02-25-23 Edition of The Heights Leader

Covering the Heights, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest & the neighborhoods of North Houston

Residents petition for bayou space to become parkland

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

As a proposed plan to elevate Interstate 10 in the Heights area continues to move toward fruition, a group of local residents is petitioning to have a portion of White Oak Bayou greenspace designated as parkland in efforts to keep the project from running through the popular greenspace.

Residents of the Woodland Heights have created a petition that is asking the city of Houston to formally acquire and designate the White Oak Greenway along the bayou as a city park. By doing so, the petition says the space will be protected from being used

for development when the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) begins the project within the next year or two.

As of Tuesday, the petition at actionnetwork.org/petitions/create-white-oak-bayou-park had more than 3,800 signatures. The goal for the petition is to garner at least 6,000 signatures.

“White Oak Bayou greenway continues to be threatened by plans to elevate and widen the freeway,” the organization wrote on Facebook Jan. 27.

During the most recent public meeting in July 2022, TxDOT revealed more about

Leader breaking out new special sections

Staff Reports

When you pick up your paper this week, it may look a little fuller and feel a little heavier. And there’s a reason for that. In this week’s paper, you will find not just our typical community coverage on sports, food and drink, the arts, and more.

You’ll also find the first of what is to be several special sections throughout this upcoming year. Some of what we have planned, we have done before – but we’re always trying to do it better and improve our coverage to bring you the most timely and relevant news on topics important to our community. And others, like this week’s Home and Garden section, are new and part of our approach to try and be the best resource for the community we hold so dear.

Commissioners’ court approves partnership for local apprenticeship programs

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Harris County has approved a contract that it says will increase union opportunities and apprenticeships in the building and construction trades as well as the entertainment and transportation industries around the city, including the Heights, Garden Oaks/ Oak Forest, and other surrounding areas.

On Tuesday, the Harris County’s Commissioners’ Court unanimously approved a $9.1 million contract to increase local apprenticeship opportunities and create new ones in partnership with the Texas Gulf Coast Labor Federation. It is part of the County’s broader Apprenticeship Advantage initiative, according to the county, which is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

The program will provide ap-

prenticeship training to more than 1,500 people in the construction, public transportation, and live entertainment industries in the county, according to Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis.

“Working people deserve a safe workplace, good benefits, strong wages and the opportunity to build a better life for their families,” Ellis said. “A skilled and empowered workforce is key to a thriving, resilient Harris County

economy.”

The program, the county said, was initially established to provide opportunities for those that have been traditionally underrepresented in apprenticeships – underemployed, unemployed, dislocated workers, opportunity youth, people of color, women, and those without college degrees.

According to the Texas Gulf Coast Labor Federation, the 11 participating apprenticeship programs that the partnership funds will recruit, train, and place 665 new apprentices with employers over the next two years, while also making efforts to improve the skills of current apprentices and workers.

The new transportation industry apprenticeship will be led collaboratively by Houston METRO and Heights-based Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 260,

This week’s special section is a new one, our Home and Garden section. In it, you will find articles in which we attempted to bring you informative helpful articles for those who might be interested in new or revamped landscaping, or for those who are looking to repair or remodel their home on a budget. We dive into those topics and more, so be sure to flip all the way through.

And this week is just the beginning of a big year of coverage that our staff here at The Leader has in store for you, our loyal and dedicated readers. After all, that’s our number one goal – bringing you the news that is the most relevant and timely for the Heights, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest, and all these other neighborhoods of north Houston that we continue to have the pleasure of covering week in and week out.

We still plan to bring you the same weekly dose of sports, food and drink, the arts, and news about city and county government that you are used to reading each week. But we’re also doing our best to bring you expanded coverage and continue to serve as your weekly resource.

So we hope you enjoy this week’s Home and Garden section.

Winter Street Studios artists get boost from city

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

As the artists who make use of a local studio that was largely destroyed as the result of an intentional fire just a few months ago struggle to rebuild, the city of Houston recently attempted to give those struggling artists a boost and helping hand.

On Feb. 16, the city of Houston donated $250,000 to the Houston

Art Alliance’s Emergency Relief Fund for more than 60 artists whose work and studios were damaged or destroyed in a December fire at Winter Street Studios at Sawyer Yards. Many artists had studios and work either damaged or destroyed at the studio as a result of the fire that broke out in the early morning hours on Dec. 20.

“Born out of this tragedy is the knowledge that Houstonians are always

there for each other,” Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said Feb. 16 during a press conference outside the burned-out studios.

“We are here for the affected artists and think of them in these trying times. With our help, we hope the artists are soon able to get back into their creative spaces and resume their contribution to the creative economy.”

