Houston Police say they responded to a report of an assault in the 4100 block of Sherwood Ln. on the morning of Father’s Day, June 16, around 5:45 a.m. Upon arrival they found an unresponsive man inside his Timbergrove area apartment. The elderly victim had reportedly suffered blunt force drama and was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.
“The victim’s stepson, Ricky Allen,
confessed to his role in the man’s death,” HPD officials said in a media statement.
“He was subsequently charged and taken to the Harris County Jail.” Harris County court records show Ricky Ray Allen, 48, is charged with murder in the 185th State District Court. The victim is identified as 72-year-old William Fazenbaker, Allen’s stepfather. According to the charging statement, Allen allegedly beat and kicked Fazenbaker to death.
According to court records, Allen has an extensive criminal history in Harris
County, stemming mostly from vehicle break-ins and drug-related convictions.
In February of this year, a judge ordered that Allen’s probation from a 2018 felony DWI conviction be revoked because he allegedly had not reported to his probation officer since late 2023, and had violated the terms of his probation when urine tests allegedly detected illegal substances like THC and meth in his system on several occasions.
Allen is currently being held in the Harris County Jail, awaiting a bond ruling.
By STEFANIE THOMAS editor@theleadernews.com
The shelves are stacked high. Carts filled to the brim with groceries are lined up at the door. People bustle around, getting things ready for a food distribution event. In a corner, a young woman stands quietly, watching, smiling. She asks what else she can do to help.
It’s a typical Thursday afternoon scene at the Heights Interfaith Ministries Food Pantry. A breathless rush inside. Patient anticipation outside, where dozens of cars are already lined up, their occupants anxious to receive their monthly food supplies. At the door, a half dozen unhoused persons wait for much-needed provisions. The woman in the corner turns out to be one of the food pantry’s clients. She arrived a bit early and decided to
come inside to help out.
Inconspicuously nestled amid the urban sprawl of Houston, the Heights Interfaith Ministries Food Pantry per-
By STEPHANIE SHIRLEY The Leader News Contributor
Every spring, for over 11 years now, Heights Boulevard blooms with a very different kind of beauty. Through a challenging, yet rewarding installation process, artists from all over Texas will have transformed the historical, treecovered esplanade into the canvas for one of the community’s greatest outdoor art exhibitions. However, very few understand or appreciate the hard work and dedication it takes to make this venue the success that it has inarguably become.
The True North project was the brainchild of Co-founders Gus Kopriva, owner of the Redbud Arts Center on 11th Street, and prominent Houston mosaic artist and curator Chris Silkwood, working in tandem with Kelly Simmons, Dean Ruck and Donna Bennett. The project didn’t happen overnight. Members of the True North team spent years researching and partnering with community leaders and city officials to bring it to fruition. But, True North’s inception is just the beginning of the story. Every year, this five-member team has the timeintensive task of putting out a new call
forms its important work without fanfare – alleviating food insecurity for anyone who needs it. With a dedicated team of volunteers and a rocksolid commitment to the community, the pantry serves as a vital lifeline for many in need.
How It Works
The HIM Food Pantry operates through a robust network of donations, grants, and community partnerships. Supply sources include purchased items funded by Frank’s Endowment, larger food pantries like the Houston Food Bank, as well as monetary and food donations from members of the community. Contributions from Second Servings, which collects food items from grocery stores around the area, also play a significant role.
By STEFANIE THOMAS editor@theleadernews.com
In a creative intersection of architecture and play, Tim Howell, also known as Timmy Owl, has brought a beloved part of the Houston Heights to life through LEGO bricks. Howell, a Houston-based former architect with a degree from Rice University, has meticulously recreated a section of the iconic 19th Street, showcasing the historic street’s charm and character.
A Lifelong Passion for LEGO Howell’s journey with LEGO began in his childhood.
“I built and played with LEGO bricks a lot when I was a kid,” he said. Despite stepping away from LEGO during his college years and early career, the birth of his two sons rekindled his interest.
“My wife and I had two boys, and when they got to be about four years old, they got out a box that my mom had saved for me, which was all the LEGO bricks I had when I was a kid. So, the boys and I dived into that and had a great time building things,” Howell recalled.
This family activity soon evolved into a serious hobby. Howell’s architectural background naturally influenced his LEGO projects, leading him to create detailed models of buildings and structures. His expertise and passion culminated in his participation in the popular TV show, LEGO Masters, Season 4 (2023). From LEGO Masters to 19th Street Howell’s participation in LEGO Masters was a pivotal moment.
to artists, reviewing every submission proposal for planned or existing artwork, overseeing its installation and marketing the exhibit and its respective participating artists. What is likely unknown to the public and is rather astonishingly impressive is that all of this is done in a volunteer capacity and is grounded in passion and dedication to the arts. Because the exhibition is such a treasure to the Heights and surrounding communities, a closer look into the planning, processes and people that make this
Photo by Stefanie Thomas
Photo by Kelly Simmons
The True North Team, from left to right: Donna Bennett, Dean Ruck, Kelly Simmons Chris Silkwood and Gus Kopriva
Photo released by HPD
ARRESTED: Ricky Ray Allen
Photo courtesy of Tim Howell
Houston bike sharing program reportedly financially unsustainable, set to end June 30
COMMUNITY REPORTS
After 12 years of collaboration and support provided by the city of Houston, the Houston BCycle bike sharing system announced it will stop operating effective June 30, 2024. This will conclude the City’s contract with Houston Bike Share, the city’s operator of the bike share system. Though the program grew in popularity, it has been unable to sustain itself on fees and sponsorships alone.
Houston Bike Share and the BCycle program started in 2012 with three stations downtown and 18 bikes, which were funded by a grant from the Mayor's Office of Sustainability procured through the Environmental Protection Agency. Houston BCycle grew into the nation’s
largest non-profit bike share program with more than 150 stations.
The system's subsequent expansion was a result of support from the city of Houston, funding from a federal Transportation Improvement Program grant, and support from Council District Service Funds, Harris County Precinct One and many other public and private partnerships.
Houston Bike Share previously announced plans to shut down in September 2023. However, Houston City Council’s approval of $500,000 enabled Houston Bike Share to continue operating over a nine-month period until other funding opportunities could be found. Despite combined efforts of the Houston Bike Share board of directors, partner agencies and advocates,
the program could not overcome its financial challenges.
“Bike share systems across the United States have experienced similar challenges," said Jennifer Ostlind, Interim Director of Planning and Development Department. "Houston’s system has outlived many others, but we have learned that successful systems that serve more than just recreational purposes require corporate and public support to remain viable."
Going forward, the City will work with Houston Bike Share to remove stations and bikes over the next couple of months. The City owns much of the equipment, which will be sold to other bike share systems or through the City’s public surplus auction process to recoup transition funding.
HAR Local Data by Zip Code: Home prices hit record highs as the market weathers May storms
COMMUNITY REPORTS
Expanded inventory offers more options for buyers as market shows signs of moderation
The Houston real estate market navigated a unique set of challenges in May. While severe weather and resulting power outages may have caused a delay in some closings, the market continued to see strong activity with expanding inventory and persistent consumer demand. This unwavering demand fueled record-breaking home prices in the Greater Houston area.
