The 06-10-23 Edition of The Heights Leader

Making it official

City, DOJ resolve illegal dumping investigation

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Nearly a year after the United States Department of Justice began investigating the city of Houston’s illegal dumping responses, the city and DOJ announced earlier this week that the two parties have reached a mutual agreement to resolve the investigation.

On Tuesday, the city and DOJ announced a resolution to the investigation, saying the resolution is building upon the city’s One Clean Houston initiative that was launched last March as the city said it aims to push back against illegal dumping in the city, particularly in communities of color.

“To me, this is personal. I grew up and still live in these neighborhoods, and my life’s work has been to lift these neighborhoods,” Mayor Sylvester Turner said. “As mayor, I prioritized the needs of communities of color that are historically underresourced and underserved and built a Complete Communities program that is a model for public-private investment in neighborhood revitalization.”

TEA implements takeover of HISD HISD managers pledge to serve whole community

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

The state of Texas’ largest school district is now under the governance of the state, and its board of trustees and superintendent replaced by a stateappointed board of managers.

On Thursday morning, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) made its takeover of Houston Independent School District official. The district –which includes over a dozen local high schools, middle schools, and elementary schools – will now be run by the nine-member board of managers and state-appointed superintendent Mike Miles until further notice, according to the agency.

The board of managers was selected from an applicant pool of 462 people, according to the TEA, and Miles was previously a superintendent with the Dallas Independent School District and the Harrison School District in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

“Over the past few months, we have been heartened to see so many Houstonians eagerly step up to serve their community and the students of Houston ISD,” Texas Education Commissioner, Mike Morath said Thursday. “We were looking for people from a wide array of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives who believe all children can learn and achieve at high levels when properly supported and who can work together. I believe the governing team I am naming today will work as a unified team, dedicated to improving student outcomes and supporting educators.”

However, the takeover has not been positively

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

The Texas Education Agency’s appointment of a board of managers to oversee the state’s largest school district has been met with some pushback, even as the state’s takeover became official with the appointment of managers and superintendent last week.

But the new managers say that though they were not elected by the respective districts within Houston ISD, their goal remains the same – to serve the community to the best of their abilities.

“The benefit of being at large as a collective group, is that we represent all children. Our focus is on the children, and on the community as well,” manager Adam Rivon said Wednesday morning.

The nine-member board will be responsible for overseeing the operations of HISD for the foreseeable future. HISD – which includes over a dozen local high schools, middle schools, and elementary schools – will now be run by the nine-member board of managers and state-appointed superintendent Mike Miles until further notice, according to the agency.

The board of managers was selected from an applicant pool of 462 people, according to the TEA, and Miles was previously a superintendent with the Dallas Independent School District and the Harrison School District in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Many of the new managers say they are aware

The DOJ launched an investigation last July following civil rights complaints filed on behalf of residents in Houston that alleged the city discriminated against Black and Latino communities in the northeast part of the city in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, according to the DOJ. Title VI prohibits recipients of federal funds from discriminating on the basis of race, color or national origin in their federally funded programs and activities.

Over the last 10 months, the department said it has been investigating Houston’s efforts to address the illegal dumping, which the DOJ said has become more pervasive in Black and Latino communities. And in those 10 months, the department said One Clean Houston has been a step towards addressing the problem, and that Tuesday’s agreement builds on the initiative.

“Houston’s illegal dumpsites have contaminated water and soil, attracted vermin and created blight in historically under-resourced neighbor-

Local arts district up for national recognition

From Staff Reports

Arts District Houston, one of Houston’s seven state-designated cultural districts, has been nominated for the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Award for “Best Arts District.” This nomination is a testament to the district’s commitment to promoting and supporting the arts, and the hard work of its managing partner, Fresh Arts.

Arts District Houston is situated in the city center along the Washington Avenue Corridor and is made up of the historic First and Sixth Ward neighborhoods. It is home to MECA, 4th Wall Theater, FotoFest, and the Sawyer Yards creative campus. Visitors to the Arts District can experience art in the Site Gallery (housed within former silos), snap photos of the murals along Art Alley, meet 300+ local artists in their studios

at Sawyer Yards, or see underground installations in the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern.

Through Arts District Houston programming, Fresh Arts says that it aims to amplify the district’s ability to serve artists and the greater community through artist-centered public art projects and initiatives. These initiatives, the organization says, help build capacity,

Home Equity Everything Loan

Photo from Facebook 4th Wall Theatre actors perform in a play. The company is part of Arts District Houston, which is up for a national recognition by USA Today.