According to the Hous-

“Working people deserve a safe workplace, good benefits, strong wages and the opportunity to build a better life for their families”

-Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodneyt Ellis

Photo

Photo courtesy City of

Contributed photo

Harris County Commissioners Court recently approved a $9.1 million contract for new apprenticeship opportunities and programs around the county that will be facilitated by several locally-based union programs.

resource The Houston Fire Deparment was given a grant for new visual fire alarms for those who are deaf or hard of hearing

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

The Houston Fire Department has received a grant that will help the department install home visual smoke alarms for those who are deaf or hard of hearing to help them be warned of fires, according to the city.

On Feb. 17, the city of Houston announced that HFD has been awarded a grant of just over $173,000 that will help the department install 500 visual smoke alarms and bed shakers throughout the city.

The $173,328 grant is part of the Fire Prevent and Safety Grant Program, awarded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and will allow HFD to expand its current “Get Alarmed Houston!” smoke alarm installation efforts, according to the city. The program has installed

more than 2,000 standard smoke alarms at homes around the city almost every year since its inception in

2001, according to the city.

According to the city, a study from the National Fire Protection Agency said nearly 60 percent of home fire deaths from 2014-2018 happened in houses that did not have working smoke alarms. HFD said it will work with community partners who work with the deaf and hard of hearing to find those in need of the visual alarms and bed shakers to get them installed as soon as possible.

“The Houston Fire Department aims to reduce fire related deaths and injuries in homes and possibly eliminate these in our community through early warning provided by working smoke detectors,” Fire Chief Samuel Peña said. “This grant will provide us the path needed as we work to make this goal a reality.”

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

A man has died after a two-car collision in the Central Northwest neighborhood last week, according to the Houston Police Department.

The man’s identity is pending an autopsy from the county’s medical examiner, according to the department.

The victim was driving a black Hyundai Elantra south at 4300 Antoine Dr. near the intersection of Antoine Drive and West 43rd Street just after 9:30 p.m. on Feb. 14, police said, when he allegedly ran the red light at the West 43rd Street intersection and collided with a silver Jeep Compass that

was heading east on West 43rd Street.

According to police, the Hyundai then went toward the median and eventually struck a tree before catching on fire. The driver of the Hyundai was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the department.

The driver of the Jeep, a 59-year-old man according to HPD, was uninjured according to the department. He was questioned at the scene and released, according to HPD, after showing no signs of intoxication.

No charges have been filed, according to police, and the investigation remains ongoing.

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Houston police are investigating the potential cause of death for a man who was found dead near a jogging trail close to Memorial Park last week, according to the Houston Police Department.

The identity of the man is pending an autopsy from the county’s medical examiner, according to the department, as are the cause and manner of death.

Police responded to a jog-

ging trail on the north side of Memorial Drive at 6700 Memorial Dr. just after 8 a.m. on Feb. 17 to find the man in “an advanced state of decomposition,” according to the paramedics who responded to the scene.

The department has not officially ruled the case a homicide, according to HPD, as the cause and manner of death are pending the autopsy. However, any-

As our Texas legislators wrestle with how to censure school libraries, make voting even more difficult and send public funds to private schools, and as every pig is trying to get its snout in the trough, the people of Texas might be sighing, “Sully, come back!” You see, once before Texas such a huge surplus of funds that Gov. Sul Ross had to call a special session of the Legislature to determine what to do.

Therein lies a tale worth re-telling in light of today’s free-for-all for funds. First, let’s take a look at Sul Ross, the only university president (Texas A&M) I know of who had another university named for him: Sul Ross University, obviously. He was born Lawrence Sullivan Ross near Waco. His great grandfather had been captured by Indians as a six-year-old child, and lived with them until he was rescued at 23. Ross’s father was an Indian agent, so Sul grew up with a greater understanding of the Indians than most Texans. He loved the good ones; he killed the bad ones.

During a summer vacation home from his college in Alabama, Sully led a company of Indians from his father’s reservation against the dreaded Comanche. The next fall back at college Ross may have taken part in the dorm bull sessions.

“Hey, Sully, what did you do this summer?’

“Well, we were in the middle of a battle with the Comanche when four of us spotted a little white girl who was a captive. As we were getting her, we were jumped by 25 braves. Two of us were killed immediately. My gun misfired. I got an arrow in my shoulder and was then shot pointblank by a brave. It was Mohee, a Comanche I’d known since we were children together. As I was lying on the ground, Mohee whipped out

LYNN ASHBY Columnist

What’d you do this summer?”

“Forget it.”

After college Ross joined the Texas Rangers and at age 21 was made captain of a Ranger company. In yet another battle against the Indians, he caught up with Nacona, a Comanche chief who was responsible for much of the carnage along the Texas frontier. Ross shot Nacona and rescued a white woman who turned out to be Cynthia Ann Parker.

When the Civil War broke out, he entered the Confederate Army as a private and wound up a general. Ross participated in 135 engagements, including 112 days of fighting around Atlanta. After the war he took up farming, then got into politics and became sheriff of McLennan County (Waco) and a state senator. Eventually he ran for governor.

