Leader June 4, 2022 by Street Media

Inside Today: Adam Zuvanich addresses school shootings • Page 3

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Retail development to break ground in Heights By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

A multi-story retail and office building will soon be constructed in a former residential area in the Heights. Yawning Property Development announced Tuesday that it plans to begin construction in July on a three-story, 12,930-square foot development called 10.5 Studewood at the southwest corner of 10th 1/2 Street and Studewood Street. A news release from the developer said the property will include a “work location and a conve-

nient drive-through option, while maintaining a clean, upscale feel, complete with open-air seating.” Nearby residents are invited to attend a groundbreaking event on the property scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 7. “This stunning building … will be a pivotal focus of the ever-changing locality, drawing from the walkability of the greater Heights district, as well as providing striking and graceful ambiance for the entire area,” Yawning Property Development president Wayman Chunn wrote in the news release. “What is particularly unique for this new

offering is the use of non-aligned structural plates, which provide additional interest to the building design.” The 10.5 Studewood project is the inaugural development for Yawning Property Development, which said it is partnering with Heights Venture Architects and CTC Contractors. The property on which the upcoming development sits previously included four single-family homes, one of which housed the Hello Lucky Life boutique. It was re-platted for commercial use in 2020 and then sold to the developer last summer.

Contributed artist’s rendering from Heights Venture Architects, LLC Construction is expected to start in July on 10.5 Studewood, a three-story retail and office building being developed by Yawning Property Development at the southwest corner of 10th ½ Street and Studewood Street.

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Worsening lifeguard shortage hobbles swim season at city pools By Charlotte Aguilar

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INSIDE.

Imperfect experience. A recent visit to Trattoria Sofia was a mixed bag for Dan Greer.

Page 6

Photo by Adam Zuvanich Heights-area residents were able to cross the MKT Bridge on May 27 for the first time since August 2020, when the century-old former railroad bridge was damaged by a fire. Make a Splash. Our Pet of the Week is a 3-year-old, threelegged cat who needs a home.

Page 7

Waves made. Oak Forest has lost a local icon in Lloyd Sandel, the co-owner of Surfhouse.

Page 9

Local talent. Students showed off their skills at the “Heights Got Talent” show last week.

Heights community celebrates reopening of MKT Bridge By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

Heights resident Emmanuel Nunez started using the MKT Bridge in 2015, first for recreation and later as part of his daily commute to and from the Texas Medical Center. He went nearly two years without being able to traverse the popular pathway for pedestrians and cyclists – which crosses White Oak Bayou just north of Interstate 10 – and so did everyone else in Houston. The centuryold former railroad bridge closed in August 2020, when it was damaged by a fire that started in a wooded area underneath the structure. The MKT Bridge finally reopened on the morning of May 27, after two rounds of repair work, reconnecting the MKT Trail to the White Oak Bayou Greenway, which extends to downtown and other parts of the city’s developing trail network. Nunez, who crossed the bridge on his bicycle along with fellow Heights resident Gerald Fuentes, was among many local residents to take immediate advantage. “So happy,” Nunez said after crossing the bridge. “It’s got one of the best views of the (downtown) skyline, and it’s such a good connectivity point for the Heights.”

See Lifeguards P. 5A

Photo by Adam Zuvanich A woman walks two dogs across the MKT Bridge, which reopened May 27. In the background, construction continues on the MKT Spur Trail Connector, which will close an 850-foot gap between the MKT and White Oak Bayou Greenway trails.

The long-awaited reopening was celebrated by the Houston Parks Board, which spent about $500,000 to complete the repair work, according to president and CEO Beth White, along with Houston Mayor Sylvester See MKT P. 5A

By Landan Kuhlmann

Page 10

THE INDEX. Church........................................................... 4 Classifieds ................................................. 7 Coupons ...................................................... 7 Food/Drink ................................................ 6 Opinion ........................................................ 3 Puzzles ......................................................... 3

Photo by Adam Zuvanich The pool at Love Park is slated to remain closed this summer amidst a citywide lifeguard shortage.

Oaks Dads’ Club gearing up for summer select season landan@theleadernews.com

Public Information............................. 2

Two local municipal pools are operating on a limited, rotating basis, while Houston’s lifeguard shortage is keeping 25 of the city’s swimming facilities gated and empty. Six pools across the city could be staffed each day last weekend, which was the opening weekend for city pools, and all municipal pools were closed Monday on Memorial Day. In all, only 28 out of 187 open city lifeguard positions had been filled, with 24 lifeguards available for duty over the holiday weekend, according to Leroy Maura Jr., the man in charge of staffing Houston’s municipal pools. Memorial Park Pool, 6502 Arnot St., and the pool at T.C. Jester Park, 4205 T.C. Jester Blvd., are among the 12 municipal pools starting the season on an A-B schedule with limited hours. Memorial is in the “A” group, open from 1-8 p.m. on Saturdays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. T.C. Jester is part of the six-pool “B” group, open 1-8 p.m. on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. So far, the area’s three other municipal pools — at Love, Oak Forest and Stude parks — are not on the summer schedule, Maura said. “We’re trying to spread the lifeguards through the communities and get as many people as possible into the pools,” he said. Other pools operating currently are: Schedule A: Agnes Moffitt, Lincoln City, Emancipation, Wilson Memorial, Mason Park. Schedule B: Judson Robinson Sr., Sunnyside, Moody Park, Sharpstown,

Contributed photo by houstonhotshotphotos.com Oaks Dads’ Club all-star Colt Barcelo of the Yee Yees tags Kellen Gipson of the Longhorns for an out at third base.

The spring season for baseball and softball has wrapped up, but the summer season is just getting started at a local little league. Oaks Dads’ Club (ODC), which held its closing ceremony for the spring season on May 24, is gearing up for its select and all-star team season. ODC vice president John Barcelo said the youth organization is kicking off its all-star season Saturday for teams in its 6-and-under, 8U, 10U and

12U baseball and softball divisions. ODC is holding tryouts Monday night for its 8-andunder ODC BATS tournament baseball team. The youth league also will host a baseball/softball summer camp for players ages 7-12 from 8 a.m.noon June 20-24 that will cost $200 per player. Barcelo said the 2022 season has been exciting for many reasons, not least of all because of being able to return to normalcy and complete a full spring season – and soon summer – after being

interrupted the last couple of seasons due to COVID-19. “Spring season 2022 was great for ODC, from bringing back the Opening Day Parade to having fans pack the bleachers once more,” he said. “The support these young boys and girls received was evident as competition was at an all-time high across all divisions.” The aforementioned tryout for the 8U select team is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, June 6 on Field 1 at the main ODC fields, 3410 E. T.C. Jester Blvd., according to See Oaks Dads’ Club P. 5A

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The Leader • Saturday, June 4, 2022 • Page 2

Hotel shooting suspect charged with murder, wanted by police By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Authorities have identified one of two men suspected of being involved in a fatal shooting at a local hotel in February, according to the Houston Police Department. Bernard Aaron Robertson, 21, has been charged with capital murder in connection to the February shooting of a 42-year-old man, according to Harris County court records. Robertson remains at large, according to HPD, as does a second unidentified suspect who was wearing a gray T-shirt at the time of the crime, according to surveillance footage released by HPD. Officers responded to the parking lot of the Red Roof Inn Houston-Brookhollow

Robertson

hotel at 12929 Northwest Fwy. just after 6 p.m. Feb. 21, HPD said, to find the victim lying on the ground. Eyewitnesses told investigators they heard gunshots ring out before seeing a white UHaul van with the Arizona license plate AL3-4831 flee the scene.