Photo courtesy of HISD website

Pictured is the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center. The Texas Education recently appointed Mike Miles, left, as superintendent and has put a nine-member board in place.

THE PUBLIC.

Woman killed in Heights auto-pedestrian crash

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

A woman was killed after being struck by a car in the Heights earlier this week, according to the Houston Police Department.

The identity of the woman is pending an au-

topsy from the county’s medical examiner, according to the department.

The woman was in a raised median just after 11 a.m. Tuesday, according to police, and is believed to have been either pushing a wheelchair or in a wheelchair when she

entered the street at 2800 Yale St. in the Heights.

As she was walking into the roadway, the department said a white Nissan NV150 work van driving north on Yale allegedly hit her.

Paramedics took her to a local hospital, where she was later pronounced

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dead according to the department.

No charges have been filed in the ongoing investigation, according to police. The department said the driver showed no signs of intoxication at the time of the crash, and he was questioned at the scene and released.

Acres Homes house fire under investigation

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Houston fire authorities are still working to determine the cause of a fire at an abandoned home in Acres Homes last week, according to the Houston Fire Department.

Nobody was reported injured as a result of the fire, according to the fire department.

Crews from stations 2, 13, 31, 57, 58, and 67 responded to an abandoned two-story house in the 5700 block of Wheatley Street in Acres Homes just after 7:30

a.m. on May 26, according to the department, to see a heavy fire coming from the second story of the house.

Following firefighters being able to control the fire from the outside, the department said crews were able to conduct a full primary search and

found nobody inside, according to HFD.

It was not immediately released how much property was damaged or saved, and the department said arson investigators are still working to determine what led to the fire breaking out.

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THE TOPICS.

THE TAX OFFICE – “Hi,”

I say to the guy behind the desk. “I’m here to pay my taxes. Sorry to be late, but I got an extension.” He looks up from behind a 2-foot pile of papers, and puts aside his goosequill pen. “Have a seat.

I’ll be with you in -- what’s this? – June? How does Oc tober sound?” No doubt, like you, this makes me think of Al Capone and the miss ing $1 trillion. Let’s take the last thought first. Most Americans pay their federal income tax. A recent Credit Karma Tax survey of more than 2,000 Americans found that respondents are actually more likely to cheat on their diet, a test or even a significant other than on their tax return. Only about 6 percent said they have knowingly cheated on their income taxes. Most respondents said they believe the big cheaters are the rich, and they are right. That seems obvious; Americans who receive a weekly pay check are an open book to I.R.S. snoops, but those super wealthy with Swiss bank accounts and a staff of accountants and tax lawyers are harder to check. Then there are also legal loopholes: In 2011 an undocumented immigrant housekeeper working at Trump National Golf Club earned $26,792.90 and paid more in federal income taxes than Trump did which was $0.

According to I.R.S. officials, most of the unpaid taxes are the result of evasion by the wealthy and large corporations. How much? It was estimated by the I.R.S that an average of $441 billion per year went unpaid from 2011 to 2013. Charles Rettig, former I.R.S. commissioner, estimated the U.S. is losing $1 trillion in unpaid taxes every year. One trillion dollars? That alone would pay for what the Pentagon spills. Why this huge loss? Rettig said that the agency lacks the resources to catch tax cheats.

This brings us to the I.R.S. circa 1890. The tax service is woefully understaffed, uses equipment you can find in a computer museum and continues to shrink. As of 2018 (the latest figures available, like I said, the tax troopers are woefully behind) the I.R.S. had 9,510 auditors.

That’s down a third from 2010. The last time the I.R.S. had fewer than 10,000 revenue agents was 1953, when the economy was a seventh of its current size. In 2010, the I.R.S. examined 1.4 mil-

than it did in 2010, a drop of 42 percent. And the I.R.S is still shrinking. Almost a third of its remaining employees will be eligible to retire in the next year, and with morale plummeting, many of them will -- 52,000.

What to do? Republicans in Congress cut the I.R.S.’s budget even more. President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act included $80 billion for the agency to spend over the next 10 years, paying for 82,000 new employees. Republicans slashed it by $21.4 billion. This means even fewer agents, but here’s the irony: because the I.R.S. brings in tax dollars, fewer agents and fewer audits actually results in – get this – an increase in the debt!

