wednesdays, and this will always be Mitch’s bar. This bar has Mitch’s name written all over it.”
BEATING CANCER
In August of 2022, Jacobs was diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer. Initially, the first six months of chemotherapy produced little success. Jacobs’ treatment switched to an immunotherapy that he has been on for the last year and a half and has proven to show positive results. This form of cancer is relatively new and has little data regarding treatment and side effects. Jacobs mentioned that the treatment alters his sleep patterns from time to time, but he takes it in
When asked about his plans to grow the headcount for his division and subsequently the bike patrol, Watson responded: “Currently the Houston Police Department is approximately 1,600 officers understaffed. Those are ready positions that we are actively recruiting and hiring for thanks to the mayor and several city council members supporting the addition of several academy classes in 2025. As the former city-wide DRT coordinator, I would love to be able to add personnel to my division’s DRT because I understand the impact they can have on an area”. Watson said he recognizes that, until they ramp up, they will have to make the most productive use of their existing teams. Other divisions such as Westside, Kingwood and Downtown already have bike patrol programs in place. “All of these units rely on support from the community to fund these programs,” he stressed. Residents are encouraged to reach out to their community associations and civic clubs for information about how to donate and contribute to the ongoing safety of their neighborhood.
stride with a positive outlook, playing his guitar late into the night or loading up on movies to pass the time. Jacobs was forced to take a six-month break from playing live while he was enduring the chemotherapy. When he adjusted his treatments to the more tolerable immunotherapy, Jacobs reduced his Wednesdays to every other Wednesday. Enter the Eric Korb Band. Helping to keep Honky Tonk Hump Night alive and well, Eric Korb and his band filled in the Wednesdays while Jacobs was out on injured reserve, keeping the seat warm for Jacobs for the last year. Staying true to the style of Honky Tonk Hump Night, they keep the vibe alive by playing similar roots rock and country songs, and even getting the audience to participate in raising their drinks for the famous Mitch Jacobs Texas Toast, “Peace, Prosperity, and the True Texas Way”. “The Eric Korb Band has done a great job in filling the void while Mitch has ben out,” Miller said. “I’ve really enjoyed getting to know them and so glad they were there to support Mitch.”
Jacobs reflected on how the Texas Gulf Coast burgeons opportunity for a gumbo style of music. The band covers a spectrum from rock to Cajun to blues, Latin and country, taking the audience on a tour of the tri-state area. Jacob’s current A-team lineup of backing musicians is as follows: Cris C. Cook on washboard, Randy Holland on bass, Steve Wood on drums, and Brian Thomas on pedal steel and banjo. When this A-Team is not available due to scheduling conflicts, Jacobs will play as a trio called Tiki Tonk, utilizing Erin Fisher Wright on bass and Mark McSwain on drums.
Reflecting on her friend Jacobs, Miller said, “When Mitch was not here on a Wednesday, he was missed. He has a unique style and never gets stale or boring. I’ve been following Mitch Jacobs for nearly thirty years and I never know what he’s going to do next. He feeds off the energy of the audience and always goes over and beyond, and knocks it out of the park, every time.”
Finally on the backside of arduous cancer treatments, The Mitch Jacobs Band is now back full-time every single
Jan. 15.
Photo by Crystal Chan
Patrolling by bike will allow DRT officers the opportunities to access locations that would be more challenging or even inaccessible by vehicle.
Photo by Stephanie Shirley Houston North DRT helped mitigate crime in Garden Oaks, attracted by the abandoned Sears building.
JACOBS,
The Mitch Jacobs Band will once again
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CATHERINE MARIE NARENDORF FARINELLI
of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, aged 73, passed away on January 1, 2025 at 7:55am. Catherine was born in Conroe, TX, and grew up in Houston with her 7 siblings, Sharon Ann, Mary, Theresa, Martin Jr., Stephen, Patricia, and Susan. Catherine attended St. Rose Catholic School, Black Middle School, and Waltrip High School. She worked 1/2 days as a secretary during her senior year of high school in order to pay for her first year of college at Blinn College in Brenham, TX where she met Carl Farinelli, her future husband. She received her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, OK, and her Master’s in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) at the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) in Edmond, OK. She taught 24 years for Tahlequah Public Schools, the last 23 at Greenwood Elementary where she taught 4th grade language arts and was once recognized as their Teacher of the Year. Catherine married Carl at St. Mary Catholic Church in High Hill, TX, where her father had been an altar boy and where Catherine had been flower girl in a wedding for her Aunt Alice and Uncle Ludwig Narendorf. For the rest of her life, Aunt Alice would call out to Catherine, “Oh, there’s my little flower girl.” Catherine loved returning to the Texas-German festival and the Narendorf-Beier Family Reunion at High Hill many times over the years.
