07-23-2022 Edition of The Leader by Street Media

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Covering the Heights, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest & the neighborhoods of North Houston Saturday, July 23, 2022 • Vol. 67 • No. 30

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City partnering with local commissioner for gun buyback By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews. com

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Residents of local neighborhoods will have a chance to take part in an initiative aimed at combatting violent crime in the city next weekend. On July 30, residents from all around the city can exchange firearms for gift cards as part of a gun buyback event that will be held at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, 3826 Wheeler Ave. according to

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a news release from the city. The program is the first gun buyback program as part of One Safe Houston, the city’s $53.1 million initiative aimed at combatting gun violence in the city, which kicked off in February. It is a partnership between the Houston Police Department, city of Houston, and Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis. “All across Precinct One, from the Houston Heights to Sheldon, peo-

ple are worried about the increase in gun violence, especially in our schools,” Ellis said Wednesday. “We simply cannot wait around for the federal or state government to act. We have to take action on a local level, right now.” The buyback, he said, is part of that action. Those who turn in their guns will receive a $50 gift card for every non-functioning gun, $100 for a rifle, $150 for a handgun, and $200 for an assault rifle according to the city. All guns

The final ride

must be unloaded and inside the vehicle’s trunk, the city said. “If we get one gun off the street that may have ended up being used in a violent crime, it’s worth it,” he said. It is open to all residents no questions asked, the city said, including residents of local Precinct 1 neighborhoods such as Independence Heights, parts of the Greater Heights, and Acres Homes See BUYBACK P. 8

Redistricting to impact area council districts By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Under the sea Star Sailor and Cofffe was a perfect hit for this week’s food reviewer, Sonia Ramos.

Page 2

Market roundup The home sales market has continued to cool, and local areas are not immune, according to recent HAR data.

Page 4 Photo from HISD website Waltrip High School automotive teacher Kris Killam, second from right, is retiring after 31 years teaching at the school. He left a lasting impact on many people at the school, students and colleagues alike

Retiring Waltrip auto teacher leaves lasting legacy By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

Garden Guru In this week’s column, Amy Williams provides some tips on using your harvest to create delectable tastes.

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THE INDEX. Church........................................................... 3 Classifieds................................................ 7 Coupons....................................................... 6 Food/Drink................................................. 2 Opinion......................................................... 3 Public Information............................. 8 Puzzles.......................................................... 3

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As a student at Waltrip High School in the early 1990s, Derek Lang had a rudimentary understanding of how cars worked. But it was really Waltrip automotive technology teacher Kris Killam’s simple piece of encouragement that served as one of the most significant springboards for his future. “The biggest thing is that he gave me confidence to do what I’m doing,” said Lang, a longtime auto tech worker who has owned and operated Kar Hospital at 3419 Ella Blvd. next to the school since 2010. “He told me that day ‘you’ve got a knack for this.’” While it may seem simple, Lang said that piece of advice gave him more self-confidence than he could’ve imagined or had ever possessed. And such an anecdote was common when it came to Killam, who has retired after teaching automotive technology at Waltrip for the past 31 years. Killam first came to the school during the 1990-

1991 school year, and said he has cherished every bit of the last three decades. “When I first came to Waltrip…I had no idea I would spend half of my life here teaching the kids of this community,” he said. “…Since I have been at Waltrip, it has been a family to me for quite some years.” The love, it appears, is mutual. One member of that family is former Waltrip band director Jesse Espinosa, who is now the head band director at Klein Forest High School. He had served as Waltrip’s head band director since 2012 before leaving at the end of the 20212022 school year. Espinosa, 44, has had a longstanding connection with Killam, first as a student at Waltrip in the mid-90s and then as a colleague starting when he rejoined the school as assistant band director in the early 2000s. Killam has also been Waltrip’s senior class sponsor since 1992, which overlapped with Espinosa’s senior year in 1995 when Espinosa was the school’s senior class president.

His longtime friend and colleague called Killam a pillar of the Waltrip community in many aspects, and characterized him as one of the most “honest, caring, and hard-working” teachers Espinosa has ever known. “Mr. Killam is truly a throwback to what teachers were for many years at Waltrip. I absolutely call him one of my strong mentors,” Espinosa said. “He was always a great listener and offered tremendous advice…I was already going to miss him since I was leaving, but this takes it to another level.” Lang echoed that sentiment, saying that Killam was always ready to lend an ear, hand, and anything else to his students and go the extra mile. Even during Lang’s senior year in 1994, when the automotive class was stuck working out of a sweltering temporary building as the school built a new auto shop, he said Killam never lost his passion for the students or his community. “He always supported all of us no matter what,” Lang said. “Never judged

us no matter what, and stuck with us through all the good times and bad.” So too, did 2002 graduate Clinton Holland. “Despite his intimidating presence, he was always jovial and easy to talk to,” Holland said. “But he also wasn’t afraid to let you know when you screwed up or needed a kick in the pants.” That, Killam said, is what his job is all about. “I have learned a lot from how a school can work together as a whole for the best interest of the students,” he said. “I want to thank the parents for allowing me to not only teach your children, but also to get to know them after they have graduated and have become successful individuals in our society.” Some of Killam’s former students, such as Lang, have gone on to work in the automotive industry. Others are now engineers and Marine Corps attorneys. Still another, he said, is an occupational therapist who mentored Killam’s own daughter in following that same path. See LEGACY P. 8