The elephants in the room (the GOPers) were jubilant. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy tweeted: “Democrats’ new army of 87,000 I.R.S agents will be coming for you -- with 710,000 new audits for Americans who earn less than $75k.” Republicans also warn that “gun-toting agents will be kicking down your front door.” Actually, only about 2,500 special agents carry firearms because they deal with potential criminal tax violators and financial criminals. That’s nothing new. They have been armed since 1919.

Can we bring some truth to these fearsome charges?

First, it is 82,000 new employees, not 87,000. They will be added over the next decade, and most of them will not be agents. Among the I.R.S.’s work force of about 79,000 employees, only 10,000 are actually agents. Of those 10,000, about 8,000 are number crunchers behind their desk who audit tax filings, and 2,000 are special agents who investigate potential tax crimes. In fact, the two most common I.R.S. jobs have little

do with tax auditing or investigations: about 13,000 are customer service

representatives who answer taxpayers’ phone calls (read: put you on Hold) and 10,000 are seasonal employees who file mail or transcribe data. Other jobs include lawyers, examiners, technicians, appeals officers, cafeteria workers and the people who mop the floors. So let’s be specific when they trot out “87,000 new agents.” That number is totally misleading, but it sounds scary on TV. We have all heard the line: “Half of Americans pay no

taxes at all.” Put that down with the Easter Bunny, leprechauns and competent Texas legislators. Everyone pays taxes: sales tax, property tax, franchise tax, and indirectly, a whole slew of hidden taxes. Every time you fill up your pickup truck you are paying a tax to the feds. A majority of those non-payers work and thus also pay the payroll taxes that help support Social Security and Medicare. The State of Texas has no income tax, but our leg-

The Railroad Commission of Texas has disposed of equipment and/or hydrocarbons pursuant to Section 89.085 of the Texas Natural Resources Code. Any person with a legal or equitable ownership or security interest in the equipment or hydrocarbons that was in existence on the date the Commission entered into a contract to plug the following well(s) or clean the following leases/facilities may file a claim with the Commission. Contact the Houston District Office at 713-869-5001 to obtain a claim form.

SMP Code No: 03-200199

Lease: Bishop, Patrick (121833)

Well: #1 (API 201-31892)

Field name: York Plaza (Cook Mountain) Harris County, Texas

SMP Code Number: 03-260846

Operator Name: Otex Resources, LLC (628135)

Lease Name: Shelton, Charles M. Fee (04537) Well Number(s): #3, 4, 5, 6, 8 County: Harris

islature just passed a $321.3 billion budget. Where do you think they got that money? It would be slightly more accurate to say that half of Americans pay no federal income tax, but even that, like the number of “gun-toting I.R.S agents” is wrong. The number of Americans who pay no federal income tax is still a hefty 44 percent and 97 percent in 2018 were paid by the top half of taxpayers.

As for Al Capone, he got away with murder and may-

hem for years. An army of law enforcement agencies couldn’t nail him, but the tax man did, ultimately convicting Capone of tax evasion, sentencing him to Alcatraz for 11 years and fining him $50,000 (the harshest tax fraud sentence in history to that point).

Ashby is taxed at ashby2@comcast.net

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Washington boys’ hoops team honored by city

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

On the heels of a historic 2022-2023 season, a local high school boys’ basketball team recently received an honor from the city of Houston.

Late last month, the Booker T. Washington High School boys basketball team was honored at Houston City Hall a few months after making a historic run to the UIL state basketball tournament – the first trip to the UIL state tournament, where they lost to eventual champion Oak Cliff Faith Academy.

The appearance was not the first-ever trip to a state tournament. But they had not been to any iteration of a state tournament since the mid-1950s when they made the Prairie View Interscholastic League (PVIL) state title game in 1946 and again in 1952. The PVIL was the governing body for extracurricular activities for the state’s predominantly African American high schools such as Booker

T. Washington from 19201967 before merging with the UIL, according to the UIL website.

The city has declared May 16, 2023 as Booker

T. Washington High School Boys Basketball Team Championship Day.

“This is a great school to be a part of with its historical value, but most importantly, the students and the community in which we serve,” Booker

T. Washington principal

LAndAn KuhLmAnn Editor

Carlos R. Phillips II said.

It was a history-making season in many ways for the Golden Eagles. The Eagles finished with a 29-8 record that included victories over Class 6A playoff qualifiers such as Lamar, Bellaire, Stratford, and Pearland Dawson.

Booker T. Washington also handed class 6A runner-up Beaumont United its only regular season loss of the year.