According to the Houston Association of Realtors’ (HAR) May 2024 Market Update, single-family home sales across the Greater Houston area declined 1.5 percent. The Houston Multiple Listing Service (MLS) recorded sales of 8,538 units compared to 8,664 last May. Months supply of homes climbed from 2.7 to 4.0, which is the highest since August 2019 when there was a 4.1-months supply.
The high end of the market saw the strongest performance in May. Home sales in the luxury segment ($1 million+), which represents just 4.8 percent of all homes on the market, climbed 9.6 percent. That was followed by the segment that consisted of homes priced between $500,000 and $1 million which rose 6.8 percent year-over-year.
All other housing segments experienced a slowdown in sales last month. HAR will publish its May 2024 Rental Home Update on Wednesday, June 19. The average price of a singlefamily home reached an all-time high in May of $443,970, topping the previous record in May 2022 when it reached $438,350. The average home price was up 3.6 percent year-over-year. The median price increased 1.5 percent to $345,000. “The Houston market has demonstrated its adaptability yet again,” said HAR Chair Thomas Mouton with Century 21 Exclusive Properties. “While the weather disruptions may have impacted some sales, there continued to be strong activity with a rise in available listings and persistent buyer interest. We are beginning to see a more balanced market pace, benefiting both buyers with
more options and sellers with sustained demand.”
Houston Real Estate Highlights in May
Single-family home sales declined 1.5 percent yearover-year;
• Days on Market (DOM) for single-family homes went from 49 to 45 days;
• Total property sales were down 3.1 percent with 10,175 units sold;
• Total dollar volume was statistically flat at $4.3 billion;
• The single-family median price edged up 1.5 percent to $345,000;
• The single-family average price rose 3.6 percent to $443,970, which is a record high; Single-family home months of inventory registered a 4.0-months supply, up from 2.7 months last May;
• Townhome/condominium sales continued to decline, falling 9.8 percent, with the median price climbing 12.1 percent to $241,600 and the average price up 7.5 percent to $281,777.
May Monthly Market Comparison
Severe weather in the Houston area played a role in a slight decline in single-family home sales in May. Sales were down only 1.5 percent yearover-year as inventory reached the highest levels since before the pandemic in 2019.
Total property sales were also down 3.1 percent and total dollar volume was statistically flat at $4.3 billion. Singlefamily pending sales increased 1.8 percent. Active listings, or the total number of available properties, remains above last year’s level with 38.2 percent more listings for sale now than there were this time last year.
Months of inventory expanded from a 2.7-months supply last May to 4.0 months. Housing inventory nationally
stands at a 3.5-months supply, according to the latest report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR). A 4.0- to 6.0-month supply is generally considered a “balanced market” in which neither buyer nor seller has an advantage.
Single-Family Homes Update
In May, single-family home sales declined 1.5 percent year-over-year with a total of 8,538 units sold across the Greater Houston area compared to 8,664 last May. The average price rose 3.6 percent to $443,970 while the median price was up 1.5 percent to $345,000. Days on Market, or the actual time it took to sell a home, decreased from 49 to 45 days. Months of inventory increased to a 4.0-months supply compared to 2.7 months last May. The current national supply stands at 3.5 months, as reported by NAR.
Broken out by housing segment, May sales performed as follows:
$1M and above: increased 9.6 percent HAR also breaks out sales figures for existing single-family homes. Existing home sales totaled 6,225 in May, which is down 2.2 percent compared to the same time last year. The average price rose 6.1 percent to $456,769 and the median sales price increased 3.6 percent to $345,000.
Townhouse/ Condominium Update In May, the inventory of townhomes and condominiums hit the highest level in nearly 12 years. Inventory grew from a 2.5-months supply last May to 4.7 months, which is the highest since October 2012 when it was 5.0 months.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE
Sale of property to satisfy a landlord’s lien. Sale to be held at storagetreasures.com. Facility is located at 2213 W. 34th St. Houston, TX 77018. Bidding will open July 9th 2024 at 10:00 AM and conclude on July 15th 2024 at 10:00 AM. Clean up deposit is required. Seller reserves the right to withdraw the property at any time before the sale. Unit items sold as is to highest bidder for cash. Property includes the contents of spaces of the following tenants: Margaret Palasota C-14 & P-55 household items; Leticia Hernandez D-19 household items; Nicholas Winder R-35 household items; Kerry Showers L-37 household items; Debbie Perdue I-6 household items; Emilio Barrera L-11 household items; Raven Williams L-25 household items; Jeanne Barron E-24 household items; Elmer Lopez E-8 household items; Andi Lynn Thompson Q-64 household items.
gift possible year after year is certainly consequential. Beyond the mechanics of bringing the exhibition to life, there is a natural tendency to be curious about the talented artists that have been chosen to participate, as each has a very different approach and motivation. The Leader set out to explore both and share some firsthand details of the creators’ endeavors and the artists’ inspirations that define True North 2024. The annual selection process begins in spring with the True North team disseminating a ‘call to artists’, primarily through the use of social media. The call for the new 2025 application was just recently distributed in May. According to Chris Silkwood, True North co-founder, “We individually review all submissions. The submissions can be either existing art or planned pieces created specifically for the exhibition,” When asked about selection criteria, she said, “They need to be creative, obviously suitable for public consumption and appropriate for our exhibition venue and the installation pad on which they will be mounted. We lean toward the unique and whimsical.” She emphasized the importance of individuality and departure from tradition with
the submissions. After the new artists are notified of acceptance in September, they have six months to build or prepare the sculpture for installation in mid-March. Though not readily visible, “Each of the eight exhibit sites has a 48” by 48” concrete slab for the sculpture to be mounted,” she said. After over a decade of installations and removals, the casual observer would be curious about the structure of the slab foundation. She said, “Obviously, all these years of installation and removal will eventually take its toll. That will obviously be a concern down the road, but the pads are12 inches deep and still have a lot of life left in them.” The artists are paid a stipend of sorts to help cover transportation and installation. “They are responsible for getting their sculptures to the site, but we make a crane available at the time of installation if it is needed,” she added.
Co-founder Gus Kopriva recalls the mountains of administrative obstacles that had to be climbed, before getting the project off of the ground.
“Most people don’t really understand how much work went into the pre-planning process. Among other things, we were required to execute ‘hold harmless’ agreements with the city
In Their Own Words…
“My piece, with an original working title of ‘dauber’, was inspired by my love of the structures that mud dauber wasps build. I’m absolutely fascinated with this ‘animal architecture’ and have collected a couple hundred of the nests at this point. I think I first began to notice them when I moved into my house, north of The Heights. It is an old building that I initially renovated to use as a live/work space. Maybe the corrugated metal building was unusually attractive to them or maybe it was the abundant stacks of found wood that sat largely undisturbed for long stretches, but either way there seemed to be a lot of them building the curious nests in the eaves or among the boards. Mud dauber nests are like snowflakes, no two are alike, and so I’m endlessly delighted when I find one and I’m able to examine the improvisational way it was constructed laboriously, layer by layer. I think this piece has aspects of being an impression of an existing phenomenon from the natural world and an expression of my idea of beauty, as distorted through the lens of my creative bent. I have always wanted my work to be compelling enough to elicit a response, whether it’s one of enjoyment or displeasure...as there’s nothing worse than indifference…neutrality is death, creatively speaking.”