In January 1887, Ross was inaugurated governor. He was the first to use the new capitol. That is when he had to tackle the problem of too much money. Part of the trouble was that most of the taxes came in during December and January. The money sat around until it was spent during the rest of the year. Then, all of a sudden, the U.S. government, acting on advice from the Army, paid Texas $927,177 as restitution for Indian depredations and expenses incurred by the state.

The expenses were run up in the 20 years after the

Civil War because the Texas Rangers – not the U.S. Army – did much of the fighting against both Mexican bandits and hostile Indians. In addition, Texas patrolled its own border with Mexico, the only state or territory to do so. Washington reimbursed Texas for the cost and made good such losses as cattle rustled by the bandits and the Indians. The sum came to a tidy amount, particularly in those days.

A reporter from the Galveston Daily News went to the state vault, which held $2 million in cash alone, 20 percent of all the money in the state rendered for taxation. He saw not only a huge vault but within it, a safe. He wrote: “The vault contained a large burglar-and fire-proof safe, in which $1,250,000 in paper money was neatly arranged in packages, forming a compact square mass, ten by twenty-four inches, and eighteen inches high. In the same money chest about $25,000 in gold bars was resting secure from moth and rust. Outside the safe a pyramid of silver in bars was built from the floor nearly to the ceiling, resting against the west wall of the vault.

“Another safe was covered nearly to the ceiling with boxes of silver. Several tons of the precious metals were in view. In the corner was a pile of money bags containing silver quarters, halves and nickels. In the safe first mentioned, in addition to the cash, were shown in packages some $7,000,000 in bonds, viz, $2,991,000 of state bonds and $2,276,000 of county bonds, $1,753,817 of railroad bonds, besides $79,400 of public debt certificates.”

Gov. Ross could handle attacking Indians, bandits and Yankees, but he did not know how to handle that huge surplus. On March 27, 1888, he complained in a press conference that

he couldn’t sleep the night before, worrying about what to do. “I don’t feel authorized to keep so much money locked up full a year if deferred until the regular session.” So he called a special session to deal with too much money – the only Texas guv to do so

until now -- and suggested that some funds should be set aside to pay the state’s bills for the rest of the year, some should go to raises for school teachers, and the state should repay $96,000 borrowed from the university fund. Then the new capitol had to be furnished,

the state needed new asylums, and so on. What was left, Ross, said, would still be considerable, and that money should be returned to the taxpayers.

Yes, indeed. Sully, come back! Ashby is taxed at ashby2@comcast.net

HS Hoops: St. Thomas back in TAPPS Final Four

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

The St. Thomas Eagles’ basketball team has been at or near the top of the TAPPS Division I rankings all season long. And they’re looking to cement their status as the best the state has to offer in private school hoops.

Last weekend, the Eagles took down Dallas Parish Episcopal by a score of 55-25 in a TAPPS Division I regional final to move on the state semifinals. It is the first time St. Thomas (26-2) has reached the state’s final four since back-to-back appearances in 2016 and 2017.

St. Thomas will now set their sights on defending state champion Plano John Paul II (15-17) in the Division I state semifinal at 6 p.m. Friday.

It was a balanced scoring effort for the Eagles last weekend, with five different players scoring at least seven points in the victory.

Jake Pike paced St. Thomas with 11 points, while Jamey Beston scored nine points and grabbed eight rebounds. Aron Valentine also snagged 10 boards of his own, while, Shaffer Henderson had seven points and a team-high 11 rebounds.

Elsewhere in private school playoff action around the area, Lutheran North Academy saw their season come to an early end with a 75-59 loss to St. Francis Episcopal in a TAPPS Division III area round playoff. The Lions finished their 2022-2023 campaign with a 22-10 overall record.

In public school action, Booker T. Washington cruised past Scarborough 83-19 in their regular-season finale on Feb. 17, finishing the regular season 23-7

LANDAN KUHLMANN Editor

overall and 15-1 in District 21-4A and win their second consecutive district title.

Sophomore Sam Johnson had his first double-double of the season with 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Eagles, who were set to take on Taylor (17-15) – District 22-4A’s fourth-place finisher – in the bi-district playoffs Tuesday night.

Gabriel Alvarez scored 21 points to lead the Heights Bulldogs to a 55-46 win over Chavez in their regular season finale on Feb.

15. The Bulldogs (17-12) finished as District 18-6A’s second seed, and were slated to clash with Cy-Fair (2012) in the bi-district playoffs Monday night.

Girls Heights’ Lady Bulldogs had their season come to a close with a 73-37 loss to Houston Memorial in the bi-district playoffs last week, finishing their 2023 season with an 11-15 overall record.

The Waltrip Lady Rams also saw a stellar season come to a close last week, dropping a 70-27 decision at the hands of Fort Bend Willowridge on Feb. 14. The loss brought an end to a stellar season for Waltrip, which finished 15-8 overall and made the program’s first playoff appearance in four seasons.

HS Softball: Heights, SPX softball show out in tournament play

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

As the high school softball season gets into full swing, several area softball teams were out last week putting on standout performances in tournament play.