Some local neighborhood residents could soon find themselves voting in new city council districts, depending on what happens with the latest redistrict effort. Houston, like many other communities across the state, must redistrict its council boundaries based on the latest census data. And city demographer Jerry Wood last week presented the initial proposal for how the city’s districts might change, reflecting the fact that Houston’s population has risen by nearly 10 percent from the 2010 census, up to 2,304,580 according to the city. A March presentation from the city said redistricting is needed to keep with the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which says each of the city’s 11 council districts must be relatively equal in population and have identifiable geographic boundaries while not breaking up voting precincts and avoiding demographic population or dilution. “It was my aim to provide a point from which the public could react to the changes proposed and council can examine the ways in which the changes would affect both their districts and the city as a whole,” Wood said. If the proposed changes shown on July 13 were approved, District C represented by Abbie Kamin – which currently includes Greater Inwood, Central Northwest, Lazybrook/Timbergrove, the Heights, and Washington Avenue – would see its population reduced by annexing areas that are west of Antoine and north of Highway 290 into Council Member Amy Peck’s See REDISTRICTING P. 8

Kamin

Cisneros

Man accused of child sexual abuse in Independence Heights By Landan Kuhlman landan@theleadernews.com

Santos (Photo from Crime Stoppers)

Houston authorities are asking for the public’s help locating a man who is accused of sexually assaulting a child for five years in Independence Heights, according to Houston Crime Stoppers. Jose Santos, 58, is charged with continuous sexual abuse of a child, according to Crime Stoppers. A news release from Crime Stoppers said that in February of 2021, the Houston Police Department received a report of sexual abuse

that occurred in the 4400 block of Oxford Street, according to Crime Stoppers. During the investigation, Crime Stoppers said the child victim made an outcry alleging sexual abuse by Santos from Oct. 25, 2014 to Oct. 25, 2019. Santos is a man, about 5-foot-6 and weighing about 250 pounds, with brown eyes and salt and pepper hair, according to Crime Stoppers. He drives a red 2004 Ford Explorer with the license plate number KXN8445, according to Crime Stoppers.

“We’re asking the public to step up to the plate like they have so many times and give us that one tip,” Crime Stoppers victim advocate Andy Kahan said. “We know somebody out there knows who he is.” Crime Stoppers will offer a reward up to $5,000 for information leading to Santos’ whereabouts, according to Kahan. Information can be reported by calling Crime Stoppers at 713-2228477, online at www.crimestoppers.org or by using the Crime Stoppers mobile app.

Page 2 • Saturday, July 23, 2022 • The Leader

Jackie’s Kitchen still dishing out southern comfort By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com Even while Jackie Le operated the old IHOP at the corner of Mangum Road and Dacoma Street for 10 years, she always had an end goal in mind. “Running a restaurant was always my dream,” she said. She is running it and then some. In May of this year, Jackie’s Kitchen celebrated 12 years in the Oak Forest area at 2210 Mangum Rd. serving up southern-style comfort food and much more since 2010. She’s living out what she has always wanted, and said she is thankful for the community support she has continued to receive more than a decade after opening. Le bought out the old IHOP when its contract was up more than a decade ago, and the rest

– so far – is history. “When I was running IHOP, I dreamed of having my name up there,” she said. “This really is my dream come true.” And it’s still going all these years later, she said, because she and her staff have never strayed from their intended purpose. Their goal has always been – and always will be – to serve highquality comfort food and drinks in a homey, comfortable, and family-oriented atmosphere. Through the years, Le and her staff have become known for the restaurant’s chicken and waffles along with 10 different kinds of omelets and other breakfast staples. However, it is much more than your standard breakfast spot. Jackie’s also offers menu items for lunch and dinner, including various types of burgers and sandwiches along

with meatloaf, chicken tenders, tilapia, T-bone steak, chicken fried steak, and more. Jackie’s also offers items such as the strawberry cheesecake chimichanga and fruit crepes for dessert, as well as Monday specials on chicken and dumplings and Wednesday specials on Pho – a tribute to Le’s native Vietnam. “I’m all about customer service. I love my customers, and everybody is so friendly,” Le said. “And I feel so good when I give them good food, good service, and so they keep coming back. I love what I do here at Jackie’s.” Above all, Le wanted to thank her customers for all their support over the course of 12 years in business – even after COVID-19 hit the region in 2020, forcing the restaurant to close for about a month. However, she

Photo by Landan Kuhlmann Jackie Le, white dress, stands with her staff outside Jackie’s Kitchen. The restaurant is still going strong more than 12 years after it opened.

said they never stopped coming out when it opened again with restrictions. Further, she said the crowds have come back and then some, in earnest, since the restaurant reopened without restrictions. Prior to the pandemic, she estimated Jackie’s served about 3,000 customers per month.

Now, she said, that number is closer to 4,600 or 4,700 per month. And Le knows she could not have made it through that stretch without the community support. “I really appreciate all of our customers,” she said. “They really helped me pull through it.”