Photo courtesy of Suzette Mouchaty
Suzette Mouchaty, Houston, ‘Monument to Sea Slugs’
“I wanted to be able to share my artwork with a wider audience than I can through gallery exhibitions. In 2018 and 2019, I made a series of large sculptures that were inspired by colorful marine animals called nudibranchs, which are tiny shell-less snails that live in coral reefs. I’ve always been taken by their weird beauty. If coral reefs disappear due to Climate Change, nudibranchs will as well. I’d love for people to think about things they could do to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions so the present wave of species extinctions can be slowed and even stopped. The United States is a top polluter. We are determining the fate of these creatures. It’s on us. I imagined that in the future, instead of mourning the loss of coral reef ecosystems and all of the weird and amazing creatures that live in them, we might be able to celebrate their continued existence instead. You have to walk around it to assemble the information in your own mind. And then hopefully, it inspires you to walk around it again…I hope my audience will look at it and smile, feel uplifted, and maybe wonder, Where’s the party? What are we celebrating? Most importantly, I want this piece to communicate joy to the viewer.”
and obtain liability insurance policies,” he said.
But, it didn’t stop there. Annually, each new installation requires an engineering ‘stamp of approval’ from the Parks and Recreation Department, so that a temporary permit can be issued. Most people aren’t aware that permitting is required for all eight installations, for all nine months of display. Even more surprising, the city will only issue the permits for three months at a time.
“After the first three months, two additional three-month extensions are required to be filed,” Kopriva said. That policy long predates True North’s existence and apparently arose from exhibition issues that occurred in the city long ago, but are still a source of contention. It is a lot of additional paperwork,” he stressed. Additionally, though unlikely, the requirement legally gives the city the right to terminate part, or all, of the exhibition early. Therefore, it is one of Kopriva’s personal goals to work toward having this requirement repealed. He is currently exploring avenues for achieving this.
As with all prior exhibitions, True North 2024 set out to encourage, market and propel eight selected Texas artists by displaying their art and talent through the Heights Boulevard exhibition.
Clayton Hurt, Dallas, ‘Apprehensive Dog’
“I created this piece specifically for this True North exhibit. I drew a sketch, then a few more and then made a maquette out of clay. I wrote my proposal and submitted it. The dog on the post goes along with the notion of struggle and humor, which is present in much of my work. I mostly want the viewer to wonder things like whether it was real or not, what it’s doing up there and maybe even cause them to create a narrative for themselves. The title ‘Apprehensive Dog’ suggests that maybe the dog has found itself in a predicament or possibly has grown weary of being looked at or scrutinized. The pose of the dog was based off of a few sketches and changed a bit as it was built. Getting it just right took a lot of time; welding, cutting, bending etc. The chrome eyes were added as a way to reflect the world around it. They also served to reflect some light at night. I’m thrilled to have this piece on view in The Heights and the several times I’ve visited down there, I noticed how many people drive, run and walk past it. I enjoy seeing them catch a glimpse while passing by, stop, do a double take, go back for a closer look and even pose for a picture with it.”
In addition to the publicity and marketing, there is a private reception held annually to share the artists with private and corporate donors and instrumental civic and city leaders. Unfortunately, this year marked the first instance that an installation was severely damaged during the venue. The sculpture belonging to artist Nela Garzón, a Houston artist with numerous accolades, was tragically damaged during May’s derecho storm in Houston. However, Silkwood confirmed, “True North intends to hold her space for her, in hopes that she will be able to refurbish it during the exhibition period.”
The storm ravaged many areas of Houston, but was particularly devastating to the Heights and extraordinarily catastrophic to Heights Boulevard. Though the destroyed trees have created an irreparable deficit, the city has executed rounds of debris cleanup and the boulevard is finally beginning to recoup its natural, aesthetic beauty and charm that is only accentuated by the resilient True North 2024 exhibition. The remaining seven artists shared some intimate thoughts about what makes each creation so unique and exceptional.
from so many
informs much of that. I am driven by the traditions established by the art that has preceded me and, unquestionably, the world around me. ‘Wish’ is a kinetic structure made of recycled steel. Its inspiration is based on a prayer wheel; a spiritual object that operates this way: when you make a wish and spin it, your wishes are repeated back to you by the sound of the wind rushing through the steel, with every rotation. While most art is not meant to be touched, this one is and welcomes viewers to wish and spin. It pre-dated the fountain coin-tossing method of making a wish, to access good fortune; instead you just wish and spin the wheel. The form is weathered steel and paint and secured to the Earth with giant bolts. This suggests that it’s been in place for a long time and is a well-grounded object that will live forever. I expect each person to bring their own experience to the sculpture, but hope it provides a bit of discovery, wonder and even pleasure. Moreover, I get such great satisfaction in seeing the marvel of the wish-making experience reflected in the smiles of those who engage with it.”
“This piece is a natural progression in the ongoing evolution of a much larger sculptural, performance, installation, video and scientific art project, that addresses detrimental changes here on Earth, including climate change and global warming. It originated with a piece of performance art shared all over the world called ‘EarthMan’. In it, I created a solar-powered system that fostered plant life development, which in turn, supplied the necessary elements for human survival. The art was called ‘Earthman’, rather than ‘Spaceman’ because it conceptualized the need for the ability to survive in the most extreme elements here on Earth. At one point, I decided that ‘Earthman’ needed a vehicle and that’s what inspired ‘AirPlane 1’. It was made for transportation, but also to serve as a home base for his exploration, research and survival. As with ‘EarthMan’, it is designed to be self-contained and self-sufficient and be able to generate fresh air. It’s made of wood and contains plants, a solar panel and even algae, as is used by NASA and SpaceX to create regenerative life support systems. Not everyone will appreciate the art, as it’s really scientific in nature. But I do want it to be a fun and interesting way to draw the public’s attention to a far more serious subject.”
Ricardo Paniagua, Dallas, ‘Intersections of Dimension’
“In pursuit of literal dream assignments, I created ‘intersections in dimension’, not having any expectations of how it would be perceived. My use of line, color and shape were directly influenced by my own imagination and what I saw in my dreams. Because of this, it’s difficult to compartmentalize it into a certain artistic style, though I suppose many might find that it is a type of surrealism. I really like creating things that make me feel like I’ve seen something foreign or abstract and I hope that others are able share my inspiration. The highly polished surfaces tend to suggest west coast ‘finish fetishes’, like the ones that defined west coast pop art in the ‘60’s. While the planes of geometric color fields could find their places relating to op art or concrete art, the bottom line is that it is all about a dream being realized. The best way to appreciate this work of art is from a distance about 50 ft away, as opposed to viewing it up close or at only a few feet away. At this distance, the angles of the geometry become absolutely flat and the dimensionality of the work becomes elusively flat. As that happens, the forefronts of the geometric shapes begin to fade into the more readily visible rear formations.”
“This was my first sculpture, so this whole process has been super special to me. It’s just really hard to convince selection panels that you can make a big beautiful sculpture when you don’t have a body of big work to show. So, when I saw the post go up on social media I did everything I could to make a quality submission. When I was selected it was honestly one of the happiest days I’ve had in a very long time. I wanted to make a literal giant 1980’s cell phone, but at the same time, I wanted there to be some room for ambiguity so that the viewer might wonder and form their own conclusions. When I was doing the initial visualization of the phone I tried out a bunch of different colors, but I kept coming back to blue. I wanted to use the brightest, happiest blue I could find. I wanted it to communicate a sense of whimsy and wonder. The most personally satisfying takeaway for this piece happened for me while I was creating it. I built this in my driveway off the Heights bike trail over the course of about 6 months. Every day, while working, I had so many people honking and giving me thumbs up as they drove by and that brought so much pleasure.”
