The 06-15-24 Edition of The Heights Leader

By LISA MORALES The Leader News Contributor

Looking for a unique and enriching experience to entertain kids and yourself this summer? Doodle Land in the Heights, an innovative interactive art museum inspired by the whimsical world of Alice in Wonderland , has just opened its doors. Promising a blend of fun, education, and sensory engagement,

this new hotspot is perfect for visitors of all ages.

Located at 1320 North Loop, Doodle Land offers a journey through nine distinct exhibit areas, each designed to challenge and delight with various puzzle-solving activities. The museum’s creators, Lulu Fang and Amy Lin, who also founded the popular Honey Art Cafe on S Shepherd Dr, have meticulously crafted each exhibit to immerse visi-

tors in an art escape room-like experience.

The founders shared the inspiration behind Doodle Land and what makes it stand out.

“We decided to build Doodle Land because after 6 years of running Honey Art Cafe, we had gotten really wrapped up in the day-to-day of running a restaurant/coffee shop,” they

By STEPHANIE SHIRLEY The Leader News Contributor

On June 6, in celebration of D-day, The Rotary Club of Houston Heights, in partnership with the Rotary Club of West U, sponsored an event at The Houston Heights World War II Memorial Plaza at 9 a.m. and announced a beautification and restoration initiative that is being implemented to restore and update the magnificent granite monument back to its original glory. The structure, even in its current time-worn condition, is a majestic tribute to lives that were sacrificed for American democracy and freedom.

Time passes and new conflicts compete for the world’s attention, but WWII cannot ever be allowed to become a historical footnote. As a result, there are numerous individuals and organizations dedicated to preserving the memories of the battles that transpired and the lives that expired during this war. In the ‘90s, a group of the former Reagan Heights High School

By RUBENA GRACIA The Leader News Contributor

Livy Guyre, a rising Senior at Saint Agnes Academy, joined Girl Scouts when she was in kindergarten. Today, her troop has 15 members, and many of the girls have been in the program together since elementary school. She is now focusing on her Gold Award and has found a worthy task – addressing childhood hunger and food insecurity. After she graduates from High School, she would like this project to continue through the younger Girl Scouts.

“My Gold Award project aims to ad-

dress the lack of nutritional food for kids,” Livy explained, saying that kids who normally receive free breakfast and lunch during the school year may not receive adequate nutrition during the summer break. This summer, Love Park Community Center, located on West 12th Street in the Heights, is hosting a camp for 50 elementary school students for 10 weeks. Besides sports and other activities, the camp will provide much-needed nutrition. But Livy’s goal is to do more.

Livy’s family has lived in the Woodland Heights since 2002. Her mom Emily Guyre, Executive Director

alumni formed The WWII Alumni Association dedicated to this pursuit. Their association is given credit for the inspiration and initiation of a memorial to honor Heights residents that had served in the war. Many of those graduates were also influential members of the community and served in various civic organizations including the Heights Rotary Club, which ultimately partnered with the association to fund and maintain the monument.

After raising the required capital, Conrad G. Walton was commissioned to bring the dream to fruition. It is a beautiful semi-circle wall containing the names of 2100 Heights-area residents who served their country during WWII, including the 224 that gave their lives in combat. The wall is encompassed by concrete pillars paying tribute to and providing history for each of the individual battles that col-

By CHRIS DAIGLE The Leader News Contributor

The year was 1966. White Oak Bayou was just changing into what we know today. This young explorer roamed with a 10-year-old’s curiosity. What I discovered was an abandoned oil well field, and without knowing it, a gateway to past greatness. The crisp fall days concealed oil pipes, buildings, and roads long tucked away in the woods, and set me on a journey to a legend long ago.

Eureka!

(from Greek, “I found it!”)

Before any concrete, before any roads, C.B. Bunte had a vision of finding oil in Harris County. The experts told him to not to even bother, but in 1934, in the middle of the Depression, Bunte’s team took the chance, and it paid off. On Nov. 22, 1934, the drilling bits stopped and the oil began. The next years would take northwest Houston out of the Depression and into oil and gas legend. It all began near the corner of Bevis and West 18th, which at the time was considered a highway, bringing in goods for sale downtown. The city limits were still a half mile away at North Shepherd, and would not catch up for 10 more years. People flocked to the new discovery to find work. It was hard work, hot summers and cold winters, and in one year four more wells came in, producing oil in record amounts.

The biggest influence in this endeavor, now named the Eureka Heights Oil Field, was Howard Hughes, already a millionaire in his 20s. He came with his newly invented drill bits, which in 1934 drilled holes even straighter and faster than previous bits till then.The Eureka Field turned into the model for oil and gas exploration the world over from that point on.

The newspapers had a field day with the good news. “Eureka well flowing 700 barrels oil now”; “Frazier-Vollmer test flowing crude oil in Houston Heights area”, newspaper headlines read.

On September 24, 1937, the Houston Chronicle reported, “The export demands are a large factor in a request

Livy heard the three women discussing the summer camp and learned that the City of Houston provides a simple lunch and snack for the campers, who are there 9.5 hours each day and play outdoors most of the time. She decided she wanted to add a nutritious snack that

of the Houston Heights Association, is a member of the Love Park Community Center Park Advisory Council (PAC).

Pam Foote is the Love Park Community Center Facility Manager and Daphne Bell is the President of the Love Park Community Center PAC.

Photo by Stephanie Shirley

Photo by Stephanie Shirley

Local eateries named top EAT DRINK HTX! 2024 donors benefiting DePelchin Children’s Center, Houston Food Bank

REPORTS

The

Bank and DePelchin Children’s Center. The 2-week long event only in its third year is gaining momentum with 182 restaurants in 2024 compared to 136 in 2023.

“Eat Drink HTX helps generate income for participating restaurants during a historically slower time of the year,” said Katie Stone, President of the Cleverley Stone Foundation. “Houstonians enjoy ‘Dining Out and Doing Good’ and we are excited to continue growing this event which benefits the restaurants, our charity partners and the diners.”

The 2-week-long dining event, Eat Drink HTX, was developed for the casual dining category, with a lower price point set for prix fixe brunch, lunch, and dinner menus, allowing more casual and fastcasual eateries the opportunity to participate.

The event is Founder Cleverley Stone’s second pillar for fundraising in partnership with area restaurants. She had long recognized the need to boost sales in restaurants during historically slow periods for area restaurants; specifically, weeks in February, after Valentine’s Day and early spring.