That love, it appears, is fully reciprocated. Jackie’s has a rating of 4.4 out of five stars from more than 1,000 Google Review. It also has a four-star Yelp rating based on 149 reviews. The Oak Forest and surrounding communities have made Jackie’s Kitchen a staple as Le and her staff continue to dish out southern comfort at corner of Mangum and Dacoma. And she plans to be there for as long as they will have her. “It makes me feel so happy (to see them all still coming),” she said. “We appreciate all the customers here at Jackie’s Kitchen.” Jackie’s Kitchen is open daily from 6 a.m.-4 p.m. For a menu or more information, call 713-6811916, visit the restaurant’s website at jackieskitchenhouston. com, or email info@jackieskitchenhouston.com

Review: Star Sailor and Constellation Coffee a place for all comers By Sonia Ramos news@theleadernews.com In search of a mermaid sighting…then I have the perfect place for you. While mermaids may be mythical, Star Sailor is a real place that you can visit from morning to night. Recently, I stopped by after work for a quick bite and drink. With a small but adequate assortment of food options, I decided on Stella’s Cuban. I have never met a Cuban I did not like and this one was no exception. Made to order, my sandwich was piping hot and the cheese was ooey gooey. The combination of mustard, pickles, ham and cheese is a winning combination. After devouring my Cu-

Photo by Sonia Ramos Star Sailor and Constellation Coffee offers food like this as well as a great ambiance, making it a perfect place for any and all comers.

ban, I almost ordered another one -it was that good. As far as sides, I took the safe option of potato chips but next time I will be trying the potato salad. I paired my meal with a Chardonnay from Wonder-

ful Wine Co that was honestly wonderful. I am not usually a chardonnay drinker, but when the description said it tasted like dolphin rides and being promoted to head astronaut, I had to give it a try. I’m so happy I did.

In addition to snacks, lunch and dinner, Star Sailor also serves breakfast. I sampled the French omelet which came with toast and fresh berries. Everything was excellent. Breakfast was made by coffee barista extraordinaire Jessica. She and her husband are owners of Constellation Coffee which is a micro roastery. I tried a latte with house made horchata syrup. Whoa… it was amazing and I followed it up with their version of a dirty chai. It was a chai latte with a topper of frozen brewchatta and candied cacao nibs. There was enough caffeine to fuel me through the rest of the day and even into the night. You can tell there is a lot of

love and attention to detail that goes into every coffee drink made. I overhead Jessica telling another customer about Marin, owner of Star Sailor, that she is a champion for all things Houston and that is obvious throughout the space. If you are in need of a gift, Star Sailor is a purveyor of local artists and vendors. You can shop for a present for anyone on your gift list or for yourself. They sell an array of items from jewelry to clothing along with kombuchas from Bayou City Buchas, Chelada drips from Cheladeras and michelada mixes from Space City Snax which are truly delicious. Overall, this is just a great place to have a bite, a drink or

just hang out. I love supporting small, local businesses and am always happy to spend my money here. Not only that, you are always guaranteed to spot a mermaid. Star Sailor and Constellation Coffee Address: 1710 W 18th St, Houston, TX 77008 Dining options: various bar friendly bites and breakfast options in the morning Hours: 7:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday, Tuesday – Thursday, 7:30 a.m.-midnight Friday -Saturday, closed Mondays Alcohol: Yes Stars of the show: Stella’s Cuban, dirty Chai Rating: 5 out of 5 bites

Nibbles and Sips: Gatlin’s Fins and Feathers opens in Independence Heights By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com The newest concept from the owner of a popular barbecue restaurant in the area has opened to the community. Gatlin’s BBQ owner Greg Gatlin opened the doors to his second local restaurant, Gatlin’s Fins and Feathers, at 302 W. Crosstimbers St. in Independence Heights last Friday. It joins his original restaurant at 3510 Ella Blvd. in Garden Oaks.

It is a homecoming of sorts for Gatlin, who grew up in Independence Heights, according to a news release from the restaurant. “Here on the Gulf Coast, it’s so nice to have somewhere in your neighborhood where you can get fresh, great seafood,” Gatlin said. . It will be open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, follow @gatlinsfinsfeathers on Face-

book or visit Sunday Press continuing female chef dinner series July 24 A Garden Oaks restaurant will continue its ongoing dinner series next weekend. Sunday Press, 3315 Ella Blvd., will host its second Sunday Supper event in partnership with nonprofit I’ll Have What She’s Having at the restaurant on July 24 from 7-9 p.m. It will feature Niki Vongthong of Hidden Omakse and Gatlin’s BBQ’s Mi-

chelle Wallace as the chefs. “Now, more than ever, we’ve got to focus on keeping ourselves healthy, which will require a real culture change in the kitchen and the front of the house,” chef Cassie Ghaffar, co-owner of Ordinary Concepts and Sunday Press, said in a statement posted to Facebook. Tickets for the event are $150. For more information or to register for the July 24 event, visit the Sunday Press Facebook page @ sundaypresshouston.

Houston Restaurant Weeks begins Aug. 1 A popular Houston fundraiser is gearing up for another event in the next few weeks. The annual Houston Restaurant Weeks event begins Aug. 1 and runs through Sept. 5. The event is the largest annual fundraiser for the Houston Food Bank, according to its website, with participating restaurants donating a portion of proceeds from select menus to the food bank.

“Surely the most difficult time for restaurants, employees, and the Houston Food Bank,” said Cleverly Stone Foundation president Katie Stone, who is administering the event. “We are hopeful that demand for dining and a return to normalcy will have Houstonians dining out and doing good this summer.” To find a full list of Houston Restaurant Weeks participating restaurants, interested diners can visit the event website at houstonrestaurantweeks.com.