Photo by Stephanie Shirley Dion Laurent, Houston, ‘AirPlane 1’
Photo courtesy of Clayton Hurt
Photo courtesy of Art Shirer
Art Shirer, Dallas, ‘Wish’
“I’ve been making welded steel sculptures for over 40 years. Inspiration comes
sources and nature
Photo courtesy of Ricardo Paniagua
Photo courtesy of Wyatt Little Wyatt Little, Houston, ‘Brick Phone’
Photo courtesy of Patrick Renner
Patrick Renner, Houston, ‘dauber’
Question: Is Gov. Greg Abbot deliberately trying to wreck Texas’ public schools?
Answer: Obviously.
Question: Why?
Answer: I blame Duncanville High School, but let me explain. Gov. Abbot has this weird obsession with school vouchers, prioritizing them right up there with float ing giant balloons along the Rio. After failing to get the reg ular session of the Legislature to pass his school voucher bill, Abbot called three special ses sions -- the longest sessions in history (246 days). Each 30-day session costs Texan taxpayers about $1.3 million. Still no charter school bill, so he went about defeating those Republican members of the House in GOP primaries who had consistently torpedoed his plan, and it worked.
THE TOPICS.
writing, and revenge
to private schools. He wants to give vouchers to parents who want to switch their kids
With the financial help of a couple of West Texas billionaires and $6 million from some rich guy in Pennsylvania, Abbott ousted six out of the eight seats he went after. The guv now says he has enough lackeys in the House to pass his pet bill on charter schools.
(Some call it school vouchers, others call it school choice while Abbot calls it “a bulwark against illegal criminal aliens,
$10,000 a year. Considering that tuition at Houston’s St. John’s is $35,535 for its high school while the Kinkaid School goes up to $33,655, I’m not sure how 10k would help. By some estimates, vouchers would cost taxpayers $568.9 million in 2025, $791.1 million in 2026, and $1.2 billion in fiscal year 2028.
But Texas also has 1,200 accredited private schools, with over 60 percent being religiously affiliated. Could the parents qualify for a voucher? If Texas were to provide vouchers for 1 million children attending private schools or being homeschooled, it
would cost approximately $8 billion annually. But the state allocates funds based on how many students a district has, so by siphoning off students to private schools, the districts would actually lose even more Texas already is embarrassingly cheap when it comes to spending on our school kids. We are ranked in the bottom 10 in the country. The national average on funds spent per student is about $13,500. Texas per-student funding in fiscal year 2023 was $6,669. That is even less than $6,680 spent per student in 2014 when Abbott was first elected governor. And no wonder the state has a shortage of teachers. They are paid about $9,000 less than the national average, while 70 percent of educators have considered leaving the profession in the past year, and 75 percent report experiencing burnout.
As we’ve noted before, Texas has a long tradition of public education. Even the Texas Declaration of Independence (1836), in citing its grievances against the Mexican government, states: “It has failed to establish any public system of education...” And our state constitution or-
ders: “it shall be the duty of the Legislature of the State to establish and make suitable provision for the support and maintenance of an efficient system of public free schools.”
This brings us to our beloved Texas lawmakers. Gov. Abbot’s weird obsession with school vouchers and charter schools is directly hostage to our lack of funding for our public schools. The Legislature has not increased the basic allotment since 2019, despite inflation. In its last session, the legislature had $33 billion in surplus funds and another $24 billion in the rainy day fund. Some $5 billion was allocated for public schools, including a pay raise for our teachers, but that money was never approved because it was part of the guv’s defeated school voucher plan.
Meantime, our school districts are frantically trying get by with teacher cuts, firing librarians and probably making the coaches teach something beyond driver’s ed. The Plano ISD is facing a deficit for the 2024-2025 school year of $37 million -- up from $24 million the previous year. CypressFairbanks ISD budget projects a $138 million deficit. Conroe
Correction
ISD has a projected budget deficit of $16.6 million. Katy ISD has a projected budget deficit of $7.8 million and Friendswood ISD projects a deficit of more than $705,000. Even after deciding to close three campuses in February, Aldine ISD is looking at a $100 million deficit budget.
Houston superintendent Mike Miles estimated that the district will face a $450 million budget gap next year. Incidentally, did Gov. Abbott scrap the HISD school board and send in Miles to deliberately sabotage the Houston public schools? Granted, many of those schools have been in dreadful shape for years and they needed fixing, but if chaos was the goal, it has been achieved remarkably well.
Now to explain why our governor is so hung up on ruining our public schools. He is a product of them, specifically Duncanville High School. (Duncanville is in southwestern Dallas County.) The high school sits on the second largest high school campus in the United States with 80,188.1 square miles. As the locals like to brag, “It’s the size of four combined Walmart Supercenters.” They are the Panthers, not the Duncan
Donuts. Abbot graduated from Duncanville High School, where he was in the National Honor Society, was on the rack team and was voted Most Likely to Succeed. Still, maybe he was bullied or something and retains a deep hatred for his school, and vowed, “Someday I’ll be governor and get back at the public schools in Texas by diverting their money to private schools. I’ll ruin every one of them.” And he is succeeding. The worst part of all of this is that these charter schools can cherry-pick which students they let in. No underachievers wanted. But if your daughter is a genius, she’s in. If your son can run, kick, pass or block, he’s in, too. Look for the destruction of high school football as we know it. There go Friday Night Lights.
Ashby doesn’t vouch 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
Anne McD ald Maier
beloved mother, grandmother and sister, passed away on June 13th, 2024, as the result of congestive heart failure. She leaves to mourn two sons, Max Maier (Jessica) of Houston and Nicholas Maier of Seattle, WA; two grandsons, Johann and Mateo Maier of Houston; siblings, Michael McDonald, MD (Rebecca) of Natick, MA, Maggie Bilski, Katie McDonald, Diane Wol McDonald of Houston and Sarah McDonald, MD (Dejan Stambolic) of Chicago, IL and a large and loving extended family. She was preceded in death by her parents, and recently her brother Emmett McDonald, MD.
Annie was born March 16th, 1954, to Terry and Patricia (Whit eld) McDonald. She was raised in northwest Houston, attending St. Rose of Lima school, St. Agnes Academy and UT Austin. She answered an ad in the neighborhood newspaper and started working in her boss’ backyard o ce for a growing publication, People Magazine, eventually becoming the bureau chief for the southwest region. During that time, she juggled motherhood and evening classes and graduated from U of H Law school in 1990.
Annie was an independent, open-minded, sharp-witted, and creative woman. Her inquisitive and skeptical nature aided her in her careers in journalism and law, and led her to defy tradition and thumb her nose at authority. Her stubborn self-reliance was both an asset and a weakness in equal measure. She was well-known and well-liked in the Oak Forest neighborhood where she grew up, lived, and died. In her nal years, she discovered joy and newfound purpose in caring for her two beloved grandchildren. e family plans an informal memorial at Live Oak Friends Meeting House, 1318 W 26th Street on Saturday, June 22nd at 7:30 PM, followed by an a er-reception at Shady Acres Saloon, 1115 W 19th St. and
The article “Remembering D-Day: The evolution of a monument promises the elevation of a memory”, in last week’s edition of The Leader (Vol. 69, No.24) mistakenly identified the current president of the Rotary Club of Houston Heights as Rosemary Garza. The correct name of the current president of the Rotary Club of Houston Heights is Rosemary Vega.