And though they will

lose graduating seniors such as Kenneth Lewis, Andre Walker II, Davion Smith, and more, the Eagles look to be locked and loaded for another run next season. Booker

T. Washington is currently set to return guard Odis Carter Jr., the team’s third leading scorer at 17.9 points per game last season, as well as forward Chris McDermott (19 points, 11.9 rebounds) and several more key pieces of this year’s squad.

“It was a great season this year and I’m glad we’re here today,” head coach Vincent Grayson said May 23. “We came up a little short this season but, we’re going to try again next year.”

Photo from Twitter

Booker T. Washington boys’ basketball coach Vincent Grayson, right, receives the team’s proclamation from Mayor Sylvester Turner.

Photo from Twitter

The Booker T. Washington Eagles’ boys basketball team was recognized at Houston City Hall late last month following this season’s run to the UIL state tournament.

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received by all parties. The Houston Federation of Teachers released a statement saying the organization is “dismayed” by the takeover and calling the decision a “hostile takeover.”

“We are no longer an independent school district,” HFT President Jackie Anderson said in a statement Thursday morning. “But we will also not be a silent school district.”

Long time coming

The official move has been several months and years in the making, with the TEA announcing its intent to take over HISD earlier this year. Morath first pushed for a takeover of the school board in 2019 with efforts to replace them amidst allegations of board misconduct as well as nearly a decade of low academic performance at Wheatley High School.

HISD sued the TEA in 2020, and was granted an injunction by a Travis County judge – which was later upheld by an appeals court. But this past January, the Texas Supreme Court ruled in favor of the agency and threw out the injunction – clearing the way for a the takeover.

es, and shared resources for the artists and creative businesses that compose the district and create new opportunities to showcase the diversity of Houstonarea artists.

“We are honored to be nominated for the USA

In 2019, HISD had 40 schools receive failing grades in the TEA’s annual accountability ratings, with some schools such as Wheatley receiving failing grades for several consecutive years. Such trends are what TEA officials have said led to the push for a takeover, among other factors.

And despite the fact that the number of schools receiving a failing grade has been reduced to 10 as of the most recent accountability ratings, some believe that changes still need to be made, while Miles claimed that HISD failed to serve its students and that it was a “systemic failure from top to bottom” while saying the situation is “urgent.”

“Schools do not struggle because of the students they serve or the communities they are in. Schools fail because the district fails to support them,” Miles said in a statement. “We can’t fix one school – we have to fix the system. It will take time, but we are starting now, and we will not stop until every HISD student is learning in a school that teaches them core skills at grade level and pre-

pares them for successful lives in the Houston of 2035.”

However, opponents of the takeover have cited the improving accountability grades and many additional factors as proof that progress has been made over the last two years under outgoing superintendent Millard House II. They say that a takeover is not necessary, and that the district can be governed locally.

“HFT will work to hasten TEA’s departure in this district and reduce the harm to teachers, families, and our schools,” the HFT said in a statement.

“We want what is best for our community, and we will not let them be ignored in this process.”

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner echoed the sentiment in a statement Thursday.

“There has been minimal community engagement and very little transparency. The named superintendent and board of managers were chosen behind closed doors by the state with little or no input from parents, teachers, or local community leaders,” he said. “I do not question the desire of those

persons to do their very best on behalf of HISD. Still, they are being asked to address deficiencies and budgetary shortfalls without any additional resources coming from the state.”

Goals remain the same

Despite the objections to the takeover, Miles said his and the new board of managers’ goal is the same as any governing body – to best serve the students, families, and staff that are now in their charge.

“You will see and feel things change. We will be aligning our resources – especially our most effective teachers and principals – to better serve students in underserved communities,” Miles said. “For students who need to catch up and in schools that have failed for years, we will be offering more instructional time. We will ask you to change and adapt along with us.”

House II also released a statement Wednesday afternoon ahead of the official move, saying he was “proud” to serve as HISD’s superintendent, and said the district accomplished many of the goals they set out to do.

“For almost two years, we came together and worked hard for the common goal of providing an exceptional educational experience for every student in our district,” he said. “… To our educators – you have my deepest gratitude. Our students need you now, more than ever. To the HISD community – we have only just started to crack the surface of our students’ potential, and your unwavering support continues to be necessary.”

And though his time leading the district is now over, House said he will continue to advocate for the HISD community, its schools, and its students through any means necessary as the new board begins its tenure. Even though his role has changed, he said the goal remains the same.