Art Valet: New art venue opens to area community in Babtist Temple Church Mitch Cohen Art Columnist

There’s a new art group in the Heights, and everyone is invited to join in and as you’ll read, there’s room for everyone. Artifex (the Latin word for artist) officially launched June 8, 2022 with a meeting on the newly renovated 3rd floor of Baptist Temple Church in the Heights, 230 W. 20th St. I spoke to Robyn Crowell, the founder of Artifex to bring you the skinny.

“Artifex is a visual arts initiative of Baptist Temple that is intended to be an outreach and support ‘hub’ for visual artists in the community,” Crowell said in a statement. “Artifex will offer; fellowship, master classes, seminars, art classes for adults and children, an opportunity to exhibit, recreational events, community involvement and just a place to create art together.” Crowell, has an extensive 20 year background in the arts that has prepared her to run the community based outreach programs the Artifex group have planned. Crowell’s credentials, in addition to her teaching and administrating community art events in her Fort Bend

Community, include award winning professional artist, arts administrator, instructor, artist consult, award winning published children’s book illustrator and gallery director/curator. Edward Crowell, her husband, is a classically trained tenor and is the Executive Director and Choir Director of Baptist Temple. “We believe music, art and dance can make an impact on people’s lives in a very special way,” Robyn Crowell said. “We also believe that ‘creatives’ need a place to put down the ‘load’ and encourage one another.” Crowell has assembled a stellar team of core artists to get things started for Artifex, Houstonians that fol-

low the Houston art scene (or even Art Valet, ahem) will recognize this group. They include Joe and Eunice Calzada, Gene Barron, Travis Horton, Erika Korozsi, Julie Verville, Art by Nora, Carolyn Holloway, Kristen Ferguson, Shannon O’Hara, Kyaunna Hall, Javier Hernandez, Ray Dunlap,Teresa Staley, Cherie Salinas and Ron Gordon. Those last four, Dunlap, Staley, Salinas and Gordon are the four amazing artists that I know and until today, all except Dunlap have been mentioned or featured in Art Valet. Mr. Dunlap, we need to talk! “Gene Barron, Teresa Staley, Ray Dunlap, Carolyn Holloway, Erika Korozsi, myself and Art by Nora are

currently on display,” Crowell said. “Nora is just 9 years old and is exactly what we are trying to do. Encourage our youth and others to explore their creative gifts.” The first group activity recently was a huge success Crowell told me on a phone call. A group of 21 had lunch at Star Pizza Heights then visited the Menil. Crowell also said the next meeting will be Wednesday August 10, at 6 p.m., at Baptist Temple, 230 W. 20th Street 77008 on the 3rd floor where classes will be held in the fall. All are welcome. Save the date, the first Artifex art show, CRE*A*TION,’ will be September 18. Open calls will

begin August 7 and the theme is the definition of creation - “The action or process of bringing something into existence.” Classes for all ages are scheduled to begin this fall, including a masters critique and seminar by Gordon and a youth mural project led by Staley and Salinas. Crowell said all classes will be affordable. For schedules and announcements, follow Artifex on Instagram, https:// w w w. i n s t a g r a m . c o m / btartifex/ and Facebook “Baptist Temple Artifex” or email Crowell, crowellrobyn@gmail.com.

Cohen is an artist and founder of the First Saturday Arts Market and The Market at Sawyer Yards.

THE TOPICS. The Leader • Saturday, July 23, 2022 • Page 3

An ode to our teachers We’ve all seen – and in our case written about – the plights facing teachers at every level in recent times. Just last week, one of our front page stories focused on the ongoing shortage with the school year beginning in about a month and many starting to return in preparation for the year. So I’d like to give a shout-out this week to a local schoolteacher who is hanging up his teaching boots, and all those in the same mold. On this week’s front page, you will see a story about Waltrip High School automotive technology teacher Kris Killam, who has retired from teaching after 31 years teaching at the school and 28 years of serving as its senior class sponsor. I got to speak to a few of his former students and colleagues this past week, and let me tell you – Killam appears to be a man and teacher that the world would be much better off having more of in this day and age. It takes someone pretty special, in my mind, to have such an impact and be such a difference maker in anyone’s life that they continue to vividly remember specific things from decades ago. But anyone I spoke to always seemed to have a story about Killam ready and waiting on the tip of their tongue.

Landan Kuhlmann Editor

“He was an outstanding role model, especially for some of the students who didn’t have someone in their lives to look up,” Holland said. Killam seems to have drawn in everyone he has taught or worked alongside in some manner – which isn’t always easy given how he spent his days corralling teenagers for more than three decades. But according to his students, he never once wavered in his mission to help them become productive students, community members, and role models. And let me tell you – what I heard described by so many of those who have crossed paths with Killam at Waltrip over his three decades at the school speaks volumes more than anything he could likely say about himself. And I sincerely pray that the story you see on today’s front page does justice to the man that appears to be beloved by many.