Both the Heights Lady Bulldogs and St. Pius X Lady Panthers put on a show at their respective tournaments last weekend as part of strong early

season play. The Lady Bulldogs kicked off their season by going 3-1 in tournament play, splitting a pair of games against Baytown Sterling Sterling (8-7 win) and Vidor (4-2 loss) on Feb. 17 before sweeping games against Sam Rayburn (8-0) and Baytown Lee (7-1) on Feb. 18. Helen Maddux had two hits including a homer and two RBIs for Heights (3-1) in the win over Baytown Lee, while Sara Paniagua also homered and Haylie

Jaime hurled struck out seven hitters while allowing just one earned run in four innings in the circle. Paniagua was flawless in the circle against Sam Rayburn with five strikeouts in five innings, while Laila Robins had three hits and Kennedy Hill homered.

In the win over Sterling, Angelina del Pozo and Flora Moreno both doubled, while Hill added two more RBIs to her total as part of a six-run fourth inning that proved to be the deciding

blows.

Elsewhere on the public school circuit, Booker T. Washington’s Lady Eagles are set to kick off their 2023 regular season with a Friday night district game against Kashmere.

On the private school side, the St. Pius X Lady Panthers went 3-3 at the Goose Creek ISD Tournament last week to move to 5-3 overall on the season. SPX pounded out 16 hits in an 11-2 win over Goose Creek Memorial on Feb. 17, with Brooke

Landry collecting three hits and University of Texas commit Victoria Hunter. Hunter also homered in a 12-4 victory over St. John’s on Feb. 14, while Madeline Trejo and Kennedy Flenner combined for 11 strikeouts in the circle. Landry was stellar all weekend, collecting nine total hits along with seven RBIs and three stolen bases in the tournament.

Photo by Wayne Donnelly

St. Thomas forward Jake Pike pushes the ball up the court during a game against St. Pius X earlier this season. Pike and the Panthers are back in the TAPPS Division I Final Four for the first time since 2017.

Photo from Twitter

St. Pius X softball team has gotten o to a strong start this season, including a solid showing at last week’s Goose Creek ISD Tournament.

Apprenticeship, from P. 1A

which is based at 2150 W. 18th St. Suite 104. The program will train mechanics to work on the new electrified fleet of buses that will soon be taking to Houston’s streets.

“During the energy transition, we have a chance to build a better community for ourselves, to expand opportunities to everyone in Harris County, and make sure that underserved communities have access to good, safe jobs,” said Horace Marves, the current president of TWUL Local 260. Two new programs will also launch in 2023 as part of the program according to the county. There will be a new entertainment industry apprenticeship, led in part by Northside-based Theatrical Employees (IATSE) Local 51 at 3030 North Fwy. These programs will train stagehands to work in events pertaining to theater performances and other live entertainment events such as the 2026 World Cup.

“The new programs that we will be able to develop will be a game changer for our local and the entire Harris County entertainment industry, helping to ensure that

Parkland, from P. 1A

its $347 million plan to elevate the I-10 main lanes and HOV lanes between Heights Boulevard and Interstate 45 that is aimed at helping reduce flooding risks during major events like heavy rains and hurricanes. Along with elevated lanes, there are also plans to build 21.7acre retention ponds underneath and to the north of the elevated lanes as well as a 10-foot wide shared use path for walkers/runners and bikers. It will use a combination of state and federal funding, and is also in the midst of conducting a required environmental impact assessment

we have the homegrown skilled workforce to staff any event,” said Mark Grady, a business agent with IATSE Local 51.

According to the county, union apprenticeships provide health insurance, workers compensation insurance, and a pension to those traditionally underrepresented, in addition to a higher working salary. All union apprentices are also required to take safety trainings, as part of an effort to rectify a trend that has previously seen Texas lead the nation in occupational fatalities – many in the construction industry – according to Jan. 10 report from the Houston Chronicle.

And Ellis said the new program is just the start of a new Harris County.

“More than ever, the working people of Harris County—especially people of color, women, and youth—need training and career pathways that lead to goodpaying jobs,” he said. “That’s why Harris County is investing in the Apprenticeship Advantage program to develop a skilled workforce that can meet the demands of our local economy.”

this year with an eye on beginning construction in the middle of 2024. The organization said during the public meeting that it does not expect any homes or residences to be displaced as a result of the project.

“During major rain events, such as Tropical Storms Allison and Imelda and Hurricane Harvey, water from White Oak Bayou can overtop its banks, flooding I-10 and making it impassable,” Jeff Kaiser with TxDOT said during the public meeting.

However, residents say they are concerned about how the elevated lanes would impact the noise level

Winter, from P. 1A

ton Arts Alliance, the organization has received applications for assistance from 64 artists who have called Winter Street Home, with those artists reporting more than $2.5 million worth of damage to their studios and artwork.

HAA board chair Leal Farah said the organization created the Disaster Services program and Emergency Relief Fund after Hurricane Harvey in 2017 as an attempt to provide artists more security for damages if something should befall them or their art.