Catherine was born to Shirley Payne Narendorf and Martin Wilhelm Narendorf, and is survived by many—her husband of 52 years, Dr. Carl Farinelli of Tahlequah, OK, 3 children, Dr. Rachel Farinelli Holloway, of Magnolia, TX, Melody Farinelli Jones, of Katy, TX, and Matthew Austin Cobb Farinelli of Nashville, TN, grandchildren, Ashley Sage Sunday of Dallas, TX, Kara Sage of Houston, TX, 4 grandsons, Mattox, Isaac, Lucas, and Garrick Jones of Luanda, Angola, 6 of her 7 siblings, and many aunts, uncles, cousins, godchildren, friends, and former students, all of whom she loved dearly. She loved attending many family reunions and German Festivals in High Hill, TX, where she learned to dance the polka, waltz, and schottische from her father. She also loved having former students come up to her, give her a hug, and share fond memories of being in her classes.
Catherine grew up in the Oak Forest area of north Houston but moved to Brenham, TX, Huntsville, TX, Mora, NM, and Tahlequah, OK, as she and Carl journeyed through many degrees and career advancements in education. She often marveled that, as she put it, “Carl found his place in the world at NSU in Tahlequah,” as a professor of education. She loved finishing her bachelor’s degree at NSU, being mentored by many educators especially her advisor, Dr. Susan Frusher, and Dr. Isabel “Izzie” Baker who was Catherine’s supervisor during Catherine’s intern teaching. Catherine was overjoyed when she was selected for a scholarship that pioneered an online master’s degree in TESL at UCO. She said, “I figured I was too old and that they would pick only the much younger candidates that weren’t already halfway through their careers, but I was encouraged to apply.” She and her “younger” teacher classmates completed their classes at the Tahlequah Teacher Service building at the back of the old Tahlequah High School campus.
Outside of her career, Catherine had a great love for music, dance, art , and photography, taking piano lessons as a girl, and ballet as a young woman, drawing, painting, and sewing. In high school and her first year of college, she sewed all her own clothes. She also practiced yoga for several decades and loved hiking many beautiful trails all over Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and New Mexico. She had a great love for travel, working and saving her own money as a student so she could travel to Rome for the ordination of her uncle, Father Stephen Payne. “Father Steve” would return to Texas and performed his first marriage when Catherine married Carl at her beloved St. Mary Catholic Church.
Later, Catherine and Carl traveled with Catherine’s father, Martin, for his 84th birthday to visit relatives in the small farm town of Glandorf, Germany, where Martin’s father, Ludwig Narendorf grew up before immigrating to High Hill, TX. Catherine and Carl would return to Glandorf with each of their Grandchildren to acquaint them with their German roots. Catherine accompanied her youngest daughter, Melody, and her family when they moved to Kazakstan for Melody’s husband’s job and later to meet Melody’s family in Rome and Paris. During COVID, Catherine and Carl stayed with Melody’s family and helped homeschool their grandsons for 2 years while Catherine received chemotherapy at MD Anderson in Katy, TX. Catherine and Carl stayed with Rachel for 2 and a half years while Catherine received treatment Oat MD Anderson Woodlands always returning home to Tahlequah each month as treatments allowed. Catherine’s multiple rounds of treatments, temporary remissions, and final hospice care lasted nearly 9 years. Carl said, “Through it all, she always had that smile and positive attitude that marked her entire life, the same smile that caught my eye the class on the first day of classes.
Catherine was preceded in death by her son, Jacob, her mother Shirley, and father Martin, her sister Theresa, her grandparents and several aunts and uncles. She often said she would have “many saints and angels” waiting to greet her in Heaven. She had a deep faith, often saying it could be easily explained by a verse she learned in 7th grade at St. Rose of Lima Catholic School, where Sister Mary Margaret had the class sing it as a song at the beginning of every class day, “… God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God in them.” (1 John 4:16) Her husband Carl said this story of what he called “Cathy Catholicism” is what drew him to the faith.
