The 04-08-23 Edition of The Heights Leader

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

With Houston having endured a number of significant weather and flooding events in recent years, city of Houston officials recently broke ground on a project that is aimed at mitigating the effects of future major weather events.

On March 29, officials broke ground on the Greater Inwood Basin Detention Project, which it claims will

protect more than 4,000 homes and business buildings in the Greater Inwood area when the project is finished

The project is the first of four Hazard Mitigation Grant Projects approved by FEMA following Hurricane Harvey in 2017. It is a joint project with FEMA, the Harris County Flood Control District, and the city of Houston. Other projects are in the North Canal Diversion Channel, Lake Houston Dam

Gate Structure and TIRZ 17 Regional Detention.

According to Mayor Sylvester Turner, the city has experienced seven “federally-declared disasters” over the last seven years, including Hurricane Harvey in 2017. The flood mitigation project plans to construct a series of 12 interconnected basins at the 226-acre site of a former golf course on Antoine Drive north of West Little York Road, which is

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Police are looking for information on the whereabouts of a man they want to question in relation to a local fatal shooting last week, according to the Houston Police Department.

The man has not been charged in the shooting, according to the department, though HPD says the department believes the man “has direct knowledge of the circumstances of this case.”

The identity of the victim is pending an autopsy from the county’s medical examiner, according to the department. Officers responded to a shooting call at a strip center parking lot in the 7500 block of Long Point Road around 6:45 p.m. on March 28 to find the victim unresponsive and lying on the ground and having been shot, according to HPD. The man was taken to a local hospital, police said, where he was later pronounced dead.

The person of interest is a Hispanic man, according to police, who was seen on surveillance video wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt According to police, a preliminary investigation indicates that an unknown suspect was allegedly involved in an armed robbery at the shopping complex, and that the victim may have been trying to stop the alleged robber from running away.

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

The Waltrip High School Roaring Ram Band is renowned locally, having played many concerts, events, and ceremonies throughout the area.

Now, they have a day dedicated just to them. During a Houston City Council meeting on March 28, the city of Houston and Mayor Sylvester Turner proclaimed the date as Waltrip Ram Band Day on the heels of winning the SAFE Diversity Battle of the Bands contest.

“The band is beloved and renowned, not just in District C, but throughout the city,” said District C councilmember Abbie Kamin, whose district includes Waltrip.

“From playing district concerts where my two-year-old has rocked

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

If community members are looking to occupy their children for a few hours, a few upcoming neighborhood Easter egg hunts and Easter community events might be just the ticket.

As the holiday comes up this weekend, there are several events happening in the local area that

out to them, to Super Bowl events, and playing so many events throughout Houston – we are so excited to honor them.” Last week’s honor is another in a long line of accolades and opportunities for the Roaring Ram Band. It has twice performed in Washington D.C. – first at former President Barack Obama’s second inauguration in 2012 – as well as at Super Bowl and Final Four events held

aim to give children, families, and community members a chance to have some fun in the sun.

Village Heights Church

Village Heights Church will host its annual Easter egg hunt at Marmion Park, 1802 Heights Blvd., on Saturday, with five different age-specific hunts from 10 a.m.-noon. Those age 0-2 years will start at 10:10 a.m., those ages

in Houston. The Waltrip band has performed Christmastime concerts at the Heights Theater, and just last year played at the Jazz Education Network’s annual conference in Dallas.

The Waltrip band has qualified for the UIL area marching band competition every year since 1997, meaning it has advanced past the regional round every year during that span. That is the longest such streak in HISD

And having a day dedicated to them, simply for the kids doing what they love, is even more special to the ones who lead them – not to mention the encouragement they said it provides for the students in their charge to continue pursuing musical opportunities.

2-4 will begin at 10:35 a.m., and children ages 5-6 will start theirs at 11 a.m. For the older children, kids ages 7-9 will start at 11:25, and those ages 10-12 will begin at 10:50 a.m.

The event is open to the general public. For more information, visit, EasterInTheHeights.com

Houston Farmers Market

On Saturday, the Houston

Police are asking anyone with information about the shooting or the whereabouts of the person of interest to reach out and call HPD’s Homicide division at 713-308-3600 or speak anonymously to Houston Crime Stoppers by calling them at 713-222-8477.

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Coming off three closes to rival St. Thomas last week, the St. Pius X Panthers’ baseball team was looking to bounce back. And they did so with a convincing sweep of their own over the weekend.

St. Pius X responded in a big way last weekend, sweeping three games from Antonian Prep to snap their three-game losing streak. The Panthers (13-8, 3-3 district) took down the Apaches 12-1 on March 31 before sweeping a doubleheader by scores of 18-7 and 9-0 on April 1.