Man shot, killed at Inwoodarea apartment complex By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

A man was shot to death inside a Greater Inwood apartment complex last week, according to the Houston Police Department. The identity of the victim, who was 44 years old, was pending verification by the Harris County medical examiner, according to a May 25 news release from HPD. HPD said officers were called to Villa Nueva Apartments at 5300 W. Gulf Bank Rd. around 9:40 a.m. May 24 to find the victim’s friend, who had called 911, attempting to provide medical assistance. The victim was later pronounced dead at Memorial Hermann Greater

Heights Hospital, police said. The victim and his friend were coming to the apartment to meet with another friend who lives there, according to police. HPD said the friend told investigators he heard gunshots and then saw someone fleeing the scene, before finding the victim on the ground and calling 911. HPD said May 25 that it did not have descriptive information about a potential suspect. Anyone with any information about the case or potential suspects is asked to call HPD’s homicide division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-2228477.

Photo from HPD The man in this surveillance footage is suspected of being involved in a fatal shooting.

Citing eyewitness reports and evidence found at the scene, police said the vic-

tim initially pulled into the hotel parking lot in his own car alongside the white van that was carrying the two suspected shooters. HPD said one suspect got into a struggle with the victim while holding him at gunpoint, while the second reached into the victim’s car and grabbed a backpack that he then threw into the van. One of the suspects, alleged to be Robertson, is accused of shooting the victim during a struggle before fleeing the scene in the UHaul van, according to HPD. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Robertson or about the identity of the second suspect is urged to contact HPD’s homicide division at 713-3083600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477.

Pedestrian killed while trying to cross highway near Heights By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

A pedestrian died after being hit by three vehicles while attempting to cross a highway in the Heights area last week, according to the Houston Police Department. The identity of the victim, a 38-year-old man, was pending verification by the Harris County medical examiner, according to a May 27 news release from HPD. HPD said the driver of a silver Dodge Caravan was heading north at 2700 North Fwy. around 11:30 p.m. May 26 when he saw the victim attempting to

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cross the main lanes of the freeway. The driver swerved in an attempt to avoid the pedestrian, police said, but hit him with the side mirror. The victim was then struck by a white Ford Ecosport and a red Kia Forte, according to HPD. Witnesses told investigators the victim crossed the median, looked straight forward and never attempted to look for vehicles as he crossed the freeway, according to police. HPD said all three drivers stopped and were questioned and released at the scene, with none showing signs of intoxication.

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THE TOPICS. The Leader • Saturday, June 4, 2022 • Page 3

Our mass shooting madness must stop H ow many of you kept your kids out of school on May 25 – the day after a disturbed teenager with an assault rifle walked into Robb Elementary in Uvalde and massacred 19 children and two adults in a fourthgrade classroom? How many of you let your kids go but had reservations, maybe even fearful thoughts, as you dropped them off at their campus or watched them board a school bus? My kids are not old enough to go to school, but if they were, they would have stayed home that day. Heck, I’m not sure I want to send them to school a few years from now. Like people all across the state, the country and even the world, I was horrified to hear about the latest mass murder of schoolchildren in the United States. I couldn’t help but imagine how those innocent young souls in South Texas must have felt when the guy entered their classroom and started shooting. I couldn’t help but think about the kids who survived and will be scarred for the rest of their lives. I couldn’t help but put myself in the shoes of those grieving parents and wonder how I would feel if it had been my kids who … well, you get the picture. And it’s a repulsive, ghastly, abhorrent picture that no one should have to look at – ever. So as those crushed families in Uvalde start burying their kids this week, count me among the people who are angry, upset and out of patience for something – anything – to be done to stop the next massacre on

ADAM ZUVANICH Editor

a school campus. Add me to the list of taxpaying citizens who demand that our elected officials live up to their responsibility to serve us and our families and our interests, instead of serving themselves and their campaign contributors and the interests of lobbyists. Any conversation about how to curb this disturbing trend must start with guns and accessibility to them, particularly in Texas, where lawmakers last year made it easier to legally obtain and carry a firearm in public. Killed with guns were 20 first-graders in Connecticut in 2013, 17 people at a Florida high school in 2018 and 10 at a Houston-area high school later that year, among many other mass shootings in recent years that were carried out in public places such as schools, concerts and even churches. There was an incident of gun violence at Heights High School just last month, albeit not a deadly one, when a student was shot in a campus parking lot, allegedly by a fellow teenager. So this is a problem that hits close to

home. And let me be clear that I’m not calling for a ban on guns or a repeal of the Second Amendment or even suggesting that citizens cannot own certain types of guns or a certain number of guns. But we’ve got to at least put up some roadblocks that amount to increased vetting of prospective gun buyers, increased education about guns and increased restrictions on weapons such as assault rifles, which were designed for war and not for sport or personal protection. If one life is saved because a wacko has to wait a week before his gun purchase goes through and maybe he cools off and loses interest in killing people, or he can’t buy a semi-automatic rifle because he made a threatening post on social media or a family member won’t vouch for him, then such legislation would be well worth it. Increasing security, particularly at schools and other places where kids gather, might be a good idea as well. As for the idea of arming teachers with guns, and training them to use those weapons to snuff out a threat to their students, it might be the dumbest idea I’ve ever heard. Teachers are overworked, underpaid and underappreciated as it is, and now we’re going to ask them to carry loaded guns while they police kids’ behavior and try to teach math, science and history lessons? How much more money are we willing to pay these teachers, and who is going to foot that bill?

And I don’t know about you, but I don’t want my kids going to a school where there are guns in every classroom. It should not be that way. It should not have to be that way. It is, though. Active shooter drills are now the norm for students at American schools. So is the expectation that they might encounter a shooter or even be shot at by the time they walk across the stage for high school graduation. What kind of sick and twisted world do we live in? Speaking of which, guns are not the only problem. They might not even be the biggest problem. We have a collective screw loose in this country, and I think a big contributor to that is a societal sickness we have developed. We could be better about addressing the mental and emotional health of individuals, of course, but saying that might be a gross oversimplification. Our culture has long desensitized us to violence, maybe even groomed us for it. Many of us have grown up seeing shoot ‘em up scenes on TV and in movies, in which the good guys are almost invincible and usually win the gunfights. As a teenager a quarter century ago, some of the music I listened to featured sounds of gunshots and lyrics about killing cops and rival gang members. And how many of us have played video games in which the objective is to murder as many aliens or bad guys or innocent bystanders as possible?

What happens when your character gets shot and killed? You come right back to life with little to no consequences. That’s not reality, of course, and the vast majority of us realize this. Most of us also have been taught that, no matter how mad we get, physically hurting someone in response is not the right thing to do. But when we’re exposed to these violent outbursts and sentiments again and again over an extended period of time, maybe the idea of going on a shooting spree ceases to seem so fantastic. And when killing becomes cool in popular culture, what’s to stop it from becoming a popular activity in our culture? Sadly, it already has. And at this point I’m not sure we can reverse that trend. But we dang sure need to try, for the sake of our kids and their kids after that. They should not have to worry about being shot to death at school – not a year from now or a month from now or even a day from now – and neither should their families. So, please, get engaged, get involved and speak your piece, both with your voice and your vote at the polls. And try to do it with kindness, civility, humility and respect for your fellow man and woman. Whatever you do, don’t forget about those little kids in Uvalde who will never have the chance. Email azuvanich@theleadernews.com