“Funds raised by Eat Drink HTX will help DePelchin Children’s Center provide guidance and support to vulnerable children and the families who care for them through life-changing programs like foster care and adoption, parenting and counseling, and residential care,” said Jennifer Jarriel, president and CEO. “This will ensure that more children will be part of safe and loving homes. We’re thankful to The Cleverley Stone Foundation for bringing the community together for this wonderful event and for honoring DePelchin Children’s Center as a beneficiary.”

“I am proud to have partnered with DePelchin Children’s Center on Eat Drink HTX for 2024,” said Stone.

“Since 1892 they have been a beacon of hope and love for children and the community. As a mother myself, I know how their programs and services have added to the quality of life for so many children and families.”

Top donors for 2024 are as follows:

Millie’s Kitchen & Cocktails:

$3,004.00

Savoir: $1,277.00

Reel Luxury Cinema:

$1,080.00

Hughie’s Tavern and Vietnamese Grille on W

City trash collection and facility schedule for Juneteenth and Independence Day holidays

COMMUNITY REPORTS

In observance of the City of Houston’s approved holiday schedule for Juneteenth and Independence Day, the curbside collection service schedules will be modified.

Please note the changes to residential schedules listed below:

JUNETEENTH —

Wednesday, June 19, 2024

18th: $1,046.00

• Oporto Fooding House & Wine: $1,021.00

“We are grateful for the support of Eat Drink HTX, along with our co beneficiary, DePelchin Children’s Center,” said Brian Greene, President & CEO of the Houston Food Bank. “The impact of inflation has hit lower-income, working families particularly hard. Funds raised from this event will help bring food to the table and improve the wellbeing of the families that we serve.”

The Union Kitchen will feed kids for free throughout June and July

COMMUNITY REPORTS

WHAT: Kids will eat free throughout June and July at all five of The Union Kitchen’s conveniently located Houstonarea locations.

This exclusive deal applies to kids under 12 with the purchase of an adult entree item. This offer is not valid on to-go orders and is also available during weekend brunch service. The Union Kitchen’s expansive kids menu is designed to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters.

Gr8 Plate Hospitality, led by restaurateur Paul Miller and his wife, Doris Miller, owns and operates the Union Kitchen’s five Houston-area restaurants. The hospitality group also owns and operates local favorites Jax Grill, Passerella, and Vine Memorial.

“As parents, we deeply understand the challenges that the summer months can bring, especially with the current economic situation. We wanted to offer some relief to Houston families,” Paul Miller said. “We believe that spending quality time with your children over a meal is one of the most important things we can do as parents.”

WHEN: June 1, 2024 through July 31, 2024

WHERE: All five The Union Kitchen locations in Greater Houston YOUR LOCATION: Oak Forest (3452 Ella Blvd, Houston, TX 77018)

Thursday, June 20, 2024

All SWMD facilities will reopen and the collection schedule will return to normal.

INDEPENDENCE DAY —

Thursday, July 4, 2024

CITY HOLIDAY: There will be no curbside collections and all SWMD facilities will be closed. Storm debris collections will continue to be collected.

CITY HOLIDAY: There will be no curbside collections and all SWMD facilities will be closed. Storm debris collections will continue to be collected.

Friday, July 5, 2024

All SWMD facilities will reopen. Thursday’s garbage, yard waste, bulk waste, tree waste, and curbside recycling will be collected.

Saturday, July 6, 2024 Friday’s garbage, yard waste, bulk waste, tree waste, and curbside recycling will be collected.

Monday, July 8, 2024 Collection schedule will return to normal.

Juneteenth: Acres Homes 4th Annual Cultural Arts Festival at The Chamber

COMMUNITY REPORTS

Acres Home Chamber for Business and Economic Development to host the fourth Annual Cultural Arts Festival on Juneteenth for the Acres Homes community

WHAT: Acres Homes Fourth Annual Juneteenth Cultural Arts Festival

WHEN: Wednesday, June 19, 2024

TIME: 4-9 p.m.

WHERE: Acres Home Chamber of Commerce Event Center, 6112 Wheatley St. Houston, TX 77091

The Acres Home Chamber will hold its fourth annual cultural arts festival on June 19th, 2024 to celebrate Juneteenth in Houston, TX. The event will feature a concert with four bands, The Bayou City Brass Band, Keyun & The Zydeco Masters, The Keeshea Pratt Band, and show headliner AJ McQueen with his band closing out his

first headlining tour this June with the show. The lineup covers an array of genres to showcase the many types of music birthed from the rich culture of Black Americans in Texas and across the United States. There will also be spoken word artists like Free K, among others.

There will be food trucks like the popular Houstonbased DC Pop-Up, and Italian Ice to cool the participants through the day. There will also be BBQ, and plenty of complimentary watermelon slices to go around. The Chamber will host bingo and games for those with heat sensitivity through the afternoon indoors.

This event, sponsored in part by H-E-B, is important to community development and togetherness as Juneteenth has been celebrated in Acres Homes long before it was a Federal Holiday.

The CEO and Board Chairman of The Chamber, Warren F. Muhammad fondly remembers his childhood in Acres Homes being rooted in community, especially dur-

ing Juneteenth.

“We would always play baseball, and have picnics and parties, but it was most memorable during Juneteenth,” he said. “I always played in the Little League All-Star game to celebrate, and we just had a good time. We all dressed up, enjoyed the food, and celebrated. It meant something.” The Acres Home Chamber has celebrated Juneteenth since its inception in the early 1990s, but the cultural arts festival is fairly new as it approaches its fourth year. An Instagram reel from last year’s event can be found at #CreativeAF | Demand Driver | Houston PR Girl (@ muzebrandmgmt). Admission is free but participants are encouraged to RSVP online at www.acreshomechamber.com/events. For more information on this event and participating sponsors please visit www. acreshomechamber.com/ juneteenthfestival The Acres Home Chamber is still looking for vendors, food trucks, and sponsors.

Photo by Johnny Than

lectively mapped the war that United States soldiers fought in, trying to preserve freedom. In the center of the monument is a sizable multi-sided pillar with a round mounted ball, representing the world. The panels of the base list names according to their military affiliation; U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force and U.S. Marine Corp. The remaining panel contains an inscribed dedication to men who made the ultimate sacrifice to their country during WWII. The centerpiece resides under a waving American flag.

WWII lasted from September of 1939 to September of 1945. Marked by numerous battles and invasions, its beginning is credited with the Nazi Invasion of Poland, under Hitler’s reign. As expansive and profound as its historical significance was, much of the public today may not remember a very important fact. During that 6-year period, virtually every country in the world was involved; heavily investing economically and industrially. Unfortunately, the most significant investment was in loss of human life.