Michael Peavy starred on the mound for SPX last week, hurling a complete game in the 12-1 victory over the Apaches on March 31, striking out eight hitters in a complete game effort to help snap the Panthers’ losing streak.

The Panthers will look to extend their winning streak when they take on Clear Falls on Thursday in a non-district contest before returning to TAPPS district play with a scheduled game against Kinkaid next Monday, April 10.

Elsewhere in the private school ranks, St. Thomas was slated to return to ac-

tion Monday night with a game against Kinkaid. The Eagles (14-7, 3-0) have won three in a row and six of their last seven games entering play Monday.

Lutheran North Academy (1-6, 1-6) was set to get back to action with a Wednesday night game against Alpha Omega Academy.

On the public school side, the Heights Bulldogs won a pair of non-district contests last week, beating Tomball Kings 5-2 on March 28 before defeating Houston Austin 5-1 on March 30 to move to 15-6 overall. Paul Smith had two hits and Rhys Palmer drove home two runs in the win over Kings, while RJ Robinson had two doubles and three RBIs in the win over Austin. Hunter Schwartz three four shutout innings on the mound to earn the win over Austin.

Waltrip bounced back from its first loss of the season with a pair of 14-0 wins over Sterling on March 28 and April 1 to improve to

17-1 overall and 9-1 in District 19-5A competition.

Scarborough moved to 5-3 overall and in district play with a split against Wheatley last week, losing 8-3 on March 29 before bouncing back with a 10-3 victory on April 1.

Booker T. Washington also won its only game last week, defeating Furr 8-1 on March 29 to improve to 8-1 overall on the season.

Softball

In private school action, St. Pius X rebounded from a

3-2 loss to Bellaire Episcopal on March 28 by defeating Incarnate Word 6-5 on March 31 and taking down Antonian Prep 7-5 on April 1 to improve to 19-10 overall and 3-0 in TAPPS district play. Madeline Trejo struck out five batters in a complete-game effort in the circle against Incarnate Word, while Margo Kieschnick hit a walk-off two run homer to take down Antonian Prep.

Lutheran North Academy dropped to 0-5 on the season with a loss to Covenant

Christian on March 31.

On the public school side, the Heights Lady Bulldogs continued to dominate their competition with a pair of shutouts last week, taking down Chavez 10-0 on March 27 before beating Lamar 8-0 on March 30 to improve to 20-2-1 overall and 7-0 in district play. Kennedy Hill, Sydney Palomo, and Abigail Chapa had two RBIs to back Hayley Jaime’s complete-game effort (9 K’s) against Chavez, while Helen Maddux and

Laila Robins each homered to back another gem from Jaime (CG, 9 K’s) in the victory over Lamar.

Waltrip’s Lady Rams beat Northside 9-4 on March 30, winning their fourth straight game to improve to 12-3 overall and 9-1 in District 19-5A competition.

Booker T. Washington split a pair of games last week, beating Kashmere 19-11 on March 28 before falling 22-10 against Wheatley on April 1 to move to 6-3 overall on the season.

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

It was a banner year on the basketball court for a number of the area’s high school basketball teams, and several local players were recently recognized with statewide honors for their contributions to their teams’ respective seasons.

The local area saw four boys’ basketball players named to their respective All-State teams by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches, with Booker T. Washington and St. Thomas each landing a pair of players on the teams.

Booker T. Washington saw senior forward Kenneth Lewis and junior forward/center Chris McDermott land on the TABC’s Class 4A all-state team after leading the Eagles to a 29-4 overall record and the program’s first appearance in a UIL state tournament, where they fell in the state final against defending state champion Oak Cliff Faith Academy.

Lewis, who is committed to Prairie View A&M, earned his second consecutive All-State honor following a season in which he averaged a team and district-leading 19.2 points for the Eagles

along with 4.2 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game.

McDermott, meanwhile, made his first appearance on an All-State team after

averaging 19 points and 11.9 rebounds per game this season along with 2.6 steals and 2.9 blocks per game in 34 contests. The 6-foot-7 McDermott currently holds Division I scholarship offers from Georgetown, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, New Mexico State, Southern, and UTRio Grande Valley.

In the private school ranks, St. Thomas had junior guard J’Mar Franklin and senior forward Jake Pike garner All-State honors after the pair led the Eagles to a berth in the TAPPS Division I state semifinals, where they lost to Plano John Paul II.

Pike earned a second straight All-State honor after averaging 10.9 points per game and tying for the team lead with 6.2 rebounds per contest along with 1.7 blocks per game. The 6-foot-7 forward has committed to play collegiately at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania, choosing to play for the Mountain Hawks over offers from Dartmouth, Cal Poly, and Incarnate Word.