It’s hard to tell watt’s what with power-grid problems To: Gov. Greg Abbott From: ERCOT Subject: Operation Fade The Heat Rating: Top Secret As you instructed, we have diligently worked night and day, with weekends and holidays off, plus vacations, sick leave and the annual ERCOT baseball game and picnic, to prevent another slight blip in Texas’ power system. Just to refresh your memory, in February of 2021 most of Texas was hit with a power outage that caused some minor inconvenience: It cost billions of dollars in damages, some 200 Texans lost their lives in the freeze and Texas became the laughingstock of America. You boldly took responsibility for the disaster by blaming ERCOT and the Public Utility Commission (PUC), which regulates ERCOT. You never mentioned that you appoint the PUC. As we noted in our previous memo, you also rightly blamed power companies, the press and, of course, the tree-huggers. You said on -- where else? -Fox News, “This shows how the Green New Deal would be a deadly deal for the United States. Our wind and our solar, they got shut down and they were collectively more than 10 percent of our power grid, and that thrust Texas into a situation where it was lacking power on a statewide basis.” And you somehow also blamed U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez from New York City. Unfortunately, your efforts on TV to distract Texans failed to reach millions of your constituents. They didn’t have electricity or the cable An investigation by the Federal Energy Regulatory Agency reputed your claims. In a more than 300-page report, it said the disaster was primarily the result of the oil and gas industry’s failure to weatherize its systems. But who can trust those woke bureaucrats in Washington? Really now, what does a federal energy agency

LYNN ASHBY Columnist

know about energy? You also declared: “This was a total failure by ERCOT ... and they showed that they were not reliable. These are specialists, and government has to rely upon these specialists to be able to deliver in these types of situations.” You continued with your powerful explanation, “This is something that I declared in advance. This is something that our team had been talking to them about in advance, knowing, in advance, the ultra-cold we were going to be dealing with.” But the problem was solved, with you explaining: “Bottom line is that everything that needed to be done was done to fix the power grid in Texas.” Not exactly. A few weeks later, ERCOT told us to conserve power because of an oncoming heat wave. Now they’ve warned us again because it may get hot in Texas this summer. As for the Texas Legislature, in the last session our lawmakers passed bills to make voting harder, took away women’s reproductive rights and allowed for more than $9 billion in bailouts for our electric utility companies. We will be paying off those billions over the next 20 or 30 years through charges on our utility bills. But by spreading out the costs on our monthly bills, we won’t notice it and won’t complain. Incidentally, former Texas Gov. Rick (Oops) Perry claimed Texans would rather endure blackouts in freezing weather than have the federal government regulating their power grid. At this point we would like to rebut some (OK, vast

THE READER. Discrimination by any other name? Dear Editor: Regarding “New Heights bank focuses on women, minorities, small biz” (May 28): The new Agility Bank’s goal to promote financial parity for women and minorities -- presumably by prioritizing female/minority customers and loan applicants -- has a good feel to it, and it prompts questions. Founded under US government Minority Depository Institution charter rules, will Agility be allowed to evaluate and approve loan applications via time-tested criteria -- financial solvency ratio analyses, solidity of business plans and prospects? History demonstrates that government social-justice mandates for relaxing such criteria generally propagate disaster. Also, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. Will Agility Bank summarily turn away non-minority male loan applicants? For both Agility Bank and the clients it plans to focus upon, it might be prudent to consider that a financial statement has yet to be produced which calculates or reports “Fully diluted women-andminority ownership earnings per share.” J. Reynolds

Email us your letters: news@theleadernews.com

amounts of) criticism. Such as: “How do North Dakota, not to mention Alaska and Canada, keep their generators going in much colder weather?” We say: “If that’s so important to you, move.” And: “To generate electricity, why don’t you just hook a gerbil up to a treadmill?” As one of our major steps to improve ERCOT and prevent another disaster, not to mention riots, threatened lynchings and your possible defeat in November, we got a calendar and marked “winter months” and “summer months.” Other steps include simply doubling the rate for electricity and shutting down our power plants anytime the temperature in Presidio gets above 80. There has been some – but not nearly enough – blame for

the 2021 ice storm debacle on the lack of power lines to carry electricity to our big cities such as Houston and Dallas. Our research shows they won’t vote for you anyway, so deal with it, city slickers. You correctly noted (as mentioned above and ad nauseam at MAGA rallies), much of the blame for the agonizing deaths of hundreds of your constituents is due to the total breakdown of so-called “green energy” – wind, solar and thermal (like natural gas and nuclear power plants). Let’s take wind. After much research, funded by your wise diversion of authorized funds for children’s vaccinations to our project, we determined that when the wind doesn’t blow, the windmills’ blades don’t turn. We

at ERCOT solved this problem by installing giant dieselpowered blowers in front of the windmills to keep those blades turning. Sure, the blowers make a terrible noise, puke up the atmosphere and consume vast amounts of fuel, so be careful what you wish for, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Solar panels don’t generate power at night (another scientific discovery by ERCOT), but if we put those panels on flatbeds which keep trucking west under the sun, problem solved. Also, we can install huge light bulbs over the panels so it’s always sunny, although one study shows the lightbulbs will use more electricity than the panels generate. There is, or was, a saying: “The sun never sets on the British Empire.” We have yet to hear back

from the British consulate on our plans. We looked into hydro power generators, but due to the ongoing drought, there is very little water in Texas. We demanded that our nuclearpowered generators run at full capacity night and day. Those wussie technicians at the Chernobyl Radioactive Power Plant objected, saying that would cause safety problems, although we haven’t heard from them lately. There seems to be a mushroom cloud over the installation. Lastly, Governor, because our power is out, we had to send you this memo via GrubHub. Oh, it seems the gerbil died. Ashby is in the dark at ashby2@comcast.net

THE LEADER PUZZLERS. Answers found in this week’s Classified section

SUDOKU

ACROSS 1. Poets 6. Insecticide 9. Insect feeler 13. Intestinal 14. ‘Drum Boogie’ singer 15. Region 16. Chinese automotive co. 17. Served before entree 18. Dwells 19. Boosted 21. Tells players what to do 22. Infections 23. Hoover is one 24. Expresses surprise 25. Basketball position (abbr.) 27. Fresh Prince of __ Air 28. Hindu queens 30. Easter marshmallow treat 32. Where coaches stand 35. Women 37. Thai province 38. Drenches 40. Matters that settle 43. Not wide 44. Elaborate garments 45. Swiss river 47. South Dakota 48. Instinctive part of the mind 50. Some put this in their

hair 51. French young women 53. Two legged support 55. Stimulates the heart 59. Waste matter 60. Nocturnal rodents 61. The Who anthem ‘__’ ‘Riley’ 62. Old age personified 63. Remnant 64. Disband 65. Nanosecond 66. Referee declares 67. A citizen of Iran

DOWN 1. ‘ER’ actress Leslie 2. Wings 3. Power to direct and control 4. Small freshwater fishes of Eurasia 5. Scandium 6. Earnhardt and Hunter are two 7. Two-parted 8. Foul-mouthed bear from the movies 9. Tan horses 10. Song 11. Draw blood 12. High-ranking Turkish officer 14. Determine time 17. Begets 20. Watch chain 21. Constellation

representing a dog 23. Indian dish 25. Legumes 26. Romanian river 28. An auto you don’t keep 29. Signs, __, delivers 30. Police Department 31. Relating to teaching 33. Sportscaster Patrick 34. A way to glide 36. Fathered 39. Statute mile (abbr.) 41. One-thousandth of an inch 42. Discounts 46. Rockers from Georgia 48. Norwegian playwright 49. Herbs 51. S. China seaport 52. Stout sword 54. Pasty 55. Fill a suitcase 56. Japanese weapon 57. Dark brown or black 58. Grain crop 60. Time used in far western states 64. Drill instructor

WORD SCRAMBLE

Page 4 • Saturday, June 4, 2022 • The Leader

Library branches kick off summer reading program — with a few extras By Charlotte Aguilar caguilar@mcelvypartners.com

The Houston Public Library has launched its free summer reading program, which will run through Aug. 15 — but the annual initiative extends beyond the old reading-and-reward model to include handson educational and crafts programs and family activities. This year’s theme, handed down by the Texas State Library (TSL), is “Oceans of Possibilities,” and each branch creates its own related activities for youngsters 0-4 years — the “read-to-me” age group — and for 5- to 9-year-olds, and ages 10-12 and 13-18. The goal, according to the TSL’s mission, is to keep the momentum for learning going while school is out and to block a slowdown or stagnation that has become known as the “summer slide.” Those who register receive a log, and there are rewards for achieving age-group goals and prizes awarded in weekly drawings for youngsters who meet minimum requirements for books or reading time.