“We accomplished many of the goals we set together in the last two years,” he said. “And while I know our time was cut short, I have no doubt there will be more successes to come. Until then, I wish our students, staff, and community continued achievement and success.”

Voting for the USA

For more information about Arts District Houston and Fresh Arts, visit their website at https:// www.fresharts.org/artsdistrict-houston.

of the distrust or apprehensiveness that might exist among community members, families, parents, and students amid the changeover from an elected board to a state-appointed board. But those in charge say that they have plans to get community feedback before implementing any sweeping changes.

“I’m spending time going out to all different parts of Houston Metro to make sure I get words and connections throughout each of those communities –not just the community I happen to live in,” said Rivon, who currently lives in Montrose.

Getting that feedback, the managers said, will be crucial to meeting the state’s three required exit criteria. Those criteria are that there be zero campuses who receive failing grades in the TEA’s yearly accountability ratings multiple times, effective board governance, and meeting the needs of all students in the district.

The goal of the managers, Michelle Cruz-Arnold said, is returning control to an elected board of trustees sooner than later. And receiving the aforementioned feedback, she said, is paramount to them meeting those criteria.

“All of these questions are reasonable and healthy. It’s normal for people to have anxiety and concerns about things that

are new to them or unexpected. And these certainly fall into that bucket,” she said. “…. We are committed to meeting the three exit criteria as quickly as possible so that we can return the district to an elected board as quickly as we can, and doing it the right way.”

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plan, it’s something the superintendent and his team are going to have to come back and look at…and to make sure whatever schools there are, are aligned with the goals that we’ve set forth as a district,” said manager and Heights resident Paula Mendoza.

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A prominent concern raised by community members at board meetings have included the attention paid to special education resources. Rivon said that is one of the priorities of the board, and of his as well considering his own son – an HISD student – is in special education and also the Gifted and Talented program with a 160 IQ.

“(At my son’s old school), the school essentially said ‘we can’t support what you need for your child.’ It was so challenging,” he said. “I really saw that parents shouldn’t have to fight that way for their kids in a system that’s supposed to serve them. We need to do that. I believe wholeheartedly that we’ve got a lot of opportunities with special education.”

Community members have also been concerned about charter schools coming to HISD, though board members said there are no immediate plans about charter schools in HISD.

“It’s not in our immediate

At the end of the day, managers said their goal is simple – return HISD back to the hands of elected members, and leave the district better than they found

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IBS and a low FODMAP food plan

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

Irritable bowel syndrome

(IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. As a registered dietitian specializing in functional medicine, I often work with individuals who suffer from IBS and help them manage their symptoms through targeted nutritional interventions. In this article, we will explore what IBS is, its causes and symptoms, and how a low FODMAP food plan can be an effective approach for symptom management.

IBS is a chronic condition usually characterized by recurring abdominal pain, bloating, and changes in bowel habits. It is considered a functional disorder, meaning that there are no structural abnormalities or visible signs of disease in the digestive tract. The exact cause of IBS is still not fully understood, but several factors can contribute to its development. These factors may include altered gut motility, visceral hypersensitivity, intestinal inflammation, changes in gut microbiota, and dietary triggers.

The symptoms of IBS can vary from person to person, but they commonly include abdominal pain or discomfort, bloating, gas, diarrhea, constipation, or a combination of both. These symptoms can be bothersome and significantly impact an individual’s quality of life.

One nutritional approach that has shown promise in managing IBS symptoms is the low FODMAP diet. FOD -

MAP stands for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols. These are shortchain carbohydrates and sugar alcohols that are poorly absorbed in the small intestine, leading to increased water and gas in the colon, which can trigger symptoms in individuals with IBS.

The low FODMAP diet is a structured eating plan that involves reducing or eliminating high-FODMAP foods for a specific period, typically between 4-6 weeks. This elimination phase helps identify individual trigger foods and provides symptom relief. After this phase, foods are gradually reintroduced in a controlled manner to determine tolerance levels.

Categories of FODMAP foods and provide examples of each are:

1 Oligosaccharides: These include fructans and galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS). Fructans are found in wheat, rye, barley, onion, garlic, and certain fruits and

vegetables like asparagus and artichokes. GOS can be found in beans and legumes, lentils, and chickpeas. Some probiotics contain inulin and Fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS).

2. Disaccharides: The main disaccharide to be mindful of is lactose, found in dairy products such as milk, including skimmed milk, yogurt, and soft cheeses.

3. Monosaccharides: This category primarily includes excess fructose, which is found in certain fruits like apples, pears, mangoes, sugar snap peas and honey.