CHURCH

“The school wasn’t built for us,” he said last week. “It was built for the kids.” I can’t think of a more perfect quote that more represents Killam’s impact at Waltrip. With all the anecdotes, I feel as though I could go on for days in this space about the impact he appears to have had on generations of students, teachers, faculty members, parents, and more. But that would most likely take far more room than I have allotted her in this space. So I’ll leave you with this – take some time this week and forever to appreciate the teachers in your lives. Maybe it’s that old teacher from high school who cared about you when others didn’t. Or maybe it’s the one who encouraged you to follow your dreams and not let anyone sway you from that passion. They work tirelessly to benefit their students, but many will never ask for recognition for themselves. But they are the best of us, so let’s give them some here in this space and beyond. Whoever it is and whatever impact they had, be sure to thank them for it. You may think they know it, but it is always better to verbalize it – life is too short to leave anything said. Email landan@theleadernews.com

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MY EMAIL – “Winter Storm Uri Resident Survey. We Want to Hear from YOU! Take this Resident Survey on how Winter Storm Uri impacted you or your neighborhood.” This message is from the City of Houston - Housing and Community Development Department. Actually, I had never heard of such a city department, had you? Wonder if they could come out and fix the potholes in my neighborhood streets which are killing my car’s wheels, rims and my spine. In any event, now the City of Houston wants to know how I was impacted by Winter Storm Uri, which was in February of LAST YEAR! That is about a year and a half ago. Doesn’t City Hall have a calendar? Ronald Reagan said, “In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.” I am not a big bash-the-government person. I get my mail, the Russian Army is not shelling my house – yet. I’d rather Dr. Fauci treat me than Tucker Carlson. We need a bumper sticker: “The Alamo Was Defended by Government Workers.” But there are times, like “this present crisis,” when we must wonder about our various levels of government. Take Winter Storm Uri. The devastating and deadly results were preventable. I mean, what does North Dakota do in winter? How about Maine and Alaska? The Texas state government was at fault, although good luck finding anyone, particularly our Gov. Greg Abbott, taking responsibility. My email goes on to say that the city “would like to hear from you about how the City should use $30 million of federal disaster recovery grants. The grants will be used to help Houstonians prepare for future disasters and to address unmet needs….” Huh? My wife and I, like you, suffered for days freezing under blankets in a blacked-out house during Uri. Now there’s $30 million (our tax dollars) waiting to be spent to make up for our misery and to prevent a re- occurrence. It will probably be years before I get my share of that $30 million if our past is indication. I am referring, of course, to Hurricane Harvey. That was in August 2017, causing catastrophic flooding and more than 100 deaths. It’s tied with 2005’s Hurricane Katrina as the costliest hurricane on record, inflicting $125 billion in damage, mostly from flooding in the Houston area. Harvey hit town almost FIVE YEARS AGO! Help is on the way. Maybe. Congress originally appropriated $1.3 billion – yes, bil-

lion -- to help us recover from Harvey. Somehow the state’s General Land Office (GLO) got the funds to pass on to Houston. Remember that the GLO is run by George P. Bush, who planned on using that office as a stepping-stone to become the Texas Attorney General and then on and on. Alas, like the Kennedys’ Camelot, the Bush Dynasty died. George P. lost in the Republican primary runoff on May 24, 2022, to Ken Paxton: 68 to 32 percent of the vote. We must wonder about anyone who could lose more that 2-to-1 to an indicted official also under investigation by the FBI for bribery. Who would get that $1.3 billion for hurricane relief ? In an unbelievable move, the GLO allocated no money to either Houston or Harris County. Zero. Nada. The funds would to small, rural towns (which voted Republican) even though it was obvious to everyone that the appropriately named Bayou City and Harris County suffered the worst. After a lot of screaming and hollering, Bush then said he would seek $750 million for Harris County, though not for the city. Meanwhile, there were – what else? – lawsuits. Harvey poured a record 62 inches of water on Houston. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers controls the two dams that hold back water west of the city to prevent floods from inundating west Houston. So the engineers opened the dams doors, allowing a flood of water to, uh, inundate west Houston. My own house was one of the thousands that were destroyed. Law suits were filed against the Army citing, of all things, the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. No, not that part about taking the Fifth to avoid testifying against yourself. Lawyers cited the rest of that amendment that no person shall “be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.” The Army deprived me of my house without just compensation or even an un-just compensation. Alas, a judge threw out that argument but then a higher judge overruled the lower judge – still with me? -- and maybe my grandchildren will see ten bucks minus legal fees. Not to get sidetracked, but each year I pay hundreds of dollars for flood insurance. Should I? Apparently the governments will take care of those who didn’t pay. Right now the city and the state are accusing the other of sloppiness, doing nothing or a power grab. Next thing you know they will be using satire, innuendo and hyperbole. Get this from Austin: “After missing the benchmarks the City of Houston set for itself -- three times in a row -- the GLO has determined the City of Houston has made no process improvements and never will.” It plans to take back $91 million of Hurricane Harvey disaster funds from the City of Houston.

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n life you will inevitably have conflict. Several years ago, I received a letter in the mail stating that there was a warrant out for my arrest. I had been given a ticket for something that I truly thought was a misunderstanding by the police officer and I planned to fight the ticket in court. I waited and waited to receive my court date in the mail and was never notified of the court date until sometime later I received a letter stating that I had missed my court date and that there was a warrant out for me. I immediately went down to the court house to try and resolve this issue. To make a long story short they had mailed the court summons to the wrong address and so I had never received it. In fact, it was sitting in a file folder at the court house with the wrong address and the return to sender label still on the envelope. When I asked about getting a new court date I was told that the case was already closed and to reopen the case I would have to post bail and hire an attorney to petition the judge to reopen the case. Rather than go through

Are we having any funds yet? Lynn Ashby

Mayor Sylvester Turner, in turn, called on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to investigate the land office for “biased and inconsistent treatment” of the City of Houston and its residents. Want one more complication? HUD has determined that the GLO discriminated against communities of color by denying then flood mitigation funding. “We Want to Hear from YOU!” my email says. OK, I really don’t care about your petty spats except it involves my money. How about getting rid of the lot of you, both in Houston and Austin? Maybe your successors will fix my potholes.