The Houston Public Library offers online registration for the program at https://houstonlibrar y.beanstack.org/ reader365. Other organized year-round reading activities can also be accessed through the site. They include “1000 Books Before Kindergarten,” a self-paced program for teachers, parents, siblings and caregivers to read to newborns, infants and toddlers; “100 Books Before High School” for tweens, in grades 6-8, and two virtual book clubs for that same middle school-age group. HPL’s central branch is downtown at 500 McKinney St., and local branches are listed below, along with special activities, which require advance registration: Collier Regional 6200 Pinemont Dr. 832-393-1740 Activities: Family Storytimes at 11 a.m. Saturdays; kids and teen STEM and crafts activities, various times and dates; Family Night Unplugged programs at 5:30 p.m. Thursdays. The “Jolly Trol-

ley,” a playground on wheels with an obstacle course and gym, geared toward youngsters 5-10 and families, will visit from 4-5 p.m. Tuesday, June 7. Heights Neighborhood 1302 Heights Blvd. 832-393-1810 Activities: Summer Reading Kickoff, 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 7; Outdoor Family Storytimes, 10 a.m. Tuesdays; Family Storytimes, 10 a.m. Wednesdays; plus regular Teen STEM and Tween Craft programs at various times. Oak Forest Neighborhood 1349 W. 43rd St. 832-393-1960 Activities: Family Crafts, 3:30 p.m. Wednesdays; Family Storytimes, 10:30 a.m. Thursdays,; Family STEM programs, 3:30 p.m. Tuesdays; Family Crafts, 3:30 p.m. Wednesdays; a Stuffed Animal Sleepover for children from 3-10 years from 6:30-7 p.m. Wednesday, June 15; and a visit from the Jolly Trolley playground on wheels at 1 p.m. June 29.

Waltrip band members win state medals By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

On the heels of earning national honors last week, the Waltrip High School Roaring Ram Band had several individual students earn medals earlier this week at the UIL Texas State Solo-Ensemble Contest. Nine members of Waltrip’s band took home first or second place in their division, according to director Jesse Espinosa, as did one of its band sections. “We are beyond proud of these students for their accomplishments,” Espinosa said. “We are excited about all of our students that had the opportunity to compete at this high level and display their outstanding musicianship.” According to Espinosa, senior Robert Paniagua and sophomore Jesse Espinosa –

Contributed photo Waltrip High School percussionist Angel Garza shows off the firstplace medal he won Monday at the UIL’s Texas State Solo-Ensemble Contest in the Austin area.

the director’s son – took home gold medals in the trumpet soloist First Division category,

while senior Angel Garza was a gold medal winner in the drum set soloist First Divi-

The following Certificate of Assumed Name filings, all Active and in Good Standing, with the PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS at 26726 WYLIE VALLEY LANE KATY TX 77494, and with Luxton, Livina Jazelle as the General Executrix/Ultimate Beneficial Owner Nameholder, are required for consumer protection in order to enable customers to be able to identify the true owner of a business in accordance with Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 333: LIVINA JAZELLE LUXTON ESTATE filed on 05/10/2022 Original File Number 1313095200025; LIVINA JAZELLE LUXTON filed on 05/09/2022 Original File Number 1313094100022; LUXTON LIVINA JAZELLE filed on 05/23/2022 Original File Number 1314909300023; LUXTON, LIVINA JAZELLE filed on 05/23/2022 Original File Number 1314912300029; LIVINA J. LUXTON filed on 05/09/2022 Original File Number 1313097500023; LIVINA J LUXTON filed on 05/09/2022 Original File Number 1313096200026; LIVINA LUXTON filed on 05/09/2022 Original File Number 1313098000024; LUXTON, LIVINA filed on 05/23/2022 Original File Number 1314915100028; L.J. LUXTON filed on 05/09/2022 Original File Number 1313099600027; LJ LUXTON filed on 05/09/2022 Original File Number 1313098500024; IFEOMA JENNIFER UKWAMEDUA ESTATE filed on 05/20/2022 Original File Number 1314802400026; IFEOMA JENNIFER UKWAMEDUA filed on 05/20/2022 Original File Number 1314801400025; UKWAMEDUA IFEOMA JENNIFER filed on 05/23/2022 Original File Number 1314923600029; UKWAMEDUA, IFEOMA JENNIFER filed on 05/23/2022 Original File Number 1314925400027; IFEOMA J. UKWAMEDUA filed on 05/20/2022 Original File Number 1314802000028; IFEOMA J UKWAMEDUA filed on 05/20/2022 Original File Number 1314801600029; IFEOMA UKWAMEDUA filed on 05/20/2022 Original File Number 1314802200022; UKWAMEDUA, IFEOMA filed on 05/23/2022 Original File Number 1314926400028; IFEOMA JENNIFER AGWUNOBI ESTATE filed on 05/20/2022 Original File Number 1314796700021; IFEOMA JENNIFER AGWUNOBI filed on 05/20/2022 Original File Number 1314798000029; AGWUNOBI IFEOMA JENNIFER filed on 05/23/2022 Original File Number 1314917400026; AGWUNOBI, IFEOMA JENNIFER filed on 05/23/2022 Original File Number 1314919800026; IFEOMA J. AGWUNOBI filed on 05/20/2022 Original File Number 1314799000020; IFEOMA J AGWUNOBI filed on 05/20/2022 Original File Number 1314798600021; IFEOMA AGWUNOBI filed on 05/20/2022 Original File Number 1314800700020; AGWUNOBI, IFEOMA filed on 05/23/2022 Original File Number 1314921900023; NAMEHOLDER: Luxton, Livina Jazelle living at 26726 Wylie Valley Lane, Katy, Texas Republic, without the United States [77494-9998], united States of America and the nature of the said business is commerce.