Catherine leaves behind a legacy of love and memories for her family and friends. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. Her family and friends will remember her for her quiet strength, her generous heart, and her unwavering
A memorial service was held on January 4th, 2025, at
for those around her.
If asked, I couldn't pinpoint when I met painter Melinda Patrick -- one of my many art projects, no doubt. Patrick attended a few of my outdoor markets, and her colorful paintings depicting everyday scenes from the beach, parks or people relaxing on a park bench are always popular. From just a slight distance, Patrick's painterly style comes into focus, letting the viewer's imagination fill in the gaps. She allowed me to turn one of her paintings of three women resting on a bench on 19th Street into market postcards. I have that painting today!
Patrick later designed my current website for First Saturday Arts Market; she also came up with the logo. Originally, the logo was destined for a tent canopy and banners but ended up "official" in short time and is still in use.
I thought it might be high time I introduced you to this talented artist and self-de-
scribed flower child.
Art Valet: How did your art journey begin?
“My journey began before any of you were born,” Patrick jokes. “My artist grandfather put a brush in my hand, gave me paint and demanded 'Paint!' There was no turning back. It continued through school and several years at the Houston Museum of Fine Art Scholarship Class. Every Friday in the basement. You never heard of it before, right? Preceded Glassell.”
Where are you now with your art?
“As I said, I paint every day.
Sell a lot online and sometimes get noticed by offers
I can't ignore,” Patrick said.
“The biggest so far is painting mural designs for a public art company in L.A. that are enlarged and printed to be applied in Walmart stores. So far I've done three. It's fun, it's fast, and it pays.”
Do you have big plans/ goals for the future?
“More of the same and more exposure,” Patrick said.
“I want to be the painter whose art my great-grandkids will find stuffed in the attic, and when they get it appraised, it's worth a fortune. Like on Antiques Roadshow.”
Tell us what’s next and where to find you.
“More, more, more of the same,” Patrick said. “More murals, maybe a show or two, and more amazing offers. I'm doing most of my painting in the Hill Country outside of Marble Falls. Find me on the usual social media, my website
and a few online galleries such as Artfinder and Saatchiart. And to see it in person, visit Primal Gallery in Dripping Springs. Tell Joe I sent you and he'll give you a discount. And it's the only place to see my nudes.”
Anything wild and crazy that would raise eyebrows?
"No photos, please, but many years ago, I spent time at a nude beach outside San Francisco. Carlos Santana saw me naked."
That certainly raised my eyebrows, thanks Melinda!
See more of Melinda Patrick’s art on her website at https://melindapatrick.com and follow her for the latest on Instagram at www.instagram. com/melindahamiltonpatrick/
Cohen is an artist and founder of the First Saturday Arts Market. Visit his website at ArtValet.com.
Midtown Arts and Theater Center Houston
(MATCH)
announces
COMMUNITY REPORTS
Midtown Arts and Theater Center Houston (MATCH) is excited to announce the 2025 Mix-MATCH: A Mixed Arts Festival, a one-day celebration of Houston’s diverse arts and creative community. The event will take place on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, at MATCH, showcasing an impressive array of performances and exhibits that highlight the vibrancy of creative expression by and for the Houston community.
The 2025 Mix-MATCH Festival emphasizes collaboration and diversity. With more than 50 applications submitted, 24 were chosen by their peers to participate in the festival. This year’s lineup includes visual artists, dancers, musicians, actors, filmmakers,
the 2025 Mix-MATCH: A Mixed Arts Festival
and more, offering audiences a rich and varied sampling of Houston's most exciting artists.
"Houston is one of the most diverse cities in the country, and this year’s festival reflects the rich tapestry of artists and creatives from our community," said Brian Walker, MATCH Director of Production and festival coordinator. "We created this festival to showcase the talents of Houston’s small and midsized organizations and independent artists. In one day, you can experience an incredible range of works that truly capture the essence of Houston’s artistic diversity."
The 2025 Mix-MATCH Festival will feature performances throughout the entire facility and a visual installation in the gallery.
Audiences can also enjoy food trucks and various activities throughout the day, culminating in the MATCH Mixer, an opportunity to mingle with the artists and fellow attendees.
Event Details:
• Date: Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025 Location: Midtown Arts & Theater Center Houston (MATCH), 3400 Main St, Houston, TX 77002
• Time: 3 PM – 10 PM (with activities throughout the day)
• Tickets: $40 full festival pass (includes two drink tickets).