“Houston should be proud of this program. It is the only one of its kind in the nation, and it is supported by private donations from the community it serves,” Farah said.

“Artists and cultural institutions are a critical part of our City’s economy and community.

Today, I am glad it is here to help the artists of Winter Street.” One such artist who has had work damaged by the fire was Taylor Clennenden, and she and other artists have expressed gratitude to the city and many others who have been supporting Winter Street artists in the months since the fire as they attempt to re-

and encroach upon the greenspace that the White Oak Bayou Association says is home to nearly 200 different species of birds, along with other natural wildlife.

“Without formal protection, this land is not protected and can be destroyed to make way for development,” the petition reads.

A Tuesday evening email request for comment to a TxDOT spokesperson regarding a response to the petition was not immediately returned.

However, the city said it is not as easy as simply trying to acquire and designate the land as a city park. In

build or start over.

“It doesn’t cover all that was lost, but it definitely helps,” she wrote on Facebook. “I miss my studio and seeing all my art buds around Winter Street.”

The Disaster Services Program for the Houston Arts Alliance has set up a support page to help artists at ready.haatx.com/. There have also been GoFundMe accounts set up for artists such as Jack Potts of Bohemian Photography, Holly Nowak, and others. And artists and officials alike say that’s just how the city has always supported its own.

“When we have faced tragedies in all different walks of our lives, this city has always responded…These artists are Houstonians, and they are valued members of our city and our community. We want their work to be shown, demonstrated, and showcased,” Turner said Feb. 16. “There is light at the end of the tunnel. You will get back on your feet, I have no doubt about it. You will have your creative space again…Houston is here for you, as you have been for this city.”

response to discussion surrounding the effort. Even if the White Oak Bayou Greenway were to be designated as a one big park, a letter from District H council member Karla Cisneros’ office – whose district includes White Oak Bayou – said the federal considerations afforded by the US Department of Transportation Federal Highways Administration Law, Section 4F, would not actually protect the park.

Cisneros’ office said in the letter that such a designation only requires that there has be “an attempt to show whether or not a property can be completely avoided while

meeting the transportation need,” and highway construction would be allowed.

“(Council member Cisneros) believes that understanding the challenges and legalities will help us better position ourselves to effectively advocate for the White Oak Bayou Greenway now and in the future,” the letter reads.

But that is not going to stop residents from pushing the petition.

“This will preserve natural habitat for area wildlife, provide greenspace for public use, and prevent development on this land,” the petition says.

Art Valet:Arts community shrinks at Soot to Soul show

Soot to Soul - A Winter Street Studios Art Show, is this Saturday, February 25, 2023, 5-9:00 p.m. hosted by Hardy and Nance Artist Studios at 902 Hardy Street, Houston, TX 77020.

El Guajillo Food Truck will be on site, and they are delicious. Winter Street Studios, the original building of the now vast campus of art studios in multiple buildings known as Sawyer Yards, was damaged extensively by fire set by an arsonist, December 20. The 2 story, 3 winged building with 77 art studios is closed while undergoing renovations, some parts extensive. All tenants were affected and have had to move out.

At a recent press event, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced a $250,000 donation from the City of Houston to the Houston Arts Alliance (HAA) Emergency Relief Fund for artists affected by the fire at Winter Street Studios. The press conference took place inside the burned-out studios at Sawyer Yards in Houston’s Arts District.

The loss of income, not to mention property and artwork is staggering. While the artists are displaced from their studios, multiple opportunities, events and shows like Soot to Soul, have been created by the

arts community to help out.

This show demonstrates just how small the art community is in Houston. Here we have the art tenants of one studio, hosting their displaced colleagues from another, not just because they can, because they are compelled to.

Kelley Devine (https:// kelleydevine.com), is a former tenant at Winter St. now at Hardy and Nance, and is one of the event organizers. Devine lamented in an email invitation for Soot to Soul about her sup-

port for her artist friends from Winter St.

“Winter Street was my first art family, and I cannot stand by while my friends and colleagues count their losses without doing what I can to help,” Devine wrote.

“With that in mind, we invite you to join us this Saturday for Soot to Soul – a Winter Street Studios art show at Hardy and Nance Artist Studios. Artworks from over 30 Winter Street Studios artists will be in the main gallery and throughout the building.”

“Our aim for this show is to support our neighbors and strengthen our arts community as they recover from a devastating building fire,” Devine continued. “The artists of Winter Street will be there to talk about their work, and many of the studios throughout the building will be open as well. We hope you will be part of this event that is so important to our community.”

Participating artists include Micah Simmons, Rikki Mitman, Lucy Caire, An-

gela Rose Walling, Brenda Schoesser, Sandi Seltzer Bryant, Olga Porter, Manju Unnikrishnan, Salli Babbitt, Amy Cantu, Cary Reeder, Crystal Wreden, Marie Casamayor, Stacy Gresells, Rhonda Lancios, Katherine Erwin, Vicki Zahand, Teresa Staley, Michelle Huff, Juliana Villareal, Maxine Rothman, Eddie Hall, Alex Wilhite, Elizabeth Fitzpatrick, Terry Leavitt-Chavez, Edilia Bautista, Olga Tarasova.