Stopped yet unstoppable By Pastor Will Cover

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

t the end of the book of Acts, Paul the Apostle was placed under house arrest while he awaited trial in Caesar’s court. He was guarded by a Roman soldier every single day. His travels had stopped but his ministry did not stop. His ability to plant churches in the cities he visited had ended, but his work of seeing God’s church continue to be built was not over. In fact, you could argue that Paul ministered to more people and had a greater inﬂuence while he was physically stuck and unable to move. He didn’t have Zoom to do video calls. He couldn’t Facetime or even make phone calls. He was able to write letters, and he was able to have visitors. Why was Paul so effective even though he was facing a difﬁcult time in life? I believe every person will go

through periods of life where nothing seems to be accomplished very quickly. You will go through struggles where your ﬁnances are tighter than normal, your health is less than stellar, and your relationships don’t seem to have the same level of fun and excitement. To live an unstoppable life does not mean that you will not struggle. It is easy to get distracted, discouraged, or even be completely deterred from your priorities in life. The cares of this world, the responses of other people, and physical struggle and restraint all contribute to feelings of discouragement and frustration at being stuck. Paul was effective because he was faithful to serve God even when his options were limited. He didn’t let concern over his situation keep him from sharing the message of Christ even when many people rejected the message. God used this time in Paul’s life to extend the ministry of Paul into places he had never been before. Paul said it well in Philippians 1, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

sion. Seniors Riley Brugner and Christopher Luce along with sophomore Evan Weltin each won silver medals in the keyboard percussionist Second Division. Seniors Conlan Ramirez (trumpet soloist) and Jorge Garcia (piano soloist), as well as freshman Benjamin Griffith (trombone soloist), won Second Division silver medals, according to Espinosa. The band’s brass sextet with percussion of Andrew Brugner (tuba), Wesley Hudgins (tuba), Christopher Castaneda (trombone), Cesar Torres (trombone), Jesse Ramos (euphonium), Vincent Rodriguez (euphonium) and Weltin (timpani) also brought home a First Division state medal.

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The Leader • Saturday, June 4, 2022 • Page 5

MKT, from P. 1A Turner, Houston City Council members Sallie Alcorn and Abbie Kamin and State Sen. John Whitmire. They were among the local dignitaries who attended a news conference and ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate the reopening, as did representatives from Houston Public Works, the Houston Parks and Recreation Department and BikeHouston, a nonprofit that advocates for cyclists and cycling infrastructure across the city. Also in attendance was Emily Guyre, the executive director of the Houston Heights Association, who said it feels good for the Heights’ walking and cycling community to be reconnected to the rest of the city. “People are thrilled,” Guyre said. “They’re throwing their hands in the air, waving them like they just don’t care. And it feels so good to have this space available and accessible.” The nonprofit parks board initially started repair work last year, but stopped in September after its contractor found previously undiscovered damage that had been caused by the fire. Work resumed in March of this year after approvals by the city, which owns the bridge, and the Harris County Flood

Control District, which exerts control over White Oak Bayou. Many Heights-area residents and BikeHouston had expressed frustration about the bridge being closed for so long, suggesting that automobile infrastructure would have been repaired more quickly. White said the parks board completed the work as quickly as it could while ensuring the bridge would be safe, adding that its age and elevation along with global supply chain issues came into play. The second round of repair work included the addition of steel channels and bracing to the timber piling, transferring weight from the bridge to the ground, according to a news release from the parks board. “We had to be careful and examine every inch,” White said. The bridge ended up reopening sooner than the parks board anticipated when it resumed repair work in March. At that time, White said the target reopening date was some point in the summer. Joe Cutrufo, the executive director of BikeHouston, criticized the prolonged bridge closure earlier this year but on May 27 expressed grati-

tude for the work to get it open again. “I can’t think of a better way to end (National) Bike Month than to reopen this bridge, which is something that people who bike in Houston have been talking about for months and months,” Cutrufo said. “It came together because the parks board knew that it was an urgent concern, and this is part of Houston’s transportation network. And I’m really pleased they were able to expedite the work and get it done right before Memorial Day weekend.” Bridge users last week also got a sneak peek at a related piece of multimodal infrastructure in the southern part of the Heights. The city is constructing the MKT Spur Trail Connector, which will close an 850-foot gap between the MKT and White Oak Bayou Greenway trails with a 10-foot wide reinforced concrete path. It will run along the north side of White Oak Bayou, providing an additional connection between the MKT and White Oak Bayou Greenway trails. The latter trail currently stops under Studemont Street, and the connector will extend it to the west until it meets the MKT Trail, just north of the bridge.

Lifeguards, from P. 1A

Oaks Dads’ Club, from P. 1A

Westbury. According to Maura, the city will continue to try to recruit and provide the necessary training for lifeguards, whose pay starts at $13.66 per hour, and will open additional pools as staffing permits. Those interested in the positions can review the requirements and start the application process online at https:// www.governmentjobs.com/ careers/houston, entering the keyword “pool,” or call 832395-7129. The COVID-19 pandemic canceled the swim season in 2020, and last summer 10 city pools were able to open regularly with 50 qualifying lifeguards. But this year — even with the go-ahead for all 37 pools to open and the lure of a $300 bonus for anyone qualifying successfully for the job and completing the season — lifeguard recruiting has faltered to about half that number. “There’s no lack of jobs including working from the comfort of home and keeping your own schedule,” Maura said. “It’s getting harder to compete with that.”

Barcelo. He said the BATS select team has 11 roster spots filled, with the Monday tryout serving to fill out the final 2-3 slots. In order to try out for the 8U select team, players must have played in ODC’s 2022 spring baseball season and have a birthday after April 30, 2013. Players are asked to bring bats, gloves, cleats, helmets and water to the tryout, which will include hitting, fielding and baserunning drills. Once the final selections are made, Barcelo said the team will practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-7:30 p.m. from Tuesday, June 7 through July 21. Pending any changes, he said the team is slated to play in Houston tournaments on June 11-12, June 25-26 and July 9-10. There are also plans for a tournament July 23-24 in San Antonio, though not every player will make every tournament trip. “We plan to take 11 players to each of the tournaments … based on availability as well as attitude, performance and attendance

Photo by Adam Zuvanich Houston Parks Board president and CEO Beth White said the nonprofit spent about $500,000 to repair the MKT Bridge, which sustained fire damage in August 2020 and reopened May 27.

Lauren Grove of Houston Public Works said the $1.18 million connector project is expected to be completed before the end of the summer. “We learned from the MKT Bridge (closure) how important it is to have multiple ways of getting around safely and multiple routes,” Kamin said. The bridge had an average of 1,200 users per day before

the fire, a spokesperson for the parks board said last year, and data for May of 2020 indicated that nearly 64,000 people used the White Oak Bayou Greenway Trail on a weekly basis. Kamin said she hopes the bridge is used more than ever now that it’s reopen. Oscar Peregrina, who lives in a Heights-area apartment south of I-10, walked across it for the first time after it

reopened. Two more firsttime users were Francisco Centurion and his wife, Kelly Phenicie, who moved to the Heights about a year ago and made the first of what figures to be many trips across the bridge. “I just had no idea that there’s all these different trails and wildlife and it’s all interconnected,” she said. “It makes it really, really nice. I think it’s a huge asset.”

Contributed photo by houstonhotshotphotos.com Zane Graham III of the Huskies tags Luke Bryan of the Pirates at second base during an Oaks Dads’ Club playoff game in the Pee Wee division.

shown in practices and prior tournaments at the discretion of the team coaches,” a May 27 Facebook post from the team read. For more information on Oaks Dads’ Club, visit the organization’s website at odcsports.com. Show ‘Em What You’ve Got What: Tryout for 8U ODC

BATS baseball team When: 6 p.m. Monday, June 6 Where: ODC Main Fields (3410 E. T.C. Jester Blvd.), Field #1 Equipment needed: Bats, gloves, cleats, helmets, water Contact: Jeff Mechlem, jmechlem@pagethink.com, 310-663-1666

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The Leader • Saturday, June 4, 2022 • Page 6

Art Valet: Whimsy Artisan unveiling new nearby location MITCH COHEN Art Columnist