Franklin, meanwhile, earned the honor following a season in which he scored a team-high 12.7 points per game to go along with with 4.3 assists and 3.3 rebounds.

Photo by Landan Kuhlmann

McDermott scored 19 points and grabbed 11.9 rebounds per game for Booker

Washington to earn All-State honors.

Photo by Wayne Donnelly

Thomas’

Franklin averaged

Photo by Wayne Donnelly

Photo by Matthew

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Easter Saturday Family Event

Gethsemane Lutheran

4040 Watonga Blvd.

Come Bloom With Us

Saturday April 8 10:30 to 12:30

Bring your kids to our Easter egg hunt

Decorate the Cross with flowers

Share refreshments on the lawn

Meet your neighbors in the community

He is Risen!

He is Risen Indeed! Hallelujah!

Holy Week & Easter schedule:

Maundy Thursday Worship April 6 @ 4:30 p.m.

Good Friday Worship April 7 @ 4:30 p.m.

Easter Saturday Community April 8 @ 10:30 a.m.

Event & Egg Hunt

Easter Sunday Worship April 9 @ 9 a.m.

Gethsemane Lutheran Church

4040 Watonga • 713-688-5227

We invite you to worship with us!

Weekly Worship Services 9:00 a.m.

Sunday School & Bible Classes 10:30 am

Preschool Program • Mon. - Fri. 9-2 p.m. www.gethsemanelutheran.org

In the 1930’s and 40’s, Moscow, Texas was like many small East Texas farming communities that had all the necessities for life: a school, a Baptist church, a general store and a funeral parlor. The funeral parlor was located in a large, two story white house with a circular front porch, white picket fence, and sat atop one of Moscow’s rust colored hills that also served as the home of Pat’s great uncle and aunt, Kirby and Clara Walker. This was the home and town where Patricia Jean Walker grew up.

The circumstances that took her to Moscow to live as a baby and subsequently adopted by the Walker family aren’t as important as the love and a life she was given by the Walkers that her mother, Dede, could ill afford as a young, poor, single Mom. Pat would often say that she was not only adopted by the Walkers, but was also adopted by the town of Moscow because anywhere “Miss Pat” went, she felt the protective eyes of her community. No doubt her childhood experiences are what led to her empathy for others growing up with much less than she had.

After graduating from Corrigan High, Pat attended Stephen F Austin college, but the big city and neon lights of Houston called her to a life of adventure. Her first job was at the Heights Library. For sure, anyone who knew Pat would say that she was not cut out to be a librarian. At the first opportunity, she left the books behind and took an entry level job at Southwestern Bell, working her way up to a management position where she retired and subsequently became a real estate agent serving the Garden Oaks and Oak Forest neighborhoods.

Real estate was a perfect fit for Pat. Her generous spirit and love of helping others navigate the sometimes emotional and often complicated world of selling or buying their most important asset. Also, she thrived on the socializing aspects her job offered. She enjoyed helping new agents get a start in the business. If there was a fund raiser or community event, she was always there as a volunteer, raising money and often a soft touch for those in need.

Pat and sister, Nancy Rust, were joined at the hip throughout life and known in the community simply as “The Sisters”. They lived together, worked and took care of each other for many years. Their home was always welcoming where friends would sometimes drop by just to hang out. If you were ever fortunate enough to be invited to a Thanksgiving dinner in their home, normally a daylong event with mountains of food, laughter, camaraderie, and love, you would be retelling the day for years to come.

Pat suffered with COPD for many years and died peacefully at home under the care of her beloved sister. She is survived by her sister, Nancy Rust of Houston; brother, Ray Mathis of Seattle; nephew, Adam Mathis of San Francisco .

A “Celebration of Life” service will be held in the early summer. In lieu of flowers, anyone wishing to honor Pat’s memory can make a donation to her church, “St. Peter United Church, Pat Walker Memorial Fund”. Donations can be made on line at stpeterunited.com.

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We are a church for the Heights.

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Hymns and Hers.

Hymns and Hers.

Bible Study @10am | Worship @11am 230 W. 20th St. 77008

Everyone is welcome at Heights Church. We are an exciting blend of old and new, we warmly invite you to visit.

Everyone is welcome at Heights Church. We are an exciting blend of old and new, and we warmly invite you to visit.

Heights Church @heightschurchhouston Heights Church, Houston, Texas HeightsChurchHouston.org

Bible Study @10am | Worship @11am 230 W. 20th St. 77008 Heights Church @heightschurchhouston Heights Church, Houston, Texas HeightsChurchHouston.org

COFFEE 930AM | BIBLE STUDY 1OAM | WORSHIP 11AM | 230 W. 20TH ST. 77008 Heights Church @heightschurchhouston Heights Church, Houston, Texas HeightsChurchHouston.org

COFFEE 930AM | BIBLE STUDY 1OAM | WORSHIP 11AM | 230 W. 20TH ST. 77008 Heights Church @heightschurchhouston Heights Church, Houston, Texas HeightsChurchHouston.org

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MITIGATION, from P. 1

expected to reduce structural flooding risks in Inwood Forest as well as downstream neighborhoods such as Oak Forest, Garden Oaks and the Heights.