Details about Hardy and Nance https://hardyandnancestudios.com

For more information on the HAA Emergency Relief Fund, conservation support and to donate, visit ready.haatx.com. Hardy and Nance https://hardyandnancestudios.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.

Photo by Kelley Devine

Half the art is still awaiting nstallation at Soot to Soul at Hardy and Nance Art Studios.

Photo by Glen Carpenter

After the fire in Winter Street Studios.

Local January home sales continued downward

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Following a year in which home sales saw a steep decline around local neighborhoods, the early trends saw that continue last month as the calendar flipped to 2023.

All but one of The Leader’s six zip codes saw a year-overyear-January sales dip, just as they had the previous January.

Only the Acres Homes/Greater Inwood area (77091) experienced a year-over-year rise from January 2022 to January 2023 according to the most recent data from the Houston Association of Realtors.

On the pricing front, many areas saw average home prices continue to rise as well as rising median home prices compared to January 2022, mirroring the Houston area as a whole according to the HAR report – though HAR Chair Cathy Treviño with Side, Inc. said it is not necessarily a trend to be alarmed about.

“January was a continuation of the slowdown that began last year with an onslaught of challenging economic conditions,” Treviño said. “I think what’s happening now reflects more of a return to seasonal home sales trending – slower volume during the holidays and new year – than a market in distress. Certainly consumers want assurances that inflation is subsiding, so if mortgage rates stabilize and homes continue hitting the market at more affordable price points, we could expect an upswing in sales later this year.”

77018

In the Garden Oaks/Oak Forest and Central Northwest area, realtors saw 32 homes come of the market last month, a sharp 34.7 percent downturn compared to January 2022

– though it was very much in line with the dip seen around the Houston region (down 29.9 percent year-over-year) as a whole.

On a pricing front, the average home price shot up 28.9 percent to $681,789. Median home price also spiked more than 16 percent, rising from $425,000 in January 2022 to $493,250 by the end of last month.

77091

Just to the north, the zip code encompassing much of Greater Inwood, Acres Homes, and Independence Heights was the only local area to experience a year-over-year January sales increase. There were 18 homes sold in this zip code last month, a 63.6 percent increase from the 11 houses sold here in January 2022.

Pricing-wise, the average price increase of 9 percent

(up to $335,721) compared to January 2022 was the smallest increase among local markets. Additionally, this market was one of only two local zip codes to see its January median home price dip year-over-year, dropping 7.7 percent down to $319,495 by month’s end.

77092

On the western edge of the Leader area, the zip code which includes part of Central Northwest as well as Langwood and Kempwood saw the largest year-over-year percentage drop among local neighborhoods. There were just seven homes to come off the market in this area last month, down 58.8 percent from the 17 homes sold in the zip code in January 2022.

The average buyer paid 10.2 percent more for a home in this area last month ($346,914), while the median price for the

area was down 10 percent –the biggest dip among local zip codes – compared to January 2022 at $288,000.

77008

Down in the Greater Heights, the 32 homes sold in this zip code matched the highest of any local zip code for January. However, the total still represented a 51.5 percent downturn from the 66 homes that came off the market during the same month last year.

Average price for a home in this area was up 19.5 percent year-over-year to $672,368, while the median home price experienced the local area’s largest year-over-year percentage jump (25.9 percent) up to $586,250 by the end of the month.

77009

On the eastern edge of the Heights, the area including Sunset Heights and the Wood-

land Heights along with Near Northside saw 20 homes come off the market through the end of the month – a 41.2 percent

downturn compared to the same month in 2022.

Accompanying the falling sales, however, was the largest January year-over-year average price spike (35.3 percent) among local zip codes, as it went up to $612,820. Median home price in this zip code was the second largest yearover-year January riser (18.8 percent) as it ended the month at $486,250.

77007

In the southernmost portion of The Leader’s coverage area, the zip code including Rice Military and Washington Avenue saw 24 sales last month – a stark 47.8 year-over-year decrease from the 46 homes sold in the area during the same month last year.

This was the only area to see the average buyer pay less compared to January 2022, with average price falling 10.7 percent down to $573,844. Median home price in this zip code ended the month up 9.9 percent ($522,180) compared to January 2022.

Photo from HAR website

Sales of homes like this one currently listed in the 77091 zip code continued to fall in the local area to begin 2023, continuing a trend that persisted throughout last year.

By Corey Turner For The Leader

Most people would say it’s always grilling season in Texas. But there is certainly an increase in outdoor gettogethers and other events, which means grills get more action in the spring and into the summer and fall.

Preparing for grill season largely depends on how much the grill has been used and how it is stored. This article will look at some of the common and not-socommon things to consider for an enjoyable spring and summer.