The Whimsy Artisan Boutique, mentioned in these pages many times, has moved around the corner, literally, and will host a grand reopening this Saturday. Whimsy is now located on the 18th Street side of the Heights Common Market building, right off the parking lot. The grand reopening is from noon-7 p.m. Saturday at 1802 Yale St., Suite E. If you experience F.O.M.O. (fear of missing out) about the art markets, this is the place for you Saturday. With more than 150 artists represented, owner and fiber art-

ist Jess Carlos told me this is a welcome expansion for the boutique. I believe this is the third location, going from the original space of 150 square feet to 250 square feet and now to 300 square feet of art. I don’t know how they do it, but it works. Carlos has curated an amazing selection of art, so pay them a visit. Find more on the website: https:// w w w. t h e w h i m s y a r t i s a n . com. Details for BAM! In case you missed me mentioning this before, both First Saturday Arts Market on West 19th Street and The Market at Sawyer Yards on second Saturdays under the Silos at Sawyer Yards will be closed this summer in their usual times and locations. Both markets will be open together, indoors, under one roof, for one day

Contributed photo Jess Carlos and The Whimsy Artisan Boutique have a new location.

in 20,000 square feet of air conditioned luxury. BAM! Art Market will take place from noon-8 p.m. Aug. 13 at 2000 Edwards St. That is the Silver Street Studios warehouse, and the event will coincide with Second Saturday Open Studios at Sawyer Yards, a tradition since 2005. (Don’t quote me on that.) I’m a little nervous about this because, after all, we’ve been open summers at night since 2006. But people, it is hot out there. Neither market has any natural or artificial shade, and trust me, those tents can be sauna-like. Perhaps this will turn into a new tradition, an indoor air conditioned art market. I like the sound of that! There will be the usual suspects from both markets plus some faces we rarely see either because of the heat, or the outdoor market scene just isn’t for them.

I’ll miss that magical moment as the sun sets and the tents all light up at the evening markets. Although, we might have a great big disco ball in the indoor space. Who doesn’t love a disco ball? The space is vast, so some artists are still planning to set up their tents for displaying their art. You’ll find the artists, makers, live music, cider and wine. The event will be free to the public and guests can easily stroll in and out of Silver Street Studios from within the warehouse. More details and an artist lineup can be found at SaturdayArtMarkets.com. Cohen is an artist and founder of the First Saturday Arts Market and The Market at Sawyer Yards. Find him at ArtValet.com for additional highlights and artist’s stories.

Review: Trattoria Sofia’s popularity contributes to imperfect experience By Dan Greer news@theleadernews.com

When we first dined at Trattoria Sofia several months ago, I would’ve called my review, “That’s Amore!” Had Dean Martin dined there on the same night I made my latest visit, I’m afraid he would have felt compelled to change the lyrics to, “That’s A Let Down.” Fortunately, there is still much to “amore” at Trattoria Sofia, 911 W. 11th St., from the young hostess who enthusiastically greeted us to the ebullient atmosphere. The restaurant interior is lovely and the design is well thought out. They are a part of the successful Berg Hospitality Group family of restaurants and are obviously doing well. It is often filled to the brim with those like myself who can’t resist a delicious plate of pasta. And that popularity, in a famously food-loving neighborhood, may be what caused the recent slip. On this evening, they were already close to capacity when we arrived for our 6:15 p.m. reservation. Our server was sprinting from one table to another to keep up with orders, check on the food and do all the things a good server does. The bread arrived and we dug in. It comes accompanied with a nice olive oil and paprika aioli spread. The bread was tough, but so are

Photo by Dan Greer The Spiedini de Fontina di Prosciutto from Trattoria Sofia, 911 W. 11th St., features prosciutto and fontina cheese wrapped on a stick, with garnishes of olive oil, cracked pepper and rosemary.

Photo by Dan Greer The Campanelle Ragu de Agnella at Trattoria Sofia features lamb meat and tomato sauce served over pasta.

we, so we powered through. We chose two appetizers. The first was the Ricotta di Picora. The creamy sheep’s milk ricotta was silky smooth and further enhanced with a honey and fried garlic topping. Next came the Spiedini de Fontina di Prosciutto appetizer. Think luscious meat and cheese on a stick. The fontina cheese was absolutely delicious. The prosciutto was an outstanding pop of salty piquancy. They round out the dish with some cracked pepper, olive oil and sprigs of rosemary. The way this all comes together was the culinary highlight of the

Alla Parmigiana, which had a laughably large amount of shredded parmesan on top. If only the heap could’ve provided sufficient insulation for the breaded bird beneath. Alas it could not, as it was the least warm of the entrees. The Gamberi fra Diavalo was delicious looking. The plump, pan-fried shrimp were on the spicy side, but unfortunately, that was the only heat associated with this dish. We added shrimp to the Bucatini Alla Pesto Siciliano. The seasoning on the shrimp was a bit overpowering and, although the bucatini was cooked well, it was less than

evening. It took quite a while to receive our entrees and as a result, three of the four came served at a tepid temperature, at best. They almost certainly had been prepared and left waiting for our harried server to fetch. The sides came out but with no plates to be served on. We waited for about 5 minutes and had to ask for the plates. Mustard greens were tough and without much flavor. The breadcrumbs on the Scarola Arrosto were a nice touch. When the entrees did arrive, all eyes were immediately drawn to the Pollo

lukewarm. The ricotta was creamy and tasty and the pesto was very good. The Campanelle Ragu di Agnella had a unique, slightly sweet flavor, probably due to the San Marzano tomatoes. The lamb was tender and warm. The pasta was cooked nearly perfectly. This was the lone entrée that arrived warmer than room temperature. Bottom line? Food temperature is important. For the amount you are paying here, you deserve a hot plate of food. But I believe Trattoria Sofia will overcome these growing pains and become a fix-

ture in the Heights. The restaurant has a full bar with cocktails and a limited beer and wine list. Trattoria Sofia Address: 911 W. 11 th St. Dining options: Dine-in, takeout Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday-Tuesday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday (kitchen closes at 10 p.m.) Entrée prices: $17-$82 Kid-friendly: Yes Senior discount: No Alcohol: Yes Healthy options: Salads Star of the show: Spiedini de Fontina di Prosciutto Rating: 3.5 out of 5 bites

Nibbles & Sips: Gatlin’s BBQ owner opening comfort food restaurant with love.” For more information on Coltivare and what the restaurant has to offer, follow it on Facebook @ColtivareHTX or visit its website at coltivarehouston.com.

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

The owner of a popular barbecue restaurant in the area is expanding his footprint with a second local concept next month. Gatlin’s BBQ owner Greg Gatlin has plans to open a second restaurant, Gatlin’s Fins and Feathers, at 302 W. Crosstimbers St. toward the end of June, according to a news release, though an exact date has not been set. The new restaurant will be geared toward comfort food as opposed to barbecue, Gatlin said, with offerings such as oysters, gumbo and fried chicken for lunch and dinner as well as weekend brunch. Gatlin’s Fins and Feathers will sit on 3,000 square feet in the former home of Herrera’s Mexicatessen Restaurant, and will have room for about 80 diners, according to the news release. “It’s a neighborhood place, and we wanted it to feel that way: rustic, comfortable, and historic,” Gatlin said. “It’s part of Independence Heights and we’re embracing that. I hope people enjoy really good food in a really good atmosphere––a place that will connect them to a childhood experience or even an elevation of that childhood memory.” For reservations, menus,

Photo from Facebook Mason Giles is the new sous chef at Coltivare, the restaurant announced May 18.

hours and more information on the restaurant, visit its website at gatlinsfinsandfeathers.com. Coltivare announces new sous chef A Heights-area restaurant and bar recently brought on a new assistant chef with more than a decade of experience cooking at spots around the Houston region. Coltivare, 3320 White Oak Dr., announced May 18 on its Facebook page that it has hired Mason Giles as its new sous chef.