““Houston can no longer afford to wait,” Turner said last week. “…and as we are all aware, storms are coming with more frequency and more intensity.”

The city said purchased the Inwood Forest golf course for the purpose of converting the facility into regional detention back in 2011. Houston Public Works subsequently converted one golf hole into a detention basin prior to Harris County Flood Control District assuming the lead to design and construct detention throughout the remaining course.

Final design was near completion, the city said, when Hurricane Harvey hit the city. According to the city the project will be able to protect more than 4,400 homes, businesses, and other

WALTRIP, from P. 1

“I’m very blessed that my predecessors, Mr. Stevens and Jesse Espinosa, put me in the right place with these amazing students. We are thankful for every performance opportunity that Houston has given us, and we’re willing to take our band wherever you ask us to go,” director Brenda Corral-Smith said.

“And that performance for the kids, this is why they go to school. We need to continue to provide those op-

EASTER, from P. 1

structures in the White Oak Bayou and Vogel Creek watersheds once construction is completed.

The city and county will collaborate on the project, which will be able to hold about 1,200 acre-feet of water – roughly 592 Olympic swimming pools and enough to fill the entire Astrodome with water. One acre-foot is equal to about 43,560 cubic feet (325,850 gallons), according to the Flood Control District.

“I am so excited that this project is moving forward and that we were able to celebrate the groundbreaking,” said District A councilmember Amy Peck, whose District A includes Greater Inwood.

“Our community has been plagued by constant flooding issues, and this project will help mitigate flooding in the future.”

The Houston Parks Board also is developing an amenities package to enhance the project with funding from private donations, according

portunities and entertainment. Some of my kids are going to study music, and that happens because we expose them to the great opportunities Houston has provided for our band.”

It was also a special moment for new Waltrip principal Rhonda Honore, who arrived at the school this year after four years at Frank Black Middle School.

“The Waltrip community is very special to me. I wanted to continue the im-

Famers Market is partnering with Gingerbread Lane for a community Easter Celebration on The Lawn at the farmers market, 2526 Airline Dr. in the Northside area for a “Build Your Own Bunny House” event. It will be available in three 90-minute time slots at 10:30 a.m., noon, and 1:30 p.m. As part of the event, those participating will create their own personal sugar cookie house led by Gingerbread Lane creator Jon Lovitch, according to the event page.

Each participant will have their own kit that includes items such as sugar cookie dough pieces to build the house along with candies, pastel icing, and a take-home recipe for dough and icing to make themselves.

Kits for the event are $28 per person. For more information on the event or to register and reserve a spot, go to thehoustonfarmersmarket.com/event/easter-celebration/.

Railway Market

Houston’s Railway Market will be hosting an Easter Egg Hunt for kids up through 12 years old beginning at 11 a.m., with three different hour-long hunts for different age groups. Kids up to four years old will begin their hunt at 11 a.m., according to the event page, while those ages 5-8 will hunt beginning at noon, and children ages 9-12 will start the final session at 1 p.m.

There will also be sack races as well as games, pop up vendors, face painting, and photo opportunities with the Easter Bunny at the event, as well as a raffle. Tickets for the event are $10 apiece, and can be purchased online at eventbrite.com/e/railway-market-easter-egghunt-tickets-577617307917.

Houston Toy Museum

Also among the Easter opportunities is at Houston Toy Museum at 321 W. 19th St., Suite C. On Saturday between noon-2 p.m., the museum will host the Easter Bunny and Mother Goose for photo opportunities. During that time slot, museum admission will include a chance to take photos and visit with them

to the city. The first phase of the recreation plan includes a 1-mile greenway along Vogel Creek with a 10-foot-wide shared use path, tree plantings and a pedestrian crossing at Victory Drive, in addition to three parklets along the Vogel Creek Greenway with plantings and a dedicated picnic area, among other amenities.

According to data from the Department of Public Safety, nearly 300,000 homes in Houston were damaged, flooded, or destroyed as a result of Hurricane Harvey. And even though nothing can be fully stopped when it comes to major weather events, officials believe that projects such as the Inwood Basin Detention Project will be crucial to at least mitigating their effects in the area in the future should anything occur.