Cleaning the grill

Hopefully you did a thorough cleaning of your grill at the end of last season. If not, this will be one of the most important things you can do to prep. And remember the cleaning process, to motivate you to always clean the grill at the end of each season. The level of cleaning will also depend on rust or other debris environmental factors and how you store your grill. Since we’re in Texas, you should also proceed cautiously in case a snake, birds or other critters have decided to make your grill a home.

Here is the primary checklist for cleaning the grill. This may vary based on the type of grill. And if you kept the owner’s manual, it’s always a good idea to dust it off ahead of cleaning. Clean the outside of the grill – As convenient as it may be to focus on the inside of the grill, cleaning the outside will prolong the life of your grill. Using warm soapy water will do the trick.

Inspect and clean the grill manifold – If you have a gas

grill, this will keep the gas flowing properly when the grill is in use. Regardless of what kind of grill you have, it’s a good time to take it apart and do a thorough cleaning that may not happen during grilling season and heavy usage.

Clean cooking grates –Use a quality grill degreaser or stainless cleaner to do a deep clean of the cooking grates. Things build up quickly and starting the season with clean grates can save time and energy as the season goes on.

Clean your grill burners

and their housings – This is important if you have a gas grill. Use a strong toothpick or paper clip to clean the small holes that surround the burner.

Don’t forget the guts –While it is easy to focus on

and dry grill, the last step is a good seasoning. Whether it’s a brand-new

grill or an old one, the goal is to protect your cooking grate from rust and wearand-tear that can be avoided. It also creates a layer and setting that will infuse your food with better flavor. As a bonus, a seasoned grill will be much easier to clean throughout the grilling season.

You can use a variety of oils, but many grill experts agree that canola oil is a safe way to go.

Use a cooking brush or a paper towel to apply a light coating of the oil to the cooking grates and the inside of the grill. The goal is to have a thin coating of oil and wipe off any excess.

Light up grill high heat and let burn for about 30 minutes. Be sure not to have too much oil or you can cause a flare up.

Once the grill has burned and smoked, you have a nicely seasoned grill.

Now you are ready for the grilling season ahead. You have enhanced the flavor of your grilling, prolonged the life of your grill and taken measures to ensure your safety. It’s the best practice to clean the grill after each session going forward.

the cooking grates, this is a prime time to clean throughout the inside of the grill. Thoroughly clean the underside of the lid and the bottom of the firebox.

Season the grill

When you have a clean

Home repair starting to outpace desire for new homes

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

It’s no secret about supply chain issues and higher costs that have hit hard since the COVID-19 pandemic, though there are signs that some are coming back to prepandemic levels. And since that has been the case, many who are operating on tighter budgets have been thinking about remodeling or simply improving their homes as opposed to buying a new home according to experts.

One of the rising costs has been new homes, with both average and median home prices for all six Leader zip codes increasing from 2021 to 2022 according to the Houston Association of Realtors. That was also the trend across Houston according to HAR, with region-wide average home price going up 10 percent and median price jumping 12.8 percent from 2021 to 2022.

So, research has shown that many homeowners have been planning to focus on home repair projects around the house as opposed to a completely new home. Houzz conducted a survey of nearly 4,000 homeowners in October 2022, and data found that nearly a quarter of those homeowners planned to start a home improvement project sometime in 2023. Further, according to Houzz, more than half of those homeowners surveyed said there are no plans to move from their current spot in the near future. A report from the U.S. News and World Report said that more than 75 percent of 2,000 home-

owners surveyed cited inflation as a reason for putting off repairs or improvements. However, there are still ways to improve your home and make it last – even for those on a budget. And as of Spring 2022, a report from Forbes said that the American Institute of Architects reported that most billing for architecture firms had come for renovation work as opposed to plans for new homes.

What can be done?

So what’s the solution to navigating rising costs and being able to repair a home on a budget? Experts say there are some nice and simple repairs to existing things in your home can be just the trick. It can be something as simple as remodeling a bathroom, or maybe fixing that water heater that has been giving you so much trouble. Experts have also said that simply performing routine main-

tenance and repairs on smaller things around the home is much more cost-efficient than simply taking out the old thing and replacing it with a new one. First Service Credit Union says that performing routine repairs and maintenance can save homeowners tens of thousands of dollars on future repairs. One common practice that comes up is the 50 percent rule. It has been cited many times. Sim-

ply put, when deciding whether to replace an item or buy a new one to upgrade your home, examine what the cost will be for repairs versus buying a new item. The rule is simply that if the cost of repairs are more than 50 percent of the cost of buying a new one, than buying new is better than repairing.

But in many cases, repairs can be the best way for those on a tight budget to spruce up and repair their home for a fraction of what it would take to either buy a new home or do a full-scale remodel according to experts. And many of those repairs, they say, can be done by the homeowner themselves or a contractor, and the materials needed can be picked up at a local home improvement store – thus avoiding delays caused by any supply chain issues that might still be happening.