Blvd. • 713-681-9365 all of4215 that,Watonga I decided toTXjust plead guilty (to Houston, 77092 something I didn’t believe I was guilty of) and pay the $80 ticket and take the points on my license. Needless to say, I am still frustrated about this situation to this day. Conflict happens, even when you think you are doing the right thing. In Acts 11, Peter is dealing with conflict between other believers who didn’t like the fact that he had broken the Jewish dietary laws about eating unclean animals and eating with Gentiles. Peter told the story of how God had appeared to him in a vision and given him direction to go and minister to Cornelius, a Roman centurion. Peter obeyed the Lord but was still unsure of what he was doing until he remembered the words of Jesus Christ. Peter was confident that he was doing right because of the Word of God. He encouraged those who disagreed with him by sharing the same truth with them. When they understood God’s Word, they too rejoiced in the work of God. If you are facing conflict, look to find resolution by applying God’s truth to the situation. Take the focus off of yourself and getting your way and make sure that you are following Christ. When Jesus is the focus, conflict can and will be resolved.

THE READER.

Email us your letters: news@theleadernews.com

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Our puzzles look a little different this week. We hope to have our regular puzzles back soon!

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The Leader • Saturday, July 23, 2022 • Page 4

The 77092 zip code, which has houses like this one currently on the market, was one of just two local markets to escape year-over-year sales downturns last month.

Photo from HAR website

Home sales continue to cool in local markets By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com As Houston’s overall sales market continued to cool last month, many of The Leader’s local zip codes were not immune and followed the trend, though a couple of them did buck it. The most recent data from the Houston Associ-

ation of Realtors showed that four of the six local markets experience year-over-year June sales trends, though Central Northwest (77092) and Acres Homes/Greater Inwood (77091) showed substantial year-over-year June growth. As a whole, June sales in the Houston region dipped nearly 9 percent year-over-year.

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Sales dips ranged from 14.5 percent all the way up to over 30 percent according to HAR data, while Central Northwest saw a 24 percent spike and Greater Inwood/ Acres Homes saw yearover-year sales jump nearly 19 percent. The 77091 zip code is also the only local neighborhood currently ahead of its 2021 pace through the end of June, according to HAR. Home prices have also continued to rise in local areas, according to HAR data, with only Central Northwest showing decreased prices. 77018 In Garden Oaks/Oak Forest and surrounding areas, realtors saw the largest percentage dip yearover-year. Only 65 homes came off the market here last month, a 37.5 percent

dip from the 104 sold in June 2021. The zip code is also more than 13 percent behind its 2021 pace, with 428 sales through the end of June compared to 493 in the same period last year. Pricing-wise, the average buyer paid 5.3 percent more year-over-year compared to June 2021 ($623,592) last month, and are paying 12.4 percent more through the end of June this year ($597,439) than at the same point in 2021. 77091 To the north, the Acres Homes/Greater Inwood area was one of just two local zip codes to avoid the year-over-year dip last month. Agents closed on 44 sales in the area compared to 37 the previous, an 18.9 percent increase, and have sold 19 percent

LEGAL NOTICE Application has been made with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission for a WINE AND MALT BEVERAGE RETAILER’S ON-PREMISE PERMIT (BG) by BE KIND ENTERPRISES CORPORATION dba CENTRAL CITY CO-OP, to be located at 2515 Harvard St., HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY, Texas. Owners of said corporation are: ERICK E. NAVAS (MANAGING DIRECTOR)

more homes to date (175) than through the end of June 2021. On a pricing front, average June home price was up 21.2 percent ($344,027) here last month, and has gone up 12.6 percent overall ($316,626) through the end of June. The median June sales price jumped 19.3 percent year-overyear to $339,939, and has overall gone up 12.3 percent to $319,900 through the end of the month. 77092 On the western edge of the area, the Central Northwest zip code was the biggest local riser. There were 31 home sales here last month, up 24 percent year-over-year from the 25 sold last June. To date, however, the area remains lagging slightly behind its 2021 pace, with 174 homes sold so far this year – 3.9 percent fewer than the 181 sold in the same period last year. An average buyer paid 7.6 percent less ($334,532) compared to last June, while the overall average price has risen slightly (0.2 percent) to $335,092. Median price was down 6.9 percent year-over-year ($325,000) last month, but has overall jumped 1.4 percent to $320,000 through the end of June.