According to the restaurant, Giles moved to Houston from the Flower Mound area – northeast of Dallas – in 2008 to join the local restaurant industry. He began as a line cook with Montrose’s Ramen Tatsuya in 2014 before moving on to Georgia James Tavern in 2018. He then landed with Agricole Hospitality in 2022, according to Coltivare. “I come in, get organized, become a team player,” Mason said of his new role at Coltivare. “There’s a lot to learn, the environment is very nurturing, and we lead

New Thai restaurant opening soon in Stomping Grounds The Stomping Grounds development keeps gaining new tenants, with a new Thai spot making its way in. California-based Rooster and Rice is shooting to have a soft opening in the development this weekend, according to operator Bryan Lew, though he said that could potentially change. The restaurant has 11 California locations, and this will be its first Houston restaurant. Lew characterizes the restaurant’s cuisine as Thai street food, including options such as its signature Khao Mun Gai, or Thai chicken rice. When it opens, Lew said the plan is for Rooster and Rice to operate from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. daily. Follow the restaurant on Facebook and Instagram @ roosterandrice or visit roosterandrice.com for more information.

Several restaurants in or near the Greater Heights have been rated among Yelp’s “Top 100 places to eat in Texas” list, which Yelp released last week. According to the list, A Cake Addict in the Heights (5402 Darling St.) came in at No. 22 on the list, while Rice Military’s ZOA Moroccan Kitchen (4710 Lillian St.) was No. 31 and Northside Village-area spot La Casa Bakery & Café (1002 Hogan St.)

came in at No. 81 on the list. In order to compile the rankings, Yelp said it included the total volume and ratings of reviews between Jan. 1, 2017 and Jan. 31, 2022. It also said all restaurants had a passing health score as of Feb. 1. To see the complete list or for more information on how the rankings were compiled, go to yelp.com/article/ yelps-top-100-texas-restaurants-2022.

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The Leader • Saturday, June 4, 2022 • Page 7

How to best support a three-legged pet

Dear Tabby, We’ve recently adopted a three-legged dog! He’s very sweet and seems to have adjusted well to having only three legs but we are hoping for some guidance on how to best support him. Your thoughts? Tripod in Timbergrove Dear Tripod, Congratulations on your new addition and thank you so much for choosing adoption! There’s no doubt that your new pup is so grateful to have such a loving family! The good news about animals who have had a limb amputated is that they tend to bounce back very quickly and definitely handle their “new normal” in stride. In fact, the amputation of a limb is generally easier for the pet to handle than for his pet parents! #worrywarts Here are some things to keep in mind when caring for your new “tripod” best friend: Joint health Since your dog is down a leg, this might put extra strain on his remaining three legs. Over time, this could cause joint pain. It’s a good idea to start him on a high quality supplement now which will support good joint health and help his other legs to remain mobile and painfree in the years to come. It’s also important to keep his weight in check to decrease the strain put on those remaining legs. Consider the cause of the amputation

Pets can lose limbs for a variety of reasons, but if your dog lost his leg due to an illness, such as cancer, it is important to stay on top of his regular vet checkups to make sure that cancer doesn’t strike again and, if it does, to treat it early.

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important to keep your dog extra safe. Also plan to get him a raised food and water bowl. The strain of leaning over to eat when you only have three legs can be difficult, and you’ll want to make sure that feeding time isn’t a hassle for your beloved tripod!

Pain management Talk to your vet about making sure that your pet isn’t in pain. Pain management is important--especially for animals with differing abilities. You can also make sure to keep him comfortable by getting him a heated dog bed and consider ramps and such to help him access parts of the house that might be difficult with three legs.

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Preparing your home Make sure that your yard is fenced and safe for your new dog. Three-legged pets have a disadvantage when it comes to running and/or escaping danger, so it’s very

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Page 8 • Saturday, June 4, 2022 • The Leader GENERAL HOME IMPROVEMENTS AUTO CARE

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The Leader • Saturday, June 4, 2022 • Page 9

Surfhouse owner Sandel made waves in community By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

Gentle Sowle said she and her three siblings do not have any grandparents living in Texas, so they have not seen them very often over the years. Lloyd and Carol Sandel helped fill that role as the owners of Surfhouse, a specialty shop for surfers and skateboarders that has operated in Oak Forest for 55 years. Sowle and her two skateboarding sisters, Magnificent and Valiant, started making weekly visits to the shop more than a decade ago, and it was the first store their little brother, Legend, visited after he was born. The youngest Sowle was especially fond of Lloyd Sandel, affectionately calling him “Woyd” while he was learning how to talk. Their grandfatherly figure died Saturday, May 28, at age 78, of complications from an infection, according to his wife, Carol. She was comforted by Gentle and Magnificent Sowle, who both work at the shop, when it reopened Tuesday at 1737 W. 34th St., Suite 400. “He was our grandpa we always wanted. He was the best guy ever,” Gentle Sowle said. “He taught us so much, all about skateboarding.” Generations of Oak Forest-area residents – along with surfing and skateboarding aficionados all over the Houston region – came to adore Surfhouse and its laid-back co-owner. The business bills itself as the oldest surf shop in Texas as well as the state’s oldest skateboard shop, having opened in June 1967 on Spring Branch Drive before relocating to the southwest corner of West 34th Street and Ella Boulevard later that year. His wife said Lloyd Sandel spent every day except for holidays at his shop, which is open daily and sells surfboards, skateboards, related products and apparel. He also did custom builds and repairs, in some cases building surfboards for three generations within the same family, according to Carol. “It was his passion,” she said. “It didn’t matter if it was a hurricane or snowing, he was here. His passion was me and (daughter) Susan and the shop.” Lloyd was born at a downtown hospital and largely grew up in Houston, except for spending some of his boyhood as a Galveston resident, according to Carol. She said her husband graduated from Sam Houston High School in the Northline area before spending about a year studying art at Pasadena City College in Southern California, where Carol joked that he “got into cars, hot rods, surfing, a little drinking he shouldn’t have done.” Lloyd returned to Houston to be close to his mother, who had fallen

Lloyd Sandel, who founded Surfhouse in 1967 along with his wife, Carol, died May 28 at age 78.

ill, and met Carol in 1962. They were married three years later and in 1967, after Lloyd had been repairing surfboards in a garage and working at a post office, they opened Surfhouse together. Carol said they settled in Oak Forest because it was a popular shopping destination and close to where she grew up in the Lindale area. The couple made their home first in the Heights and later in Oak Forest. Carol said Lloyd was an avid surfer in his younger years, catching the Houston region’s surfing wave in the 1960s, and also was passionate about cars – specifically Volkswagens. In addition to owning the surf shop, Carol said Lloyd owned multiple cars over the years and was a partner in a Volkswagen restoration business in Pasadena during the 1980s. Rodrick Barham and Chase Ayers, who spent time at Surfhouse on Tuesday to visit Carol and reminisce,

Photo from Facebook

Photo by Adam Zuvanich From left to right, Surfhouse co-owner Carol Sandel visits with sisters Gentle and Magnificent Sowle, who are mourning the recent death of Sandel’s husband, Lloyd, who ran the Oak Forest surf and skateboarding shop along with his wife.

Business Briefs: Nu Dentistry opening new location in Garden Oaks

George G. Junkin, D.C. - NW Chiro “Treat the problem itself, not just the symptoms.” This is the philosophy behind the chiropractic practice of Dr. George Junkin. Chiropractic adjustments and healthy lifestyle choices produce the best results. For over 35 years, Dr. Junkin has helped patients get releif from pain due to an injury or chronic condition. The result being fast long-lasting relief.