Anne Sloane, renowned author and Heights historian, put the loss into context.

“Following WWI, we only experienced a few resident casualties. In fact, there are several Heights neighborhood streets named after them in remembrance, including Le Green, Algregg and Ralfallen Streets,” she shared. “That paints such a stark contrast to the thousands of names you see on this memorial wall.”

Indeed, WWII infamously holds the title for the conflict with the greatest sacrifice of human lives, ever. This collective effort to defeat Axis powers was deemed the deadliest war in history and resulted in upwards of 85 million fatalities worldwide. Tim Vozar, Heights Rotary President-elect says for him and his family, this is very personal.

“My dad didn’t talk about the war a lot, but there were two things that I never forgot,” he said. “The first pertained to the inherent danger involved. He spoke of perilous, blindfolded missions that required him to parachute into undisclosed locations to deliver important international warrelated communications.” The second memory underscored the catastrophic loss of life. “He spoke of one battle in particular, where he was literally

for another 50,000 barrels per month in the Eureka Heights field of Harris County. It was noted that Eureka crude goes to export markets in England, France, and Sweden for a large amount of heating oil rather than gasoline.”

The economic impact on the area during the Depression was immense. In March, 1935 the Chronicle advertised, “Lots in the area near Eureka Oil Field and highway (West 18th), five acres, $50.00 cash, $15.00 monthly. Good land, fine oil prospect”. Even as the first wells came in, C.B. Bunte established 11 lots out of the western wilderness he named Eureka Acres for housing and drilling.

As the years went by, wells expanded in size and in production volume. A well roughneck could expect to make about $1400 a year doing this demanding work, a good living in the middle of the Depression.

The sheer number of wells, now spread out over present-day Timbergrove and Lazybrook, and now yielding gas and oil, had a potential of 8 million barrels of oil, with each drilled to about 7,700 feet. Deep production was opened by the J.W. Frazier well number 1, which produced 258 barrels of oil per day on Sept. 8, 1938. It was drilled to a record 9,300 feet.

Some old-time wildcatters estimate that over its lifetime from 1934 to 1979, as much as a trillion cubic feet of gas was produced in the Eureka Heights Field. Since its discovery, the fields had produced 10 million barrels of oil and made many men very rich.

Wells were dug in all directions, starting in Shady Acres and moving south and west through the woods where neighborhoods sit today – going south to West 11th St and north to 25th St with storage tanks in what are now neighbors’ backyards.

the only survivor of his entire platoon,” he shared with great sadness. Unfortunately, WWII veterans and their families will forever have to live with simi lar stories of tragedy, heroics, fear, and loss.

Though it would take 11 additional months to actu ally bring WWII to an end, the Invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, known as D-day, is widely considered to be ‘the beginning of the end’. It is renowned as being the largest ‘amphibious’ invasion ever undertaken in military history. Though the Invasion of Normandy was quite sig nificant to the outcome of the WWII conflict, it is not fully understood. The Royal British Legion, a non-profit organiza tion supporting veterans and their families in the UK, pub lished some interesting facts about D-day. Some of the more interesting points in clude the following:

The ‘D’ in ‘D-day’ stands for the word ‘day’ as in the ‘actual day’. While that might sound redundant, it described the countdown of days until the Invasion of Normandy; i.e. 3-day, 2-day, 1-day, D-Day (the actual day)

The D-day invasion was actually originally planned for June 5, 1944. But, as was so often was the case with British weather, the ships’ departures were delayed until the 6th. Normandy had no ports or harbors. Because this invasion was so unprecedented, troops were forced to create much of their own weaponry and modes of transportation, prior to invasion

The concept of ‘Fake News’ actually existed way back in the ‘40’s and was utilized by the allies to confuse and thwart the enemy through dissemination of leaks and intentional misinformation. WWII, with all its failures and accomplishments, remains the most notable and consequential conflict in our history. As a result, many are dedicated to preserving its memory and ensuring that it’s never forgotten.

“WWII and the lives sacrificed are just too important. We can’t afford to let our children, or anyone else, forget. The first step in keeping those memories alive is maintaining the integrity of the monument and making it attractive for the public,” said Rosemary Garza, the current president of The Heights Rotary Club. The announcement and promotion of the WWII restoration project will

ing her term this summer. Garza provided some background for the project and shared why the financial need was going to be so great. The restoration of the memorial became especially important to her following a conservation study that determined that its current condition warranted the need for significant repair. When asked about funding for the project and whether they were exploring available grants, she indicated that they were just starting to explore their options.

“However, we were fortunate enough to be able to tap into some unmarked Rotary Club grant money in the meanwhile,” she said. “The West University Rotary was interested in partnering in the application process. We did, but I made it clear that I specifically wanted to use the funds for the restoration of the WWII Memorial and they agreed.” Although the partnership and subsequent

added, “Private donations and perhaps even fundraisers will be essential for us to be able to complete the process and that starts with public awareness.”

The event on June 6 was the first necessary step in creating that awareness.

The Houston Arts Foundation (HAF), according to its mission statement, is dedicated to preserving and conserving public art in Houston. The foundation has an important vested interest in this WWII Memorial, as well. The monument is one of 32 pieces under their purview within the City of Houston, including the Houston Police Officers Memorial, The Sam Houston Memorial, and dozens of famous works. The Foundation serves to facilitate administration and oversight to the preservation process.

Heidi Vaughn is the Chairman of HAF and owner of Heidi Vaughn Fine Art has been with the foundation since 2017.

“We have a responsibility to ensure that the art is main-

Oil exploration made gamblers out of brave men, and failures out of lesser men. Enter Jack Frazier,wildcatter of them all. “Prospecting is like gin rummy” he once said, “Difficult is one thing, the impossible just takes a little longer.” He had been drilling one dry hole after another for sixteen years, when in 1935 he discovered a dozen fields at what is now NW Mall and it was worth the effort. From 1940 to 1950 Frazier also lost 2 million dollars on 188 dry holes.

What kept Frazier and hundreds of others going at it?

“Just risk and reward,” he told Howard Hughes. “Finding oil is a lot of luck with a little science thrown in.”

As a landowner, the prospect of mineral rights during the Depression got a lot of people’s attention. The late Willard Walden reported this was not always done honestly.