“It will help protect thousands of homes and businesses,” Peck said. “This is going to be a game changer for the entire Inwood area.”

pact I had on that community, and I wanted to serve these kids,” she said during This (moment) is one of the reasons why we do what we do. Our kids shine. And it’s organizations like

this that allow our students to shine. Kamin also said that with all of the attention paid recently to HISD and the upheaval amidst the impending takeover of the

district by the Texas Education Agency later this year, last week’s proclamation was another chance to show the state and region the strength and resiliency of HISD.

“This right here, this is HISD,” Kamin said as she gestured to members of the band at the back of the room. “And we are so proud of them.”

Photo from Harris County Flood Control website

Pictured are where the 12 detention basins will be constructed during the Greater Inwood Basin Detention project. The roughly $80 million project is aimed at mitigating flooding in the area during disaster events and major weather events.

THE PUBLIC.

Annual Turner Park Family Fun Day postponed

The city announced Tuesday that the 15th annual Family Fun Day at Sylvester Turner Park in Acres Homes has been postponed to next month. It was originally scheduled to take place from 2-6 p.m. this coming Saturday at the park, 2800 W. Little York Rd. “Mayor Turner apologizes for the inconvenience this may cause and appreciates your support of this family-friendly event,” the city said in a news release.

A new date has yet to be announced for the event, which is free and open to the public. It will feature live entertainment from groups such as J. Paul Jr. and the Zydeco Nubreeds, and there will also be other live entertainment as

Photo by Landan Kuhlmann The Family Fun Day at Sylvester Turner Park, pictured, has been postponed from Saturday to next month.

well as family activities, food and drink, and baseball games. Free parking and shuttle service will be available from Carver High School (2100 S. Victory Dr.) as well as Lone Star College’s North Houston

Victory campus at 4141 Victory Dr. Parking (but no shuttle service) will also be available at Living Word Fellowship Church, 7350 T.C. Jester Blvd., on the day of the event.

THE TOPICS.

Electrical malfunction causes small Heights apartment fire

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernew.com

Houston fire investigators say an electrical issue caused a fire to start underneath an air conditioning unit at an apartment complex in the Heights last week, according to the Houston Fire Department.

There was nobody reported hurt as a result of the fire, according to the fire department.

Crews from stations 6, 11, 15, 31, and 62 responded to a report of a fire at an apartment complex in the 600 block of Heights Boulevard at 6:20 a.m. last Friday March 31, according to the department, to find smoke coming from the roof of the twostory apartment building.

After making entry into the complex, the department said crews discovered a fire directly beneath one of the complex’s air conditioning units, and were able to contain the fire to the roof and attic space directly below the air

Strike up the ban

THE CELLBLOCK – First Con: “I’m in here for murder, torture and kidnapping. What about you?’

Second Con: “Storming the Capitol, beating up a guard and trying to burn the House Cham ber. But I’ll be out in a month. The judge agreed I was a sightseeing tourist. And you?”

Third Con: “Allowing a teen ager to check out ‘Lonesome Dove.’”

Thus Texas has sunk to this: a movement by the Texas gov ernment to charge, arrest and jail our librarians for allowing youthful readers to check out books that someone deemed “obscene.”

Just what is obscene?

“I know it when I see it,” was a phrase used in 1964 by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart to describe his threshold test for obscenity in Jacobellis v. Ohio, and the observation caught on. Today what is obscene has become the buzz word in – where else? – the Texas Legislature and with our beloved governor, Greg Abbott. This session of the legislature is flooded with discussions, debates and hearings about what books should be allowed in our public and school libraries. Legislators have filed at least a dozen bills that would change state law to make it easier to prosecute librarians for obscenity if they allow anyone to check out obscene books, or even have them on library shelves.

This latest kerfuffle began even before the Lege convened. In October 2021 Fort Worth Republican Rep. Matt Krause, chairman of the Committee on General Investigating, sent a letter to all school districts asking about their book collections — in particular volumes “that address or contain” sexual themes. Rep. Krause ordered librarians to go throughout their entire stock to see if their shelves contained any books he listed on 16 pages with 849 titles. These books included “At the Edge of the Universe,” which sounds like something from the Flat Earth Society. “‘Gravity.” Very suspicious. Here’s another one. “Life in Outer Space” and “Polar Bears Explorers’ Club.”

Gov. Abbott smelled blood – or a nice sop to his base -and got into the act. On Nov. 8, 2021, Gov. Abbott directed the Texas Education Agency, the Texas State Library and Archives Commission and the State Board of Education to develop statewide standards to prevent children from being exposed to “pornography or other inappropriate content.” Two days later, the governor ordered the education agency to investigate illegal pornography in schools. The agency quickly responded and opened 20 investigations into school districts suspected of violating laws that prohibit the distribution of obscene content to minors.