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77008 Down in the Greater Heights, the massive downturns continued. The 83 home sales in the Heights last month was down 37.1 percent compared to 132 sales in June 2021. Year-to-date, the zip code is 14.6 percent behind its pace from last year, with 597 homes sold as opposed to 699 during the same period in 2021. Average June home prices jumped 19.5 percent up to $729,187, and overall average prices are up 12.6 percent to $677,127. The median June sales price had an identical 19.5 percent spike, ending at $620,000, while the overall 2022 median sales price has jumped 11.8 percent to $580,000 77009 On the eastern edge of the Heights and Northside Village, the 59 homes sold last month represented a 14.5 percent drop from the 69 sold last June. Through the end of June, there have been 330 homes closed on in this zip code, a slight (2.1 percent) downturn from 337 during the same period in 2021. Pricing-wise, the yearover year June average home cost skyrocketed 30.3 percent up to $674,693 – the largest local jump – while its 18.7 overall jump compared to the same time last year was also the biggest local leap. The June median price jumped 40 percent to $620,000, and has been $485,000 to date – a 10.2 percent spike from the same date in 2021. 77007 In the southernmost area of the Leader area, the Washington Avenue/ Rice Military zip code had 69 homes sold – a 34.9 percent downturn from the previous June. To date, the 505 sales represents a 7.8 percent dip from the same period in 2021. The average home price in these neighborhoods was 9.1 percent more ($695,978) compared to June 2021, and has risen nearly 8 percent ($635,542) year-to-date. Median price was up 9.9 percent ($549,990) yearover-year in June, and is 12.4 percent higher overall ($525,000) year-to-date compared to the same point last year.

The Leader • Saturday, July 23, 2022 • Page 5

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By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com Debbie Kotzur and Mike Clark are from different paths of life. Clark jumped from corporate IT work into real estate back in 2007. Kotzur, on the other hand, worked for a real estate appraiser for years before diving in almost 32 years ago. But they both have a passion for finding the best deals for their clients. It’s all about teamwork, from the initial look to closing. That philosophy has been a staple of the Clark/Kotzur team for nearly 11 years, and it does not figure to change anytime soon for the dynamic duo of Northwest Houston. Kotzur is a native Houstonian and has lived in Garden Oaks and Oak Forest, while Clark grew up on the Southwest side of Houston in Westbury and has lived in Shepherd Park Plaza/Timbergrove for more than 30 years. Kotzur is also a graduate of St. Pius X High School. The two now combine to form a prime real estate team with RE/MAX Metro serving buyers and sellers in northwest Houston and beyond, as they can bounce ideas off each other with regards to marketing, pricing or other aspects of a transaction to pass on to their clients. “We complement each other as there are some things each of us are better at then the other one,” Kotzur said. “We can talk ideas and thoughts between each other, keep each other on task and we basically have fun at our job.” Clark and Kotzur focus primarily on Garden Oaks, Oak Forest, the Heights, Shepherd

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Park Plaza, Candlelight Plaza, Candlelight Estates and other inner loop neighborhoods of north Houston and have worked together for more than 10 years. And after a couple of years full of rising sales – the pair had their best two years in 2020 and 2021 and continuing in 2022 – Kotzur and Clark both said they had seen a small market slowdown in the team’s target neighborhoods; though not a huge one. Clark added that he expects such a trend to continue in the near Northwest area they serve due to its central location. “The demand for homes has remained high in the near Northwest area this year. We are still seeing multiple offers, although maybe not as many as in the previous couple of years,” Clark said. “I think buyers are feeling a bit beat up because they are making offers and being out bid. Add to that the increase in interest rates and some buyers are dropping out of the market.” To this day, the pair believes that their symbiotic relationship paves the way for their clients to get an experience and guidance in a way they could not get

anywhere else. They’re committed to making sure they put their best foot forward for their clients, no matter what obstacle arises. Between them, the pair now has about 50 years of real estate experience. “Mike and I work great together,” Kotzur said. “We both have families and lives outside of real estate, so when one of us needs to be away for a day or on vacation, the other is there to make sure all aspects of our work are taken care of.” And no matter how long either has been doing the job, the favorite part of the job is having a happy client. “There are a lot of pieces that have to fit together in a real estate transaction,” Clark said. “I try to make that experience as painless as possible for my client.” To buy or sell a home with the Clark/Kotzur RE/MAX team, email info@clarkkotzurteam. com. This article is part of The Leader Experts series, where companies pay for editorial content on topics important to the community. If you’d like to be a Leader Expert, contact us at 713686-8494.

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Page 6 • Saturday, July 23, 2022 • The Leader

To shave or not shave your pets this summer

Pet of the Week

Meet Tinkerbelle Meet Tinkerbelle. This 3 month old little ball of heaven is practically perfect in every way! Tinkerbelle found herself lost and alone in the middle of a busy street when an angel scooped her up and got her to safety. Now, Tinkerbelle is living the life in a foster home, where she plays with other kitties and even dogs. She also has a foster brother, named Pete, who she is bonded with, so getting a home together would be a dream come true. If you think that Tinkerbelle could fit (and flit!) right into your home and your heart, go to www.saveacatrescue.org to learn more.

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pets this summer, look for other ways to keep them cool and comfy in this heat. Simple things, like adding ice cubes to their water and offering a kiddie pool and cooling blankets, go a long way in helping to keep everyone safe. Also, leaving pets outside in extreme temperatures is not safe and, frankly, cruel. So, be sure that your pets have access to places to escape from the heat. With any luck, this heatwave will be over soon and, before we know it, we’ll be dressing our pets up in sweaters and carting them to the nearest pumpkin patches to take Instagramworthy shots to celebrate fall and the beautiful weather that comes with it! Hang in there, Houston. Relief is on the way!