“In the mid 1930’s several oil wells were drilled near our house at 14th and Bevis. We had a quarter acre lot and the mineral rights. It took 10 leased acres to drill an oil well, so we were part of one ten acre tract. Our well made us royalties of $35.00 a month, good money in the

Depression. For three months things went really well, then the company said the well went dry. Truth was a slant pipe was drilled from the next tract over and they stole our oil! The Railroad Commission never stopped it.”

On top of bad luck, drilling is dangerous work and accidents are bound to happen.

Long-time Heights resident Jean West, now in his nineties, remembers: “In 1939 my neighbor, Ivies Rister, worked on the tall wooden rigs on 18th Street. One day something came loose and he fell off the rig.” With little to no safety measures at the time, the result was not good.

Modern Attempts at Drilling

The success of the Eureka Heights Oil Field led geologists to expand the search for oil and gas to other areas. Eyes were turned to Memorial Park in the late 1950s as a possible site on its eastern side. The Chronicle on January 25, 1976, reported that a test well was planned for the east side for six wells, Neighborhood disapproval, and denial by City Council ended those plans that year. Fast forward to 1979.

Another attempt at a gas well of 9,500 feet, a rare event inside the city limits, came to T.C. Jester near Ella boulevard in July of that year.

“It amounts to a re-drilling of the old Eureka Heights oil wells” McFarlane Oil Company said at the time, according to news reports from the era. Amidst local protests and environmental concerns, the project lasted until summer 1982. Even though property owners in Lazybrook stood to get amazing royalties of $1.75 a month, the project was not productive.

Progress has completely covered any trace of the Eureka Heights oil patch, but stories remain. In 1995 during construction of U.S. Auto Connection on West 20th, Steve Benys found used drill bits on the site. At the Eureka Heights Brewing Company on West 18th street, Casey Motes says oldtimers come in to tell stories of rigs and pumps going day and night.

Oil has transformed Texas since 1901, and its influence on Houston began on 11 acres in the Heights by men of vision and willpower who decided to build a legacy literally from the ground up.

Houston Arts Foundation has also created an ‘Adopt a Monument Program’, so that as maintenance funds are depleted, individuals, business, corporations and other civic organizations can ‘adopt’ a particular piece and contribute to its maintenance and longevity,” said Vaughn. The organizers of the June 6 event planned this special celebration to bring community awareness to the project, while simultaneously paying honor and remembrance to WWII veterans on this infamous D-day anniversary. The event hosted an hour of auditory and visual enjoyment and enlightenment that included numerous speakers, the HHS JROTC, the SAR Freedom Chapter in full regalia and a special appearance by Mayor John Whitmire. The Mayor recognized and gave a second round of thanks to a WWII veteran in attendance, Mr. Thompson, who is approaching the age of 98. In his remarks, he paid tribute to the individuals that inspired the creation of the memorial and he praised them by saying, “They had the foresight to know that we’d need to be here 80 years later.”

Vaughn said.

Part of that responsibility included implementing a recent conservation study of the pieces, to evaluate current condition and restoration needs. That study is what motivated this immediate call to action for restoration of the WWII Memorial. The HAF 2023 Collection Assembly conservation study was conducted by the organization ‘On Aim’ and those findings were shared with The Leader by HAF. The memorial’s necessary repairs are far more than aesthetic; they are structural, as well. The findings included broken panels, cracked granite, damaged stone sections and numerous instances of compromised monument etchings and script. The restoration period will be long and the work to be done will be tedious. More importantly, it will be a very expensive process and donations will be integral to success. For those pieces requiring extensive upkeep and maintenance, “The

One of these individuals was Clayton Lee, who is honored in the plaza site immediately adjacent to the WWII memorial. Additionally, the mayor paid his respects to all fallen and living servicemen who have sacrificed for our freedoms. While speaking about the need for gratitude for service, he took this opportunity to recognize our city’s public servants and first responders, ever-cognizant that they are often unsung heroes. After reflecting on a moving and emotional D-day video he’d seen earlier in the day, he made an observation that he felt should serve as a reminder to all.

“Even if you are having your toughest day…remember those brave soldiers,” Whitmire said. “They had the guts to get off those ships and fly those planes on D-day, even though they knew what the odds were. In the video one veteran said that all they thought about was looking out for each other and trying not getting killed.”

The analogy echoed the recurring theme for the day; that the immeasurable bravery of those WWII soldiers protecting democracy and freedom at unfathomable costs, should never be discounted or forgotten.

would help the kids keep up their energy in the summer heat and would be a fun treat.

She made a commitment to prepare and deliver snacks for the 50 campers once a week and plans to teach the kids how to prepare healthy snacks. Her goal is for additional people or businesses to join her efforts and provide meals for each day of the camp, along with the healthy snacks she’ll help the children prepare. She created a SignUpGenius page to achieve this goal, and three weeks have been booked so far. HISD, the largest school district in Texas, serves over 189,000 students. It is estimated that approximately 79% of HISD students are economically disadvantaged. About 70% qualify for free or reduced-priced school lunches, and of those students, about 25% are considered food insecure. The Houston Food Bank website states: “One in five Southeast Texas children is considered food insecure.”

If you would like to participate in this project by making a food donation (either snacks or meals), please visit the SignUpGenius webpage at https://www.signupgenius.com/ go/10C0F48A8AF22ABFCC34-50010131-childhood#/ or email Livy Guyre at olivia.guyre@st-agnes.org.

EUREKA!, from P. 1

GIRL SCOUT, from P. 1

Used with permission. Bob Bailey Studios Photographic Archive, [e_bb_3247], The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin Oil well workers at work on oil derrick, Houston, 1945.

Submitted photo

Livy Guyre, center, partnered with Love Park Community Center for her Gold Award project. Pam Foote, right, is with the Houston Parks and Recreation Department and in charge of the summer camp, assisted by Cory Alpough, also with Houston Parks and Recreation.

told The Leader. “We are artists at heart and had very little time to make art since the cafe opened. For Doodle Land, we wanted to take a story that people are familiar with, Alice in Wonderland and bring it to life through our interpretation.”

Fang and Lin built the museum around moments of discovery. As the visitor moves from one exhibit to the next, the artwork, lighting, and atmosphere of each installation is designed to stimulate the viewer’s senses and take them away from the day-today. Each exhibit also invites the viewer to interact through tactile, observational, and thought-provoking ways that are all based in analogue experience to further provide an escape from the digital experiences that monopolize much of our everyday lives.

The founders’ hands-on approach to the museum’s creation sets it apart from many other interactive art spaces.