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

A Houston-based cosmetic dentistry office is expanding its footprint in the area, and its newest location will be in the Garden Oaks neighborhood. Nu Dentistry has executed a 2,700-square foot lease in Block 14 at Garden Oaks, a recently-completed shopping center at 3201 N. Shepherd Dr., according to a news release from Gulf Coast Commercial Group, which developed the property. The Garden Oaks location will be the third Houston-area office for Nu Dentistry, which also operates in Spring and Tanglewood. Upon its opening, Nu Dentistry will join tenants including McAlister’s Deli and Salata in the nearly 18,000-square foot, one-story building just north of Loop 610 and immediately south of West 34th Street. According to the release, each patient room will be furnished with Bluetooth headphones and two screens to stream Netflix, Hulu, YouTube and other available platforms while the patient is receiving services. “We’re excited by the leasing trajectory of this project, and with the addition of Nu Dentistry, pleased to be fulfilling our vision of supporting the daily convenience needs of this fast-growing urban neighborhood,” said Gerald Crump, the chief operating

worked at the shop in the late 1980s and early ‘90s. Barham described Lloyd as mostly quiet and reserved, but said he would open up and tell “amazing stories” if the topic was surfing, skateboarding or Volkswagens. Ayers said the Sandels fostered a “come as you are” mentality at Surfhouse, which did not adhere to a “No shoes, no shirt, no service” policy. “He was about, ‘No shirt, no shoes, no problem,’” Ayers said. “There was a sign on the door. That’s when we were like, ‘These people are so cool.’” Lloyd had cool tastes in music, too, with his wife saying he was a big fan of Roy Orbison, Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix. He even let Ayers, Barham and other members of a band they put together play jam sessions in the shop after hours. He did not always like the tunes they played, however. “Lloyd’s favorite thing to say to us, whenever we would play music he didn’t like, was, ‘I’ll fight to my death your right to play whatever (cruddy) music you want, but I don’t have to like it,’“ Ayers said. Carol, who favors Elvis Presley and likes to watch soap operas on the TV near the counter at Surfhouse, said she plans to keep the business going. The shop helps her stay active and keep in touch with her friends, she said, and she wants to continue Lloyd’s legacy and continue serving the Oak Forest community, which she called a “wonderful neighborhood” full of people who are “very loyal.” The Sowle sisters also are carrying the torch lit by their adopted grandfather. The 21-year-old Gentle said she runs a skateboarding academy along with her boyfriend Skjalg Mongstad, a native of Norway who Lloyd jokingly called “Lars” because it was the “only Scandinavian name he knew,” he said. Both Gentle and Mongstad said they incorporate lessons learned from Lloyd, who helped set them up for success in other ways as well. They give out skateboarding-related products as prizes at the end of their camps – products that were provided by Lloyd, who refused to take money for them. “He donated so much stuff to all our camps,” Gentle said. “Lloyd was so supportive of it and gave us so much.” Ayers said Lloyd’s longtime supporters are organizing a fundraising auction and party in his honor and to provide financial support for Carol and Surfhouse. A public memorial service also is being planned, according to Carol. For more information on those upcoming events, follow Surfhouse on Facebook or on Instagram @surfhousehtx, or follow @droppinintexas on Instagram.

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Photo by Adam Zuvanich Block 14 at Garden Oaks will be the new home for Nu Dentistry’s third Houston location. The cosmetic dentistry office plans to open in the North Shepherd Drive development later this year, according to a news release from Gulf Coast Commercial Group.

officer for Gulf Coast Commercial. For more information on Nu Dentistry, visit its website at nudentistry.com. Clothing boutique coming to Autry Park There is a new clothing store coming to the Autry Park Development in the Rice Military area. According to a Facebook post from the development, Piermarini will soon open its second Houston-area store at the multi-use development. Autry Park is an approximately 14-acre development

at the intersection of Allen Parkway and Shepherd Drive near Buffalo Bayou Park, according to its website, with the shops and other attractions of the Heights just a few miles away. Piermarini’s website says the store, which currently operates at 2427 Rice Blvd., offers menswear and womenswear along with various types of shoes and more. For more information on Autry Park, visit its website at autrypark.com. To find out more about Piermarini, call 713-291-2059 or email info@ piermarinihouston.com.

For over 80 years, we’ve cared enough to think about the very worst. Through tornadoes, earthquakes, hurricanes, and more, Farmers has been on the scene helping people start rebuilding since 1928. No one wants to think about all the things that can go wrong. But at Farmers, that’s what we’ve been doing for the last 80 years.

Personal attention. Call 713-699-8669 today! Lane Lewis Your Local Agent 2200 North Loop W. Ste. 136, Houston, TX 77018 LLewis@FarmersAgent.com

Page 10 • Saturday, June 4, 2022 • The Leader

Local Legion post recognizes fallen members on Memorial Day By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

Community members gathered at American Legion Post 560 on Monday for food, fellowship and to honor fallen soldiers and legionnaires as well as an American flag. Twelve people who died within the last year who were connected to Post 560 in Garden Oaks - eight members, three auxiliary members and one son of the American Legion - had seats reserved for them at a red, white and blue table set up for a Memorial Day remembrance event. Handwritten index cards included the names of each along with some personal information, and each received a red poppy flower. “Post Everlasting is the final destination within the American Legion where our departed comrades transfer after they are ‘called for

duty’ by the Supreme Commander,” Post 560 said in a news release. “A poppy and salute was given to honor their contribution and service to our country, community and post. The ceremony ended to the sounds of Taps.” The afternoon ceremony was preceded by a pot luckstyle luncheon in which hamburgers and hot dogs were served. The Memorial Day event at Post 560, 3720 Alba Rd., also included a flag retirement ceremony involving Boys Scouts Troop 54. Per the United States Flag Code and under the direction of Scout Master Eric Lokker, who also is a legionnaire, the troop’s worn American flag was burned in a fire pit outside the Legion post. Other legionnaires and members of the scouts troop participated in the ceremony.

Contributed photo Twelve people who died within the last year who were connected to American Legion Post 560 in Garden Oaks were remembered Monday at a Memorial Day event.

Contributed photo Representatives of American Legion Post 560 and Boy Scouts Troop 54 participated in a flag retirement ceremony Monday as part of a Memorial Day event at Post 560, 3720 Alba Rd.

Students show off skills at ‘Heights Got Talent’ competition By Adam Zuvanich azuvanich@theleadernews.com

Students from three local elementary schools, two middle schools and Heights High School performed May 26 in a community talent show held on the Heights campus. Three judges selected winning performances in four categories as part of the “Heights Got Talent” show, which was sponsored by Heights Christian Church and the Houston Heights Association.

A group of 15 ballet dancers from Crockett Elementary won the lower elementary school category for their performance of “A Midsummer Nights’ Dream.” Vocal soloist Isabelle White from Love Elementary won the upper elementary school competition, singing “Love Fool.” The middle school winner was Hogg Middle School’s Max Cedillo, who played “The Addams Family” theme song on the piano. Heights High School’s Ballet Folklorico won the high school

competition. “It was a great event,” said Rev. Amber Mattingly of Heights Christian Church, who organized the competition. “There was a lot of excitement in the audience and our judges were fantastic.” The three judges were Ryan Breaux, the choir director at Woodcreek Middle School in Humble ISD; Jennifer Sommers, the director of the Houston Ballet Academy; and Jamar Williamson, a performance and visual artist based in Houston.

Contributed photo A group of ballet dancers from Crockett Elementary celebrates with their teacher after winning the lower elementary school competition at the “Heights Got Talent” show held May 26 at Heights High School.

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