4. Polyols: Polyols are sugar alcohols found in some fruits and vegetables, as well as artificial sweeteners like sorbitol, mannitol, and xylitol. Examples include certain stone fruits (such as cherries, peaches, and plums), mushrooms, and sugar-free gums or candies.

During the low FODMAP elimination phase, these

high-FODMAP foods are avoided to reduce symptom triggers. Proper guidance and individualized recommendations during this process can be very helpful to ensure adequate nutrition.

Once trigger foods have been identified, the low FODMAP diet moves into the reintroduction phase. This phase involves systematically reintroducing one FODMAP group at a time while monitoring symptoms. This process helps determine individual tolerance levels and allows for a more personalized diet plan.

Following a low FODMAP diet is a short-term food plan. It is not designed to be a long-term solution. The goal is to identify individual triggers and develop a modified, sustainable eating plan that minimizes symptom flare-ups while maintaining a nutritionally balanced diet.

In addition to following a low FODMAP food plan, other dietary and lifestyle factors can contribute to

Preferred Health DIRECTORY

managing IBS symptoms. These may include eating regular, balanced meals; staying adequately hydrated; managing stress levels; engaging in regular physical activity; and considering the potential benefits of specific probiotics and gut-directed therapies.

In conclusion, IBS is a complex gastrointestinal disorder that can significantly impact a person’s quality of life. The low FODMAP diet offers a structured approach to manage IBS symptoms by reducing or eliminating specific high-FODMAP foods. By working with a healthcare professional, individuals with IBS can identify their trigger foods and develop a personalized nutrition plan that supports symptom management and overall well-being. Remember, proper guidance and individualization are key when implementing any dietary intervention for IBS or any other health condition.

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Art Valet: New bends and twists coming from artist Joe Haden

Mitch cohen Art Columnist

The Art Car Museum, located at 140 Heights Blvd., will present new art by Joe Haden on June 17 from 7 -10 p.m. Haden will bring his latest works in metal, found objects, as well as his inaugural photography series.

Haden said in a statement that he views the world as his art store and collects scrap objects, materials and even trash to recycle and re-purposing. Haden is able to invoke renewed interest in an object by changing the perception of its usefulness, lifespan, and/or status.

I wrote in an August 2020 interview with Haden that it was one of his recycled art pieces that put him on my radar. The sculpture titled “Paradox of Containment,” was an old metal gas can that he cut intricate repeating patterns throughout. The combination of familiar patterns, rust and the can itself has been a popular series for Haden.

“Paradox of Containment” won 2nd place in the 11th Annual Archway Gallery Juried Art Show where Haden is also a member artist.

A long time art car artist, having a solo exhibit at the Art Car Museum just makes sense. It came as a bit of a surprise though when director and curator Noah Edmundson said he wanted Haden’s work to fill the entire museum. It is not a small space, it is a car museum after al.

The invite was two years ago Haden said in a phone call, and he’d just had his most successful show to date. His work

had nearly sold out. However delays and other events kept pushing a scheduled date back until just three months ago, when as luck would have it, Haden had completed 100 pieces.

There are three new mediums Haden will introduce in this exhibit, digital photography, blacksmithing, and museum curation of sorts.

He still creates art with his plasma cutter but his latest love for art is abstract expressionism in blacksmithing.

He said he likes contradictions in 3D art, hard and soft. Mixing metal with wood, and just letting go when working with the metal. The twisting, curving metal might remind a viewer of water flowing. Much of the sculpture is made from

“former” art cars too.

“I walked into my first blacksmith class (in 2014) and told the teacher I’m not here to make a knife, I’m here to make pretty,” Haden said. “We joke about that all the time as he has become a good friend. And still I have made no knives.”

New for this exhibit is a series of digital prints Haden created with familiar subjects such as rusting metals. The framed pieces take on new meaning with titles from Shel Silverstein’s poetry, two are Superstitious and Falling Up.

The museum has two small exhibit rooms near the entrance. In the Tom Jones Gallery, Haden will showcase a collection of his great-grandfather’s medical instruments

from his practice in the late 19th century. A true horror show he tells me.

The second room will feature a series of manipulated x-rays from a 2010 mouth surgery Haden had. Fortunately for Haden, the tools used were modern.

The Art Car Museum is closed until the opening June 17 then it will reopen Sunday, June 18 with regular hours Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Haden’s exhibit will remain on view through Sept. 17.