One of the more hilarious events in the Lege’s debate in-

should be no sexually explicit books” in a high school library.

When asked if that included Larry McMurtry’s Pulitzer Prize- winning novel “Lonesome Dove,” one of Texans’ favorite stories about two retired Texas Rangers on a cattle drive, Patterson replied if it contained ribald passages then, “they might need to ban ‘Lonesome Dove.’” But he admitted he had never read it.

Back at the Shush Factory, no librarian has actually gone to jail for purveying the wrong books to innocent children – yet. But they are nervous, confused – and scared. Local police and deputies have been called out to public libraries to scan books for illegal content in at least five instances.

Police detectives visited the public library in Kerrville three times. Other libraries all over Texas have reported visits by police. The list of investigations is long and ugly, while the librarians try to decide how to obey Gov. Abbott’s new edits, only to be further confused by whatever our under-worked legislators will come up with.

We must suspect school kids are waiting in line to check out “The Wit and Wisdom of Hugh Hefner” while Miss Dewey Decimal, the school librarian, is still going through Rep. Matt Krause’s forbidden 849 titles. And, of course, there are the donnybrooks at school board meetings with fist fights and death threats over what books should and should not be on the schools’ library shelves. Recently the Spring Branch ISD board of trustees made it easier, or not, for the district’s bookies: the board members voted to take on the literary critic’s job themselves and decide which books stay and which go to the dumpster.

Texas leads the nation with more than 2,000 content reviews of challenged school library books. (The state prison system prohibits more than 9,000 titles, which makes sense.

U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We’re second in the country for repeat teen births, and sexually transmitted infections are also on the rise. And what about charter schools? They are touted as working without state over-regulations. Free from bureaucracy! If the whole point of charter schools is to operate with no state oversight, who knows what books are on their shelves? Aside from books, what about their coaches? Can they cherry-pick a town’s athletes? There goes “Friday Night Lights.”

Perhaps the Lege should ban any books that contain a copy of the Texas Declaration of Independence. It lists the many grievances and reasons those early Texians wanted to leave Mexico. “It incited the merciless savage, with the tomahawk and scalping knife, to massacre the inhabitants of our defenseless frontiers.” That sort of

thing. And they were also willing to fight and die because: “It has failed to establish any public system of education…” Justice Potter Stewart, do you know demagoguery when you see it?

Ashby bans at ashby2@comcast.net

conditioning unit.

The department said arson investigators later determined that it was caused by a short circuit in the unit’s wiring, and determined the cause to be accidental and categorized is as “mechanical failure, malfunction, other.”

Arson investigators determined that the fire caused roughly $20,000 worth of damage to the complex when all was said and done, according to the department, though they estimated that crews saved more than $1 million in potential property damage.

Thank you for reading

“Birdman of Alcatraz” may be OK but not “How to Dig a Tunnel” or “Your Guide to Helicopter Rope Ladders.”) There are other questions here. No one seems to have mentioned books used in

classes.

WORD SCRAMBLE point N of due E 48. Excels 53. Berkus and Silver 56. Famous for fables 57. Philippine capital 58. Meg Ryan’s exhusband 62. Doleful 63. Arugula genus 64. Nursery verse 65. The 7th Greek letter 66. Container for shipping 67. Charge for services 68. Immature onion plant dOwn 1. Swedish statesman Olaf 2. Baltic flat-bottomed boat (alt. sp.) 3. Fingernail treatment 4. Breezed through 5. Check 6. Stray 7. Ancient computing devices 8. Something cheerleaders wave 9. The woman 10. Ambulance rescue initials 12. In a drowsy manner 13. A set of type of one style 14. Not completely closed

the leader Puzzlers. 17. No (Scottish) 19. Microelectromechanical system 22. Having the wind against the forward side 23. Reestablish 24. Khloe K’s former husband 25.Verse forms 29. Places to sit 30. Chilean pianist Claudio 32. Rounds of poker 33. Spanish be 34. Sing and play for somebody 38. Chemical symbol for gold 39. Praying insects 43. Israeli politician Abba 45. 7th planet from the sun 49. Br. plural of a penny 50. Largest continent 51. Distress signal 52. Senate and People of Rome 54. Fill with high spirits 55. Egyptian statesman Anwar 57. Non-verbal entertainer 58. 12th calendar month (abbr.) 59. A major division of geological time 60. Ultrahigh frequency 61. Yes vote

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By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Art Valet: Woodcrafter bends technology to his will

Mitch cohen Art Columnist

Chatbots and AI have been all over the news recently. In the art community AI generated art has been around a little longer and has even begun surfacing along with fake news. The AI’s haven’t figured out that we humans only have 5 fingers per hand though, giving away their origin.