25th St.
What: Live music, vendors, and crawfish benefiting the Greater Heights Area Chamber Community Fund
What: Book reading by local author Kristen Griffin
Cost: Free Info: instagram.com
HOUSTON HEIGHTS OFFICIAL PRIDE BAR CRAWL
Who: Adults
When: Saturday, June 22, 4-11 p.m.
Where: 2820 White Oak
Dr. – Check in at Christian’s
Tailgate Bar & Grill
What: Bar crawl of 4+ bars, specialty pride-themed drinks, live music, free after-party Cost: $19.99 Info: eventbrite.com
SARAH ALLISON WELLNESS YOGA CLASS + CRISP & GREEN
Who: Adults
When: Saturday, June 22, 9:30-10:30 a.m. Where: 555 W. 19th St. What: Rejuvenating toga class followed by bites from Crisp & Green Cost: Free – Reserve a spot Info: crispandgreen.com/ cg-event/sarah-allison-wellness-yoga-class-crisp-greenhouston-tx
CYCLONE OF MEMORIES: AN ASTROWORLD EXHIBITION AT HOUSTON TOY MUSEUM
Who: Adults & families
When: Friday, June 21 –Sunday, June 23, One weekend only
Where: 321 W. 19th St.
What: A collection of souvenirs, memorabilia, and photographs covering the full lifespan of the park Cost: Adults $14, seniors $10, kids pay their age Info: houstontoymuseum. com/events
SWIMWEAR DEPARTMENT WITH SPECIAL GUEST FRAGILE ROCK AT THE HEIGHTS THEATER
Who: Adults When: Saturday, June 22, 8 p.m. Where: 339 W. 19th St. What: Houston Dance-punk band Swimwear Department with Austin-based Fragile Rock Cost: $18 Info: prekindle.com/ event/46193-swimweardepartment-houston TAKE ON ME – 80S DANCE PARTY AT WHITE OAK MUSIC HALL
Who: 18+ When: Saturday, June 22, 9 p.m. Where: 2915 N. Main St. What: Dance
Twice a week, families line up to receive a variety of items, including bags of fresh produce, toiletries, dry goods, breads and sweets, meat, even coffee. Sometimes there are whole cakes, and they’re mostly reserved for families with kids or those with a birthday coming up. And sometimes there’s not enough of a single thing to feed every mouth. It’s a balancing act, but the pantry workers, all volunteers, do their best to cover every food group for every family, plus hygiene essentials like toothpaste, toilet paper, shampoo, and more.
HIM Food Pantry’s newlyminted executive director, Cheryl Engler, oversees the daily operations of the pantry and explains how the system works.
“To ensure there is enough to go around for everyone, each family is allowed to come only once a month,” she says, pointing to mountains of produce stacked around a large sorting table. “Today we have these massive, large potatoes. Normally each family gets several smaller ones, but today it’s only one.”
To clarify, the potatoes in question are as big as honeydew melons. The supplies clients receive may not last an entire four weeks, but the food pantry is generous in its giving, filling shopping carts to the brim with enough food to take up the trunk of a car.
“Distribution days are Thursdays and Saturdays,” Engler says. “We serve 93 clients each time. Plus 10-20 unhoused persons. People come from all over Houston, even Katy, Kingwood, and other suburbs. There is no zip code requirement. If you’re hungry, you’re hungry.”
Volunteers help organize and distribute the items. Sorting, filling bags, stacking freezers and shelves when new donations arrive, keeping things organized, and serving the clients on distribution days. Right now, it’s go-time. Engler barely catches her breath as she is bombarded with questions left and right. Also, she’s needed outside to help fill up the trunks of cars wrapped around the building. So off she goes.
Under New Leadership Engler’s journey to becoming the executive director of the HIM Food Pantry wasn’t exactly streamlined. Starting her career with Koch Industries in 1994, she transitioned through various roles in the oil and gas industry, ultimately landing at Bank of America, where she was laid off in 2016 after 22 years.
“That show was a great experience. It was so much fun and exciting and thrilling and a little terrifying, all wrapped into one,” Howell shared. His journey on the show highlighted his skills and creativity, paving the way for even more ambitious projects.
The idea for the 19th Street project originated from a casual first meeting at Comicpalooza with Matt Broussard, owner and Chief Toy Officer of the Houston Toy Museum a few years ago.
Name: Strawberry Age: 5 years old
Gender: Female
a friendship like no other. Her gentle, friendly, and loyal nature will make every day brighter.
To learn more about sweet Strawberry, visit friends4life. org/adoptable-pets/strawberry.
Eventually, Engler returned to the oil and gas sector for a brief time.
Unfulfilled, Engler began volunteering at the Houston Food Bank in 2020, which ultimately led her to the HIM Food Pantry closer to home.
“In August 2023, they approached me and asked if I’d be interested in the executive director role. I was like, not really,” she laughs. “Volunteering is my happy place, and I didn’t want to give that up.”
By October 2023, however, Engler said yes. After shadowing outgoing Executive Director Terri Dougherty for a few weeks, she was on her own, surrounded by tightlypacked freezers, produce crates, pantry shelves, grocery carts – and an amazing army of volunteers.
Why They Do It
As cars snake through the parking lot, volunteers with digital tablets walk from one vehicle to the next. They visit with drivers to perform intake – enrolling new clients, ensuring existing clients waited the required month before returning, and verifying household income and size. While they’re at it, they check the birthdates of family members and make sure there’s a cake at the ready when a celebration is on the horizon.
Arianna DiFilippo, who has volunteered with the HIM Food Pantry for two years, meets every client with a warm hello and a friendly smile. There is familiarity in each encounter, and the sunshine she radiates is as strong as the
blinding rays of the sweltering summer sun. Volunteering, DiFilippo says, is a deeply fulfilling experience.
“I volunteer because it makes my life meaningful,” she explains. “I know a lot of our clients and they tell me about their lives. It makes me feel like I’m really helping.”
Volunteer and board member Laurie Hardwick, with HIM Food Pantry for 10 years, echoes this sentiment, saying, “With some organizations, when you donate or volunteer, you don’t really see the end result. Here, it’s great. You feel like you know exactly where your efforts are helping.”
Looking Ahead
The HIM Food Pantry relies heavily on community support and has specific needs to continue its operations effectively and efficiently. Donations of non-perishable food items are always welcome. So are personal hygiene supplies like diapers and feminine care products. Donors can use the “Feed Frank” bin just outside the food pantry to drop off donations around the clock. The pantry also collects used plastic and paper grocery bags for reuse when packing supplies for pantry clients.
“The numbers really went up during COVID. Things just ramped up and people weren’t working,” Hardwick remembers. “People who normally would never go to a food pantry would come in.”
Despite expectations, the demand has remained high even after the initial surge of the pandemic. The pantry has
“He just kind of came up and introduced himself and said, ‘I’m thinking of starting this toy museum, and I just wanted to introduce myself,’” Howell said. This introduction laid the groundwork for future collaboration, eventually leading him to create a replica of 19th Street, where the Houston Toy Museum is located.