Visit the museum website for details, https://www.artcarmuseum.com/ and follow Joe Haden on Instagram https:// www.instagram.com/hadenstudios/ and https://ArchwayGallery.com

Cohen is an artist and founder of the First Saturday Arts Market and The Market at Sawyer Yards. Find him at https://ArtValet. com for additional highlights and artist’s stories.

HHA to host celebration for late community icon

From Staff Reports

The Houston Heights Association is hosting a 100th Birthday Memorial Celebration for the late Heights civic leader Melvalene McIlwain Cohen on Sunday, June 25 from 3-5 pm. at the Houston Heights Woman’s Club House, 1846 Harvard Street.

“Because of COVID restrictions, there was no public memorial for this beloved community icon when she passed away early last year,” said event organizer Anne Sloane. “The Heights Association and her many friends felt strongly that Melvalene should be publicly honored for her decades of service. What better time than her hundredth birthday.”

For more than 20 years, Melvalene and her husband Carl operated the Studewood Food Market, a landmark neighborhood institution. They were among the founders of the Houston Heights Association and received that group’s Citizens of the Year award, according to the organization.

Over the decades, the organization said Melvalene faithfully supported a legion of organizations earning commendations

hoods across the city,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “…. This agreement will ensure that Houston fully addresses chronic illegal dumpsites, provides access to adequate waste management services and improves quality of life in communities of color. The Justice Department will continue advancing environmental justice and ensuring that people of color across our nation live in safe, clean and healthy communities.”

In addition to confirming the city’s commitment to One Clean Houston, the DOJ said Tuesday’s agreement establishes a three-year

from the Texas Legislature, the City of Houston, Houston’s Municipal Arts Commission, National Board of PTA’s, Boy Scouts, Retail Grocers Assn., Heights Women’s Club, and others too numerous to mention.

A monument to her contributions stands on the esplanade of Heights Blvd. at 11th Street in the Lombard Lantern, a gift to the United States from Hamburg, Germany, which Melvalene was instrumental in

period of federal monitoring as well as data reporting obligations, enhanced community outreach with impacted neighborhoods, consideration of additional actions to combat commercial sources of illegal dumping and reduce restrictions for residents seeking to use waste depositories, and a federal civil rights training program for specified city employees.

“No one should have to live next to discarded tires, bags of trash, rotting carcasses, infected soils and contaminated groundwater, all caused by illegal dumping,” said U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani for the Southern District of Texas.

According to Turner, the

securing for the Heights as a member of the Municipal Arts Commission. The site was later expanded and dedicated by the city as the Melvalene and Carl Cohen Plaza.

“Leaders of this caliber have molded our community and should be remembered. Please come and share your stories of Melvalene and honor her remarkable life,” Sloan said.

city’s response to illegal dumping has gone down from about seven weeks to less than two weeks since One Clean Houston was launched, with thousands of tons of debris removed from thousands of sites across the city since last July. And he said Tuesday’s agreement is building upon the work that has already begun.

“With this voluntary resolution, we agree with the Department of Justice to move together as partners towards a solution - to carry forward a shared vision of One Clean Houston,” Turner said. “Today’s announcement isn’t a time to celebrate, but we can appreciate progress.”

Contributed photo Joe Haden will be featured at the Art Car Museum June 17.

Contributed photo

Creation Begins by Joe Haden will be on display at the Art Car Museum.

Cohen

Dumping, from P. 1

By Dan Greer For The Leader

I was first drawn to Reel Seafood & Bar by all the buzz they were getting. But they set the hook on me with their logo. The word “Reel” incorporates a fishing rod and reel with a fishing hook embedded in the “&” symbol. Combined with the play on words of “real” seafood…well I just thought that was “real-ly” clever. Wordplay aside, we had bigger fish to fry. We started with the Reel Fries. They come with a creamy sauce on top. Cajun seasoning, shrimp and crawfish tails, onions, cilantro and aioli cover the french fried taters. This was a deliciously messy and popular appetizer with the patrons at our table.

Several of our party had to try the gumbo, but I opted for the Pan Roast. The gumbo had a nice color with the obligatory scoop of white rice in the middle. It had a smoky flavor and a decent amount of crawfish, shrimp, sausage, onions and peppers. But the real winner for me was the Pan Roast. It had a creamy tomato bisque base with bits of crawfish and peppers. The white rice came in handy as it helped tame the surprising little kick of spiciness. A definite crowd pleaser.