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GENERAL

Page 8 • Saturday, July 23, 2022 • The Leader

THE PUBLIC. Garden Guru: Put your harvest to good use Man hospitalized in

Amy Williams

arden uru

Legacy, from P. 1 Another, Leon Laureano, started out in the Houston Police Department’s auto repair shop before becoming a member of the department’s police force. He said Killam taught him patience,

Hey fellow Garden Gurus! We’ve discussed watering, pest control, and beating the heat this summer, and this week we are putting what you harvest to good use. In my book “City Seeds” I provide a gardening guide as well as recipes. Right now you should be harvesting indeterminate tomatoes, loads of basil and other herbs and perhaps a few eggplants. Sweet basil is the most common variety grown this time of year and is perfect for pesto. Basil does well in the heat and proper pruning keeps your plant healthy, providing a

bushier plant. To harvest, pinch off blooms to revert energy back to the plant, pinch leaves or stems off at the top to encourage horizontal growth, and allow the bottom leaves and stems to grow. Harvest all of your herbs in this manner for bushier, healthier plants. Indeterminate tomatoes can benefit from pruning as well. Pinch off all suckers (small stems growing between the main trunk and stems of the tomato plant) starting from the ground up to the first flower cluster. Be sure to catch suckers early so as to not damage the outer layer of the plant. If your

plant becomes overgrown, prune no more than 1/3 of the plant to prevent shock. You will also want to remove dead or damaged leaves to prevent diseases. If your garden is looking a little rough in this heat, odds are your eggplant is quite happy. Eggplant is a heavy producer and with so many varieties it’s difficult to choose just one. With an abundance of eggplant on hand, you can use it in this recipe, but we like it grilled with salt and pepper and a little balsamic as well. Go to theleadernews. com for reciple examples. See you in the garden!

and still uses the relaxation and patience methods he learned nearly two decades ago. “I know that if we had more Mr. Killams in this world, then it would be a lot better,” Laureano said.

Killam said he loves seeing his students’ successes no matter where they go, he said, and seeing them succeed is all the payoff that he has ever needed in more than three decades of teaching

as the result of adding small pockets south of Interstate 10 and north of Washington Avenue as well as areas of the Fourth Ward in downtown Houston. “The proposed map brings District H’s population up to 203,484 residents,” Cisneros said. “(It’s) still slightly less

than the average, but within an acceptable range that meets federal guidelines, and maintains essentially similar demographic percentages.” Multiple email requests for comment about the new boundaries to Kamin’s office were not immediately returned. District H experienced the biggest loss in population in the census,

Acres Homes shooting By Landan Kuhlman

Police are searching for a man in connection to a shooting in Acres Homes that put another man in the hospital on the Fourth of July, according to the Houston Police Department. The hospitalized man is expected to survive. The suspect is described by police as a man between the ages of 35-45, according to the department. He was wearing a white tank top, blue shorts and a black

hat at the time of the alleged shooting, according to HPD. Lee was at Danny’s Seafood Market, 945 West Little York Road, just before 9 p.m. on July 4 when police said a man walked up and allegedly shot at him, hitting him multiple times. The man then allegedly fled the scene on foot, according to the department. Police are also searching for an unknown woman who spoke with the suspect shortly before the alleged shooting, according to HPD.

at Waltrip. And the love he has for the school appears to be reciprocated by most anyone spoken to. Espinosa said he wishes Killam the best of luck in whatever his next en-

deavor will be, and that he has left a lasting impact and legacy inside Waltrip’s halls. “He always stood for what’s good about Waltrip High School,” Espinosa said. “That campus has

lost one of its treasures.” Holland echoed that sentiment. “I hope he knows that there are decades of Waltrip students whose lives were made richer because of him,” Holland said.

according to Cisneros, though she says that was due to a significant undercount of Hispanic residents. Her District is 67.9 percent Hispanic – the second highest percentage of Hispanic residents in the 11 council districts – according to Cisneros. “Despite the acknowledged undercount, Federal law mandates that when districts must be redrawn to reflect new Census data, cities must strive to maintain the existing ethnic ratios

for the newly drawn districts,” she said in an email to The Leader. The average district population with the new census should be around 209,507 according to the city. District C was 15 percent overpopulated with 240,954 in the most recent census, while District H’s population was 174,341 – 17.5 percent under the average figure. Cisneros – whose term will be up prior to any new implementations – said the proposed plan is acceptable and would not skew the ethnic de-

mographics that District H is required to maintain. Wood stressed during the July 13 hearing that the proposed boundaries are still subject to change based on more council and resident feedback. There was another public hearing scheduled for Wednesday morning for more feedback, according to the city. For more information on the city’s redistricting plans, including the currently-proposed boundaries, visit https://www. letstalkhouston.org/redistricting.

landan@theleadernews.com

Redistricting, from P. 1 District A, according to Wood, which includes part of Central Northwest and Greater Inwood. Meanwhile, District H represented by Karla Cisneros – Norhill, Northside, Independence Heights, Woodland Heights and Sunset Heights – would see its population increased

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“We’re rolling up our sleeves and getting to work on smart and meaningful programs to get at the root causes of crime,” he said. For more information on the Gun Buyback program, visit houstontx.gov/ onesafehouston/gun-buyback.html.

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that are included in Ellis’ district. The effort is also part of the city’s broader strategy, Ellis said, as the city allocated $1.4 million in its annual budget to justice and public safety – the largest amount ever allocated in Harris County history.

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