Artists have long argued both sides of using technology in the art world. Digital art for example had a long uphill battle before being accepted by most art venues and juried festivals.

The arguments I hear most often are about originality. Because affordable technology exists today where anyone can decide to create almost anything in the art world, skepticism is the rule first.

When Casey Campbell reached out to me about bringing his colorful wooden flowers and other woodcraft items to The Market at Sawyer Yards, I explained all this to him. Campbell was using a mix of technologies he told me with one exception, he designed everything. I was hesitant, I know the artist’s arguments.

Campbell was not deterred, he visited with me at the very next market and showed me samples.

Campbell explained his background as an engineer, showed me photos of his hand drawn designs, and images of his computer where he fine tuned his designs and created his own templates. Campbell has a background in woodworking too, primarily sculpture but a little chainsaw art

too.

The man has leveled it up!

He’s designing and creating wood floral bouquets and jewelry, both inspired by nature.

“The floral arrangements are constructed from wood ply that has been laser cut, hand shaped, and then painted with watercolor,” Campbell wrote in an email. “I engineer and developed all the designs to resemble the actual specimen as closely as possible.”

Campbell said he may have mixed media sculptures in metal or stone and that he often finds inspiration in found objects and available materials. His latest conquests are orchids, something I would be interested in considering the demise of my first and last one.

Campbell joins several dozen other artisans and food vendors at The Market at Sawyer Yards, this Saturday April 8, 11 a.m . - 5 p.m. at Sawyer Yards. Free parking is available at 2101 Winter St. Details on the website https://sawyerstreetmarket.com and be sure to follow Campbell on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ ccmm_creations

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.

Nibbles and Sips: Urban South HTX celebrating three years at Sawyer Yards

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

This Saturday, Urban South HTX brewery is celebrating three years in business at Sawyer Yards, 1201 Oliver St. Originally based in New Orleans, the brewery first opened its doors at Sawyer Yards in February of 2020 and is commemorating its third anniversary with a full day celebration at the brewery’s Houston taproom this Saturday from 1-6 p.m. Activities throughout the day will include face painting, balloon artists, a bouncy house, and a dunk tank fullyequipped with Urban South - HTX’s Head Brewer, ready for dunking! Additionally, guests can shop local HTX market vendors and enjoy snow cones, popcorn, and food from GastroCraft.

Local restaurant named James Beard finalist

A restaurant in the local area has been recognized as a finalist for a prestigious national food and drink award.

On March 29, Tatemó at 4740 Dacoma St. – just down the road from Delmar Stadium – was announced as a finalist for Best New Restaurant in the 2023 James Beard Awards. The winner will be presented at the James Beard Foundation Awards on June 5.

“The James Beard Awards, considered to be among the nation’s most prestigious honors, recognize excep -

tional talent in the culinary and food media industries, as well as a demonstrated commitment to racial and gender equity, community, sustainability, and a culture where all can thrive,” the organization said in a news release.

According to the release, the Best New Restaurant category involved restaurants that opened between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30, 2022, that “already demonstrates excellence in cuisine, atmosphere, hospitality, and operations, while contributing positively

to its broader community, and seems likely to make a significant impact in years to come.”

“The James Beard Awards celebrate outstanding achievement and exceptional culinary talent, as well as all those doing incredible work on behalf of our communities and wider food system. This year’s nominees, winners, and honorees are inspiring exemplars of that,” said Clare Reichenbach, CEO of the James Beard Foundation.

For more information on the James Beard Foundation and the awards, visit their website at jamesbeard.org/ awards

Padre’s Wine opening soon in Heights

A new wine spot is likely opening in the Heights in the near future.

According to a post on its Instagram page, Padre’s Wine is set to open soon, bringing a new option to wine lovers in the Heights and surrounding neighborhood.

In addition to offering 500 labels sourced from other small distributors for sale at the bottle shop, the 4,000-square-foot space at 3522 White Oak Dr. will double as a wine bar and retail shop where customers can enjoy one of 20 rotating wines by the glass. In addition, a small food menu will accompany the wine list and feature charcuterie boards, paninis, and other light bites.

For more information on Padre’s Wine, visit the winery’s website at padreswine. com/.

Contributed Photo

Pearland artist Casey Campbell prepares for The Market at Sawyer Yards.

Contributed Photo

Urban South - HTX will celebrate three years at Sawyer Yards this Saturday.

Contributed Photo

Pictured are Tiger Lilies, created by Casey Campbell.

Contributed Photo

The Gerbera Daisy bouquet was designed and made by Casey Campbell.

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

If you have spent much time on Instagram or Facebook, you have seen celebrities talking about lectins and how you need to avoid them. They proclaim they do everything from inhibit weight loss to creating inflammation in your body. Some also sell specific supplements to help bind lectins and improve your health. Buyer beware. While the need to avoid lectins could be true for some individuals, not all people should avoid them.