Home builder Dunn and Stone says that for those who still want to splurge a bit, it’s possible to do so while staying on a budget. They suggest putting a little more into repairing spaces that are used most often in the home – that can be a place like the living room, or perhaps a home office, or whatever suits the homeowner’s needs, while sparing costs on less-used spaces.

Landscaping services demand flourishes post-COVID

By Ken Fountain For The Leader

The advent of the COVID pandemic, especially in its earliest phases, hit businesses hard across the board. For months, the economies of the U.S. and across the globe were shut down, as people were forced to keep their distance from each other.

With many people suddenly having to work from home, a new reality began to set in. The paradigm of people going to an office or other workplace every day for

several offices began to shift, as workers and employers got used to the idea that much of that work could be done remotely.

And as people found that their homes were not only their castle, as it were, but the place they would be spending most of their waking hours, many decided that they wanted to spruce their homes up more. Thus, demand for services such as landscaping was not as dampened as for other goods and services.

“The market size of landscaping services totaled almost 130 billion U.S. dollars in 2022, with

the top three landscaping services companies in the United States all generating an annual revenue of well over one billion U.S. dollars in 2021,” reports Statistica.

Last year, the market research firm IBIS World reported that the market size of the landscaping services industry is expected to increase 3.1 percent in 2023.

In the past few years, the market size of the industry n the U.S. increased faster than the economy overall, the firm reports.

Also according to IBS World, the biggest consumers in the landscaping service industry are

households earning more than $100,000 per year.

For Jason Houston, owner of Missouri City-based Fort Bend Construction and Grounds, the reasons for the growth are pretty simple. “People want to come home and feel good. They want to see a beautiful home,” he said.

Houston said that since the pandemic began, he and his colleagues have not been hurting for work. In fact, demand seems to be only increasing, even in a time of inflation.

Houston’s firm does both residential and commercial work,

and he said both sides have maintained steady demand. Businesses like retail stores and restaurants want to keep their properties in good shame to attract customers, and homeowners seem more inclined than ever to keep their lawns nice.

It’s not just a matter of “keeping with the Joneses.” Houston said with people spending so much more time at home than before, keeping their homes an attractive place to be is a top priority.

Stock photo

More and more homeowners are moving toward repairs on their existing homes as opposed to buying a new home.

Nibbles and Sips: South Philly hoagie spot opening on Washington

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Ever in the mood for a cheesesteak from Philadelphia? If they are but can’t make the trip to the City of Brotherly Love, residents of Washington Avenue, the Heights, and other surrounding neighborhoods have a new spot to go to for a taste of South Philly.

On Thursday, PrimoHoagies was set to open its doors to the community at 4015 Washington Ave. at 10 a.m. according to a news release from the restaurant. This will be the Philadelphia-based restaurant’s first Texas and Houston-area restaurant.

“Our expansion into Texas is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team, and we are proud to be opening our second location in the state”, said Nicholas Papanier Jr., the owner, president, and CEO of PrimoHoagies. “We look forward to bringing our authentic Philadelphiastyle hoagies to even more people in the Lone Star State.”

According to the restaurant, the 1,800-squarefoot store will provide dine-in, takeout, and delivery options as well as catering. Its menu will feature variety of cold and hot hoagies, cheesesteaks, wraps, vegetarian options, antipasti salads, chips, drinks, fresh-baked cookies, and more.

PrimeHoagies will be open from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. daily. For more information, visit the restaurant’s

website at primohoagies. com/. Heights-area seafood restaurant to close March 4

Heights-area seafood lovers will soon have one less spot to find their favorite dish.

On Tuesday, Sambrooks Management announced that 1751 Sea and Bar at 191 Heights Blvd., which opened in 2019, will be serving its last meal (for now) on March 4. The management cited an expiring lease, among other reasons, as a driving force for the closure, but said that all current 1751 employees will be offered jobs at the management

group’s other Houston restaurants.

There is hope, the management group said, to revive it at a future date.

“We certainly hope we can bring this concept back to life at a later date, but for now we would like to thank our customers who enjoyed 1751’s progressive small plate dining experience for a great run,” the group said in a statement Tuesday morning.

New fusion spot now open in Heights

A new Asian American restaurant is now open in the Heights.

On Feb. 7, JUN opened in the Heights at 420 E.

20th St. The brainchild of Houston chef Evelyn Garcia and New York chef Henry Lu, the spot boasts a menu that includes gulf shrimp with aguachile, avocado, taro, and shrimp oil as well as salmon with oolong tea, turnips, leeks, pioppini, and gremolata.

JUN is currently open for dinner only, from 5-10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5-11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. For

JUN’s

Photo from Facebook PrimoHoagies was set to open its doors in the Washington Avenue area on Thursday, bringing a taste of south Philly to the Houston area.

Photo from Instagram Chefs Henry Lu, left, and Evelyn Garcia have opened up JUN in the Heights at 420 E. 20th St.