“We fully funded and own this establishment, and we were the sole artists designing and building the experience ourselves,” they said. “Most other interactive exhibits are collaborative projects, which certainly has its perks in being able to be built faster with more artists working together as well as having many people come together with different skill sets, but the benefits that we saw with working on it ourselves was that we were

able to design the visitor experience to be a more cohesive and continuous journey through the exhibit.”

The puzzle-solving activities within the exhibits are designed to be accessible and enjoyable for both children and adults. “As working and teaching artists, we have decades of experience in teaching art to all age and experience levels, the found-

ers explain. “Many of the skills we teach are observation-based, and anyone can learn the skills of observation, which is at the core of experiencing art. We use the universal language of color, light, and shadow as much as possible, making the experience enjoyable for not only kids and adults but also accessible to people with different backgrounds, experienc-

es, and knowledge bases.”

Doodle Land offers more than just exhibit rooms.

The museum features two private event spaces: the Dreamscape Room and the Garden Party Room, which can host 8 - 18 people, respectively. These rooms are perfect for private parties, complete with optional addon experiences such as tea parties, art and cake-making classes, craft projects, and team-building activities.

For those looking to make the most of their visits, Doodle Land offers an annual membership program. Members enjoy free admission for themselves and can bring a guest with a buddy pass, which includes a $10 fee for a Doodle Land Passport and socks (since the exhibit is shoeless). “It’s a great option for those who want to share the experience with friends,” the founders remarked.

In addition to membership benefits, all visitors currently receive a free return ticket valid for three months, making it easy to revisit and continue exploring the magical world of Doodle Land.

Whether you’re looking for a fun family outing, an educational experience for the kids, or a unique venue for your next event, Doodle Land in the Heights offers something for everyone. For more information and to plan your visit the Doodle Land website at www.doodlelandhtx. com or follow them on socials Instagram and TikTok @doodlelandhtx

Matthew Sanchez named recipient of the 25th Nell Baham Achievement Award

COMMUNITY REPORTS

Each

half of her 60 years as an educator. Award recipients must exhibit good citizenship traits, excel in academics and make worthy contributions to the school and community.

Matthew Sanchez, son of Michael and Alexandra Sanchez, received this award at this year’s Promotion Celebration. His teachers, Ms. Chambers, Mr. Railsback, Mrs. McClain, and Mrs. Villanueva, describe him as an ideal student, who excels in math and science. Matthew participates in related school activities, Robotics Club, Name That Book, the track team, Run Club and basketball. He will attend Black Middle School and already has an interest in becoming an architect.

Congratulations to Matthew and all the Sinclair Superstars. The promotion program ended with a special presentation by the fifth graders as they performed the school song, written by Greg Railsback, a fifth-grade teacher.

Submitted photo

Matthew Sanchez (here pictured with Nell Baham and Sinclair Elementary School Principal Lee Mashburn) was this year’s recipient of the Nell Baham Achievement Award.

Every era seems to have a name attached to it: The Gay 90s, the Roaring 20s, Baby Boomers, Gen X and Z and the Greatest Generation. These names were not attached at that time but only later by the U.S. Department of Generational Names (DGN). In about 2050 or so the DGN will officially label these cur rent times the Victimization Generation, or Gen V. It’s clear why if you just look around: Everybody is a victim – in cluding me. So let’s look at this situation.

A target for the arrows

We can start with the Indians, except they are no longer called that. They are now called Indigenous People or Native Americans. The notable exception is the Bureau of Indian Affairs, part of the U.S. Department of the Interior, headed by Debra Anne Haaland, a member of the Pueblo of Laguna tribe. Maybe she will change the name of the bureau. But we still have Indianapolis, Indiana. There is no question that the Round Eyes stole land from the original occupiers even though several treaties promised that they could hold on to the land as long as the

Lynn Ashby Columnist

COMMUNITY REPORTS Program motivates students to continue reading throughout summer to prevent the “summer slide”

Reliant and the Astros Foundation kicked off the third annual Reliant Readers “Slide into Summer Reading” program, honoring Oak Forest Elementary for its student enrollment in the program. Oak Forest is one of three schools with the most students to sign up to be “Reliant Readers” this summer. On June 3 the students were rewarded with an Astros-centric end-of-school bash. The celebration included special appearances by Reliant’s mascot Hugo and the Astros Coca-Cola Shooting Stars. More than 900 students enjoyed a fun-filled morning that featured a DJ and student giveaways with books, bookmarks, water, snacks, swag and backpacks.

away from the British. The Brits certainly thought so. Here in Texas it is now faddish to say that Texas was stolen from Mexico. If that is the case then Mexico stole the land from Spain who, in turn, stole it from the Aztecs. This brings us to slavery. No doubt American slaves were victims and today there is a demand for restitution. The California legislature is considering various bills that would authorize cash payouts to descendants of slaves. There are minor problems because California never had slaves and the state is $145.03 billion in debt. No wonder so many are mov-

ing to Texas. Actually, I agree about restitution. Those former slave owners should pay their former slaves big money, but try as I might I cannot find either slave owners or slaves. Maybe they all moved to San

The slogan “Black Lives Matter” and its counterpart supporting the cops, “Blue Lives Matter,” are protests from victims. The original purpose of “Me Too” as used by Tarana Burke in 2006 was to empower women. The hashtag #MeToo was used starting in 2017. We hear a lot about the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender or LGBQ+ movement. Same thing. Nothing wrong with those who feel persecuted -- victims all – being tired of having to defend who they are or where they stand in our society. There are a lot of wrongs which need attention and need changes. Changing pace, we keep hearing that the Korean conflict is “the forgotten war” because it fell between World II and the Vietnam War. Forgotten? That war was before the monumental TV coverage of Vietnam but was constantly covered by the me-

THE TOPICS. THE WEEKEND.

dia of that time and sure isn’t forgotten today. Just ask the 1,789,000 American troops who fought in the Korean War or the next of kin of the 36,574 who were killed there. OK, I’ll grant that the Mexican-American War and the Spanish-American War don’t come up much in daily conversations, but anyone who calls Korea “the forgotten war” easily forgets and is playing the victimization card. I was walking through the den and the TV had a weather report going. The weather guy was saying “and it’s one-hundred-and-eighteen.” Huh? I’m dying. Where is ERCOT when I need it? No, wait, “it feels like.” The ol’ heat index ploy again. The heat index is made up by a combination of the temperature, humidity and self-pity. The term is used simply to make us feel more put upon than we really are. We’re the victims. Moving on, we have today in our society professional victims who look for flying arrows so they can make themselves targets. They are outraged about something no matter whether they have a dog in that fight or not. The Rev. Al Sharpton springs to mind who replaced