What is a lectin? Based on the Latin word ‘Lego’ (noun), meaning, chosen; or ‘Legere’ (verb), means ‘to choose or select’. They have often been called the “antinutrient”. By definition they are plant carbohydrate binding proteins. Lectins are found in plants. Raw legumes such as beans, lentils, soybeans, peanuts are high in lectins. Also high are whole grains like wheat. Plants produce them to protect themselves against pathogens and fungi.

Some studies suggest lectins may have a biological potential in cancer treatment. The theory is that they possess some recognition of binding sites and have an ability to interact with cancer cells. Essentially, they act as a mapping agent. This coincides with the meaning of the name lectin to “chose or select”. This action of lectins was proposed for both breast cancer and colon cancer, two cancers with very widespread effects.

The American Cancer Society

reports risk of developing colon cancer as 1 in 23 for men and 1 in 26 for women. How wonderful to imagine that good foods from our diet may provide protection against this risk.

In addition to its effects on cancer research, we have seen other studies show the benefits of lectin rich foods.

Dan Buettner, famed journalist that researched the areas of the world with the greatest longevity and health span points out in his Blue Zones work, lectin-packed foods “are the cornerstones of” the diets. Lectin containing foods are part of all the healthiest, longest-lived populations on the planet. Foods commonly found in the Blue Zones and associated with longevity are beans and legumes. These communities have a have a higher consumption of plant based diets. And, by the way, he has a great cookbook, The Blue Zones Kitchen: 100 recipes for living to 100.

Patients have some reasons to avoid lectins if they have autoimmune conditions for example inflammatory bowel

disease like colitis and Crohn’s disease. The mechanism is not fully understood but for consideration is that they bind to cells in the intestinal tract inhibiting absorption of nutrients.

To exclude a large group of foods from your diet without understanding the risks and benefits may inhibit your wellness. Some examples of foods high in lectins are:

• Kidney beans

• Chickpeas

• Green peas

• Beans

• Cucumbers (unless peeled & seeded)

• Bell pepper (unless peeled & seeded)

• Chili peppers (unless peeled & seeded)

• White potatoes

• Peanuts

• Pumpkin seeds

• Sunflower seeds

• Chia seeds

• Cashews

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Dr. Lindsey Fogle, M.D.

Board Certified physician, Dr. Lindsey Fogle, has joined primary care/internal medicine practice White Oak Medical Associates in the Heights. She really likes connecting with people, to be someone who’s trusted for patients and their families during an illness. A primary care doctor is really important for anyone to

• Lentils

• Most grains (wheat, rice, oats, quinoa, barley, buckwheat, rye)

• Edamame

• All soy products

• Corn and corn products

Shana Tatum Contributed Photo Lectins may be advisable to avoid for some people, but that’s not necessarily true for all people.

• Grain flours and products made from them (bread, crackers, cereal, cookies, muffins)

• Eggplant

Directory of Local Female Health Service Professionals

• Tomatoes (unless peeled & seeded)

Women’s Health Directory

Dr. Fulton is certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Her practice consists of obstetrics, gynecology, and cosmetic procedures such as laser hair removal.

She is a graduate of the University of Texas and completed residency at St. Vincent’s Medical Center where she was a Chief Resident. Dr. Fulton volunteers as part of the health team ministry of her church. 1740 W. 27 St. Suite 301 • Houston, TX 77008 713-880-2727

• Saturday, • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 & 2 + Insulin Pump Management • Thyroid disorders/Thyroid cancer • Pituitary and Adrenal Disorders • Female & Male Hormonal Imbalance • Obesity/Weight Loss Management • Calcium disorders/Parathyroid disorders • Osteoporosis/Bone disorders • Primary Care Physician

Board Certified Internal Medicine

www.fultonobgyn.com

Page 10 I provide healthcare services in Endocrinology and Internal Medicine (American Board Certification in Endocrinology and Internal Medicine) Local business is our business. Send your story of interest news@theleadernews.com

Dr. Jaclyn Harrison, a board certified internal medicine physician, has opened a new primary care/internal medicine practice, White Oak Medical Associates in the Heights. She believes patients deserve their doctor’s focused attention, personalized care, and is devoted to compassionate, effective treatment for her patients. 1900 North Loop W, Suite 580 • Houston, TX 77018 713-714-5376 Whiteoakmedicalassociates.com

The Leader Diabetes, Endocrinology & Metabolic Center Call Our Office to Schedule Your Visit: Phone (832) 900-4744 1801 N Loop W, Suite 45, 77008 www.DmEndoCenter.com

Dr.