We all love hushpuppies right? As in all things culinary, everyone has their preferences. My Aunt Shirley’s hushpuppies set the bar unfairly high. For me a proper hushpuppy is halfway between the size of a golf ball and tennis ball, with the correct amount of onions. The exterior needs to be crispy, not spongy, with the interior being moist but not greasy. Reel’s hushpuppies were good, but not Aunt Shirley level. My steadfast search continues.

Major kudos must be awarded to Reel for their

food temperature. Everything came out piping hot. I enjoyed my catfish and shrimp which had a light cornmeal batter although I would’ve liked the catfish

to be thicker and a bit more flavorful. The shrimp were plump and not overcooked. There is a plethora of optional flavor selections for the battered shrimp.

We opted for the Thai chili and the Tom Yum. Both were great but I preferred the Thai chili which had a sweet and spicy taste. My buddy enjoyed the savory

Tom Yum. They do not scrimp on the sauce. The service was pretty slow but we were enjoying some much-needed fellowship with great friends so

we were just fine with the unhurried pace. One item we did not have tonight in which they apparently excel, was crawfish. We saw mounds of the critters being gobbled up at multiple tables. Judging from the messy but smiling faces, they are worth the effort. We were feeling lazy tonight and didn’t want to work at eating our food, so we’ll sample them on our next visit. The chicken wings and fried mushrooms also caught our eyes.

They have a nice selection of boiled seafood with optional flavors and spice levels. We were sorely tempted to try the “Atomic” spice level, but some mature contemplation, reflection and a pesky little voice in our heads steered us in a different direction. They also offer a mammoth-sized combo plate called (tongue in cheek), the “Reel Snack”. Next time.

Reel has a fun and casual vibe. There is an abundance of tv’s if you want to catch a game while at the bar or feasting on some crawfish. The parking is ample which is a big deal in this area of town. They also have a popular Happy Hour with some great prices and food offerings. So come on down by the bayou and let Reel Seafood lure you in.

Reel Seafood & Bar

Address: 2030 East TC Jester Blvd.

Dining options: Dine-in, takeout

Hours: 2-10 p.m. Monday through Sunday

Entrée prices: $7.99MKT

Kid-Friendly: Yes

Alcohol: Yes

Healthy Options: Yes

Star of the show: Pan Roast

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

A new bar in the Heights has been recognized as a premiere bar not just in Houston, but in the country in a list recently released by Esquire.

EZ’s Liquor Lounge, which opened in October 2022 at 3302 White Oak Dr. in the Heights, was named as one of Esquire’s top bars of 2023 – one of just 33 bars nationwide to make the cut, and the only drinking spot in the region and state to earn a spot on the list.

“You’d think a great dive bar couldn’t be built; it could only be arrived at through decades of benign neglect. You’d think that, at least, until you visited EZ’s Liquor Lounge,” reviewer Beth Ann Fennelly wrote after visiting the Heights spot.

As another branch of Agricole Hospitality, EZ’s serves up both domestic and craft beer, according to its website, along with having wine and an array of cocktails ready to make.

The bar also serves bar food such as chili pie, hot dogs, crunchy tacos, chili, and more according to its website.

For more information on EZ’s Liquor Lounge, follow the bar on Instagram @ ezsliquorlounge or visit agricolehospitality.com/ezsliquor-lounge.

Upside Pub continuing “Support Local” series

On Saturday, The Upside Pub will continue its “Support Local” series by hosting an event with Cheese By Cassie at 6 p.m.

Cheese by Cassie is the brainchild of Garden Oaks resident Cassie, who will take guests through the art of making their very own charcuterie board.

Tickets are $55 and include all materials, and can be purchased at at cheesebycassie.com.

Loro hosting book signing this weekend

This Sunday, June 11, Loro Asian Smokehouse and Bar will be hosting Aaron Franklin of Franklin Barbecue on their patio for a BBQ and book signing from 2-5 p.m. During the event, Franklin will be signing and selling his latest book entitled “Franklin Smoke”.

Franklin and the Loro team will be smoking up Pulled Pork and Chopped Brisket Sandwiches that will be available along with the restaurant’s regular menu, according to the event page.

The event is open to the public, and community members can get free tickets online at eventbrite. com/e/aaron-franklinbook-signing-at-loro-houston-tickets-628599607347.

Photo by Dan Greer

The Pan Roast was the star of the show during a recent visit to Reel Seafood.

Photo by Dan Greer

The Reel Fries along with the Tom Yum and Thai Chili Battered Shrimp at Reel Seafood