Howell embraced the challenge, using photographs and Google Maps to capture the essence of 19th Street.
“I just walked down the street, took a couple of close photos of the museum building, and went across the street and kind of just took photos down that block. So I would have a range of them, have images of everything there,” he explained.
Design and Construction
Howell said he used a computer program to design the model before physically assembling it.
“I think overall, both designing it on a computer program and then actually physically putting the parts together, it took around 10 hours or so,” he estimated.
The scale of the model was not strictly defined, focusing instead on fitting the allocated display space.
“It is not at a specific scale. I
did not say, you know, I’m doing this at 1 to 100 or anything like that,” Howell explains. The model primarily features facades, with enough depth to ensure stability.
A Community Landmark
Sara Broussard, Director of the Houston Toy Museum, expressed her excitement about the project.
“Right now it’s just the block between Manready and Dramatika, but we hope to commission the remaining length of the street eventually,” she said. One of the most engag-
carts are
up in
for
gradually increased its clientele over the years by a handful of households at a time, but Engler says the organization has reached its limit on how many people it can serve. The need for consistent donations and volunteer support remains critical, regardless of season. Hardwick highlights the ongoing need for food assistance, noting that many people struggle with food insecurity despite having jobs.
“I think a lot of people don’t realize how many people struggle with food insecurity, even people with jobs,” she says.
Engler stresses that for the low-income population, food almost becomes an afterthought as other financial obligations take precedence: “The electric bill has to be paid. The flat tire has to be fixed. Those things have to be taken care of, there’s no way around it. And then hunger sets in.” By providing essential food items, HIM Food Pantry helps clients make ends meet, enabling them to allocate their limited funds to other critical needs like rent, car payments, and clothing for school and work.
In addition to keeping the donations coming, Engler says she hopes more members of the community will consider lending their time. Volunteers are needed to cover shifts throughout the week for packing, organizing, and helping with food distribution. As the pantry looks to the future, ongoing community support and volunteerism will be essential to maintaining and, hopefully someday, expanding its vital services.
“We want to serve with dignity and grace and good products,” Engler says, eyes brimming with tears. “Working here, you hear some beautiful stories, and also some heartbreaking ones. But we’re like the mailman. We’re here rain or shine.” Learn more about HIM Food Pantry, located at 3523 Beauchamp. Find out about volunteer opportunities, how to get help, and how to donate at himfoodpantry.org
ing aspects of the project, Broussard said, is its interactive nature. Local store owners contributed by customizing LEGO figurines to represent themselves, adding a personal touch to the display.
“Right now it sits in our front window and some of the shop owners and staff have come in and created their own mini figures to stand out front of their corresponding shop.”
Tim Howell’s LEGO creations are more than just models; they are a blend of art, architecture, and community spirit. His work on 19th Street captures the essence of Houston Heights in a way that is both nostalgic and innovative. As Howell continues to build and inspire, his projects remind us of the boundless possibilities that come from combining imagination with skill.
For those interested in seeing Howell’s work, the Houston Toy Museum and the Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts offer a glimpse into his LEGO masterpieces. With each project, Howell not only constructs buildings but also builds connections, bringing communities together one brick at a time. To commission a project with Howell or see more of his work, visit timmyowl.com.
“I thought that was really cool, that the shop owners are participating,” Howell agreed. “That gives another depth to it besides just kind of a static building; gives it some personality.” Broussard also mentioned plans to possibly update the mini figures for special events. “I have the idea to change all the mini figs to white clothing for White Linen Night,” she added. In addition to his work on 19th Street, Howell is involved in other significant projects. He recently completed a LEGO build for the Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts in Spring, Texas, as part of their summer exhibit. The exhibit, titled “Toy Canvas Artists at Play,” features a large house inspired by the boardgame Clue, showcasing Howell’s creativity and expertise in LEGO construction. Howell has also participated in the creation of YouTube videos produced by Unspeakable, where an enormous city of around 130,000 LEGO® parts was painstakingly built only to be unceremoniously dumped into an enormous dirt hole, simulating a natural disaster.
LEGO from P. 1
Photo from Shop Heights 19th Street Facebook page
Shop owners on 19th Street contributed LEGO figurines to personalize their replica storefront.
The community is invited to “Feed Frank” by dropping off non-perishable food items and hygiene products like baby and adult diapers.
Grocery
lined
preparation
a food distribution event at HIM Food Pantry. Before they head out the door, they’ll be piled high with groceries.
Photo by Stefanie Thomas
HIM Food Pantry
Executive Director Cheryl Engler checks off some boxes just as food distribution is about to begin.
Photo courtesy of Tim Howell
This LEGO city created by Tim Howell was built to be smashed in a YouTube video by Unspeakable.
June Service Changes: METRO adjusts services to match rider demand
HISD opens Summer Feeding Program
REPORTS Providing free summer meals to Houston kids helps ensure children have a healthy vacation and can return to school ready to learn Houston Independent School District’s annual Summer Feeding Program will be open now through Friday, July 19. The program provides any child up to age 18, and enrolled HISD students with disabilities up to age 21, with healthy, no-cost meals during the summer school break. These meals help ensure students who rely
Authority's busiest local bus routes. In addition, patrons of the 82 Westheimer will enjoy the availability of more latenight trips Monday through Friday. METRO will also adjust service along Milam and Travis in downtown to resume bus stops at every other block, returning routes to their previous stops prior to January 2023.
YMCA of Greater Houston marks 20 years of empowering youth through YMCA Operation Backpack
COMMUNITY REPORTS
The initiative aims to provide essential school supplies to 30,000 Houston area students, giving them hope for a brighter future
The YMCA of Greater Houston has launched its annual YMCA Operation Backpack initiative, which provides school supplies, backpacks, and opportunities for youth to attend YMCA after-school programs. This year marks 20 years of the YMCA of Greater Houston empowering Houston youth for academic success, instilling them with hope and essential tools needed for a successful start to the 2024 – 2025 school year. Houstonians can continue supporting Houston’s youth by contributing to YMCA Operation Backpack through July 19.
“Education is a corner-
stone of our society, and we are committed to engaging with the future generation to ensure everyone has equal opportunities to succeed. Spearheading YMCA Operation Backpack for two decades is a testament to our unwavering dedication to our community,” said Stephen Ives, president and CEO YMCA of Greater Houston.
“We are focused on the continued effort to create not just a physical space but also developmental and emotional well-being opportunities for people who truly need it most. We are grateful for our incredible partners who are helping us achieve this initiative.”
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Houston has a higherthan-average child poverty rate, which has been shown to impact children’s learning. Through its partnership with H-E-B, KIAH-TV CW39, Radar Promotions, and Air Specialist, YMCA Operation Backpack
aims to distribute backpacks and school supplies to 30,000 students in communities across the Houston area.
Houstonians can help make a positive impact on the lives of students and contribute to one of the state’s largest back-toschool drives starting June 17 in the following ways:
• Donate online at ymcaoperationbackpack.org
• Text YMCABACKPACK to 24365
Make a donation at your local YMCA: Harriet and Joe Foster Family YMCA, 1234 W 34th St
• Donate a new backpack at your local YMCA
• Share this campaign with family and friends!