Jesse Jackson as America’s Official Victim. Those campus demonstrators who never put on a uniform and never heard a shot fired in combat are close behind. We keep hearing about teenagers’ angst. Put down your Apple iPhone and grow up. Our greatest example is Donald Trump. “I am a victim,” he said in his speech announcing his presidential run. Later he said, “I will tell you I’m a victim.” And: “We have a situation where I’m an innocent man. I’ve been persecuted by someone running for office.” Here’s a guy who lives in a three-story penthouse in his own building on Fifth Avenue and on an estate in Florida, and touts his worth in the billions of dollars, was elected President of the United States, and he’s a victim? Don’t throw me in the briar patch, Donald. But his message is working wonderfully well by telling his followers that they, too, are victims. His, and their enemies, are fake news, the deep state and the “elite.” It used to be that “the elite” meant something good. No more. Trump’s shtick is contagious. I once heard Newt Gingrich use the term “elite media” twice

derisively in one sentence. I suppose if there are all these victims there have to be the victimizers – that’s the rest of us, and it’s all designed to make us feel guilty. I never owned a slave. I never shot an Indian nor was I a concentration camp guard. I didn’t round up Japanese-Americans and put them in a desert compound. I’m a straight, white, male who obeys the law and served my country. All right, so I’m on the IRS’s Person of Interest list and am also in the Witness Protection Program. I broke the speed limit once but only because I was being chased by some loony with flashing red lights and a siren. But I am getting very tired of this burden of guilt. I feel like a victim.

Ashby is elite at ashby2@ comcast.net

Editor’s note: This column and its contents do not necessarily reflect the views of The Leader News, its staff, or its publisher. The Leader News welcomes opinion articles on matters of interest to Greater Heights residents. Publication is at the discretion of the editor

program at Oak Forest Elementary.

the August 3 home game to celebrate their summer reading achievements. Students or families can still sign up to be a Reliant Reader. Learn more at astrosreliantreader.com/ astroseducation. The Astros Foundation and Reliant kick off annual summer reading program at Oak Forest Elementary

Younger and lower-income students can lose up to two months of reading achievement while out of school for the summer, commonly referred to as the “summer slide.” To reverse this negative impact on a child’s edu-

cation, the Slide into Summer Reading program sets a collective goal of 60,000 reading hours spread throughout summer for elementary students in Greater Houston and surrounding areas. The top 1,000 readers will receive tickets to

Who: Adults When: Saturday, June 15, 10-11:30 a.m. Where: 365 W. 19th St.

What: Yoga, curative music, tea conversations, and a plant to take home

Cost: $35

Info: eventbrite.com

SECOND ANNUAL PIZZA EATING COMPETITION AT THE UPSIDE PUB

Who: Adults

When: Saturday, June 15, 2

p.m.

When: Saturday, June 15, 9 a.m.

Where: Buffalo Bayou Park –Shepherd Dr. to Sabine St.

What: Butterfly crafts, pollinator parade, 90-minute butterfly walk Cost: Free; reservations recommended Info: buffalobayou.org/ event/summer-speciesflutter-fling

OPHELIA’S ROPE FUNDRAISER FOR CONE MAN RUNNING PRODUCTIONS

Who: Adults When: Saturday, June 15, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Spring Street Studios – 1824 Spring St. #4056 What: The longest-running female improv duo, the show is inspired audience suggestions Cost: $10 Info: conemanrunning.com/ fundraiser

Where: 3402 N. Shepherd Dr. What: Who can eat a 12” cheese pizza the fastest? Trophy and prize pack for the winner.

Help us tell the fun, interesting, exciting, quirky, cool, unique, beautiful stories of our community in pictures! Send your photos from around the Heights/GOOF area to editor@theleadernews.com. Please include a brief description and the name of the person who should be given photo credit. Current, high-resolution, unaltered photos only, please (except for cropping and brightness). No professional or studio photos. Deadline for submission is 5 p.m. Monday for that week’s print edi-

Cost: $20

Info: eventbrite.com

FATHER’S DAY BOXING BOOTCAMP AT FEMCORE FITNESS

Who: Dads and men

When: Saturday, June 15, 9:30 a.m.

Where: 1533 N. Shepherd Dr.

What: Special Father’s Day boxing bootcamp

Cost: $10

Info: eventbrite.com

SCHOOL’S OUT MUSIC IS ON KIDS EVENT AT M-K-T

Who: Kids and families

When: Saturday, June 15, 10-11:30 a.m.

Where: M-K-T Trailside (by the hike and bike trail)

What: Live performances, interactive music lessons, DJ, arts & crafts

Cost: Free, but registration is required

Info: ticketleap.events/tickets/heightskidsdayofmusic/ HKDM-SchoolsOutMusicOn

SAY GIRL SAY AT THE HEIGHTS THEATER

Who: Adults

When: Saturday, June 15, 8

p.m.

Where: 339 W. 19th St.

What: Houston duo Brigette Yawn and Suad Ihsan who play multiple instruments

Cost: $22-$176

Info: theheightstheater.com

FLUTTER FLING BY BUFFALO

BAYOU PARTNERSHIP

Who: Adults & families

EINEN ABEND IN BERLIN: CABARET AT THE HALLE Who: Adults When: Saturday, June 15, 7 p.m.

Where: The Houston Saengerbund Saengerhalle –1703 Heights Blvd. What: Dinner, drinks, entertainment Cost: $50 Info: facebook.com

HEIGHTS WOMAN WALK Who: Adults & families When: Sunday, June 16, 9:30 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Where: Helms Elementary School – 573 W. 21st What: Walk from Helms Elem. to Love Elem. and back to Helms. Kids can play at Love while adults chat or continue to

Photo courtesy of Reliant

Reliant and the Astros Foundation kicked off the third annual Reliant Readers “Slide into Summer Reading”

Name:

“Gusty” Gustafson took this poignant photo of Rita’s Reliks & Repeats, a former consignment store on Ella Blvd in Oak Forest.

Garden Oaks-based Kids’ Meals celebrates groundbreaking of new headquarters in Spring Branch

COMMUNITY REPORTS

The organization hosted a groundbreaking for the new facility that was funded by “Building Hope” campaign donors and BlueHub Capital Investment

Kids’ Meals, Inc., a nonprofit combating childhood food insecurity and hunger, broke ground on its new facility that will serve 26,000 hungry kids every day across the Greater Houston Area on June 3. As the only organization in the country delivering free, healthy meals to the doorsteps of Houston’s hungriest children, Kids’ Meals serves children ages five and under, who are at a critical developmental point and are too young to access schoolbased programs. Since its founding in 2006, Kids’ Meals has delivered more than 14 million meals to children in 56 Houston-area zip codes, hitting a new record of 2.4 million meals in 2023 alone,

and is on pace to deliver 2.7 million meals in 2024.