Funds raised during the YMCA Operation Backpack initiative will directly benefit local youth and be used to purchase backpacks as well as provide opportunities for youth to attend YMCA after school programs to support
students’ bright futures. Youth Development, encompassing Out of School Time, Early Care, Teens, and Outreach, stands as a fundamental pillar of the YMCA of Greater Houston. Committed to enriching communities and the individuals within them, the Y diligently offers program services tailored to foster growth and opportunity. The Y strives to provide invaluable opportunities that may otherwise be unavailable to the Houston community.
The YMCA of Greater Houston is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, and all donations are tax-deductible. To receive more information about eligibility and receiving supplies please contact your local YMCA. To learn more about how to donate to YMCA Operation Backpack, please visit ymcaoperationbackpack.org and follow the organization on Facebook @YMCAHouston and Instagram @YMCAHouston.
Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs brings 4th Annual Make Music Day Celebration in Houston June 21
COMMUNITY REPORTS
Mayor John Whitmire encourages Houstonians to participate in the annual Make Music Day (MMD) in Houston. This day-long celebration takes place on the first day of summer, Friday, June 21.
“The City of Houston is happy to be part of the international roster for Make Music Day,” said Necole S. Irvin, Director the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. “I invite all Houstonians, of all musical abilities, to join us and bring music to our neighborhoods, offices, and communities on this celebratory day of music.”
MMD began in France in 1982 as the Fête de la Musique and has spread to over 1,000 cities across 120 countries. The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (MOCA) initiated this annual celebration in partnership with the French Consulate and continues that partnership this year. Houston’s Consular Corps continues to also expand its role in this global celebration.
“The Consulate General of France is delighted to support Make Music Day in the City of Houston, a vibrant celebration inspired by the renowned Fête de la Musique in France,” said the Consul General of France in Houston, Valerie Baraban. “This event exemplifies the cultural exchange and creative spirit that music fosters. We extend our warmest wishes to all participants, as they come together to make music and unite communities.”
MOCA has shown a commitment to support Houston’s music industry and is excited to partner for the first time this year with Downtown Houston+, and again with Houston’s Professional Musicians’ Association (HPMA) who is providing funding for its members for the global event.
“We are excited and honored for Market Square Park to host the Houston kickoff of Make Music Day,” said Kristopher Larson, President and CEO, Downtown Houston+. “We invite everyone to join in this global,
Houston Toy Museum to feature Cyclone of Memories: An AstroWorld Exhibition
COMMUNITY REPORTS
This weekend only!
From it's debut in 1968 to its untimely demise in 2005, AstroWorld holds a special place in Houston history and in the hearts of countless Houstonians.
This summer, for one weekend only, the Houston Toy Museum will host Cyclone of Memories: An AstroWorld Exhibition. This collection of souvenirs, memorabilia, and rare items covering the full life span of the park has been thoughtfully curated by Donald Hayes, Houstonian and self-proclaimed pop culture historian. Many of the items and photographs found in the collection have never before been seen by the general public. Cyclone of Memories is a celebration of the creativity and imagination that made AstroWorld a cultural touchstone for generations of Houstonians and visitors from around the world.
Cyclone of Memories: An AstroWorld Exhibition will be on display at the Houston Toy Museum at 321 W 19th St from June 21-23. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit houstontoymuseum.com.
Houston Humane Society’s “Name Your Own Price” Cat Adoption Special returns
COMMUNITY REPORTS
Animal shelter offers discounted adoptions to clear overcrowded shelter
daylong, free public event celebrating the musician that lives in each of us as we experience the joy of live music in harmony with cities around the world.”
“The Houston Professional Musicians’ Association is proud to partner for the 4th year in a row with the City of Houston and MOCA in celebrating Make Music Day!” said Alex Navarro, President of HPMA. “We are also the primary representation, protection, and bargaining unit for our City's musical talent, which is why we’re grateful to fund musicians' performances through our Music Performance Trust Fund Allotment. Musicians interested in being paid a fare wage for their performance on June 21st should reach out to our HPMA office to apply.”
We encourage you to join Mayor Whitmire, our Consular Corps, Cultural Districts and many more for Make Music Day.
Make Music Houston programming currently includes: Kick-Off Ceremony -- A
series of performances are scheduled at Market Square after a few words from City Officials, the French Consular General and Downtown Houston+ leadership to kickoff Make Music Day across Houston.
Consulado General de México – Performances begin with Chikawa Conroe Dance in the consulate’s art gallery on the third floor, 3200 Rogerdale Road, 77042.
Cultural Districts -Houston’s seven designated Cultural Arts Districts will participate in activating community facilities and spaces with live music and collaborations among musicians.
East End Cultural District -- On June 21st, Los de Siempre, the band of Dynamo supporters from El Batallon and other musicians perform at the Esplanade on Navigation.
Arts District Houston hosts several performances at their network of studios in and around Sawyer Yards—Sabine Street, Spring Street, Winter Street, The Silos and Silver Street Studios. Mass Appeal -– People
of all ages and skill levels will join both online and inperson settings to make music in large, single-instrument groups.
On June 21st, MOCA invites residents and visitors to post photos of MMD events using #makemusichou #mmdhou and tagging @ houstonmoca. All events are free and open to the public. For a full schedule of events, visit MakeMusicDay.org/ Houston.
Participate Online registration is open for local musicians and venues. The website provides a platform for locations and venues to match with musicians for Make Music Houston. Create a profile to get the matchmaking started and events on the calendar! To add an event or register to perform, please visit MakeMusicDay.org/ Houston.
MOCA also provides support for musicians and the music industry with the Houston Music Advisory Board. For more information, visit Houston-Music. live.
WHAT: The Houston Humane Society is offering a “Name Your Price” adoption special in honor of Adopt a Cat Month. Every Saturday in June, cat lovers can name a price of their choosing to take home a new furry friend. This promotion includes, spay/neuter surgery, microchipping, deworming, vaccines and more – everything the newest feline family needs to prepare for their fur-ever home. This adoption special applies to all cats in the shelter over one year old.
Summer months are also known as “kitten season”, in which shelters become flooded with kittens as cats give birth. The promotion is part of an ongoing effort to ease shelter overcrowding. To learn more about this adoption special and Houston Humane Society’s mission, visit www.houstonhumane.org.
Petco Love invests in BARC to save and improve the lives of pets in Houston COMMUNITY REPORTS
BARC, the City of Houston's Animal Shelter and Adoption Center, is set to receive a $95,000 grant investment from national nonprofit Petco Love in support of their lifesaving work for animals in Houston. Petco Love is a national nonprofit leading change for pets by harnessing the power of love to make communities and pet families closer, stronger, and healthier. Since its founding in 1999, Petco Love has invested nearly $400 million in adoption and other lifesaving efforts. And Petco Love helps find loving homes for pets in partnership with Petco and more than 4,000 organizations — like ours — across North America, with 6.8 million pets adopted and counting.
“Our investment in BARC is part of more than $15M in investments recently announced by Petco Love to power local organizations across the country as part of our commitment to create a future in which no pet is unnecessarily euthanized,” said Susanne Kogut, president of Petco Love. “Our local investments are only part of our strategy to empower animal lovers to drive lifesaving change right alongside us. We launched Petco Love Lost, a national lost and found database that uses patented image-recognition technology to simplify the search for lost pets.”
“We're incredibly grateful to our partner Petco Love for investing in BARC with this grant and further allowing us to expand our life-saving initiatives here at our shelter,” said Jarrad Mears, BARC's Shelter Director. "With these funds, we'll be able to purchase additional equipment for our enforcement officers and more proactively network pets at our shelter through on-site adoption events.”
BARC takes in more than 20,000 pets annually regardless of behavior, breed, or medical condition. BARC works each day to improve Houstonians and their pets' health and safety by pioneering programs such as low-cost and no-cost spay/neuter services, mobile adoptions, transfer/rescue partnerships, and pet registration and microchipping. BARC is also committed to public safety through animal enforcement, which answers calls for service from the community and investigates cases of animal cruelty.
In May, BARC relaunched its Lost Pets page in collaboration with the Petco Love Lost database. Now, Houston residents have access to Petco Love Lost's vast and free database that includes lost and found pets reported by individuals as well as thousands of shelter partners across the country. Learn more: www.houstontx.gov/barc/ lost_pet.html For more information about BARC, visit www.houstonbarc.com. Learn more about Petco Love here: petcolove.org.
Stock photo
YMCA Operation Backpack runs through July 19, 2024.
COMMUNITY REPORTS
For nearly a half-century, Rainbow Lodge has been a dining destination for wild game, steaks, seafood and Lodge-inspired dishes, an award-winning wine list, and one of the most beautiful and unique settings in the city. Never resting on their laurels, Rainbow Lodge is constantly updating and refining to keep “the Lodge experience” matchless. Among the most notable recent changes at the restaurant is the addition of Brandon Holmes to the kitchen team. As Chef de Cuisine, Holmes joins Executive Chef Mark Schmidt and long-time Kitchen Manager Miguel Hernandez, bringing his extensive experience in butchery and cooking to the Rainbow Lodge kitchen. Holmes was born and raised in Las Vegas. He moved to Houston at age 18
and began working with Felix Flores at Black Hill Meats as a meat cutter. Within a year he was made head butcher/ plant manager for the business, which sold to fine dining restaurants across Texas and the south. During this time, Holmes also staged at several restaurants in Houston, and when the owners of Black Hill decided to open Ritual restaurant, Holmes was brought in to run what would become their award-winning meat program. He quickly became master butcher and then executive chef, and the restaurant was named one of the 20 best restaurants in Houston and a top table in Houston. Unfortunately, Ritual closed during the pandemic. As culinary director/pitmaster for the iconic Dozier’s BBQ in Fulshear, Texas, Holmes continued sharing his expertise and also gaining knowledge until, unfortunately, in spring 2024 the barbecue
mainstay closed after 67 years. Happily, Holmes is now at home at Rainbow Lodge, the final piece to the iconic restaurant’s culinary team. Holmes is father to a young son, loves dogs and enjoys fishing, hunting, art and music.
“Brandon brings an excellent skill set with his whole-animal butchery, charcuterie and aging cuts to complement our veteran team and ever-popular steak and game offerings,” says Donnette Hansen, owner of Rainbow Lodge, named by Southern Living magazine as one of 20 legendary steakhouses of the South.
The kitchen team recently introduced several new seasonal items to the Lodge’s menus to take advantage of late spring and summer favors, like freshpicked tomatoes, corn, eggplant and squash. New items include Lobster and Corn Risotto; Burrata, Texas Peach & Heirloom Tomato
Rating: ★★★★★/★★★★★
Nostalgia. Not only one of the good feelings, but one of the most blinding. Nostalgia allows someone to experience a small piece of their past and be able to relish in that feeling. Nostalgia gives us heavy rosetinted glasses on whatever evokes that feeling. As someone who’s barely old enough to be qualified as a Gen Z-er, it's hard to find things to be nostalgic for. When I do find comfort in something, it’s a magical experience. A feeling of child-like wonder, mixed with pure awe. An emotion that can be difficult, if not impossible to put into words. A feeling that came when I watched Garfield: The Movie.
I’ve been reading Garfield comic strips for as long as I can remember, if not further back.
If you looked through all my memories, through my entire life, there would be one con-
Elliott StEwart Youth Movie Critic
stant. Garfield. Even though this film isn’t old (it just came out a couple months ago as of writing), it feels nostalgic. The ideas, the music, everything about it just screams Garfield and hits in a soft spot close to home. The film follows the titular fat cat, as he’s sent on a mission to pay back his long-lost father’s old standing debt. Garfield’s known for its occasional absurdity, so the insane plot doesn’t come as much of a shock coming from the Garfield brand. I saw this movie with my Dad as well as my little brother. My brother couldn’t get enough of it, giving it a modest 9/10.
Salad; Grilled 44 Farms Beef Tenderloin; Pan-Seared Red Snapper; Grilled North American Elk Chop; and Warm Pecan Sticky Buns.
Not to be overlooked, Rainbow Lodge’s signature interiors also received a “minimakeover,” with newly updated lodge-chic touches in the dining rooms, including luxurious tweed and leather upholstery, inviting carpet and stylish new light fixtures.
“Mother Nature always influences my palette and menu and this time I used the magnificent colors within a pheasant pelt as my guide- shades of many blues, rich caramel tones, purples and warm brass,” says Hansen. Maintaining my longtime mantra of staying ‘sophisticated not stuffy,’ I always want to bring a bit of the outdoors inside to add to the overall guest experience.”
Rainbow Lodge, located at 2011 Ella Boulevard (77008), serves lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch; closed Mondays. At lunch, they offer a $16 three-course business lunch for those in a hurry, and private romantic tables for those who want to slow it down. The Lodge is “Wild about Sundays” and offers $2 mimosas and Champagne until 3 p.m., and at night features half-price wines and their wildly popular Sunday Suppers, a comfort food feature for $15. Rainbow Lodge has five private dining rooms for special occasions of all sizes and descriptions. Rainbow Lodge is open Tuesday to Friday, 11 am to 10 pm; Saturday, 5 to 10 pm; and Sunday, 10:30 am to 9 pm. For menus and information, visit the restaurant online at www.rainbow-lodge.com or call 713-861-8666.
MOVIE REVIEW
Meanwhile, my dad wasn't much of a fan, deeming it “the worst movie he’s seen in his entire life.” So a very split reaction from my family and, although I liked this movie, I could see where my dad was coming from… Over the years, Garfield as a character has been endlessly flanderized. Modern Garfield feels like a corporate puppet, constantly sprouting the same 10 catchphrases until the end of time. This film still keeps Garfield's main, recognizable traits while also adding actual layers to his character. By doing the bare minimum, the film’s immediately better than most Garfield media we’ve gotten in the past 10 years.
Not to spoil anything, but there were moments in this film when I teared up. The relationships with each character seem to be well thought out. From the chemistry Garfield
and his dad share, all the way down to Odie and Garfield. Even though Jon doesn’t get as much screen time as I would’ve liked, the scene where the two meet is one of the more poignant moments of the film. Keep this in mind when you notice my absurdly high rating of this film, take note that I’m reviewing this strictly as a Garfield movie. There was not a dull moment in this film. During the entire thing, I had the biggest smile on my face. The movies are back, Garfield is back, thanks for reading. Elliott Stewart is a Heightsbased youth movie critic who hopes to direct movies himself when he grows up. In the meantime, he watches, analyzes, and critiques movie classics as well as current cinema releases. Elliot's parents occasionally allow him to watch and critique R-rated films under their supervision.
Brandon Holmes recently joined the Rainbow Lodge kitchen team as Chef de Cuisine.