“Today was a humbling moment and we are especially grateful for the generous support we’ve received from Houston’s philanthropic community, investors and volunteers as we couldn’t do it without them,” said Beth Harp, CEO, Kids’ Meals, Inc. “The growth made possible by the Greater Houston community is incredible and we look forward to feeding and serving thousands more Houston-area children in our new facility upon completion in mid-2025.”

Purpose-Built Facility Will Tackle Childhood Hunger

Every day, an estimated 80,000 children are living food insecure across the city. With every natural disaster and continued economic challenges, the demand for Kids’ Meals’ vital program increases, maximizing the organization’s existing 18,500 square foot facility, which includes a warehouse, volunteer space, a van loading area and offices. Located in Spring Branch at 8790 Hammerly Boulevard,

the future facility will be purpose-built to facilitate longterm goals and reach a larger population, providing a vital boost in space for food preparation and storage, volunteer efforts, meeting and office space for the nonprofit’s 30 employees and an enhanced van loading dock area. The 50,000 square-foot facility will have the capacity to feed 26,000 preschool-aged children each weekday by 2031. Partners supporting the project include Pin Oak Interests as project manager, Kirksey Architecture as architect and Satterfield & Pontikes as the

general contractor. “Building Hope” Campaign Reaches New Milestone

The groundbreaking ceremony was made possible by many private philanthropic donors and lead investor BlueHub Capital, who made a $32.5 million New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) investment that yielded $6.2 million directly to Kids’ Meals. BlueHub Capital partnered with Regions Bank, who served as the investor and purchased the NMTCs. Classic Lake served as Kids’

Meals’ NMTC advisor and structured the transaction. With their support, the new facility will allow Kids’ Meals to increase the number of meals served annually from 2.7 million to more than 7 million, benefiting 14,550 unique families. Kids’ Meals launched its Building Hope Campaign in 2021 and, since then, the organization has received generous donations, including over $1 million commitments each from The Huffington Foundation, Group 1 Automotive, The Brown Foundation, The

Houstonians show their Pride and support through

By LISA MORALES

The Leader News Contributor

For the second year in a row, the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce and Soneja Creative have united for the “Show Your Pride” campaign, a vibrant celebration designed to highlight the beauty of diversity, dismantle stereotypes, and advocate for a world where everyone can express their true selves openly and proudly. Throughout March, April, and May, Houstonians participated in open studio sessions and photoshoots at community events. Each participant was photographed against a colorful backdrop designed by Chandrayee Soneja of Soneja Creative. This year’s backdrop, a vivid tapestry of the rainbow flag’s colors, symbolizes the LGBTQ+ community’s resilience, diversity, and unity. Participants were also tasked with choosing three words that personally resonate with the prompt “what pride means to me”.

Expanding from its inaugural campaign in 2023, the “Show Your Pride” photos are now live on the campaign’s website and displayed across 180+ Ike Smart City kiosks throughout Houston, with additional branded wraps on Montrose-area kiosks.

“The response and enthusiasm we’ve seen and felt through this year’s campaign is truly indescribable,” said Tammi Wallace, Co-Founder, President, and CEO of Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce. “It’s clear this campaign is making a lasting impact on so many of our LGBTQ+

neighbors, their families, and the allies who support them while simultaneously empowering, celebrating, and highlighting the beauty and uniqueness of the entire community.”

Some notable locals have already had their pictures taken, including Houston Mayor John Whitmire and Houston District C City Council Member Abbie Kamin.

“Show Your Pride is an important visibility campaign that speaks more powerfully than words can,” Kamin said. “The Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Soneja Creative have created an exceptional visibility campaign that continues to grow. I am grateful for them and the partnership with IKE Smart Cities, media outlets, and many others that continue to stand with our LGBTQIA+ families. In the face of unprecedented targeting and bigotry against the community, this is important now more than ever.”

Anyone who wants to show their support for the LGBTQ+ community is invited to get in on the photo shoot. Participation in the campaign is free, though many of those photographed chose to donate a suggested amount of $25, directly supporting the Chamber’s mission focused on economic inclusion for the LGBTQ+ community. Donations are still being accepted, and branded t-shirts are available for purchase to support the Chamber as well. The best way to engage with and support the campaign is by viewing, spreading the word about, and being accepting of the Houstonians who bravely and passionately participated.

INTERVIEW WITH TAMMI WALLACE

Q: Can you tell us about the inspiration and goals behind the Show Your Pride photo campaign and how it began its journey with Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce and Soneja Creative?

Tammi Wallace: Show Your Pride started because we wanted to bring a visibility campaign that brings joy and celebrates the diversity of our community in the face of untenable adversity and attacks that the LGBTQ+ community is facing in our state. This conversation about the photos started literally with a text message last year. I received a text message from Chandrayee Soneja, our Creative Partner, about doing portraits for Pride. Our initial conversation about photos has culminated into the fullfledged visibility campaign you see today. The partnership between the Chamber and Soneja Creative has been incredible. We launched the campaign very quickly last year and it has

grown tremendously this year. For the Chamber, this is also a wonderful collaboration with our small business members.

Q: The Show Your Pride campaign aims to highlight diversity and break down stereotypes. How do you believe this campaign will contribute to a world where everyone can openly express their authentic selves, and what impact do you hope it will have on the broader community?

Wallace: All you have to do is look at the photos and see the incredible smiles and joy on the faces of those individuals who are participating in the campaign and read each of their three powerful words in response to “What Pride Means to Me”. These photos, through Chandrayee’s lens, are not just typical photos but beautiful expressions of pride, love, and joy. Participating in the campaign is an act of courage and resilience for each person. Some people were hesitant to participate but stepped up to show their pride, and they found their strength.

Also, we have many participants in the campaign who are LGBTQ+ allies, who wanted to show their support and love for our community.

Q: The campaign features various prominent figures and community members. How did their participation come about, and what impact do you hope their involvement will have on the visibility and acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community in Houston?

Wallace: We are so proud to have key leaders who participated in the campaign this year including Mayor Whitmire, Council Member Abbie Kamin, Council Member Mario Castillo, Commissioner Lesley Briones, and Commissioner Rodney Ellis to name a few. Through our advocacy work at the Chamber, we work with the City of Houston and Harris County and have strong relationships with our elected leadership. We approached both Council Member Abbie Kamin and Commissioner Briones about hosting Show Your Pride photo shoots at City Hall and Commissioners Court. Both were very enthusiastic, and their teams helped us facilitate and promote the photo shoots. A first for the campaign this year!

Q: With the campaign being showcased in diverse locations such as Ike Smart City digital kiosks and Shell Energy Stadium, how do you envision this widespread visibility contributing to the overall message and goals of Show Your Pride?

Wallace: These elements of the campaign help us promote

Chao Foundation, The Cullen Foundation, The Fondren Foundation, The W.T. & Louise J. Moran Foundation and numerous individuals and anonymous donors. Campaign co-chairs, former Group 1 Automotive president and CEO Earl Hesterberg and his wife, Susan Hesterberg, continue to lead fundraising for Kids’ Meals campaign. Shovels, Hardhats and Guests Local officials, stakeholders and partners were in attendance at the groundbreaking ceremony today. Chief Executive Officer Beth Harp, capital campaign co-chair Earl Hesterberg, and City of Houston Vice Mayor Pro-Tem Amy Peck made remarks to the crowd before the ceremonial dig. Guests enjoyed refreshments and light bites following the ceremony. Kids’ Meals worked with several partners on in-kind donations for the groundbreaking ceremony, including LD Systems for audio-visual and Spectrum on rentals. Visit www.kidsmealsinc.org for more information.

the Show Your Pride campaign on a broader level, but more importantly celebrate the people participating on a larger scale. In a world where the LGBTQ+ community is constantly under attack, visibility matters now more than ever so people in the community can see love, acceptance, and know that they are not alone. I think about an LGBTQ+ youth, a person who may not be out, a parent struggling with their child’s sexual orientation or gender identity, or someone who is experiencing discrimination because of who they are and who they love who may see these photos and know there is visibility, love, and support for the LGBTQ+ community. This is exactly why visibility matters.

COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS AND SPONSORS

Collaborative partners for Show Your Pride include Ike Smart City, Like Minds Communications, Houston City Council Member Abbie Kamin, Houston Dynamo & Dash, and Cosmo Cool Concepts. Several Houston-area corporations and organizations sponsored or hosted photoshoots on-site including Chamber Impact Partner and Equality Sponsor HP, KHOU, and Houston City Hall. To learn more about Show Your Pride, Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce, and Soneja Creative, visit showyourpride. lgbt or contact Jenny Gustafson at jenny@likemindstalk.com or (713) 416-7280. The photo gallery for the Show Your Pride campaign is available at showyourpride.lgbt/2024-gallery

Photo courtesy of Kids’ Meals, Inc.

Future facility rendering

Art Valet: Artist finds inspiration from travels

Enthusiasm, tenacity, laughter and creativity are the words that come to mind when I see artist Christina Todaro. I met this full-time art teacher when she joined my art market about twelve years ago. She is definitely an artist to keep an eye on, her original and very consistent mosaic style of painting keeps her busy at markets. She has an adventurous streak too, I’ve learned.

Todaro started her mosaic series in 2013 with the “Mosaic Elephant” and has been constantly evolving. In her artist statement Todaro says when she is creating each animal, she moves fluidly through the process with sensitivity to the way she is feeling: every line, color, and texture is made focusing on the energy that encompasses her at the time. The animals are metaphors for things that are going on in her life. She loves placing meaningful symbols within the designs, and she always paints the eyes last.

“In this case,” Christina says, “I absolutely save the best for last. The eyes bring the animal to life!”

Art Valet: Tell us about yourself outside of the art world.

“I love traveling to experience different cultures and exploring all the animals around the world,” Todaro said. “I love keeping fit doing yoga, running, and weight lifting. It is a way of life for me now. I took up winemaking in 2020 and I am exploring all the possibilities and flavor profiles. I was a mystery snail farmer for the last two years, but recently gave it up.”

AV: How did your art journey begin?

“Ever since I was a little girl, I loved being alone and creating something from whatever

I could get my hands on,” Todaro said. “I loved sewing up Barbie clothes for my Barbies and making accessories for them. I loved painting and drawing when I was little and was drawn to it. I would just do it.”

AV: And now?

“I’m currently working on a koala bear painting and a kangaroo painting,” Todaro said. “Both were inspired by my most recent travels to Australia. I’m always trying to challenge myself with new media. I just finished a painting done with coffee of a cicada. It was a challenge, but I’m very happy with the result. I want to do more paintings in coffee; I think it could be a cool series. I’m always challenging myself with new media, but acrylic is my tried and true.”

AV: Do you have big plans for the future?

“I want to keep traveling and getting inspired by the world,” Todaro said. “I want to share my experiences through my paintings with others. I want to go back to Italy and stay for a while.”

AV: Do you have any big art plans?

“I have a series of 13 mosaic-style paintings about love in a non-traditional sense,” Todaro said. “I plan to have a solo show to showcase these never before seen paintings in the future, and I aim to keep

growing the Mosaic Series.”

AV: If you didn’t work in your medium, what would you choose?

“Creating art is a way of life for me,” Todaro said. “I

painting. I’ve sewn skirts, done face painting, worked with ink, watercolor, digital, oil paint, and colored pencils. I guess that’s the long answer, but whatever interests me I’ll do without fear. I will find a way.”

Anything wild and crazy that would raise eyebrows?

“Jack Ingram bought a print of my “Mosaic Elephant” because it reminded him of his grandmother,” Todaro proudly stated. “I went surfing for the first time ever at Bondi Beach in Australia and was pretty good at it. It was so much fun!”

Finally, any guidance to offer budding artists?

was a sculptor all through-

out high school and college. Right before I graduated, I took a Photoshop class and I painted a digital painting. That prompted me to buy my first canvas and create my first

ala paintings, Todaro says her travels will be close to home with trips to Inks Lake and New Braunfels. Soaking up the sun, hiking, getting back on her stand-up paddle-board and floating on the river are high on her priority list. A trip to McKinney

“Create small goals for yourself. Have patience with the process. Pay attention. Don’t give up on yourself. Stay hungry!”

This summer, in addition to finishing her kangaroo and ko-

Submitted photos

Christina Lynn Todaro holding a koala.

“Good Luck Charm” is painted with coffee on watercolor paper by Christina Lynn Todaro.

Christina Lynn Todaro stands with her mosaic painting of a tiger.